Coffee Sonata (39 page)

“Why was it such a big deal? Granted, it was horrible, but people drive under the influence every day and a lot of people get injured. Why was this so…”

Vivian quieted for a moment, and Mike knew that she had figured it out.

“Oh, my God. Your father hit and killed young Jack Belmont, didn’t he? That was headline news even in New York. No wonder there was a media frenzy.”

“And people have a long memory. They commented on it all through my teens, asking if I was his daughter. I was reduced to being
only
that—the daughter of Richard Collins, the drunken child killer. That’s why I took my mother’s maiden name. Josie thought it was a good idea too, because she knew how cruel people can be. As the saying goes, the Belmonts were the closest thing East Quay has to royalty, and my father killed the crown prince.”

“Surely you never felt responsible?”

“I did when I was little. If you only knew how many bottles of beer and booze I stole from my father and poured down the toilet, even when he got furious. Josie explained that this response is common among children of alcoholic parents. We feel a responsibility and a deep shame that’s hard to shake.”

“Darling.” Vivian kissed Mike’s forehead. “And when Jack Belmont was killed, in your way of thinking as an eight-year-old, you shared the responsibility?”

“Yes. Not anymore, though. I worked it out with Josie.”

“Thank God.”

Another kiss made it possible for Mike to relax.

“Does Manon know?”

Mike shook her head. “No. Well, I don’t know. I’m going to have to tell her before someone else figures it out.”

“She won’t hold it against you. I know Manon. She’s the epitome of fairness.”

Mike pressed closer into Vivian’s embrace. Outside, the winds had cleansed her of the nightmare, and in here, Vivian soothed her. “I hope so,” she whispered against the velvet skin under her lips. She kissed it lingeringly, over and over. “Vivian…my love…”

“
Cara
.”

Their need for each other was insatiable, and soon the night filled with whispers and moans that drowned out the sound of the sea.

*

Manon stood motionless as Eryn lit four tea candles on her bedroom dresser. She looked nervously at the cast-iron bed that took up most of the room and was covered with pillows of all sizes on its maroon velvet bedspread.

“May I undress you?” Eryn asked, and slowly walked up to Manon. “If you’d rather not, just say so. It’s fine.”

“No, no. I want you to.”

“You sure? Just tell me if it doesn’t feel right.” Eryn fingered the button of Manon’s pants. Within seconds, she had unzipped them and they pooled around Manon’s feet. She stepped out of them and watched Eryn hang them on the back of a small wooden chair.

“Up,” Eryn said as she turned to Manon again.

Manon raised her arms and Eryn pulled the turtleneck off, completely disheveling Manon’s hair.

“God, you’re stunning…” Eryn sighed, and Manon could almost feel her eyes rake over her half-naked body. “Want to stop here?”

“Yes. I think so. For now.”

“Okay. Slip into bed. I’ll be there in a sec.”

Manon shivered between the cool cotton sheets, but other parts of her were hotter than she thought possible. She hungrily watched Eryn remove her clothes, and since she wasn’t wearing a bra, Eryn came to bed in only her skimpy blue lace panties.

“There. Warmer, huh?” Eryn grinned. Her eyes sparkled with dancing green flames. “Come here.” Eryn slid her arms around Manon and drew her close. “Yes. That’s it. Just relax. You’re fine.”

Manon couldn’t relax. This fairy creature sent tremors through her body, and she moved restlessly. Wherever her skin met Eryn’s, small bonfires of desire erupted. “Eryn, this might not work out as planned,” Manon said through gritted teeth.

Eryn flinched. “Why?”

“You’re far too sexy and beautiful. I can’t lie still next to you.”

“Then do what you need to do, Manon. I’m all yours.”

Hesitatingly, Manon slid a hand along Eryn’s stomach. Eryn inhaled deeply and held her breath as Manon closed her hand over her breast. The rigid nipple prodding her palm made Manon hot, and her center hardened, a new surge of wetness coating the inside of her thighs. The deep feelings of lust and arousal were all about Eryn. Manon’s legs parted of their own volition as she examined Eryn’s body with increasing delight.

“Am I doing this right?” Manon whispered. “Feel good?”

“More than good.” Eryn sighed. “Kiss me.”

Manon moved up and covered Eryn’s mouth with hers, and it wasn’t difficult at all. Eryn’s taste was familiar, and Manon deepened the kiss without hesitation, eager to prolong it. Since Manon considered kissing the most intimate form of touch, she felt they were joining their souls as well as their bodies, Eryn’s kisses met every one of Manon’s secret dreams, and Manon knew that she would always crave this expression of love.

As Eryn reached around Manon and unhooked her bra, Manon moaned into the kiss and pressed against Eryn, arousal permeating every cell when their breasts touched. Their hard nipples pressed into pliant skin and rubbed against their counterparts. Manon let her tongue examine Eryn’s mouth over and over, until she was out of breath and had to pull back. When she looked down at their breasts naked together, where their bodies met, the sight stole what little breath she had left.

Eryn took one of Manon’s breasts in her hand and slid down just enough to suck the nipple into her mouth.

Unprepared for the stab of pleasure, Manon tossed her head back and whimpered. “Eryn…oh, my God…” She arched into the excruciating caress, a red haze of pent-up lust and love covering her field of vision. She rubbed her legs together and recognized the heat from that night not so long ago when she had come against her will while thinking of Eryn.
And now I’m here…in her bed. Eryn, what are you doing to me?

It was obvious what Eryn had in mind when she slid her hands inside Manon’s panties. She pushed them down, and Manon helped by kicking them off when Eryn couldn’t reach any farther.

“Manon, you’re so damn beautiful, so hot and sexy,” Eryn murmured against her neck. “I want all of you. I’ve dreamt of making love with you, of this…” She slid her hand down and cupped Manon’s hip. “Of touching you like this.” Slowly Eryn continued to the wet delta between Manon’s thighs.

Manon parted her legs, and her fear equaled her desire as she waited for the intimate caresses she knew were coming. To her surprise, Eryn merely covered her sex in a protective gesture. Manon moved her hips restlessly and moaned. “Eryn…I need you to touch me.” The ache inside Manon and the fundamental need to become one with Eryn all brought a flood of moisture between her swollen folds.

“I can feel how you want me.” Eryn carefully slid her fingers in to find Manon’s engorged clitoris. “Oh, sweetheart, you’re so wet, so ready. I think you’ve been ready for me for quite some time.”

“Ever since I left for Boston,” Manon confessed. She couldn’t keep her eyes open as Eryn’s fingers traced small circles in the wetness. “I tried to satisfy myself, but it was…impossible. You weren’t there—”

“But I’m here now. Just let it happen. Just let go. I’m here,” Eryn cooed. “That’s right.”

Manon rode the gentle fingers that were suddenly too gentle when they touched her. “Eryn, please. More.”

“More? Oh, sweetie…my pleasure.” Eryn’s voice was thick with passion, and she scooted down while pushing Manon onto her back.

Dizzy, Manon spread her legs to accommodate Eryn, who now placed lingering open-mouth kisses down Manon’s stomach. She didn’t stop when she reached the dark brown curls, but parted Manon’s wet sex and exposed the delicate folds.

“Eryn!”

When Manon felt Eryn’s mouth close over her clitoris, she cried out and arched her back, shivering. Her orgasm washed over her with every caress of the agile tongue that licked in an increasingly faster pattern. She could hardly breathe as the convulsions shook her body.
Eryn, Eryn…
She couldn’t form one coherent thought. All that mattered was the woman between her thighs, wonderful, extraordinary.

When the overwhelming contractions ceased, Eryn climbed up Manon’s body, straddling her left leg. “You’re amazing, absolutely amazing,” Eryn murmured. “You turn me on so much. I need to come too. Kiss me…”

Manon reached blindly for Eryn and kissed her. “Tell me—”

“Reach your hand down. Touch me. Any way you want, just touch me, quick.”

Manon pushed her right hand down between them and cupped Eryn’s sex, mimicking Eryn’s caresses. As Eryn wrapped her left hand around Manon’s shoulders, Manon rolled them onto their sides. Then Eryn bent her knee and whispered, “Go inside. Please.”

Manon circled Eryn’s wet opening and found it definitely lubricated enough for her to enter. When she pushed first one, then two, fingers inside she immediately felt slick walls pull her farther in. Eryn moaned and rolled her hips, and Manon tried to establish a steady rhythm. Her thumb accidentally brushed Eryn’s clitoris, and after a few thrusts, Eryn was reduced to a shivering bundle clutching at Manon’s shoulders.

“Now, oh, now…there…” Eryn cried.

Manon felt Eryn’s muscles contract, over and over, around her fingers. She pushed even deeper inside, and another gush of wetness dampened her hand. Eryn’s body shook for precious seconds, and then she lurched forward into Manon’s embrace. Wracked with sobs, she cried against Manon’s shoulder.

Afraid and taken aback, Manon gradually realized that Eryn had reacted so strongly because she had finally released her stress and fear.

“I love you, Eryn,” Manon whispered, and gently pulled her hand free. She cradled Eryn and rocked her as her tears fell. Eryn’s long hair covered them both, and its signature scent of citrus and vanilla made everything familiar and safe.

“I love you too,” Eryn sobbed, and reached for a tissue. She curled up back into Manon’s arms and blew her nose. “Wow…didn’t see
that
one coming.”

“Good?” Manon held her breath, even though she was fairly sure Eryn’s orgasm had been overwhelming.

“You’re kidding, right?” A red eyebrow rose and Eryn smiled broadly through her tears. “I went into orbit, I think. And you were wonderful. Wonderful to touch and the way you touched me…” Eryn brushed her lips over Manon’s. “Magic.”

Manon’s head whirled with emotions and the last week’s turn of events. “Magic” wasn’t the word she’d have chosen. She pulled the covers over their glistening bodies, content to stay in their warm cocoon. “I’m not a fatalist,” she said slowly. “But this…you…could change my mind about that.”

“Really, Belmont? You? Change your opinion about something?” Eryn winked mischievously. “Utterly uncharacteristic, my dear.”

“Funny.” Manon smiled. “Jokes aside, the last few weeks have been, like you said, magical. But more than that. Like providence…fate, I guess.”

“Whatever word you decide on, sweetheart.” Eryn snuggled closer.

“Words are your business.” Manon held her tenderly. I’ll leave it to you.”

“Fine. Works for me,” Eryn said in a sleepy voice.

“Relax. I’m not going anywhere.”

Within minutes, Eryn showed the greatest trust a person can demonstrate, by falling asleep in Manon’s arms.

Vivian’s voice rose and fell at the Belmont Foundation Charity Concert, proving that East Quay’s most celebrated daughter was one of the world’s best mezzo-sopranos.

When she appeared center stage, her hair up in an intricate twist that allowed it to billow out in rich curls down her back, the applause resonated for several minutes before the conductor raised his baton for silence. The orchestra sat in a muted light at the feet of the beautiful woman dressed in a cobalt velvet dress that trailed several feet behind her.

Mike sat next to Manon and Eryn and absorbed every moment of Vivian’s personal triumph. She doubted that anyone in the audience realized that Vivian couldn’t see them. She stood there, radiating strength and vocal beauty, at least three feet away from the microphone and sang in a way that entranced Mike.

After the third and last aria, new applause erupted, and this time it lasted more than five minutes. Mike could see Vivian’s cheeks color and knew what a personal victory this was for Vivian, who also was trying to lessen her guilt for shunning everything to do with East Quay.

Mike applauded until her arms ached and tears streamed down her cheeks, as did Eryn and Manon. Eryn’s relatives sat on the same row, and obviously Mr. and Mrs. Goddard were also taken by the performance.

“
Da capo!
” a male voice called out from behind them. “
Da capo, bellissima!”

To Mike’s surprise, Vivian raised her hands, palms out, until the applause had died out.

“Thank you,” Vivian said, her voice filling the concert hall. “You’re very kind. I want to dedicate this song, a lullaby, to a young woman who holds my heart.” She turned toward the conductor. “‘Summertime,’ Maestro,
please.”

As the conductor nodded and tapped his stick against his podium, the audience held its breath as one, exhaling only when Vivian began to sing the famous song from
Porgy and Bess
.