Sumter Point

by K. G. MacGregor

  Audie pulled her in for a timid kiss. “I always feel good when I’m with you.”

  “You make me feel that way too.”

  The next kiss grew in intensity and Audie’s hands began to wander again across Beth’s naked skin, settling on her nipples.

  “Did I happen to mention that I’m also a breast woman?”

  Audie gently wriggled her tingling arm from underneath Beth’s shoulder. Apparently, neither of them had moved a muscle all night. Of course, that tends to happen when you go to sleep exhausted, she reminded herself with a smile. Beth had worn her out, and if the dead weight beside her was any indication, the sentiment was mutual.

  Beth had her number right from the beginning, putting an end to any notions she might have had about being in control of their adventures. Audie rarely let herself get topped, ever since Maxine had drilled it into her head that good sex was about power. Maxine was crazy. Good sex happened when you cared about somebody.

  Of course, it didn’t hurt that Beth knew her way around a clitoris.

  And around… and around.

  Audie studied the peaceful form beside her, fighting the urge to wake her with a kiss on her ear. If this were anyone else, she probably would have tiptoed out the door by now. There was never a good reason before to hang around after a night of sex, but that really wasn’t what last night was about.

  So what was different this time?

  The answer came easily. Everything.

  Last night hadn’t been just a night of pleasure seeking, like it was when she was with Regan or Deanna… though she had certainly found plenty of pleasure with Beth. But they had shared much more than sex, talking into the night about their friendship and how their feelings had grown.

  If Audie had ever been in love before, she hadn’t known it. But nothing had ever felt like this. She probably should have been scared or panicked to realize that, but all she felt was happy, especially with Beth here beside her.

  So maybe that’s why everything had been different last night.

  Could it be she had just made love for the first time in her life?

  “Hey.” Beth squirmed closer and wrapped an arm around her waist, burying her face in Audie’s breasts.

  “Good morning, beautiful.” She leaned forward and kissed the ear that had been tempting her, noticing BD’s position on Beth’s outstretched thighs. “Are you aware there’s a pussy between your legs?” The cat sat up and scratched behind his ear. He had spent part of the night on Audie’s pillow, but it was clear his true loyalties were with his new mistress. “And your clock is flashing, which means the power went off last night and it’s probably time for me to be at work.”

  “Are you always this chatty in the morning?” Beth groaned.

  “Always. And cheerful… especially after a night like last night.” Audie stretched for her watch on the bedside table. Eight thirty. “I hate to break this to you but I have to go. There’s a border collie on Second Street who really wishes I’d come home and let him out to pee.”

  Beth pinned her in place by looking directly into her eyes, her expression serious. “I woke up last night and watched you sleep.”

  “Do I snore?”

  “No. You looked so… I just wanted to hold you and be close. I liked you being here.”

  “I liked being here too,” she answered, lofting her eyebrows twice in a lascivious gesture. But Beth wasn’t amused, and Audie began to suspect there was more to what she was saying than her simple words. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah, I just… I should probably shut up until my brain wakes up or I’ll say something stupid.”

  “No, you shouldn’t. You should tell me what you’re thinking or I’m going to worry that something’s wrong.”

  “Nothing’s wrong, Audie, really. Last night was wonderful.”

  “I thought so too. But I hear a ‘but’ in there.”

  By this time, Beth wasn’t meeting her eye, focusing instead on a couple of small moles near her breast, tracing her finger from one to the other and back. “You remember I told you last night that being with you was something I’ve wanted?”

  “Yes, and in case you didn’t hear me, I told you the same thing.”

  “I know.” Beth momentarily looked at her but then went back to her finger play. “And I’m really happy about finally being together like that. It’s just that…”

  “What is it? Tell me what’s wrong.”

  “I don’t know what you’re looking for from me and that’s got me a little worried.”

  Audie swallowed nervously, thinking she might be on the receiving end of a brush-off.

  Beth showed mercy and continued. “I wouldn’t change a thing about last night, no matter what. But I don’t want to do this again if it’s just for fun. You mean more to me than that… and sex means more to me than that. If we’re going to work our way through that list of yours, I want it to be because we care about each other, not just because it feels good.”

  Audie relaxed as a wave of relief washed over her. “I do care about you. How can I prove that?” She gasped as a hand beneath the covers cupped her sex.

  “If we’re going to share ourselves this way, I need for this part of you to be just for me.”

  Now it was clear. This was about her blasé attitude regarding casual sex, one she knew Beth didn’t share—and one she was pretty sure she no longer held. What was ironic was that she had come to the conclusion on her own only moments ago. “Then you’re in luck, because it just so happens that I don’t want to share that with anyone else.”

  Beth let out a contented sigh. “That’s all I needed to hear.”

  Audie pulled her close as she struggled to sit up in bed. “Then I’m”—she punctuated her words with a kiss—“glad we got”—another kiss—“that settled.”

  Beth pushed herself up and ran a hand through her hair.

  Audie smiled appreciatively at the sight of her body, now in all its glory in the light of day. “You’re very pretty, you know,” she said, sighing deeply.

  “Sure you don’t want to call in sick?”

  “I do, but I can’t.” Audie didn’t think Oscar would buy hormonal overload as a legitimate illness. “We just hired two new vet techs and I have to train them. And Saturday’s our busiest day.”

  “You’re so responsible.”

  Audie snorted. “That’s not something I hear a lot.”

  “It should be. But take it from me. You don’t want it to be all they say about you.”

  “There’s probably no danger of that.”

  “Seriously, look at how you’ve stepped up in the last few weeks. You’re about to take on a new job with a lot of responsibilities, and you’re managing the house all on your own. It’s a lot to do.”

  Audie was mildly uncomfortable with the praise. “I’m not doing anything that other people don’t have to do all the time too.”

  “I know. But you haven’t let it take away your fun like I did. I always thought I could do one or the other, but you’ve made me see that I can do both.”

  Audie sure enjoyed the sexy side of Beth she had seen last night at the Gallery, but what appealed to her most was her serious side, something she never saw in women like Regan or Deanna. “Do you always talk about such heavy shit first thing in the morning?”

  Beth laughed. “Only when you wake up chatty and cheerful.”

  “Sounds like we need to make a deal or something.”

  “I’m for anything that means we wake up together.”

  “Then why don’t we try this again tonight?”

  “I think I can be persuaded.”

  “Good.” Audie swung her legs out of bed on the other side.

  “But for now, I need to hurry home before Buster makes me pay.”

  Beth tossed her dust cloth and grinned broadly as the phone rang again. Audie had already called her four times today just to talk. Most of what they said was silly, but Beth didn’t care. She had never been this giddy about a woman
in her whole life and it felt great. “Hello, there.”

  “Hello, yourself.”

  “Ginger!”

  “So where did you disappear to last night? One minute you and Audie were getting all steamy on the dance floor and the next thing I know you’re gone.”

  “We, uh… came home a little early.” Beth knew she would be hearing from Ginger.

  “So? I want to know everything. Did things get steamier? Did you get laid?”

  Beth sank onto the couch and threw her feet up on the coffee table. “I can’t believe you.”

  “Oh, come on, Beth. I tell you everything.”

  “Including things I don’t want to know.” She counted off a few silent seconds, just in case Ginger might change the subject or give up on her quest for knowledge. No such luck. “Okay, yes. Things got steamier.”

  “And you got laid?”

  “Yes. God, I can’t believe how bad I’m blushing and you’re not even here. But I am not going to tell you everything.”

  “Just tell me this. Was I right about Audie, or do you actually think there’s more to it than just sex?”

  “I think you were wrong…” If the four phone calls were any indication, Audie was as excited about their new direction as she was. “But time will tell.”

  “I wouldn’t mind being wrong, Beth. I hope Audie’s as good for you as Mallory is for me. It’s nice being with somebody who doesn’t live life under any sort of pretense.”

  “You mean like our ex-assholes?”

  “Exactly. I never have to worry what Mallory’s thinking or planning. If it’s on her mind, she says it.”

  “Yeah, I think Audie’s like that.”

  “And I don’t know about you, but I like having somebody tap my adventurous side in the bedroom. I’m betting Audie does that for you just like Mallory does for me.”

  “You’re making me blush again.” A click on the receiver indicated another call. “Ginger, you know I love you, but I have another call and I’m thinking it’s Audie.”

  “That’s okay. But plan on meeting me for Chinese on Tuesday because you’re telling me everything, got it?” She hung up before Beth could reply.

  Chapter 17

  Audie sauntered toward her Grammaw’s room, craning her neck each time she passed a doorway in hopes of catching a glimpse of Beth. They had been all but inseparable since the weekend until last night, when Beth went to class and Audie stayed home with a lonesome Buster.

  “Hi, Grammaw,” she said, tossing her coat onto the bed.

  “Good morning, sweetheart.” As she did most mornings after breakfast, Violet sat in her recliner working the crossword puzzle from the newspaper.

  “You need any help with those big words?” Audie teased.

  “Better yet, maybe you ought to put that way and give me your undivided attention.”

  Violet set her pencil down and looked at Audie with a twinkle in her eye. “What in the world are you up to, Audrey Jane?”

  Audie smiled, unable to contain her look of mischief. She was bursting to tell her Grammaw about Beth, but she had wanted to wait until today when Beth came back to work. “I have some news for you that you might like.”

  “I knew there was something. You’ve been full of piss and vinegar all week.”

  “I thought you might be interested in knowing that I have a girlfriend.” The astonished look on her grandmother’s face was priceless.

  “Is it… someone I know?”

  “You’re going to meet her in a few minutes. She’s coming by just to see you.” Astonishment turned to bewilderment, and unless Audie was mistaken, maybe even disappointment.

  “Well, do I look all right?” Violet brushed her lap to straighten her housecoat.

  “You look great, Grammaw.”

  Audie broke into an enormous grin as Beth came in, a grin that grew even larger when it was enthusiastically returned.

  “Good morning, Miss Violet. How are you today?”

  “All right, I guess.”

  Beth seemed to notice the uneasiness and immediately looked at Audie for a clue. “Is this woman giving you trouble? I can have her thrown out.”

  “She says her new girlfriend is coming to meet me.”

  “Her new girlfriend?” Beth’s eyes went wide.

  “That’s right,” Audie said with a smirk. “I told her my new girlfriend would be by soon.”

  Beth pulled her stethoscope and blood pressure cuff from her pocket. “I think I’ll stick around for that. But maybe I should get your vitals now in case you don’t like her.”

  “I think Grammaw will like her just fine. Everybody likes her.”

  “Everybody? That’s a little hard to believe,” Beth said, holding up one finger to silence the conversation as she took her reading.

  Audie waited until she stripped the cuff from her grandmother’s arm. “Yes, and she’s very pretty. The only—”

  “Pretty is one of those subjective things, though. Someone else might think she’s a dog.”

  Violet’s head snapped up in obvious shock.

  “She’s no dog, believe me. What I was going to say before I was so rudely interrupted”—Audie paused to glare at Beth—“is that her only problem is her tendency to be argumentative, especially when you try to compliment her.”

  “Argumentative, huh? I beg to differ,” Beth answered, now wearing a smirk.

  Audie studied her Grammaw’s brightening expression as realization dawned. She took Beth’s hand and squeezed it. “So meet my new girlfriend, Grammaw. What do you think?”

  “I knew it!”

  “You did not.”

  “I sure did. I’ve been watching you both, the way you always watch for each other.” Violet’s eyes sparkled with happy tears.

  “I guess she finally noticed me, Grammaw.”

  “Don’t believe that. I noticed her the day she chewed out that ambulance crew for pushing you around too fast.”

  “She was pretty hard to miss that day, wasn’t she?” Violet asked.

  Audie turned and picked up her coat. “I guess you two will gossip about me now because I have to go to work.” Audie leaned over and kissed her grandmother’s forehead. “I’m glad you’re happy, Grammaw.”

  “I am.”

  “Excuse me just a minute, Miss Violet. I’ll be right back.” Beth followed Audie into the hall and lowered her voice. “So I’m your girlfriend, am I?”

  Audie grinned, feeling more than a little cocky. “I’d like you to be.”

  “I haven’t been anyone’s girlfriend for a long time.”

  “Well, I’ve never even had a girlfriend before, so there.”

  “I see.” Beth waited silently as Wanda walked by them on the way to the sunroom. “I think I’d like being your girlfriend, Audie.”

  Audie leaned close and whispered, “Good. What I’d like is to give you a big kiss… right on your—”

  “And maybe you’ll come over and do that tonight?” Beth stepped away as Hazel walked out of her office and started down the hallway.

  “After work. See you then.”

  Audie nodded a greeting to Hazel as she exited, wondering what the director would think if she knew that Nurse Hester was now her official girlfriend.

  “I can’t believe how much I missed you last night,” Beth said, leaning naked against the headboard as she watched Audie undress. “I was tempted to drag you into the supply closet at work and have my way with you.”

  “You should have. We could have supplied each other with all sorts of things.” Audie stepped out of her jeans and left them crumpled on the floor. “Is that one of your fantasies? To do me in the supply closet?”

  “Maybe.” One of her fantasies was coming true now, as Audie stood naked at the foot of the bed shaking her hair from the ponytail tie. What she hadn’t envisioned was the bright red and yellow apple in the midst of all that creamy white skin.

  “Did I ever tell you I had a dream about us once? We were walking on the path toward Sumter
Point holding hands.”

  “That’s pretty hot.”

  “Smart aleck. What was freaky was that I had that dream the night before your test, and when you got back in the car that afternoon, you said you wanted to go walking down there.”

  “So that’s what happened. I wondered why you started acting so weird.”

  “I wasn’t acting weird.”

  “Yes, you were.”

  “Anyway, we should do that sometime. Then you’ll be the woman who makes my dreams come true.” Audie stretched across the foot of the bed, propping her head in her hand.

  “What are you doing down there?”

  “Looking at you.”

  “Oh, yeah? What do you see?”

  “Someone very beautiful.”

  Beth stretched her leg so her toes could brush against Audie’s nipple. Audie answered by grasping her foot and kissing the instep.

  “I bet you could see me better if you got closer.”

  “But when we’re close, sight gets sacrificed for the other senses.”

  Her words came slowly, and with a hypnotic effect. “We touch, we smell, we taste. We hear each other’s moans and cries… but we close our eyes to focus on those sensations. I want to watch you. I want to see you throb when you come.”

  “You better look fast, then. I could almost come just listening to you talk like that.”

  “Where’s your vibrator?”

  “My vibrator?”

  “I know it isn’t under the bed because I peeked when you were in the bathroom.”

  Beth leaned over and opened the bedside table. Before drawing out the sleek, white toy, she looked once more at Audie just to make certain she was serious. She was.

  “You want to know what I do with this?” She held the rubber tip to her nose and sniffed, delighting in the smile that appeared on Audie’s face. Then she settled back against the pillows. “I usually start out on low… and I… define my perimeter.” With the toy whirring softly, she trailed the tip around the edge of her pubic hair, stopping well short of contact with her clitoris.