Heart of Fire (28 page)

When they walked in, the clerk looked up from his computer and smiled.  “Can I help you?”

“We need a room for the night.”

He looked at them and back down to his computer and snickered.  “Just one bed available,” he said in a tone that gave Jamie the impression he was getting a hard on knowing they were lesbians.

“That’s fine, we only need one.”  Gloria smiled and winked trying not to laugh when she thought he would start drooling. 

Gloria handed him her credit card and filled out the form he handed her.  She looked at Jamie who stood impatiently annoyed as she looked at the little fat man who sat behind the desk making disgusting gurgling sounds through his sinuses.  When he finally handed it back to her with the room key, neither said a word as the quickly walked away.

They left the hotel and walked to the strip mall across the street and purchased a few essentials.  As they passed a gift shop Gloria stopped and took a couple of steps back.  “Whoa.”

“What?”

She motioned to her and pointed at the sundress on display.  “You would look good in that for dinner tonight.”

Jamie started to protest but Gloria grinned and took her hand and pulled her into the store.

“I don’t need it,” Jamie shook her head as she protested.

“No, baby girl, I get the final say since I’m buying it for you.”

Jamie found a seat by the shoes and watched as Gloria passed with more items in her hands.  Not only did she buy the dress, but a matching pair of sandals and an oversized T-shirt for Jamie to sleep in.

A few shops later they headed back into the hotel and walked quickly past the clerk avoiding his stare.  Jamie immediately changed and was not sure she liked the dress, but if it made Gloria happy she’d wear it.  She admired how well the light teal dress fit but hated the way the skirt flowed mid-calf.  With an inward breath she stood in the doorway when she emerged from the bathroom.

“Well?” She held out her arms and walked over to her hoping she would say she hated it. 

Instead Gloria smiled and walked around her and said, “You look so beautiful, and I’m a lucky boi.  Give me a few minutes to get ready and we’ll go eat.”

It took only a few moments before Gloria took her hand and led her to the waterside restaurant.  With a beautiful Gulf sunset as their backdrop they ate on the covered patio and enjoyed the balmy sea breeze.  They talked and laughed for hours and only occasionally looked around and watched as the restaurant emptied.  Jamie enjoyed being able to relax with her like this.  Gloria made her laugh, and her playful bawdy sense of humor fit well with her personality and Jamie loved engaging in verbal battles of dirty puns with her.  Sylvia was always serious, it was like night and day and with Gloria it was definitely pure sun light.

When the last glass was removed Gloria paid their bill and led Jamie next door to a bar leaving her at the only open barstool.  “I’m going to run to the bathroom,” Gloria said.  “Order me a bottle of beer please, and then we’ll go back to the room.”

Jamie nodded and finally caught the bartender’s attention and ordered Gloria’s favorite bottled brand.  She smiled when she felt a hand on her shoulder a brief moment later.  “That was quick.”  She turned and her eyes widened.  The hand on her shoulder didn’t belong to Gloria, she pulled free.  “Uh, excuse me!”

The guy smelled like he would blow twice the legal limit.  “Hey, baby, why don’t you sit at our table?”

She was trapped against the bar and stools on either side of her were occupied and the drunk blocked her escape.  He reached for her again, and she slapped her hand away, pushing him back a step.

“Don’t touch me!” she yelled, fighting her panic.  “Leave me alone!”

“What, I’m not good enough for you?  Come on, baby.”

“She said leave her alone.”

Jamie did not recognize Gloria’s voice at first.  The hard steely edge and dangerous tone startled her.  Was it the same gentle, playful Gloria?

The drunk tried to focus on Gloria.  “Who in the fuck are you?”

Gloria stepped between Jamie and the man.  “Back off,” she warned pushing him a few feet back.

She held up her left hand and pointed to a ring on her finger.  “She’s my wife, asshole.  So, back the fuck OFF!”

The drunk took another unsteady step back.  Jamie watched as Gloria clenched her fists, the war for control raging inside her.

Jamie held her breath when she heard the words.  My wife!  She knew it was an excuse to try to diffuse the situation, but it gave her a strange feeling of safety.  She could almost see wheels turning inside the man’s head.  He wasn’t anticipating a fight and to save face he admitted he was a jerk for hitting on Jamie.

Unfortunately one of the guy’s equally drunk buddies thought he was helping when he staggered over and tried to pull his friend away.  “C’mon, Les, let’s go.”

The drunk opted for ego and yanked free then took a swing at Gloria.

Gloria caught the guy’s fist and followed with a well-placed undercut to the man’s stomach knocking the wind out of him.  Les folded hunched over and fell backwards and hit the wooden deck.  Gloria stepped back feeling for Jamie behind her without taking her eyes off the drunk or his friend.

Jamie stood shocked as Gloria backed against her, blocking her in with her body.  Jamie suspected they’d have to kill Gloria to get to her.  She instinctively put her arms around her waist.

Gloria’s low possessive growl made her ache with need.  “I suggest you get your friend the hell out of here before he gets the crap beat out of him.”

Another not-quite-so-drunk friend helped the drunken friend get Les to his feet and carried him out of the bar.  “The shows over,” Gloria said loud enough for everyone in the bar to hear.

Jamie clung to Gloria as she turned and threw a couple of bills on the bar to pay for the beer and grabbed the bottle.  “Come on, sugar.  Let’s go.”  She grabbed Jamie’s hand and pulled her with her, forcing her to practically jog to keep up with her long strides.  Jamie followed her, still mentally reeling.

Inside their room with the door securely locked behind them, Gloria set the beer on the dresser and started emptying her pockets.  She looked over to Jamie who was looking at her.  “What?”

Jamie launched herself at her and kissed her with urgency, moaning as she cupped her ass and held Gloria to her, grinding her hips against hers.  She wanted her to fuck her, with raw, hot, bed-bouncing passion.

“I want you too,” Jamie said but could not finish, as Gloria greedily devoured her mouth with her own and lowered Jamie to the bed, running her hands down her body and under her dress.  Gloria’s fingers smoothed up her bare thighs and found her panties and hooking her thumb in the waistband, and worked them down Jamie’s hips. 

She moaned as she brushed her lips from Jamie’s shoulder to her ear, “Jesus, baby, I want to.”

Jamie’s cell phone rang, Chris’ custom tone, like a splash of ice water on them.  Jamie pushed Gloria off of her and reached for the phone.  Gloria nibbled on her shoulder as she answered making it hard for Jamie to talk.  “Hello,” Jamie strangled out the word.

She listened and then sat up, “Are you sure it was her?”

Gloria could hear Chris crying and when she heard the word the statement, Terri was killed.  She sat up and held Jamie’s free hand.

.

~End Sample Chapters of Heart of Vengeance~

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