by Melissa Good
With a laugh, she took them out, washing them off before adding them to the tray, then carrying the entire thing out to where Dar was peacefully waiting.
“Here.” She put the tray down and settled into the leather next to Dar, feeling the sudden impact of those blue eyes on her. She picked the ice up and gently put it in place, tucking the edges of the terrycloth towel around the ends. “How’s that?”
“Nice.” Dar regarded her quietly. “You have very gentle hands.” She captured one of Kerry’s, and studied it, turning it over and stroking the palm.
It was like getting an adrenaline shot right to the groin. Kerry had to swallow before she could make an attempt at regaining her composure.
“Thanks,” she whispered, finding herself wanting to continue the contact.
“They seem to get that way around you for some reason.”
Dar gazed at her, then lifted a hand and traced her cheekbone with a feather light touch. “Yeah,” she murmured, feeling Kerry lean into the pressure as her eyes fluttered closed, “strange.” The touch circled around the blonde’s neck, pulling her down willingly as their lips met. Kerry’s hands found a place on either side of Dar’s head, and they slid together, the ice forgotten. The berries forgotten. Even the chocolate was forgotten.
Dar leaned back and stretched her legs out as Kerry fit herself into the space next to the back of the couch, feeling the cool touch of the leather warm against her skin. She was careful not to jar the taller woman’s side as she nibbled the soft skin of her neck, inhaling the smell of cotton mixed with the chlorine that still clung to Dar’s body. A hand touched her side, and she drew a sharp breath in as she slid a return touch down Dar’s thigh, feeling the muscles move under her hand as the taller woman shifted, pressing her back against the leather into a very safe space. Lips found her earlobe, then her throat, sucking gently at her pulse point which jumped under the attention.
Then she had an idea. She reached over Dar and stuck a finger in the warm chocolate, then bringing it back and painting a line down Dar’s face. She nibbled it. “Oh, that’s nice.” She licked it off, then spread a line lower, hearing a soft chuckle sound deep in Dar’s throat.
“This is gonna get mes-sy,” the taller woman rumbled softly, reaching over and getting a blob of chocolate, applying it neatly along Kerry’s collarbone. “Glad the couch is leather.” She pulled the T-shirt down off one of Kerry’s shoulders and cleaned off her handiwork as she felt a warm stripe traveling along her breastbone, followed by a tongue and lips.
“Mmm.” Kerry painted a set of circles.
“Good chocolate, huh?” Dar managed to whisper, finding a nice well in Kerry’s belly button to hide some in.
“What chocolate?” Kerry exhaled, sliding a hand down Dar’s stomach.
“Oh, right. Yeah.” She was careful not to press against the bruise, but she wanted to touch every other square inch of her—her lips roaming over the soft skin and tasting and breathing and touching. The pressure was building again, as Dar’s hands moved, and her dark hair brushed against Kerry’s sensitized skin. She cried out softly.
“You all right?” Dar’s voice, almost inside of her, vibrating down her ears.
Tropical Storm 323
“Yeah…just…” Kerry could hardly stand the intensity, and she pulled Dar closer, letting the sensation build until they both were helpless in its grasp.
The release left them gasping, bodies intertwined in the soft nest of damp leather. Kerry managed to stir, shifting up and nestling her head against Dar’s shoulder as she wrapped her arms around her, hugging her mindlessly.
Dar let her eyes slide shut, feeling her heart begin to slow its hammering as she gently stroked Kerry’s hair. A sweet peace filled her, and she smiled a bit. “Feels so good,” she murmured. “Different.”
A faint nod against her chest. “Beautiful.” Kerry sighed, thinking about being surrounded by a security and a warmth like none she’d ever known.
And something else. She looked up at Dar’s face. “I’ve never felt like this before,” she admitted quietly.
There was a long silence while Dar gazed into her eyes. “Me either.”
Those blue eyes. Kerry had never known anyone else’s quite like hers.
And yet, they were as familiar to her as her own reflection. She knew the tiny crinkle at their edges, and the way a smile could creep into them, and how they narrowed and darkened when deep in thought, as though she’d known them all her life. And so, now, when they opened and gentled, warm on her face as a soft hint of sunlight, she had no doubt of the emotion behind them.
“Dar?”
“Mmm?”
“Would you think it was really tacky of me if I told you I’m in love with you?” She bit her lip and waited, crossing her toes and the fingers of the one hand she had out of sight.
Dar actually stopped breathing. Her chest stilled as she paused a beat, before a startled, but delighted, smile shaped her lips. “You are?”
Like a child given a surprise toy on her birthday, Kerry decided, having seen that on TV once. “Yeah.” She replied softly. “I am.”
“Um…” Dar’s face had an expression that was a cross between embarrassment and happiness. “At least you had the sense to figure it out yourself. I had to have the god-damned doctor tell me.”
Kerry gazed at her in cautious hope . “Tell you what?” She means, no she doesn’t, yes she does oh Jesus…yes…yes… Yes!
Dar gave in to it and let it take her over. “Tell me the reason I’ve been feeling so damn strange.” She traced Kerry’s eyebrow. “I didn’t have the sense to know what love was when I fell into it.” She sighed softly. “So, no, I don’t think it’s tacky. I think it’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever heard.”
Yes! Kerry felt a little giddy. Wheeee! Her eyes lit, and she felt a big grin take over her face. No, I feel a lot giddy. It wasn’t at all like the romance novels said it would be, but I’ll take it. She sighed happily. Wait. “Been feeling?”
Dar smiled sheepishly. “I think I should have realized something was going on with me after I found myself getting you a pin that time we went shopping.”
Kerry blinked. “Pin? Oh my god, that dolphin pin?” She stared at Dar in amazement. “The one on that suit? I…Jesus. I found that after I got home. I thought I was just going crazy and didn’t see it.” She laughed in delight. “Dar, that’s so sweet.”
324 Melissa Good The taller woman tried a scowl, then she finally just laughed. Kerry laughed too, and they ended up just hugging each other, squeezing tighter until Dar finally sucked in a breath and gasped.
Kerry released her immediately. “Oh god, sorry.” Her hand went to cradle Dar’s face, tensed in pain. “Dar, are you all right?”
The pain subsided, and the taller woman sighed softly. “Whoa,” she muttered. “That stung.”
Kerry hitched herself up on an elbow and scratched her nose, then prodded Dar’s shoulder with a forefinger. “Remember, you said you were going to stop by the doctor’s tomorrow if it still hurt?”
Penitent blue eyes glanced warily at her. “Yeaaah, I said that.”
“Well, you’re not getting a choice,” Kerry informed her. “Because I’m going to take you there.” A dark brow rose. Kerry leaned over and kissed it, then backed off and waited.
Dar chewed her lip, then let a wry grin take over her face. “All right, you win.” She sighed.
Yeah. Kerry retrieved the ice pack, now sadly the worse for wear, and settled it back over Dar’s ribs. We both win. She squirmed back down against the leather, watching as Dar retrieved a strawberry and scooped up a bit of the cooled chocolate. She brought it over and offered it. Kerry took a bite and chewed. “Mmm.”
Dar took her own bite and stretched her legs out a little, feeling Kerry settle against her with a warm familiarity. Everything was changing. Her life was now in a wonderful, frightening chaos. It felt absolutely fantastic.
Chapter
Twenty-six
THE WHINE OF the alarm brought Dar out of her dream and into the waking reality of pre-dawn with a gasp. She reached out and slapped the clock, hushing it, then laid her head back onto the pillow and let her heart start to calm. Jesus. She blinked a few times, then glanced down at the blonde limpet attached snugly to her. It took a moment of getting used to. She’d been alone for so long, waking up in this warm tangle was a shock, albeit a pleasant one, she had to admit. She was on her back, and Kerry was tucked up against her right side, her head pillowed on Dar’s shoulder and a firm grip wound around her stomach. It seemed to be a favorite position of hers, Dar noted, as she watched Kerry’s breathing rise and fall with a steady rhythm.
Dar found a smile inching across her face as she softly fingered the bright hair cascading across her chest, tangling it idly in fascination. She loves me. The thought swirled around her mind, rinsing it clean of the fogginess of sleep. She actually said it. The others never had. Oh, they’d talked about sex, and commitment, but never looked right up at her and just told her…
Do you think it’s tacky of me? Dar savored the question with a little sigh.
No, I don’t think it was tacky. What would I have said… How would I have expressed that, if it had been up to me? She snorted in silent laughter . Like I could have. I was so scared she was gonna walk away from this. Dar cursed her own insecurity softly. I’m glad she had more guts than I have. And god, what she’s been through.
Now her anger stirred again, thinking of what Kerry had gone through.
Bastards. How could they do that to a kid? She shook her head a tiny bit. And that piece of shit bodyguard. She wondered if he’d just roughed Kerry up or… Her hands touched the soft skin on the blonde woman’s arm. Had he raped her?
God help him if he did and I ever meet him. Dar shivered a little at the dark pulse of energy that ran through her. It was a wild, violent streak she didn’t often let herself feel, but she knew it was there, and what her temper would lead her to if she wasn’t careful.
Looking down at the pale, innocent face nestled against her skin, she knew being careful wasn’t something she did naturally. Good-natured as her father had been with her, and with children of all ages—still, that part she knew she’d gotten from him. This protective instinct for those she cared for wasn’t something she could ignore.
Kerry chose that moment to stir, mumbling a bit into Dar’s chest before she lifted her head and peered up in the gloom, her eyes finding Dar’s. “It’s dark,” she pointed out, stifling a yawn. “Did you realize that?”
“Uh huh,” her bedmate agreed. “It sure is. Best time for running.” Even 326 Melissa Good in the dim light she could see the pale eyebrows lift in disapproval. “I usually get up at this time.”
Kerry gave her an incredulous look. “Dar, you’re not seriously considering running around out there in the dark, are you? You’re hurt,” she protested.
“No I’m not, I’m fine, it doesn’t hurt a bit this morning.” She took a deep breath to demonstrate. “See?” It was a little tender, but the night’s sleep had helped a lot, and she really did feel much better. “I generally run about, um, ten miles in the morning.”
Kerry propped up her head on her hand and regarded the taller woman thoughtfully. “That’s disgusting,” she commented, then she slipped a hand between the buttons on Dar’s shirt and let her fingers run over the smooth skin. The heat from the previous night had subsided and the bruise didn’t seem to be causing its victim much pain after all. “Hmm, doesn’t feel as swollen. I guess you’re right.”
Dar blinked a few times, enjoying the friendly touch of Kerry’s fingers, now moving in idle circles against her skin. It relaxed her, she realized, and she found herself stifling a yawn in reaction. “Mmm, stop that. You’re putting me to sleep,” she complained wryly.
“Oh, really?” Kerry mused with a tiny smirk. “Well, well, well…look at you. This is better than a hypnotist with a swinging pocket watch.” She made her circles wider and bit her lip in amusement as the blue eyes dimly visible in the pre-dawn light slid shut. “C’mon, Dar, let it go. Even if you feel fine, you took quite a jolt last night,” Kerry told her reasonably.
“Yeah, it’s not every night I get painted in chocolate,” Dar murmured, the corners of her mouth twitching. “Certainly was a shock to my system all right.”
“That was not what I meant, and you know it.” Kerry chuckled. “Give yourself a break, Dar, we’ve got a long day today. That delegation from Pittsburgh is in at ten,” she coaxed, grinning impishly when there wasn’t an immediate argument. “Besides, I’m really comfortable.” She eased closer, feeling the light pressure of Dar’s hand against her back.
“Arrrggg … Only for a little while,” Dar grumbled, surrendering.
“How about daylight, hmm? That sound good?” Kerry countered, not stopping her petting for a moment.
No answer, and Kerry smiled at the deep, even breathing. She settled back down contentedly and exhaled. So this is what being in love feels like. She looked out the window, at the stars still vivid in the southern sky. I like it, she decided as she closed her eyes.
Last night had been a big surprise. She knew she hadn’t had any intention of bringing up what Colleen referred to as the big “L” word, not last night, not until she had some clue as to how Dar felt, but… But... she’d gotten an inkling, even without any words on the taller woman’s part. It hadn’t taken a telephone psychic to pick up Dar’s nervousness or the intensity of her feelings. Kerry opened her eyes and gazed up at the taller woman’s face. For someone so in control, you sure don’t have a handle on the mushy stuff, do you? She let her lids slide shut again, glad she’d told Dar about her family. Her reaction had been gratifying, to say the least. Kerry let the sleepiness start to take her Tropical Storm 327
back over, closing her eyes more tightly and sucking in a breath full of clean linen and her bedmate. Then she opened them again. Jesus, Kerry, you have a lover. Can you imagine that? Green orbs glanced around the room, then fell on Dar’s face, peacefully asleep. Nice to know you have better taste than the President. She stifled a faint laugh. And if I didn’t have a reason to stay here before, I certainly do now.
She thought a moment about what Dar had said the previous night. Had she really meant what she’d said, about finding things out about her father?
Or was it just bravado talking, Dar’s apparent desire to defuse her worry about what he might do to her, to them? Was Dar just a talker? Kerry suddenly remembered Brady’s phone conversation with Dar during the takeover of Associated and also the night she’d been carjacked, and she had to admit to herself that there was something real and a little dangerous about her new lover. Just like there was something real and dangerous about her father.
Kerry slowly let her held breath out, knowing she’d come to a point where she’d have to put her money on one or the other, and she didn’t truly know what the odds were in the possible directions her life could take. Ah, well. She put her head back down and closed her eyes. I’ll find out soon enough.
THE PHONE BUZZED. “Yeah?” Dar punched the speaker button and kept on typing, her eyes flicking across the spreadsheet intently. “What is it?”
“Dar, security at the desk just called up, someone to see you,” Maria’s voice informed her. “Is…Michelle Graver?”
Oh crap. Dar mentally reviewed her options. Major client, probably in town for a short visit, probably wanted to finally corner her into that dinner.
Oh crap. “Sure, have her escorted up.” She sighed aggrievedly. Just what she needed after a day like today. Two presentation sessions, a half dozen arguments, one really nasty situation solved by mostly sheer cussedness on her part… Damn, I was looking forward to leaving. She keyed a popup message.
I’m in trouble, Michelle’s here.
She clicked Send, then went back to her spreadsheet for a moment.
You could take her to Shorty’s for dinner. Bet she’d look good in ketchup.
Da
r chuckled to herself at Kerry’s prompt response. Shorty’s was the local barbeque hangout, off US 1 near Dadeland. It served great ribs, and she actually was partial to their food, but “rustic” as a term didn’t quite do it justice. At least they’d put air conditioning in a few years back and didn’t depend on only screening to keep the bugs out.
Might as well just take her to McDonalds.
She sent that reply, then glanced up as the door opened to reveal Maria’s round form. “Oh, thought you were her.”
“No, no.” Maria walked over and handed her a file folder. “Is the contract 328 Melissa Good for the new utilities account in New York.”
“Thanks.” Dar smiled at her and took the folder, putting it on her desk and leaning back as she saved the spreadsheet. “Well, that’s done—the first quarter projections for infrastructure growth. We’re going to get slaughtered if we don’t buy up more facilities.” She stretched and cracked her neck, then put her hands behind her head and let out a satisfied sigh.
Maria watched her. “You feel good, no?” she asked, mildly amazed at the visible difference in her boss.
Dar paused, then finally nodded. “Yeah, must be all this extra rest I’m getting,” she deadpanned. “Haven’t had a damn headache in weeks.”
“Tcha, is good.” Maria smiled at her as Dar’s eyes rested on the dolphin sculpture.
“Yeah.” After a moment, Dar looked up again, a mildly bemused expression on her face. “Sure beats swallowing all those damn pills. Gave me a stomach ache.” She lightly rocked back in her chair as she heard the elevator door open. “Here comes trouble, if I’m not mistaken.”
Sharp, staccato heels could be heard on the tile before the security guard opened the door, and Michelle Graver stepped around him and in. She gazed around the office appreciatively and finally ended up letting her eyes rest on Dar, who was still leaning back in her chair, her hands folded in front of her.
