Lightning Strikes

by Cass Sellars

  “So why do you look like your GPS quit working in a dark jungle?”

  “Interesting analogy.”

  “Don’t deflect.” Jenny was stern.

  “Haven’t you been listening? I’m falling for a dark-haired Dayne Grant. She’s smart, funny, charismatic, and gorgeous. She has all of the requirements: power, presence, and personality.”

  “Sounds tragic,” Jenny deadpanned.

  “She is a player. She hasn’t met a woman she couldn’t seduce and that is not where I see myself as I near forty.”

  “The girl I met last night didn’t seem like that to me. She watched every move you made, and as far as I remember, never left your side.”

  “Maybe that’s her shtick.”

  “Maybe you should relax a little.”

  “Maybe. As long as she never thinks I want a relationship, we should be okay. I’ve been quite up front about not expecting anything from her.”

  “Then perhaps you shouldn’t be surprised when you don’t get anything,” Jenny offered reasonably.

  “I could just surrender to heart-stopping sex delivered by a gorgeous woman willing to fulfill my every carnal wish.” She laughed at the foreign idea she wasn’t even comfortable joking about yet.

  Jenny squealed, pumping her fists in the air in celebration. “So happy you are finally having some fun.”

  “Shh.” Parker laughed at the bouncing woman in her guest chair. “Let’s not tell the whole office, okay? We don’t need to hear any more comments about HR standing for Homo Resources.”

  Jenny locked her lips with an imaginary key and almost danced out of the office and into hers.

  Parker tried to concentrate on work while thinking about the many days left before Friday.

  *

  Daylight had barely broken through the heavy storm clouds on the dreary fall Thursday. Parker drove home, hoping to beat the tempest. She loved the rain but wanted to watch from her window with a glass of wine, not run through it in high heels and a linen suit.

  She made it through her door just as the sounds of beating drums met the old flat roof above her loft windows. She had barely missed the first fingers of the downpour which had now begun in earnest. She pulled on loose cotton pants and a long sleeved T-shirt before collapsing onto her couch with a glass of stout red wine and an eBook.

  Barely two chapters into her book, a knock jolted her out of the story and she walked quickly to the door. “Who is it?” she sang knowing only a few people could get inside the lobby and she only cared about one.

  “It’s raining.” Syd’s voice floated through the door as Parker opened it, to see her somewhat damp lover grinning at her.

  “That’s good, Sydney. Did you think I didn’t notice?” Parker laughed drawing a hand over Syd’s wet hair and made a face before she kissed her.

  “No. I want you to come out with me.” Syd pulled her into the hall.

  “Really? It’s pouring.” She giggled at Sydney who smiled back at her like a child.

  “I know, let’s go get wet, baby.” She grabbed both Parker’s hands and pushed the door shut with her foot as she walked backward toward the outer door.

  “You are crazy, but I’ll go with you. You’re very lucky that I love the rain.”

  “I’m lucky about a lot of things.” Syd held Parker’s hands against her chest and gazed into her, causing Parker to hold her breath for just a second.

  Stepping into the torrent, they ran barefoot to the back where they could see the skyline in the distance. It didn’t take long before water coursed off their faces as they squinted into the deluge. Syd ran her finger over Parker’s cheeks. Parker felt like she was the most beautiful woman in the world at that moment. She turned her back against Sydney and felt the rapid drops pelt her face. Her eyes closed as she sank back into the odd safety of this strange new connection. Syd slid her arms around Parker and held her firmly. Parker smelled the rain and felt the drops as they stung her eyes. Her fingers traced an abstract pattern against Syd’s muscular thigh and she drank in the absolute bliss of the moment. Thunder and bright displays of lightning were slowly becoming farther apart as the storm moved away from them. Parker silently counted the seconds between the two, estimating the distance of the storm from them, a game she remembered from school.

  Syd looked down as she turned Parker to face her. “I missed you, Park.” Her voice sounded soft and deep and intoxicating, as always, paralyzing Parker.

  “I’m glad.” Parker stared as she heard herself say, “You have no idea how happy I am to see you.” She still fought the fear that one wrong word might send her commitment-phobic lover in the opposite direction.

  Sydney slicked Parker’s drenched hair behind her shoulders. Their fire renewed and the rain melted away as Sydney kissed her fast and hard, then slowly, gliding her tongue longingly over Parker’s.

  “I need to feel you,” Syd sighed. “Stay with me tonight?”

  Parker had no choice but to capitulate. She felt like there was no one else for miles. Sounds faded and lights dimmed as the rain poured a tent around the private, sacred space neither of them had expected to be in.

  “Of course,” Parker whispered, turning her cheek to rest just below Sydney’s as a clap of thunder vibrated the ground. “Want to wait for the next round of lightning?” She gazed into the sky expecting to see another electric display spark in the distance.

  “Don’t have to.” Sydney’s eyes flashed the silent message as Parker stood in front of her. Syd grabbed her hand to pull her back inside. Parker followed happily behind her. They shook off the streaming water under the tiny overhang on the step before punching into the lobby, squeezing as much water as they could from their clothes.

  Parker loved watching Syd laugh, really laugh. She couldn’t remember a happier moment than right then. They’d been sexier together, closer together, but this felt amazing and simple.

  Sydney slid open her door and leaned in to pull out giant bath sheets that were waiting on the back of the couch.

  “So, you were that sure I’d agree to your evil rain dance?” Parker smiled at Sydney.

  “Absolutely positive,” she returned a little sheepishly, biting playfully at Parker’s neck, making her shriek. Suddenly serious, she pulled Parker through the door. “Take a shower with me.”

  Parker didn’t hesitate. A nod was all she could manage as she followed wet footprints to the bathroom.

  Sydney jerked the tap to hot and pulled new towels from under the sink. Parker raised her arms as Syd pulled her now transparent T-shirt over her head, followed quickly by her own. Parker reached to release the string securing Sydney’s loose pants and shifted out of hers. Sydney stepped onto the stone tile and pulled her in to yet another stream of water.

  Parker hungrily pushed her body against her lover. Normally she was careful to gauge the temperature of their encounters, but she didn’t wait for Syd to lead this time. Parker felt her melt against her under the hot pelting spray and inhaled her as Sydney kissed her urgently, clawing at her neck and arching into her pelvis. Syd moved to pin her against the tile wall and slid down quickly to kneel in front of her. Parker’s surrender was potent and abrupt as Sydney seized her with her mouth and her hands, until a punishing crest consumed her. Parker folded over Syd’s shoulders, yielding to the moment and to her.

  “God, Sydney,” Parker breathed into Syd’s neck as she stood against her. She chuckled as she said, “I need to sit down before you kill me. Besides, it was my turn to go first, you know.” Syd just smiled as Parker shuffled to the tiny tile bench against the facing wall and dropped her head back. Sydney poured soap over Parker’s taut muscles and trembling skin, lathering her as if to worship every inch of her body.

  They washed each other slowly. Parker caressed the tall, tight figure before her. She was mesmerized by the feeling she still couldn’t adequately describe. She was continually surprised by the intensity of the feelings that were growing for Syd. She wondered if Sydney was feeling similarly fo
r her. The path they would both have to navigate meant rewriting the narrative Parker had promised not to explore.

  The water was beginning to cool when Sydney stepped out of the shower and folded a towel around Parker. Quietly she rocked her back against her and stroked the towel over her skin.

  “Bed?” Syd’s voice was raspy and washed in unsated yearning for Parker.

  Parker just nodded as Syd kissed her ear and down her neck, gathering her still closer. “Let me go lock up and I’ll be right back.” She smiled and snatched Syd’s bathrobe as she headed for the door.

  Wrapped in the much too long fluffy white robe, she tiptoed across the hall thinking that frosted glass on the lobby door would be a very handy investment. She made a mental note to bring that up with Syd. She quickly grabbed her keys and cell phone. Damn, she’d missed two calls from Allen. She hadn’t spoken with him since their dinner, partly due to her busy week and their conflicting schedules, and partly to punctuate her anger and disappointment with his embarrassing behavior.

  She pushed the cork back in the wine bottle she’d opened earlier, grabbing her abandoned glass from the table. She flipped off the light switch and the loft plummeted into darkness, and then she latched the door behind her.

  Finding Sydney very dry and thoroughly naked on top of the covers, Parker groaned appreciatively. Syd smiled and crooked a finger at Parker as Parker set the wineglass on the bedside table and stepped over to lie beside Sydney.

  “I was just hoping for the wine, you hussy.” Sydney smiled mischievously.

  “Oh, really. Well I have been used for much better than half-drunk wine,” Parker replied indignantly as she struggled to move from the bed.

  “Oh, good, then you won’t mind this.” Parker screamed when Sydney threw her across the bed and straddled her, making exaggerated biting noises.

  “You’re tickling me!” Parker laughed and gasped, desperate to stop the sensory assault. “Fine, have the wine.”

  Sydney settled into her neck, depositing her weight onto Parker. “I love being with you.”

  “You have no idea how much I love being with you,” Parker replied.

  Sydney relished the words instead of being frightened by them. “I haven’t been with anyone but you since our date at the Rio,” Sydney said as a matter of fact and watched Parker’s reaction.

  “I didn’t ask you to do that, you know.” Parker rolled against Syd and snuggled against her before she closed her eyes.

  “You didn’t have to.” Syd held Parker’s body tightly and couldn’t imagine another woman’s body under hers. Sydney traced the lines of Parker’s hip and studied the graceful slope of her thighs as sleep washed over Parker.

  Sydney began to accept that the fear of giving up her unchecked freedom was nothing when compared to giving up this connection which didn’t feel like anything she had ever expected. The problem, oddly, was that she had to convince Parker to be where she was. She considered that she had to convince herself that she could do this, and well. She reviewed her only long-term relationship and shuddered at the memory of the resulting carnage. Parker was nothing like her; Sydney had to be sure that she was nothing like Dayne.

  *

  Becky’s Jeep idled quietly in the gravel lot. She briefly considered redecorating the Audi that sat vigil with the sleek sports car belonging to her love. She thought about their last night together in this very place and imagined the wonderful lust-filled adventures in store for their next encounter.

  Would Sydney take her for an elaborate dinner? Perhaps cocktails and dancing so Sydney could show her off? Becky mentally riffled through her closet to select her shortest, sexiest dress. She felt Syd’s fingers thread through hers and she led them past a small group of envious girls, all wishing they were on Syd’s arm. They wished they were her. Her flesh tingled as she imagined Sydney’s mouth maneuvering over her body. The darkness and the fantasy lulled her into sleep. Many hours later, the sliver of a rising sun woke her with a jolt. She gathered her journal and tucked it into her overnight bag before she headed for home.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Syd deposited their dinner on the coffee table and settled behind Parker on the couch. Parker had met Sydney in her studio several times with a picnic dinner and her favorite scotch just so they could catch each other up on their day, but this evening Syd had made a point to ditch her work. She seemed genuinely to want to hear about Parker’s Eastwood project which was progressing quickly since the race was on to dry-in the building before the cold weather hit. Parker had spent weeks visiting the site and adeptly curbing issues before they became full-blown problems.

  She marveled at the sense of peace her time with Syd brought, not to mention the silence brought by Becky’s conspicuous absence. Perhaps she had finally found a new target in a new woman, which left Sydney to concentrate only on Parker. The police had been unable to pin the vandalism of Syd’s car on the unstable woman.

  Syd handed Parker a glass of wine when the phone rang. Parker rolled her eyes and mouthed the word mother at Syd as she answered.

  “Hi, Mom.” She took a long sip from her glass and accepted a heaping plate of pasta from Syd.

  “Yes, I’m home. I just sat down for dinner.” She secretly hoped her mother would take the hint and make the call brief. She didn’t give a second thought to referring to Syd’s house as home. When a story about her mother’s neighbor began, she tucked her phone against her shoulder and took a satisfying bite of garlic toast.

  “Yes, I can see why your neighbor was happy when her daughter surprised her with a visit.” Parker repeated the story in her reply for Syd’s benefit. “I’m sure she is a devoted daughter, Mom. I’m sure you explained that I live far away and surprises like that aren’t so easy for me.”

  She listened and wound a fat linguine noodle onto her fork.

  “Of course I know you and Dad are busy. Maybe you can plan a trip in the spring. Winter roads are nothing to discount up there.” Parker reached to skim a thumb over Syd’s cheek instead of listening to Sylvia Duncan ramble about her friend from the Junior League who drove into a telephone pole the previous winter.

  “Of course I understand. I don’t feel bad that you haven’t been here. And no, I haven’t heard from Dayne.” Parker watched Syd for a reaction and got none.

  “No, Mother. I haven’t met any nice men.” Sydney’s eyebrow shot up as she stifled a chuckle behind her hand. Parker looked incredulous and pulled the phone away to stare at the digital photo of the woman who refused to accept who her daughter was. Parker was unconcerned about missing any salient words of her mother’s wisdom while she traded garlicky kisses with Syd and felt the insecurities of losing Sydney to her past fall away.

  “You too, Mom. Tell Dad hello.” She chucked the phone on the couch and groaned.

  “Should I be watching over my shoulder for nice men?” Syd joked as she nuzzled her neck.

  “Definitely. My forty-year phase is almost up and you know how hard it will be to find a willing straight guy to convert a wayward lesbian.” She finished the last bite she could manage and slid her plate onto the table next to Syd’s.

  “I see your point,” Syd responded seriously. “I guess I’ll just hang on for a bit longer in case.” She swung a leg over Parker and perched on her knees over her.

  Parker batted her eyes at Syd. “You’d do that for me?” Parker’s look of feigned adoration made Sydney laugh loudly at her.

  “You have no idea what a philanthropist I am.” She delivered the last word against Parker’s mouth, savoring the familiarity and relishing the sensation that still served to arouse her everywhere.

  Parker groaned when her phone rang again, and she checked the readout. “It’s Jenny. Thank goodness.” Parker answered and put her on speaker.

  “Hey, you’re on speaker,” Syd announced.

  “We have some news,” Mack yelled from the background.

  “Well, tell us,” Parker urged.

  “Okay. You are now speaking
to your very pregnant assistant. I, well we, are now thirteen weeks pregnant.” A round of cheers drowned out cogent conversation.

  “When do you officially buy the minivan, Mack?” Syd teased.

  “Not going to happen, Hyatt, but the baby is due May 13th.” The stalwart cop sounded uncharacteristically giddy.

  “Hey,” Jenny said when the conversation quieted, “I saw you on the preview for the news, Syd. We have the DVR all set.”

  “I think you will be wanting that recording space back.” Syd’s self-deprecating humor covered her discomfort at being featured on television.

  Parker said, “It’s on now, in fact. I can’t wait to see it.” She grabbed the remote.

  “Go. We’ll talk later. Love you.”

  “We are so happy for you. Love you both.” Parker disconnected as she pushed the volume on the television higher.

  The continuing news coverage of the murder of a gay couple outside a club focused on Sydney’s expert testimony that night. Parker was captivated by the sculpted perfection of Sydney’s now serious visage.

  “This guy”—Sydney pointed out the opposing counsel on the screen—“is a white supremacist and he thinks no one will hold his feet to the fire for it. Get ready for this little bit of genius.”

  Her tone was sarcastic. The smug defense attorney approached the witness box clearly relishing the opportunity to question Sydney during a qualification challenge. Parker’s eyes were locked on the television.

  “Ms. Hyatt,” the defense attorney parried, “you have a personal stake in this case, correct? In making my client look bad?” He leaned across the yellow oak frame and glared at her, hoping to draw a useful reaction.

  Parker noticed how unaffected Sydney had been by his calculated antagonism. Sydney appraised him calmly. “I’m unclear as to your implication, Mr. Reagan.” Syd’s reply was clearly intentionally obtuse.