Tropical Storm - DK1 (55 page)

There was a sense of cleanliness and order that Dar found very characteristic of Kerry, and she decided she felt comfortable being here. The scent of freshly popped popcorn attracted her attention and she turned as Kerry reentered the 264
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room, carrying a large bowl and a pitcher. She set both down on the coffee table and got two glasses.

“Okay, I think we’re set.” She glanced at Dar, who was seated comfortably on the couch, and hesitated.

With a quiet smile, Dar patted the cushion next to her and waited for Kerry to settle herself before she reached over and turned down the lights a little and started the movie.

Kerry held out for all of the time it took for the opening credits before she snuggled closer to Dar, leaning against her body as the taller woman put an arm around her shoulders. With a sigh of contentment, she pulled the popcorn over and set it half on her lap, half on Dar’s, as they shared the contents.

Much nicer than the theatre,
she decided, popping a kernel into her mouth, then snagging another, and glancing up. Dar chose that moment to look down, and Kerry smiled, then held the popcorn up to her lips, stifling a giggle when Dar snapped her teeth down on it and caught her fingers as well. “Hey!”

Dar slowly released her hold, then chewed the popcorn with a little waggle of her eyebrows. That got her another piece, which she held between her teeth as she looked questioningly at Kerry.

Oh. A game
. Kerry pulled herself up and took half the piece, letting their lips brush. That tasted so good she decided to try it, and Dar obliged by reciprocating.

They went back and forth a few times, until Kerry forgot to take a piece and just went for Dar’s lips instead. She was curled up on her own couch, in her own apartment, and she felt very safe. Safe enough to forget the movie and concentrate on the sleek body under her fingertips instead as she allowed her hands to slip down Dar’s neck while the taller woman’s free hand curled around her side.

This time she wasn’t afraid or embarrassed. It was like diving into something new and exciting, and she found herself more intrigued than anxious. Dar was a good kisser, she decided as they gently explored each other. A hand stroked her side, and she shifted a little as the touch shifted and brushed gently against her breasts. That was an interesting sensation. Her body liked that. She felt a slow building of sensation and her skin became very sensitive, and when Dar’s fingertips touched the bare flesh at the neck of her shirt, a soft sound of encouragement escaped her.

Dar’s lips nibbled hers then moved away a little. “You doing all right?”

she murmured in Kerry’s ear, brushing the soft lobe with her tongue.

“Great,” she managed to respond.

“You want to keep going?” Dar inquired, running a finger down her cleavage.

A moment of fear, of uncertainty. “I…I don’t know if I…know what to do,” Kerry replied softly, as she found herself drawn to the smooth skin of Dar’s neck, and she nibbled it softly.

“You’re doing pretty good so far,” Dar confessed. “It’s all right, I’ll show you.”

Kerry felt her way down Dar’s body, smoothing her fingers across the curve of her breasts. “Show me,” the shorter woman breathed, surrendering as she felt a pull against her. Kerry soon found herself stretched out on her side
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on the couch with Dar gently supporting her. The dark-haired woman settled next to her and captured her lips again, letting one hand travel down her body and tug her shirt free of her belt. Kerry felt the sudden electric thrill as the warm fingers touched her skin and traced a teasing line up her midsection, from her belly button up to the bottom of her bra. Her muscles contracted in sheer reaction, and she found herself plucking at the buttons on Dar’s shirt, getting two of them undone, which gave her access to smooth flesh that she wanted nothing more than to touch, and stroke and…

She felt a trickle of cool air as her shirt was raised, then heat replaced it as Dar’s lips found their way down her throat and her body arched under the touch, a need building in her stronger than anything she’d ever felt before.

The pressure of her clothing seemed unbearable, and she almost cried out when she felt Dar loosen her belt. She felt chilled for an instant after she slipped the denim off, then a rapid heat consumed her as her legs were tangled with the taller woman’s and long fingers stroked up the inside of her bare thigh.

It was like an explosion inside her. She lost track of where she was, she only knew that a pressure was building, a pressure that centered itself around Dar’s touch, and the movement of her lips and the steady, knowing coaxing movement that brought her closer and closer, and finally sent her crashing over the top in a shudder of sensation so powerful that every muscle in her body clenched and shuddered. She could hardly breathe, her body convulsed again and again until it slowly relaxed, drawn on by Dar’s gentle, easy motions. Kerry was shaking, and her hands clutched feebly at Dar, who wrapped long arms and legs around her, and was whispering quiet reassurances.

“Shhh. Easy.” Dar stroked her hair, a little startled at Kerry’s responsiveness. “Easy, I’ve got you.” Dar knew that a physical relationship was often awkward for a while, until people got used to each other. But Kerry had…
Damn, it was like I just knew all the right spots to… Wow.
She watched the blonde head slowly nestle against her shoulder and she wrapped her arms a little tighter, bringing their mostly bare bodies closer together. “You all right?”

Sea green eyes drifted open and gazed half lidded at her as Kerry nodded faintly. Her hand absently moved up and down Dar’s side, sending tingles up and down her spine. “Fulfill your expectations?” the executive inquired, moving the disordered hair out of her companion’s face.

Kerry moved her touch lower, tracing a series of circles across Dar’s abdomen and shook her head a little. “I had no…I didn’t know what to expect, but…um, you know, Dar, I really, really liked that.” She ducked her head and nipped at the soft skin on Dar’s breast, watching her body react to it. “Now, I wonder…” She slid a little closer, wanting the contact and feeling the taller woman’s breathing catch. “Let’s see if I can…” She nibbled across the surface of Dar’s breast, then let her hands roam, exploring the shape and curves of her and letting her imagination take over.

Dar was so much taller than she was, it was hard to get everywhere. But she managed, pulling out a tortured groan when she used her teeth to good effect, tasting Dar’s skin in place after place, starting with touches at first 266
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tentative, then more confident, until she felt Dar’s body convulse and the dark-haired woman grabbed hold of her with an almost painful strength.

She could hear Dar’s heartbeat thundering against her ear, and she gently stroked her as they snuggled into each other’s arms and just rested. It was peaceful. It was familiar, in a way that Kerry really didn’t understand. But she knew that right here, safe in Dar’s arms, she’d found something very special.

Well.
Kerry felt a delighted surprise.
Yahoo, you didn’t really have a clue.

She took a deep breath of Dar’s scent and exhaled in deep contentment. She glanced up, smiling in reflex at the half smile on the taller woman’s face as she gazed back at her peacefully.

Something was nibbling at the back of her tongue, wanting to be said, and she just couldn’t nudge it forward. It was something she felt when she looked at Dar, something that came from deep within her, a truth of the heart her mind just wasn’t ready to look at yet. Oh well. It would come to her.

“Thanks. That was pretty awesome.”

Dar gazed at her, a small half puzzled, half incredulous smile on her face.

“Likewise,” she murmured
. Boy, did she ever have my number. When was the last
time that ever happened? Luck?
She examined Kerry’s dreamy expression, almost getting lost in it.
Whatever…
She kissed the blonde woman’s forehead and sighed contentedly.

Guess I did okay
, Kerry mused giddily
. Wow
. It felt wonderful. She glanced up at the angular face and saw interested blue eyes blinking back at her. A warm feeling re-ignited in her guts. “Hey.” She nuzzled a bit of soft, tanned skin. “That bathroom over there has a whirlpool in it. You interested?” One finger idly traced a rib, then moved upward.

Dar chuckled, low and deep in her chest, capturing the roving finger with white teeth and sucking the tip of it. She had a feeling it was going to be long night.

IT’S NOT A dream.
Dar heard the faint beep of her pager alarm, and she reached over, pressing the button that would turn the thing off, then she returned her arm to its place around Kerry and let out a tiny sigh.
It’s not a
dream, not this time.

This time it was real. No strange forest view, or unknown cabin—just herself, and Kerry, and a feeling of quiet pleasure that touched something down inside her soul. It felt so nice to wake up with someone. She’d forgotten what that was like, almost. No. She
had
forgotten. Deliberately.

It was dark out, and Dar knew she didn’t have a lot of time left before she had to leave and drive home to change before she was expected at the office.

She stifled a yawn and let her eyes drift closed for a few minutes, reveling in the solid, sleeping warmth of her companion, their limbs tangled together as they snuggled together in the middle of Kerry’s bed.

The late-night bath had turned into another long session of intimate exploration, and when they relaxed at last, tired but satisfied, Kerry had simply wrapped herself around Dar’s taller body and turned off the light.

Dar could think of a handful of reasons she should have left, but none of them could override the reason she had stayed. Because Kerry wanted her to.

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So she’d pulled the covers up over them and, surrounded by the clean, sweet scent of the fresh linens, allowed herself to slip into a deep sleep. Which was great, except here she was now, not wanting to budge out of the warm spot she was in and get moving.

Dar sighed, then she opened her eyes and started to straighten her body, hearing a soft murmur of protest from her blonde companion. Kerry took a tighter hold on her. “Hey…” Dar whispered softly in the pink ear near her chin. “Time to get up, kiddo.”

“Uhrm,” Kerry protested incoherently.

Dar rubbed her back gently. “Kerrrrrrryy.”

A sleepy green eye peered up at her. The lashes blinked, then the other eye appeared as Kerry realized where she was. “Oh. Hi, sorry. “ A charming smile gleamed in the faint light coming into the window from the streetlamp outside. “Guess I should let you go, huh?” she said softly.

Dar hugged her, then released her hold. “Take me a while to get across to the island, then back…and I have a meeting with José and Eleanor at nine.”

“Mmm.” Kerry gave her a squeeze, then reluctantly moved away, curling up on sheets suddenly cold against her naked body. “I’m supposed to visit the MTC today. They’re having town halls.”

“Have fun.” Dar reached out and stroked her face gently. “You feeling okay?”

Kerry captured her hand, and nibbled it. “I feel great, thanks. How about you?”

Dar smiled. “Never felt better.” She glanced at the clock. “I better get going. If I stick around here much longer, we’ll both be late.“ She paused, then rolled over, and slipped her hand around the back of Kerry’s neck, kissing her slowly but thoroughly.

They parted reluctantly, and Kerry closed her eyes, nuzzling the hand she still clasped in her own. “Oh sure, now just leave me here,” she teased.

Dar yawned, then rubbed her face. “Believe me, if I had a choice, I wouldn’t,” she responded offhandedly. “But I think someone would notice if both of us didn’t show up for work.”

Kerry snorted softly. “Someone? Jesus…” She fell silent. “We have to be careful, don’t we?”

Dar remained silent, thinking for a bit. “Careful, but not too careful.” She propped her head up on one hand. “I have to admit I’ve never had to…” She thought about their options. “Okay, I think we need to just act normally.”

Kerry nibbled at Dar’s fingertips. “Really?”

Her boss muffled a chuckle. “I don’t think we should hide the fact that we’re friends, I mean. Or that we do the occasional thing after work with each other. If we try to convince everyone we hardly know each other, it’s not gonna work.”

“Probably not,” Kerry acknowledged.

“No matter what, there’s going to be talk.” Dar exhaled. “Does that bother you?”

The green eyes unfocused a little as Kerry considered. “It’s a little intimidating. I know how nasty those people can be. I’m not sure how I’m going to react to that if I get it in the face,” she admitted quietly.

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“Mmm.” Dar paused. “Well, I always found it’s best not to deny anything,” she commented. “When people insinuate things, I just smile at them.”

“Smile?” Kerry’s brows knit. Dar demonstrated, producing a sexy, knowing grin. “Oh.” The blonde muffled a laugh.

“Yeah, they’re never really sure what to do with that,” Dar replied with a smirk. “The more you tell people something isn’t happening, the more they think it is. If you just laugh at them, they’re not expecting that.”

“Hmm.” Kerry nodded. “That makes a lot of sense. Is that your trick—all that self-confidence?”

A slow nod of agreement. “If I believe in myself, everyone else tends to,”

she answered. “No one will say anything outright, but they’ll insinuate.” She chewed her lip. “You could also try the old standard of asking them exactly what they mean, that you don’t understand what they’re asking.”

“Okay, I think I can do that,” Kerry replied hesitantly.

Dar studied her with a sense of quiet regret. “Kerry, if it’s going to be too much, we’ll think of something else,” she told the younger woman softly.

“I…I don’t want this to be tough on you.”

Kerry shook her head vigorously. “No. No, it’s all right. It just takes a little getting used to. I’m not really good at hiding things.” She chewed her lip.