TheCrystal

by Sandra Cox

  She still felt the warning pinch of headaches whenever she thought of Christopher but overall felt relaxed and her body and mind were healing.

  The doorbell rang for the third time, an insistent buzz, buzz.

  Gabby put the chain on and then opened the door the prerequisite inch. A pretty little redhead stood on the porch smiling at her, dressed in clothes worth more than everything in her wardrobe combined.

  “Amy!” Unhooking the chain, she ran onto the porch and threw her arms around her friend and squeezed. Amy smelled of Estee Launder’s Beautiful and barely reached Gabby’s shoulders and for some reason Gabby felt comforted as she laid her head down against her friend’s hair.

  Amy hugged her back. “Gabby, honey, are you going to invite me in or are we going to chat on the porch? I’m baking out here. It must be eighty degrees.”

  Gabby laughed. “This would be considered nearly winter weather in New Orleans.”

  “Well, honey, we aren’t in New Orleans now are we? Are you going to ask me in or not?”

  “Woof. Woof.” Ned ran in ecstatic circles around the two women. Next to his beloved guardian, Amy was his best friend, right after that pain in the butt, Jericho.

  “Can I get you something to drink?” Gabby headed toward the tiny kitchen.

  “I’ll take a beer.” Amy followed her to the kitchen.

  Gabby opened her old refrigerator. The motor hummed. “Mm, I have soda and iced tea. She stuck her hand inside the cool interior and moved a ketchup bottle. No beer appeared.

  A bubbly laugh burst from her friend’s lips. “Don’t tell me let me guess. Your dad cleaned your refrigerator out for you. Damn I wouldn’t have minded an ice-cold Coors.”

  Gabby gave a wry smile and nodded.

  “Honey, it pains your dad that you can party with the best of them. Give me a Coke then.”

  Gabby handed her a Coke, the can chill against her warm palm.

  Amy caught a long red fingernail under the cylinder and gave it an expert pop. Caramel carbonation fizzed to the top. Her friend took a long swallow. “Ah, that’s good. Let’s go to the living room.” She walked into the living room and sank down on the sagging sofa. Gabby trailed behind her.

  Gabby sat cross-legged on the floor. Jericho came in and settled in her lap. She stroked the soft rich fur. An appreciative purr rumbled in Jericho’s throat.

  Amy took another swallow of her Coke. “So tell me about the hunk you went to New Orleans with. My date as I recall.”

  Gabby moved restively from hip to hip, disturbing Jericho, who complained about it. She scratched him behind the ear and he settled back down. “He came to North Carolina to rescue me, whether I needed it or not.”

  “North Carolina? You’ll have to tell me all about it. Remember that I introduced you.”

  “That’s one version.”

  Amy narrowed her eyes, her expression speculative. “Hm.” Then winked and gave Gabby a saucy smile. “Did you do the dirty?”

  Gabby began to fan herself with her hand, suddenly hot. Amy was right about the temperature. “Did you?” she shot back.

  “No, damn it.” Amy sounded so regretful that Gabby burst out laughing.

  Her friend settled back against the couch. “Tell me what happened. No, no, tell me about the hunk.”

  “I don’t trust him.”

  “Well, of course, not dear. Anyone with those bedroom eyes and languid glances is dangerous.”

  “That too but that’s not what I meant.” She remembered the mountains and the attack. “He’s the kind of man who could take care of himself alone in a dark alley.”

  “Ooh, how romantic.”

  “Mm,” Gabby’s voice was noncommittal.

  Amy patted the couch invitingly. “Come here and tell me all about it.”

  Gabby took a long breath, then told her best friend everything…except about the green globe and the fact that she’d had the most intense mind-altering sex that she’d ever had in her life. Some things just weren’t meant to be shared. Though she’d never hesitated before. When she finished, Gabby got up and walked restlessly around her small living room, Jericho at her heels.

  Amy studied her. “So you are engaged to the hunk?”

  Gabby whirled, causing Jericho to bump into her leg. “No, I’m not.”

  “But you would like to be.”

  “No of course not.”

  “Because…”

  “He’s too, too…” Gabby threw her hands in the air, in frustration.

  “Sexy,” Amy supplied helpfully, then began to croon an oldies but goodies tune, “I’m too sexy. Too sexy for my body.”

  Gabby laughed. The doorbell rang interrupting Amy’s crooning.

  Ned barked.

  “Are you expecting company?” Amy tucked a red-gold strand of hair behind her ear.

  Gabby sighed. “No. It’s probably Dad or someone selling encyclopedias. At this point I’d rather have the salesman. I love Dad. But he hovers.”

  She went to answer the door. Ned raced her to it. He stood at the door his tongue hanging out, his tail wagging madly.

  Gabby sighed. “I guess that leaves out the insurance salesman.” She threw open the door. “Hi, Dad.” Her eyes widened. “What are you doing here?”

  Curious, Amy came ambling out of the living room. “Well.” Her voice was appreciative.

  “Hello, Amy.” Christopher stood at the door holding a dozen red roses.

  “I guess this is where I say, I was just leaving.”

  Christopher smiled and Amy almost changed her mind. She looked at her best friend and shook her head. “You are just like a cat, always land on your feet.”

  Christopher’s shoulders shook with silent laughter. A cat? Like calling to like—cat to cat burglar?

  Amy stepped out onto the porch.

  Christopher held the screen door open. “Nice to see you again, Amy.”

  Amy looked him up and down her expression sultry. “The pleasure is all mine, I assure you.”

  Christopher looked uneasily at Gabby. She rolled her eyes. “You might as well come in.”

  Amy gave a tinkle of laughter. “Maybe that’s my problem. I just haven’t been rude enough. Gabby is being pretty vague about whether you’ve ever done the Texas Two-Step in bed. But if there’s any information you’d like to share…” She wiggled her eyebrows and winked at him.

  “Amy!” Red rolled over Gabby’s face.

  Christopher stared down his nose at her, his expression forbidding, “I beg your pardon?”

  Unfazed, Amy threw her hands in the air. “I’m going. I’m going.”

  Christopher and Gabby stood looking at each other, neither quite sure what to say.

  “Well aren’t you going to ask me in?”

  “That’s the second time I’ve been asked that in less than an hour.” Gabby made a sweeping motion with her arm.

  Christopher stepped through the door. It creaked when Gabby closed it. He made a mental note, oil the door.

  Ned jumped up, placing his huge paws on Christopher’s maroon silk shirt. Jericho wound between his legs leaving liberal amounts of cat hair sprinkled on his baggy black pants. He pushed the dog down, laughing. At least someone was glad to see him.

  Gabby pointed at the flowers. “Are those for me or the dog?”

  “Who do you think?”

  “What do you want, Saint?”

  He just stood staring at her ’til Gabby began to tap the tip of her fingers against her pants leg and looked around the room not meeting his eyes.

  He took a step toward her. Gabby backed up.

  “What do I want? Now that’s a good question. It’s been one I’ve been asking myself ever since we met.” He cocked his head to one side and studied her.

  He could see the pulse at her throat jump erratically.

  Christopher reined in the raw sexual tension coursing through his body and gave Gabriella a lazy smile.

  Wary, she watched him.

  This time when Christophe
r stepped forward, instead of stepping back, Gabby took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders.

  He took another step forward and murmured against her mouth. “Now that’s more like it.” In a tumble of red and green the flowers fell at their feet as his lips settled on hers, gentle and seeking.

  At his first touch her stiff body went limp. His kiss deepened.

  “Wow! I think I’ve been struck by a lightning bolt,” she said against his lips.

  His eyes flew open, unfocused. “Have you forgotten what it’s like between us? I can’t, though lord knows I’ve tried.” The last was a whisper against her lips.

  Ignoring it she responded, “Perhaps you’d better give me a refresher,” and leaned into him her full pouty lips only a breath away.

  “Perhaps I should.” Thank you, Jesus. Things were going much better than he had anticipated.

  His lips touched hers and he groaned, remembering the feel of those wonderfully warm moist lips as they quested over his body. “Care to show me your etchings, pretty mamma?” he murmured against her mouth.

  She giggled shakily. “I expected something more original than that. Have women fallen for this line before?”

  Instead of responding he moved his lips to her ears and whispered, “Let us twine like amorous trees.”

  “Much better.” She slithered out of his embrace and walked backward to the bedroom her eyes holding his.

  Christopher followed. “Twas the maiden’s matchless beauty that drew my heart a-nigh, Not the fern-root potion, But the glance of her blue eye.”

  She gave him a sultry glance that stopped his heart and heated his blood.

  “Much, much better.” She curled her finger in a beckoning gesture.

  They reached the bedroom. He put his arms around her and they fell to the bed, rolling. He leaned over her and whispered, “Be it love or be it madness, I have no will to fight. This inner fire that begs me go and ride with you, fair light.”

  Startled, Gabby looked into his intense green eyes.

  He wondered if she saw the passion and the love. Fire ignited as he pressed his body to hers. “Is this what you want Gabriella or am I taking unfair advantage?” It cost him, God, it cost him, but he waited barely breathing for her answer.

  She pulled his head down. “Let’s get back to that amorous tree thing.” Her lips found his and all thought fled, leaving only urgency and need.

  The cat sat on the top shelf of the old bookcase in Gabby’s bedroom, his tail wrapped around his body. Like a mirror, the reflection of two entwined lovers was shown in his iridescent eyes.

  * * * * *

  Sensing Christopher’s gaze, Gabby opened her eyes. He looked as if he barely had the strength to lift his head from the pillow to look down at her. “Even better than I remembered and my memory was good enough to keep me awake nights.”

  “I wonder if every time will be like the first time.” Her body was languid, heavy and satiated.

  One arm held her the other was thrown over his head. “Must I continue to point out that as cataclysmic as the first time was, it just keeps getting better. Though if it improves any more its like to kill me. If I’d been any older my heart would have stopped.” He leered and wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Though I find the idea of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation appealing I’m not sure I want you pounding on my chest.”

  He stretched like a cat. “If you ever give up journalism you could make a fortune as a kept woman.”

  She picked up a nearby pillow and hit him, but not hard, she didn’t have the strength. “I’m not sure if I’ve been complimented or insulted.”

  “Trust me it was a compliment.”

  “Christopher…”

  “Yes, love.”

  “Speaking of which, are we?” Her eyes searched his hooded ones.

  He pulled himself up and leaned against the wall. Gabby went tumbling into the pillows.

  “You need a headboard. Hmm, maybe not, the wall feels cool against my back.” He bent down and placed a light kiss on the top of her tousled hair then pulled her up beside him.

  “Our relationship can best be described as rocky.”

  “That doesn’t answer my question.”

  He sighed. “Maybe you should stay in journalism, you’re persistent enough.”

  Fascinated Gabby watched the rise and fall of the two penny-shaped disks on his sleek chest as he breathed. She reached over and pulled a hair.

  “Ouch!” Christopher rubbed his stinging skin.

  “You were saying?”

  “Witch.”

  “That wasn’t it.”

  He pushed the sheet back, slid out of the bed and began to pace, distracting Gabby. His body was perfect, lean and supple as a cat’s. He reminded her of a young Greek god. Did Christopher have any idea of the effect he had on her? She remembered her cries of delight and blushed. Obviously, he did.

  He stopped his pacing, looked at her then cleared his throat.

  Gabby’s head jerked up to his face.

  He gave her a slow, sensual grin. “Insatiable hussy.”

  Maybe she should just let the love thing go and concentrate on the lust thing. Her eyes traveled over him. If his body wasn’t ready, it was certainly giving a good imitation.

  “Gabriella.”

  “Hmm?” Then straightened. “Where are you going?”

  He didn’t answer, just walked out of the room.

  “Was it something I said?” Gabby called after him. With a regretful sigh she stepped into her pink cotton thong, then picked up her Spay/Neuter Your Pet tee shirt and pulled it over her head. As her head popped up through the cotton neckline she saw Christopher in front of her, holding two glasses of white wine. “You’re right. We need to talk.”

  She shook out her hair and blinked. “Where did you find that?”

  He gave her a wicked smile that made her heart do flip-flops. “Having been here on two other occasions, I have been able to ascertain where you hide your stash.”

  He set the wineglasses on the bedside table, picked up his black silk briefs and slid them on then stepped into his slacks. Holding the fabric with his left hand, he pulled up the zipper with the right.

  Gabby’s breathing was a tad bit shallow. If he’d brought the wine for an aphrodisiac it wasn’t necessary. But if he was getting dressed, he obviously wasn’t thinking along the same lines as she was. She sighed.

  She got up and pulled on a pair of faded gray gym shorts, turning in time to see Christopher watching her appreciatively as the thong disappeared from view.

  He picked up the wineglasses. “Let’s go into the living room.”

  They walked in and sat on Gabby’s old couch. A piece of stuffing stuck out on the side where Jericho sharpened his claws.

  She flopped down, the sofa pillows enveloping her. Christopher sat on the arm of the couch and handed Gabby a glass of wine.

  She ran her finger around the condensation forming on the glass.

  Christopher took a sip of the white liquid. “Maybe to figure out where we are going we’d better look at where we’ve been.”

  “Because?”

  Christopher ran his fingers through his short hair. “Because I doubt if either of us has been completely honest with the other and not only do we need to figure out what we are going to do about us, we need to figure out what we are going to do about Lai.”

  Gabby straightened. She could feel her eyes spark and hear her teeth grind. “Oh yes your bitchfriend who kidnapped me.”

  “That would be the one. But let’s table her for now.”

  Gabby slumped back into the pillows muttering to herself.

  He reached over and massaged her shoulder with his long lean fingers. “Don’t worry, darling, that score will be settled. Now to get back on track, our story starts at Earth Religions, where you purchased the globe.”

  A memory of a hard-faced stranger with a ponytail flickered. Christopher.

  “My former lover had the crystal stolen from my aunt. It was
hidden in the shop. Obviously, not well, since you bought it from that effeminate, weak-kneed clerk.”

  Gabby bit her lips to keep from grinning. Whoever the clerk was, it was apparent Christopher didn’t think much of him.

  Christopher twirled his glass, watching the golden liquid eddy back and forth. He raised his head. “I stole it back.” Then grinned. “You came after me and tried to steal it from Aunt Tam. Interesting you should call yourself Tamara.”

  “Interesting.” That was one word for it.

  “Yes, well, you moved in at Tamara’s invitation. Lai, my former lover, tried again for the crystal and kidnapped you.”

  “Why?”

  “Why come after the stone or why kidnap you?”

  “Both.”

  “To get to me. Lai wants me back.”

  “How will either get you back?”

  Christopher grinned. “You are my fiancée remember?”

  “There seems to be some doubt about that. And why steal the crystal?”

  Christopher turned serious. “I believe there’s a two-fold reason but let’s start with, have you ever seen anyone in the ball?”

  Gabby eyed him warily. “Why do you ask?”

  He leaned forward, his posture tense. “Have you, Gabriella? You have said things in the past to lead me to believe you have. And the fact that my aunt gave you the crystal is mind-boggling.”

  “If you must know I’ve seen you,” she said her voice irritable.

  “Anyone else? That moonshiner you were living with, perhaps?”

  “Why do you insist on talking so rudely about John Paul? And no damn it, yours is the only face I’ve had the displeasure to see.” She gulped down her wine then choked as it went down the wrong way.

  Christopher patted her absently on the back, trying to bite back a triumphant smile and failing.

  Her eyebrows drew together. “Why are you grinning like a hyena?”

  “Did auntie ever tell you the legend?”

  “Not exactly.” She looked at him warily.

  “The globe has been in Tamara’s family for generations handed down from mother to daughter and with it a legend. The women of the family can see their true love’s face in the globe. Aunt Tamara always swore she saw Uncle Edward’s.”