Wild Shores

by Radclyffe

“I know,” Austin said, her voice low and languorous. “About an hour ago.”

  “Rain sounds pretty steady.”

  “Mmm, Claudia predicted heavy throughout the day, but if the wind stays down…”

  Gem’s chest tightened and she held Austin’s hand harder against her breast, as if the beat of her heart, of the love that filled it, could somehow flow into Austin and keep her safe. “You’ll head back out to the rig?”

  “With Tatum in the launch or the birds, if they can fly.” Austin nuzzled her neck. “The sooner we do, the safer the sanctuary will be.”

  “I don’t want you to take risks.” When Gem heard herself say that, she laughed wryly. “And now there is an unlikely possibility.”

  “No, it isn’t. I’ve never been reckless, just willing to take a calculated gamble.” Austin leaned over and lit the candle Gem had left by the bedside the night before, guided Gem to her back, and kissed her. “But I won’t bet on the long shots any longer. I promise.”

  Gem studied her face in the candlelight, bold and strong and beautiful. “I wish I could draw the way you do.”

  Austin smiled. “What would you draw?”

  “You—when you’re sleeping…the way you look at me…the way you watch me when I come.”

  Austin’s eyes darkened, got that hungry look that said she wanted her.

  Gem’s blood raced, the thrill of being desired turning her liquid inside. “I have something of yours.”

  “You have everything of mine,” Austin said.

  “All I want is your heart.”

  “It’s yours, along with all the days of my life.”

  “Claudia gave me some drawings of yours. Something I’d like to keep, if you don’t mind.”

  Austin’s brows drew down as if she were searching her memory. “Ah—the sketches.”

  “I’m not nearly as beautiful as you made me appear, but I’m glad you see me that way.”

  “I told you I was in love with you from the first moment. When I couldn’t have you—when I was afraid you wouldn’t want me—drawing you was my way of making you mine.”

  Gem pulled Austin on top of her, entwined their legs, and kissed her. “It’s true. I’m yours.”

  “And you’re even more beautiful than I could ever capture,” Austin murmured.

  “When I look at your drawings,” Gem said, “you make me feel beautiful.”

  “Then I’ll have to sketch you nude next time.”

  Gem laughed a little self-consciously, but the idea excited her. “As soon as we can escape together somewhere alone. If I’m getting naked with you watching me the way you do, I’m going to want you to make me come.”

  “That’s a promise.”

  “I don’t want to let you go,” Gem whispered against Austin’s throat.

  “I don’t want you to.” Austin kissed her slowly until Gem was breathless. “I’ll come home. Wherever you are, I’ll always come home to you.”

  Thirty-six hours later

  “Hey, Gem,” Emily called. “Your hottie’s on the tube again.”

  Someone in the break room chuckled.

  Gem shoved the coffeepot back onto the burner and spun around, a welcome surge of energy flooding her weary body. Her head ached, her eyes were gritty, and her limbs had gone numb hours ago. Or was it days?

  The sandbags had kept the worst of the storm surge out of the estuaries and the marshes, but the beaches were badly eroded, and FEMA and Gem’s crew had been filling the worst of the trenches with the sand from the bags they’d spent hours filling. The rain had mostly stopped, and for brief blessed patches, the sun actually shone. GOP’s vessels trolled up and down the coastline, monitoring the booms and the course of the oil. None had reached shore.

  Best of all, the birds had begun to arrive.

  On the screen, Linda Kane looked as elegantly coiffed and camera perfect as she always had. No one would believe she’d nearly drowned a few days before. She stood with Austin on the platform of Rig 86. A brisk wind ruffled Austin’s hair but seemed to have no effect on the reporter’s.

  “What can you tell us about the status of the oil spill?” Linda said.

  Austin faced the camera, as comfortable as if she were addressing a handful of friends.

  “We’re happy to report the leak has been sealed and there is no further evidence of oil reaching the surface. We expect to cease the surface burn later today.”

  “Are you saying that the threat to the shoreline and coastal waters is over?”

  “Fortunately, there was never any significant threat. The booms we proactively placed trapped the small amount of surface oil driven shoreward during the hurricane, and we’ve been able to skim that off completely.”

  “And you’re confident that the wildlife sanctuary and the beaches are secure from any potential contamination?”

  “Absolutely. Due to GOP’s extensive safety protocols and the early deployment of rapid response teams before any actual spill occurred, the minimal amount of oil that reached the surface was completely and safely eradicated.”

  Linda looked toward the camera. “I can personally verify that GOP is not only committed to harvesting our economically essential natural resources in a safe and responsible manner, but their personnel are highly skilled and selfless in their dedication to protecting our environment.”

  Emily turned from the screen and glanced at Gem. “Looks like Austin has a new fan.”

  Gem laughed. “She deserves it.”

  When the news feed cut away to another story, Gem texted Austin. Nice job. Mine now?

  The response was instant.

  Always. Back soon. Owe you a sketch.

  Gem smiled, suddenly not the least bit tired. I love you. I’ll be waiting.

  About the Author

  Radclyffe has written over forty-five romance and romantic intrigue novels, dozens of short stories, and, writing as L.L. Raand, has authored a paranormal romance series, The Midnight Hunters.

  She is an eight-time Lambda Literary Award finalist in romance, mystery, and erotica—winning in both romance (Distant Shores, Silent Thunder) and erotica (Erotic Interludes 2: Stolen Moments edited with Stacia Seaman and In Deep Waters 2: Cruising the Strip written with Karin Kallmaker). A member of the Saints and Sinners Literary Hall of Fame, she is also an RWA / FF&P Prism Award winner for Secrets in the Stone, an RWA FTHRW Lories and RWA HODRW winner for Firestorm, an RWA Bean Pot winner for Crossroads, and an RWA Laurel Wreath winner for Blood Hunt. In 2014 she was awarded the Dr. James Duggins Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist Award by the Lambda Literary Foundation.

  She is also the president of Bold Strokes Books, one of the world’s largest independent LGBTQ publishing companies.

  Find her at facebook.com/Radclyffe.BSB, follow her on Twitter @RadclyffeBSB, and visit her website at Radfic.com.

  Books Available From Bold Strokes Books

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  When I Knew You by KE Pay
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  Wild Shores by Radclyffe. Can two women on opposite sides of an oil spill find a way to save both a wildlife sanctuary and their hearts? (978-1-62639-645-6)

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