The Price of Fame - KJ1 (30 page)

“Love, I don’t know what to say.”

“It’s okay, at least they didn’t suffer; they were both pronounced dead at the scene. Their best friends, who were also lawyers and the executors of their estate, called me at school. It was December 22, three days before Christmas my freshman year. They took care of the details of selling the house and all of that kind of stuff, and set up a trust for me.

There was plenty of money for me to finish college and live comfortably afterward, but...”

“But you’d give it all back just to have them alive, wouldn’t you?”

“Yeah, I would. I never had any brothers or sisters, so it’s just been me ever since.”

“Seems like we’ve both become orphans, in a way.”

182

The Price of Fame

“There are two kinds of families, Jay. Those you are born into, and those you create. To me you are my family now, and nothing could make me happier.”

“Me too, love. Me too.”

They sat for a while, holding each other silently and enjoying the peaceful solitude of the water and the nearby uninhabited island. As the wind began to pick up a bit and the sun crawled across the sky, Kate roused them from their reveries and headed them back toward the resort.

The candles flickered in the breeze, creating interesting shadows across the faces of the lovers as they enjoyed a romantic dinner for two on the outdoor patio at a local restaurant on the water. They were so wrapped up in each other that they barely took notice of the other restaurant patrons around them, some of whom stared at them in open disgust.

“Can you believe they just sit there like that, holding hands as if it were normal? What is this world coming to, anyway? Somebody ought to do something about that sort of thing. Earl, go over and talk to them.”

“I’m not goin’ anywhere. I’m gonna sit here and eat my meal and mind my own business, and I suggest you do the same.”

“Hmmph. Well, I tell you, they’re ruining my appetite.”

“Yeah, I can tell,” Earl said uninterestedly, as he noted his wife’s mostly empty plate.

Kate, whose ears were finely tuned and very sensitive, heard the entire exchange, but chose to ignore it and concentrate instead on the beautiful woman sitting across from her.

“What are you smiling about, Stretch?”

“I’m just trying to remember what I did before I had you in my life.

Right about now, if it wasn’t a work night, Fred and I would be sitting in the library reading a good book and munching on stuffed animals.” At the raised eyebrow, she clarified, “Of course, the book is for Fred and the stuffed animals are mine.”

“Of course.” The emerald eyes twinkled.

“You’ve brought so much into my life, Jay. I’m so thankful to have you.”

“Right back at ya, sweetheart. Right about now I’d be sitting on the sofa with a magazine and a bag of popcorn, critiquing the competition’s writing style. Shallow, but somehow satisfying.”

Kate laughed. “Aren’t we just a couple of live wires. Can I interest you in dessert, perhaps?”

Jay smiled evilly. “Only if you’re on the menu.”

“I dunno, have you read the menu? Do you know your choices?”

183

Lynn Ames

“I know that I would choose the same thing every time, I don’t even need to see what’s available.”

“In that case, may I escort you home, Princess?”

Unable to resist the temptation on the way out, Kate stopped at Earl’s table, pulling Jay to a halt with her, not letting go of her hand. She put on her most charming smile, oozing charisma, and in her best southern accent drawled, “Excuse me, but we couldn’t help but notice what a lovely couple you make. How long have y’all been married, if you don’t mind my askin’?”

“Forty-two years,” the wife replied, puffing herself up like a peacock.

“Well, I do declare. Jam’son, did y’all hear that? I just hope that someday we can be just like you...so in love after so many years. In’t that right, sugah?”

“Why yes, honeybunch,” Jay played along, not at all sure what was going on, but having great fun just the same.

“By the way,” Kate lowered her voice conspiratorially, snaring the old woman with her gaze and resting her free hand on her arm, “I just luuv your outfit. Liz Claiborne, if I’m not mistaken; one of my personal favorites. It looks just perfect on you, honey.”

“Thank you very much.”

“Well, we’d best be goin’ now and leave these nice folks alone, right, Jam’son?”

“Right, peaches. It was so nice to meet y’all. Have a great night.”

When they had walked away, the old woman swatted Earl on the arm.

“Well, wasn’t that nice. I had no idea those kind of people had such good taste; they know a good marriage and proper clothing when they see it.”

Earl didn’t answer; his eyes were still following the two gorgeous women’s progress as they disappeared from the restaurant.

Once outside, Jay turned to her lover, her eyes gleaming. “Okay, want to tell me what that was all about, sugah?”

“Just having a little fun, that’s all,” she smiled warmly at her partner.

“Because...why?”

“The old bat took exception to our public display of affection, and I thought I’d play with her a little. Thanks for going along with me, that was great sport.”

“How did you know she was wearing Liz Claiborne, a lucky guess?”

“Nope. Her tag was hanging out in back.”

“You are so bad.”

“You’re about to find out how bad,” she purred in her sexiest register.

Jay, her skin already tingling in anticipation, could only whimper.

184

The Price of Fame

Kate brushed her fingers lightly over her lover’s bare buttocks and back, reveling in the feel of silky soft skin and the scent that was so uniquely Jay. She had been overwhelmed with a desire the previous night to show the other woman exactly what she felt for her. She had started with slow caresses and deep kisses, added some strategically placed nibbles and bites, and luxuriated in the thrill of her lover’s rising excitement. She had stilled Jay’s wandering hands, wanting her instead to focus exclusively on her pleasure.

“Tell me what you want, sweetheart, all of it. I want to make everything you’ve ever fantasized about, everything you’ve ever dreamed, come true.”

“You already have,” Jay breathed, and that was the truth.

“Is this what you want?” Kate asked, running her tongue up the inside of one thigh, lightly kissing the engorged tissues, briefly sucking her lover into her mouth and then letting her go.

“Argh. God, Kate, that feels so good.”

“Or would you prefer this?” She smoothed long fingers over downy soft skin and into blonde curls, barely dipping into the wetness, swirling her fingers around once and retreating.

“Ahh. Oh, love.”

“Tell me what you want, sweetheart, and it’s all yours.” She looked into emerald eyes gone coal black with need.

“Please, take me now, I need you so much; I want you so much. I can’t stand it.” Jay could barely grind the words out.

Sensing that no further instruction was forthcoming, Kate made her own decision, entering her lover slowly with long, slender fingers, seeking the sensitive spots she knew so well, adding to the pressure with a thigh, setting the rhythm, following the rise and fall of her lover’s hips.

Then she lowered her head, taking an aroused nipple into her mouth, swirling the tip and biting down gently. Jay moaned, grasping her lover’s hair and pulling her more firmly onto her breast. Kate complied, biting down harder, Jay crying out her name as she exploded in orgasm.

Continuing to stroke her lightly Kate gentled Jay, allowing her breath to settle briefly before replacing fingers with tongue, taking first quick and then long, firm strokes until she was once again begging for release.

Grasping Jay’s buttocks, Kate pulled her tighter against her mouth, increasing the pressure of her tongue against the already swollen tissues.

Immediately she felt her lover shudder with pleasure and heard her gasp as she came again.

Moving up to lie alongside her exhausted lover, Kate brushed stray blonde strands from her eyes, kissing her with as much feeling as she could convey. “I want you to know how incredibly good you taste, love.

You are my life. I love you, Jay.”

185

Lynn Ames

“I love you too, sweetheart, and I’d love to show you just how much.

Unfortunately, someone has worn me out completely for the moment.”

“That’s all right, all I want right now is to hold you.” And she had, the two women falling blissfully asleep tangled in each other’s arms.

When she awoke just before dawn, Kate was as content as she’d ever been. She closed her eyes again and waited for her lover to wake.

The remainder of the morning was spent lying on the beach, taking an occasional swim, and snorkeling. The afternoon was reserved once again for sailing to the spot they had discovered the day before. As she had previously, Kate took the helm, but this time, she explained to Jay as she went, teaching her what she knew. Halfway out, she motioned her lover to join her at the tiller, positioning her between her legs facing outward and placing her hand on the tiller as well.

“Here, just pick a point over the bow and keep the tiller pointed at it.

With your other hand, you hold the ropes that control the mainsail and jib. Pull tighter if you want to catch more wind, let them out a little if you want to slow down, okay? If you want to get stopped dead in your tracks, head directly into the wind.”

“Sounds easy enough,” Jay said.

Kate let them run along that way for a bit so that her lover could get the feel of it. She leaned down into a nearby ear. “Ready to turn?”

“Just tell me what to do.” And the skipper did, letting her mate do some of the work, but never relinquishing full control. “How’d I do?”

“Not bad. Don’t forget the tension on the sails, that’s critical, and make sure you warn the crew when you’re about to shift directions.”

“Got it.”

They practiced together all the way out to the island, Jay getting more and more excited about her new skills as they went. Kate smiled at her enthusiasm, loving the sparkle in her eyes that matched the color of the water.

“Honey, I don’t want to stop just yet. Can we sail around the island, and can I take the helm by myself?”

“You think you’re ready for that?”

“Nothing to it,” Jay replied.

Kate, who was a seasoned sailor, was a little leery of letting her lover handle the boat by herself. Then she remembered the first time she had gotten to solo: her mentor had taken her out to an island not that different from this one and let her loose, calmly correcting her when she made mistakes and giving her the freedom to learn. That trust had meant so much to her. “Okay,” she smiled. “Let me just get us around this corner, then it’s all yours.”

186

The Price of Fame

Jay could hardly contain her glee.

Kate moved out from behind her lover, positioning herself on the starboard side for the moment. “Okay, pick a point and follow it with the bow and the tiller.”

Jay did.

“Good, now pull in the mainsail just a little bit and point the tiller a little to your left so that we catch a little more wind. Not too much, though.”

“Aye, aye, Cap’n.”

“Easy, there, matey, easy...that’s too much, let it out a bit.”

Jay had pulled the sail tight as she turned to the left, causing the wind to fill the sail full. The boat picked up speed at what was to Jay an alarming rate.

“It’s okay, love,” Kate shouted to be heard over the wind and the water rushing by. She was leaning out over the boat as far as she could, trying to keep them from heeling all the way and capsizing. She could see the panic building in her lover’s eyes as they grew wide. “Don’t worry. Just let the sail out a little, don’t make any sudden shifts.”

But even as she said the words, a small swell caused Jay to lose her balance. As she began to fall, she yanked the tiller hard, causing the boat to turn violently to the right. The mainsail line slipped through her fingers, the sail beginning to flap wildly in the wind. With the sudden shift in direction the boom swung hard the other way, catching Kate in the side of the head before she even had time to duck and knocking her unconscious, the momentum pitching her overboard and into the water.

Jay barely had time to blink in the space it had taken to lose her lover.

Her scream died on the wind.

On the shore of the tiny island, some tourists who had disembarked from a nearby cruise ship witnessed the entire scene. The two crew members who had transported the passengers in a motorized dinghy saw the tragedy unfolding as well, and they were in their craft even before Kate hit the water and were speeding to the rescue.

“Hang on. We’ll be right there,” the smaller man yelled.

As they reached the sailboat and grabbed hold of the side, Jay dove into the water, desperate to find her lover. After surfacing to take a breath, she dove back down, trying valiantly to see despite the tears that clouded her vision. She struggled to clear her mind and let her lifesaving-instructor training take over, trying to gauge the current, figuring how far the boat had moved past the spot where Kate had gone overboard.

Running out of air, she was forced to break the surface one more time to take a breath before re-submerging. It had been two agonizing minutes, and every additional second decreased the chances of finding her lover alive.

187

Lynn Ames

There!
Finally, she spotted the still figure, lying limp on the ocean floor, fifteen feet below the surface. Kicking hard, she propelled herself downward, reaching out and grabbing an arm, then planting her feet on the bottom and pushing off with all her strength. Jay broke the surface, pulling her limp lover into a lifesaving carry and signaling to the circling dinghy. Within seconds, one of the men pulled alongside, grabbing the unresponsive woman under the armpits and hauling her into the dinghy.

Then he reached over again and assisted the small blonde into the craft.

“Can you get us to the island? Please hurry.” Jay turned her attention to the prone figure, checking for a pulse and to see if she was breathing.