The Awakening: A Sisterhood of Spirits Novel (17 page)

Sunny turned on the porch light, flipped the dead bolt, and opened the door to find the porch empty.

“Ha, ha. Very funny, Mazie.”
Not.

Ash appeared on the stairs behind her, arched his back, and hissed, viciously baring his sharp fangs. Ten seconds later, Isis came out of the office and immediately took an aggressive stance. The growl that erupted from the tiny cat had every hair on Sunny’s body standing at attention, right along with the cats’ fur.

“Pret-ty.”

Sunny heard the raspy voice and fought the urge to shudder. She
hated
it when they followed her home.

“Oh no, you don’t,” she yelled. “Get out!” She slammed the door and took the red energy from her anger and wove it together with ribbons of white for protection, an old charm her mother had taught her. She wove it tightly around her, closing any gaps with white light, until it encircled her fully. Instantly, the fog she’d been wandering through since her time in the basement lifted some, and she was surprised she hadn’t felt the intrusive oppression earlier. Why was that? Sunny finished with the light shield and thrust it through the reopened door. “Out.”

The fetid wind that swirled around the door nearly gagged her, but the next breath she took was a clean one. She burned sage anyway, leaving the front door open while she cleansed the area and herself.

When she didn’t feel there was any trace remaining, she shut the door and leaned against it. When had her life gotten so complicated?

Right around the time I met Jordan.
She looked longingly at the bed when she passed it on her way to the bathroom. The encounter with the entity and the effort to throw it out had left her depleted. Sunny wanted nothing more than to drop facedown into the bed and go to sleep, but knew from experience that it would leave her open and vulnerable while she slept.

Her hands shook while she lit the candles and filled the tub with water, but she stayed with her routine, stripped, and threw her clothes down the laundry chute to be washed first thing in the morning.

Sunny sank into the hot water and closed her eyes. She felt the stiffness in her shoulders relax marginally, but her mind insisted on taking her back to the basement and Jordan, which caused a different tension altogether.

The way Jordan had looked at her across the table over dinner…

Was that only last night? It seemed longer than that. Sunny smiled to herself when she recalled the playful flirting in Jordan’s apartment when Sunny changed her clothes.

She remembered her visceral reaction that shut out her inner voice. It was a new and unique feeling to be alone in her head and stop
thinking
all the time and wondering what someone else was feeling. She had no point of reference for the experience.

She replayed her explosive orgasm over and over and the feeling of Jordan’s hips thrusting between her thighs. The sensation echoed and Sunny’s pulse picked up.
I’ve got to get out of here.
Jordan’s parting words intruded and threw ice water on Sunny’s fantasy.

She forced herself to get out of the tub and put on her nightshirt. What she needed tomorrow was a day of reflection. Her friends and mother meant well, but she didn’t want any company. Sunny changed the outgoing message on her phone.

“Hi, I hope you’re having a nice day. I’m fine but taking a mental health day. Thanks, love you, bye.”

She didn’t take too many of those, but when she did, barring an emergency, she knew it would be respected. She could sleep in and recharge.

Sunny got into bed and willed herself to clear her mind and energy. It was time to go to that place where her feelings began, to concentrate on that white light in her belly that burned without flame. She shut out the physical world and let the day go.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Focus on the light.
When her soul began floating and she no longer felt the barrier of her skin, she left her room behind and her spirit flew on the wind of her thoughts, over a cascading waterfall on the wings of an eagle, across the ocean and beyond.

A drum beat to the rhythm of her heart, and Sunny drew nearer to the sound by simply willing it. An old woman sat on a braided rug in front of a small fire and beckoned her to sit across from her. The evidence of a long-lived life was etched into her kind face while her smile radiated love and patience.

“Why do you deny yourself, daughter?”

Sunny felt sorrow well up from her soul, coming from an urge she couldn’t vocalize past the lump in her throat. “Jordan doesn’t want me as I am.”

“You’re afraid,” the old woman said and stoked the fire.

“I’ve tried.”

“No, daughter, you’re using Jordan’s emotions as a crutch to gauge whether you should move forward.”

The truth of the words stung her skin, and Sunny felt tears drop into the fire where they burst into dancing blue sparks.

“You have to learn to follow your feelings and reach for the things you desire. If you don’t ask, the answer is always going to be no. The time is at an end where you can let life just come to you like loose leaves blowing in the wind. Destiny waits for you.”

“I thought giving messages to people from their loved ones was my destiny.” Sunny was appalled at the trace of bitterness she heard in her voice, here in this sacred place.

The old woman smiled gently at her. “That’s only part of who you are, child. The other part is love.”

“Where do I start?” Sunny asked.

“You already have.” The forest scene shimmered around her, and Sunny felt herself falling sideways. She closed her eyes against the vertigo.

When she landed in a dark room, she opened her eyes to see the little dark-haired girl huddled in the corner. This time, Sunny thought she knew who it was.

Chapter Eleven

It was close to four in the morning when Jordan entered her apartment. She flopped on the couch and stretched her legs over the coffee table. A small piece of duct tape caught her eye, and she noted the camera in the corner was gone. She closed her eyes and felt regret knot in her stomach.

Sunny.
Jordan had never called her last night to tell her what was going on and why she left so suddenly. It was too late to do it now. She really needed a couple of hours of sleep first. She could call when she got up.

Jordan woke suddenly and was instantly alert. When she convinced herself that nothing was amiss in the apartment, she glanced at her watch, surprised to see she’d been out for three hours.

She rose from the couch and stretched her stiff muscles before heading into the kitchen to make coffee. It wasn’t until she was done that she looked down and saw the blood on her clothes and dirt encrusted in the knees of her jeans. The nightmare of finding the missing girl replayed in her mind while she stumbled into the shower.

Jordan tried to put it away, but the weight of it made it difficult. Jordan wrapped herself in a towel and went into her bedroom to get dressed.

The rising sun came in her window and something red sparkled on her dresser. Curious, she crossed over and picked up Sunny’s necklace. She must have left it there when she changed last night. Jordan recalled how beautiful she had looked over dinner, the red stones glittering against her pale skin.

So pure, so good. Jordan’s throat tightened. She wanted Sunny so badly it made her chest ache. And that was before she kissed her. The little moans she made, the way she smelled, her incredible uninhibited response. Jordan had been unable to stop herself from taking more.

The room grew oppressive around her. Jordan took an honest appraisal of the way she lived. There was so much ugly in her life. What could she possibly offer Sunny?

Her bright and positive personality was a direct opposite to Jordan’s, and she couldn’t find one scrap of evidence that would convince her otherwise. Sunny was too good for her and she knew it.

Knowing that hurt much more than Jordan thought possible. Just once, she wanted to reach out and touch something better. Just once, before she had to crawl back into her dark place in the world. She finished dressing and carefully put Sunny’s necklace in her pocket. She decided to walk over. She could use the extra time to remind herself she liked being a loner and didn’t need anyone special in her life.

When Jordan reached Sunny’s house, all the curtains were closed and she realized she must still be sleeping. It was probably for the best anyway. She would leave her necklace in the mailbox and do the right thing. She would walk away.

She’d just crouched on her knees to slip it through the little metal slot when the door opened and she nearly fell on her ass before catching herself. Sunny stood in front of her wearing a white sports bra and yoga pants that hung low on her hips. “That’s it? You weren’t going to talk to me?”

Jordan was caught off guard and couldn’t find her voice. To her horror, Sunny’s eyes filled with tears.

“Why do you keep pushing me away?”

“I don’t.” Sunny’s accusing look reminded her otherwise. “I don’t mean to, okay? I thought you were still asleep. Can I come in and explain?” Jordan slipped by her when she stood to the side. Sunny pointed to the sitting room.

“Do you want some coffee?”

“No, I’m good.”

“I’ll be right back,” Sunny said.

The house smelled of her, and Jordan knew that for the rest of her life the scents of summer would remind her of Sunny.

“Okay. I’m ready.” Sunny sat across from her. “Where did you disappear to?”

“I went outside for some air and my partner called with a lead on a missing girl. I didn’t mean to not let you know. Things just happened so fast.”

“Oh.”

Sunny was so quiet, Jordan began to feel a little defensive. “It’s my job.”

“I realize and respect that, but you still haven’t answered my question.”

Sunny deserved the truth, but the wall Jordan built to protect herself was in the way, right alongside the pride that was stuck in her throat. “I don’t want to push you away, Sunny.”

“So don’t.”

Jordan felt torn. The best thing to do was walk away, but the thought of doing so twisted her up inside. “You make me want.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

She looked at the floor before answering. “You make me want things I’ve never had. And yes, that’s a bad thing.”

“Look at me, Jordan.” Sunny leaned closer. “And tell me why.”

Jordan felt herself caught up in her gorgeous eyes. The words caught in her throat, forcing her to almost whisper. “Because I can’t miss the things I’ve never had.”

Sunny got up and knelt in front of her. “I’m right here, Jordan. You don’t have to miss me. Can’t you feel this between us? Am I the only one that feels this way?”

Jordan shook her head. “No, I—”

“Then let’s see where it takes us.” She stood and pulled Jordan to her feet.

Jordan held her breath and tried to remember the argument she had for leaving, but Sunny stepped into her arms and licked her lower lip, and all logical thought dissolved. Jordan felt the blood rush from her head to pound between her thighs, and all thoughts left her completely. She fiercely matched the passionate attack, glad to have Sunny’s body back where it seemed to fit so perfectly.

Sunny tugged at her leather jacket, and Jordan drew her mouth away just enough to help her pull it off, letting it lie on the floor where it dropped. Her lips were fused to Sunny’s while she was led to the stairs, stopping only long enough to pull in a breath when Sunny stripped off Jordan’s T-shirt and her own sports bra.

Jordan made it halfway to the third floor before Sunny dropped onto the stairs, pulling Jordan down on top of her. “Right here.”

Jordan didn’t hesitate, balancing on the tread below her, and nibbled her way down Sunny’s neck to stop and pull the hard nipple between her teeth, kneading the other under her palm.

Sunny whimpered and grabbed Jordan’s belt buckle. “Too many clothes. Off.”

Jordan dropped her hands to the waistband of Sunny’s loose yoga pants, yanking them down in one fluid motion. She moved back a little and was awestruck by the sight. Sunny was perfect. Her face was soft with desire, eyes half-lidded while she looked at Jordan looking at her. Tiny stones glittered at her neck and navel, her hair fanned on the step above her, and with her thighs spread, giving herself to Jordan, she looked like a goddess waiting to be worshipped. The small white triangle of fabric between her thighs was the only obstacle between them.

Jordan kissed the silky fabric, letting her tongue slide over the length of it. The scent of Sunny’s pleasure made her mouth water, and the soft flesh quivered under her lips. The frantic pace of the moment was replaced by reverence when she pulled Sunny’s panties to the side. “You are so beautiful.” She gazed at Sunny’s glistening flesh, naked but for a small strip of blond curls.

Jordan blew gently before tasting her, running her tongue slowly along the sensitive skin. Soft, she was so soft, and getting wetter by the second. She continued her unhurried, lapping strokes until Sunny’s hips twitched and her steady moans became little bird cries in her throat. Jordan sucked the hot flesh between her lips, increasing the motion until all of Sunny’s sex slid in and out of her mouth.

“Jordan!” Sunny’s hips bucked and her sweet juices ran freely to cover Jordan’s chin and puddle on the stair beneath her ass. “That feels so good. Please, Jordan, I need you inside me.”

Jordan complied, lifting her mouth just enough to enter her with two fingers. Sunny gasped. “Yes, oh, yes, I’m going to come.”

Jordan stroked her center, and every time Sunny’s walls tightened around her fingers, she felt her own sex clench in response and she heard her own muffled moans vibrate against Sunny’s clit. Jordan’s tight pants rode almost painfully between her legs, and she rocked against the friction, never losing her rhythm between her hand and her tongue.

Jordan tore her eyes away from Sunny’s sex to look at her, and the sight of Sunny kneading her own breasts shot straight to Jordan’s clit. Sunny cried out again, soaking her with her orgasm, and Jordan pressed her face tightly against her, drinking it greedily. She didn’t want to miss a single drop. Her own orgasm exploded and she moaned against Sunny’s wetness, driving her fingers deeper into Sunny as the waves of pleasure rocked her own body.