Between the Waves and the Flames

By

Eve Foss

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Kindle Edition

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Copyright 2011 by Eve Ferris

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All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author or publisher except for the use of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews.

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This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events or locales is purely coincidental.

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Epilogue

Chapter 1

Hands clenched on the steering wheel of her five-year old compact Toyota, Nikki’s blue eyes rapidly took in the dirt and pebble driveway leading to a shabby-looking, doublewide trailer resting amid tall pine trees. “I’m not really sure about this,” she said to her best friend, Robin, who was sitting impatiently in the passenger seat. “Maybe I need to think about it for a while.” Robin has to be crazy for dragging me into this, Nikki thought to herself. And I’m even crazier to let her!

The moist darkness of early evening soaked into her skin, making the hair on the back of her neck stand on end, and with the car window rolled down, the chirring racket of Louisiana swamp crickets and the burps of frogs competed to draw her attention. She dropped her hand briefly, unconsciously swatting at a mosquito on her arm, before reaching for the keys. “Oh, no, you don’t!” Robin swatted Nikki’s hand away from the ignition. “You always think and plan and think some more. Live life for once! Embrace the impulse!” Robin threw her arms out dramatically, bouncing her curly red hair, as well as the shadows they threw on the roof of the car.

Nikki unconsciously sat up a little taller and tugged her blouse straight. Her brow wrinkled and eyes narrowed as she frowned at her friend. “I’ll have you know there is nothing wrong with plans. I happen to be quite good at making them! And I couldn’t have earned my black belts or worked my way through school without a healthy dose of self-discipline, thank you very much.”

“Healthy dose, my ass. More like an overdose the size of a wooly mammoth.” Robin sighed dramatically. “You really need to loosen up. Now, would you just come on?” The bubbly young red head bounced out of the car, darted to the driver’s side, and pulled the door open in spite of Nikki’s protests. She grabbed Nikki’s arm and proceeded to drag her toward the steps that led up to the covered porch attached to the house, and Nikki fought the urge to grab the nearest tree and hang on for dear life.

“Come on. I promise she’s not scary, and she’s really good at it!” Robin managed to jostle Nikki a few feet closer.

Nikki let her feet dig into the dirt, momentarily jerking Robin to a halt, as her hands clenched Robin’s sleeves. “But I’ve never done anything like this before,” she hissed from between clenched teeth.

Robin patted her on the arm. “I know, honey. That’s why I want you to see someone really good. Just this one time, and then I’ll leave you alone about it, okay?” With that, she grasped Nikki around the wrists and resumed her determined tugging.

“Oh, all right!” Nikki said resignedly, finally stepping cautiously onto the first wooden step toward the porch, the ancient lumber creaking in protest to her weight and sending every hair on her head into a race for which one could stand completely on end the fastest. “If I do this, will you be happy and never make me do something like this again?” she asked.

“Yep. I’ll never bug you to do it again, especially if you end up with someone as wonderful as Jim,” Robin assured her, referring to her current boyfriend, and nodding her head with a look of total sincerity on her face.

“Fine!” Nikki huffed in exasperation. She gingerly stepped up the wooden steps and stopped in front of the pale yellow, well-weathered trailer door. She ran her fingers nervously through her short, dark hair and then with a quick glance at her friend, reached out a tentative hand to the doorknob. How had Robin talked her into this? And why hadn’t she at least thought to insist on coming here during daylight hours?

Eyes narrowing in anticipation, Nikki took a deep breath, slowly opened the door, and peeked inside. The almost soothing scent of exotic incense hit her as the flames from dozens of lit candles blazed in the darkness, throwing a hazy glow over the room. The candles, in varying stages of melting, rested on every possible surface, from the heavy wooden coffee table in the center of the room to the old-fashioned buffet in the back, to the dusty, ancient looking piano resting at Nikki’s right. Some were typical tapers of the general store variety, and others were thick pillar candles of dubious origin. One candle in particular caught Nikki’s eyes—it stood about three feet tall, with three wicks, its color of green fading into blue, which in turn faded to red.

“Go on!” Robin urged, placing her hand at the small of Nikki’s back and giving a shove. “It’s just my aunt, Sally!” she whispered loudly in the darkness. Despite the witch they were visiting being a relative of Robin’s, Nikki could have sworn she heard a note of uneasiness in Robin’s voice and suspected that the bravado was a complete façade.

With a quick, “See ya!” Robin pulled the door shut behind Nikki as she stumbled inside, leaving her alone in the shadows with only the candles for light--alone with whomever was inside. Nikki slowly took a step forward. “Hello?” she called, her voice quivering. “I’m…I’m here for my…appointment?” Her voice echoed oddly in the trailer, the hollow sound bouncing back harshly on her ears, making her wish she had only whispered. Even her breathing sounded loud.

“Hello, child.” Nikki yanked around to the right as the voice came from the opposite end of the trailer she was expecting. A small, rather shrunken woman drifted forward, lips twisted upward in an amused smile, her eyes twinkling in the glow of the candles. Brown leather sandals that tied at the ankles graced her feet, contrasting with dark brown slacks and a loose-fitting olive green blouse--not exactly how Nikki would have expected a witch to dress.

Despite her short height and unimposing outfit, Nikki still found the woman slightly intimidating. “Hello,” she whispered back.

“I’m Sally Weaver,” the woman said, halting just in front of Nikki. Bright eyes scanned her from head to toe, taking in the closely cut, thick, dark brown hair, bright blue eyes, muscular shoulders and arms, traveling down her lean body, and pausing at her strong thighs and calves, and Nikki found she had to repress the immediate and familiar irritation of being under appraisal. Being a martial artist all her life, she actively worked to keep her body honed and flexible. While not the first time she had faced scrutiny of her body, she had never quite gotten used to it, though she supposed many women would have found it satisfying to be ogled by nearly every strange man on the street.

Finally, Sally looked back up, straight into the younger woman’s eyes. “So, you’re here to see me about True Love, huh?” Nikki knew the witch had not touched her, but she could have sworn she had, just from the feel of the woman staring through her eyes. Nikki also had the disconcerting feeling that she did not really need to answer, but that the woman already knew, so there was no point in holding back, either.

“Yes ma’am. Your niece, Robin, insists I come see you. She thinks I need some sort of help with my love life.”

“I see.” The witch turned and waved with tiny hands to the living area. “Come have a seat and we can talk.”

Nikki made her way to the brown-covered sofa and slowly sat down. She folded her hands in her lap and anxiously glanced around. Strange items decorated the room, and Nikki, pressing her hand against her nervously churning stomach, was not sure if the unusual decor made her feel better or worse. A green mask hung over one window, leering from the shadows, odd twin faces surrounded with feathers hung over the doorway, and a matching figurine set of a girl with flowers, a woman with two small children and an infant, and an elderly woman at a spinning wheel dominated a table near the fire place. But most eye-catching and startling of all was a vivid painting depicting a naked man wearing horns and a woman pouring milk from a flask, milk which turned into the stars.

Nikki’s eyes traveled past the painting. Now that she was looking more closely, she realized that while some of the candles were plain white tea-lights of the same kind she used in her potpourri holder, the three-foot tall candle was not the only unusual one. Candles of almost every imaginable color dominated the room, some decorated with things like seashells or leaves, some forming unusual designs that reminded her of things like twining tree branches or ocean waves.

Sally sat down on the other end of the sofa, stretched one arm out comfortably across the back of the sofa, and turned her body toward Nikki. “So why does my niece think you need help with your love life?” she asked, her eyes twinkling in the candle light.

“Well, I haven’t had much luck with guys.” Nikki’s hands nervously smoothed the wrinkles in the denim of her jeans, her palms damp and sweaty against the cloth.

“No?”

“No. I haven’t really found the right guy, yet, I guess.”

Sally nodded, her serious expression at odds with twinkling eyes. “So, you’ve had bad luck in love.”

“Yeah. I mean, no one has ever hit me, I haven’t been married, so I haven’t gone through a divorce, and no guy has ever gotten me pregnant, so I guess I haven’t had it too bad. But I just never found a guy I clicked with.”

Nikki sat silently as Sally looked intently in her eyes, seeming to consider, before rising, walking to the cabinet, rummaging around, and finally and taking an unlit, blood red candle from somewhere deep inside. She brought the candle back to the couch, sat down, and placed the candle in Nikki’s folded hands. “Hold this for me, would you?” the woman asked as she began to dig through various pockets. “I know I have my lighter here, somewhere…Oh, there it is.”

Sally presented a disposable lighter, and Nikki supposed the woman liked the color red, as the lighter matched the candle. “Now, just what kind of person do you believe you would ‘click’ with? Describe your ‘true love’.

Nikki fidgeted with the candle, the wax cool and slick against her skin. “Well, someone tall, dark, and handsome,” she said dramatically, with a grin, though her grin fell when she saw the no-nonsense expression on Sally’s face. She got serious. “Okay, not really. I don’t care about hair and eye color and stuff. I just want someone who has a great sense of humor. Someone who helps people, but isn’t controlling. I defiantly don’t want a guy to try to control me.” She considered for a moment, biting her bottom lip. “And I want someone who loves to travel, who loves dogs, who likes to get out and do things.” She was beginning to warm to the task. “Someone who won’t be intimidated by my career, who’s athletic but can still enjoy a good book, and someone who can be strong emotionally, but can still cry at a sad movie. I’ve never seen a guy admit to that, you know,” she added, staring pensively at the candle she was slowly turning in her palms.

“So that’s what you want of your true love?” the witch asked. “Is that all?”

“Um…no.” Nikki paused again as indecision etched lines in her face. Had she asked for enough? Or had she asked for too much? Was she just too picky, like some of her friends had said? “I want someone who is honest and sincere and who doesn’t play emotional games,” she finally added. “And someone who loves me as much as I love them,” she finished.

Sally nodded again, and took the candle from her. She placed the candle on the coffee table in front of them and handed the lighter to Nikki. “Would you light that for me, please?” the witch asked as she rose and went to the window. She looked out, as if expecting to see someone there, through the darkened glass. Nikki took the lighter, her hand shaking slightly as she lit the candle.

“So will I find my ‘True Love?” she asked, placing the lighter on the table beside the candle.

Sally chuckled, “Oh yes, you will. That’s not the question. The question is, will you be willing to pay the price?”

Surprised at the request, Nikki hurriedly reached for her wallet. “I….I….Well, sure. How much do I owe you?”

Sally laughed outright this time, and gestured for her to put the billfold away. “No, no. You don’t owe me anything. I don’t accept any money for this, honey. And that’s not the kind of price you’re going to pay.”

Suddenly, Sally looked Nikki dead in the eyes and spoke softly, her low voice serious. “Are you willing to face the price of facing what you know is the truth? Of your old life dying? Of people finding out you are not what they think you are?”

Nikki’s mouth fell slightly open as she looked at the woman. The serious tone took her off guard, and she hardly knew how to answer. She shook her head to clear it, and then reasoning began to return. “I should be willing to face the truth and I have always tried to be honest about myself. I would think that should be true whether love is involved or not.”

Sally nodded her head, her mouth moving upward in an amused twitch as she moved toward the door. “Well, have a safe trip, and enjoy Florida,” she said, as she reached for the doorknob. Obviously, the session was over, but… “Um…are you going to do a spell or something?” Nikki asked as she rose.

“Oh, I don’t need to. You already did,” Sally said, gesturing to the candle.

“I see…,” Nikki said, as she walked toward the door. Since when was lighting a candle a spell? “And how will I know my true love?” she asked.

Sally grinned broadly as she opened the door. “I’ll tell you this much. You’ll meet your true love inside of a year, and when you do, you won’t know it and it won’t be who you expect—or even the kind of person you would think of. That person will, however, be exactly what you are afraid of. And only when you accept the price of love will you be able to keep it.”

The door closed behind her as Nikki stepped outside, onto the porch and into the damp night air, her knees feeling wobbly and her hands trembling again. A nervous knot rested in the pit of her stomach. She stood for a moment, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness of the Louisiana woods that surrounded her, before tipping her head, momentarily letting the sounds of the tree frogs and the crickets, all trying to outdo each other with their calls, wash over her. She would miss Louisiana, even the crazy characters like Robin’s “Aunt Sally.” She shook her head, feeling like she was trying to get cobwebs out from between her ears.

All this talk of true love. Nikki rolled her eyes to herself and shoved her hands deep in her pockets as she turned to the car. She should just try being a little less fussy about the guys she went out with. But the problem was, she refused to settle. Nikki sighed. Maybe Florida would be different.

She began to walk to the car where Robin sat waiting patently, and then she paused and turned back to the house. How did Sally know she was moving to Florida? She had just discussed it with her brother this morning and had not even had the heart to tell Robin yet. With that thought, she turned back toward the car and forced herself to walk that direction, rather than run furiously to the car and throw herself inside, like she suddenly had the urge to do.

****

The next day, almost 800 miles away, Alex Martin flashed her best “guaranteed-to-get-the-girl” grin at the blond facing her from the opposite end of a canoe. She could not help but feel just slightly cocky. The “Let’s be one with nature” approach suggested by Misty had been rather brilliant, and where else could one be most “one with nature” than the Okephenokee swamp in Southern Georgia? Her current date was a relatively recent transplant to Florida and had never seen the national preserve in the neighboring state, so here they were, in the middle of the 40-mile long swamp, approaching the first mile marker of the canoe ride, completely alone. At the last minute, Alex had even insisted that they leave the cell phones in the car, so there was no possibility of being disturbed. And since it was a weekday and not quite heavy in the tourist season, the chances of actually running into someone was pretty slim. In fact, the only person they had seen so far had been the attendant at the stand where they had rented the canoe.

Alex paddled the canoe skillfully, her eyes glued to the woman in front of her. Mandy, oddly enough, was not quite so attentive to Alex in return.

“Are you sure about this?” Mandy asked. She gazed around, mesmerized by the wilderness surrounding them, and the further they went, the more fascinated she became. Her gorgeous blue eyes had no time for Alex, as they took in nothing but the morass of vegetation surrounding them. Golden club appeared sporadically, giving a flash of color to the green of leaves and lily pads. The yellow rods rose above the dark, tea colored water, floating leisurely on the deceptively still canal.

Cyprus trees angled from the banks, their swollen bases showing no connection to the dark knees that rose strangely from the black mud, knobby limbs detached from a body. Thick bunches of Spanish moss dangled from the branches, trailing loose tendrils in the canal while jade ferns fanned out on the banks, swaying in the soft breeze.

“Sure. I’ve been coming out here for years. There’s no way to get lost.” In actuality, the first part was a bit of an exaggeration. She had been here only twice before in her lifetime, though both times had been years ago. She had come out here with her dad once, as a kid, and with a school group as a teen. Both times she had spent the time hiking some of the trails, checking out the homestead replica of the way “swamp folks” used to live, and walking the boardwalk to the lookout tower. On the school trip, they had even taken the guided boat tour. Neither time had she been canoeing by herself.

The second part she was entirely confident of, however. They would just paddle down a mile or so, then turn around, and head back. No way to get lost. So far, so good. At least Mandy seemed suitably impressed with it all, which would pay off in the end. Eventually, those eyes would return to her.

“Oh. Well, actually it wasn’t getting lost that I was asking about. It was the alligators. But I’m sure it’s safe.”

Alex chuckled. “Yeah, I hope we find a few.” She calmly dipped the paddle in the water, still never taking her eyes off the young woman in front of her. Anyone who knew anything about the swamp knew there would be some alligators out and about. They were harmless enough, though. A few here and there, totally acclimated to the presence of humans in boats. Mandy would be really impressed by them, an alligator or two. But Mandy simply laughed as if the “find a few” was the funniest thing she had ever heard and pointed out at the water.

Unfortunately for Alex, what she had never expected to find on this trip was fifty of the pre-historic reptiles. As soon as she turned her head and looked in the direction Mandy was pointing, the horrific sensation of being caught in a B-rated horror film engulfed her. Alligators were everywhere, from the banks to the shallows to…to far too close to the canoe for comfort. Alex felt shock shudder through her body as her jaw literally dropped and her mouth fell open. She had never in her life seen so many of them in one area, not even at the Jacksonville Zoo. Hell, not even at the alligator farm in St. Augustine! And every one of them stared menacingly at this canoe with two humans that obviously had to be morons, calmly paddling into their midst.

Frantically, Alex’s head turned from side to side as she realized that the reptiles completely surrounded them. The bank of the swamp crawled with them, two of the greenish brown lumps lurching to their feet, staggering awkwardly on spindly legs to slide gradually into the water. A number of them were floating calmly within throwing distance, and then even as she watched, another slid menacingly into the water just ahead of them. Vaguely, Alex realized that she was still paddling, as if on automation, and that the more she paddled, the further into the congregation she was moving.

How long had it been since she had had a panic attack? She certainly could not afford to have one now, she thought as her eyes returned to Mandy. Nevertheless, the feelings of horror and terror begin to well up in her chest.

“Can’t panic. Can’t panic,” she muttered to herself under her breath. With wide eyes she looked up at her clueless date. “Do you see those ‘gators?” Alex asked, realizing even as the words tumbled out of the mouth how stupid it sounded.

“Yeah! Isn’t it awesome? We must have passed a hundred of them,” Mandy replied. At that moment, Alex realized that she was in the middle of the swamp, surrounded by fifty wild alligators, separated from them by only the aluminum of a flimsy canoe, with the dumbest woman she had ever gone out with.

“Why didn’t you say something?” she spit out frantically. Couldn’t she at least have said something like, “Ooo…look at that one!”?

Mandy frowned and looked at her, apparently confused by the question. “You’ve been paddling past them for the last ten minutes. You had to have seen them.”

How could Alex possibly say that for the last twenty minutes all she had done was stare at Mandy, or rather at Mandy’s cleavage, and imagine her wearing, well, much less? Her hands began to shake as she clutched the paddle as if it was a lifeline, the thumping if her heart so rapid and hard it was painful. She felt the panic building further in her chest, as she looked around again. There was nowhere to go, but there was no time to panic, either.

“No! I didn’t see them or I certainly wouldn’t have paddled past them! They’re alligators!”

“Alex, even I know there are always alligators in a swamp. Isn’t that what we came out here for?” Mandy said with the air of a parent speaking to a ten-year-old child.

Alex was vaguely aware that she was breathing rapidly. This could not be happening. She had to be having the worst nightmare of her life. The litany running through her head was becoming a constant chant of, “This can’t be real. This can’t be real. This can’t be real.”

“Okay, okay. Think! Think!” Alex said aloud, as she slapped her forehead with her palm. She had to think of something--just drifting in the swamp was not the answer. Alligators had to get hungry some time. The image of the caretaker at the zoo who talked to the crowed about native reptiles popped into her mind, his cheerful young voice in direct contrast to what he was saying, “Contrary to popular belief, alligators don’t eat their prey alive. Instead, they just drag the prey to the bottom and hang on until the food drowns. Then they either eat, or stash the food under something like a log at the bottom of the water to come back and finish later.”

Mandy, at this point, seemed to get the idea that this was not exactly a good situation, or at least that Alex didn’t think it was. “Don’t worry, Alex,” she said calmly. “They can’t be too hungry--I’m sure the park rangers feed them well. It is a national forest, after all.”

Alex looked at Mandy as if she had lost her mind. “They’re WILD!” she said emphatically.

“Yeah. It’s like an old Tarzan movie, only there are no wires pulling them!” Mandy grinned, eyes glued to an enormous monster waddling from the bank and slipping into the water, gliding swiftly toward the middle of the creek. At that moment, Alex not only hated her date, but her so-called best friend, Misty, as well. Knowing Misty, she probably sent them out here just so this would happen! It would fit her twisted sense of humor. If they ever made it back alive, Alex was going to cheerfully strangle her.

Alex glared at the woman sitting across from her. “Tell you what,” Mandy said, talking the seat cushion out from under her bottom and holding it in front of her with both hands. “If one of them gets too close, I’ll throw this in its mouth. It’ll think we’re the rangers feeding it.” She grinned brightly.

“They don’t feed them!” Alex yelled, a vague amazement that Mandy actually held a college degree floating disjointedly through her mind. “People don’t feed them or take care of them if they are injured or train them or tame them or anything! They are wild! They will eat us!”

“Oh,” Mandy simply said, her face falling. The two of them sat there for several moments, each trying to figure a way out of the situation and neither of them really coming up with anything. Mandy began to fidget, her fingers plucking at the edges of the cushion she was once again sitting on. Finally, Mandy spoke up, anxiety making her voice oddly high-pitched--“You know, most animal eat at dusk, and it’s starting to get late. I wonder if that is alligator feeding time.”

“Oh shit,” was all Alex could think to say. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Okay. Wishing would not change the situation, and neither would crying, begging, or praying. She had to get them out of there—Mandy could apparently barely put a sentence together, but she did have a point about feeding time. Alex took a deep, shuddering breath and slowly let it out. Maybe if she just focused on the area in front of her, ignored the alligators, and paddled calmly and carefully, she could get them out of this mess. Gingerly, she dipped the tip of the paddle in the water on the right side, focusing all her attention on where she was aiming the canoe, completely ignoring the unnerving echoes of the gators’ calls that were sounding from the banks of the swamp.

After several moments of gentle paddling, she had finally turned the canoe in the right direction, and if she narrowed her vision, Alex found that she could pretty much pretend there were no gators in site, which helped keep the panic down. At least, it was working until she glanced at Mandy. Just as she looked up at the blond sitting at the opposite end of the canoe, Mandy’s eyes grew wide, and she completely froze, staring at a point just to Alex’s right. “Alex,” she said, her voice uncharacteristically firm. “Look at me. Just stay with me, Alex.”

Of course, that was the last thing Alex could do. Feeling like everything was happening in slow motion, she turned and looked to the right, where she the tip of her paddle was just about to dip into the water. And when she did, she looked right into the eyes of the biggest alligator she had ever seen. The gator looked calmly into her eyes, and then opened his massive jaws to show her the rows of vicious, predator teeth, and Alex, who ordinarily liked to think of herself as a brave woman, felt the panic boil up. All she could do was freeze, and instead of saying anything that could have been wonderful, wise last words, all that would come out was, “Ah… ah…ah…ah…ah…”

The gator, at that moment, snapped his mouth shut and sank beneath the coffee-dark water, completely out of site. And still, Alex sat frozen, “Ah. Ah. Ah…” Then somehow, in the numbness, one thought managed to surface. What if he comes up underneath the canoe and dumps us in the swamp?

At that point, Alex managed to actually, speak English, although her vocabulary was unusually limited by panic. “Oh, shit! Oh, shit, oh shit, oh shit!” Then, fight or flight kicked in, and she decided that flight was the wisest response. To hell with caution!

Alex plunged the paddle into the water and the canoe shot forward more rapidly than either of them expected. Mandy squealed and flopped forward, as she grabbed the edges of the canoe, but Alex did not even hesitate. Mandy might think a cushion would fool a gator, but Alex did not intend to die as a meal for an overgrown prehistoric-era reptile. Her previous chant of “This can’t be real” quickly twisted into, “God, don’t let me be ‘gator poop! God please don’t let me be gator poop!” She wanted to be scattered as ashes in the Caribbean after living a full, exciting life, not become muddy crap at the bottom of the swamp!

Alex pulled every ounce of her self-control together, focused on nothing but the water fifteen feet ahead of her, and plowed ahead through the swamp, churning up a dull green froth in her wake. She forced herself to believe that nothing existed but the boat, the paddle, the water, and her drive to reach dry land, and so she was mildly surprised when the boat dock of the board building that passed as the national forest’s canoe and kayak rental, as well as sandwich shop and gift store, came within that fifteen foot range. Still, she did not slow her strokes, and the canoe drove three feet up on the bank before stopping.

Knees threatening to buckle, Alex barely managed to crawl from her end of the little vessel, only just managing to wait for Mandy climb out. Her legs felt like over-cooked macaroni as her tennis shoes sank into the soft mud, and she was more than a little tempted to throw herself on the ground and kiss it like a long lost lover, but she managed to restrain herself. Instead, she staggered into the boat rental building, hands shaking despite her best efforts to still them. She was met by the disinterested glance of the aging woman behind the register, cigarette dangling carelessly from her frowning lips.

“Did…did…did you…did you know there are ‘gators out there?” she managed to sputter out.

The woman’s only change in facial expression was a minute rising of the eyebrows. “Well, yah, this is a swamp. You’re supposed to see a gator or two. You not from around here?” she drawled.

“No…no…bunches of them…tons of them…fifty…a hundred….” Alex felt mildly hysterical.

“What, up by the mile marker, headed that way?” The woman removed the half-burned cigarette and held it between two fingers gesturing the direction Alex had traveled, dropping ashes across the counter in the process. She then angled the cigarette toward the ashtray and uselessly tapped it against its side.

“Yeah, that way.”

“Mmmhhmm, we’ve had a few run-ins that direction.” The woman nodded. “‘Bout fifty of ‘em up there. They don’ usually do that, but water’s low ‘cuzzathe drought ‘n all. You’re lucky. Yesterday we had to fetch a guy from out there—he was stuck four hours or so, so we went and got ‘em just before dark.”

Alex, mouth slightly agape, just stared at her, completely dumbstruck at first. “You mean you know they’re there?”

“Well, yeah. How could we not know?” The woman looked slightly annoyed, now.

“How come you don’t do something about it?” Alex practically yelled.

“Well, they haven’t hurt anyone yet!” The woman looked at Alex as if this were the most logical thing in the world to say, and as, still astounded, she turned and walked away, it dawned on Alex that perhaps Mandy was not the most idiotic woman to ever exist!

****

Alex carefully climbed from the bed, disentangling her legs from the soft white sheets as gently as possible to avoid waking the sleeping woman in the bed beside her. Once free, she slipped out the door and closed it softly behind her before finally stopping to stretch her stiff body. She reached her arms up, arched her back, and yawned, before glancing down at the bundle of fur waiting patiently by her feet.

The black and tan Corgi/Schipperke mix got to his feet and stretched, yawning at the same time, in response to her. He knew the drill, and he stood, tongue lolling, as Alex stooped to pat his head. While only about 22 pounds, Jasper thought he was the biggest dog on the block. He was the coolest dog Alex had ever known, and she believed that the fact that she had raised him from a puppy only made her slightly biased. She grinned at the dog and would have sworn he grinned back, lips curling in imitation of her. As she knew he would, he padded silently after her as she took the stairs down to the living room, and he curled up on the floor beside her, tucking his head between his paws to go back to sleep, as she settled on the sofa.

The room was homey and comfortable, exuding warmth and welcome to its owner. This was truly home to Alex, and she had visited here many times before actually living here. The house had once belonged to her grandparents, and since her parents had no desire to leave their home in South Carolina, after her grandmother passed away, Alex had gladly given up her cramped apartment to live in the house she had spent so many happy hours in as a child. She had quickly converted the library, which was close to the front door, into a massage room and fenced in the backyard for Jasper. The cost of living was high in this area, and not having to pay rent or a mortgage allowed her to continue doing work she loved, instead of having to go to work for some corporate office somewhere. The wooden home was older, and she could not hang a sign outside advertising as a business due to the zoning, but it was worth it.

Alex tossed on the sofa. She was never comfortable sleeping with anyone else, but decorum dictated that she not just shove a woman she had just spent two hours rolling around with out of the bed.

The evening had ended as Alex had hoped—between the sheets. Mandy apparently thought she was a hero for getting them out of the swamp, and those blue eyes had focused on nothing but Alex for the rest of the evening. Inviting her home had been simple, and though perhaps she was not the brightest spark in the fire when it came to brains, Mandy had certainly proved hot enough in bed!

However, for some reason, even though camping out on the sofa when she had “company” was her normal routine, sleep eluded her. After a while, she tossed aside the blanket with her favorite team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, emblazoned on the front, in favor of walking out to the screened-in patio area, where she flipped on the switch to the old-fashioned water fountain. She sighed as the sound of rushing water mingling with that of the frogs and insects in the back yard. Florida might have been one of the fastest growing states, but it still had more than its share of “critters” that called the semi-tropical state home, especially out here away from the bigger city of Jacksonville.

Alex flopped down in the wooden rocking chair and propped her feet up on the rattan chair beside her, her sigh barely audible and the bobbing of her head not visible at all in the darkness. Mandy was okay—Alex was aware that she was too harsh in her interpretation of her that afternoon. She had not exactly felt very bright herself, not noticing the very obvious visitors to the canoe trip. She felt like a dunce, actually.

But that was neither here nor there. The reality was that despite spending the evening with a beautiful, warm woman, she felt empty, and somehow, the sex did not cover up the hollowness, anymore. The woman in her bed up was not the first to be there, and she certainly would not be the last. But, holding a soft body in her arms did not hide the fact that she was still in possession of her own heart, and that the someone she had always looked for, that woman she could give her heart away to, was likely nothing more than a figment of her imagination. Friends had told her before that she was looking for perfection, but the truth was, she never found anyone she could truly trust. The times she had come close had ended in disaster, and she had always been the hurt one left standing on the sidelines. What was the point of giving your heart away, if it was just going to be served back to you on a platter?

And so Alex played the part of a woman thrilled to live life independently. How could she complain? She had a warm home that so many would envy, a job she loved, the opportunity to travel when she wanted, tons of friends, enough charm to pick up a woman when she needed something more…and her best friend was the dog laying loyally at her feet. She sighed again. What more could she ask for in life? No one had it all.

Chapter 2

Nikki kicked off from the sandy bottom, easily stroking her way through the water. Until today, although she had always dreamed of it, she had never been swimming in the ocean. And it was better than any dream. The tang of salt stung her lips as she slipped through the water to catch the next wave. The water was still chilly—April was far too early in the year for swimming. Her older brother, Nate, had told her that only tourists went swimming this time of year, but this was her first year in Jacksonville, Florida, and she just had not been able to resist. When she had finally moved here last November, it had already been far too chilly to swim, and she simply had not been able to wait any longer.

A wave hit Nikki, lifting her body and shoving her forward on its crest, as she thrilled in the delicious sensation of body surfing. She laughed like a child as the wave turned her loose close to shore, and she put her feet down on the sand only to turn back to the open water again. Her shoulders and arms were exhausted, and her legs were starting to wear out, too, but…Just once more, she thought to herself. She swam out to wait for the next wave, noticing that the last wave had pushed her further down the beach. Still, she was not concerned, until she felt a sideways tug on her legs.

The unfamiliar pull surprised Nikki, and she decided that perhaps she should not be out so far, so she turned toward the beach and began to swim. However, when she took a few strokes, she realized she had not really moved forward at all. The tug of the ocean held her, and for every inch she moved forward, it dragged her back. It was like an invisible barrier between her and the beach.

Determined now, Nikki doggedly dug her arms down into the water, kicking with all the gusto she could muster. To her horror, she made little progress, and the moment she let up, the ocean simply sucked her right back out as far as she had been seconds before, pulling her further sideways in the process. She glanced backward at the vastness behind her—she did not exactly relish the idea of becoming shark bate somewhere out there.

As the ocean swept her in its grasp, Nikki fought down the anxiety, adrenaline rushing through her veins. Her body was poised for fight or flight, but she could neither fight the ocean nor flee from it, despite her increasingly desperate struggle. Suddenly she realized she was in the path of a large wave, and she braced herself for the impact. It rushed over her head, completely overwhelming her and dunking her far under the surface. She managed to struggle back to the top, gasping for air as she fought for control, arms flailing and legs thrashing to keep her afloat, but the panic was rising in her chest.

Control it. Control it, she told herself desperately. But deep inside she knew control would do her no good here. The ocean was not exactly intimidated by a jump-front kick or reverse punch, did not care that she could bench press her own weight, and would have no remorse if she became just another statistic of ocean fatalities. Here, compared to the ocean, she was smaller than an ant caught in the rush of the Mississippi River, and she was just as powerless.

****

Alex glanced down at Jasper, who ran at her side, his tongue lolling out of his mouth. She had the end of a six-foot leash looped around her wrist, but it was not actually necessary. Jasper would have stayed by her side just fine without it. The leash was for appearance’s sake, rather than a need to keep him in line. Alex slowed to a walk, breath rushing in and out of burning lungs, before finally coming to a complete halt, bending over, and bracing her hands on her knees. Jasper immediately plopped down at her feet, oblivious to the hot sand, panting rapidly and looking up at her with accusing brown eyes as he licked his lips and letting his tongue roll from his mouth again. While still only April, the temperatures were in the high 80’s, early summer around the bend.

Alex breathed deeply, the moist, salty air of the oceanside filling her lungs while the crash of the waves filled her ears. Only by the sharp keening of the seagulls that sailed through the air, sharp eyes always on the lookout for food, broke the peace that engulfed the beach. The sand squished pleasantly under her feet as she shifted her position, beginning to get her breath back.

“Sorry, Buddy,” she said to Jasper. “It’s been a while, huh? But we didn’t do too badly.” She finally stood and ran her fingers though her caramel colored hair, hazel eyes scanning the beach to get her bearings. As she looked back down the long stretch of sand, she was not sure whether to be pleased or not with the distance they had covered. Running full out as far as she could had a price.

“Damn,” she said under her breath, shaking her head as she looked down at her watch. Too bad she had to work this evening. She looked back at Jasper. “Well, we gotta go,” she said, taking a step back in the direction they had come from. However, the dog did not budge.

“Come on. Let’s go.” Alex gestured back toward their recently made footsteps. Jasper simply laid his chin on his paws, refusing to even look her in the eyes. “Oh come on, Jasper. We ran here. We can walk back.” Jasper’s round, black eyes, when he finally consented to look up at her said it all—You’re kidding, right?

With a sigh and roll of her eyes, Alex crouched down beside the dog and ruffled the soft fur at the scruff of his neck. “I know it sucks, but there’s nothing I can do about it. The Jeep’s not gonna come and get us on its own.”

The sun glanced off the water and sand, and Alex felt sweat trickle down her back. She had been coming here to jog since shortly after she had gotten Jasper. He had been quite hyperactive and not reacted well to being cooped up inside her apartment. She had begun bringing him out here to run some of his energy off, but had stayed with it because she loved it. And Jasper had become so accustomed to going with her that she generally took him everywhere with her, even occasionally to work. With a lot of his energy burned off, he learned to obey her every request, to the extent that she could trust him to stay in the Jeep when she ran into the store (he probably thought he was guarding it) or stay under the desk in her tiny office area (he probably though it was naptime). People pretty much took them as a pair, the tall, tawny woman with the short little dog sidekick.

Jasper suddenly leaped to his feet as Alex was talking to him, and Alex’s first irrational thought was that he had suddenly learned to understand English. But the dog’s eyes were intent on the surf, and suddenly he let out a sharp, high pitched bark—the same bark he used to call her when the kitten was stuck on the roof and when the kid from down the street had fallen out of the tree and broken his wrist. Misty even called it his “Lassie bark.”

Jasper took several running steps toward the water, barking frantically and then looking back over his shoulder with alert eyes toward Alex. She immediately stood and skimmed the waves with sharp eyes and quickly found the dark spot bobbing in the water. Her old Coast Guard training kicked in as she realized that there was someone in the water, someone waving an arm.

While this beach was Alex’s favorite, she knew it did have its drawbacks. First, it was notorious for strong rip tides, where the water rushed back from the shore, trying to suck anything in its grasp, including swimmers, back out to sea with it. Rip tides were not that difficult to get out of, for the experienced ocean swimmer. For tourists or the inexperienced, however, they could prove to be deadly. The shore stayed there, enticingly, while the swimmers wore themselves out trying to reach it, until exhaustion and the tide finally took control of their fates.

However, the other drawback to this beach was that it had no lifeguards to warn swimmers of the currents and to drag the hapless from the waves. Fortunately, this beach’s seclusion kept most of the tourists away, but there was always the occasional exception to the rule.

Most of the tourists preferred the public beaches, where the dredged sand was more pristine. If the sand was low, more was pulled up to keep the preferred levels and perfect look. Those beaches also had lifeguards and less chance of riptides occurring. This beach, however, was much more secluded, generally only frequented by locals. The sand was not kept up by the city, so the chances of finding treasures, such as sharks teeth and larger shells, were much higher.

Alex paused only to glance at Jasper, who danced at the edges of the waves, as aware as she was of the danger to the swimmer. She quickly reached down to yank her jogging shoes from her feet. “Stay,” she told him firmly, as she turned to the water, marking the area of the struggling swimmer. “Damn tourists,” she muttered under her breath as she plunged into the still cold water. Florida weather may have warmed up by this time of year, but the ocean still had not. Only tourists and over eager children would go swimming this time of year, locals having the luxury of knowing they would still be here when the water was warmer.

The cold water made her shudder as a wave came up to her knees, its icy fingers quickly creeping up her thighs. She had never liked the cold, and she had had her fill of being chilled and wet when she did her tour in the Coast Guard. When she moved here, Florida had seemed like a good place to be in the water and still stay warm. But apparently, not today.

Before the water reached her waste, Alex could feel the strong tug of the riptide pulling at her body, and within a few more steps, it threatened to pull her off her feet. With a strength born of long experience, Alex dove head first into the chilly waves, froth flowing over her as the water fought against her. Strong arms pulled her closer to the swimmer, which held all of Alex’s focus. The adrenaline boosted her muscles and energy, and she gave in to the tunnel vision that claimed her under such circumstances, forgetting that the rest of the world existed, not noticing the cold or the fear, only seeing the swimmer as an object to be pulled from the threatening grave.

Alex reached the swimmer and immediately threw an arm around her neck. The swimmer responded by trying to clench Alex around the neck, the sudden feeling of another floating body triggering the survival instinct to grab, all her focus simply on staying afloat. “It’s okay. Don’t fight it,” she gasped. “I gotcha—just relax.” The words must have sunk in, because after a moment the swimmer obeyed, allowing Alex to roll her onto her back, holding her head up.

Arm wrapped around the stranger’s neck, Alex let the waves buoy her along, just floating with the tide, while she rested. She knew from experience that fighting the ocean was useless; it was a far too powerful force. After a few moments, Alex began to swim with the ocean, instead of against it. Pulling the swimmer with her, she swam with the waves parallel to the beach, angling in, slowly and steadily, until the rip tide loosened its hold and her feet could touch sand. By that time, the swimmer had recovered enough to put her feet down and stumble to shore beside her rescuer. When her feet were free of the grasp of the water, the swimmer collapsed, exhausted, her back sinking into the soft sand.

Panting, Alex sank gratefully to her knees, hands braced on her thighs, beside the woman she had just rescued, trying to catch her breath. Alex shook her head like a dog to clear her eyes of the salt water, scattering droplets of water everywhere. She raked a hand over her eyes to finish clearing them, and then glanced down at the body she had pulled ashore.

My, oh my, were the only words that she could bring to mind as she stared. It was a good thing she had only been focused on dragging the woman out of the water. If she had noticed what a luscious body she had been holding, she would have surely drowned them both just from swallowing half the ocean when her mouth fell open!

But now that they were safely out of the water and the would-be swimmer lay sprawled on her back on the wet sand in front of her, Alex was unable to resist quickly running her eyes over the woman, absorbing the perfectly cut shoulders and arms, flat stomach, and firm thighs with one swift rush of hormones. When her eyes reached the muscular calves, she turned back to the woman’s face, trying unsuccessfully to convince herself that the swim was the reason her heart was pounding so loudly.

The stranger was breathing harder than Alex, stretching the swimsuit even more tautly across her full breasts in an erotic rhythm, nipples hardened by the chill of the water showing clearly under the fiery red one-piece. Alex shook her head, trying to bring back some sort of decorum to her thoughts, but she could not keep her imaginary x-ray vision from seeing exactly what lay under the tight clothes!

Alex finally managed to bring her focus to the woman’s face. She lay with one arm bent, her hand cushioning her head, face stretched to the sun, and nearly black curls of thick hair falling against her cheek. Eyes closed, thick, dark lashes graced the top of finely chiseled cheeks, delicate features giving way to lips swollen by the seawater. The woman’s tongue slipped out, licking the salt from the corner of her mouth, as Alex watched, her breath catching in her chest.

Alex gave herself a mental shake, scarcely believing the thoughts that were suddenly running through her mind and futilely trying to shove them away. She should not be thinking this way—she had just saved the woman’s life for God’s sake, but damn! The woman was hot! If she looked like this in a swimsuit…

But when the woman looked up, it was her eyes that took Alex’s breath away.

Those dark lashes framed eyes that were such a deep blue that Alex thought she could see all the way into her soul. Never in her life had she seen such beautiful eyes or eyes that exact color. The only time she had seen that shade had been on a cruise to the Caribbean, where the deepest water was so clear and blue a person felt like nothing else existed—the very shade of woman’s eyes.

As Nikki looked up into intense hazel eyes, she was surprised at the familiarity she felt, as if she knew this woman and not just in passing. It was the feeling of meeting a best friend she had not seen in years, someone she had not realized how much she missed until she saw her again. She shook her head slightly, before looking back up. I must just be dazed, she thought to herself, as she realized the woman was a complete stranger.

And that complete stranger had just saved her life. Nikki grimaced at the strange feelings—gratitude, indebtedness…and a swift rush of powerlessness that she hated. Powerless was one thing she had never allowed herself to be. She had worked too hard and too long at discipline and control to ever give into any sort of panic or fear. But somehow, the ocean had not seemed to respect that.

All she could do was whisper, “Thank you,” as the magnitude of the situation hit her. Hmm…near death could be quite a blow to the ego. But then, to be rescued by a woman like this! She felt a zing in her stomach as her gaze traveled over the woman’s tanned body, white t-shirt and kaki shorts soggy and dripping. Then she looked at her face. For some reason, the stranger’s eyes seemed like magnets to Nikki, and she could not look away from them.

As the woman whispered, staring into Alex’s eyes, Alex could hear the breath rushing between the woman’s lips, deep breaths still heavy from the exertion.

Alex shook her head. “It’s okay. I used to do water rescue all the time. No problem.” Alex was having a harder time catching her breath than she would have expected, which she immediately told herself was the result of simply the adrenaline rush and not that she had rescued such a beautiful woman.

Alex stood and reached out a hand to the woman. As she grasped the other woman’s hand in hers, the softness shot straight to her heart, a rush of gentleness masked by strength, and she wanted to simply freeze time to feel nothing but touching this woman and being touched by her.

Alex pulled the woman to her feet and then cleared her throat, forcing herself back to reality. “You okay?” I’ve been way too long without a woman in my bed, she thought to herself.

“Yeah,” the woman replied. “I just feel kinda foolish.” Nikki was trying to shake the sense of embarrassment. She had never needed to be rescued before, and if anyone had ever dared to treat her like a fairytale princess needing some knight in shining armor, he would have swiftly found himself on the receiving end of a roasting more reminiscent of the fairytale dragon. Of course, in this case, it was a knight in dripping jogging shorts…very short jogging shorts…showing off very muscular thighs.… Nikki’s breath was returning to normal, but she shivered slightly, the trembling tightening strong muscles in her arms. Almost reflexively, she shoved the image away.

“No, don’t feel foolish,” Alex said with a shake of her head. “It can be tough out there, even for the strongest swimmers. Just be careful on these beaches without a lifeguard. The public beaches are much safer and don’t get as much of a riptide.”

Alex fought the impulse to babble on further about what caused riptides and how to get out of them a person had to just sort of let herself be swept along until the riptide let her go. Riptides gave a completely new meaning to the phrase, “Go with the flow,” and most people got in trouble by trying to fight them. Unfortunately, the force of the ocean was just too powerful for most people!

The urge to ramble about nothing when she was nervous—or excited--was one thing that had always plagued Alex. She stubbornly avoided looking at the woman’s breasts, but then strong muscular shoulders and arms that she could imagine tightening around her, pulling her closer, hijacked her vision.

The woman’s eyes met her again, and Alex knew it was her turn to be drowning in an ocean. Those eyes held hers, and she wondered if the other woman felt the strange tug between the two of them.

The woman pulled her gaze away, leaving Alex feeling oddly bereft, the stranger’s eyes turning toward the water. She nodded solemnly. “I don’t think I’ll try swimming again any time soon. I shouldn’t have gone by myself, anyway.” The woman with The Eyes, as Alex knew she would think of her, turned back to Alex.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” The Eyes said quietly. Her tongue flicked over her lips, and then she bit her lower lip, her eyes on Alex’s mouth, before looking back into Alex’s eyes. Nikki could barely breathe as she stared at Alex’s lips. She had an almost uncontrollable urge to wrap her arms around the woman and bury her face in her neck. What is wrong with me? I can’t think like this! she thought to herself.

I know how you could thank me. Alex managed to keep from saying the words, but she could not help but think them. “It’s okay. Really,” Alex whispered back instead. She wondered fleetingly in the back of her mind if this would be one of those surreal moments she would “remember all her life.” But then the stranger looked away.

“Well, I guess I better get going. I have to be at work in a couple of hours,” Nikki finally said. The spring breeze was blowing gently, chilling the both of them, and goose bumps popped up on their arms. Nikki ran her hands over her arms reflexively.

The old water rescue coast guard perked up in Alex, and a bit of professional instinct suddenly surfaced. “You sure you’re okay?” she asked. Her eyes unconsciously strayed downward. “I really should get an ambulance out here to check you out…I mean…look you over…um…I mean to make sure you are okay.” The professionalism had not lasted long, and she fought down the unasked for blush that was threatening.

Nikki laughed. “That’s okay. I don’t think they can do much for a bruised ego, and that seems to be the only serious injury!”

Alex smiled her “lady-killer smile”, automatically turning on a bit of the charm. “Well, you might need some help getting back. You’re cold and probably still worn out.”

Nikki chuckled, forcing herself not to acknowledge that the smile made her insides feel like jelly. It was just the exhaustion, anyway, she told herself. “I think I can manage--I just got tired out there. I’ve heard of riptides. I just didn’t know they could be that strong!” She gestured to the wooden steps leading off the beach and toward the road. “Anyway, I have a towel in the trunk of my car, and we ended up not to far from the parking area.” A fleeting look of confusion crossed her face, and she hesitated slightly before finally saying, “You headed that way?”

Alex placed her hand on the woman’s arm and took a couple of steps with her toward the wooden steps. “As a matter of fact…”

Abruptly, Alex paused and cocked her head to the side. Then, she turned and looked back down the beach, where she could just make out the small black spot that was Jasper, still waiting patiently for her. After all, she had told him to “Stay!” and he would not budge until she told him he could move. Unfortunately, they were so far up the beach that she had no hope of him hearing her over the sound of the waves from this distance.

“Oh, damn. I forgot my dog,” she said gesturing in the direction. “I gotta go back and get him. He’ll never hear me from here.” Alex was disappointed, but there was no way she could ask the woman to stand there freezing while she went to get him. She shook her head, as she felt some of her common sense return through the fog of attraction. She had done the “sleep with the pretty tourist out for an adventure” thing plenty of times in the past, but she had long sense sworn off it, much like her brother-in-law had sworn off beer. She liked to think she had grown up a bit.

She turned back to the woman. “You go on and get warm—you need it,” she said. The reality was she would never see this woman again, though looking back into this woman’s eyes made her feel strangely full of regret, and she couldn’t remember the last time she had reacted this strongly to another woman. She was having one of those strange moments in time that seemed to last forever but was gone in an instant. She shook her head again in an effort to clear the fog the woman created in her.

“Oh well. Maybe I’ll run into you sometime,” Nikki said, as she shifted from foot to foot. She was disappointed as well, more than she would have expected, as she folded her arms, now rubbing her hands briskly over flesh prickled by the chill. Although Alex’s instinct was to wrap the woman in her arms, she held her distance.

“Yeah, I hope so,” Alex replied, while inwardly thinking there was not much hope of that. She did not frequent the nightlife that tourists did, and the woman likely would not be in town long.

Nikki lifted a hand in farewell and began walking to the boardwalk, rubbing her arms again to fight off the chill, as Alex trudged back toward Jasper. Alex watched the woman walk slowly away, muscular thighs tensing in the sunlight, the red suit a bright contrast against her tanned skin. As she kept a watch out of the corner of her eye, though, she felt her heart clutch as the woman looked back, just before reaching the steps. The woman paused, and Alex turned, waving. Nikki waved too, and as Alex turned back to her walk, she could not help but think with a smile, I’ve still got it. She looked down the beach, the dog a dark spot, just as The Eyes had been a dark spot in the water. Her grin fell as she wondered, how far will Jasper make me walk before coming when I call him?

****

Nikki pulled the red and blue beach towel from the trunk of her compact car, shook it, and began to dry herself off, her thoughts turning automatically to the woman who had rescued her. The attractive woman had been much taller than her own 5’2” with dark blond hair plastered to her face, but her hazel eyes had captured Nikki’s attention the most. She had seemed like a nice person, and since at this point she still really only knew her brother’s friends and the people from the dojo, she was sometimes a little lonely. She did not really have many people she could invite to do things, like stroll along the beach.

For some reason, the feeling that her rescuer could have been a friend struck Nikki, and she did not even know the woman's name. The woman had a certain vibrancy and energy that Nikki found appealing, a warmth she did not want to let go of. A sudden image of Alex’s tanned thighs flashed into Nikki’s mind as she tossed the towel in the trunk, opened the door, and slid behind the wheel of her little car, but she shoved the image aside as she turned the key. She had simply recognized the beauty of a human body. There was no real attraction, she rationalized. It was not as if she wanted to touch those thighs, and she had barely noticed the swell of her breasts and that her nipples had been outlined under the wet t-shirt.

She shook her head banishing the forbidden thoughts, although she did allow herself to recognize that she would like to see the woman again, if for no other reason than to thank her. Well, if she favored this beach, maybe she really would run into her sometimes.

Chapter 3

Alex traced the swimmer’s arm with her eyes, the muscular firmness making Alex want to run her fingers over their smoothness, feeling their softness, their silkiness. Her eyes fell to the welcoming body, tracing the soft swell of firm breasts, cradled by the red one-piece swimsuit, the rising and falling of the woman’s heavy panting as she tried to catch her breath making her breasts strain against the fabric. Alex’s eyes fastened on the droplets of water glistening at her throat, scattering down her chest and dripping down her breasts, watching them slowly slide to the ground, the wetness tracing the swimsuit and soaking the already wet sand. Other beads of salty water trickled down the swimmer’s chest to disappear inside, between her breasts. Alex’s eyes lowered slightly, following the curves, to the nipples hardened by the chill of the water, the taunt firmness perfectly outlined by the stretchy material.

As Alex completely focused on the fantasy, she forgot she was lying on her own bed, surrounded by darkness. Instead, she was back on that beach, bright sun shining, with the unforgettable stranger. She felt herself flush slightly as her heart rate shot up, her imagination on stroking those breasts, gently squeezing the nipples and rolling their swollen tips, aroused by her touch and not just the cold, between her thumb and fingers. Alex moaned slightly as she slipped her hand under the boxers she always wore to bed.

Fingers stroking and caressing, Alex continued down the swimmer’s body, taking in the flat stomach, down to her muscular thighs. Alex’s throat went dry as her eyes fell on the triangle of cloth stretched between the other woman’s legs. Tongues of waves licked upward, teasing her body, reaching between her legs. Finally, the swimmer stretched up and slipped the straps of her swimsuit off her shoulders, slowly lowering the suit to reveal the perfectly sculpted breasts, then the flat, smooth stomach, a light brushing of soft hair leading Alex’s eyes lower. Alex took control then, reaching out to slide the rest of the suit down lower, past the damp curls, and off her body. The woman lay there, completely naked on the sand, eyes full of desire, reaching to Alex.

Alex stretched herself on top of the woman she had rescued, her own thighs cradled by the swimmer’s strong ones, their breasts pressed together, as she lowered her head to claim the swimmer’s mouth for her own. She ran her hand down the woman’s side, feeling the satin skin under her fingertips. She teased the soft skin at the top of her thigh, then slowly slid to the moist, velvet warmth between her legs. She parted her folds and plunged inside, the woman arching against her fingers.

Alex’s body could stand the anticipation no longer. But, when she reached the height of climax, it was not her own fingers she felt, but those of the stranger stroking her until she exploded, lying on the sand beside her lover.

Chapter 4

Alex saw the smiling strawberry-blond woman the moment she walked in The Shack. Local breakfast favorite, The Shack was one of those hangouts scarcely known to tourists, largely in part to its unassuming exterior. The small building looked to be just another greasy spoon on the outside, but locals had voted it best beach café for the last six years running. The smells of coffee and frying bacon and eggs hung heavily in the atmosphere, the familiar murmur of chatter rising over the sizzle and pop of the grill in the back. Picnic benches covered with plastic, red-checked tablecloths and watercolor paintings by a local artist completed the simple décor.

Alex walked quickly over and plopped down beside the woman without so much as a preliminary, “Is anyone else sitting here?” The other woman looked up, sharp eyes twinkling mischievously at the slump in Alex’s posture, as she lifted a hand to signal for her first cup of coffee.

“Look what the cat dragged in,” the blond said, lifting the heavy mug to her lips and taking a sip of the strong liquid the place called coffee. Alex glanced up, grunting in greeting. “Hey, Misty.”

“Must’ve been a really bad night—or a really good one,” Misty grinned. How anyone could be so cheerful at this time of day was beyond Alex, but then Misty always seemed to be cheerful. Sometimes she reminded Alex of nothing more than a playful puppy out to find some fun—and a romp in the hay, or in the bed, was never far from her thoughts.

“Get your mind out of the gutter, Misty. I just had a little trouble falling asleep last night.” And I definitely don’t want to tell you why, Alex added silently.

“Uh huh. I had a little trouble falling asleep last night, too, but I woke up with a smile on my face and a beautiful body in my bed, so I’m not complaining.” Misty’s smirk lit up her face, emerald green eyes full of mischief.

“You always have a beautiful body in your bed,” Alex replied, ignoring the waitress’ raised eyebrows as she set the mug of coffee in front of her.

“Well, thanks for the compliment, girlfriend. I didn’t know you felt that way.” Her eyes sparkled, and she batted her eyes seductively.

“You know what I meant,” Alex retorted dryly, as Misty chuckled, taking another bite of the loaded scrambled eggs that made the diner semi-famous.

“Oh, you’re just saying that,” Misty teased.

“Why do I even bother trying to talk to you?” Alex shook her head as her eyes scanned the laminated menu, and she debated between ordering an omelet with ham, cheese, and mushrooms or the corned beef hash with home-fried potatoes and toast.

Misty pointed her fork at Alex, waving it slightly. “’Cause I’m your best friend, and you know it.” She tossed her hair slightly and looked at Alex matter-of-factly. It was true. Misty had been her playmate and confidant, everything but her lover, for the last 8 years. And, despite the fact that she could be a bit self-centered, Misty was the most playful bundle of fun Alex could imagine.

“Hmm…” Alex said grumpily. “And why do you talk to me?”

Misty laughed openly. “Cause you’re the only single woman, in this town, other than that bitch of a reporter, who I haven’t slept with. How would I talk to any of them? And I sure don’t want to talk to Attila,” she added, referring to the reporter she shot footage of for the evening news.

Alex shook her head. Misty was right—she pretty much slept with whatever gorgeous woman she took it into her head to bed, gay or straight. She seemed to hypnotize women with her bright green eyes, and Alex had never seen a woman turn her down. Her vivacious appetite for life drew them like magnets.

Alex’s eyes skimmed the menu. “So what’s Alice done, now?” she said absently, as she turned to the breakfast section. Maybe something light this morning, instead of her usual.

Misty toyed with her fork. “Oh, nothing special. Just same old, same old. She keeps putting me down to the higher-ups—she told the director that her twenty-two year old nephew would be a better cameraman than me.”

“You’re kidding!”

“Actually, she said that she noticed my knee was bothering me and that if I wanted to take a desk job, her nephew would be graduating with a double major in journalism and photography in May and is looking for a job.”

Alex gave her the obligatory “oh-my-god-that’s-unbelievable!” look.

“Of course, there was no mention that my knee was hurting because she insisted on being filmed sitting in an oak tree for that segment on Timuquana Park. We had to both climb up the damn tree, me with my Thompson on my shoulder, mind you, which actually went just fine. But when she started to climb down, she slipped and grabbed me. She landed on her feet like a cat, but I hit my knees so I wouldn’t drop the camera.” Misty’s face contorted with disgust. “And she ‘noticed’ my knee was ‘bothering’ me,” she said, her words dripping with sarcasm.

Alex shook her head at the latest in the drama at Channel 10 Local News. “You know it’s because she’s jealous,” Alex said dryly.

“Of course,” Misty said with utter conviction. “She knows I want that reporter position and that I’m sick of being stuck behind the camera. And she knows I could do a better job in my sleep than she can awake.” Misty’s mega dose of self-confidence never ceased to amaze Alex.

“Can I take your order?” the young college-age server interrupted them by reappearing at Alex’s elbow, note-pad and pen in hand. She tossed her ponytail, waiting.

“Yeah. I’ll take the corned beef hash with…” Alex paused. The swim yesterday had been far too difficult--she shouldn’t have been that out of breath. She glanced down at her waist. How many pounds had she put on in the last several months? Of course, most people weren’t as active and put on a little weight in the winter, didn’t they? “Can I substitute the fruit bowl for the home fries?” she asked.

“Sure. Not a problem. Can I get you anything else?” The perky girl smacked her gum and grinned. “We have homemade blackberry jam for the biscuits, if you like. Or, you could upgrade to the meat-lover’s platter, which comes with the corned beef and hash plus bacon, sausage, and scrambled eggs with cheese. Or you could add a side of pancakes…”

Alex glared at the girl, whose grin just grew wider. “No. That’s all,” she said bluntly. The waitress laughed and sauntered off.

“I think I’m getting to be too much of a regular around here,” Alex said irritably.

Misty paused, fork halfway to her mouth. She set the fork down on her plate and turned to Alex, impatience in her voice. “Damn, girl. What bee stung you on the ass before you got here? I came to enjoy breakfast before having to deal with shooting criminals and house fires and car accidents all day. So just spit out whatever the hell is wrong and get over it!”

Alex sighed. “You’re right. I really didn’t sleep well…I had something on my mind.”

“Desiree bothering you again?”

Alex cringed at the sound of her ex’s name. “No, not the Witch-Ex-from-Hell, and don’t say her name.” She took a swig of the strong coffee. “I swear she has some flying monkey at her beck and call that reports and tells her to bug me every time her name comes up,” she added.

Misty looked up expectantly. “So then what’s her name?”

Alex glanced over at her. “What makes you think it’s a woman?”

“Well, you’re grumpy as hell, you ordered fruit for breakfast, and you’re wearing mismatched shocks. It’s not your psycho-bitch-from-hell ex. And obviously, it’s not work that’s on your mind. Although you seem like you could use a dose of your own medicine. How are you at self-massage?”

Alex cut her eyes at Misty, the innuendo couched in the reference to her work as a masseuse hitting a little too close to what had finally given her enough release to fall asleep the night before, but Misty just innocently raised her eyebrows back at her. Alex shook her head and then looked down, embarrassed to see one white sock and one blue one. She shrugged--at least the jogging shoes matched.

“Okay. So I might have had a woman on my mind.”

“No. Y’think? Like I asked, what’s her name?”

Alex sighed. “I don’t know.”

“What do you mean, you don’t know? Even I get their names.” She paused thoughtfully. “Of course, sometimes I forget, and then ‘honey’ or ‘baby’ usually works fine. But if they make as big an impression as this one has on you, I generally can at least remember their names.”

“She wasn’t a one night stand.”

Misty’s eyebrows shot up. “Well, damn, woman. If I’ve slept with them more than once I always remember their name.” She looked concerned. “You haven’t been…” She shook her head. “Nah…that’s not you.”

“I haven’t slept with her!” The waitress, who had been approaching when Alex made the declaration, blinked twice and then deliberately set the plate down, turned, and walked away. Alex could only blush.

Misty chuckled and smiled mischievously, biting the tip of her tongue. She had the decency to wait until the waitress was out of earshot before replying, “I don’t sleep with half of them either, but we sure spend enough time in bed.”

Alex glared. “No, dammit! I haven’t slept with her or had sex with her, and I don’t know her name, but I can’t get her out of my mind!” Misty just looked at her. The waitress, now approaching with coffee pot in hand, turned without a word and walked determinedly the other direction. Alex sighed again and raked her fingers through her hair, elbow propped on the table.

“Great. Now we’ll never get any service,” Misty said, glaring at her empty coffee cup.

Alex paid no attention to her friend’s complaint. “I went out to the beach yesterday and ended up pulling this woman from a riptide,” she said simply. Misty waited as Alex stared into space. “I swear to God, she could have been a sea goddess. She had this hair…and her body was…and those eyes…”

“Wait a minute,” Misty butted in. “Let me get this straight. You pulled a gorgeous woman from the ocean, saving her life, you have thought about her all night… and you didn’t even bother to get her name? What happened?” She stared at Alex, dumbfounded.

“Well, she was some tourist. Even if I’d gotten her name and taken her out…and taken her home…I’d have never seen her again.”

“So? What’s wrong with a good old-fashioned one-night fling?”

“Misty!” Alex hissed, exasperated. “I don’t want a one night stand. I swore off tourists—you know that.”

Misty shook her head. “Sometimes, I just don’t understand you. How can this woman be bugging you so much when you didn’t even have sex with her?’

“I don’t know. I just can’t get her out of my head. I don’t think I got three hours of sleep last night. I couldn’t fall asleep because I just kept seeing her over and over. And then I woke up before God intended anybody to get up and couldn’t fall back to sleep. I think I’ve been working too much.”

“I think you’ve been too long without a date. Find a cute, available woman, enjoy yourself for a few hours, and you won’t even think about that tourist anymore.” She polished off the last of her coffee. “There’s your solution. Now. You should just do what I did last night,” she said theatrically.

“Yes,” Alex said, actually smiling for the first time that morning. “We all know your theme song—“Me, Me, Me”

Misty laughed, the deep sultry tone from deep in her chest that women all seemed to find irresistible. “Now that you’ve had your little moment of ‘Misty envy’, can we get on with what we should be talking about? Let me tell you about this woman. Her name is …uh…hmmm…Baby. Yeah, Baby. That will work.” She grinned cockily. Alex shook her head and settled back with her coffee to listen to another of Misty’s escapades. After all, that’s what these breakfast meetings were all about!

Chapter 5

“Come on, Alex! You’re gonna make me late!” The teenage boy calling her name grabbed her by the hand and dragged her toward a building with the name “Kammer Martial Arts” encircled by twin black and red dragons, hanging above the door.

“Late? Mark, you’re so early you could have brought breakfast with you! I thought this thing didn’t start until 2:00?”

“Alex! We are not early--I have to get warmed up.”

Alex chuckled. It was the Saturday afternoon following Alex’s unplanned swimming trip and here she was taking her nephew to his “graduation.” The distraction was probably a good thing. For the last few days, she had thought of little else other than the rescue, The Eyes invading her thoughts on a regular basis. Last night she had even dreamed of her, holding the stranger in her arms, lowering her head to taste the salt from those lips, her tongue brushing softly, gently...

Alex snapped back to reality as Mark yanked her hand again, urging her to move faster. He was extremely proud to be getting his green belt in karate, and she was proud of him, too. She had been concerned about him this time last year—he had a picked a group of friends who were headed for as much trouble as they could find--but last summer her sister had enrolled him in a summer camp that focused on martial arts. He seemed to find a sense of pride in his ability to focus and develop discipline, and his admiration for his instructors was apparent. Every other sentence was, “Mr. Kammer this” or, “Ms. Kammer that.”

Before the summer was out he had quit hanging out with the “delinquent wannabees,” as Alex had termed his little clique, and found a whole new set of friends—and more positive roll models. When school had started back up last fall, he had continued to attend classes during the evenings. His goal was to be a black belt before he graduated high school, and at the rate he was going, he would do it, too.

“Wait a minute. Stop there,” Alex said as Mark reached for the door. She pulled her digital camera out, as he groaned audibly.

“Not again!” he said, his face taking on a slight pinkish tint.

“Hey, young man. Your mom was the one who got me this camera for my birthday. The least you can do is be a good sport about posing.” Mark was a great nephew. He had a terrific sense of humor, and she always loved their banter.

“Yeah, but do you have to take a picture every ten seconds?” he moaned.

“I do not. I’ll have you know I didn’t take a single picture on the way over here.”

“That’s just because you were driving!”

“Yeah, well, since you’re my favorite nephew I get to take as many pictures as I want.”

“Alex, I’m your only nephew!”

“Oh, quit your whining, and smile!” Alex laughed. “Besides, you look so grown up in your karate suit.”

“It’s called a gi,” he corrected, but he smiled for the camera, obviously pleased with the compliment. Call a fifteen year old a grown up and he’s your friend forever, Alex mused to herself.

Alex followed Mark through the door. The room she entered had a large blue mat in the center that extended to one sidewall. To the right stood a water stand, a desk with a glass bowl advertising a drawing for two weeks of free jujitsu classes, and a computer. Fold out chairs lined the walls, and it was obvious that when everyone arrived, there would be standing room only. Toward the back was a doorway into an open hallway, which Alex reasoned held the dressing rooms and restrooms.

The building had once been the home of a little restaurant, but a couple of years ago it had been turned into a dojo that taught both karate and jujitsu. Her nephew studied both of the martial arts, but he said that the jujitsu fit his body type better, thought Alex did not really know why. Mark was slightly smaller than other boys his age, taking after his father’s side of the family, which had a finer build. However, she knew he was also very flexible, having seen him demonstrate doing splits and kicks often enough. She envied his limberness.

Mark darted to the back of the dojo to get prepared as Alex scanned the room for his mother. She found her in one of the chairs that lined the wall, surrounding the mat. Her sister saw her and waved, motioning her over and gesturing to the empty seat next to her.

“Hey, Britain!” Alex called to her sister as she walked up and sat down in the saved chair. “How’s it going?”

“Not bad. Mr. Thompson lost his teeth down the drain again, so we had to take care of that, and then little Carlos Anderson tossed all his mother’s rings down the toilet, along with something else you don’t want to hear about, so it’s been a rather eventful morning.” Alex’s sister worked as the receptionist, bookkeeper, telephone operator, dispatcher, and all around office manager for her husband’s plumbing business. It never ceased to amaze Alex that people could have such unusual plumbing troubles, the majority of them, it seemed, caused by kids. That, at least, was something Alex did not have to worry about!

The two of them chatted while waiting for the start of the belt presentation, catching up on the week’s news. They usually met for lunch or talked on the phone every week, so they were pretty close, though Alex shied away from discussing too much of her personal love life with her sister. Britain knew she was a lesbian and had even met one or two of Alex’s girlfriends, but she had not let her sister know how lonely she had been lately.

At precisely two o’clock, a procession of white-garbed people strode out of the back, each of them bowing respectfully before stepping onto the mat. Alex caught sight of her nephew as he walked past and noticed the small smile as he crossed in front of their chairs and she snapped another picture. Both she and his mother were grinning from ear to ear. Last in line was a handsome young man, Alex thought he looked like he might have been around 30, wearing a white gi with a black belt wrapped around his waist. As the students knelt around the mat, the young man took a stand in front of the audience.

“Welcome to Kammer Martial Arts! I see many new faces in the audience, which reflects how much the dojo has grown--I am pleased to announce that the number of students has tripled in the last year!” He paused for the brisk round of applause. “For those of you who are new, maybe watching a family member get a belt for the first time, my name is Nate Kammer, better known as Sensei Nate. For today’s graduation, some of the instructors and students have put together a little demonstration they thought you might enjoy. It is part of the routine Kammer Martial Arts will present at the summer martial arts demonstration at Metropolitan Park.”

“This afternoon, the team will demonstrate their skill with four weapons.” He turned to a student, a young man apparently of Asian descent, who looked to be in his early twenties, walking toward the mat from the back hallway and carrying in his right had a wooden rod, about six feet long. The student bowed and handed Sensei Nate the rod as he began to speak. “The first weapon you will notice is the bo staff, a wooden rod used in farming, and the practice of using the bo as a weapon is called bojutsu.” He made a swift slice with the bo, from over his shoulder, down and then across his body, and then back over his shoulder, before turning to the student, bowing, and returning him the bo. As the young man returned to the back, Sensei Nate turned to the next student entering the room and crossing the mat.

This student was a young woman with broad shoulders and a confident walk. Short, sandy hair fell across her brow and her eyes flashed in the direction of the audience. The student held two wooden sticks, about two feet long, one in each hand. The instructor took the wooden sticks from her palms as she bowed and held them up for the audience to see. “The second weapon you will see are these—the tambo. These weapons vary slightly in length, according to the preference of the artist. Speed and accuracy are extremely important with this weapon. It is thought that they were originally used to thresh rice and separate the grain from the chaff.” He gave the sticks a twirl so fast that they became a blur, before laying them across his palm and bowing as the student took them back.

A tall man, built like a football player, began to cross the mat and approach the sensei. The man walked like a fighter, bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet, barely swinging his arms in a way that showed the flex of his muscles and left no doubt of the power his body held. He had the appearance of a spring, coiled and ready to explode at the slightest touch.

The man reached the center of the mat and bowed slightly as he, too, offered his weapon. Sensei Nate took the handle of the weapon and held it aloft for the audience to view. “And finally, we have the kama, also known as the scythe.” He held the weapon, shaped like a miniature sickle wielded by the Grim Reaper. The metal curve of the blade glinted sharply as he turned it to for the audience to see. “This weapon was also used in farming, to harvest grain, but when weapons were outlawed, it quickly was adapted to be used as a covert weapon.” He gave the weapon a twirl, the dangerous blade spinning hypnotically, before placing it, too, across his palms and bowing at the other man took his weapon and returned to the back.

Sensei Nate then looked down, toward the group of students gathered around the mat. “And finally, class, what is the fourth and last weapon that will be demonstrated today?” He asked in a firm voice.

“Our bodies!” the chorus of voices rose from the students as they raised their fisted hands in the air.

Their teacher smiled. “Very good, class.” He looked back to the audience. Now, I know you are all anxious to see these weapons in action. So, I won’t take up any more of your time. Without further adiue, I give you the Kammer Martial Arts Demo Team!”

Sensei Nate led the applause as someone turned on fast, up-beat music that pulsed in the air, and the team ran out onto the mat. They stood in three rows of two, each performing, in synchrony, a multitude of moves. Kicks followed punches, which led to dodges and spins. Alex was transfixed as they moved to the music, looking like they were performing a very rapid and insanely complicated dance. Suddenly, the two in front had long rods in their hands and the foursome behind them moved swiftly to the side.

As the team split, two on each side of the fighting pair, Alex suddenly felt a jolt of electricity--all she saw was the woman in the back—a very beautiful, strong woman with dark hair and…The Eyes—who Alex had never expected to see again! Her heart skipped a beat and she could not hold back a small gasp as she felt a rush of adrenaline through her veins. The skilled demonstration with the staffs would probably have entertained Alex a great deal, but she barely noticed them, despite the loud cracks as the wooden weapons occasionally hit each other.

The two students with rods wrapped up their portion and circled around to the back, moving the row behind them forward. Alex watched as The Eyes presented a pair of Tambo to the person now in the front of her and was only peripherally aware that the two in front had begun madly swinging the weapons. The routine involved a synchronized movement of the weapons, performed so quickly that the weapons literally blurred in front of the eyes, combined with kicks and thrusts. Finally, the two faced each other feigning swift blows. One of the artists did a complete set of splits right in front of Alex, while deftly blocking the strike of his opponent, but Alex did not notice. At that moment, with the performer on the ground in front of her, Alex captured the woman’s eyes, and the rest of the world seemed to fade. For a moment, Alex, from across the room, felt like the woman had reached out her hand to gently stroke her cheek.

But in the blink of an eye, The Eyes had begun to move forward as the Tambo pair finished their performance. Her “opponent” was the huge, football player-bodied man, and while muscles bulged under the black gi he wore, his size did not seem to effect his speed or his flexibility. He faced her with the Kama, while she held no weapon in her hand, but she, too, moved faster than anyone Alex had ever seen. She flipped out of reach of the scythe and then sped back in as the man rotated, stopping only to turn and swiftly break a board held by one of the other team members.

Alex watched the routine with her mouth hanging open. The woman was incredible, obviously the star of the show. Her tiny frame was apparently stronger than Alex would have ever thought possible, and she gave new meaning to the word “flexible.” At one point, she tossed the man, who must have weighed almost double her weight, to the floor, as if he weighed no more than a four-year-old! The man bounced back on his feet, and the two circled and attacked again.

Finally, the woman leaped up from a position that Alex would have thought completely impossible, reached forward, grabbed the giant man’s arm, literally ran up his body like a monkey running up a tree, twisted in midair, and landed just above his elbow. The man dropped to the floor instantly as the woman finished the move with a fake strike to the head and a loud “Keeya!” Alex, however, was in a complete daze.

Chapter 6

Alex joined the rest of the audience in standing to applaud the performance, the thunder of clapping echoing loudly in the small room. Apparently, Alex was not the only one impressed—several cheers and whistles punctuated the sincerity of the applause. As Alex clapped she could not conceal the grin on her face, but her breath froze in her chest when The Eyes turned to her and looked straight at her. Thick, black, feathery lashes framed eyes that were as deep and blue as Alex had remembered. Now that it was dry, dark hair that matched her lashes curled softly, framing her face. The woman appeared solemn and professional, but when she bowed along with the rest of the team, she held Alex’s eyes all the while. Finally, the dojo owner, Sensei Nate, returned to the center of the mat.

As Nate took the floor, Nikki held a formal pose, but inside, she was shaking. When she had looked out at the audience and seen the woman who had saved her life, for the first time in a several years she had felt her pre-demo concentration shaken. But when their eyes had met, she had felt as if their energy, their hearts had touched. And although she had been nervous, knowing she was in the audience, Nikki knew that part of the reason she had pulled off such a phenomenal performance was due to her presence. Why did she suddenly feel so compelled to show off her athletic ability? Had she been impressed? She turned to her brother, faking paying attention to what he was saying.

“Thank you, Demo Team, for that incredible performance!” Nate said to the six people in front of him, before turning to the audience.

“Let me introduce this terrific team. In front, we have students James Nelson and Ryan Davis. Behind them, we have students Trisha Katrinick and Marcello Briaz, and in the back we have Sensei Corby Boxton, one of our Kenpo karate instructors, and my very own sister, Sensei Nikki Kammer, who holds black belts in both Kenpo and Jujitsu. Let’s give them another round of applause!”

As the audience clapped again, and for the rest of the presentation, Alex was in her own little world where the only thing that existed was the occasional meeting of her eyes with Nikki’s. She did, however, manage to remember that she brought her camera to take pictures of her nephew and captured a couple of photos of him as he got his new belt and tied it on, but even that was tempered by an ulterior motive—she could also photograph Nikki as she assisted in the ceremony.

At the end of the belt presentation, Nate returned the center of the stage, amid students grinning proudly. Two teenage boys, one of them Mark, elbowed each other playfully in the background, both of them obviously proud of their accomplishments. “And now,” Sensei Nate said to the audience, “I would like to invite you all to join us for the after graduation celebration, and please remember to sign up for the drawing we are having to win two weeks of free Jujitsu lessons. Sense Nikki has graciously offered to act as personal trainer for the lessons.” He stretched his hand toward his sister, who smiled and waved slightly to the audience.

Alex turned the lens toward Nikki, and under the cover of photographing the students, snapped a picture of her talking to two young girls who were holding white belts in their hands and wearing fresh new yellow ones around their wastes. Nikki turned from the children to a young woman who smiled warmly at her. Nikki smiled broadly in return and extended a hand to shake. Alex felt an unfamiliar surge of envy as she worked the camera, unconsciously taking picture after picture. When a stocky young man wearing jeans and a polo shirt walked up, shook hands with Nikki, and then wound his arm around the strange woman’s waste, Alex felt a surprising sense of relief. Smiling as the kids tugged at his arm, he turned toward them, swung the smallest up into his arms, and took the older one by the hand. The family turned and began walking toward Sensei Nate, and Alex managed to get several good shots good shots of Nikki as they parted. Before she knew it, she had eighteen pictures, all of them with the martial artist captured unknowingly in the center.

Alex zoomed in on Nikki’s lovely face, just as she turned to her brother, and perfectly captured a small smile just as it was forming on Nikki’s lips. Alex grinned as she glanced down at the camera in her hands and saw the picture. She might not be able to take Ms. Martial Arts home with her tonight, but she would take that sexy smile!

“Did you get a good picture?” Britain put her arm on Alex’s as she bent to look at the camera. Alex jumped—she had been completely lost in thought, staring at the image of Nikki. She dropped her hands downward so Britain could not see the image on the screen. She smiled guiltily, and began to turn a slight shade of florescent pink around her ears, wondering how she could possibly explain. Britain would surely expect to see her Mark in more than two pictures out of twenty and there was no way to miss the fact that Nikki was in every single picture!

“Uh, yeah, I got a few,” she said, quickly, moving the camera as Britain reached for it.

“Lemme see!” Britain said, playfully swatting her hand and reaching for the camera. Before Alex could stop her, Britain held the machine in her hands and with expertise born of being a mom with two kids in various sports, she hit the review button to see the pictures. Alex was torn between trying to get the camera back before her sister could see the pictures, which she knew would be futile, and acting nonchalant, like nothing was unusual. She aimed for the latter, as Britain looked up from the camera without saying a word, eyebrows raised and an amused twitch on her lips.

“What?” Alex asked innocently.

Her sister just lowered her eyebrows. “Don’t act innocent with me—I’m the one person on earth who can always tell when you’re lying!” Britain looked back at the camera screen and began to flip through the shots. “Especially when the evidence is so overwhelming,” she murmured.

Alex rolled her eyes. “Oh, just give me the damn camera back,” she said as she reached it and yanked it from Britain’s hands.

Britain laughed. “At least you have good taste. She is cute.”

Alex stood holding the camera between her hands, eyes captivated by a photo that showed off Nikki’s eyes to perfection. “It’s not just that,” she muttered.

“How’s that?”

Alex looked up and glanced around before taking Britain’s arm and tugging her slightly to the side. “Do you remember me telling you about pulling a woman from the ocean last week?” she said in a whisper, as if there were some great conspiracy she had figured out.

Britain rolled her eyes. “That’s all you have talked about since then. On and on about how the best ones are either tourists or taken, how gorgeous this woman was, how strong, how her eyes were the color of the Caribbean, how you just knew she was beautiful inside, too, although how you could tell that just by pulling her from the water is completely beyond me.”

“Shh! Not so loud!” Alex breathed, exasperated. She glanced around before whispering again. “Guess what? It was Nikki.”

“Huh?”

“Nikki was the tourist I pulled from the water!” Alex turned the camera around for Britain to see the blue of Nikki’s eyes. “I guess she wasn’t a tourist, after all.”

“Wow. No wonder you looked like you got clobbered over the head with a base ball bat during that demo.” She laughed. “You have got to be the luckiest…person…I have ever seen. So, are you going to ask her out?”

“Of course,” Alex said putting every ounce of false confidence she had into her answer. She hated to admit that she was chicken when it came to asking out new women she really liked. It was not any big deal to ask out a woman she knew, or even to pick up a strange woman in a bar for the night, but to take that first plunge with someone she actually had something of a crush on was another story. She might not work up the nerve to ask her out tonight, but maybe she would drop Mark off for a class next week or something.

“Sure. Gotcha,” Britain said nodding enthusiastically. “Not buying it.” Alex just glared while simultaneously starting to blush. “Hmm. I know. Graduation will be over soon. I’ll just go tell Mark to stand beside her so you can get a few pictures of him, too.”

“Smart ass,” Alex muttered as she blushed deeper, and Britain laughed again. “I’m gonna go get some punch,” Alex said, trying to regain some of her swiftly falling dignity, but she could still hear Britain’s clear, bell-like laughter following her as she moved into the crowd of white uniforms blended with street clothes. Fortunately, she eventually she found the table that had been set up across from the desk and covered with plates of cookies, nuts, chips and dip, and garnished with a bowl of red punch. She gratefully accepted a small cup of the cold drink, briefly wishing it was doctored up a bit with something stronger. Wonderful. Caught by her sister taking pictures of the woman who had stolen her sleep and filled every one of her fantasies since the morning she had dragged her from the water. Leave it to her sister to embarrass her over a girl!

“Well, hello.” The soft voice beside her elbow sent shivers up her spine before she even consciously registered who was speaking. It was the same voice that whispered in her ear every night, teasing her, while she struggled to sleep. She felt a fluttering from somewhere in her middle and dimly thought that she finally knew what it meant to have butterflies in her stomach. She turned slowly, bracing herself, but she was still unprepared for the jolt. The butterflies were no longer fluttering, but were now doing gymnastics rather enthusiastically. Can butterflies do jumping jacks? she thought illogically as the scent of the woman floated to her, soft, sweet, and slightly musky.

“Hi,” she said, just as softly. “Fancy meeting you here.” Oh that was original, she thought to herself.

“Hmm…I think I’m the one more surprised,” Nikki said, a completely bewitching grin on her face. “I was afraid I wouldn’t have the chance to thank you properly. I was so shook up the other day, I didn’t even introduce myself!” She didn’t add that she had replayed the conversation a thousand times in her head, whishing she had said things a little differently, at least getting the other woman’s name.

“Well, it looks like you have a second chance,” Alex said mischievously. “Do you have something to say?” she asked, batting her eyes in feigned innocence.

Nikki laughed, and then cleared her voice. Part of her was still in shock that she had even walked up and spoken in the first place. Nevertheless, this woman seemed to draw her like a magnet, a feat that Nikki had worked hard to avoid for a very long time, but now seemed powerless to resist. She extended her right hand as she simultaneously brushed a lock of thick hair behind her ear with her left hand. She’s nervous, Alex thought, noticing the unconscious movement.

“Hello. I’m Nikki Kammer.” Hand held out, Nikki looked solemn and businesslike, until Alex noticed the sight tint of pink to her face. She wrapped the other woman’s hand in her own, feeling the soft yet firm grip send shooting charges to her and watching as the pink tint deepened in Nikki’s cheeks, her own heartbeat speeding in response.

“Alex Martin. Pleased to meet you,” Alex said, again kicking herself for the lack of originality. “So, you come here often?”

Nikki laughed again, surprised at how easily laughter bubbled to the surface as she talked with Alex. She knew that even the workout didn’t completely explain the euphoric feeling she was experiencing, and despite the twinge of fear at her obvious attraction to Alex, it had been a long time since she had just simply enjoyed someone else’s company this much, this soon after meeting. Nevertheless, attraction could be ignored and friends were hard to come by. And Alex looked so cute in those denim shorts and white button-up blouse, with the Barcelona soccer team cap, her dark blond hair peeking out, the gold stud earrings, and the hint of cleavage just above...

Nikki jerked her eyes back up. “Uh, yeah. It seems to be my primary hang out these days. They keep me pretty busy.” She gestured toward the bustling group of students of various ages.

“Lucky them,” Alex said softly.

“I see you’ve met my sister.” Alex heard Britain’s comment before she turned and saw her sister approaching. She barely managed to keep the grimace off her face as Britain walked up behind her. She mentally thought “Go away” vibes in Britain’s direction. Surely embarrassing a sister in front of someone she was this interested in was illegal. Better yet, it had to be a reason for justifiable homicide.

Despite knowing full well that Britain was going to hand her her pride on a platter, Alex managed to smile and turn slightly. Oh, damn. The mutant butterflies are back, she thought, pressing her hand against her stomach.

“Mrs. Riley. How are you?” Nikki graciously extended her hand to Britain as she approached.

“I’m doing fine. That was a wonderful demonstration you all did!”

“Thank you. The students have done a really fine job.”

“They have, but you and your brother are such fine teachers, too.” Britain turned to Alex, a perfectly innocent look on her face. “I almost forgot to give these to you.” She held out two cards toward Alex, gesturing for her to take them. “They are the invitations to Monty’s.” Alex took them without saying a word. Britain glanced at her before she turned back to Nikki. “A friend of ours is opening a new restaurant, and she is having a bunch of people over to sample the food and such,” Britain explained. “In a couple of weeks, she’s going to have a buffet with every menu item on it so that people can try it all.”

“That sounds nice. Where is it?”

“It’s down near the beach. She renovated an old house, and she’s going to serve a combination of steak and seafood items. She used to own a restaurant in New Orleans, but now we get to enjoy her food.”

Alex stood awkwardly, holding the two invitations while Britain kept glancing at her. “You know, Nikki, I bet you would love it,” Britain said, cutting her eyes at Alex, but Alex did not move.

Finally, Britain rolled her eyes. “Alex and I have an extra invitation. Why don’t you come with us?”

“Oh, uh, I don’t know,” Nikki seemed startled by the invitation. She looked at Alex, who finally got the picture.

“That’s a great idea,” Alex nodded. “You would love Monty, and she is the best cook ever to throw a steak on a grill.”

Nikki’s smile made Alex feel like she had struck gold. “Actually, it seems like I owe you dinner or something, not the other way around,” Nikki said. I should have at least bought you a cup of coffee the other day to warm you up.”

Alex could not help but think that there were other ways she would have liked for Nikki to warm her up. “You don’t owe me a thing. But I don’t mind a good steak now and then, and if these slave drivers could manage without you one night I wouldn’t be stuck just going with my bossy big sister and her husband.”

Britain stuck her tongue out at Alex.

Nikki’s laugh was like the sound of wind chimes in a breeze. “In that case, count me in.”

Alex felt like breaking into dance, but she managed to restrain herself and look somewhat in control, at least for the moment. “Great. Do you want to meet me some place or I could pick you up?” As soon as she said the words, she realized how they sounded, and she also realized that that was just exactly what she wanted to do. Her heart raced again at the thought, but she fought to keep her expression steady and not give away exactly how excited she was by the prospect. Neither she nor Nikki noticed when Britain silently slipped away.

“You can pick me up,” Nikki said, apparently missing how that sounded to Alex’s ears. How about you give me a call and we can figure out what time? There are business cards with my number over on the desk.” She moved toward the desk and reached for the stack of cards, taking one and handing it to Alex. “Just give me a buzz at the dojo number.”

“I can do that. Do you like dancing?”

“I’ve been known to hit the floor a time or two.” Nikki smiled. It had been a long time since she had been out for a fun night. A girl’s night out might be just what she needed, she told herself. There would be nothing more to it.

“I know a great little family bar on the beach that we could drop by after dinner.”

“Sounds nice.” Nikki fleetingly wondered about the term “family bar.” Similar to “family restaurants?” She shrugged the thought off. This was not exactly Louisiana any more. Then again, the term “family bar” would have fit in New Orleans, too.

“It’s a date, then,” Alex smiled as Nikki’s brother approached them.

“Hey, Sis! There you are!” The strongly built man grinned as he approached the two of them, and now that he was closer Alex could see that he was not quite as young as she had first taken him to be. He looked as if her were in his early or mid thirties, and perhaps a couple of years older than his sister. Alex fleetingly wondered how old Nikki was. She looked young, but not too young for Alex’s thirty-six years. “Rick and Bobby Wilson have been looking for you,” Nate said.

“Oh. Where are they?” Nikki scanned the room.

He pointed to a man and boy in a karate uniform on the opposite side of the room. “They said they have to leave pretty soon and they wanted to especially tell you thank you.”

Nikki nodded regretfully and then turned to Alex. She hated to end their conversation, but duty called. “I better go find them. You’ll give me a call?”

“Absolutely,” Alex said without hesitation, her enthusiasm rewarded with Nikki reaching out to squeeze her arm in parting before she turned to leave. Alex felt frozen in place as she watched the lithe body saunter away, and she could not help but remember just how nice that ass looked from behind when it was not covered with thick white cloth but only molded by a swimsuit.

She absently stroked the place on her arm that Nikki had touched as she watched Nikki give the kid a quick hug and then shake hands with the guy. Her eyes narrowed as he held onto Nikki’s hand just a little too long. Nikki managed to pull her hand away from the smiling man, and step back slightly. It seemed to Alex that the man was crowding Nikki’s space, and she did not miss noticing Nikki took the first opportunity to move on to the next student wanting her attention.

“So you know Nikki?” Nate asked, startling Alex from her reverie.

“Uh, kinda, I guess. I met her…” Alex hesitated. She did not know if Nikki had told her brother about the dunk in the ocean, and she did not feel it was her place if she had not. “…uh…at the beach the other day.”

“Oh, you must be the woman that yanked her out of the rip tide!” Nate’s smile was warm and enthusiastic.

Alex smiled back, grateful she did not have to explain. “Yeah. I hadn’t exactly planned on going swimming, but it sure was good exercise!” she laughed.

“I told Nikki that from now on she needs to take someone with her when she decides to go swimming out there. Especially until she has more experience. She’s probably the strongest woman I know, but some of those undertows will exhaust even the strongest if you don’t know how to get out of them.”

“Well, hopefully she’ll wait until the water’s a little warmer.”

Nate laughed in appreciation as he stuck out his hand. “I’m Nate Kammer, Nikki’s brother. I don’t believe I’ve seen you here before.”

“Alex Martin.” She shook Nate’s strong hand. “This is the first time I’ve been here, actually. I came to see my nephew, Mark, get his green belt, but I really like your dojo.” Alex was glad that Mark had told her before they parked that the school was properly called a dojo and not a studio or school.

Nate looked proud at her simple praise, visibly standing straighter. “It’s taken a lot of hard work, but we’ve managed to pull it off. I couldn’t have made it this past year without Nikki moving here and joining me. She’s great with teaching both the kids and the adults.”

“It doesn’t look like you’re too bad at it, yourself.”

Nate smiled. “I’m afraid I have to work at having patience a little more than Nikki does. She just comes by it naturally. Sometimes at the end of the day, I don’t want to hear another little voice say, “’Sensei Nate!’ But she always carries it off gracefully.”

“I bet she carries everything off gracefully,” Alex mused, her eyes finding Nikki as the crowd in front of them parted slightly. Nikki stood with a slightly older couple and a teenage boy who stood proudly in a gi, despite wearing a plaster cast on one leg and leaning on crutches.

Nate crossed his arms over his chest, and then absently reached up to tap his lips thoughtfully with his index finger as Alex watched Nikki with open admiration on her face. “To tell you the truth, Nikki works way too hard. I wish sometimes that she would take a few evenings off for herself. She just hasn’t taken the time to make many friends since she moved here. She has put everything she has into this dojo, and I can’t even begin to tell you how much that has meant to me.

Abruptly, Nate touched Alex’s elbow. “Listen, I have to go schmooze a little more. Don’t forget to sign up for the drawing.”

“Yeah, sure,” she agreed as he walked away. She could not imagine taking martial arts lessons, as much as she might like the company of the teacher. However, she would humor him.

As Nate walked away, Alex turned to find Britain standing, arms folded and eyes twinkling, right behind her. Alex narrowed her eyes. “Since when do you ask girls out for me?” she asked, puffing out her chest.

“Since my little sister is too chicken to do it.”

“I told you I was going to ask her out!”

“Oh cut out the all offended act. You’ve been nothing but a wuss since that last nutcase you went out with. Yeah, you would have asked her out after begging me for three months to let you take Mark to every karate class, and I would have spent weeks telling you to just ask her out!”

“But you can’t just do that.”

Britain raised here eyebrows. “I already did. So get over it and thank me for it after your date!”

Alex did not know what to say. So, she just closed her mouth and followed Britain over to where Mark was standing with one of his friends. The next twenty minutes were spent in the company of her nephew and her sister, and she even managed to actually take some pictures of Mark and his buddies in various karate stances. Every time she snapped a picture, however, Britain responded with a snicker.

“Would you cut it out?” Alex finally hissed at her in exasperation. Britain just grinned with the same conceited expression she had worn on her face when she was a kid and had something to hold over Alex’s head.

“Of course.”

“You’re never gonna let me live this down, are you?”

“Nope.” Britain did not even hesitate in her answer.

“Never live what down?” Mark popped in.

Leave it to a fifteen year old to have satellite ears when you don’t want and to be completely deaf when you need him, Alex thought. Thankfully, Nate’s return to the mat saved her from answering. Nikki approached from the other side of the room and followed him to the center, in front of the crowd.

“Excuse me? May I have your attention?” The friendly chatter slowly came to a halt as people realized the sensei was speaking. He stood holding the fishbowl that contained the entries for the drawing, while Nikki stood at attention next to him, her legs slightly spread and her hands folded behind her, the picture of alertness and confidence. “Are you all ready to see who our lucky winner is?” Nate asked into the microphone, his lips upturned in a genuinely friendly smile.

“Yeah!” every kid in the room cheered, likely hoping that their mother or father would be the one to try out the sport.

“All of you non-students out there ready to find out what your family members go through?” he asked the crowd.

This time, a very adult-toned noise resounded through the building, as every grown-up, including Britain and Alex groaned loudly. Sensei Nate laughed and theatrically stirred through the bowl of cards with one massive hand. “Okay! Here we go, folks!” He dramatically pulled one white card out like a magician pulling a coin from behind a kid’s ear. Holding it high in the air, he glanced up at it. “And the lucky winner is…” he paused theatrically, and then grinning widely, he yelled “Alex Martin!” in a remarkable imitation of a television game show announcer.

As Nikki applauded, it was all she could do to keep from smiling like a Cheshire cat. She had considered digging through the bowl of entries and trying to find Alex’s—the entries all had the “contestant’s” name, address, and phone numbers. This, however, was even better. Of course, she would have to teach Alex various throws, and holds, and pin her to the mat…

Alex froze, shocked, a small part of her waiting for the “Come on down!” part. Britain turned to her, amused surprised written all over her face, while Mark yelled “Yes!” to no one in particular, quickly did a round of air boxing, and then clapped her on the back. Finally, Alex weakly raised her right hand and waved to the crowd that was now applauding enthusiastically, every one of them very obviously relieved.

Finally, the ruckus died down and the group began to make their ways to the door, the excitement over for the evening. Later as Alex cranked the jeep to take Britain and Mark home, she turned to her sister. Perplexed, she stated very emphatically, “You know, I hate to say anything, but I just don’t get it. I didn’t even register for that damn contest.”

“Oh, that was me!” Mark popped up from the backseat. “I put your name in for it!” A wide grin spread across his face. “Cool, huh?”

Alex huffed. “Yeah. Sure. What is juji…juji…jujiwhateveritis anyway?”

“Oh, it’s the best. It’s not like karate where you strike and punch. It’s really getting down on the mat and pinning and wrestling and trying make the other person submit…”

While her nephew mimed wresting moves in the rearview mirror, the wheels began to spin in Alex’s mind. She stared straight ahead as she heard Britain begin to chuckle. “Look at it this way, little sister. You may end up as sore as hell, but you will certainly get to know Miss Martial Arts better.” Visualizing rolling around on the mat with Nikki, she felt the pink flush begin to move up her neck and was thankful that the darkness hid the blush.

“Smart ass,” she muttered under her breath, throwing the jeep in reverse. What a way to meet a woman.

Chapter 7

Alex drummed her fingers against the jeep’s steering wheel, and then glanced over at Jasper, who sat patiently in the passenger seat. He raised his eyebrows and looked at her, as if to ask what she was waiting for. “Well, gimme a break. I’m not sure about this, okay?” She glanced down at the grey sweats and white t-shirt she was wearing in preparation for her very first jujitsu lesson. Mark had assured her that since she didn’t have a gi, the sweats would be fine. She looked back up at Jasper, her brow wrinkled with apprehension. “I’m not really sure about this at all,” she muttered to the dog. “I saw her break those boards the other night. What if she accidentally hits me? Bones break, too, you know.”

Jasper just cocked his head at her and she could almost hear his response--You have to be kidding.

“Fine,” Alex huffed. “I see how much you care.” Jasper just turned back toward the windshield where the front of the dojo was visible through the glass. “All right, all right. I’m going. But if you end up driving me to the hospital with a broken leg, don’t blame me!” Jasper opened his mouth in a wide yawn, turned around twice on the seat, and lay down for a nap as Alex huffed at him and then climbed from the jeep. She had parked in the shade, and with the top off the vehicle, Jasper was more than happy to play guard dog—or at least dream about it.

From the dressing room in the back, Nikki heard the chime of the dojo door and knew it must be Alex before she even saw her. She took a deep breath and headed to the big front room where the lesson would take place. The first lesson had been scheduled for Monday evening, as that was the one weekday that the dojo was normally closed. Nate had fussed about her giving up her free evening, but Nikki had insisted that it would be better for Alex to have one lesson to learn the basics of what was expected, rather than just plop her into a room full of more experienced martial artists. The truth was, had an unknown stranger won the free one-on-one lessons, she probably would have scheduled the introductory one for an evening when class was taking place in the big room and done the class in the smaller room in the back. As it was, she was oddly glad for the privacy. Besides, this way, they had the large mat to roll around on.

Nikki stepped through the doorway and caught a glimpse of Alex looking curiously around the room. She smiled slightly at the artificial confidence in Alex’s movements, masking an uncertainty that did not surprise Nikki. Most people were a bit unnerved by walking into a dojo for a first lesson. Everything tended to be unfamiliar, as the most contact people generally had with martial arts classes was through the television or movie screen, where superhuman artists did things like catch swords with their bare hands and do unreal back flips and gymnastics to fight, and win, in battles of 30 against one.

Nikki ran her eyes over Alex, attempting putting her professional viewpoint to use. Alex appeared quite athletic and about six inches taller than Nikki’s 5’2”. She wore the sweats comfortably, like someone used to working out on occasion, and her build was strong and trim, with a slight stockiness. Nikki remembered Alex had mentioned working in water rescue at one time, and with those shoulders that made sense. Most women did not have the upper-body strength Alex appeared to have, the strength to wrap her arms around another woman and pull her from a riptide.

Nikki shivered at the thought of Alex’s arms wrapping around her, pulling her body close, and dragging her to safety. For a moment she could almost feel her body tucked against Alex’s, warm breasts pressing into her, and she was uncertain whether she was actually imagining or remembering. But, she shoved the thought away, assuring herself it was simply the trauma of the dangerous situation that sent a surging thrill through her center.

Alex pulled her sunglasses off with a sideways swipe, the sudden brightness making her squint. She looked up and saw Nikki standing in the doorway, examining her, and she did not even try to hold back her smile. Instead, she threw every bit of charm she had into it.

Nikki froze as Alex’s smile lit up the dojo, her own eyes lighting up instantly in response. For some reason, her joy at seeing the other woman again was all out of proportion to how she would have expected to feel. She had seldom been able to get Alex off her mind the last few days, and now that she was here, Nikki felt a sense of relief as well as a tingly excitement. Her hands trembled slightly as Alex strode toward her, and she quickly clasped them behind her as she smiled in return. Until she met Alex, she had not realized how much she missed having someone in her life. Someone to rent old movies and eat comfort food with, someone to join her for her monthly ritual of chocolate splurging--hot fudge Sunday with chocolate ice cream, chocolate sprinkles, and Oreos, someone to just call up and brag on students to. Now, she instinctively felt like Alex could be that missing person, that friend.

Alex ran her eyes over the other woman, drinking the sight of her in. She had forgotten how tiny Nikki was, compared to herself, and she remembered how fragile she had felt when she pulled her from the water. She knew Nikki had broken those boards the other night and everything, but Alex was so much bigger. What if she accidentally hurt her? She immediately made up her mind to go easy on her, knowing even as she thought it that she was being completely irrational. Nikki could likely kick her ass and then mop the floor with it.

“So, we meet again,” Alex said as she strode forward. She stopped in front of Nikki, uncertain how to proceed. They were not exactly on her turf.

“Yeah, well, at least it’s not a surprise, this time,” Nikki replied. She knew she had a silly grin on her face, and she really did not know how to proceed from here. She had given introductory lessons before, but for some reason, this felt different. She again gave herself a mental shake. No, this is not different, she told herself. She is a student just like anyone else.

“Well,” she said, as if she were speaking to any other new student. “You can take your shoes off and just put them over there, and we’ll get started.” Nikki waved her hand at a wooden shoe organizer against the wall. Alex pulled off her shoes, placed them into one of the little cubbies, and then, noting Nikki’s completely bare feet, she stripped her socks off and tucked them inside her shoes.

“You may want to put your watch and any jewelry in the cubby, too,” Nikki called from the mat. Alex undid the clasp on her leather watch that featured the face of her favorite cartoon character. Britain fussed every time she wore it, but she told her sister that she did not care if the watch looked childish. Besides, women seemed to think it was cute. She put the watch beside her shoes, and followed it with her sunglasses and the simple gold chain she wore.

Then she took a deep breath and went to join Nikki by the mat, relishing Nikki’s smile at her as she approached. “First things, first,” Nikki said when Alex finally stood beside her. “Whenever you step on or off the mat, it’s considered proper to bow first, like this.” She gave a bow, stepped on the mat, and turned back to Alex. Feeling slightly foolish but determined to give her all to the lesson, Alex followed suit.

“Now, before we get started, we need to do a few warm-ups so we don’t pull a muscle or anything.”

Before Alex knew what was happening, Nikki was putting her through a series of crunches, jumping jacks, push-ups, sit-ups, and jogging in place. Finally, Nikki let her sit to stretch, while Alex tried to hide the fact that she was breathing harder than she thought she should have been.

“Put your legs straight out in front of you and stretch to your toes.” Alex watched as Nikki flexed forward, easily grabbed the bottoms of her feet, and demonstrated what she was telling Alex to do. Nikki looked up as Alex reached for her ankles. She caught the grimace on the other woman’s face. “Only stretch as far as you are comfortable, not until it hurts,” she asserted. “I’ve been doing this nearly all my life, so don’t judge how far you should stretch by me. When you’ve been doing this twenty something years, then you can compare!”

Alex relaxed a bit and chuckled. After the warm-up, she was not sure she would make it through the free lessons, much less keep it up for twenty years! Actually, had anyone other than Nikki been teaching the class, she would have very politely declined them in the first place and then skinned Mark alive for putting her in that position. However, the idea of doing…whatever people did in jujitsu classes…with Nikki had been all she could think about since Saturday night.

“Now, spread your legs as wide as you can and stretch toward your right knee.” Nikki said those words with a completely straight face, apparently oblivious to the image that immediately jumped into Alex’s mind. And when Nikki again demonstrated the move, Alex forgot to breath. Despite Nikki’s body being swathed in the white “karate uniform” as Alex persisted in thinking of it, Alex couldn’t help but be turned on by the sight of Nikki spreading those strong legs, bare feet and ankles peeking from the hems. Once again, her imaginary x-ray vision went to work.

“Hold that position for ten seconds…,” Nikki paused briefly to silently count to ten. “Now reach for the center and hold it for ten…,” Alex held her breath for the entire ten seconds that followed Nikki bending completely forward, legs spread wide, arms stretched out straight ahead. “…Now reach for your left knee and hold for ten.” Alex tried to mimic Nikki’s move, not even caring for the moment that she fell far short.

Finally, Nikki straightened. Alex watched spell bound as Nikki lifted herself slightly up on her hands and then lowered herself back down into full splits. Then she rolled backward, flipped that perfectly toned bottom over her head, and came down in the splits again. My God, what could she do with that trick in bed? Alex could not help but think, as she stared, slack-jawed.

After a moment, she managed to clear her throat and shake her head. She did not bother to attempt the splits, much less the back flip.

Nikki did not even try to hide the wide grin on her face as she watched Alex’s expression. She had been unable to resist doing the trick that always seemed to wow an audience, and the look of amazement on Alex’s face was worth it. There was a certain satisfaction in seeing other people amazed by what she did every day, though the reality was that most people could do the same thing--if they had a dad who taught them karate from the time they could walk. It was nice seeing the hard work appreciated!

Nikki scooted forward. “Now, put your feet against my ankles and gently push.” She slid up to Alex, their bodies close enough for Alex to imagine she felt her heat through her clothes. Nikki placed her ankles against the bottoms of Alex’s feet and waited, and it was all Alex could do to stay in control of the situation. For some reason, the action seemed so intimate, and once again, she forgot to breath. Nikki looked up at that moment, and those beautiful, deep blue eyes froze her in place.

“Alex?” Nikki said, her voice a whisper at the stunned look in Alex’s eyes. She reached out her hand to Alex’s shoulder, bracing herself, while Alex took a deep breath.

“Sorry,” Alex muttered, trying to force herself to act normally, but the strong hand on her shoulder made it even more difficult. She used her feet to gently press against Nikki, spreading her legs wider, and barely managing to suppress a moan at the thought of what she was doing. Did this woman have any idea how many times she had thought of being this close to her, of doing very intimate things to her body, or how badly she wanted to bend down and kiss her? She was so close…so very close. She closed her eyes, willing her mind to stay in control of her body. Nikki would think she was a complete nymphomaniac if she had any idea of the pictures racing through her mind.

Finally, Nikki proclaimed the stretching over, moving backward and sitting with her legs crossed. “Do you know anything about jujitsu?” she to asked, forcing a professional tone into her voice.

“Not really. Mark said it was a bit like wrestling.” Alex was relieved that she could speak, but all she really wanted to do was grab the other woman and stretch out on this mat beside her, a fact of which Nikki seemed oblivious.

Nikki chuckled. “Sort of. Wrestling with a few twists.” Nikki loved teaching about her favorite sport, and she quickly warmed to the subject. “The idea behind competition jujitsu is to wrack up points doing certain moves while making your opponents submit. There’s a bunch of moves that allow you get your opponent into positions you want to use to achieve that. And, you can use your opponent’s body against her.”

Nikki raised herself to her knees and continued to lecture. “What we are going to do tonight is simply learn some of the positions and their names, so you don’t feel quite as out of place next week. Then later, we will put them into action.”

Alex quickly learned that thinking of jujitsu as wrestling was over simplifying a bit. When Nikki first touched her to demonstrate the moves, she could not suppress the thrill her body felt in response. Nikki very gently showed her how to fall and the ways some opponents could try to get a person on the ground. Finally, Nikki said words that sent a chill down Alex’s pine.

“Now I want you to lie down on your back.”

Alex grinned and willingly flopped down. She did not know where this was going, but it certainly had the potential to get really good. Nikki slid over toward her and before Alex knew what she was doing, Nikki had climbed on top of her, straddling her waist. For a moment, Alex was sure the class had ended and Nikki was starting something else entirely. Nikki leaned forward and gripped her wrists, pinning them against the mat. She gripped Alex tightly with her thighs. Alex could feel her breath whisper softly against her cheek as she spoke. “This is called top mount. It only has a couple of variations. It can be done sitting sort of upright, like this, but it is more effective, as a general rule to use your body to pin the opponent to the mat. The less space you leave between your bodies, the better.”

With that bit of a lecture, Nikki leaned forward completely and pressed her body fully against Alex. Nikki felt the softness of other woman’s breasts against hers, felt her tremble, and then felt her chest stop rising for a moment. Startled, she lifted slightly, her eyes scanning Alex’s face. Alex stared at her, eyes wide, and Nikki felt the pace of her pulse quicken under palm, where she still held Alex’s wrists. Alex could not take her eyes away from Nikki’s full lips, and she was struck by the impulse reach up and kiss them, to feel whether or not they would feel as soft against her own lips as her breasts did against her breasts.

Alex could not believe Nikki was on top of her pressing her body so tightly against her. Her body was small, but there was no doubting the muscles and strength in that small package. When Nikki sat back a bit, it was all Alex could do to keep from reaching up to pull her forward again. Of course, thinking what she would have done was a moot point--she could not have moved anyway, given that Nikki still had her arms so firmly pinned.

She stared as Nikki gazed downward, the attraction racing through her. It had been a long time since she had been this attracted to another woman.

Nikki cleared her throat and awkwardly slid away from Alex, her face flushed. She quickly regained her composure, putting professionalism back in place, and moved on with the lesson, but as she turned, Alex caught the last fleeting look of desire. And in that moment, Alex knew would not be content with Nikki remaining just an acquaintance, her nephew’s teacher. Nor would she be simply a friend. She wanted Nikki as her lover, and she would stop at nothing less.

Chapter 8

A half an hour later, Alex stood, rubbing her shoulder as she groaned. “I am going to be so sore tomorrow! I’ve never had a workout like that!” Somehow, she had made it through the class without throwing Nikki down on the mat and kissing her until they were both delirious. Of course, Nikki had proven that there was no way anyone could just throw her on the mat without her letting them, and after that one moment of pinning Alex to the mat, Nikki had spent the rest of the class at a bit more of a distance.

Nikki laughed, grabbing a small white towel and mopping her face. “Yeah. The first few classes leave you feeling like you’ve been skydiving without a parachute, but after a couple of lessons, your body starts to adjust. Of course, sometimes I still have times when I turn wrong or push myself too much and end up wishing I had stock in Bengay!” She reflexively reached back and rubbed her neck. Yesterday had been such a day. “When I lived in Louisiana I had a really good massage therapist, but I haven’t been able to find one here, yet. It helped more than you can imagine.”

Alex was not able to resist. “Hmm…I know a good massage therapist, but I don’t think that would help me much,” she said seriously.

“Why not?”

She grinned. “Well, I can do my neck okay, but it’s kinda hard to lie down on the massage table and rub by own back.”

“Huh?”

“Believe it or not, I’m a massage therapist. I get to sort-of work my own hours, but I have to make occasional house calls.”

Nikki nearly moaned at the thought of getting a real massage. It had been far too long since someone had had their hands on her body in any way other than to twist it into a pretzel during a class! She grinned back at Alex. “It sucks that it doesn’t help you, but it’s great for me. I could sure use someone getting the kinks out of my neck.” Even as she spoke the words, she could hear what she like to call her “Voice of Reason” chanting in her mind, “Don’t say that! Don’t say that!”

“You happen to be in luck, then. As a matter of fact, one of my regulars canceled for Tuesday—if you could drop by my office in the afternoon, I could get you right in. But I need to let you know up front that I have a couple of conditions.”

“Okay. Let’s hear them.”

“Well, actually, it’s just one. You have to accept the massage free of charge.”

Nikki looked at Alex speculatively. “You’re a massage therapist but you don’t take money? What, are you independently wealthy or do you have some sort of barter system going on?” She raised her eyebrows. “Wanna swap classes for massages?”

Alex couldn’t help but laugh. “No. Under normal circumstances I take cash, check or credit card.”

“Well, why can’t I pay?”

Alex paused. She had a very strict personal rule about getting involved with any of her clients, and she wasn’t about to break it, but then, she couldn’t very well tell Nikki that she couldn’t charge her because she fully intended to make a pass at her. “Because…because even though we haven’t known each other long, I think of you as a…friend…and I don’t want there to be a business side to it.

“You mean you give all your friends free massages?”

“Oh god, no.” If that were the case, she would never get Misty out of the office. “But in this case, it’s free of charge.”

“Oh, no. I can’t do that. If I have an appointment, I need to pay you for it.”

Alex looked at Nikki firmly. “Yes, you can do that.” Nikki opened her mouth to protest, but Alex stopped her. “Please. No arguing this, okay? If you don’t agree, you don’t get a massage. So, just come by tomorrow at 4:00, if you are available, and I promise I’ll get whatever kinks you have out of…wherever you have them.” Alex’s heart thudded in response to her own words. There were a few kinks she’d like to help Nikki out with in the privacy of her own bed…or couch…or floor…or table… And she sure hoped Nikki were available for more than just a massage!

Nikki smiled despite the Voice screaming, “You can’t go!” “Okay, but just this one time,” she said aloud. Shut up! she yelled back at the Voice.

Alex dug her wallet out of her pocket and took out a business card. She grabbed a pen from the desk by the door and turned the card over. “The address is on the card, and it’s pretty easy to find. If you have any trouble, just call. I wrote my cell phone number on the back.”

Nikki nodded. Oh sweet heaven. A massage tomorrow! She could hardly wait! And she refused to even acknowledge what the Voice was saying at that moment.

****

Alex groaned as she hoisted herself into her jeep, one hand on the handle at the roof, the other braced against the vehicle’s side, rather than simply vaulting in as she usually did. Jasper, lying on the passenger seat, raised his head up from his paws, his ears perked up and head cocking at a quizzical position at her unusual behavior. “Don’t you even think it, dog,” Alex grumbled. “I may be sore, but it’s worth it,” she said matter-of-factly. Jasper simply looked at her and cocked his head the other direction. “Well, at any rate, it is going to be!”

Jasper lay back down, apparently bored with the conversation. Alex miserably rested her hand on the stick shift of her jeep, wishing someone would just drive her home. For the first time, driving a stick shift seemed way too much like work!

Chapter 9

The next day, Nikki rang the doorbell of an ancient, two-story wooden house, the sharp bark of a dog answering the chime. As she waited for Alex, she turned to admire the Spanish architecture. Alex’s house was in a historic area that spoke of quiet, old family money, homes sheltered under arching branches of live oak trees graced with lacy tendrils of Spanish moss. Nikki took a deep breath of the fragrant spring air, smiling to herself as she heard Alex talking soothingly to Jasper. “Someone’s at the door? Oh, good boy. Now hush so I can let her in!” Then a bit louder, “Just a sec! I’ll be right there!”

Finally, Nikki heard Alex’s footsteps drawing closer, and she saw a shadow pass in front of the window before she heard the doorknob turning. Finally, the door swung inward, and Alex stood there, a warm, friendly smile breaking out across her face the moment she saw Nikki standing there. “Yes ma’am? Can I help you?” she asked, her eyebrows arching upward playfully.

“Why yes, thank you. I have an appointment with Alex Martin,” Nikki said formally.

“Well, in that case, I guess I will have to let you in.” Alex stepped aside and gestured broadly toward the inside of the house, her flourish ending in a deep bow. “Right this way, Madame,” she said. However, her movements were a little jerky, and she groaned slightly as she moved.

“You aren’t a little sore there, are you?” Nikki asked lightly.

“Mmmm…a little,” Alex said, a grimace on her face and a hand on her hip bracing her as she pushed herself upright. “I feel like I was plowed over by a herd of buffalo!”

Nikki giggled softly and stepped inside, the cool whoosh of air rushing past her cheek in its rush to get outside. Alex closed the door behind her, a bemused expression on her face as Nikki still stood just inside the hallway, hesitating. My God, this woman is beautiful, she thought to herself, taking the opportunity while Nikki’s back was turned to run her eyes up and down that gorgeous body, lingering on the full tush before making her way up to the ripped shoulders. Nikki’s tight t-shirt was surely a blessing from a gracious God. And it was worth being this sore to have Nikki in her house.

Nikki took in the warm feeling the home exuded, the dark wood of the walls complimented by the curving staircase. She chuckled at the antique table resting against the wall, the crystal candy dish on top looking out of place with the keys, crumpled pack of gum, and loose change it held. Parked on top, completely contrasting with the antique, was a giant, plastic, green M & M character, huge grin on its face and its arm extended, ready to hand out sweets. As she looked up from the table, she could glimpse the living room beyond the foyer, but still hesitated. Which way to Alex’s massage room?

At that moment, Jasper could stand the wait no longer. He charged from his spot out of sight around the corner and barged up to Nikki, tail wagging frantically. Nikki laughed and bent down, trying to petting the squirming dog, wiggling madly with excitement. “Jasper! Jasper! Come here!” Alex called, trying vainly to get his attention, but he simply continued his worship of her guest. “Sorry. I have him trained to stay in the living room when I someone comes through the front door, since usually only clients come in that way, but I guess he recognized you and figured all bets were off.”

Nikki stooped, trying to pet the head of the wiggling dog, oddly pleased at the attention. “My mom always said that dogs recognize a good heart, so I take it as a compliment.” Nikki grinned, Jasper flopping down on the floor, four legs waving in the air, belly exposed, waiting to be rubbed. His tongue flopped from his mouth, lips curled back in a grin.

Alex stood there, heart thumping, watching Nikki with her dog. Somehow, she just looked so at home. Finally, she took a deep breath, crossed her arms, and sighed dramatically.

“Oh I see. I welcome a woman into my home and all she does is love on the dog. But I’m not jealous. Oh hell, no,” she said.

Nikki looked up, eyebrows raised. “Well, if you had a habit of jumping on women you invite home with you the way Jasper does, I’m sure you would get plenty of attention, too.”

Alex chuckled, a warm, electric jolt rushing through her center. “Is that a suggestion?” she asked, her voice low and suggestive.

Nikki laughed. “I’m afraid you missed the moment. If you tried it now, it would just look like you were trying to copy Jasper.”

“Damn. Maybe next time,” Alex chuckled. “But, if he is willing to share you, I will give you a little tour.”

Nikki stood, Jasper jumping to his feet, tail fanning the air. “I would be honored,” she said playfully.

Alex cleared her throat, surprised that she felt slightly nervous, a bit like a kid inviting her first date home to meet the parents. “Welcome to my humble abode,” she said, gesturing broadly in front of her. She moved behind Nikki, using the opportunity to place her hand on the small of her back. She felt the electricity at the contact and thought fleetingly how she would soon be able to feel so much more.

“This is the dining room,” she said, referring to the room to her right. “It’s strictly reserved for when my parents visit at Christmas. Don’t mind the dust—it’s only in temporary residence.” A large mahogany table won the prize for dominating the room, followed closely by an ancient cherry china cabinet that housed various goblets and glasses, unused since her mother was young. The Persian rug on the floor threw a splash of color across the room, and an old painting of couples waltzing across a ballroom brightened the pale cream walls. Nikki smiled at the line about the dust, surmising it must all be imaginary, given that she didn’t see a speck anywhere, as Alex propelled her forward to the end of the small hallway off the foyer with the hand still pressed against her back.

“Straight ahead we have the living room, a bathroom through the door at the end,” Alex said, walking past a door on her left. A large fireplace dominated one wall, hardwood floors leading to the inviting, old-fashioned stairway that graced the far side. In between, rested a large, comfortable looking sofa of brown tweed, a matching love seat on one side and a burgundy, over-stuffed, leather recliner on the other. A television cabinet with numerous shelves packed with books and trinkets stood against the end wall. The room opened on her right, and Nikki peaked around the corner to see a generous sized kitchen with a breakfast bar, a large rack draped with antique gourmet pots and pans hanging over an island in the center. “Wow. Someone likes to cook!” she said.

“Yeah. Those belonged to my grandmother, and her mother before her, and her grandmother before that. Now they are mine. Believe it or not, I actually learned to cook using them.” She paused for a moment. So much in this house was so old, passed down from generation to generation. Now here she was, living in the middle of all this history.

Alex blinked away the thoughts and pointed to the door under a narrow stairway, leading out of the kitchen. “That’s the back entrance that most of my friends use. It door to the garage, where the laundry area is, and the FROG.”

“The what?”

“The FROG. It’s what my sisters and I have called it since we read a house description when we were kids—‘full room over garage.’ When my grandfather built the garage add-on, he made sure there was a play room on the top, and then it was turned into a studio apartment for me when I was a broke college student.”

Nikki laughed in appreciation at the room’s nickname.

“I always tried to convince my grandmother to decorate it with a frog theme when I was growing up, but she never would go for it. I used to tell Chad, the college student who rented it last year, that he was going to come in and find frog stickers all over the door and a frog shower curtain hanging in the bathroom one day. But I don’t think he really believed me.”

Alex turned back to the living area. “That’s the short tour. There are three bedrooms and a couple of baths upstairs, but to be honest I am avoiding the stairs as much as possible today,” she said, the pained expression on her face at the memory of her journey downstairs this morning making Nikki smile slightly. “Besides, the room we are interested in at the moment is this way.” Alex, managing to limp only slightly, led Nikki back the way they had come from, toward the foyer and the door she had passed earlier.

On the way, Nikki’s eyes gravitated to the eclectic collection of framed photographs on the hallway wall. Black and white photographs of serious-faced couples in old-fashioned clothes hung there, sharing the spotlight with pictures of babies in bathtubs and snaggle-toothed children in stiff school clothes. Near the end, were several framed photographs of someone grinning broadly, as she floated, seemingly in midair, thick goggles covering her eyes, wearing a bright red air-filled jump suit and a parachute strapped to her back. Looking closer, Nikki realized the photograph was of Alex.

“You skydive?” Accusatory pointing at the photograph accompanied the incredulous look on her face.

“I used to, way back when I was in college.”

“I have never understood that,” Nikki said with a shake of her head. “Why on earth someone would jump out of a perfectly good plane is beyond me. I mean, if the plane were going down it would be one thing, but if it is staying in the air, I don’t see why one would be in such a hurry to jump out of it!”

Alex chuckled. “I guess I’ve always been kind of a dare devil. The picture over here is one of my favorites.” She led Nikki to the center of the wall. Smack dab in the middle was a large picture of a magnificent mountain. Clinging precariously near the top was a tiny speck of a person, arms and legs spread spider-like against the rocks.

“Oh my God. Please tell me that isn’t you!”

Alex just grinned back.

Surprised, Nikki examined the wall in front of her, noting the images of Alex doing a variety of exciting or dangerous things. One picture showed her waving from the passenger side of a racecar; and in another, she was almost unrecognizably encased in scuba gear and under water, behind the bars of some sort of cage, sharks swimming all around. Others were less dangerous, but adventurous, nonetheless. Alex on a horse on the beach, Alex parasailing, Alex hiking in the woods. Nikki’s jaw dropped in amazement, and she felt completely dumbfounded as she turned back to Alex.

“Wow! You do get around, don’t you!”

Alex ducked her head and smiled bashfully as she kicked at the floor with the tip of her shoe. “I guess I used to. Not quite so much anymore.”

“What? No bungee jumping lately?” Nikki teased, amused at Alex’s embarrassment.

“Now, I have never been bungee jumping. That’s my friend, Misty’s, cup of tea. And no, I haven’t jumped out of a plane or climbed a mountain in years.”

“So what do you do for excitement?”

Alex blushed and shook her head, making Nikki curious. “Come on. What is it?” she cajoled, wondering what on earth could have Alex blushing like mad.

“You’ll laugh.”

“No I won’t. And I swear I won’t tell a soul. Please?”

Alex could not stand Nikki batting her eyes. “Oh, all right. But you promise not to laugh?” Nikki nodded solemnly and raised her right hand. “I swear.”

Alex cleared her throat. “I ride roller coasters.”

“Huh?”

“It’s stupid, I know. But I am a roller coaster junkie. Every time I go on vacation, I hunt down the biggest, baddest ones in whatever city I am visiting and ride every coaster I can.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

Alex shook her head. “’Fraid not. There. Now you know my secret. Hi. I’m Alex and I’m a roller-coasterholic.”

Nikki laughed. “Maybe you should start a support group. This close to Orlando, you can’t be the only one!”

“Well, my next big thrill is going to be giving you a massage.” She circled Nikki with her arm and placed her hand at her back again. She pushed Nikki gently down the hallway, away from the embarrassing pictures. At the end of the hall she paused.

Nikki fought a surge of electricity at Alex’s words and actions. I told you so, the Voice of Reason intoned. If you keep this up, you will not be able to ignore it forever.

“Now you are about to enter most people’s favorite room in the house.” With those words, Alex opened the doors and flourished her arms, ushering Nikki into one of the most inviting worlds she had ever entered.

The delicate but spicy scent of sandalwood floated in the air, mingling with the soft strains of a flute and the sound of flowing water, the low tones accenting the calming décor and instantly sending a wave of relaxation through Nikki. At first, she thought the sounds of water were part of the CD, but as her eyes drifted around the room, she spotted a tabletop water fountain resting under the window, water cascading like a waterfall and crashing against small, shiny pebbles at the bottom. She noticed that the fountain was perfectly placed to be within view of the massage table, its hypnotic flow mesmerizing.

On the other side of the room, directly across from the waterfall, stood a large brick fireplace, a three-tiered stand of candles already lit, flames dancing in the draft from the open door. Nikki realized that with the clever house design, the fireplace shared a chimney with the other fireplace on the opposite side of the wall in the living room.

Muted earth tones decorated the interior of the room, warm colors soothing and inviting. The soft glow of the candles cast a golden tone to the tan walls with earth red accents fading into the shadows. The only electrical lighting in the room drifted from a single lamp near the back, softly lighting a vat that held warm oils, as well as a rack that held warm towels. The massage table dominated the room, crisp white sheets and a small low pillow gracing the top.

“Wow,” Nikki said softy. “This place is incredible!” She turned back to Alex, taking in the jeans, light denim button- up, open down the front, white t- shirt peeking out, her tall frame leaning against the doorway, her arms crossed, a proud smile on her face.

“Like I said, this is most folks’ favorite room.” She stood upright then, stepping back through the door. “I’ll just step out for a few minutes and let you have some privacy. There’s a chair and a couple of hooks on that wall for your clothes. Just strip down to…um…whatever level you feel comfortable, and climb under the sheet, lie down on your stomach, and I’ll be back to join you.”

Alex stepped from the room, unable to resist one quick glance over her shoulder as she exited. She closed the door and then leaned against it, her back braced against the strong wood.

Nikki was stripping on the other side of that door. At exactly that moment, she would be sliding the t-shirt over her head. The socks and shoes would be next, followed by the jeans, sliding down those muscular, toned thighs, gliding off over her feet. Would the bra be unsnapped, tucked carefully under the clothes she would drape over the chair or hang on the hook? And the panties? Alex let the fantasy of Nikki slowly taking off a satin bikini run rampant through her mind. Nikki sliding naked under the cotton sheet, Nikki sighing as she got comfortable, Nikki lying, waiting for her, for her hands to be on her skin…

Alex jerked to reality with a start, realizing that the rustle of clothes on the other side of the door had stopped. Nikki had apparently settled in. Time to go to work.

Alex tapped lightly on the door. “Hey. All set?”

“Come on in,” Nikki answered simply.

Alex took a deep breath, surprised to find her hands trembling slightly as she turned doorknob. Never before had Alex felt this way about giving a massage. Sure, she had put her talents to good use with women before, but she’d never invited a woman she was interested in into this room for a complete massage like she would give a client. For some reason, she had always been more comfortable keeping business and pleasure strictly separate, no mixing and mingling. She even charged Misty for a massage, although she did give a large discount. So why was she doing this now? Alex shook the question away, not quite willing to delve into so much self-examination. She moved on to a much more pleasant question--bra and panties? Or had Nikki taken them off? She was about to find out.

Alex opened the door, the sight of Nikki lying on the massage table taking her breath away. Nikki was on her stomach. She had opted not to place her face in the opening of the head of the table, but rather faced the warmly glowing candles, her arms rested under her head, as if she was sleeping. Dark hair feathered against her skin, the curve of her neck beautiful, creamy against the white of the sheets. Smooth, luscious, shoulders, completely bare of bra straps, peeked from under the sheet, tucked up just under her arms. Question one was answered!

The sheet curved over Nikki, swelling over her hips, dipping down toward her feet. What about that second question? Panties or not?

“Somebody’s sleeping in my bed…and there she is!” Alex said lightly, praying a quiver in her voice would not give her away.

“Mmmm…,” Nikki replied. “If you think I’m gonna hop up and jump out the window, you have another thing coming! I am perfectly comfortable, thank you. And I wasn’t the one who broke your damn chair, any way!”

Alex chuckled in appreciation of Nikki’s wit, as she went over to the hot oil vat, carefully selecting her favorite oil. “I can honestly say I have never had anyone leave this room like that. Most seem to have a hard time getting off the bed and making it to the door, but that’s another story, I guess.” She took the oil back to the side of the bed, the question of whether Nikki was completely naked underneath crowding out almost everything else. “Do you like the scent of jasmine?” she asked.

“Is there anyone who doesn’t?”

Alex smiled, dripping a bit of oil onto the palm of her hand, rubbing her hands together briefly. “Is there any place you want me to work on specifically?” Alex flushed as soon as the words were out of her mouth. She had asked others the exact same thing, but it had never sounded so sexual before! “I mean, any place you are sore?” she amended, hoping the dimness of the room hid the redness of her face.

“Yeah, a few. There’s my back and shoulders. Of course, my legs and feet have been looking forward to this, too. And my arms and hands are pretty sore…I guess pretty much everywhere.” Nikki grinned up at Alex, somehow reminding her of Jasper when he wanted to be petted.

“I see. No one likes being left out, so we will just have to take care of all of you.” Alex knew she could not completely follow through with that promise here, on the table, as much as she might want to. She did have a few limits she was not willing to cross, and making love on the table her next client would lie on was one of them.

Nikki’s mouth went dry at Alex’s words, and she felt a surge of both adrenaline and fear. What if she was in over her head? “Are you sure you are up to this? You aren’t too sore?” Part of her was praying Alex was in too much pain to do the massage. The other part was begging any god who was listening to not let Alex stop.

“Actually, my arms aren’t so bad; it’s my legs that have decided they have died and gone to hell. And since my hands and arms do most of the work here, you are a very lucky girl.”

Alex picked up on the tremor of nervousness in Nikki’s question, so she spoke in a low, soothing tone that fell softly on Nikki’s ears. Nikki let her eyes drifted closed as Alex approached, forcing the fight or flight sensation down and replacing it with relaxation.

“If it is okay with you, we’re gonna just start here,” Alex said, placing her hands on the muscle of Nikki’s shoulder, at first simply letting her hand rest there, then her fingers gently digging in, caressing, before more firmly massaging and rubbing. “Let me know if I rub too hard,” she said softly.

However, Nikki barely heard. Already, she was falling into that zone of complete, utter relaxation, the place of melting into the sensations, the place where nothing existed except for absolute pleasure. Alex’s fingers were knowledgeable, experienced, their ministrations making Nikki’s muscles quiver in delight and erasing any thought from her mind. Alex’s hands worked their way across her shoulders, then slowly began tracing their way down the muscles along her spine, kneading, pressing, soothing. Her hands found pressure spots of soreness that Nikki had not known existed, and she moaned softly, not even trying to stifle the sound of pleasure. “Dear God, that feels so good,” she murmured.

Alex gritted her teeth at the sound of Nikki’s moan. Nikki’s voice was so low and sultry, enticing, sexy. She wanted to make her moan more, wanted to echo her sounds of pleasure.

Alex’s hands slid downward, edging toward the top of Nikki’s hip. She gently moved the sheet to massage her lower back, noting the enticing slip of blue underneath. Question number 2 answered. She was thorough, taking her time, lulling the muscles into relaxation. Slowly, Nikki’s body lost its tension, becoming limp under her hands.

Her work on Nikki’s lower back done, she reluctantly slid the sheet back up to her shoulders, so she would not become chilled. She tried to make sure the room was always warm in the room when she did the massages, but she wanted to make sure.

Alex slid her hand down to the top of Nikki’s thigh, sliding the sheet away and tucking it between her legs. Her hands massaged deeply, the muscle rolling under her fingers, working their way lower to her calf, and finally to her feet. “Ticklish?” she asked softly, as she gently picked up the first foot.

“Oh no. I love to have my feet rubbed.”

“Me, too,” Alex replied as she began to apply pressure to the ball of Nikki’s foot. “But, the one time I forgot to ask, a woman kicked me so hard I had a black eye for two weeks. Believe it or not, I never forgot to ask again.”

“Ouch. Hazardous work.”

“Uh huh. Not quite at hazardous as your, though. Ever broken bone from that juju…stuff?”

Nikki chuckled. “Jujitsu. Actually, that depends on how you look at it.”

“How’s that?”

“Well, when I was nine, my brother, Nate, said that he could beat me. We had always done karate, and since he was four years older, he could always whip me. But, we had just started taking this new martial arts—jujutsu. And strength wasn’t always the most important part of it. Flexibility and strategy were really the key. So I took him on.”

“And he broke your arm?”

“Not exactly…Oh yeah…,” Nikki paused briefly in her story. “Rub a little harder right there…” Alex smiled as her fingers pressed harder. “Oh…oh…yeah. That’s awesome.” Nikki sighed in pleasure before continuing. “Anyway, I tried a new trick I had seen and broke his arm. He was out of sports for six weeks, and at first I didn’t think he was ever going to forgive me. After he got the cast off, though, he turned out to be pretty proud of his little sister!”

“Sounds like you always knew what you wanted to be when you grew up, then.”

“Yeah, well, my dad owned a dojo in Louisiana. So, of course we grew up in it, competitions and performances and all.” Nikki paused, hesitating before speaking again. Something about the complete relaxation made her a little more willing to lower her defenses.

“Can I tell you a little secret?”

“Of course. You could tell me anything, Nikki.”

“The truth is, I always feel like I just don’t quite measure up. Dad is a fourth degree black-belt in Kempo karate, second degree in jujitsu, and holds a black-belt in two other styles. I can’t even keep up with how many black-belts Nate holds. And I feel like I have to work twice as hard to even stay at an acceptable level.”

Alex pursed her lips as her thumbs traced circles on Nikki’s body. “So why do you do it?’

Nikki cocked her head slightly, thinking. “I guess because even though I don’t think I measure up, I still love the art. And the kids. And the activity. And, I guess, just about all of it.”

“If you love all of it, why do you have to measure up to anyone else? I’ve seen how those kids follow you around like little puppy dogs. And you could whip anyone I know. So is it really supposed to be about who has more belts?”

“No. It’s not.” Nikki felt like a heaviness had been at least partially lifted. She had never confided her little feeling of inadequacy to anyone, but Alex was so far removed from that world that it had been easy to tell her.

She shifted slightly on the table. “When I grew up, I got my BA in physical education, thought I’d coach in school or something, but ended up back in the dojos. My brother moved here to start one near his wife’s family, and when it started growing, I moved out here to join in. And here I am. Handing out belts, again. And really, there’s nothing I want to do more.” She nodded unconsciously. “How about you?”

“Me? I don’t give out belts.”

“Ha ha,” Nikki said dryly. “I meant how did you end up giving massages in this heaven-room in your house?”

“Ah. I see.” Alex smiled at Nikki’s description of the room that was once her grandmother’s parlor. Her grandmother had probably never imagined Alex standing here, her hands all over another woman’s nearly naked body. “Actually, I had no intention of becoming a massage therapist for the rest of my life. I was going to go into nursing, but the more classes I took, the less I liked it. I really like working with people, but I couldn’t stomach the rough stuff. So I switched over to massage therapy, and here I am.”

“Working magic,” Nikki said with another moan as Alex switched over to her other foot.

“Well, it does tend to have a pretty severe side-effect or two, I must warn you.” Alex squeezed Nikki’s heel gently and did not even try to hide the grin when she was rewarded with a tiny whimper.

“What’s that?” Nikki’s voice was barely a whisper.

“Clients becoming mindless jelly and my head swelling so large I can’t fit through the doorway to walk them out.”

Nikki smiled without opening her eyes, and Alex’s hands began to make their way upward. She has the most incredible calves of any woman I have ever touched, Alex thought. How can a woman’s muscles be as hard as a concrete block and soft as a marshmallow at the same time?

Nikki’s voice brought Alex out of her musing. “I was really surprised when I drove up and realized the address was for a house and not an office of some sort, you know.”

“Well, if I hadn’t completely trusted you, I would have referred you to the spa I do massage at on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I only invite friends and clients I know well to my home studio. Would you have rathered? Then you could have had a feel for the whole spa experience thing.” Alex’s voice did not quite hide her sudden surge of apprehension. Had Nikki been looking forward to something more formal? Something more “spa-ish”? Some place she could have gotten her hair and nails done, too? The feeling of inadequacy sat like lead in the pit of her stomach, the feeling of misjudging and perhaps not quite measuring up.

“You aren’t serious, are you?”

“Maybe. You could have gotten your nails done, too.”

Nikki laughed outright, her voice like the tinkling of water in the fountain. “My nails?” She waved her right hand behind her, giving Alex a view of plain, buffed, very short nails. Suddenly, Alex was no longer wondering about whether she should have invited Nikki to the spa, but instead she was wondering exactly how those fingers would feel touching her…everywhere.

Alex cleared her throat and forced herself to keep going. “To tell you the truth, I really prefer working out of my home. Especially when I am working with a…friend.” Alex had to strain to keep her voice calm as her strong hands made their way up to Nikki’s thigh. She reached down and pressed the springy top of the bottle, squirting warm oil into her palm and bringing it up to spread over luscious skin, massaging deeply, kneading warm flesh. Nikki’s skin was so soft right there, on the inside of her thigh, so silky. God, how she wanted to reach up further…. Instead, she took a deep breath, tugged the sheet back over Nikki’s leg, and ran her hand up to Nikki’s back.

Nikki felt like she was turning into jelly, as Alex had described it. This was the most incredible massage she had ever had, and Alex was working her over like she had never felt before. Nothing on earth could feel better, she thought as strong but gentle fingers smoothed then squeezed her thigh muscle. Her touch seemed nothing short of sorcery.

“Okay. Now if it’s okay with you, I am going to hold the sheet up like a tent and let you roll over, so we can do the rest.” Alex picked the sheet up like she said and let Nikki discretely roll over, fighting down the urge to peek. Boundaries. Right?

Nikki rolled over onto her back, and Alex lowered the sheet again. “Hang on a sec. Let me take this off.” The temperature kept warm enough for Nikki’s comfort under only a light sheet was unfortunately a little warm for Alex’s work. She slid the denim button up shirt off, leaving only her sleeveless t-shirt, and then placed her hands at the tops of Nikki’s shoulders, just under her color bone, rubbing the pecs. She had known this woman was strong, but damn! Her muscles here were even tight. And dear, sweet heaven, how she wanted to just slide her hands down lower and cup the soft mounds she could see resting under the sheet! Instead, she stifled another sigh and slid her both hands over to work on Nikki’s left shoulder.

“Oh God, that feels so good,” Nikki murmured. Alex’s touch sent shards of pleasure running through her, the delicious sensations running a race to form molten gold in the pit of her stomach. Taking a deep breath, Nikki inhaled the scent of Alex’s closeness, her warm smell sweet and tangy at the same time. She cracked her eyes open just as Alex reached over her, leaning near, to massage the opposite shoulder. And, the sight that met her eyes suddenly sent a completely charge rushing through her, a surge that felt like lava.

Alex stood, her body stretching across her, soft, full breasts so close Nikki could have kissed them if she had risen up only a few inches. And for some inexplicable reason, Nikki had to fight the urge to keep her position. A tingle of electricity began in her center as Alex’s body moved rhythmically, mirroring the delicious feelings her fingers were bringing to life in her shoulder, her breasts swaying slowly just above Nikki, in time with her touch. Nikki could not bring herself to take her eyes away, the view so taboo, yet mesmerizing. The electric surge began to increase in frequency, the thrumming through her creating a thrill she did not even try to stifle.

Alex stood back upright, returning briefly to Nikki’s other shoulder before sliding her fingers down her arm, feeling the biceps twitch under her fingertips. Her eyes strayed briefly to Nikki’s chest, and she did a double take. The hard tips of Nikki’s nipples thrust at the sheet, clearly visible under the cloth. Alex very nearly whimpered, and it took every ounce of strength that she had to rip her eyes away from the enticing sight. Not yet. Not yet. She had a job to do. First.

Alex moved down to Nikki’s hand, cradling it gently while massaging first the palm and then moving to the fingers. Now that she had moved, Nikki was surprised to find that she had been holding her breath, and she could breathe again. But the feelings inside didn’t go away. For some reason the handholding felt like more than a business-like massage, more than just a friend. It felt, intimate, knowing. The heat of Alex’s hands on her skin was turning her insides into an unexpected fire, and to her complete shock, an unfamiliar wetness was beginning between her legs. Oh shit, she thought silently. She’s turning me on!

For a moment, Nikki did not know if she had ever been this close to a woman who was not a relative. Wait—of course she had. She had been in martial arts since she was seven, for Pete’s sake. She had been in much more physically close positions to other women than this. So why was this woman’s touch suddenly sending sparks…no…flames…of desire running rampant through her? Why couldn’t she ignore the feelings brought up by this woman, as she had feelings for others?

Alex slid further down Nikki’s body, once again pulling the sheet from her right leg and tucking it under the left one. But having Alex further from her did nothing to subdue the erotic feelings. Instead, as deliberate hands massaged the top of her thigh, Nikki found herself wishing that her fingers would slide upward, closer to…. No! I can’t have just thought that. Nikki fought the image, but it did not go away. Thankfully, Alex continued, Nikki almost breathing a sigh of relief as she worked her way down her leg and gave another, shorter tour of her foot.

Nevertheless, the relief was short lived. Alex finished one foot only to start on the other, making her way upward, over her lower leg, up to her calf. The slowness of the move upward thrilled and dismayed Nikki at the same time. She felt caught in some unexpected dream, where reality and fantasy merged into one.

Nikki squeezed her eyes more tightly closed, clenching her fists and gritting her teeth as Alex’s incredible fingers worked further upward. The warm flush in her center had spread through her body, making every single nerve stand at attention. She was aware of the texture of Alex’s hand, of the sound of her breath, of the thumping of her heart, which she was sure was so strong that Alex would be able to see the pounding through the sheet. And when Alex stopped caressing her thigh and skipped further upward, caressing Nikki’s shoulder, pressing the muscle, kneading and massaging, Nikki didn’t know whether to feel relieved or disappointed.

“Whew, your arm feels a little tense,” Alex said. “You’re supposed to be relaxing, here.” Alex’s brow furrowed. “Are you okay?”

Nikki laughed nervously, unbalanced by at her body’s reaction. She forced her muscles to relax, to become a rag doll. “Fine. Just…um…a little sensitive.” Sensitive. Right. Well, at least it was the truth she argued with herself.

Alex reached the tips of Nikki’s finger reluctantly. She did not want the massage to be over. She could touch Nikki’s body all day and all night and still want to come back for more. Why did touching her seem so different? Even the texture of her skin felt new, as if she had never touched another so deeply, so closely. What she really wanted to do was peel back that sheet, take off her own clothes, and lie naked on top of Nikki’s body, and then touch her some more. But, what did Nikki feel? Would she want to touch her, too?

Alex squeezed Nikki’s hand gently one more time, and she was rewarded with Nikki’s eyes fluttering open, blue Caribbean Sea meeting dark, swimming chocolate. The exquisite, raw feelings that were tumbling around inside of her openly reflected there, a complete mirror shining in the candle light.

Nikki could not pull her eyes away from Alex’s, the magnetic connection locking her into place. Only when she realized that she was holding her breath again, and she needed to breathe, did Nikki manage to look away.

“Wow. That…that…” Nikki fought to get herself under control. Okay. So she did not completely understand what was going on, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to. She still had to get a grip, and stuttering was not helping the matter. She took a deep breath, trying to draw calmness into herself. “That was the most incredible massage I have ever had.” That, too, was the truth.

Alex’s grin broke out like sunshine across her face with Nikki’s compliment. “Me, too.”

Nikki’s eyebrows shot up, but there was no way Alex was going to back down. It was the truth, so instead she just wiggled her eyebrows. “How ‘bout I get the table next time?”

Nikki laughed, the apprehension she felt draining away under the light of Alex’s light-hearted attention. It was just Alex, her new friend. It was just a massage. At least, if she could keep telling herself that, maybe she could get out of here with her dignity in tact.

“Well, I’m going to step outside and let you get your clothes back on. Take your time and just relax as long as you want. When you get up, be sure you sit up and stand up slowly—you may be a little dizzy or lightheaded at first. Then when you are done, just come on out and join me. I’ll be right down the hall in the living room.” Alex smiled, unable to resist giving the soft hand still cradled in her own one more gentle caress, before pulling away. As she closed the door behind her, she pressed herself against the wood once more. She closed her eyes, feeling Nikki under her hands again, knowing that she would move heaven and earth to touch her again. Only the next time, she would not stop until she had touched her everywhere.

Nikki lay frozen on the top of the table, unable to bring herself to move. Now that it was over, she wanted to feel those hands on her again, the soft velvet stroking her, caressing her. She turned her head, the dancing flames capturing her attention. Soft gold and amber reflections danced over the walls of the fireplace, bathing everything in warm light. She imagined it would be incredibly beautiful in the winter with a full fire lit inside. Romantic. She glanced around. The soft candle light, the sound of gently flowing water, the soft touch of cotton against her skin, the fragile but spicy scent of jasmine floating on the air.

Who could imagine a more romantic scene? It had been so long since she had felt tender hands on her body. No wonder her senses had run away with her. It made sense, in a way. She was starved for romance and touch, and her imagination pasted in the rest. It was not really an attraction to Alex. She would not let it be. Under any other circumstances, she would have never thought of Alex touching her that way, and now that she knew what the issue was, there was no reason to be concerned or nervous. And eventually, when the right person came along, she would feel that attraction for real. But even as she rationalized, sitting up carefully, getting to her feet, and reaching for her clothes, there was a soft whisper in the back of her mind, What if she wanted Alex to be the right person?

Chapter 10

Nikki clenched her teeth and gripped the steering wheel of the car just a little too tightly as she backed out of the driveway. She did not want to think about the massage, but it drew her thoughts like a car accident drawing the gaze of passersby.

I just need to find a man, she thought to herself, but the idea of a man in bed with her did not make her feel any better. She cast back to her past relationships, none of which had been particularly satisfying. She always seemed to end up dating some jock from a dojo or gym, some guy she ended up having a “go out for a few drinks and talk war stories” relationship with. Guys who were fun to watch a game with or practice new martial arts moves on. But not guys who stirred her to the core. Not guys in whom she could confide her insecurities. And not guys she wanted to lean forward and…the image of Alex’s body, full breasts seeming so touchable, flashed in front of her.

She thrust the distracting thought away as she shifted gear into first and pulled out of the driveway, back onto the sedate street. Now that she thought about it, all her truly close relationships had been with women, or girls, back in school, like her first best friend, Taylor. Taylor had been the most beautiful girl in school--gorgeous brown-gold hair, eyes that shimmered, cheeks that glowed so rosy after playing a hard game of softball at recess. And in sixth grade, when Taylor told her she “liked” David, Nikki had never been able to actually believe it. For years, she had believed her friend had been saying how much she like the boy just because it was in style to act so grown-up. In retrospect, of course, Taylor probably had liked him. He was a year ahead of them in school, the pitcher on the junior high baseball team and head of the wrestling team, the tallest boy in his seventh grade class, a dashing lad with easy good looks. It had just been too hard to believe that girls really liked boys.

Then, Taylor and her family moved from Louisiana to Ohio at the beginning of seventh grade. Nikki had known her heart was shattered beyond repair. She had moped and grieved for what felt like forever, and even now, over a decade and a half later she could still remember the pain. They had called each other several times over the months following the move, and had even exchanged a couple of letters, but eventually, Taylor had found a new best friend, and the calls had stopped.

Having Taylor as a best friend had made her wonder about the whole “boy-girl” thing, but it was the experience of Sherri Foster and Kim Richards that had cinched things for Nikki, making her realize that she could never allow a girl to be…too close. Four years older than Nikki, Sherri had been her next-door neighbor while growing up, and Nikki always thought Sherri was the coolest thing since freezer-pops. Looking back from an adult perspective, Nikki knew that she had to have been the annoying little kid in the neighborhood to Sherri, but Sherri had endured her blatant hero-worship with patience and tolerance, for the most part. Nikki, in turn, had been horribly jealous of Sherri’s best friend, Kim.

Sherri and Kim did everything together. Both were on the high school soft-ball team, both of them talked about joining the Peace Corp after high school, and both of them boycotted the senior prom, saying it was just an excuse for a people to act stuck-up and pretentious. They spent weekends at each other’s houses and were completely inseparable. And both of them graduated the year before Nikki began high school.

Nikki would never forget how that summer began, the year before ninth grade. One evening Nikki walked home from the park and was horrified to see Sherri in the front yard, crying hysterically, her father yelling and screaming at her. Nikki did not know Mr. Foster well, but he was not the type to be yelling at his daughter in the front yard. Nikki ran for her front door, intending to go get her mom, who could surely calm them down. She still believed her mom could do anything she set her mind to. But just before she opened the door, Kim, in her white Pontiac, screeched to a halt in front of Sherri’s house, and Sherri dove into the car. As the car took off, Nikki heard a horrible crash of glass on concrete followed by Mr. Foster screaming after them, “You’re no daughter of mine!”

Nikki had rushed straight for her mother, who happened to be standing, white faced with the phone in her hands, and threw herself into her arms. Nikki found out later that she had been preparing to call 911. “What just happened?” she asked, badly shaken by the scene.

Her mother’s answer was terse, angry. “Nothing that would ever happen in our house,” was the only answer she would give Nikki.

Nate had filled her in a bit more later, when they were standing in the driveway gazing at the shattered glass of Sherri’s graduation picture that Mr. Foster had thrown. Nate attended high school with both Sherri and Kim, and he told Nikki, in hushed tones, that rumors had been circulating for months around the school that the girls were, “more than friends.” Apparently, Sherri had finally worked up the courage to come out to her fundamentalist parents, despite knowing the risk of losing them.

Nikki never saw Sherri again. The family acted bizarrely as if she had died, and when Nikki’s mother baked a pie and took it to Mrs. Foster, Mrs. Foster met her with tears and sobs. In the end, Nikki had replayed her mother’s voice over and over in her head at night, as she thought of Sherri and Kim. “Nothing that would ever happen in this house.” And despite admiration for the girls’ bravery, Nikki had resolved that nothing was worth risking the love and security of her family.

Though images of Sherri and Kim haunted her for years, she did make a good friend in college—a best friend. Christi was a young, blond basketball player for the college team. Nikki could still see the strip of skin peeking beneath her t-shirt at the waist when she stretched to toss a ball through the hoop as they played a game of one-on-one. Their favorite thing to do together had been to curl up and watch scary movies, the scary parts an excuse to put her arm around Christi, who tended to spook pretty easily at the frightening parts. Nikki had wished vaguely at the time that they could room together, but Christi had stayed with an aging aunt to cut the cost of housing. And anytime Nikki had even begun to consider anything more than a quick hug, the sound of her mother’s voice echoed in her ears. “Nothing that would ever happen in this house.”

None of the dating relationships she’d had with men, and there really hadn’t been that many, had ever compared with the friendships she had, and most certainly none of them stirred her up like Alex’s massage!

I just miss romance and friends! Nikki refused to accept any other explanation, refused to consider that maybe, just maybe, she wanted the two combined. The risk was just too great.

****

A few hours later, Alex sat on the overstuffed sofa with her feet propped up on the coffee table, a glass of red wine in one hand. She glanced at her other hand before bringing her fingers to her face and inhaling. She fancied she could catch the scent of Nikki, though she knew that idea was ridiculous. The jasmine scent of the oil would have completely masked that of anyone. But that hand had touched Nikki, stroking her skin, bringing sighs and moans of pleasure to her lips. A shudder ran through her at the memory of Nikki’s moans. She raised the glass then, and drained it completely. When she had licked the last drop from the rim, she forced herself to her feet, limped to the kitchen to take the glass to the sink, and went to the backdoor to call Jasper in from his nightly tour of the backyard. Finally, she stood at the foot of the stairs and watched Jasper galloped up ahead of her. She braced her hand on the rail, dreading the climb. It was going to be another long night.

Chapter 11

Nikki swept aimlessly at the floor, the straw barely stirring up the dust. It was a good thing Nate had done a much more thorough job first thing that morning, because Nikki sure was not making much headway; she couldn’t seem to stay focused on anything. Luckily, Nate seemed to believe that over-relaxation held over from the day before was the reason she was so spaced out, but Nikki knew the real cause. Thanks to yesterday’s activities, all she could think about was how it felt to have Alex’s hands on her body—and despite her best efforts not to think about it, how it would feel to have her hands on all the places they hadn’t touched on that massage table.

Nikki wandered over to the cubby area, absently sliding the broom between the shelf and the wall and dragging it out again. Despite the fog she was floating in, a metallic glint caught her eye, and she stooped to investigate. Tangled in the strands of the broom’s head was a gold rope chain. Nikki pulled the chain from the straw, holding the glinting necklace up to the light. She did not even have to think whom it might belong to. In her mind’s eye, she could still clearly see Alex taking it off and putting it with her shoes in the cubby.

****

Nikki double-checked the spa’s name on the door before finally pushing the glass door open. From her left, the low murmur of women’s voices muffled by the hum of hair dryers floated on the air. To her right was a receptionist’s desk, a young, overly made-up woman sitting importantly behind the computer.

Clearing her throat, Nikki walked uncertainly to the desk. “Excuse me,” she said to the receptionist, who still had not acknowledged her presence. The receptionist looked haughtily at Nikki, the disdain obvious on her face. Apparently, Nikki’s choice of attire—blue jean shorts, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes, did not meet with her approval. Nikki had the feeling that she would have been more welcome had she opted for a skirt, heels, and lipstick. “I’m here to see Alex Martin.”

“If you have an appointment with her, just have a seat over there.” She waved her hand vaguely at the plush seats against the wall. “She should be with you shortly.” With that dismissal, the receptionist turned back to the computer.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have an appointment.”

“Is she expecting you?”

“No.” Nikki refused to explain herself to this snob. It was not her business.

The woman glared as she reached for a notepad and pen. “Name?”

“Nikki Kammer.”

“I will call.”

Nikki edged over to the chairs and sank into the soft comfort of the one nearest the door. Always more at home in a dojo or gym, the overly feminine air of the place made her feel slightly uncomfortable, but as long as she didn’t come out of the place looking like Bozo the Clown, she would be okay, she told herself. Nevertheless, she felt a great sense of relief when only moments later Nikki spotted Alex striding toward her from the hallway behind the desk, a broad smile lighting her face. “So you managed to escape the dojo dungeon, huh?”

“Yeah. I had to break a few bones and do a couple of arm bars in the process, but I managed to duck out for a while.” Thank God she had showed up. Even the air in this place seemed easier to breath, now that Alex was in the room.

“Well, come on back,” Alex beckoned. She led Nikki to the very end of the hall and turned right.” “Sorry about the cold reception, by the way.”

“How did you know?”

Alex chuckled. “Everyone gets a cold reception, these days, honey.” She almost stumbled with the jolt she felt as she realized what she had said. In true Southern style, she used endearments carelessly, without any real meaning. But in this case, she wanted to call Nikki honey, sweetie, baby, honey bear, buttercup…Alex yanked her wits together with a tremendous dose of self control, and managed to continue with the conversation. “I’m afraid Jill thinks greeting customers and answering the phone is beneath her. She usually has the very important job of doing manicures.” Nikki chuckled as Alex continued. “Our regular receptionist is very popular, except when she’s skipping work. She claims she has a broken leg, but I personally believe she is playing hooky, just to pay me back for leaving that one little plastic tarantula on her keyboard.”

Nikki’s laughter bubbled up, and she did not know if it was as more in response to what Alex said or to the simple, childish joy of being with her. “I guess I shouldn’t take the chilly atmosphere personally, then.”

Alex led Nikki back to a tiny office area, the room more like a closet that had barely enough room for a desk and two chairs. “Sorry for the cramped quarters,” she said. “I do most of my work in the massage room next door, but there’s no place to sit in there. Of course, this time I could lie down….” She raised her wiggled her eyebrows and grinned.

Nikki laughed, blushing at the thought that zipped through her mind; it was not a picture of rubbing shoulders. She yanked her errant thoughts back under her control. She still could not believe she was here, that she had come to see Alex at work. But, she thought it would be less…intense…than going to her house. How was she to have known just how wrong she could be? Here she was, sitting so closely she could see every rise and fall of Alex’s chest with her breath. So close, she could smell the lotions and oils she used. So close she could see the flecks of gold in her hazel eyes.

Alex held Nikki’s gaze, unable to speak for a moment. When she finally found her voice, she had to use every ounce of strength she had to keep it steady. “So, to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?”

“I thought you might be missing this.” She held up the gold chain she had been clenching in her fist. Bringing it here was just a pretext, and she knew it. She could have simply called Alex and let her pick the necklace up at the dojo.

Alex jumped up the moment she saw the chain glittering in the light. “I have been looking everywhere for that!” She reached for the necklace, her delight at finding the chain shining on her face. She looked up from the gold and the open expression of joy and gratitude made Nikki feel like the biggest hero that had ever existed. Something inside her melted, and she knew that she would climb mountains to bring that expression to Alex’s face again.

“Where did you find it?”

“It was caught between the shelf and the wall at the dojo. It must have fallen when you took your shoes out of the slot.”

“Thank God you found it!” She threw her arms around the other woman, her quick impulsive hug, squeezing tight, setting Nikki’s heart pounding. She felt the flush rise to her face as Alex released her, and she shoved her hands in her pocked, hoping she looked nonchalant. “It was nothing,” she mumbled.

“I couldn’t believe it when I realized it was missing,” Alex continued. “I didn’t even know when I had lost it. I never take it off, so I was afraid the clasp had broken and it had fallen off on the street. I looked everywhere--I even cut open the bag on the vacuum cleaner to see if I had accidentally vacuumed it!”

“It was no big deal. I was sweeping, and there it was.”

“I had completely forgotten that I took it off at the dojo.” Alex excitedly held the chain up and undid the clasp. She held it out to Nikki, who took it without thinking, and then turned away from her. “Would you put it on me?” she asked casually.

Nikki froze, at first. “Uh, sure.” Come on! This is ridiculous! She won’t bite, for Pete’s sake!

Nikki slid the necklace around Alex’s neck, brushing the soft skin on the back of her neck just under her hairline. She lied to herself, telling herself that the touch was accidental, but it didn’t work. Nikki knew it was just an excuse to feel her skin beneath her hand. She watched as goose flesh jumped up across Alex’s neck, and she was unable to resist exhaling just a little more closely than necessary, watching the flesh perk even more at her breath on her skin. She smiled at the soft intake of Alex’s breath before coming to her senses and moving back a bit. What she really wanted to do was run her tongue over that skin….

Quickly Nikki latched the chain and dropped her hands, shocked at the urges she was fighting. She knew some people craved what they were addicted to, had desires they struggled to control. But she had never done the things she was wanting, so how could she want them so badly? Did a person who had never bitten into the sweet, liquid center of a chocolate-covered cherry know what she was missing and crave them above all candy? How could she crave touching a woman so much when she had never done anything like it before? Why did she feel like she had no more control over her thoughts than she would have over floating in midair if she jumped out of an airplane with no parachute? Why did Alex seem to be breaking down all the resolve she had ever had?

Nikki backed up and stuck her hands back in her pockets. “I figured you would be missing it. Glad I could help,” she finished lamely, her mind uncomfortably blank.

“I’ll take help of any sort from you, any time,” Alex said softly as she turned back to Nikki. She still felt the echoes of the chills Nikki had sent racing up her spine with something as simple as her breath on the back of her neck.

Nikki could not think what to say. The way her mind was working, she was inclined to take that the wrong way, but she knew she should get her mind out of the gutter. Alex was safe. She was becoming a friend. That might even be the reason Nikki was wrestling with these thoughts, thoughts she had believed were in her past—it was safer to think like this than actually go out with some guy. But then, she might really rather be wrestling with Alex…on a mat…or a bed…

“Listen, I gotta go. I just wanted to drop that off before it got too late.”

“And I have one last client before I can head to the barn. Do you have to go back to the dojo?”

“Yeah. The next class starts at in 45 minutes.” She briefly felt sorry for the poor saps who were her students tonight. She was going to work their asses off—if she went to bed exhausted, she might not think about Alex tonight, like she had last night. It had taken her hours to fall asleep—all she had done was lie in bed and visualize their session over and over and over again.

“I’ll walk you out,” Alex said. “I wouldn’t want you to freeze to death on you way out. That might actually make Jill smile, and then her make-up would crack.” The two women grinned at each other and chuckled as they headed out the door.

****

Nikki pulled her keys out of her pocked and stepped out of the spa behind Alex, bracing herself against the wave of heat that met them. Florida was hot and humid, even this early in the year, though in reality, it was not so very different from Louisiana in the summer, she thought. But then she caught a vague whiff of smoke in the breeze. Sniffing, she turned and looked at the sky. There was no plume in sight, though the sky looked somewhat over cast.

Alex, too, sniffed and looked around. “I wondered if we would get smoke today,” she said, as if it was as common as rain.

Nikki laughed, but then quickly snapped her mouth closed when the look on Alex’s face told her she was not joking. She raised her eyebrows. “And why do we have smoke today? Last I heard smoke was not a weather condition.”

Alex laughed. “Actually, in Florida, that’s pretty close.” Alex pointed to the dismal sky in the west. “It’s so dry in the spring that we usually get a big dose of smoke from forest fires. That smoke is actually blowing in from southern Georgia, but we will probably have our share of good old local Florida smoke before the rainy season hits.”

“Are you serious? In Louisiana, spring is when you pray the thunderstorms and tornados don’t blow you away and summers are when you feel like it’s so dry you’re going to spontaneously combust just from the friction of your jeans on your legs.”

“Here, it’s the other way around. Some years are pretty bad, like in ‘98—everyone who was here remembers the fires of ’98. That year, you could park your car anywhere in North Florida and come back an hour later and there would be a layer of ash on the hood. Lots of people ended up in the hospital with breathing problems, schools wouldn’t let the kids go outside, and every carpet cleaner was thanking God.”

The last comment took Nikki off guard. “Huh?”

Alex’s eyes twinkled. “The ash was so fine that you didn’t realize you were tracking it in. But after a few weeks, everyone realized their carpets were turning the color of the inside of their chimneys!”

Nikki laughed. “So did you get your carpets cleaned?”

“Nah. I could have, since my dad was one of those carpet cleaners thanking God,” Alex couldn’t help but throw in a wink at Nikki with the comment, earning a slightly embarrassed but pleased look. Damn, she is so fun to flirt with! she thought. “But I lived in an apartment, so when it was all over with, I just moved,” she said nonchalantly.

One hand on her hip, the look Nikki gave Alex completely revealed exactly how much she believed that revelation.

Alex sighed and rolled her eyes. “Okay, okay. It just so happened to coincide with me breaking up with a girlfriend.”

Nikki raised her eyebrows. “Is that so?”

Grimacing, Alex nodded and continued. “It turned out kinda ugly. She left a hole in the apartment wall, broken dishes in the yard, and gave me with a whole new appreciation for women who do not think WWW is a model for domestic success.”

Nikki stood there without saying a word, too stunned by the revelation to speak, but then, she did not have to. Her shock was obvious.

“Oh, it’s okay,” Alex assured her, misinterpreting the stunned look on Nikki’s face. “I came to my senses and ran to my sister’s before it got worse. The only part of me that actually got beaten up was my pride.”

The sound of a vaguely familiar tune blasting from Alex’s cell phone saved Nikki from answering. Alex grimaced at the sound, obviously aggravated, as she reached to flip it open. “Hey,” she said into the receiver. Nikki barely caught the hum of a high-pitched voice coming through the speaker as Alex held it to her ear. Trying to clear her thoughts but meeting with little success, she ran her hand through her hair as Alex talked.

“No, I don’t think that would be wise,” Alex said to the caller. “Why?...No!” Nikki caught only half of the very tense conversation. Alex’s eyes narrowed and her brow furrowed. She glanced at Nikki. “Listen,” she said to whoever was on the other end of the line. “I happen to be busy right now...No, I am not!” Alex was obviously offended. “Look, I’ll call you back later. Bye!”

Alex closed the phone with a snap and looked apologetically at Nikki. “Sorry about that,” she said.

“Oh, no. No problem,” Nikki assured her. She felt both curious and amused, having just realized that the eerie tune was the theme music to Jaws.

“I gotta get back inside. I do have a client waiting for me,” Alex said regretfully. “Thanks again for bringing the necklace by,” Alex said, amused at Nikki’s sudden silence.

“Oh, it’s no problem,” Nikki said quickly, feeling the flush beginning at her neck and creeping up. She had enjoyed the short trip to the spa far too much, especially given what she had just learned.

“So, I suppose I’ll see you next Wednesday,” Alex said. “Still want me to pick you up?” Alex could not resist flashing the irresistible smile that so many women had commented on. If there was one thing she was good at, it was flirting.

“Pick…pick me up?” Nikki’s mind went blank again, this time the innuendo hitting dead on, instead of going over her head like it had when Alex had asked her out.

At Nikki’s reaction, Alex’s face fell like last week’s birthday balloon. “For the dinner at Monty’s restaurant on Wednesday. Of course, you don’t have to go if you don’t want to. I mean, it’s not an obligation or anything. I can always…”

Nikki could not stand the crestfallen look on Alex’s face, and knowing that she was responsible for the obvious disappointment made her feel like she had just accidentally kicked a puppy. Despite the rumblings of fear at the door she might just be opening, she smiled and stopped Alex’s rambling with a soft hand on her arm. “Alex, of course I still want to go.” Nikki’s smile sent warm fuzzies all through Alex as she felt the warmth of those fingers on her skin. “And yes, you can...” she hesitated and then took a deep breath and looked Alex in the eyes. “…pick me up,” she managed to finish. She did not know where this would go, but she would deal with the consequences later. All she knew was that she wanted to go to dinner with Alex more than she had ever wanted to go anywhere with anyone, and that included to Disney with her family when she was ten!

“Great. We have a date, then.” Alex said, and the return of her bright smile momentarily wiped all questions from Nikki’s mind.

Chapter 12

The next morning, Nikki sat in front of her television with the morning news on, but she was oblivious to the newscaster talking about the next election, the robbery at a filling station on the north end of town, and the newest round of forest fires that were now popping up around the local area. Her mind was somewhere else entirely, spinning between what had happened on the mat, what had almost happened, and what she had wanted to happen. However, what really kept throwing her for a loop was the fact that, unless she had missed something, she had a date on Wednesday.

How had she failed to notice that Alex was a lesbian? In retrospect, that fact was so obvious it glared bright neon rainbow stripes. But ever since she had opened looked up on the beach to see those beautiful, intense eyes and soft lips and reconciled them with the strong arms that had wrapped around her and pulled her from the water, well, she had just thought of her as Alex, not someone fitting into some category or group. She really had not thought of Alex as gay or straight, anymore that she thought of her as Democrat or Republican.

But, given Alex’s reaction on the mat, Alex had certainly thought of her, and now the puzzle pieces were falling into place. She felt her stomach clench in a combination of nervousness and attraction as she thought of the comment about the “family bar” and Alex’s request to pick her up.

She groaned, covering her face with one hand as she remembered her response. “Heaven help me. I have a date with another woman,” she said aloud. A thrill of forbidden anticipation raced through her at the words, only serving to confuse her further.

She sipped her tea, trying to regain some sense of control, so lost in thought that she jumped when she heard the tap on the door. “Shit!” she cursed under her breath, grabbing a napkin from the side table and brushing uselessly at the spilled tea on her clean t-shirt. Now she would have to change before she went downstairs.

The Kammer Martial Arts dojo had originally been a house, but had gone through several renovations, first as a duplex and most recently for business. The upstairs still held a small apartment--a bathroom with a shower, a small kitchen, a larger room that Nikki used as a combination living room/dining room, and a tiny bedroom. It was not a studio apartment, but it was as close as Nikki cared to come to it.

“The door’s open,” she called over her shoulder, giving up on cleaning the tea off her shirt.

When Nate walked in, he grinned at the sight of her sprawled on the small loveseat that functioned as her sofa. The reclining seat had just enough room for two. He walked over to the coffee pot that held their usual morning tea, poured a cup, and went to join her in front of the television.

“So, how was your night?” he asked as he added milk and sugar to his cup. Since she had moved to Jacksonville, before they opened the dojo in the mornings they enjoyed this morning routine of tea and the news. Drinking hot tea in the morning had always seemed odd to most of Nikki’s friends, but with a mother from New Zealand, she had never been accustomed to drinking coffee.

Nikki said nothing in reply. She did not want to tell him about the close encounter of the female kind that she had had the day before. Nor did she want to tell him about the thoughts she had finally indulged in when she curled up in her bed. Instead, she simply turned her head, hoping he would miss embarrassed expression.

“That good, huh?” Nate asked with a smirk on his face, and Nikki turned and glared at him.

“Ooh. Hit a nerve there, did I?” Nikki did not say a word. Instead, she simply sat there, her eyes nailing him to the sofa.

Her brother shifted uncomfortable under her stare. “Hey, you mad at me or something?” Nate looked at her quizzically.

Nikki turned away again. “Yes.” Nikki knew it was completely irrational, but at the moment she was, indeed, irritated with him.

Nate did a double take, surprised at her response. “Hey! What did I do?”

“You let Alex win that drawing for the free lessons,” she said, her mumbling making her words barely audible.

“What?” Nate ran his hand through his thick hair trying to figure out where Nikki was going with this. He was only half-awake and had not expected to walk into a hostile den this morning. He had just been wanting a little time in front of the television without his three small children running around. He swapped quiet time with his wife, Brianna, in the afternoons when he got home and his wife took some time to herself or with her girlfriends. “I thought Alex was pretty cool the other night. What happened? Did she turn out to be a jerk?”

“No.” Nikki sighed and shook her head. “Actually, she’s really nice.” She hesitated to continue. Somehow discussing how hot Alex was did not seem like something she would discuss with her brother. “Just…never mind,” she said, waving her hand dismissively.

“Oh, no you don’t. You are not going to glare at me and not at least tell me why!” He gave her the same expectant look he had given her when he had caught her slipping out of the house when she was 16 and he had asked just where she thought she was going.

Nikki heisted again, but finally, avoiding Nate’s eyes, she blurted, “It’s nothing, really. It’s just, I like her a lot and we had a great lesson and we are going to dinner Wednesday and I found out yesterday that she’s a lesbian.” Nikki managed to cram all the information into not only one sentence but one breath, as well; Nate, however, took a moment to process the information.

“Okay,” he said slowly. “So?”

Nikki did not know what to say. She had always been close to her brother, able to tell him almost anything. He had known that when her best friend, Linda, had joined the army, she wanted to run away and join, too, even though she was only seventeen. He had known how hurt her feelings had been in high school when the cheerleading crowd had convinced the rest of her class that she was not cool enough to hang out with, all because she could do the splits and flips better than they could. He even knew she had not had a date in almost a year. But, there were some things one just didn’t discuss with a big brother.

“I…I don’t know. Like I said, it’s nothing.” She started to get to her feet, but Nate reached over and put his hand on her arm.

“Listen. You may not want to talk about it, and that’s okay. But for what it’s worth, I liked Alex a lot, and yes, I figured she was gay.” Nate paused and then said pointedly, “And I think you should go and have a great time and stop stressing out so much. Relax, sis, and…enjoy yourself.” He gave her a quick pat on the arm, stood and carried his cup to the sink.

“I’m gonna go warm up before class. See you in a bit.” He left abruptly, leaving Nikki sitting in stunned silence, wondering exactly what he had meant and exactly what he knew.

Chapter 13

Nikki sat cross-legged in the middle of the dojo, her usual white gi replaced by dark blue jujitsu pants and a loose fitting tunic-style gi top, wrapped by her black belt. Eyes determinedly shut, hands resting palms up and open on her knees, she was the picture of serenity and meditation, but behind those closed eyes, her mind was a swirl of unbidden pictures and thoughts. The agitation she felt at herself compounded her confusion. She had no business letting her emotions, much less her hormones, run away with her. She was a martial artist, a self-disciplined, ultimately in control woman, and she was not going to let this little spat of utter nonsense wreak havoc on her life, she told herself. Alex was a student, and a temporary one at that. Nikki would do the honorable thing and complete the series of lessons with Alex, and she would keep her word at going to the restaurant—there was no point in hurting anyone’s feelings. She would be businesslike and not let her imagination gallop off like riders in the Pony Express. And after it was all over with, she would let this little thing she had for Alex go, and she would find a man or a friend, or even buy a cat, for Pete’s sake. And maybe even name the damn thing Pete!

Nikki clenched her teeth, her valiant attempt at putting herself into a state of meditation before Alex arrived for her second class failing miserably. She took a deep breath, trying to find a point of peace and resolution. She would treat this class as she would any other, with any other student. It should not be difficult. Alex was joining the regular class, and all Nikki had to do was keep her distance.

Students began to mill in, the typical attire a mix of sweat pants, t-shirts, and gi bottoms, with a rainbow of belt colors. Banter over fights and competition floated to her ears, the normalcy of it soothing, given how mixed up she was feeling.

“How’s that nose, James?” one student called across the room.

“Oh, it’s broken again, but I still won.”

“Too bad. I was gonna be able to make it to Friday’s fight, but if you aren’t gonna be in it…”

“Who said I wasn’t gonna fight Friday night? I don’t hit with my nose!”

It would not be the sanest sounding of conversation to an outsider, but it was normal in this adult class in the competitive dojo. A number of the students participated in a variety of combat sports and mixed martial arts competitors were not unusual additions to the class.

Nikki’s eyes were drawn to the door as Alex pushed through, sweeping her sunglasses off her face and immediately giving Nikki what she knew was her most charming smile—the guaranteed to get the girl one. She barely noticed the other students as she waited for Nikki to light up, as she expected, but was disappointed that Nikki’s face appeared chiseled from rock. Nikki’s face was neither welcoming nor openly angry, but she was sitting ramrod straight in the middle of the floor, her features blank of any emotion whatsoever.

“Hey. Um…sorry I’m running a little late,” she said, walking over to face Nikki. “One of my customers was offended by Snow Queen Jill, and I had to do quite a bit of soothing feathers to convince her to come back next week.” Alex eyed Nikki closely. Okay. So this was not what she was expecting. She had kinda thought Nikki would act at least a little happy to see her.

Nikki glanced at the clock. Honestly, she had not even noticed that it was time to call the class to order, and she certainly hadn’t waited on Alex, but she wasn’t about to let her know that. “It’s fine,” she said crisply. She turned to face the students beginning to migrate to the mat. “It’s time to begin, everyone.”

Alex felt an odd sense of unease as she hurriedly pulled off socks and shoes and tucked them in the cubby with her watch. She had taken care to leave her necklace at home today, unwilling to risk loosing or breaking it, and not having it had driven her crazy all day. She had never realized how many times a day she reached up to toy with the chain, until it was not there.

Alex turned to the mat where Nikki and the other students waited, catching herself and remembering to bow before she climbed on it. Bare feet padded softly on the plastic as she walked over, stopping and sitting at the end of the semicircle that had formed opposite of Nikki. She recognized a few of the students from graduation, but she had no idea who most of them were, and she felt like the lone square peg among a bunch of round ones. The sandy-haired blond to her left looked familiar, and at least she smiled quietly as Alex plopped down beside her.

Alex waited silently for Nikki to speak. What was it with her blank demeanor tonight? Surely, she had not done anything to upset her, had she?

“We will begin with warm-ups,” Nikki said perfunctorily. As she had with before with Alex, she put the class through a series of exercises, followed by stretches. Finally, she declared them ready to begin the lesson. “Tonight’s lesson is about take-downs,” she said. When planning what to teach tonight, she had decided to go with the art of getting an opponent down on the floor, rather than what to do with them when they were already there. Even though it would be mostly review for some of the more advanced students, it had seemed a safer bet than rolling around; this way, at least she wouldn’t be on top of Alex—or vice versa, and the more advanced students could assist the newbies.

Nikki explained the proper hold to begin the move, modeling with a student who was obviously accustomed to being the demonstration dummy. He moved with Nikki’s explanation, accepting her hand around his neck and swift sweep with one foot, toppling to the mat, flopping on his back and slapping the mat with his arms to absorb the blow. Alex watched the demonstration with a fair amount of trepidation, wondering if she was going to have to fall on her back like that. My God, no wonder Nikki had needed a massage!

“Okay, guys. Now it’s your turn. Pair up and let’s see you do it.” Nikki gave a quick clap and turned to supervise the group of students at the end of the mat opposite from Alex, leaving Alex dangling like a lone ornament accidentally left hanging on a Christmas tree. She turned uncertainly, meeting the amused brown eyes of the young woman sitting to her right. The woman eyed Alex openly, that obvious look of one lesbian who has clocked another, and grinned before hopping up, then reaching down and offering Alex her hand.

“I’m Trish,” the woman said as she clasped Alex’s hand and hoisted her to her feet.

“Alex.” The two of them shook hands quickly before sliding their hands and arms into the position Nikki had demonstrated. The young woman, who wore a purple belt, was obviously not a new comer, and she corrected Alex’s inexperienced attempt at the hold without making her feel embarrassed for her lack of knowledge.

Alex looked up into the younger woman’s eyes. “I guess one of us has to fall now,” she said, trying to hide the trepidation in her voice.

The woman chuckled. “I hate to tell you this, but it would probably be easier if I did the move on you first, so you know how it works.”

“Damn.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll do it slowly and hold you, so I promise it won’t hurt.” Alex gave the woman a leery expression, wondering if it was just her imagination or if Trish had meant the comment the way it sounded.

“Okay. I’ll give it a try.”

“All you do, is hold here, pull here, and sweep like this.” Trish executed the move expertly, holding Alex by her shirt and shoulder as she had promised. Alex fell slowly, hitting the mat flat on her back, and Trish came down in one smooth motion on top of her, unaware that her instructor was watching intently, eyes narrowing as she watched them.

Her eyes twinkled as she took top mount, her body pressing against Alex. She leaned in close. “Is this your first time?” she asked in brazen innuendo, catching Alex caught off guard with the double entendre combined with the improbable fact that the woman was on top of her. She looked the woman over as best she could from her constricted position, taking in the muscular arms and tight t-shirt over an impeccably molded torso, and feeling the carved-from-marble calves underneath the sweatpants that concealed them. She also noticed that the woman looked nearly young enough to be her daughter.

“Yes,” she said choosing to ignore the innuendo. “Other than a private lesson the other night, yes.” She shrugged her body, and Trish climbed off while Alex awkwardly got to her feet. They repositioned themselves, and Trish showed Alex how to execute the move, or at least how to do it with a fair amount of cooperation and assistance from a competitor. Alex awkwardly took Trish down, realizing the other woman was falling on the floor more because she was being overly helpful, rather than Alex actually doing the move correctly. Alex did, however, manage to avoid falling unnecessarily on top of Trish. They continued swapping alternately sweeping and falling with Alex making no real progress in figuring out exactly how she was supposed to be doing the move. Instead, she spent most of her concentration on keeping an eye on Nikki while trying to be at least minimally subtle about it.

“So, who was that private lesson with?” The young woman, obviously not afraid of making eye contact, stared down at Alex and smirked, her hands once again braced on the mat above Alex’s shoulder.

“Sensei Nikki.” How do I tell her she is barking up the wrong tree? Alex wondered as she lay pressed to the mat. It was flattering, but there was no way in holy hell that she would go for the woman--and the woman actually she wanted was on the other end of the room watching! She glanced at the clock. After 20 minutes of Alex not really responding, she would have thought Trish would eventually take a hint.

Trish glanced up at Nikki, who had worked her way back closer to their other end of the room, within earshot. Trish shrugged dismissively, as if the private lesson from the instructor was completely different from, and not competition for, her intentions. She smiled back down at Alex. “You know, I wouldn’t mind giving a private lesson or two.”

Both Alex and Trish missed the hardening look in Nikki’s eyes as she watched and listened, having moved over to help the couple beside them. “Let’s swap partners and try it again. We’re gonna mix it up tonight,” she said before Alex could give Trish an answer. The usual protocol was for students to continue partnered up through most of the class to learn the moves before switching, but Nikki had seen enough. She turned to Alex. “Let’s have you give it a try with me,” she said, not even allowing herself to think about her previous resolution to not work individually with Alex, much less consider why she was suddenly doing so.

Alex did not know what had made Nikki suddenly acknowledge her existence, but she felt her stomach flip as she realized that she wanted to do the move with her. She gulped, feeling butterflies doing aerobics in her belly as Nikki slid her right hand around her neck and grasped her shoulder with her left hand. “Now, lean forward,” she said, pulling Alex forward and leaning into her, giving Alex a whiff of crisp floral shampoo. She swallowed again.

“And spread your feet more to get a more solid stance.” Nikki kicked at Alex’s ankles with her foot, forcing her legs slightly more apart. She held tightly to Alex, bracing herself. “Give it a try,” she said, looking up expectantly, finally satisfied with Alex’s stance. Alex grimaced, concentrating. She was determined not to look like a fool with Nikki, but God only knew why Alex wanted to look like she knew what she was doing—Nikki certainly knew how inexperienced she was. At last, she took a deep breath and pushed the other woman strongly, forcing all Nikki’s weight back on one foot. Almost simultaneously, she gave a swift sweep with her heel at the foot Nikki was standing on, yanking it out from under her. Nikki fell quickly, her body landing on the mat with a loud slap.

But, she still did not let go of Alex. Instead, Alex tumbled on top of her, pulled by sheer force of Nikki’s weight. She braced herself as best she could, but still, Nikki’s experienced body absorbed a significant amount of the force, and for a second, she was afraid Nikki had been hurt.

Nikki was used to bodies landing on top of her, but somehow having Alex’s in this position was very different. Nikki had never really noticed how soft a woman’s breasts felt when pressed against her own. And what was it about feeling Alex’s hips pushing against her stomach, or the quick, feather brush of breath against her neck, knowing her lips were that close to her skin?

The scent of Alex’s musky cologne drifted to her, and she felt goose flesh prickle the skin on her neck. Nikki realized that she was breathing heavily, and she felt a flush slowly beginning to creep up her neck to her face. She froze as Alex slowly pulled back and captured her eyes with her own. She knew in that moment that Alex had seen through the ruse of avoiding her, that Alex knew how much Nikki wanted her, that her desires were bare to Alex’s eyes, despite her attempt to drown them.

After a long moment, Alex finally leaned forward, stopping with her lips just a hair’s width from Nikki’s ear. “Well, this is a change from last time.” Alex’s voice was deep and sultry, much more suited to a bedroom than to a mat in the middle of a full class. However, neither of the women noticed anyone else in the room, including the blond, purple-belted lesbian who now stood with her hands on her hips and a sullen look on her face. Finally, Trish shrugged and shook her head as she strode over to another student who was now partnerless. She would find easier prey later, somewhere where the competition was not quite so stiff.

Nikki fought the compulsion to turn her head in Alex’s direction. She closed her eyes as their cheeks pressed together, and she forcing herself not to move, knowing that if she just turned slightly, her lips would brush Alex’s. Finally, she opened her eyes, and as she did so, she suddenly became aware of the silence leaking through the room. The spell broken, she shifted and twisted a bit, just enough to look around the mat. To her dismay, she found that she and Alex were the complete center of attention, twenty pairs of eyes scattered around the room locked on them in the middle of the mat.

“Hey Sensei! Are you pinned?” one of the younger, and somewhat dense, guys called, incredulousness in his voice. Apparently, the scene did not make sense to him—everyone knew Sensei Nikki could not be pinned, at least not by anyone in this dojo.

“Yeah, Sensei. Are you pinned?” Alex murmured, a grin splashed across her face. Nikki squirmed, thrusting her hips upward sharply, and Alex willingly rolled off. As soon as their bodies parted, Nikki leaped to her feet, immediately standing tall and tugging the hem of her gi top straight. She cleared her throat, forcing her composure back into place, then clapped her hands briskly, glancing up at the clock. Where had the time gone?

“All right, folks! That looks like it is about it for tonight. Let’s go ahead and wrap it up!” She quickly called her class into order, lining her students up and putting them through the simple, familiar closing routine. Alex followed along, absently wondering how long it would be before her muscles seized up from the abuse they had taken tonight.

After class, Alex took her time collecting her things, unable to keep from looking at Nikki from the corner of her eyes. The strong, confident, gorgeous instructor stood at the door, chatting briefly and wishing her students a good night as they left, their enthusiastic voices passing into the night while Alex dawdled over unnecessarily retying a shoe lace. It seemed like forever before she was the last student left in the dojo.

Nikki stood staring out the door, knowing Alex remained was still in the dojo, that she was behind her, watching. She could not avoid her forever, however, and she did need to lock up at some point. At last, she turned slowly, her eyes instantly falling on the other woman, standing and waiting expectantly.

Finally, Alex walked slowly, wordlessly, forward, stopping just in front of Nikki, staring relentlessly into her eyes. “That was quite a class, Sensei,” she said, her voice low once more. She leaned in, whispering. “I think I could get used to pinning you.”

Nikki knew beyond any tiny shred of doubt that what she had really feared all evening, the reason she had tried to ignore Alex from the moment she had walked in the dojo, was about to happen. The warmth of Alex’s breath caressed her lips, their eyes still locked, an instant before their mouths met. Then finally, after what felt like forever, their lips pressed together, eyes drifted closed, and Alex pulled Nikki into her arms. The moment was one of those that seemed to hover on the cusp of reality, teetering for a brief second before spilling over into actuality, one of those moments destined to be filed in that select category of life-defining experiences, every movement and brush of soft, gentle lips drawn out to last forever.

Nikki gave no resistance, but instead wrapped her arms around Alex’s shoulders. Nothing had ever felt like this. She was drowning in sensations, in the rush of chemistry through her body, in the incredible, deliciousness of another woman’s mouth. Her lips parted willingly to Alex’s tongue, stroking like fire into her mouth, and without thinking, Nikki met Alex’s roving tongue with her own, shamelessly exploring, tasting, probing.

When Alex pulled back gazing into Nikki’s eyes, she could not help but smile at their blurry and unfocused look of desire. She was aware of her own racing heart, her breath a little too fast. She felt herself at a loss for words, wondering idly when the last time that had happened. “I certainly hope you don’t kiss all your students like that,” she said at last. All Nikki could do was shake her head dumbly, the glazed look still in her eyes, as she barely managed to whisper no.

“I guess I will see you Wednesday night,” Alex said, wishing she could just fast forward through to the next evening. She hesitated, then dipped her head briefly, before Nikki could relax, and brushed her lips once more against the other woman’s. “’Night,” she whispered softly, then slipped out the door into the darkness, leaving Nikki feeling like she had been shot with the biggest arrow Cupid could find, and having no idea how to deal with it.

****

As Alex sauntered to the jeep and opened the door, Jasper’s head popped up. The interior light flashing on and he looked at her, tongue lolling boredly from his mouth, turned up in a wide grin as he sat in the driver’s seat.

“Oh yeah, smart aleck. Budge on over--you aren’t driving.” She shooed the dog over to the passenger seat. “And just for your information, I took it easy on her,” Alex said to him as she climbed behind the steering wheel. She turned the key, Jasper placing one paw affectionately on her thigh. “It’s a good thing I’m driving, too,” she told him as she tousled his ears before pulling out of the parking lot. “You’d just ram the dog catcher, anyway.”

Nikki stood watching Alex from the door, unable to take her eyes off the other woman’s cocky walk as she strode under the parking lot lights. Finally, she turned back to the dojo as the jeep pulled out of site, wondering what on earth she had managed to get herself into.

Chapter 14

Nikki stood nervously in front of the full-length mirror that hung on her bathroom door, fidgeting and anxiously appraising what she had chosen to wear. The sleeveless, v-neck black blouse and plain black slacks contrasted with a red and black summer jacket that showed off her curves, and she had chosen simple jewelry, small gold-hoop earrings and a sea-turtle charm necklace that had been a birthday gift from Nate, to accent the outfit. She had been uncertain how to dress—was the restaurant formal or informal? Slipping off the jacket and examining her appearance, she wondered how one was supposed to dress to go on a lesbian date. Could she really do this? How had she and Alex moved so quickly past friendship? She inhaled quickly at the now familiar rush of nervousness mixed with excitement.

For two days, she had thought of nothing that kiss. In fact, she had barely slept at all last night, and when she had dozed off, images of Alex floated through her dreams.

It was just a kiss. Short and simple, really. It didn’t mean anything, did it? But finally, Nikki allowed herself to ask the question she had been studiously and steadfastly avoiding like coworkers avoid the annoying office pest. Am I…gay? She still could not bring herself to think the word lesbian. But, the moment she asked it, she darted away from the thought again.

All day she had glanced at the phone, and twice she had actually flipped open her cell phone and stared at Alex’s number. She could call and cancel tonight--could tell Alex that Nate needed her to cover a special demonstration. But, the truth was, nothing she had ever experienced had been as charged and exciting as that kiss. Poems and songs were written about that kind of kiss, and despite her fear of what that meant, she knew she wanted to kiss Alex again. Both times, she snapped her phone shut without dialing.

Alex stood in front of the door to Nikki’s little apartment, trying to work up her confidence a bit and fidgeting with the single rose she had brought. When she had arrived at the dojo, Nate had shown her the stairs that led to Nikki’s door. He let her know that there was also a stairway around back that led directly to her apartment, but they usually came in through the dojo when it was open, so here she stood. She wondered if Nate knew they had a date, or if he even knew his sister was gay. Surely he did, given how close they seemed to be. Of course, some people lived so deep in the closet they would not even admit it to themselves, much less a close relative.

Alex realized that she was lucky--everyone in her family knew both she and her little sister, Sydney, were gay, and no one really cared. She also knew that she probably had Aunt Lori and Aunt Debbie, her mother’s best friends since college, to thank for that. Debbie and Lori had been together since they were in their mid-twenties, raising two sons and a daughter, in a home Alex remembered as being warm, loving, and full of laughter.

She looked down at the rose in her hand. Her original plan had been to bring a red rose, but at the last minute, she had decided that perhaps that would be too much. A pink rose seemed less presumptuous and it represented friendship, right? On the other hand, what if Nikki took it that she only wanted to be friends? She had finally settled on a pink rose with red tips on the petals.

Alex shook her head. What was it about this woman that made her so nervous? She was just a woman, even if she was exceptionally beautiful and kind enough not to laugh when Alex told her she was a ‘coaster junkie, and was thoughtful enough to bring her the lost necklace, and was patient with students, both adult and child alike…. Usually Alex knew exactly what to do to get a woman’s admiration and then take her home for the night. But then, she didn’t just want to take Nikki home for the night, did she? Alex swallowed. She did not want to think about that right now. This was just another date like any other she told herself firmly. She squared her shoulders, raised her hand and gave a brisk knock.

“Coming!” she heard Nikki’s beautiful voice answer from the other side. Alex watched, breathless, as the knob turned and the door slowly opened. And then, she saw her.

Other than the first time they met, Alex had never seen Nikki in anything other than her solid white gi or workout clothes, and while Nikki looked cute as hell in those karate outfits, they did not hold a candle to this. This…this was incredible.

Nikki stood framed by the doorway, the sleeveless blouse showing off strong arms and the black slacks outlining trim legs and thighs. But, the best part was the v-neck line on the blouse. It dipped down in the front, revealing a perfect view of tantalizing cleavage with soft creamy skin that Alex suddenly ached to touch, or better yet to taste. It was all she could do to keep her hands down, fists clenched against the urge to just pull Nikki in her arms and kiss her senseless.

Unfortunately, clenching her fist resulted in driving a thorn of the rose into her palm. “Ow!” she yelled, switching the flower to her left hand and frantically shaking her right while hopping around.

Nikki reacted like a startled rabbit, jumping backward in response. “Are you okay? What happened? What’s wrong?” Nikki finally found her voice after a moment of shock, her eyes wide with surprise as Alex bounced into the apartment still shaking her hand.

“Oh damn. I’m so sorry!” Alex turned bright red as she wiped the drop of blood from her hand, cringing at what had just happened. Oh, God, she thinks I’ve lost my mind! she thought, horrified. Never, never had she had a more embarrassing beginning to a date. “I…I brought you this.” She stretched out the hand with the rose, which, fortunately, looked no worse for wear.

Nikki, by this time, was thoroughly confused. She apparently had a crazy lesbian in her apartment, and damn, she looked so…sexy. There was that rush again with that thought. But there was no other way to describe Alex’s appearance in dark chocolate slacks and a white button-up blouse that perfectly accentuated her warm tan. And she had brought a rose--which might just explain why that crazy lesbian had appeared to lose her mind when she answered the door.

Speechless, Nikki gingerly took the flower, touched by the gesture. She briefly stroked the tender pink petals to the red tips before lifting it to her nose, and then she raised her sparkling eyes to Alex’s. Alex watched her, spellbound. Never in her life had she seen anyone more beautiful.

Alex could not hold back the grin that broke out on her face, a dimple showing in each cheek, her eyes glowing. All of a sudden she didn’t care that she had the scratch on her hand or blood on her pants or that she had totally embarrassed herself in front of someone she was crazy about. All she knew was the most gorgeous woman in the world was going out with her.

“Thank you. It’s beautiful,” Nikki said. She flushed as she smiled at Alex. “I would invite you in, but…” she gestured to the room. “Looks like you’re already here.” She chuckled a little. “I’ll just put this in some water.” She turned to the kitchen area, and with her back to Alex, she took a moment to try to pull herself together. Her hands were trembling slightly as she fumbled through the cabinet in search of a vase. She was not even sure she had a vase, and the last time someone gave her a flower was just a foggy memory. What on earth am I going to do? She wondered as she turned on the tap to run water in a glass, in lue of a vase. Should I really be this thrilled that a woman brought me a rose?

Alex glanced around the room as Nikki put the flower in water. The room was sparsely decorated, but very tidy and neat. Across from the door was a tan love seat positioned in front of a television, a side table on each end. The other end of the room held the kitchenette and a small table with two chairs, and an open door on the other side revealed a small bedroom, the bed made up with a burgundy and green comforter. Not a thing was out of place. It was nice, but Alex wondered what Nikki would think if she were to see the clothes tossed on her bedroom floor, dirty coffee cups in her sink, and the newspaper piled by her recliner.

After Nikki had put the rose in the water and grabbed her jacket, she showed Alex out the side door that led to the narrow outside stairwell, so they did not have to go out through the dojo. Most of the students, and even the instructors, had never seen Nikki in anything other than a karate gi, and she did not feel like putting up with the catcalls and comments that would surely accompany them out the door! She would invariably feel like she was walking by the proverbial construction site.

Nikki easily boosted herself into the Jeep. “Where’s the dog?” she teased as Alex climbed in beside her.

Alex laughed, realizing that this was the first time Nikki had seen her out of the office without Jasper. “Oh, Jasper decided to hang out at the house tonight. He said he wouldn’t come with me if he couldn’t come in for dinner, too, and I had to let him know that Monty said I could only bring one guest. And since I had already invited you, he was out of luck.”

Nikki chuckled. “And so now Jasper resents me, huh?”

“Oh no.” Alex slid her eyes over Nikki as she put the jeep into gear. “He said that he would be mad if it was anyone else, but since it was that gorgeous karate woman, he was okay with it.”

“It’s good to know I have a fan, then.” Nikki was enjoying the flirting, more relaxed than she would have expected. She leaned back in the seat, perfectly content to be going out for the evening with this...woman. The very idea of what she was doing, of where this could lead, sent a thrill of anticipation and adrenaline through her. Her mind shifted to the fantasy she had allowed herself to have before drifting off to sleep the night before, as she turned slightly in her seat to watch the driver more closely. She suddenly realized that Alex was nervous—perhaps even more nervous than she was.

How did she know that? Obviously, the nonchalance was quite a practiced act, but somehow Nikki just knew, and contrary to what Nikki would have expected of herself, she could not resist teasing just a bit.

“You know, if you don’t relax a little, your shoulders are going to end up more sore than they were after your jujitsu class.”

Alex looked offended. “What do you mean relax? I’m always relaxed.”

“Sure you are.” Nikki patted Alex on the thigh. “Are you always this nervous when you take a girl out for the first time?”

Damn. I’ve lost my touch after all. Alex thought. She did a quick mental review: Sitting casually and not stiffly, check. Arm draped subtly over the back of the passenger seat, check. Easy, charming smile, check. Amusing flirting, check. How can she tell? she wondered.

“I…I am not nervous,” she stammered.

“If you say so.” Nikki laughed and faced forward, deciding to cut Alex a little slack. “So, tell me about yourself. I don’t know much about you, you know.” Nikki paused. It was funny—she felt like she had known Alex all her life, although in reality she had spent almost no time with her. She did not know what her favorite color was, where she had grown up, or even if she had any siblings. And yet, she felt as if she knew her, anyway.

“Well, there’s not really all that much to tell. I live outside the city in a house my grandmother left me, I work out of said house and at a small spa as a massage therapist, I have two sisters and no brothers, and my favorite teacher in elementary school was named Mrs. Burns…that’s about it.”

Nikki laughed again, but that was fast becoming the routine—laughing when she was with Alex. What was it about the woman that made her want to smile and laugh like a little kid every time she was around?

As Alex talked and drove, she kept her left hand on the steering wheel, while the other only slipped down from the back of Nikki’s seat when she needed to shift gears. Alex told her about the first time she had seen Jasper, as a young dog in a high-kill shelter in Jacksonville. They had been about to take him away to put him down when she told them they couldn’t. He was her dog. Nikki drank in everything Alex said, feeling like she was catching up on missing years with an old friend. She wanted every detail.

Nikki, hanging on Alex’s words, only barely noticed the butterfly fluttering above the road. It’s yellow and black wings pumped the air, surfing the breeze, the creature apparently oblivious that it was about to meet its maker, via red jeep. Alex, not batting an eye, just swerved slightly, still talking, and the butterfly tumbled safely, if dizzily, by, but Nikki’s attention was now completely focused on the tiny insect. She swiveled her head to see the butterfly bobbing in the wind behind them, and then turned back and looked at Alex, slightly bemused. “You dodged that butterfly,” she said, interrupting Alex’s lecture on kill versus no kill shelters.

Alex flushed, taken off guard. “I kinda hoped you wouldn’t notice that.” Her eyes were trained on the road, the arm resting on the back of Nikki’s seat slipping down to rest on the gear shift. Damn, she’s gonna think I’m a freak. It was just a butterfly, for crying out loud! Who in their right mind dodges a butterfly? I mean, a dog, yeah, but a butterfly?

Nikki just stared at Alex, a softly surprised look in her eyes and a gentle smile on her lips. “Why would you hope I wouldn’t notice?”

“I guess it’s kinda silly to swerve a car to miss a butterfly. I mean it’s just an insect.” She kept her eyes on the road, not sure if Nikki would find her action amusing or just plain stupid.

“I think it was sweet.” Nikki’s simple, soft statement managed to convey the tenderness that filled her, her heart melting at the compassion she saw in Alex’s actions. Not many people would bother to avoid hitting a simple, little butterfly. After hesitating only a moment, trying to swallow the little lump of fear in her throat, she, too, slid her hand to the gearshift, gently putting her hand on top of Alex’s.

Alex turned to her, surprised by her response. She had taken a lot of teasing over the years for her soft spot with animals. She did not want even a bug to suffer, and not many people seemed to understand how deeply she felt compassion, so she often camouflaged it. She had even lied to a date once, saying she was late because she had stopped to change an old lady’s tire when she had actually circled back around on the interstate to rescue a turtle from certain death.

And now Nikki was touching her, the warmth from her hand sending shivers up Alex’s arm. Alex, now smiling, turned her hand over, taking Nikki’s soft, strong one in her own.

Nikki froze, Alex’s gesture taking her by surprise. Her hand was firm, strong, dwarfing her own, and her smile hit Nikki’s heart like a sledgehammer. She had the grin of an innocent child who praised by someone she loved, her expression revealing delight in unexpected understanding and acceptance. Despite her trepidation, Nikki squeezed Alex’s hand and smiled back. She didn’t move her hand until they pulled into the parking lot at Monty’s restaurant.

Chapter 14

Nikki did not really know what to expect Monty’s restaurant to be like, but when Alex pulled the jeep up outside an old-fashioned building, the wooden sign proclaiming “Monty’s By the Bay”, she was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant was apparently a renovated two-story, antique house. The pleasant sound of water tossing in the bay, stirred by the dry Eastern wind, met her as she stepped from the jeep. The rustic look combined with the sound of the water invoked an inviting and welcoming feeling.

She smiled anxiously at Alex, wondering fleetingly if the other woman was still nervous, because she certainly was. What did women do on a date? Things like dinner and movies were obvious, but would Alex want to hold her hand? Would she put her arm around her? Or should she put her arm around Alex? And then there were other possibilities, ones that made her blush, like would Alex slip into the bathroom with her to steal a kiss when no one was looking? Just the thought of another kiss like the one two nights before made her head swim.

As Nikki opened the door, she shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She noted that the building had the look and feel of an old house inside as well as out, complete with a grey stone fireplace in the front dining room and raw wooden rafters in the ceiling. The pleasant scent of steaks grilling mingled with that of seafood seasoning, and to her embarrassment, Nikki heard her stomach give a loud rumble of approval. “Sorry,” she said to Alex, placing a hand against her belly. “Karate makes you work up quite an appetite.” But Alex just chuckled and steered her in the direction of the food.

“Alex!” A cheerful voice called from halfway across the room, and Alex grinned from ear to ear.

“Monty!” Nikki watched as a tall, stockily built woman with shoulder length, straight white hair rushed over and grabbed Alex in a big hug. At first, Nikki thought Monty had to be a number of years older, until she turned and Nikki realized she was, instead, prematurely grey.

“This looks awesome! You are gonna be a hit in no time!” Alex exclaimed. She looked around the room, taking in the dark wood, fresh varnish, hardwood floors that gleamed enough to show her reflection, the full bar, crisp linens on the tables, and decorative lamps scattered around the room, her mouth hanging open. “How did you get this done so soon? The last time I saw this place it looked like it was worthy of death by wrecking ball!”

Monty grinned. “I am so glad you got to come! I knew you wouldn’t believe it. The last couple of weeks have been an absolute hellish whirlwind of decorators, and carpenters, and training sessions. It was wild! But it’s gonna be worth it!” She turned toward Nikki, her eyes quickly checking her out from head to toe and back up again, her eyebrows shooting up nearly into her hairline. “And who do we have here?” she asked, her voice dropping down low, appreciation showing all over her face.

Alex possessively slid her hand to the small of Nikki’s back. “Nikki, I’d like you to meet Monty. Monty, this is Nikki.”

Monty cleared her throat. “Well, you certainly got lucky this time.”

Alex smiled at Nikki, their eyes locking. “I certainly did,” she said quietly, making Nikki blush under the hot stare.

Alex turned back to Monty and gave her another quick hug, and smiling at her again. “Now go schmooz. You can give me a call later and tell me more about it.”

“You too, girlfriend,” Monty said playfully, laughing and avoiding Alex’s swift swat aimed at her arm as she eyed Nikki once more, and returning to her crowd.

They spent the next two and a half hours in a blur of good food and laughter. Monty had arranged dinner buffet style, with samples of everything on the menu. Her entire new staff, as well as an assortment of close friends and select guests, was able to try everything they wanted, from artichoke and spinach dip to French onion soup, steaks to crab legs, and from key lime pie to chocolate mousse. In addition, there was an open bar, which was obviously popular with the crowd.

Alex kept busy introducing her date to friend and acquaintances. “Nikki, these are my good friends Hannah and Cyndi. Hannah is an incredible artist and Cyn is a therapist, whom I keep threatening to go and see.” The obvious butch/femme couple greeted Nikki with smiles. “This is Dr. Liz Montgomery.” A very professional looking woman shook Nikki’s hand. “Rainbow, I’d like you to meet Nikki.” A woman somewhat oddly dressed in a long patchwork skirt, but attractive nonetheless, gave Nikki an enthusiastic hug. “This is Angela Davis.” The list seemed to go on and on until they were simply a mush of names and faces to Nikki. The only people Nikki recognized were Briton and her husband, who waved from across the room, but thankfully did not intrude on their date. Finally, stuffed, relaxed, and craving silence, Nikki and Alex wandered outside to the patio to take in the night air.

The soft light of teekee torches lit the patio, a slight breeze making them flicker and dance to the sound of the water in the bay, and a thick growing trellis of jasmine, the vines climbing to twine overhead, softly filtered the light of the full moon. Tiny white blossoms, like the flames, danced in the breeze, filling the air with their soft, heavy scent. The night enveloped them in a warm, soft blanket of peace, the moment almost dreamlike with its surreal, sensuous touch, low strains of slow jazz glazing the background with a hint of saxophone.

As Nikki watched, Alex let her eyes drift closed and lifted her chin to feel the gentle breeze floating off the bay. She took a deep breath, fully inhaling the scent of the flowers, and exhaling gently through parted lips.

Nikki wondered if Alex had any idea how sexy her movements were, if she even imagined that all Nikki wanted to do was capture and taste those parted lips with her own. As she stared, Alex’s eyes slowly opened, catching Nikki watching her. Their eyes locked and electricity shot through both of them like a current. For that moment, they felt like they were the only two people on earth. Alex, unable to resist the pull, leaned over and whispered in Nikki’s ear, “Thank you for joining me tonight.” She pulled back slightly, inches from Nikki’s lips, her heart racing.

Nikki’s heart started throbbed with the touch of Alex’s breath against her ear and neck, the electricity reaching every nerve, making her body feel completely alive. Her breath shortened as the anticipation threatened to overwhelm her, and all thoughts were lost in the feeling of Alex’s breath touching her lips.

“Heyyy, girlfriend!” Nikki jumped as an unfamiliar man plopped down beside her, completely shattering the moment. She felt the excitement of the moment evaporate like the air rushing out of the end of a big, red, untied balloon.

“Are we interrupting something?” Nikki turned at the coy voice of a slight, blond haired woman who walked up beside the strange man, a small, mischievous grin on the woman’s face, as she sat down beside Alex.

Alex sighed, fighting the irritation she felt at the intruders, who seemed amused at the interruption. Nevertheless, she felt obligated to introduce them. She looked at Nikki and gestured to the man. “Nikki, this is Matt.”

Matt looked Nikki up and down. “Ooh, honey,” he said to Alex. “Where did you find this gem? She’s a cutie!” He then turned back to Nikki and patted her arm. “You aren’t planning on stealing my spare husband, are you?” He chuckled at his own assumed wittiness as Nikki’s brow furrowed at the odd man. He leaned over and whispered conspiratorially, “Alex is my stand-in date in when Misty isn’t available, since Mario works nights. So you have to share with me when my husband works late.” Nikki just blinked in surprise.

Recognizing that the moment was a complete loss, Alex turned to wave at the blond. “And this is Misty,” she said as she picked up her drink and finished it in one long swig.

Nikki stared, finding the pair a bit overwhelming, and not knowing whether to run or laugh. “So you are friends of Alex’s,” she managed to say, barely hiding her giggle in a cough.

Misty chuckled deep in her throat. “Best of friends, in a love/hate relationship type of way.” She looked at Alex and winked. “You see, usually she loves me, but sometimes she hates me,” she said jokingly. Then to Alex’s utter horror, Misty leaned over and kissed her dead on the lips.

“Ughh! Misty, you’re drunk!”

Misty snickered and turned to Nikki as Alex grabbed a napkin and scrubbed her lips frantically. “She hates it when I do that,” she said. Giggling again, she turned to Matt, “You’d think she would be used to it by now!”

Matt nodded, “See, Alex, I’m not even jealous any more.” Nikki looked at Matt, completely perplexed by the peculiar pair. Mat was a cute guy, around 35 and slightly on the heavy side. He sported a fashionable, neatly trimmed goatee, short brown hair, and gleaming blue eyes. Dressed impeccably in an expensive black suit, he looked like a gay poster boy. The only thing Misty seemed to have in common with him was blue eyes and the fact that she, too, was wearing a black suit. However, where his hair was brown, she was a blond, probably naturally. She was quite small, only about 5’1”, but for some reason she seemed taller. She exuded confidence, self-assuredness leaking from her pores, and she emitting the kind of charisma that comes from someone who knows she will get what she wants…and make a woman beg to give it to her.

She obviously was not going to get anything she wanted from Alex for a while, though. The murderous look Alex gave the two of them would have made most normal people run for their lives. But these two just ignored her, amused and grinning at her agitation.

“Soooo,” Matt said, turning his back to Alex. “Where’d you two meet?” Propping his elbow on the table and laying his chin in his hand, he gave Nikki his undivided attention. “Tell me all the juicy details—my own love life seems to be withering up like the dead leaves on an oak tree in December, and I just have to live vicariously through other’s love lives. I have been married way too long!”

“Uh..uh…” she glanced at Alex, hoping for a little help. “We met on the beach, I guess.”

“On the beach?” Misty perked up, her eyes narrowing like the tip of a laser pointer on Alex. “Did she say on the beach?”

Nikki, although she was stunned and confused, found herself strangely amused by the situation. To her utter surprise, she felt bizarrely comfortable around the two nut cases. But what shocked her more than anything was that she was thrilled that they saw her as Alex’s date. They had not even considered that they might be friends, or even relatives. And just what had Alex told this woman about the beach? She felt a tingle of curiosity at the idea of being the topic of a conversation.

Alex desperately wanted to crawl under the table, horrified at what Nikki must be thinking. Why, oh why, had she confided in Misty about rescuing Nikki? God, help! she thought, and at that point, she would have welcomed almost anything to derail the train wreck that was happening to her date…except for what actually happened.

“Good evening, everyone,” the sultry voice touched Alex’s ears like something sickeningly sweet on the tongue and immediately the hair on her neck stood straight on end. No, God! I didn’t mean her!

“Well, well, well. It looks like we have a stranger among us.” Nikki turned to see a tall, slender woman with auburn hair twisted up on top of her head approaching, seeming to glide toward the group clustered around the table. She wore a long black, form-fitting gown, which dipped down to show a dangerous amount of cleavage, and matching black high heels. Her make-up was perfect, the crimson lipstick matching her fingernail polish, her diamond jewelry obviously carefully chosen to compliment. To Nikki, she had the appearance of a stuck-up, rich, spoiled brat, and she disliked her on sight. Glancing at Alex’s narrowed eyes, Nikki realized her date was even less happy to see her.

The strange woman slid up to Alex and draped an arm familiarly around her shoulder. “So is this the wet…cat…you dragged in on the beach?” she said as she looked Nikki up and down. Alex glared at Misty—she could not keep her mouth shut to save her life—before shrugging Desiree’s arm off her shoulder.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” she said, teeth clenched tight.

“Obviously not,” Desiree murmured, her voice dripping with disdain as she dismissed Nikki and turned back to Alex, who felt her palms sweating as she desperately tried to figure out damage control. There had to be a way to turn the conversation around. Because there was no way she was going to let this evening go to hell in a hand basket if she had any say so over it!

“I guess you have been having fun lately, playing macho rescuer. You’ve always enjoyed such things, I know.” Desiree’s voice was low as she ignored everyone except Alex, her hand coming up to smooth an imaginary wrinkle in Alex’s blouse, her palm raking across her shoulder. Alex stood stock still, resisting the urge to angrily shrug her hand away and cause more of a scene.

“Desiree, you need to leave,” she said quietly through teeth clenched so tightly her jaw was beginning to ache.

“I suppose you are right. I would hate to ruin your little fun.” Desiree glanced over her shoulder at Nikki then turned back to Alex, dramatically raising her eyebrows and sighing. “Let me know when you get tired of the diversion, darling. You know where to find me.”

Nikki watched the rude woman sashay away, hip swinging in exaggerated feminity. She glanced around at the hardened features of Misty and Matt, observing that they seemed to like Desiree no more than she did. “Bitch,” she saw Misty mouth in the direction of the departing blond. She looked over at Alex, immediately recognizing the look of horror in the tightened features and red flush on her face, and feeling a rush of sympathy. She actually wanted to reassure her and let her know it was all okay, which made no sense, because logic would dictate that she should want to run from a situation like this like a bat out of hell. But instead, here she was, wanting to be Alex’s rescuer. And she had stood it as long as she could—she had to be somewhere they would not have all these constant interruptions, from every nut in town!

Nikki glanced down at her watch. “Oh my,” she said as she stood. “I had no idea it had gotten so late—I have to be at work early.” She looked at Misty and Matt and said with as much sincerity as she could muster, “It was really nice to meet you both. I hope you have a good night.” She turned to Alex. “Alex, I hate to interrupt our evening, but do you mind giving me a ride home?”

Alex’s heart sank as she fought to keep her crushed feelings from showing. What woman in her right mind wouldn’t be scared off by Misty and Mat in standard form, much less by the Bitch-Ex-from-Hell? She put on a masked smile. “I’d be happy to.” She stood as well, throwing a glair over her shoulder, narrowing her eyes and tightening her lips at Matt and Misty, as they in turn lifted their drinks and shook their heads.

All the way to the jeep, Alex struggled to force the embarrassment down. Here she was, out with her dream girl, and her supposed friends had done this. Nikki would never go out with her again, and she would never forgive Misty and Matt. Desiree, of course, was already a ship that had long since sailed, whether Desiree would accept that or not. She silently opened the door for Nikki, climbed in the driver’s side, and turned the key, veiling her disappointment in a wall of silence. But the disappointment was palpable in the air, and Nikki could sense that Alex, sitting so tensely behind the wheel, was shutting her out in self-defense. Nevertheless, she could not let the evening end this way. Everything in her cried out to let Alex know her how much she wanted her. Thankfully, the restaurant was not far from Nikki’s.

As Alex shut off the jeep’s engine in front of the dojo, she put both hands on the steering wheel, unconsciously gripping it so tightly her knuckles turned white. She blankly stared forward, unable even look at Nikki as she spoke. “Listen, I know I can’t really apologize for someone else’s actions, but I want you to know I am truly sorry for the way the evening turned out,” she said in a rush.

Nikki touched Alex on the arm. “Hey. Would you just stop?”

Alex turned and leaned toward Nikki, opening her mouth to respond, when Nikki stopped her, saying, “No. I mean it. Please. Just stop.” And before Alex knew what was happening, Nikki had leaned over the rest of the way, capturing her lips like she had imagined so many times. She felt the passion surge through her like a tidal wave as she loosened her grip on the wheel to wrap her arms around Nikki. As Nikki’s tongue teased her lips and then slid inside, Alex could not help but feel like this all had to be a dream. Is this happening? Is this really happening? she wondered, as Nikki’s taste melted her heart.

Nikki had never felt a kiss as intimate as this woman’s lips against her own. Her tongue danced over Alex’s sending sparks through Nikki’s whole body. She gently sucked Alex’s lower lip, teasing it with her tongue as she held it captive between her teeth. Nothing could control the overwhelming urge to draw Alex into herself. She was amazed at how right this felt, how this need for Alex controlled her. All she knew at that moment was that she wanted Alex more than she had ever wanted anything in her life.

Breaking away, she pulled back slightly. She smiled and then bit her bottom lip, staring into Alex’s eyes. Taken completely off guard, Alex smiled, her lips turned up in the most charming expression Nikki had ever seen. “There’s my smile,” Nikki whispered.

Chapter 15

Later, Alex barely remembered the journey up the back stairs of the dojo into Nikki’s little apartment. All she remembered was shutting the door firmly behind her, putting her hands on Nikki’s hips and turning, pressing Nikki tightly against the door. Her lips captured Nikki’s as their bodies meshed together, her tongue slipping into Nikki’s mouth once again as her hands slid down to pull the other woman’s hips against her own. She pulled her lips away from Nikki’s, deeply inhaling Nikki’s sweet warm scent as she nibbled down her jaw to the softness of her neck. Her own heartbeat raced as it echoed the rapid pulse that thrummed against her hypersensitive lips, and she felt Nikki quiver as her teeth raked the hot skin.

Nikki’s lips parted as thrilling warmth spread through her. One small conscious part of her brain watched in amazement as her body reacted to Alex’s touch and kisses. I can’t believe I’m doing this. I can’t believe I am kissing another woman. Another woman! that conscious part of her screamed in a delicious mixture of wonder and arousal.

But her body apparently had no trouble believing it. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around Alex, pulling the woman more firmly against her. As Alex’s hips ground into hers, she moaned softly and spread her legs slightly, allowing the other woman to slide one strong thigh between her own, that thigh pressing firmly against her center. Nikki arched, her body on fire, as Alex’s mouth returned to her lips and her hands slid upward from her waist. Her hands moved achingly slowly in small circles the friction of her shirt between her flesh and Alex’s hands setting the skin underneath on fire. It seemed as if Alex’s hands would never reach where Nikki wanted her. She moved urgently, whimpering, as Alex’s fingers finally gently cupped her breasts, pressing into their softness, palms lightly rubbing against the hard, straining nipples.

Alex shivered at the feel of Nikki’s nipples pressing against her hands through the cloth of the black silk, and she tossed any idea of restraint she may have initially had out the window, along with every bit of self-control. She pulled back far enough to peel the jacket from Nikki’s shoulders, the cloth dropping unnoticed to the floor, leaving only the sleeveless blouse. The strong softness of Nikki’s bare shoulders begged to be thoroughly kissed, and Alex was happy to indulge them, teeth, tongue, and lips exploring every millimeter of the skin. Her mouth skipped over the band of material to the center of Nikki’s throat, nibbling down toward the cleavage. As her tongue dipped between tender breasts, she had to fight the urge to rip the remaining cloth out of her way. Instead, her hands sought the hem of the blouse and found the hot skin underneath. Stepping back slightly, she lifted the blouse over Nikki’s head in one smooth, swift motion, the sight underneath stunning her, leaving her momentarily frozen at the sight.

Black lace framed soft, full breasts, the hard tips of nipples pressing against the cloth of the bra. Black straps caressed the tops of her creamy shoulders, muscles rippling under the skin as she moved. Alex’s eyes traced lower, down the womanly, muscular abdomen that she could not wait to touch, then to the soft center of her belly, the dainty belly button above soft, darker hair that lead downward to disappear beneath the top of her pants. Alex whimpered at the sight.

The spell that kept her frozen was only broken when Nikki reached out her hand, fingertips tracing down Alex’s arm to end by gently taking her by the hand. She moved away from the door, pulling Alex after her with a gentle tug. “My room is this way,” Nikki whispered, as she led Alex toward her bed.

Chapter 16

That small functioning part of Nikki’s brain eventually took to chanting the refrain of “I can’t believe I’m doing this. With another woman. I can’t believe I’m doing this. With another woman.” And each round of the chant sent a thrill rushing through her. She was leading another woman to her bed. A woman she wanted to kiss and touch and be kissed and touched by. A woman she was about to make love with.

Nikki flipped on the small lamp at the side of the bed, tugging Alex after her, their eyes locking as her fingers found the buttons on the front of Alex’s white shirt, slowly undoing each of them, one by one. Finally, she tugged the shirt free of the dark slacks, and slid the shirt from Alex’s broad shoulders. She had felt those arms around her, had pressed against that body, but the sight of her made her knees feel weak and her hands shake. She slid her body close, Alex’s arms wrapping her in warmth, their lips meeting once again. Nikki pulled away and lifted her lips to Alex’s ear, her whisper sending a shiver up Alex’s spine. “Are you ever going to undo my bra?”

Alex’s hands immediately went to the clasp, fingers expertly pushing then tugging in one smooth motion. Nikki’s soft gasp as the clasp came undone was as unexpected to Alex as it was welcome, the sharp intake of breath somehow revealing a measure of innocence that melted something in the center of Alex.

Alex slowly slid the straps from Nikki’s shoulder, tugging the cloth downward, a lump forming in her throat as the cloth slid away and she dropped it to the floor. The dusky circles of Nikki’s nipples stood out in the dimness of the lamplight, their roundness full and straining toward her, aching for her touch. Alex didn’t hesitate, but took their warmth into her hands, her lips seeking. She traced her tongue around the dark areoles, tender flesh tightening and puckering under her teasing. Nikki thought she would go insane from the torture before Alex finally took her nipple full into her mouth, but the sucking and stroking of her tongue only stroked the sweet torture further. Alex’s hand found her other breast, fingers teasing the nipple as her tongue, teeth, and lips drove the first nipple wild, and Nikki’s knees finally buckled.

Alex’s strong arms wrapped around Nikki, gently laying her back on the bed as her mouth returned to Nikki’s lips for more kisses. Her hands slid down to the waste band of her pants, quickly undoing the button, sliding the zipper down, and finally sliding the slacks down over her hips and revealing the dainty black panties that matched the lacy bra. Alex groaned at the sight—surly those panties were made to do noting more than drive a lesbian absolutely wild, but she wanted what was beneath them.

Alex slid the panties off, leaving Nikki lying completely naked on top of the bed, and pausing for a moment to look down at the beauty lying there, gazing up at her. “You are so beautiful,” she whispered, wondering if the awe she felt showed in her voice.

“Please,” Nikki whispered in return. “Hurry.” Her own hands reached for Alex pants and Alex stripped them off, taking her panties and socks with them. At last, she climbed on the bed, her naked body settling on top of Nikki’s.

Nikki could not believe the incredible softness of Alex’s body pressing into her. Alex’s neck was irresistible and Nikki was insatiable. She nibbled and kissed, her hands roving over Alex’s back and up her sides. Alex lifted up slightly, and before Nikki even thought about it, her hands had found Alex’s breast, a soft whimper escaping her as she felt aroused nipples under her fingers for the first time in her life. Nothing had ever felt like this, the softness matching the hardness of her nipples.

Alex rose up further and leaned forward, angling her breast toward Nikki’s mouth. Nikki hungrily seized one, not even hesitating in her hurry to taste and touch. She tugged the bud of Alex’s nipple in her mouth, savoring the hardness as it rolled against her tongue, the slickness against her lips, and Alex’s moan as her tongue flicked the sensitive tip.

But Alex would not be still. She pulled away and slid her body back downward. “I have to touch you,” she murmured, her voice deep and husky with desire. Her hands were hungry to touch every inch of Nikki, her mouth to taste every nook and cranny. Alex slid her fingers down Nikki’s body and was rewarded by Nikki arching up against her. She traced small circles down the inside of Nikki’s thigh, first one side then the other, until Nikki thought she would explode from the anticipation. Her hips sought Alex’s hand as she ran her palm feather light against the soft hair between her legs. “Please,” she whispered again, and Alex could wait no longer.

One finger traced Nikki’s cleft, teasing the sensitive flesh underneath, sliding down to finally part her folds, the wetness coating her hand as it traveled downward to dip within. With a deep moan, Nikki arched suddenly, her body meeting Alex’s hand as her fingers slid inside the warm tightness, Alex shuddering at the intimateness of being inside of Nikki.

Waves washed over Nikki as Alex thrust rhythmically, deeper and deeper. The conscious voice of incredulousness long since silent, she was nothing more than sensations of pleasure, molten, lava pleasure rushing through her body, higher and higher in time with her lover’s movements. Nikki felt the cry begin in her chest, her own hips thrusting urgently, leaving the bed as her fists grasped helplessly at the sheets.

Alex looked down at Nikki, breathless at the sight of her in the midst of their lovemaking. A soft sheen of sweat covered her skin as her chin tipped toward the ceiling and her mouth fell open, lips full and puffy, eyes squeezed shut with the sensations. Alex thrust deeply inside of Nikki, curling her fingers in a beckoning motion as she pulled back, stroking the responsive, rippled flesh, finding the sensitive area that made Nikki moan again in pleasure. But Nikki’s reaction was even more than Alex could have hoped for.

Nikki’s head arched back and she gasped, suddenly grabbing at Alex, who wrapped her free arm more tightly around her. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.” Alex’s soft voice somehow managed to penetrate the fog surrounding her, tipping her over the edge. The cry erupted from her throat, the scream of climax, her body shuddering in Alex’s arms and under her body.

Afterward, Nikki lay panting, uncertain which side of the room was up and which was down, and in truth, not really even caring. Alex stretched out beside her, her head resting on one bent arm, the fingers of her other hand still inside of her. Nikki turned her head, meeting eyes that were nearly green in the lamplight. “That was incredible,” she said, amazement showing in every syllable.

But Alex just chuckled. “I’m not done with you, yet.” Her fingers slid from Nikki, savoring the wetness of desire and tracing back upward. She relished the feel of the soft feminine folds, sliding up to the hard clitoris at Nikki’s center. Nikki moaned as Alex circled the hypersensitive mound of nerves, quicksilver fire rushing through her like lightening. “That’s it,” Alex whispered, her eyes locked on the woman once again quivering and thrusting at her hand, her fingers thrummed rapidly over Nikki, in time to the thrusting of her hips.

Nikki moaned in protest when the stroking suddenly stopped. “Shhh,” Alex murmured as she rolled on top of the other woman, settling her body against the other’s. She didn’t stay there, however. Before Nikki knew what was happening, Alex was nibbling her way downward, her lips leaving a fiery trail of kisses down her stomach. “Oh God,” she whimpered as she realized Alex’s intentions.

The scent of Nikki drifted to Alex, sending a delicious rush of craving thrumming through her. Her mouth watered as she parted Nikki’s legs, opening her completely to Alex’s hungry eyes. The evidence of Nikki’s desire and recent orgasm glistened on the slippery, velvet flesh, and Alex lost all thought of slowness. She wanted to taste.

Nikki clutched Alex to her, moaning as lips met her thrusting. The softness of Alex’s tongue danced over her again and again, and Nikki thought she would explode from the intensity, her body cresting to heights she had never even imagined she would reach. She rode the waves, trusting Alex without thought, as the fever built with the rhythm of her strokes. And when she climaxed, it was higher and harder than before, another scream erupting from her throat as she clutched frantically at the other woman’s hands, reaching upward to grasp her own.

Chapter 17

Nikki’s limbs felt weak as she lay stretched on the cotton sheet. She became aware of an uncomfortable lump under her back and reached to fish around for the culprit, wincing at the effort of moving. She discovered the wadded mass of her top sheet and wondered vaguely how it had gotten there, although at the moment, she didn’t actually care. Of course, at that moment, if the entire dojo had caught on fire and threatened to collapse she would not have cared much. All she cared about right then was the sandy haired, hazel-eyed woman lying in bed beside her.

With heavy eyes, Nikki rolled her head to face Alex, a wide smile slowly breaking across her face. “Wow,” she said simply.

“Wow, yourself,” Alex replied, her fingers tracing lazy circles on Nikki’s belly. Nikki watched the fingers that had made her explode before slowly running her eyes up the naked arm to the strong shoulder and down to the soft breasts. Her eyes narrowed on the rosy nipples and she reached out her hand to stroke the pillow softness of the side of Alex’s breast. She watched in fascination as goose flesh erupted across the skin and the dark circles began to pucker with her touch.

“Yes.” Alex’s groan thrilled Nikki as her fingers tantalized. She felt an unexpected surge of power as she realized the state Alex was in, as she realized how much she craved and needed to touch. She rolled to her side, mimicking Alex’s position, before sliding her hand down to the the top on the other woman’s thighs. She had always wanted to do this—there was no point lying to herself now. That deep secret she had always shoved to the back of her mind was glaring in obviousness now. She wanted to touch a woman, this woman lying under her body in her bed. She wanted to touch, she wanted to taste, she wanted to…do everything…

Nikki slid downward, nudging Alex’s thighs further apart, as she looked in amazement at the perfect view. The woman was beautiful.

Nikki lowered her hand to reverently, lightly touch, smiling as Alex’s hips lifted, seeking her hand. She slid her hand down, the silky moisture thrilling her as her fingers played in the wetness. A part of her still could not believe she was doing this, but she’d come this far—there was no point in hesitation now. She bent forward, lips and tongue finally finding what she had wanted all along.

Alex absorbed Nikki’s touch like a starving woman. She wanted to melt into her, to drown in the scents and tastes and feelings. To breath Nikki in like warm spring sunshine. To lose all thought in a world made up of nothing but this…

At the first taste, Nikki’s moan matched Alex’s and instinct took over. She did not need to stop and consider what to do or how to do it. She just knew. And as Alex’s thighs gripped her and her hands clutched at her back, hips bucking as she, erupted, Nikki knew she would never be the same again.

Chapter 18

Nikki’s eyes fluttered open, and to her shock, the first thing she saw was the body of a naked woman in bed with her. For a moment, she did not know where she was, and she anxiously glanced around, relieved to find that she was in her own bedroom. Then, the fog of sleep faded with a rush, and visions of the night before played rapidly in front of her eyes, visions of repeatedly making love with another woman. Alex had touched her more intimately that anyone ever had, and she in turn had done things she had never even let herself imagine in her wildest dreams. Forbidden things. Thrilling things. She quivered at the memories, surprised at the rush of warmth with which her body so readily responded.

Reality jarred her as she heard a bump in the other room, the sound of glass against metal. Her eyes flew to the radio clock on the bedside table, and she covered her mouth as she gasped, her eyes wide with horror. She had not set her alarm.

Nikki’s eyes raced in panic between the bedroom door and the naked woman sleeping soundly beside her, the sound of water now running in the kitchen sink. The water shut off, and Nikki winced at the sound of Nate’s voice calling.

“Hey, lazy bones! If I have to make it, we’re having coffee and not tea this morning! Now where do you keep the filters?”

“Uh…they’re in the canister behind the coffee pot.” Nikki cringed as Alex mumbled and then opened her eyes.

“Found ‘em!”

Nikki held a finger to her lips as Alex opened her mouth, brow furrowed in question. “Shh. It’s just my brother. He comes over before we open the dojo for tea, or coffee it seems this morning.”

“You’re brother is here? Now? Damn. There go my plans for the morning.” Alex grinned mischievously, reaching out a hand to Nikki’s breast, which Nikki promptly swatted away.

“Not now!” she hissed, preoccupied with panic over how she was going to get out of this. “I’ll be there in a minute!” she called out to Nate.

“Take your time,” he called back.

“The man said to take your time,” Alex teased as she leaned toward Nikki, eyes more playful than anyone had a right to be first thing in the morning.

“You’ve got to get out of here!” Nikki whispered back, frantically gesturing toward the door.

Alex chuckled. “Fine, but if I recall correctly, that door leads right into the living room, honey. Which is right beside the kitchen. Think your brother will be surprised to see a naked woman walk out your bedroom door?”

Nikki glared at Alex, completely unable to find any humor in the situation and slightly embarrassed at her faulty logic. “Well, we have to do something! He can’t know you’re here!”

“Why?” Alex whispered back. “Have you got a wife in another city, or what?”

The two of them froze mid conversation, Nikki terrified that Nate had heard them, as his voice called again. “Coffee’s done!” Nikki’s relief was short lived, however. “Hey, Nikki! Ask Alex how she takes her coffee!”

Nikki just sat there, jaw uselessly opening and closing like a gold fish in surprise. “Straight up black!” Alex called back.

“What?” she asked, hands spread in question to the look of pure horror on Nikki’s face. “He obviously knows I’m here.” Alex had not been all that surprised at Nikki’s initial reaction to Nate discovering she was here. Many women did not want family to know who was in their bed on any given night, but the jig was apparently up and the brother obviously did not think it was any big deal. So what was Nikki’s problem?

Nikki covered her face with her palms, flopping back on the bed. “He doesn’t know…I mean, I didn’t…I’ve never…”

“You mean he doesn’t know you’re gay?” Alex attempted, pulling Nikki’s hands from her face.

“Yes…No…well, yes.”

“Huh?” Alex was completely confused.

“I mean…” the rest of what she said was lost as hopeless mumbling when she covered her face again with her hands.

“Sweetheart, I can’t understand you.” Alex pulled Nikki’s hands back down once more.

“I said…” Nikki hesitated, taking a deep breath. “He can’t know, because I didn’t know. I’ve never been with another woman before.”

Alex just blinked in surprise and confusion. She did not know what she had expected the other woman to say, but that had defiantly not been it! Her mind wrestled with the contradiction. Nikki did not act like a…a lesbian virgin. She didn’t kiss like one, or touch like one…or make love like one. What was going on? How had Nikki never been with a woman? And why? Was she just curious? Could Alex have completely misread her? Was she actually straight?

Alex shook her head, shoving the tumble of questions away. Nikki was right. For the moment, the problem was how to get out of here and save as much face as possible. She would sort through everything else later.

Her face blank, Alex slid from the bed and began searching for clothes. Her shirt and pants lay crumpled on the floor, one shoe under them, the other beside the door. Damn. Where are my socks?

Nikki was shaking as Alex began wordlessly hunting her clothes. The most incredible night of her life was quickly dissolving into a morning of nightmare. She sat up, pulling a sheet across her body, as Alex perched on the side of the bed tugging a shoe onto a bare foot. “Alex. Alex, I’m sorry. I should have told you.”

Alex turned to face her. “It’s okay,” she said gently. “I have to get going though. I have to be at work pretty soon,” she fibbed, turning back to tug on her other shoe, still missing the socks. But, loosing a pair of socks was something she could handle, and she didn’t want to hang around just to hunt them down.

Nikki got up and pulled her robe from the bedpost, wrapping the belt tightly around her middle as Alex stood. She reached out a hand to Alex’s arm, and Alex covered her hand in her own, moving to stand in front of her. “Hey,” she said, taking her finger and tipping Nikki’s chin up to meet her eyes. “It was an incredible night.” She lowered her lips almost to Nikki’s ear. “And thank you for the honor,” she whispered before pulling back and brushing Nikki’s lips in a swift, tender kiss. “I’ll call you.”

Bracing herself, Alex reached for the doorknob. “Hey Nate,” she called with false cheerfulness. “I appreciate the thought, but I didn’t realize how late it is, and I’ve gotta get to work.”

“No problem. Have a good day.” Nate stood in the kitchen spooning sugar and stirring hot coffee.

From the doorway of her room, Nikki watched Alex leave, a hollowness forming in the pit of her stomach and with it the feeling that she was watching something special walk out of her life and she was simply standing and doing nothing. There was nothing she could do. I should have told her before, she thought as she turned, looking at the rumpled bedclothes, a reminder of the night they had shared. But she couldn’t go back and undo what was done. She moved to make the bed before facing her brother.

“How’d you know she was here?” she asked a few minutes later as she poured her cup of coffee. She grimaced at the acrid, acidic taste she could never quite get used to.

Nate grinned broadly. “Well, it could have been that there was a bright red jeep parked right in front of the dojo.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Another twenty minutes and about fifteen students would have known it, too.”

“I hadn’t thought of that.”

“That’s why you have a big brother—to look out for you. So, I guess you and Alex…uh…really hit it off, huh?” Nikki frowned at her brother, but his grin only got bigger. “Next time, just make sure she parks at the grocery store across the street. I swear I will check for the jeep before I come barging in for coffee.”

“Nate!” Nikki raised her voice in protest, but he only laughed as he walked toward the door, steaming coffee cup still in hand. “You better hurry up. Class starts in fifteen minutes, and I would hate to have to explain why you are running so late this morning.”

The sofa pillow she threw bounced harmlessly against the door as Nate closed it, his laughter still echoing from the hallway. Nikki sighed, picking it up on her way to the kitchen and tossing it back on the sofa. Coffee. Caffeine would fix anything. But inside, she had the feeling that nothing would fix the mess she had made.

Chapter 19

Alex sat in the jeep, hands clenching the steering wheel. Dear God, a virgin. What a mess. She ran her hand through her short hair as she glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror. She looked like someone who had just spent the night chasing wild geese, and she pretty much felt that way, too. What had happened? Was she the proverbial science experiment? Had Nikki just been curious? Had Alex just been so enamored of her that she hadn’t seen it? Images of Nikki fluttered to Alex’s mind. No. Nikki set off gaydar in all directions—not just little bells or whistles, but big mambo alarms and sirens. Nikki was a lesbian, no doubt about it.

But Alex was her first. Damn the closet. With that closet came a host of luggage that Alex had no interest in carrying. Some women loved the thrill of conquering, of being the first to show a woman what sex with another woman could be like. No one ever forgot her first time or her first lover. But while Alex may have loved the adrenaline rush of adventure in the physical world, in her relationships, she much preferred a little more safety. A virgin. A virgin was more likely to latch on to her first lover like she was the only woman on earth. A virgin could mean strings Alex was not sure she wanted attached.

Chapter 20

The Pink Castle Club was, at the very least, cool, and the dark atmosphere seemed to suit Alex’s mood. She took another swig of the icy beer and turned, bracing her back against the front of the bar, letting the sounds and scents of the atmosphere wash over her. The Pink was the most popular gay bar in the area, with the obligatory drag shows at 10:00, 11:00 and 12:00 Wednesdays through Saturday and the occasional ‘70’s themed party. A pair of baby dykes, hands in each other’s back pockets walked by, the one very femme brunette looking back over her shoulder and attempting to make eyes with Alex, but Alex studiously ignored her. She vaguely wondered if she had ever been that young. Nope. Definitely not.

The sound of Misty’s laughter as she flirted with a couple of women drifted to Alex’s ears. The night was young, and the music and noise was not yet loud enough to drown out all else. Misty stood holding a pool cue in one hand, her boots, jeans, and sleeveless shirt giving an unmistakably butch presentation as she casually draped an arm around the waste of one woman and pulled her in close to whisper in her ear. Misty was shameless, letting her hand drift downward to barely caress the woman’s ass before pulling her in even closer. What was Misty’s secret charm that let her take home a different woman every night? No target ever turned Misty down.

All smiles, Misty pulled away, gesturing that she would be back and taking her now empty beer mug with her. Seeing that she was heading her way, Alex turned from the pool tables to face the dance floor. She heard Misty’s voice before she saw her, behind her, but she refused to turn in that direction. “I said hello, Alex.”

“I heard you the first time.” Alex refused to move, other than lifting her glass for another swallow. The beer suddenly did not seem strong enough.

From the corner of her vision, Alex saw Misty roll her eyes. “I take it you’re still mad at me.”

“Ya’ think?”

“Hey—sorry I pissed you off last night. I had a little too much to drink.”

“And one little apology and an excuse about drinking is supposed to fix it all?”

Misty huffed as she ordered her usual Crown and Coke. “Damn. How was I supposed to know it was that chick from the beach? If I had known it was her, I might not have come on so strong.”

“Right.” Her disbelief of that statement evident, Alex turned to glare, wishing her eyes were pokers hot enough to fry Misty right to the bone.

“Hey, I’m really sorry it didn’t work out. I swear I’d go back and change it if I could.”

Alex winced and turned back away. “Yeah, well, who says it didn’t work out?”

“Hey girl! Got lucky, huh? It’s about time!” Misty raised her mug in salute, a grin pasted across her face, plainly assuming all was forgiven. “So how was it?”

“I don’t kiss and tell,” Alex said dryly.

“Ouch. That bad?”

“No!” Alex said, running a hand back through her short hair and forcing her irritation away. “It was…” Alex hesitated. How many times today had she played last night over in her head? Nikki had been sensuous, responsive, giving, loving. She had touched Alex and made her feel things she had never expected. “She was…the best lover I’ve ever had.”

Misty whistled low. “That’s saying something,” and Alex simply glared again. “Damn, girl. If I’d had it that good last night, you wouldn’t be able to wipe the smile off my face. What the hell is the matter with you? Since you met this chick, every time I’ve seen you, you’ve been nothing but whiny and grumpy.”

Alex sighed, her irritation deflating, leaving the disappointment in its place. She took a last swallow of beer and motioned to the bartender for another. “She’d never been with another woman until last night.” She gratefully took the cold glass of amber liquid and tossed a tip in the jar. Thank God the bartender here was fast.

“Way to go!” Misty’s enthusiastic punch on the arm coincided with Alex’s drink and she ended up with beer sloshing over her hand. Some how Misty’s analysis of the situation just didn’t mesh with her own, and she felt the aggravation resurface as she mopped up the mess with a handful of the tiny napkins on top of the bar.

“How can you say that? That is not a good thing!”

“What do you mean? As many as you’ve been with, I know you’ve brought others out before!”

“Yeah, sure—when I was their age!” Alex waved in the general direction of the two baby dykes gyrating madly to the newest dance craze, their attention now focused on nothing but each other. “But in case you haven’t noticed, I am all grown up now, and so is she. And she’s had plenty of time to come out of the closet before now, if she had wanted to.”

“Hey—so chalk it up as Alex the Irresistible shows a gorgeous babe what she really wants and how to get it. Maybe she’d never met anyone as dashing as you. Of course, I was never properly introduced to her.” Alex just wanted to slap the cocky grin off Misty’s face.

“I’m sure. Look, Misty. I just don’t know that I want to get involved with the baggage that coming out brings. There’s her brother and her parents, not to mention her feelings. What if she doesn’t know who she is and decides guys really do it for her? What if I was just the science experiment? And hell, if she is gay she’s gonna want to make up for lost time finding out what she’s been missing.”

“So call it a one night stand and move on. It’s not like it’s a big deal, Alex. It wasn’t your first and unless lighting strikes you, it won’t be your last.”

“You know, I don’t want to do the one night stand thing like I did when I was twenty. I’d like to think I’m beyond that.”

Alex bristled as Misty’s snicker made irritation prickle her neck and scalp. “Honey, you may want to act all mature and grown-up, but underneath it all, you’re just like me,” Misty said sincerely. “You don’t want strings or responsibility or some bullshit like commitment. So find a nice, safe, see-ya-around-sometime fuck and get over her.”

“That’s exactly what I’ve decided to do.” Alex clenched her teeth and nodded her head with resolution. It was easy. She’d never promised Nikki anything. She could just call it experience and let it percolate until it was an interesting story in her past. She would go back to the search for the next date—nice safe ones with women who were predictable and unthreatening. Women who knew who they were and what they wanted without needing Alex to show them.

Alex scanned the room, the old “scouting for someone to make her forget reality” habit taking over, and she willingly gave into it. She noticed the moment Desire walked into the bar, the familiar swing of her hips accentuated by high heels and a tight skirt, the red blouse above it dipping down seductively. Gold tipped her wrists, bangles flashing under the strobe light near the door, and a glimmer of gold shimmered above her breasts as well. An hour ago, Alex would have been out the back door the moment Desiree walked in the front. But now, the only word Alex could think of was “hot.”

Misty looked up from her drink and saw the direction Alex was facing. “Oh, shit, girlfriend. No way.” Misty frowned and shook her head.

“And why not?” Alex calmly took a drink of the quickly warming beer as she watched Desiree’s catlike approach.

“I said find nice and safe and she’s neither! She’s trouble and you damn well know it!”

“Maybe.”

Alex studiously ignored Misty’s mumbling as Desiree approached. The woman was, indeed, hot. Everything about her screamed “sex” and at the moment that was all Alex wanted to hear. Desiree had been trying to get her back in bed for months, and Alex refused to think about the time before that. She shoved away the memory of Desiree’s verbal tirades when she didn’t get her way. The temper tantrums when she was angry. The constant flirting with anyone and everyone. And she refused to think about the night Desiree informed her she thought it might be better if they saw other women and then walked out on someone else’s arm. Yes, Desiree was a spoiled, rotten bitch, but Alex could fuck her and walk away the next morning without a thought, without feeling guilty. Sex. No strings. One night.

Desiree slid up to Alex, holding her eyes all the way. Without breaking eye contact she waved to the bartender. “Tony, get me a mojito,” she said as she took out a pack of cigarettes and shook one out, the action slow, drawn out, and methodical. “Do you have a light?” Desiree’s voice was deep, and dusky, promising all the things Alex wanted to do in the dark, and she remotely reached behind to the container of matchbooks on the bar. As the match she struck flared and she held it to the tip of Desiree’s cigarette, the woman’s face was in full light of the flame. Perfect make-up accentuated a face that anyone would have called beautiful, Desiree herself, most of all.

“Why aren’t you with your new girlfriend?” her words slurred only slightly, just enough to let Alex know that she had started the party somewhere else. But her hand was steady as she picked up the drink Tony handed her.

Alex shrugged with practiced nonchalance. “Who said she was my girlfriend?”

Desiree’s sultry gaze was designed to knock anyone over. “Come dance with me,” she whispered as she leaned in closer, the musky scent of her cologne sending a rush of arousal through Alex. Her mouth went dry as she remembered that scent, and the long nights in bed that she spent drowning in it. Desiree knew what to do with a woman’s body, knew everything Alex liked and craved. As Alex had once told Misty, there was something to be said for sleeping with a slut.

Later, as Alex dug the keys from her pocket and opened the door to escort out a now quite tipsy Desiree, she felt eyes burning her neck from behind. She turned briefly to see Misty, one arm wrapped around the bare shoulder of a much too young blonde. Misty grinned, shook her head, and finally raised her drink to Alex in salute. It looked as though neither of them would be going home alone tonight. As she walked out the door, the vague scent of smoke in the air had the unmistakable tinge of hell on it.

Chapter 21

Nikki wiped the sweat from her forehead one last time, thankful that the day was almost over. She waved goodbye to Trisha, noticing for the first time that the young woman held her eyes for a moment longer than she would have expected. She noted, too, the short hair, the sweatpants and t-shirt she changed into from her gi after class, the way she moved and her purposeful walk. There was no make-up, no hip swinging, and her fingernails were short and trimmed close. Alex’s nails were like that, smooth-tipped, strong. Nikki paused, the memories of that night overtaking her. Alex’s hands on her. Alex’s fingers inside of her.

Nikki shook the thought away. Alex had been constantly on her mind, like the crock-pot cooking on the back of the stove. Everything spoke to her of Alex. The bark of a dog brought Jasper to mind. The weather report mentioning the tide heights reminded her of the day they met. The photograph of a yellow and black butterfly on the front of a nature magazine nearly brought tears to her eyes as she thought of Alex so casually steering around the insect. And now, just the sight of Trisha’s fingers sent her into full blown flash back.

However, Alex had left so abruptly yesterday morning, and she hadn’t yet called. Yes, perhaps Nikki should have told her she had never been with another woman, should have admitted she was in over her head. But then, she had been in over her head with Alex almost from the moment they had met, hadn’t she? And now she had no idea what the protocol should be. Was Nikki supposed to call Alex? Should she apologize? How would Alex react if she did call and ask her out again? And had she actually been under some obligation to tell her in the first place?

Nikki flopped back down on the mat and stretched her legs out in front of her, letting Nate take responsibility this time for ushering out the remaining students. She had deliberately avoided a serious conversation with her brother, yesterday and again today, uncertain what to say. He had taken the fiasco with good grace, but how would the rest of her family react? The image of Robin fleeing her home with Kim, Robin’s father yelling that she was no longer his daughter, and her own mother’s hard voice assuring her that something like that would never happen in her house came back once more to haunt her.

She absently pinched the front of her gi, drenched from sweat, and tugged it away from her body, letting in a bit of air to cool her overheated skin underneath. She knew her skin was still flushed from the difficult workout. She had pushed herself hard, using the intense physical action to keep her confusion at bay. Unfortunately, the moment she had stopped, all the questions were back. And she was left with sore muscles, stringy, dripping hair, and a wet gi.

Nikki let her eyes drift closed, zoning out the rest of the world and focusing on her heartbeat and breathing. As she gazed at the darkness behind her eyelids, Nikki wished that she could shake the feeling that had been knawing the inside of her stomach all morning. She kept telling herself that everything was okay. She had not really done anything terrible. So why did she feel so strongly that something was wrong? That something was going to go even more wrong?

She shook the thoughts away, reaching for that thin strain of serenity she always found in meditation. She did not have to agonize right now about Alex and what had happened or what was going to happen. Should she call her? No, she was not going to worry right now.

However, her attempt at meditation was short-lived as the cadence of a high-pitched feminine voice, broke her concentration. She kept her eyes closed, despite the fact that every cell in her body focused on the conversation going on by the desk.

“Hello. Can I help you?” Nate asked.

“Why, I don’t know, although you certainly do look…most capable.” The female voice was low, husky, seductive. The kind of voice one would expect to find on the other end of a telephone sex line, not walking into a karate dojo. A voice she recognized from Monty’s.

Nate cleared his throat, and Nikki could hear the hesitation in his voice. What does a married man say to a sexy woman who says that?

“Well, I…uh…like to think I am. Just…umm…what do you need help with?”

The laughter that followed was sultry but condescending. “Actually, I am looking for someone. I’ve been told there is a young woman here who teaches karate? Someone named Nikki?”

Nikki kept her eyes sealed and forced her expression not to change. She held motionless as she listened to Nate’s reply, sending the woman in her direction. She followed the sound of the footsteps as they approached the mat, quick clicking telling her that the woman wore high heels of some sort. Nikki’s imagination filled in the rest like a paint-by-number picture. Short skirt, low-cut blouse, lots of jewelry.

Nikki opened her eyes as the footsteps stopped right in front of her, passively noting that her assumptions had been right, though she should have mentally added excessive make-up to the list. “Can I help you?” she echoed her brother’s question.

“Oh, I am most certain that you can.” Desiree’s voice was soft, feather stroking her ears. But the expression on her face was anything but gentle.

“Yes?” Nikki asked, consciously keeping her own face and expression blank.

“I just came to get a closer look at the woman my girlfriend went home with the other night. She really enjoyed the diversion, I’m sure.” Nikki remained responseless, sensing that the whole point of the charade was to get a rise out of her. “And knowing my girlfriend, I’m sure you enjoyed yourself, too.”

Nikki could keep her features frozen, but she could not control the dark blush rising to her cheeks. “What do you want, Desiree?” Nikki had a lifetime of practicing the appearance of confidence regardless of any anxiety to thank for keeping her voice steady and controlled, despite her churning stomach.

Desiree’s fingernails-on-chalk-board laugh grated on Nikki. “I just wanted to make sure that you understood the situation. I’m not sure how much Alex told you about us, and I would hate for you to get hurt.” Desiree cocked her head, wrinkling her nose as if an offensive smell had insulted her, and Nikki forced herself not to think about her sweat-soaked gi. But then Desiree continued. “You see, Alex and I have an understanding. She gets to have her little adventures, like scuba diving with sharks or picking up the occasional girl, but she always comes home to me.”

Nikki could not hold her composure enough to completely stifle the look of disgust. “Do you really expect me to believe that?” she asked. Alex might like adventures and Nikki had heard of others who had unusual arrangements, but she could not believe Alex would be so callous with other women.

Desiree smirked. “You can believe anything you wish. I am just pointing out the truth. She wasn’t exactly with you last night was she?” Against her will, Nikki’s face jerked in surprise, and this time Desiree’s voice was filled with the control Nikki had been fighting for. “Aren’t you going to ask how I know?” she asked as she bent low to where Nikki was sitting. “No? I’ll tell you anyway.” Her voice fell to a whisper. “She was with me.”

Nikki’s heart skipped a beat and her breath froze in her chest. It couldn’t be. Not Alex. Surely she couldn’t be fooled that easily, could she?

Desiree stood back up, running a finger over the low-cut dip in the front of her blouse. “Besides, you should have known you were never her type, anyway. Look at you. The difference between you and the type of women Alex has always dated is just tremendous.”

The appraisal Desiree gave Nikki then was scathing. “I very much doubt you would even know how to walk in anything feminine. When is the last time your hair has seen a stylist? Or the last time you wore anything other than sweat on your face?” Desiree chuckled. “A fling is one thing, but don’t you know women like Alex like the women they stay with to be a tad more on the feminine side, honey?”

Nikki did not know what to say. The detached part of her was completely appalled that someone would talk to her that way. She had never in her life met anyone so just plain old-fashioned rude! But the other part of her was appalled for a completely different reason. Had she been that much of a fool where Alex was concerned? Inside, her stomach churned from the below the belt punch, but she refused to let Desiree see that and the professional fighter in her kicked in. Nikki froze, her face as hard as granite. Slowly, her movements measured, she stood to the top her 5’2” frame, her body moving into intimidation role. Her eyes narrowed only slightly as she moved, but her shoulders fell forward and her entire body language screamed, “Back off before you get your ass kicked.”

Unfortunately, she could not think of a single damn thing to say, other than, “I think it is time you left.”

Desiree chuckled. “Yes, I do believe it is. I got what I came here for.” Desiree turned on her spiked heel, slinging her purse over her shoulder. She turned back briefly, one hand pulling the glass door open. “Maybe I’ll see you out at the Castle sometime. But, here’s a bit of advice. If I were you, I wouldn’t try to pick up someone out of my league. And you might find out who has, um… ‘an understanding girlfriend’ before you get attached, too.”

The moment Desiree disappeared out the door, Nikki wilted, feeling like she had lost the biggest competition of her life.

Chapter 22

Nikki managed to keep up the façade until the door closed behind Desire. But as Desire walked out, so did Nikki’s self-control. Feeling physically ill, she lurched to her feet, trying to turn her head before Nate could see the tears that suddenly streamed down her face, and moving as swiftly as she could to the doorway leading upstairs.

For a split instant, Nate looked torn between running to Nikki and racing after the woman who had apparently said something horrible to her. As Nikki ran for the door, Nate followed, grabbing her arm before she could dash up the stairs. “Nikki, what is going on here?” he exclaimed. “What did that woman say to you?”

“I can’t tell you that,” Nikki sobbed, twisting to wrench away from her brother, but he pulled her into his arms, and she collapsed, soaking his shoulder with her tears. Part of her was vaguely aware that he was stroking her hair and murmuring comforting nonsense, much as he did with his little daughter. Finally, Nikki managed to stifle the sobs and pull back, her embarrassment eclipsing her pain. She could not believe she was crying on her big brother’s shoulder. She had not done that since she was eight!

“Now, you can tell me anything, and you damn well know it,” Nate said, turning her toward the stairs. “But you have been keeping things bottled up since Alex came into the picture, and I am tired of it. I have a sneaking suspicion that this has something to do with her. So, we are going upstairs, I am going to make us a nice, hot cup of tea, and you, my baby sister, are going to spill the beans.”

Nikki’s legs felt like lead as started up the stairs. “Damn bossy big brothers,” she mumbled, one hand on the railing as she climbed.

“I heard that,” Nate said from right behind her. “Don’t worry. You’ll thank me for it later,” he said with a hint of humor, sounding so much like her father that Nikki shuddered.

“Great. Now there are two of them.”

Nikki escaped to the bathroom, blowing her nose and washing her face as the sounds of Nate bustling around the kitchen drifted to her ears. She carried a handful of tissue with her as she finally met Nate in the living room, collapsing on the love seat as he placed a hot cup of Earl Grey in her favorite mug on the coaster on the coffee table. He plopped down in the recliner and looked at her expectantly, his eyebrows raised in question.

Nikki picked up the mug and held it between both of her hands, feeling the warmth soak in through her flesh. She sipped, the hot sweetness momentarily distracting her from the task at hand. Finally, Nate cleared his throat. “Nikki?”

Nikki sighed. “I really don’t know how to talk to you about this.”

“Well, give it a shot.”

Nikki’s shoulders sagged. “I don’t know how it all happened. What am I doing?”

“I am going to go out on a limb and guess that you aren’t talking about some philosophical question of ‘why am I here,’” Nate said wryly. “Just say it already!” He shifted in his seat, turning to completely face her, giving undivided attention.

Nikki took a deep breath and braced herself. She could not believe that she was here, about to tell her brother her deepest fears. “Here goes—I got involved with Alex and I didn’t tell her I have never been involved with another woman and she thought I was a lesbian and I guess I am but now Desiree came to tell me she is Alex’s girlfriend and she was with her last night and Alex wouldn’t really want someone like me!” The words came tumbling out in one rush, until Nikki was forced to stop and gulp for air. “There. I said it.”

Nate looked baffled, the expression on his face clearly saying that he was questioning the wisdom of trying to get Nikki to talk coherently. “Yeah, I already got the bit about you being involved with Alex. But back up on the part with the other woman.”

Nikki felt her stomach churn with just thinking about the incidence, and her eyes misted up all over again. Nikki furiously brushed them away, aggravated at her emotional reaction. “Her name is Desiree. She came to tell me that she is Alex’s girlfriend.”

Nate got up, put his cup down on the coffee table, and came to sit by his sister on the love seat. “But Alex was over here just a few of nights ago.”

“Yeah. They have some sort of open arrangement thing going on.” Nikki could not hide the misery in her voice.

“According to this Desiree woman. Did Alex ever say anything like this?”

“Well, no, but Desiree…I…I’m just not really Alex’s type.”

“Alex has a type.” Nate’s eyebrows rose again in question.

“Yeah. You know. The kind that is beautiful and wears make-up and skirts and heels and stuff.”

Nate’s eyes narrowed. “Let me get this right. You are telling me that you are all upset because this tall, beautiful woman walked in and told you Alex doesn’t want you.”

“Yeah. And she was with her last night.”

“Mmhmm.” Doubt oozed from Nate’s tone. “Again, according to Desiree.”

Nikki pursed her lips. “Well, yeah. Desiree told me. She knew Alex wasn’t with me. And you are saying it isn’t true.”

“No, I am saying that Alex didn’t seem like the type to seduce women for a fling and keep some high-and-mighty decked out poodle around for a real relationship. And I’ll tell you this, sister, just from watching her walk across the floor--that woman didn’t exactly seem like the kind of woman who would be okay with an ‘arrangement’, either! Trust me. I’ve been involved with women enough to know!” Nikki’s lips twitched in a slight smile, remembering her brother’s high school and college reputation as something of a lady’s man.

Nikki sipped her tea, knowing in the pit of her stomach that Nate was right. Alex had not exactly been jumping for joy when Desiree showed up at Monty’s the other night, and the underlying current of animosity hadn’t seemed to come from simply having a date interrupted. Of course, Desiree had known that Alex hadn’t been with Nikki the night before. Had she and Desiree actually been together, or had it been a lucky guess? Then, Nikki looked up into the deep brown eyes of her big brother and knew that there was more to her turmoil than simply Desiree stirring up trouble. How would her family take this?

“Nate, I’m really scared,” she confessed at last, feeling the redness creeping up her neck to her face. Admitting fear was not something she did often, nor did she do it easily. But, it was the truth. She could still hear her father’s voice before a match. “There is always someone out there who is bigger and stronger than you, and if you let the fear of that control you, you will lose the battle before you have even begun.” For Nikki, fear was always something to be confronted and dealt with, not something open for discussion.

“Afraid Desiree was telling the truth? Why would you believe her over Alex?”

“No. It’s something else. Nate, do you remember Sherri, from back when we were in school? Remember what happened with her parents, how they acted; they just cut her off as if she had died? Well, when I tried to talk to Mom about it, she was really upset and said that would never happen in our house.”

“Yeah. She was right. It never would. So?”

“But Nate, it has happened!”

“Dad told you not to ever come home again?”

“No. Of course not. I haven’t told them yet. But that is what scares me—what would Mom and Dad say if they knew that I’m…like this?”

“I hate to break it to you, honey, but Mom has thought you were gay since you were in 6th grade and had that huge crush on some girl in your class. What was her name?”

“Taylor?” Nikki asked, not quite able to comprehend what she was hearing from her brother.

“Yeah. That’s the one. Mom told me a couple of years ago that she was shocked every time you brought a guy home for a date. She told me last year at Christmas that she’s just waiting for you to bring a woman home with you.”

“What!?”

Nate chuckled. “It never occurred to me that you had never been involved with a woman before. I just figured you didn’t want to talk about it with your brother!”

“Oh, my god. This is unbelievable. How could you have known? How could Mom have known?”

“How could we not?” he replied, shaking his head. Then he shrugged. “Look on the bright side. At least you know Alex will be welcome at the Christmas dinner table!”

“Nate, I…I think I might be in love with her. Have you ever really known anyone to fall in love that fast?”

Nate chuckled. “I don’t tell many people this, but I proposed to Brianna on our second date—only because I was afraid it would scare her off if I proposed on our first.”

“Are you serious? Had you lost your mind?”

“Yep. And I do want you to note that she said yes, so I wasn’t the only one that had lost my mind.”

“I always knew she was crazy anyway—she married you.”

Nate laughed, but then his expression grew serious. “Well, Alex would be crazy not to hold on to you for all she is worth.”

Nikki groaned. “I still don’t know what to do about Alex.”

“I have never been one to tell you what to do,” Nate began, and Nikki snickered at his words. “Okay, so I don’t mind telling you what to do. It’s a no-brainer—go talk to her.”

Nikki’s head dipped at that thought. “What if Desiree was telling the truth?”

Nate tipped her face up with a finger under her chin and looked her dead in the eyes. “What if she wasn’t?”

Chapter 23

“Shit.” Nikki tossed the useless cell phone down on the passenger seat. After trying repeatedly to call Alex and only getting her voice mail, Nikki had decided to swallow her fear and go out to the house. Either Alex would be home, alone, and they could talk, or she would be gone, in which case, she was determined to simply wait her out, parked in the driveway, regardless of how long it took. Nikki refused to even consider what she would do if Desiree was there, denial seeming to be the more preferable option. Now, calling for the sixth time had proved no more successful than the first try.

Aggravated and wanting a distraction, Nikki switched on the radio as she drove, grateful that the dull drone of the five o’clock news was at least more relaxing than the thoughts she was listening to in her own head.

“Grass and forest fires continue to spread through the area, threatening local homes and businesses. Exceptionally dry conditions make further fires more likely, and the fire ban is being strictly enforced. Homeowners are restricted from burning any trash or leaves for any reason, and drivers and passengers are cautioned not to throw cigarettes out the window.”

Nikki glanced at the sky outside her window. Alex’s home was in the countryside, but it was at least mostly surrounded by fields, rather than woods. The only trees near her house were the grove of oaks along the road just before the house. But smoke could be seen in the distance, in the direction Nikki was driving. She had become so accustomed to the smell of smoke lately that she had not noticed how heavily the scent hung in the air. The smoke hung ominously in the sky, and Nikki watched it grow thicker and darker the closer she drove to the house.

As she approached the strand of trees, Nikki felt a small sense of relief that the trees were free of flames, but she knew that the source of the fire could not be far. She nervously accelerated, worry churning the pit of her stomach, the fact that Alex had not been answering her phone eating at her gut, as the smoke only thickened and swelled as she drove through the small grove.

Holding her breath, Nikki floored the gas pedal as she rounded the turn and broke through the trees. She clenched the steering wheel and felt a horrible rush of adrenaline as her worst fear flashed in front of her. Spots of glowing fire fought with the black char of scorched grass in the field beside the house, leading to the bright orange flames licking the roof of the side of Alex’s house—and her jeep sat in the driveway.

Nikki grabbed her phone and dialed 911, her voice shaking as she fought down hysteria.

“911. Do you have an emergency?” The crisp, professional voice brought her to her senses.

“Yes. There’s a fire at 2623 Wildwood Lane, and there may be someone inside.”

“Just stay calm, ma’am. We have a fire truck and ambulance on the way. Were you inside the building?”

“Not yet,” Nikki replied curtly, snapping the phone shut as she skidded to a halt in the front yard and lurched from her car. Horrible indecision wrapped around her. Part of her knew the foolishness of running into a burning building, but what if Alex was inside?

The roar of a motor pulled Nikki’s attention from the house. She turned to see the Channel 14 news van pull up, the photographer and reporter jumping from the vehicle, just as a second van, that of their competitor, Channel 7, drove up, also spilling its crew.

“Nikki!” A familiar voice yelled, and Nikki realized the woman with the cumbersome TV camera on her shoulder and running toward her was Misty.

Misty had automatically thrown the camera to her shoulder, filming reflexively. She and Alice had only been a couple of miles down the road, filming the grand opening of a new park, as had channel 7. But, she had recognized Alex’s address when it came over the scanner and had, of course, bailed on the park opening, rushing to her friend’s aid. The competition, not to be outdone, had followed, and all of them had dashed to the scene, beating the fire department.

“Where’s Alex?” Misty screamed at Nikki.

“I don’t know! I just got here and called 911!”

“Just now?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I heard about the fire over the emergency scanner five minutes ago! Who called before you?”

Nikki and Misty’s eyes locked, then Nikki, bracing herself, darted to the front door, grabbed the knob, and yanked it open. Fear pounded through her as smoke spilled from the opening, right behind a sooty bundle of fur that was barely recognizable as Jasper raced out, barking frantically. He dashed once around Nikki and then around Misty, before running unhesitatingly back inside the house. Nikki’s heart throbbed so hard her chest hurt as reality coursed through her veins. Alex was in there. She had just found her, just found herself. And now, in an instant, she was faced with losing her.

Nikki shook the web of terror from her mind and dove into the smoke. Misty did not hesitate, either, but as she stooped to put down the camera, she heard Alice screeching. “What are you doing? Keep filming, you idiot! You can’t go in there!” But Misty didn’t even consider listening. “If you go in there, I’ll make sure you’re fired!” Alice screeched futilely. “Wait! I don’t know how this thing works! You’re ruining the take!” the voice faded into the background as Nikki and Misty plunged into the burning house.

Chapter 24

Thickness blanketed the two women as they dove into the waves of smoke, holding their breath as much as possible, though both of them pulled the neck opening of their shirts up over their mouths and noses in an effort to filter out some of the choking clouds. Jasper ran frantically down the hall toward the kitchen area, and Nikki and Misty followed as quickly as they could. The dog disappeared briefly, and Nikki realized that he was darting in and out of the small hallway that led to the FROG, as Alex had called it. And she realized that for God only knew what reason, Alex was in the dark stairwell leading up over the garage.

****

Alex coughed again, for what felt like the thousandth time, fighting the shadows that threatened at the edges of her eyesight. She felt the warm softness of Jasper’s fur under her hands and the wet, raspy his tongue against her cheek. You were the best dog ever, she thought, completely disoriented. She vaguely remembered thinking that when he was a pup, he was so hyper that she always said he would be the death of her one day, only she hadn’t exactly meant it literally at the time.

Alex knew that Jasper had been trying to help her today. She had been sound asleep on the couch, after a restless night tossing and turning, thinking of nothing but Nikki and the softness of her body. At one point she had the almost uncontrollable urge to crawl out of bed, drive to Nikki’s, pound on the door, and beg her to let her in. She had managed to keep from doing so, but just barely. Tonight, she had planned on dropping by the dojo after the last evening class, and this time she even had thornless red roses waiting on the counter to take with her.

Jasper had jolted her awake, the high pitched yap of his warning bark surging through her subconscious, but she had been so conditioned to the scent of smoke in the air that it took her several moments to realize that the smoke was from inside the house. “Shit!” she yelled as she instantly jumped up. She quickly grabbed her phone from the coffee table, dialing 911.

“My house is on fire!” she yelled to the operator as she ran after Jasper. She found him, completely hysterical, at the back door under the steps that let to the FROG, barking for her to open the door. She darted for the exit, but just as she put her hand on the doorknob, she heard a loud creak and moan from above her. She swiveled and glanced upward, just in time to see a mass of wood, one of the ancient the overhead beams, crash down from the low ceiling. Alex experienced, rather than saw, a flash of light as the heavy wood slammed across her shoulders, knocking her to the floor. Then she felt and saw nothing.

Alex had no idea how long she lay there. When she came to, the world appearing to swim dizzily in front of her, she realized that the beam lay across the top of her thighs, pinning her to the floor. Gasping at the pain that stretched from her shoulders to her toes, she fought against the blackness, forcing her consciousness upward, not giving in to the demanding need to close her eyes and rest her head on the floor. She placed her palms flat down on the floor, trying to gain some traction and pull herself forward; however, the action not only seemed futile, it also made her head swim even worse. She braced herself against a wave of nausea that washed furiously over her and struggled against the panic that threatened to paralyze her.

Blinding smoke choked her lungs as she struggled for breath, fighting the waves of blackness that just kept crashing into her. Desperation kept her from completely passing out, but she knew that she was losing the battle. Her head swimming, she tried to yell for help, but she only succeeded in swallowing a lungful of smoke, choking spasms wracking her body. She could not even completely open her eyes, which were streaming with tears, and the near blindness only stroked the feeling of panic to a higher pitch.

Jasper kept darting away, barking like mad, and then running back to her. His presence somehow reassured her, and she again pushed against the floor, knowing she had to get out, before either the ceiling collapsed on top of her or she suffocated from the smoke. But her arms would not hold her up, and she flopped down once more. I will not die this way, she thought, a swell of rage rising in her and she furiously surged forward, only to collapse, moaning, once more onto the hard wood floor.

Just as another wave of blackness threatened to drag her under again, she heard a ragged coughing, and she thought for a disoriented moment that it was herself. But seconds later, Jasper’s warm tongue kissed her face, and it was followed by a warm hand that urgently grabbed hers. It took her a minute to realize that she was not alone, and then she managed to force her eyes open enough to see into eyes so intensely blue that she flashed back to a beach that seemed a million miles away.

Nikki felt relief flood through her as her hand urgently closed around Alex’s. She knelt down and latched her fingers through her lover’s, bending forward to stare down into gorgeous hazel eyes, squinting at her from only inches away.

Never in her life had she seen anything so beautiful, and the emotions she saw reflected there shot a dazzling rush through her, like gold melting her heart. The raw love in Alex’s eyes erased any quiver of doubt from Nikki’s mind, and she wondered how she could have ever even considered believing Desire’s nonsense. Instinct had guided her to trust Alex the moment she had first touched her, pulling her from the would-be watery grave. And if there was one thing she should have learned by now, it was to trust her instinct. As she held Alex’s hand, every instinct in her told her to never let her go again.

Unfortunately, a coughing spasm racked Alex’s body, marring the romance of the moment. Nikki’s hands ran down Alex’s back, searching for injury, and finding the beam resting on the top of her thighs.

“Pull her out!” Alex recognized Misty’s voice, though it was rough from the smoke.

“I can’t! She’s got something on top of her!”

Misty crawled to the beam, running her hands over it. “I think I can lift it! You’ll have to pull her out!”

Misty braced her legs, locked her hands around the beam, and lifted, praying Nikki could get Alex out quickly. Nikki quickly clasped her hands under Alex’s shoulders, planted her feet, and heaved, while Alex’s feet floundered against the floor.

At first, Nikki wasn’t sure she would be able to pull Alex from under the beam, but at last she began to move forward, slowly. Finally, Alex’s feet found purchase against the linoleum, and she surged forward. Nikki’s feet slipped out from under her, but she did not stop pulling, until she had tugged Alex up against her and she could wrap her arms completely around her shoulders.

Fortunately, Misty did not let them rest. She glanced nervously at the ceiling. “We’re not outa the woods yet, guys! We gotta get moving! Now!”

Alex pointed to her right. “Back door’s over there,” she managed to croak out of her raw throat, though the effort cost her another coughing spasm. Nikki and Misty, one braced on each side, hoisted Alex up as she grunted with the pain of putting her weight on her bruised legs and thighs and placing her arms around the other women’s shoulders. Only a few yards away, the door was one of the most welcome sights Nikki had ever seen. Jasper ran ahead of them, scratching against the wood. Nikki thrust the door open and the three of them staggered out, gulping at the air, the hot Florida wind feeling cool against their overheated bodies. They lurched away from the burning building, the siren from the fire truck blaring from the front yard.

“There they are!” An excited voice called from the camera van as the three of them collapsed on the cool grass. The next thing Alex knew, they were lying on the grass, Nikki’s arms wrapped around her as she sobbed into Alex’s shoulder, and the area around them was a mass of firefighters and news crews.

Alex weakly patted Nikki’s back. “It’s okay. I’m fine,” Alex’s tremulous whisper was ragged and her throat ached from the effort of speaking after so much coughing.

“I thought I had lost you,” Nikki wept, her hands clutching convulsively at Alex’s shoulder.

“Can’t get rid of me that easily.” Alex’s voice sounded, and felt, as if she was speaking through gravel.

A young man knelt by the two of them. “Come on, Miss. We need to get ya’ll to the hospital.” The paramedic put a hand on Nikki’s shoulder, trying to separate them, but Alex clenched her hand tightly, a slightly panicked look flying to her face.

“Don’t worry. I’m going with you, honey.” Nikki turned slightly, giving the young, male medic her firmest, most “don’t-mess-with-me,” determined glare.

He took a quick step back, eyebrows raised, and lifted his hands in surrender. “Fine by me, ma’am. Just as long as I can get her on a gurney.” Nikki squeezed Alex’s hand and nodded, the lump in her throat keeping her from saying the, “Thank you,” that she felt.

Chapter 25

Despite the harsh white light and smell of disinfectant, the hospital room was a welcome change from the emergency room. At least there was something that resembled a real pillow on the bed, and there was no hustle and bustle of emergency personnel. Nikki and Misty had been given oxygen and released, and doctors had determined that Alex had no broken bones, but still wanted her to stay overnight for observation. Still, first seeing the angry bruising across her thighs as she maneuvered with a nurse’s assistance from a wheel chair to her bed had been frightening for both of them. “I guess this means I get out of a few jujitsu lessons, huh?” Alex whispered wryly, her throat still quite sore, as she surveyed the damage.

“Don’t think a few bumps and bruises are going to keep you safe from me,” Nikki retorted, although she could feel that the blood had drained somewhat from her face at the sight.

Alex finally settled in the bed, lying on her stomach. “I’ll be back shortly with your medicine,” the nurse commented and bustled from the room.

“Honey, I don’t ever want anything to keep me safe from you!” Alex whispered.

Nikki bent forward, in almost the same position she had been in when she found Alex in the house, and she quickly did exactly what she had wanted to at that time. Alex’s lips met hers, gently, exquisitely, as if savoring a flavor she had been afraid she would never experience again. They pulled apart only when the squeak of the door let them know that the nurse was returning.

“Okay, hon.” The nurse’s strong accent revealed the fact that she was locally born and raised. “You two love birds need to give it a rest for tonight. You,” she said pointedly looking at Nikki, “may sleep on the fold out chair over there. And you,” her firm gazed fell on Alex, “Will get some rest. Dr. Montgomery says that if everything goes as she expects, you can go home in the morning.”

“So why can’t I just go home tonight?”

“Probably because she doesn’t think you’ll get any sleep if you do!” the nurse retorted, and Alex’s face flushed with heat. The nurse chuckled. “My name is Flo, and I am working the night shift tonight, so I will be popping in on a regular basis to check on you.” She glanced firmly at Nikki again. “Here is where you adjust the bed,” she gestured to the insides of the rail. “Here is the call button if you need anything, and here is the remote control to the TV.” She flipped the television on, bringing a silent game show to life, and then bustled to the door. “I’ll be back shortly to get your temp and blood pressure, and bring you some dinner, hon. And I might even be able to swipe a couple extra sandwiches.” She winked at Nikki and then closed the door behind her.

“Wow,” Alex mumbled, as Nikki sat there, looking a bit stunned. “I bet no one fools around in here on her watch!”

Alex’s eyes cut to Nikki, and she scooped her hand up in her own, bringing it to her chest. “I thought I was a goner there. You know that, don’t you?”

Nikki dropped her eyes, and she shuddered at the fear that rushed through her. For a moment, she relived the terror of when she realized Alex was in the inferno, and a rush of unexpected tears flooded to the surface. “I was afraid I had lost you.”

“Hey.” Alex gently tugged Nikki’s hand, and Nikki lifted her blue eyes to Alex’s. “No matter what happens, ever, you will never lose me. In fact, can I tell you a secret?”

Nikki nodded, mutely, still fighting the emotions battling inside her.

“The truth is, I think we were meant to be together—by God, or Fate, or just whatever makes this world spin around. Nikki, I love you, and I’m sorry I over-reacted when you told me you had never been with another woman. I was afraid of all the things that might mean. But maybe…maybe you were waiting for me,” she said shyly.

Alex tugged Nikki to her, their lips meeting, all doubt evaporating into nothingness.

When they finally pulled apart, it took Nikki several moments before her head stopped spinning enough for her to find her voice.

“Thank you for coming to the house, Nikki,” Alex whispered, her raw throat all the more hoarse for the emotion that filled it. “You saved my life. How did you know to come to me?”

The panic of finding the house on fire, the struggle to pull Alex from the fire, the rush at the hospital, all had pushed the day’s events from her mind. She had completely forgotten about Desiree.

“Actually, I guess we can thank a friend of yours.”

“What friend?”

“Desiree.”

“Desiree? What does she have to do with you coming to my house?”

“You may as well know. She came to the dojo today, and she had quite a bit to say. She said that the two of you had some sort of open relationship, that you like to seduce women, and that I wasn’t your type. And she said that she knew you weren’t with me because you were with her. I’ve got to tell you, she really shook me up, so when you wouldn’t answer your phone, I decided to come see you.”

Alex’s face fell slightly. “Unbelievable,” she mumbled.

“What?”

“The truth is, I did see Desiree last night.” The blood drained instantly from Nikki’s face, and she felt like she had been punched in the stomach. “No! No, wait! Alex said, slightly panicked at the expression on Nikki’s face. “Nothing happened. I went out to the bar, and I was upset. Desiree showed up, and I did dance with her. And I even took her home when she was too drunk to drive. But I didn’t sleep with her, and I would never do the things she said. I don’t play games like that.”

Alex’s hand trembled as she raised it to stroke Nikki’s cheek, the softness under her fingertips filling her with tenderness. “All I could think about all evening was you. I remembered what sex felt like—just sex. And then I remembered what making love was like.” Alex could not stop the tears from forming, her love mirrored as she stared into Nikki’s eyes. “I never made love with anyone until I was with you, you know. I always thought that the phrase “make love” was just a cute phrase for sex. But it’s not. It’s completely different.”

“I love you, too,” Nikki whispered, leaning into Alex, their lips inches apart. She paused as their breath mingled. “And I want to make love with you again.” Their lips met, tenderly at first, but passion quickly lighting a flame, Nikki stretching out by Alex, aching to pull away the clothes between them.

Unfortunately, a knock on the door immediately startled them, Briton popping her head around the corner of the door. “Oh dear God, Alex!” she exclaimed as she rushed inside. “I couldn’t believe it when Misty called me! I was in Orlando in a meeting, or I would have been here sooner. Are you okay?” she asked.

Alex gave Nikki a regretful grimace as they pulled apart before turning a pale smile to her sister. “Oh sure. You’re just using being two hours away in Orlando as an excuse for missing dealing with the emergency room.” Nikki slid her feet over the edge of the bed and sat up by Alex.

“As much as I hate emergency rooms, if I had been in town, I would have been here with you.” Her hand grasped Alex’s at an awkward angle, a gentle squeeze touching her heart.

“Thanks, Sis.”

“Any word about the house?”

“Yeah. The fire chief says that the newer part that was added on was the only part that had any real damage, but the original structure was sound. So I am going to lose the garage and the FROG, and probably have to get a lot of stuff cleaned or replaced because of the water damage, but overall, the damage could have been a lot worse.”

Briton’s expression spoke volumes. It wasn’t just her sister’s house. It had been her grandparent’s house, too.

“Hey!” Nikki’s voice butted in. “I hate to interrupt this family reunion, but we’re on TV!” She grabbed for the remote and turned up the volume on the channel ten six o’clock news, where a reporter in a suit and bad toupee sat reciting the day’s events. The banner beside him read, “Three Friends Save Woman from Certain Death in House Fire.”

“And now, the video that shows this amazing story.” The screen revealed footage shot by Misty’s competitor—Misty’s frantic conversation with Nikki, Jasper running, panicky, out of the house and then back in, Misty putting down the camera and running inside with Nikki. It even showed Alice screeching at Misty that she would have her fired. The fire truck arriving. The hoses raking the house as firefighters started to rush in. And just before they did, the scream, “There they are!” The video lurched as the cameraman raced to the opposite side of the house, revealing Jasper dashing madly about and Nikki, Alex, and Misty staggering out into the sunshine.

“Dear God,” Briton whispered as the footage ended. “The damage certainly could have been a lot worse! It’s a miracle you lived through that,” she whispered. All Nikki and Alex could do was stare at each other in stunned silence.

Before they could recover from the shock, Misty barreled into the room, cell phone in hand. “You guys will never guess who I just got off the phone with!” Misty’s face, sans eyebrows, glowed with excitement. “That was the biggest news station in northeast Florida. They saw the report from channel 10 at 5:00 and they want to put me in front of the camera, as their new on the scene reporter! They liked my nerve! But best of all, my director fired Alice and wants me to take her place. Can you believe it? Two offers in one night, and all I had to do was run into a burning house to get it! This is even better than taking home two women in one night!”

The others all laughed at Misty’s exuberance, although Briton and Nikki also turned fire engine red. Then Nikki reached over and gently took Alex’s hand in hers. “Sometimes, the best thing in the world is to take just one woman home.” Their eyes locked, and they both smiled.

Epilogue

“Come on, Chad.” Robin tossed her red hair and then tugged her reluctant friend’s arm. Chad dragged his feet, staring apprehensively at the doublewide trailer. What had he been thinking, to let Robin talk him into meeting with some supposed witch in the middle of the woods?

“I’m just not sure about this, Robin.”

“That’s ridiculous. She helped Nikki find the love of her life, and she didn’t even know she was gay. The way I see it, you already know you are gay, so you have to be a step ahead already. All you need is a nudge in the right direction!”

As the two of them fussed in front of the house, neither of them noticed the woman peeking out at them from behind the window’s curtain. Nor did they see the knowing smile and twinkle of her eyes.

***

The darkness cocooned them as the softness of the sand under their blanket cushioned their bodies. Nikki reached for her, their lips meeting, soft murmurs of pleasure filling the surrounding air. Alex’s hand stroked Nikki’s back, her hips, her thighs, before finally plunging inside. Nikki arched, her cries lost in the relentless pounding of the waves on the shore.

Then Nikki’s hands found her in turn, their movements of love as ancient as time, yet brand new to the warm body they touched. Alex rose to meet her, urgency swelling them both. Nikki’s sea blue eyes shining above her, fingers loving and stroking her. The fire built, stroked to a peak as she shuddered, then clenched Nikki’s body tightly to her. Nothing could have prepared Alex for the rush of explosion from her core. And this time when Alex came, lying there on the beach and feeling the hands of her lover, it was real.

###

About the Author

Eve Foss is a freelance author who loves nothing more than exploring the beaches and forests of her home state, Florida. She shares a home with her partner and their two children, and enjoys photography in what little free time she has.