Tomorrow's Promise

by Radclyffe

  “Adrienne," Tanner gasped, "kiss me please.”

  Adrienne lifted her face reluctantly from Tanner’s breasts, nearly lost in the wonder of Tanner's body. Tanner’s eyes were glazed with need, and a high flush suffused her face and neck. Adrienne thought she had never seen a more stunning woman. Adrienne leaned over her suddenly and brought her lips down on Tanner’s, her kiss as hard as her hands were gentle. She forced Tanner’s lips apart with her tongue and plunged into her mouth with deep firm strokes. The force of Adrienne’s hunger took Tanner by surprise and set off an explosion within her. She cried out as her body clamped down convulsively around Adrienne’s hand, wresting her last shred of control from her. She screamed as the full force of the contractions struck, her hips nearly bucking off the bench. Exhausted by the wracking orgasm, she fell asleep cradled in Adrienne's arms.

  * * *

  Tanner opened her eyes to find herself alone on the deck. She smiled when she noted the towel that Adrienne had spread over her to shield her from the worst of the sun. She stretched contentedly, recalling the incredible pleasure that had put her to sleep. Adrienne's face flashed before her, and suddenly the only thing she wanted was to see her. She stuck her head down through the hatch but the cabin was deserted. She clamored up onto the bow to look around. She heard splashing and discovered Adrienne in the water.

  “Hello there!” Tanner called.

  Adrienne waved and smiled. “It’s wonderful. Come join me!”

  Tanner dove gracefully off the bow and made a smooth arc through the water to surface near Adrienne. She flung her head back to clear the water from her face and reached for Adrienne.

  “Hey, you! I missed you!” she exclaimed. She grasped Adrienne’s waist and attempted to kiss her, succeeding only in pulling them both under water.

  Adrienne coughed and sputtered water and finally laughed. “Idiot! Not in the water!”

  “Why not?” Tanner said, pulling Adrienne against her. She slipped one leg between Adrienne’s and the other around her, supporting her. She treaded water lightly to keep their heads above the surface. Adrienne fit neatly into the bend of her body. Tanner finally managed to kiss her.

  Adrienne smiled, leaning her forehead against Tanner's. Her blond hair fanned out around Tanner's face, gently stroking her cheeks. “You make me want things I can’t even put words to,” she murmured.

  “Words don’t matter. I can feel it,” Tanner answered. “Come up on deck with me. If I do what I want to do here, we'll both drown.” She slipped her legs free and swam towards the boat, one hand clasped in Adrienne’s.

  Tanner spread a towel in the sun on the broad bow and pulled Adrienne down on it beside her. She kissed the salt from Adrienne’s lips and moved languor­ously down to her neck, alternately licking and kissing the remains of the sea from her skin. Adrienne arched her head and closed her eyes, content to give herself up to the pleasure Tanner was kindling with her tongue. Tanner did not hurry. She kissed Adrienne’s chest, her belly button, her tender inner thighs. She lost herself for long moments breathing in the musky sea smell of her. She wanted to immerse herself in the essence of Adrienne’s being. At last she rested her cheek in the crook of Adrienne’s thigh and satisfied her urge to taste her. Tanner followed the dictates of Adrienne’s body effortlessly, without thought -- speeding up, slowing, now harder, now softer – guided by the ebb and flow of blood and breath and muscle.

  Adrienne swelled and throbbed and opened to her, as everything became swirling, pounding sensation. Adrienne’s thigh muscles tensed, and Tanner wrapped her arms around Adrienne’s hips to keep her precious hold during the earthquake she knew was coming. She was not disap­pointed as Adrienne’s legs tightened, her hips lifted and she cried Tanner's name.

  Tanner continued to lick her until Adrienne quieted under her now gentle strokes and then crawled up beside her, gathering her into her arms. She pulled Adrienne’s head onto her shoulder and sighed. “Are you all right?” she asked.

  Adrienne snuggled close and curled her hand in Tanner’s hair. “You are marvelous. And I know you could tell,” she whispered when she found her breath.

  Tanner kissed her forehead lightly and murmured, “I love you.”

  Adrienne sighed. “I don’t suppose there’s any use in trying to talk some sense into you, is there?”

  “None at all,” Tanner responded.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  ADRIENNE SURRENDERED TO the storybook world of Whitley Point – sun-drenched days on the sea, starry nights filled with lovemaking, and the never-ending delight of being with Tanner. Tanner. Attentive, deeply passionate, beautiful Tanner.

  She refused to think of anything beyond the precious moments they shared. They dined out; they explored the mainland shops together; they shared the memories of their pasts and their childhood dreams. She made no plans; she wanted none. All she wanted was to continue in the love-filled haze that was the last days of August.

  Tanner, for her part, exulted in Adrienne’s happiness. She needed no plans beyond the next moment with Adrienne. She had never defined what her future was to be, therefore she was not bound by the limits of any particular vision. She cherished each day for the miracle it appeared to be. Adrienne made no promises, no vows of love, and Tanner sought none. She needed no words to affirm what was obvious. When she and Adrienne made love, when they walked hand in hand on the moonlit beach, when they listened to each other’s silences, Tanner knew the peace she had always sought.

  One morning in mid-August, reality walked uninvited into their lives. Tanner was on the bow as Adrienne brought the Pride smoothly into dock. Josh Thomas had seen them approach and had come down to catch the towline from Tanner. He looked up at her and said low enough that Adrienne couldn’t hear, “Some people up at the office looking for Adrienne.”

  Tanner replied, “Who are they?” She was instantly alerted to the concern in Josh's voice. He was obviously displeased about something, and it was rare for him to comment on any one else’s affairs.

  He simply shrugged.

  Tanner shaded her eyes with one hand and stared up at the marina. Her heart plummeted when she saw a man in a Naval uniform coming down the dock toward them. She turned and saw that Adrienne had seen him too. Tanner hurried up front to the cockpit to join her.

  “What’s going on?” she inquired anxiously. She was disturbed by the stillness that had settled over Adrienne. “Adrienne?” she asked again.

  Adrienne started slightly and smiled ruefully over at Tanner. “The past has finally caught up with the present. You are about to meet my commanding officer.” She squeezed Tanner’s hand firmly. “Come on.”

  She pulled Tanner with her to the side of the boat and they stepped down onto the dock, facing the elegant man who joined them. He smiled at Adrienne and held out his hand.

  “Well! Finally caught up with you. How are you, Adrienne?” He shook her hand warmly, obviously glad to see her.

  Adrienne returned his smile. “Really fine, Tom. What are you doing here?”

  “I had some duty in Washington last week. I had a few days’ leave coming so I thought I’d stop by here.”

  Adrienne nodded, not believing him, but seeing no point in arguing. Actually she had been wondering when she would be hearing something from the Navy. She hadn’t expected to see Tom arrive in person, but considering that they had been close friends for many years, she wasn’t all that surprised. “I see. Tom, I’d like you to meet a friend of mine-“

  “Hold the introductions for a minute, Adrienne,” he interrupted. “There’s someone else here to see you also.” He gestured with a nod of his head back toward the office. Adrienne and Tanner both followed his gaze as a woman, also dressed in Navy whites, approached them. Tanner heard Adrienne’s quick gasp of surprise and the anger in her voice as she turned to Tom.

  “Damn it, Tom! What are you trying to pull?”

  Tom looked embarrassed but did not lower his gaze. “Now wait a minute! It was her idea to come along.
There was no way I could tell her not to,” he defended himself.

  By then the second officer, a stylish dark haired woman in her mid- thirties had reached them. Her eyes were fixed on Adrienne’s face. “Hello, Adrienne,” she said softly.

  Adrienne stared for a moment into those hazel eyes she remembered so well, and then turned aside coolly. She grasped Tanner’s hand and pulled her forward slightly. “Tanner, I’d like you to meet Captain Tom Hardigan and Lieutenant Commander Alicia Ames. This is Tanner Whitley.”

  Tanner nodded to them both, wondering how she could get Adrienne out of there. She wasn’t exactly sure what was going on, but she could sense Adrienne’s tension, and she wanted to talk with her alone. Another thing was certain; she wasn’t leaving Adrienne alone with them, especially not with Lt Commander Ames. An awkward silence ensued for several seconds as Alicia continued to stare at Adrienne, and Tom Hardigan stared out to sea, apparently trying to memorize the position of each sloop at mooring.

  Tanner broke the silence first. “Excuse me, Adrienne, but we'll need to hurry if we’re going to be on time for our dinner engagement.”

  Alicia’s eyebrows rose slightly as she suddenly began to scrutinize Tanner with much more interest.

  Adrienne turned to Tanner, quickly hiding her surprise. She realized almost immediately that Tanner was offering her a polite escape. “You’re right. I had almost forgotten about it.” She forced a smile, and started up the pier, Alicia and Tom following after a second's hesitation. "I'm sorry," she continued. "I'm a little short on time right now. Where are you two staying? We should get together and talk—sometime.”

  Tom glanced at Alicia uncomfortably and coughed. “Well, actually, we haven’t any place to stay as of yet. We were hoping you could put us up tonight and then we could get a place at a motel or something tomorrow.”

  Tanner was seething. The last thing she wanted was to have Alicia anywhere near Adrienne, and especially not in Adrienne’s house! She spoke quickly, before Adrienne had a chance to reply. “Actually, Captain, Commander - we would be happy to accommodate you at Whitley Manor. We have several guestrooms that never get enough use now that we do not entertain as much as we once did. I’m sure my mother would be delighted to have you. I think those arrangements should be suitable?”

  Adrienne looked at Tanner in amazement, almost not recognizing the calm, aristo­cratic tone in her voice. But, of course, she reminded herself, Tanner was the heir to Whitley Island and all that that entailed. Tanner had indeed been raised to assume that position even though it rarely showed in her manner. Even Tom and Alicia seemed to recognize that there was no way they could politely refuse this offer from her.

  Tom looked at Alicia who smiled somewhat thinly at Tanner as she replied, “That’s a very generous offer, Ms. Whitley. The captain and I are grateful for your thoughtfulness. We have a car. We could follow you there.”

  Tanner did not miss the touch of sarcasm in her voice but she chose to ignore it. “Fine,” Tanner answered. She took Adrienne’s arm and led her toward their car. She wanted to break into a run, but she knew that would not solve this problem. She and Adrienne couldn't run from the past, or the future, any longer.

  Alicia’s eyes followed them as she and Tom walked toward their black rental car. “She looks well, doesn’t she?” she remarked.

  “Better than I’ve seen her look in months,” Tom agreed. “This place seems to agree with her.”

  “I can certainly see why,” Alicia answered. Obviously Adrienne had come to some sort of terms with her life. She looked marvelously fit, and there was no mistaking the way that handsome young woman had looked at Adrienne. If this was what it took to bring Adrienne out of the despondency that had threatened to stifle her this last year, Alicia was glad. Despite everything that had happened, she couldn’t erase the memory of eight years of happy living she and Adrienne had shared. She hoped that Adrienne couldn’t forget either. She settled back in the front seat of the car and contemplated what her next move might be.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  TANNER GUNNED OUT of the marina parking lot with Alicia and Tom trailing in their rental car.

  “What the hell is this all about?” she said as soon as they were alone. Her voice quivered with anger despite her best efforts to stay calm. Her hands on the wheel were clenched tightly, the tendons taut beneath her tanned skin.

  Adrienne sighed, rubbing her eyes briefly, trying to dispel the tension. “Obvious, isn’t it? They are here to take me back, I would imagine.”

  “That’s ridiculous!” Tanner shouted. “You’re not some escapee—you didn’t go AWOL or anything. Tell them to go the fuck away.”

  Adrienne grasped Tanner’s hand, alarmed by her anger. God, why hadn't she seen this coming? And now, Tanner was involved too – just what she had wanted to avoid. Back when she still had some sense left.

  “Tanner, slow down. These are my friends. Until eight months ago, they were the two most important people in my life.” She moved closer on the seat, placing her hand lightly on Tanner’s thigh. “I understand how you feel. I’m angry, too. They should have called, let me know they were coming, but I can’t just send them away.”

  Tanner slumped slightly behind the wheel. “I know—I’m just frightened.”

  “Of what?” Adrienne asked gently.

  “You said it. They’ve come to take you away. I’m afraid you might go.”

  “Oh, Tanner—” Adrienne began, her heart breaking at the anguish in Tanner’s voice. “You’ve always known I would leave someday—don’t make it any more difficult.”

  “No,” Tanner said fiercely. “I haven’t always known that you would leave. Only that you said you would. For some strange reason, I thought you'd change your mind." She turned to Adrienne, her eyes wounded. "Must you leave just because you have something to stay for now?”

  Adrienne bit her lip, because Tanner was right. The truth was she was more afraid to stay than she was to leave. Life without Tanner would be empty, but it would also offer some respite from the doubts that plagued her even during her happiest moments. She couldn’t help feeling that what she was doing was wrong somehow. “Can we at least talk later, when things have settled down a little?” she asked.

  Tanner heard the plea in her voice, and her heart ached – for both of them. She forced herself to answer quietly. “Of course. I know it must be a shock for you to see Tom—and Alicia.”

  Adrienne smiled wanly. “I have a feeling things are going to get a lot more interesting before this is done.”

  * * *

  Constance Whitley accepted the unexpected entourage with aplomb. She directed May to take Tom and Alicia upstairs to the guestrooms and turned to her daughter and Adrienne, who waited in the foyer.

  “I hope you can join us for dinner, Adrienne. It will give you a chance to talk with your friends—on neutral territory,” Constance said.

  Adrienne, taken off guard by Constance’s insight, laughed. “We might need a referee. How did you know?”

  Constance smiled, her fine features flushing slightly. “I can usually forecast the weather in my daughter’s eyes, and right now there’s a storm brewing. In addition to which, I don’t imagine two officers travel all the way across the country for a simple chat.”

  Turning to Tanner, Constance said, “Could you mix us a pitcher of martinis, Tanner? And I think I’d like them strong—your father’s recipe.” Then, grasping Adrienne’s arm, she added, “We’ll be on the verandah.”

  Adrienne glanced at Tanner, who shrugged and headed for the bar as if to say, "Whatever my mother says."

  Constance stopped at the far side of the wide porch, glancing down the broad expanse of the rear property towards the ocean. The top of Tanner’s bungalow was just visible in a stand of windswept trees near the shore. She and Adrienne stood side by side, silent, watching the sky turn a brilliant red as the sun touched the water's edge. Finally, she said, “Is there anything I can do?”

  Adrienne looked at he
r fine features, so like Tanner’s, and smiled. She wondered where to begin, and wondered how much Constance already knew. “You must understand, Constance—Tom and Alicia have come here because they care about me. There is no mystery, really. I have been on extended leave for some time, and they hope to convince me to return to San Diego—and the Navy. It is a decision I have been avoiding all summer – and before that really. Under other circumstances, I would be delighted to see them.”

  “Do you want to return to the Navy?” Constance asked quietly, without the slightest hint of criticism.

  Adrienne sighed. “I miss it. This summer has been wonderful, but I can’t continue to live this way. I must make some plans. I must work. The military is a life I’m used to. It’s just that there are some—difficulties, which I need to resolve.”

  Constance nodded, watching Adrienne's face carefully. “Tanner has been happier these past two months than she's been in years. She and her dog don’t seem to be residing on the dunes much these days. You’ve been very good for her.”

  Adrienne stared at Constance, at a loss for words.

  “Forgive me if I’m acting like a mother,” Constance continued. “Tanner doesn’t discuss her private life with me—but, she is very much like her father. He was a wild sort of man—quick to anger, unsettled in many ways, but he was a man of passion, and he loved deeply. It was a kind of love one could depend on. I have always known that Tanner would someday find someone to love, and when she did, it would be as he did—intensely, instinctively, and with honor. I hope that you consider Tanner in your decision.”