The Lure of White Oak Lake (23 page)

~~~

Jaclyn turned from the stove and was expecting to see Austin or Morgan walking in; instead, Maddie was grinning at her from ear to ear. “I need to borrow your son tonight.”

“For what?”

“Heath and I are going to Jeanerette for dinner, and we need a babysitter.”

“Bring the kids over here. I’ll watch them.”

“Austin’s a capable babysitter, you’re missing the point. I want him for the night, and I’ll take him to school in the morning.” Maddie raised her brows and continued to grin at Jaclyn. “You and Morgan will have the house to yourselves all evening.”

Jaclyn’s brow shot up too. “Oh.”

“Yeah, oh. Hopefully, there will be lots of ‘ohs’ right before the big O. We’ll be back around nine, so Austin won’t miss any sleep.”

Austin walked in behind Maddie. “What won’t I miss?”

“I need a babysitter tonight. Want to earn a few bucks?”

“You don’t have to pay me. I’ll do it.”

Maddie reached up and grabbed Austin’s cheeks. “You are the sweetest boy ever. Go pack up your school clothes. I’m keeping you all night.”

“Cool, that’s okay, Mom?”

“Yeah, fine with me,” Jaclyn said as her heart began to pound. She and Maddie watched Austin go, and Maddie’s wicked grin returned. “Knock her ever-living socks off, sis. Make her holler. Make her your bi—”

“I get the point.”

“As long as you get it and get it good. Are you happy? You love me?”

Jaclyn was staring at the wall.

“Jac?”

“Huh?”

“You okay?”

“Yeah, all of the blood in my body just rushed south, and I feel light-headed. There’s just been so much going on lately, and I thought the best we could hope for was a quickie in the storage room, but this is a whole night.”

Maddie cocked her head to the side. “Wait a minute. Are you telling me that y’all haven’t…got it on? I thought lesbians moved at light speed. You know, like, ‘Hey, how ya doing? I’m Jaclyn, let’s have sex and move in together.’”

“I really need to take a shower.” Jaclyn looked at the clock.

“Okay, I see it’s no use trying to have a conversation with you. Your brain has already dropped into your pants.” Maddie smiled at Austin as he walked back into the kitchen with his clothes wadded up in a ball.

Austin kissed Jaclyn on the cheek. “Love you, Mom. I hope you get all the kissing out of your system tonight. You and Morgan are embarrassing.”

Maddie shrugged with a laugh when he walked out. “He’s not a baby anymore.”

“Thank you for this, Maddie. I truly appreciate it.”

“It’s the least I could do, and I promise to do it more often.” Maddie stepped out the door and looked back in. “Shave the quills off your legs.”

Jaclyn took another look at dinner and scrambled upstairs to take a quick shower. Clothes flew left and right as she headed for the bathroom. She lost her balance and slammed into the door as she danced around trying to get her pants off. The best smelling of her shampoos and conditioners was used on her hair. She lathered and washed with her favorite body wash. But when it came time to shave, she realized that her razor was dull and the can of shaving cream was empty.

“Damn it!” Jaclyn yelled as she stepped out of the shower, soaking the bathroom. Ten minutes and three nicks later, she emerged and wrapped herself in a towel. “What to wear?” she mumbled as she padded into the bedroom. Her closet was truly devoid of anything sexy. The best she could come up with was a pair of baggy jeans, easy to get out of, and a snug-fitting purple T-shirt.

M
organ opened the back door of Jaclyn’s house, and the smell of stew simmering filled her senses. Her stomach began to growl as she looked around. Everything was silent. “Hello?” The TV wasn’t on, and Austin was nowhere to be found. She heard footsteps on the stairs as she fought the temptation to nibble on the bread that Jaclyn had baked.

“I had a hell of a time getting that gunk out of my hair, it was like cement. I don’t think we’re going to have to worry about the decorations at all. Where’s Austin?”

“Maddie needed a babysitter, so he’s at her house,” Jaclyn said as she stirred the stew. Morgan had stolen a slice of cucumber from the salad and was chomping away when Jaclyn turned and said, “He’s going to spend the night.”

“Oh.” Morgan reached for another slice of cucumber and froze. “All night?”

Jaclyn nodded.

“Would you mind giving me your cell phone?”

Jaclyn’s expression was quizzical as she pulled it out of her back pocket. Morgan took it and disappeared into the laundry room for a second. “I put it in the dryer with mine,” she explained when she returned. “I didn’t turn it on, they’ll be fine,” she said when Jaclyn looked startled.

“You should lock the back door, too.”

Morgan turned the deadbolt. “How many house phones do you have?”

“Just come over here and kiss me because all of the sudden I’m very nervous.”

Morgan smiled as she walked up to Jaclyn and pulled her into her arms. “I am, too. We could have some wine and just—” Her breath came out in a shudder when Jaclyn kissed her neck. “Or we could just go up to your bedroom.”

The walk through the den and up the stairs seemed like it took hours. Morgan wasn’t just trying to ease Jaclyn’s anxiety when she’d admitted that she was nervous too. She’d spent a lot of time thinking about this moment, and now that it was here, she was shaking like a leaf.

Jaclyn opened the door and closed it when Morgan walked in. “I’m so afraid someone is going to blow up something, shoot themselves in the foot, or—”

Morgan kissed her and backed her toward the bed. Jaclyn wrapped her arms around her shoulders, and Morgan realized Jaclyn was shaking as much as she was. “You really are nervous,” she said as she broke she kiss. “Do you have something that plays music besides the radio in here?”

“My iPod.” Jaclyn picked up a remote and pressed a button. Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “I Like Big Butts” boomed through the tiny speakers of the docking station. Jaclyn pressed another button and smiled sheepishly. “Not what you had in mind?”

“Now I know why you wanted me to gain weight,” Morgan said with a laugh as Jaclyn walked over to the docking station. Soft music began to play seconds later. “I like that, what is it?”

“‘Slave to Love’ by Bryan Ferry. It’s one of my favorites.”

“Dance with me.” Morgan pulled Jaclyn back into her arms. “Our first date was in a field of goldenrod, our first dance in your bedroom. We spit in the face of normal convention.”

Jaclyn laughed as she swayed in Morgan’s arms. “Does it bother you that we’ve never gone to dinner and a movie like everyone else?”

“I’ve had the time of my life. I wouldn’t change a thing.” Morgan ran her hands down Jaclyn’s back, pulling her closer. Their bodies moved snugly together and took over the conversation. One slow song blended into the other unnoticed as they danced in the moonlight filtering through the blinds. Morgan’s nerves began to ebb as her body took over. Jaclyn’s mouth against hers was soft and supple as they swayed together.

Cool air swept over Jaclyn’s overheated skin as Morgan tugged her T-shirt over her head. “Take yours off,” Jaclyn said as she reached for her. Skin velvety soft brushed against Jaclyn’s nipples as Morgan held her close again. A firm thigh moved between hers as Morgan continued to move with the music. Desire replaced anxiety as Morgan kissed her shoulder and unbuttoned the jeans that slid easily down her thighs.

Jaclyn’s kisses were demanding. Her hands blazed a hot trail over Morgan’s back and arms. “I’m not nervous anymore, and I don’t want to go slow,” Jaclyn said against Morgan’s lips. Clothes flew as they moved to the bed.

“You little animal,” Morgan said with a laugh as she and Jaclyn battled for dominance. “I want you on the bottom.”

“Do I have to stay here?” Jaclyn spread her legs and let Morgan slip between them.

“Oh,” Morgan moaned, “just for a little while.”

Jaclyn shuddered as Morgan ground into her. It felt so good to feel Morgan’s body so intimately pressed against hers. She fisted her hands in Morgan’s hair and pulled her head back. Morgan’s skin tasted sweet against her mouth as she kissed her neck and grazed her teeth over the taut skin. She wanted to taste and touch everything Morgan had to offer. When Morgan’s fingers closed around her nipple and lightly squeezed, Jaclyn gasped and struggled with the delicious dilemma of wanting to touch and be touched. Morgan pinned her arms at her side as she slid down and put her mouth where her fingers had been. Jaclyn writhed as Morgan teased with her teeth and tongue.

The skin beneath Morgan’s lips was like silk as she moved lower and released Jaclyn’s hands. Jaclyn’s breathing was erratic as she slipped lower, tasting for the first time Jaclyn’s arousal. The sharp intake of breath was music to Morgan’s ears as Jaclyn wove her fingers in her hair. She spread Jaclyn’s legs wide, pleasuring with her tongue and fingers, matching the insistent rhythm of Jaclyn’s hips. She backed Jaclyn away from release, unwilling to let something so delightful slip from her grasp too soon.

“Right there.” The words came out in a rush as Morgan’s tongue sent jolts of pleasure through Jaclyn’s body. “Harder…yes.” Jaclyn gripped the sheets and craned her head back as every fiber in her body tensed. The image of her pleasing Morgan in the same way flashed through Jaclyn’s mind and heightened her arousal. Her eyes opened, unseeing, as the orgasm stole away her ability to speak or breathe.

Morgan wasn’t finished. She didn’t want loving Jaclyn this way to be over as soon as it was. “Come here, baby,” Jaclyn whispered as she reached for her.

“I’m not finished with you.” Morgan kissed her way up Jaclyn’s stomach.

“No, you’re not,” Jaclyn said before she kissed her.

The feeling of wet heat between Jaclyn’s legs as she ground against her made Morgan groan. She loved the feel of their bodies pressed together, the softness of Jaclyn’s skin enveloping her as she wrapped her arms and legs around her. Jaclyn had complete control of Morgan as she kissed and writhed beneath her, stoking a fire that was already burning. “You feel incredible,” she said as she broke the kiss.

“Roll over,” Jaclyn whispered against her ear.

“You feel too good, let me just—” Morgan moaned into the kiss as Jaclyn captured her mouth. Jaclyn wrapped her legs higher around Morgan’s waist, offering more. Breathless, Morgan pulled away from Jaclyn’s mouth when she felt herself nearing the edge.

“Morgan, don’t stop even if…I…”

Jaclyn’s breathless utterance and the way she felt as she came propelled Morgan higher as chill bumps spread over her body. She gripped Jaclyn’s shoulders as a jolt of pleasure fanned out over her lower body.

Jaclyn held Morgan tighter as her body grew rigid, and the rhythm of her hips became irregular. The winded cry against her cheek made her nearly come again. She gritted her teeth, wanting to take Morgan in every way possible. Her voice quavered when she said, “Roll onto your back for me.”

“Not yet.” Morgan straddled one of Jaclyn’s thighs. She had intended to be gentle and sweet their first time, but Jaclyn brought something out in her she had a hard time controlling. With her leg, she pushed Jaclyn’s, spreading them wide. Jaclyn felt tense beneath her like a coiled spring. “I’m trying really hard not to lose control with you.”

Jaclyn kissed her and nibbled at her bottom lip. “I know, I can feel it. I don’t want you to hold back because I’m not when I get my hands on you.” Morgan’s breath came out in a rush as she slipped deep inside Jaclyn, who responded with a loud groan. She could feel Jaclyn’s nails in her back as she thrust hard and fast. The sensation drove her crazy.

“Oh, fuck,” Jaclyn rasped out as Morgan thrust into her relentlessly.

Morgan had turned loose something inside of Jaclyn that matched her own heated desires. Jaclyn screamed her name as she gripped Morgan hard to make her stop. Morgan gasped for breath as she felt Jaclyn contracting around her fingers.

~~~

Exhausted, Morgan lay flat on her back with Jaclyn’s head on her stomach. The blankets were on the floor, and the sheets had been pulled from the mattress. She was sweating like she’d run twenty miles, it felt fantastic. As sexual matches went, Jaclyn was perfect. “We have amazing chemistry.”

Jaclyn flopped over onto her back and laughed. “We’re gonna end up in the hospital.”

Morgan took Jaclyn’s hand. “My intention was to make love to you.”

“You did. We just expressed our affection for each other in a very passionate way. There will be times when we take it slow, but they will be rare,” Jaclyn said with a laugh.

Morgan found herself wanting to make promises as she lay there with Jaclyn. The idea of leaving her wasn’t something she felt she could consider, and she hoped that Celeste’s theory was wrong about getting her job back. “Jaclyn…is ‘The Siamese Cat Song’ from
Lady and the Tramp
playing on your iPod right now?”

“I was in a whimsical mood when I downloaded that, don’t hold it against me.”

Morgan grinned. “You’re perfect.”

O
h, my God,” Morgan said under her breath as she stood on her deck Saturday morning watching the steady procession of cars pouring into White Oak Lake. Already, the opposite shore and park were a patchwork of blankets and chairs. The parking lot of The Lure was packed, and cars lined the road. Jaclyn had assured her that she had plenty of help for the day. Bailey, Betsy, and Ida were going to cover the store during the race so Jaclyn could watch, but until then, she was helping with the hordes that came in to buy drinks and snacks.

Morgan and Austin had worked on Thor, painting and doing last-minute touchups in the afternoons, and she spent her nights doing some touchups on Jaclyn. All of that activity had left her feeling a little puny. She almost wished that she had not stayed up past midnight before the race—almost. But once again, she and Jaclyn got carried away. Even as she stood looking at the crowds waiting to watch her sink, she wanted Jaclyn. Not even the nippy November wind blowing across the back of her neck could cool her desire. She felt like an addict in withdrawal as she longed for Jaclyn.