Finding Her Way (8 page)

Glancing from head to toe she began the mental scrutiny of her appearance. The dark circles under her eyes made her look older than her true age. Her eye color was strange. Not just green, they were an emerald green, almost black at first glance. Hair was too long, skin was too pale. She needed to get back to tanning. Which also meant getting back to the gym, she reminded herself while absent-mindedly rubbing her stomach.

Her breasts were of average size. Her ass was firm, legs were long, strong, but still feminine. Her legs were her only two attributes she was proud of and didn’t mind showing. She shook her head in disgust, walking away from the mirror. Jerrica tossed the suitcase on the bed and retrieved the items she needed, underclothes, her jogging pants, and an old sweatshirt from her alma mater. The aroma of coffee coming from the kitchen assaulted her senses again, giving her incentive to move more quickly. Once she had dried off and fully dressed, she journeyed downstairs. Entering the kitchen, she viewed a full pot of coffee waiting for her. Selecting a mug from the cabinet, she filled it to the rim. Glancing around, she noticed a note on the counter near a plate of croissants. Jerrica place the pot in its holder, strolling to the food.

Good Morning Sleepy Head,

We hope you are feeling better this morning. We waited for you, but it started to get late. We have gone into town for supplies. I’ll pick up the steaks at the butcher shop. I’ll buy you some ginger ale while we are out. If you need anything else, please call. There is cell reception anywhere on the property. We won’t be gone long. See you soon.

Love yah,

Lauren

She placed the note back on the counter. Grabbing her coffee and a croissant, she headed for the back porch. A cool wind chilled her as she opened the back door. Snatching the comforter from the chair next to the door, she stepped out. The porch stretched the entire length of the back of the house. The cottage was a classic New England style beach home and she had fallen in love with it the first moment she had seen it. She lounged in the largest Adirondack chair she could find, wrapping herself in the comforter. With her stomach temporarily content, Jerrica tilted her head back against the chair and listened to the sounds of the distant waves crashing on the shore. Her eyes fluttered closed, letting her mind wander.

†

“I’m here,” Jerrica said into her cell phone, “Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll make sure I lock up after the weekend. Thanks for letting me borrow the cottage. Yes, Lauren, I’m fine. I’ll see you on Monday. Goodbye.”

“You didn’t tell her I was here,” Devin whispered in her ear.

“I think she knows you’re here,” Jerrica said turning into Devin’s embrace, nuzzling her neck.

Devin tightened her grip, resting her chin on Jerrica’s head. Her hair smelled like lilacs on an early fall day and she breathed it in deeply. In this moment, life was perfect. Devin sighed in contentment.

Jerrica pulled back to look into her eyes. “Is everything ok?”

“Yes, I’m fine honey. It’s just nice to be here with you, just the two of us. Come on, let’s go inside.”

With an arm over one another’s shoulders, they walked into the house closing the door behind them.

Jerrica grabbed Devin’s hand and watched as Devin looked down at their linked hands.

“Let me show you the upstairs,” Jerrica said with a smile.

Entering the master bedroom, Jerrica untwined their hands. Strolling to the French doors that led out to the balcony, she pushed them open. The sounds of the waves hitting the empty beach and the smell of the ocean filled the room. Stepping out into the fresh air, she slid her hands across the top of the hand-carved oak railing, tipping her head toward the sun.

Jerrica turned around, leaning against the railing. “What are you thinking about?”

“I was thinking how lucky I am to have such a beautiful woman in my life,” Devin responded.

Closing the distance between them, she tilted Jerrica’s chin up with her fingertip. She gently guided Jerrica’s lips and Jerrica could feel the heat as their lips softy touched.

A soft moan escaped Jerrica as she surrendered. Her head began to swim and she didn’t want the feeling to end. She opened her mouth to Devin’s tantalizing tongue and the kiss deepened. Her body arched, trying to feel more of Devin’s body against hers.

Devin teasingly pulled away. Hungry blue eyes held lustful green eyes captive as she reached forward, seductively unbuttoning Jerrica’s shirt at the neckline. Goosebumps developed across the exposed skin.

Unlatching the last button, Devin slowly slid her hands up the seams of the open shirt. Her fingers tracing lightly over Jerrica’s tight abs. Devin’s hands slid up to the beautiful black lace bra. One twist of the front snap unclipped the confining lingerie with ease. In slow motion, Devin hands glided across Jerrica’s shoulders, gently slipping off the restrictive clothing. The apparel no longer needed, cascaded over the railing, floating carelessly in the fall air until it touched the soft earth below. Devin trailed kissed down Jerrica’s neck.

Holding onto the railing, Jerrica tossed her head back, encouraging Devin’s continued path. The pleasure the soft lips were offering assaulted Jerrica’s senses. Her knees were shaking as she released the railing. Running her hands through the golden tresses, she gently encouraged Devin’s face to look at her. She could see the raw desire reflected in her eyes. “Let’s go back inside.”

Devin’s smile broadened as she took her hand and led them back into the bedroom.

Jerrica stopped at the side of the bed. “Let me help you with this,” she smirked.

Jerrica’s hands moved down to the tiny stylish buckle on Devin’s pants, pulling it free with ease. Her hand intentionally touched Devin skin as she lowered the zipper. She smiled as Devin released a groan. Working her hands around the waistband, she slid the pants down and watched them puddle at their feet. Jerrica sensually guided her hands under the hem of the turtleneck, lifting the garment. She grinned when she received hurried assistance. Once the shirt was off, Jerrica captured Devin’s lips, kissing them softly at first and then pressing harder as desire grew.

Devin could feel a yearning from deep inside as she lowered their bodies to the bed. The kiss was broken with the urgency to breathe. Devin stared down at the beautiful woman who was lovingly looking up at her.

Jerrica’s hand caressed Devin’s flushed cheek. “I love you,” Jerrica’s voice said softly.

Turning her lips into the hand, Devin gently licked the exposed palm. Jerrica knew she was offering not only her body, but her heart as well. Smiling, Devin lowered her head, stopping millimeters from Jerrica’s lips.

“I know you do,” Devin whispered, selfishly capturing Jerrica’s mouth, as their bodies became one.

Soon they would find the rhythm that would bring them to ecstasy…together.

They spent the weekend in bed, each enjoying what the other was offering. They left the room only for food or the bathroom. When the last hours of their perfect weekend arrived, they sat cuddled in a chair on the balcony, wrapped only in a blanket. Jerrica sat comfortably in Devin’s lap as they witnessed the breaking of dawn. They had created this world just for the two of them. The rest of the world didn’t matter and nothing else existed as long as they were holding one another. Jerrica angled her head to see Devin. “I hate to say this, but we have to go back today.”

“I know,” Devin’s tone was flat.

“Are you ok?”

“I don’t want this to end.”

“I don’t want it to end, either.”

“This has been the best weekend of my life.”

“It’s been great for me, too. Unfortunately, we do have to return to the world sometime.”

“Why?”

“We can’t live off of love, Devin. I do have to support myself. Don’t worry, everything will be all right.”

Jerrica kissed Devin softly, wiggling out of the warm embrace. “I’m going to shower,” She held up a staying palm. “Without you. I really need to start packing and if you join me, we’ll never get out of here at a decent hour.”

Devin smiled with pleasure as she observed a very naked Jerrica saunter her way into the bathroom. Devin caught the devilish grin Jerrica was wearing before she disappeared.

She hoped Jerrica was right, that they would be fine once they left the cottage. Deep down, Devin had her doubts that this relationship would have a happy conclusion. Standing with the blanket tightly around her body, she returned to the room, sitting on the edge of the bed. She heard the water running from the shower as she dug into her overnight bag to find her cell phone. They had promised one another, no contact to or from the outside world during their weekend alone.

Devin was about to break that promise. Finding the phone with ease, she flipped it to see the screen. Thirty-five missed calls, twenty-eight voicemails. She touched the screen to see who had called. More than half were from her father, a few from her mom, and the rest from her assistant. She groaned with the thought of having to explain why she had totally disappeared for the weekend. Turning to return the phone to her bag, it rang. His number flashed on the screen. The same number she had seen since her youth, her father’s number. If she didn’t answer it, he would keep calling and she would have hell to pay when she would see him. Touching the screen, she answered his call.

Jerrica could hear raised voices outside the bathroom door. She quickly finished rinsing and turned the water off. To her surprise, Jerrica could hear Devin’s father. She knew Devin must be on her phone. His voice was so loud it was as if he was standing in the next room. The raised tones told her they were having an argument. Upset that Devin had broken their agreement, she wrapped herself in the first available towel and opened the door. At first, she thought Devin had heard her, but after a few seconds she realized that wasn’t true. Devin was standing out on the balcony, still wrapped in their blanket with her back to the room. Jerrica was about to announce herself, when a spout of venom came from the speakerphone.

“Then tell me where the hell you have been the past two days!”

“I told you, I needed some time away.”

“Yes, I heard you say that. I didn’t buy that expensive phone for you not to use, young lady.”

“You didn’t buy me this phone, Dad. Mom gave it to me for my birthday.”

“Where do you think your mother gets her money?”

“Hypocrite,” she whispered under her breath.

“What was that?” His tone elevated a little more.

“It was nothing, Dad. So what is so important that you called fifty million times?”

“Show me some respect young lady, I am still your father! You go off God knows were, with God knows who, for two days without any contact. That’s disrespectful to me and to your mother.”

“I’m twenty-eight years old, Dad. I don’t need to check in every day.”

“Yes, you do!”

Jerrica could see the frustration in Devin’s tense posture. She started toward Devin to comfort her but froze when the harsh voice came back from the phone.

“When are you going to stop fooling around with all these young men and settle down? You know your mom and I love you and worry about you. We want to make sure you have someone who will take care of you and give us grandchildren.”

Jerrica almost choked as she felt the bile rise in the back of her throat.

Devin sighed. “Dad I’m not that old. I can still have fun from time to time. I’ll find a man when I’m ready for a permanent relationship. You can’t rush me into marriage or children.”

“Well, we would like to see our grandchildren before we are too old to enjoy them.”

“We keep discussing the same thing lately. I’m not ready. I’ve just started enjoying the life that I’ve built.”

“Well, if you stopped spending so much time with your friends, you would have more time to look for the right husband.”

“I don’t want to discuss this with you right now. I’m on the Cape visiting friends and will be leaving for the city soon.”

“Your mother and I are in Nantucket. I want you to come here. We have business to discuss and we can talk about your future as well.”

“Dad, I carpooled down here, I don’t have my own car.”

“Fine, give me the address and I’ll send my driver on the mainland to retrieve you.”

“I would rather you didn’t.”

“Devin Lynn Daniel, you will come to the house! That’s not a request!”

Devin lowered her head in defeat. Tears filled her eyes as she blurted out the address.

“That’s a good girl. The driver will be there in less than an hour. He’ll call you when he gets into town, so you can be ready. Now, be a good girl and say your respectful good-byes to your companions,” he instructed. “Do you hear me, Devin?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good! I’ll see you soon. Love you, baby.”

“Love you too, Daddy,” Devin returned her response lifeless.

Devin tapped the phone off and stared out into the water
.
Suddenly, Devin must have realized it was quiet in the house and there was no sound of running water. Turning around she saw a stunned Jerrica standing in the middle of the room. Devin rushed inside.

“Stop,” yelled Jerrica, putting up her hand.