by Gun Brooke
“I’m so tired. I think I’ll unpack tomorrow. It’s late.”
“Good idea. Why don’t I run the shower—” Annelie stopped as Carolyn pursed her lips. “What?”
“You have a tub?”
“Come here.” Annelie smiled as she nudged Carolyn toward another door, next to the closet. “Voilá.”
Of course Annelie’s bathroom was a study in understated elegance and functionality. It featured a large shower stall and an oval Jacuzzi.
“Oh, wonderful.” Carolyn sighed at the sight of the large tub. “I’ve never seen a Jacuzzi with that many jets.”
Annelie leaned down, turning the faucet to fill it up. “It’ll only be a minute.”
“Great.” Carolyn turned and walked into the bedroom again, rummaging around her bag for her short bathrobe. She tossed it on the bed and had begun to undress when gentle hands wrapped around her waist from behind.
“I can see who my biggest rivals are going to be,” Annelie breathed against her neck. “Anything with water…pools, tubs, showers, oceans, lakes…”
Pivoting, Carolyn gave a smile as she raised one eyebrow. “Oh, you don’t have any rivals, Annelie—none whatsoever. In fact…” She hesitated and her heart picked up speed. “In fact, I’d like you to join me, if you want.”
Annelie’s eyes darkened, and her lips parted. “You sure? We’re supposed to take things slow, remember? I don’t want you to feel obligated to—”
Carolyn interrupted Annelie by kissing her quickly on the mouth. “You must be joking. Obligated? Obligated to have the most beautiful woman in the world in the tub with me?” She wiggled her eyebrows, making Annelie laugh.
“All right, I’d love to take a bath with you.”
The women undressed, each careful not to ogle the other too blatantly, but Carolyn was very aware of the tall, voluptuous body next to her. They returned to the bathroom, Annelie holding Carolyn’s hand as she stepped into the tub and slowly sank into the hot water, moaning at its effect on her sore muscles.
“Oh, God, I was stiffer than I realized. This is heaven.”
“Just wait till we start the jets,” Annelie said as she joined her. “You want me behind you?”
“Yes, please. It seems to work well when we sleep, so why not?”
Carolyn jumped when Annelie started the jets. The water flowed and bubbled around her, massaging every inch of her body. Leaning back against her lover, she savored the feeling of soft skin. Annelie stretched out her legs on both sides of Carolyn, wiggling to get comfortable. Carolyn moved, twisting to the left so she could wrap an arm around Annelie’s hips and rest her head between her breasts. She closed her eyes, sighing in relief.
“Comfy?” Annelie asked, raising her voice to drown out the jets.
“Sinfully so.”
“Good. Me too.”
They lay in silence for a while, every now and then softly stroking each other wherever their hands made contact with hot skin. Eventually Carolyn raised her head and looked drowsily at Annelie.
“Think it’s time to rinse off and go to bed. I’m too tired to eat. I’ll do Mary’s food justice tomorrow, I promise.”
Annelie reached out and turned off the jets. “Let me help you. You look positively drunk.”
“I’m very sober—but drained.”
“I know. Come here.”
Annelie helped Carolyn to her feet and into the shower stall. Slightly cooler water rinsed them off, helping Carolyn find her bearings. Annelie wrapped her in a large towel from a heated bar next to the tub and then took one for herself. “You okay?”
“I’m fine. I’ll just grab my toothbrush out of my bag and—”
“Here, use one of my new ones.” Annelie pulled out a drawer. “You’re too exhausted to do anything but stumble into bed.”
“That’s what old age brings you,” Carolyn joked.
“Oh, don’t worry. I’m going to stumble right behind you.”
Folding back the covers, Carolyn climbed in between the cool Egyptian cotton sheets, too worn out to bother with a nightgown. Annelie switched off the bathroom light and left on only a small lamp on the dresser before joining Carolyn. Unlike Carolyn, she wore a long white T-shirt.
“Mmm,” Carolyn murmured and rolled into Annelie’s arms. “We smell very nice. Is it vanilla?”
“Uh-huh.”
Soft lips brushed her forehead. Drowsily looking up at her lover, Carolyn smiled. “Whatever it is, I like it.” She raised a heavy arm and pulled Annelie down, kissing her. “And…I like you.” Another kiss. “A lot.” Her voice was a mere whisper. “Oh, God, an awful lot…”
“You’re slurring. Come here.” Annelie took the naked woman in her arms. “Temptress.” Snuggling close, she arranged them with Carolyn’s back toward her, one arm under her neck and the other along her hip. “We have the whole weekend to relax before I have to go to work.”
“Good.”
Carolyn felt herself drift off, her backside covered by Annelie, feeling utterly safe.
“Annelie?”
“Yes.”
“Sleep tight.”
Annelie brushed a kiss along Carolyn’s shoulder. “You too.”
*
“I can’t believe I’m this late!” Annelie rushed through the kitchen, grabbing a shoulder bag and a briefcase before turning to Carolyn, who sat enjoying her first coffee of the day. “I never oversleep.”
“Must be me, then.” Carolyn grinned. “Calm down. They won’t start without you.”
Annelie made a face. “I hate to keep people waiting.” She shot the amused woman a questioning look. “What’ll you be up to today?”
“I’m going to start reading the script, swim, and also…I might meet Jared for lunch. He left a message on my answering machine. I’ve still got some clothes and other things at his condo—my address book, for one.”
Carolyn noticed a subtle change in Annelie’s demeanor. Squaring her shoulders and slightly setting her jaw, she gave an automatic smile. “Of course.” Her voice was polite.
Uncertain what to say, Carolyn rose from the chair and tried to change the subject. “Are you sure it’s okay if I move my things in here instead of the garage apartment?”
Annelie avoided her glance for a moment. Finally looking straight at Carolyn with expressionless eyes, she spoke in a low tone of voice. “Naturally. Feel free to use any space you see fit.”
Knowing something was wrong, Carolyn walked up to Annelie and pulled her into an embrace. “Thank you.” She tipped her head back and was surprised when Annelie’s lips descended on hers, making her open her mouth and allow Annelie’s tongue to examine her completely. Her head spinning, Carolyn clung to the woman now pressing her against the counter as she plundered her mouth. Caught up in the passion, Carolyn returned the kiss as fire rose inside her. She gasped for air as they pulled back, and she could see a myriad of emotions in Annelie’s eyes.
“How am I supposed to let you go to work when you kiss me like that?” Carolyn said huskily. “Goodness, Annelie…”
“I’ll be home around three, an hour later at the most.”
Carolyn swallowed hard. “I’ll be here. I can’t wait.”
A faint smile flickered over Annelie’s beautiful features. “Me neither.”
As Annelie walked through the house and out the door, Carolyn grabbed her mug of coffee and took a deep sip to calm her aching body.
What the hell just happened? She sensed she had involuntarily caused Annelie pain, and it stung her deeply. The mention of seeing Jared, no matter how trivial the reason and even though he had never been her lover, obviously tapped into Annelie’s fear that Carolyn would leave her for a man. Me and my big mouth. I should have realized…Imagining the reverse situation, that Annelie was meeting an ex-lover at this fragile point in their budding relationship, made her stomach twitch. Later, once they were more established and secure in their roles together, it would be another matter.
“Damn,” Carolyn whispered and pic
ked up the cordless phone. She left a message on Jared’s answering service asking him to ship her things to her New York address. No way would she risk seeing him; in fact, she was relieved not having to do so.
Carolyn sat down on the living-room couch, eager to start on the script. After only a few pages, she realized Delia Carlton must have been pivotal in adapting the novel. The language flowed, and the scenes were poignant, exciting, and occasionally even heartbreaking. Several scenes between Maddox and Erica Becker would challenge her and Helen. Carolyn read several of her lines aloud, absorbed in her work.
She wondered how Regina would tackle the romantic scenes, especially the controversial and quite explicit scene where Maddox and Becker made love in Maddox’s office late one night. It would obviously entail partial nudity, which she had no problem with as long as it moved the story along. Reading through the scene again, Carolyn blushed, suddenly imagining Annelie as Becker.
Sleeping close to Annelie every night, Carolyn had shared passionate caresses with her, yet both women still restrained themselves. Carolyn had learned a few things that drove Annelie insane with pleasure. To her surprise, the serene and composed woman loved for Carolyn to lavish her with rough but loving attention. Carolyn had once used her teeth on Annelie’s nipples during a particularly heated moment, chewing and tugging at the sensitive tips. Suddenly afraid she had gone too far, she apologized for being too eager, but Annelie arched beneath her, moaning and begging for more. That was the closest they had come to making love since Orlando. Carolyn had eventually pulled back, forcing herself not to spread Annelie’s legs and plunge into the softness between them.
Checking her watch, Carolyn realized it was already time for her swim. She still felt a little unsettled after the emotional scene this morning, a warning tension around her temples. Hopefully, swimming would relieve it.
Dressed in her black swimsuit, she dived into the pool and began her laps, relieved how the strenuous exercise soothed her muscles. Carolyn lost track of time, and only when her legs felt like lead did she swim over to the ladder and climb up, her muscles trembling with an exhilarating fatigue.
A movement in the corner of her eyes made her jump. Mary was not due until tomorrow. Then she saw Annelie enter her study, not even looking toward the patio or the pool area.
Carolyn wrapped a towel around her shoulders as she padded through the living-room door and toward the study. When she entered, Annelie was browsing through a folder, her back toward Carolyn. A quick glance toward the wall clock let Carolyn know it was one thirty.
She wrapped her arms around Annelie from behind and planted a kiss on her neck just below the ponytail. “Welcome home. You’re early.”
Annelie gave a muted gasp and pivoted in Carolyn’s arms.
“Whoa, Carolyn, you scared the living daylights out of me! I didn’t think you’d be home.”
“I never went out. Truth be told, I was relieved to just leave a message for Jared to ship my things. I’ve been reading the script and, as you can tell…swimming.”
A small light, a glimpse of hope, glimmered in Annelie’s eyes, making Carolyn’s heart gallop. “I was stupid,” Annelie whispered. “And jealous. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I reversed roles, and the mere thought made me turn green. We’re not ready for male companions and the Lisa-Betty-Jennys of our past yet.”
Annelie leaned back against the desk and raised an eyebrow. “The Lisa-Betty-Jennys? What are you talking about?”
“I don’t know the names of any of your exes—and I don’t want to, yet.”
“Lisa-Betty-Jenny. Sounds like you think I’ve had a complete harem,” Annelie muttered, but the happy spark was back in her eyes.
“Of course you have. You’re the most beautiful woman in the world—who could ever resist you?”
Annelie tossed her head back and broke out in uncharacteristically resounding laughter. “God, you kill me, Carolyn,” she snorted. “Your sense of humor. Wicked and wacko.”
“Wicked and wacko, huh?” Carolyn shook her head. “Sounds like a sordid C-movie to me.”
“If I ever produce such a movie, I know who to typecast.”
“Watch it, Peterson. You’re skating on thin ice.”
“Oh, yeah?” Annelie disregarded the fact that Carolyn was soaking wet under the towel and pulled her in for a kiss. “How’s this for melting the ice?” She dipped her head and captured the smiling mouth beneath hers.
Feeling both relieved and euphoric because they were back on track, Carolyn returned the kiss, losing herself in Annelie’s familiar taste. “You melt me…you turn me on like no one has ever done,” she moaned. “You are so wonderful.”
“And you’re shivering. You can’t stand here, half naked and wet, with the air-conditioning going.”
“I should take a shower, I guess.”
Annelie raised a hand and tucked a dripping lock of hair behind Carolyn’s ear. “I can scrub your back, if you like.”
Carolyn sighed in contentment. “Please, feel free to scrub any body part you like.”
“I’ll remind you that you said that.”
*
Annelie checked the rearview mirror of the powerful car she was driving. The tan leather seat smelled of lemon leather polish. The 1969 Tweety-Bird yellow Chevrolet Corvette Stingray was in mint condition, and she had given the dealer a handsome tip for making this happen.
She had called him from New York. Remembering the longing tone in the actress’s voice when she talked about such a car, Annelie had decided to surprise her with one.
The dealer had connections all over the U.S. and Canada and found the exact brand and year within two days. His mechanics installed air-conditioning, a Bose sound system, and airbags in the hardtop.
Checking the rearview mirror again, Annelie spotted Jem driving her Mustang two cars behind. Her friend had raised not one, but two, inquisitive eyebrows when Annelie revealed her surprise.
“A car?” Jem asked as she sat down in Annelie’s office. “That’s pretty special. I mean, it doesn’t have the same connotation as giving her a diamond necklace, but…” She hesitated. “You really like her, don’t you?”
Annelie leaned back in her chair, folding her hands in her lap. “Yes, I do. I know you’re suspicious of her, but she’s different when you manage to find the real Carolyn behind the diva.”
“I saw some of that at the luncheon and then in Orlando,” Jem said. “Still, her rep isn’t exactly encouraging. Don’t lose your head…or your heart.”
Annelie tilted her head, regarding her protective friend fondly. “I think it’s too late for the latter.”
Jem’s eyes widened. “Oh, kiddo, are you sure? You’re not just…well, starstruck?”
“I’m falling head over heels, and I’m terrified. I can’t help it.”
“And what about her?”
“She says she’s falling in love with me.” Annelie could hear her voice soften and knew Jem picked up on the change. “She’s bewildered, especially regarding the physical aspect. Guess she never realized she could be attracted to a woman. I’m trying to give her space and time.”
“But?”
“She seems not to want it—or need it.”
Jem’s lips stretched into a broad grin. “So, she can’t keep her hands off you?”
Blushing, Annelie shook her head. “It’s mutual. You know I don’t kiss and tell, but you’re my best friend and…well, I haven’t felt this way, ever. I’m not sure where we’re heading. I want to make her happy, and giving her this car is an attempt to show her how I feel. Also, I’m dying to see the look on her face. For some reason she’s as crazy about this kind of car as I am about the Mustang.”
“Hey, I’m not arguing. If anything comes between me and my Beemer, I won’t answer for the consequences.”
After she and Jem pulled into the driveway, Annelie jumped out of the Corvette and shouted, “Wait here. I’ll go in and find her. She’s probably in the pool.”
&
nbsp; “All right.”
Jem stepped out of the Mustang and leaned against it while Annelie walked toward the door. As she strolled through the quiet house, she saw several signs of Carolyn’s presence. Her purse on the hallway table, the script on the coffee table, and in the kitchen, several bags of Royal Copenhagen stacked next to the coffeemaker.
Annelie could hear Mary humming in the laundry room as she walked out to the patio. She found Carolyn resting in a deck chair in the shade, half a glass of orange juice next to her on the ground. Annelie knelt beside the chair and kissed Carolyn’s lips softly. “Hello, there.”
She had to admire the other woman’s composure. Carolyn merely opened her eyes and gazed at Annelie from under heavy eyelids, a lazy smile on her lips. “You’re home early.”
“Yes, and I have a surprise for you.” Annelie tugged at Carolyn’s hand. “Come on, it’s out front.”
“A surprise?” Carolyn raised an eyebrow. “Will I like it? Maybe I should’ve told you. Surprises make me nervous.”
“You’ll love it.” Annelie tried to sound reassuring, hoping she was right. She wanted Carolyn to accept the gift in the spirit it was given. Holding her lover’s hand, she led her through the house and opened the front door.
Carolyn stopped dead and stared at the Corvette. Glancing between the vehicle and Annelie, she looked like a spectator at a tennis match. “Annie?”
“It’s for you. I want you to have it, for landing the role…and also I know you’d never indulge yourself.”
“What do you mean, for me? Oh! Oh!” Carolyn padded on bare feet down the garden path and over to the driveway.
She waved absentmindedly at Jem, who looked astonished at the sight of the usually elegant star circling around the Corvette in only a swimsuit and damp hair. Moving her feet quickly, actually skipping from one foot to another, she looked like an eager child, even though Annelie knew the hot cement was the real cause.
Annelie sauntered down to join the other two, not taking her eyes off the dumbfounded woman, who was now opening the door and climbing into the car. Carolyn slid her hands over the wheel and up over the dashboard, a reverent look on her face as she touched the tan leather.
