The Right Time (34 page)

During a quiet spell, when the boats were smoothly gliding across a calm sea, Hennessy said, “Been wondering something.”

“Ask away. I’ve got no secrets.”

“Have you ever been in love?”

Townsend turned and stared at her for a minute. “Have you been paying attention? When could I have possibly fallen in love? I had a tight schedule—screw strange guys, drink, do drugs, drink, do drugs, screw more strange guys, drink, screw some strange women, drink. When did I have time to slow down, sober up, and pay enough attention to love someone?”

Shrugging, Hennessy said, “I don’t know. Maybe at school?”

“You’re not getting it.” She sighed, the soft sound audible over the quiet break of the waves. “I’ve been partying since I was a freshman. That’s all I’ve done, Hennessy. Damn,” she muttered, “do you think I’ve gone on dates with people? Taken long walks in the moonlight?”

“No, I didn’t think that,” she admitted. “But I’ve been wondering about when you switched from having sex with boys. That was a conscious change, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, I guess. After I got pregnant, I stayed away from sex for a while. Having that idle time made me realize I didn’t really like guys sexually.”

“That’s when you made the change?”

Townsend gazed at her for a bit, then focused on her boat again, neatly whipping it around the buoy to glide along the coastline for a while.

“Pretty much. But then I got sent to the reformatory. It took me a long time to figure out ways to get away from the cameras.” She shrugged, not adding a word.

“But you did figure it out. I’m sure of that.”

“Yeah.” She turned and gave her a sly smile. “It took me a while, but I got it figured out. There isn’t a rule I can’t jump over. I sneak out every day to go to my AA meeting.”

“You do?” Hennessy’s eyes popped wide open.

“Yep. My trusty lock picks work like a charm on all of the maintenance buildings. I borrow a truck and cruise on out. Been doing it all year. Haven’t raised even an eyebrow of suspicion.”

Hennessy had to bite her tongue to not launch into a lecture. That drive…that need to break the rules was such an elemental part of Townsend. The part that could easily let her screw up months of sobriety. But Angela’s words appeared in her head, like they were actually printed onto her memory. Townsend had to learn how to control herself. Alone. Doing her very best to not scold, Hennessy said, “Thanks for not telling me that earlier. Now I only have to worry about you for another two months.”

“No big deal. When we get caught doing something wrong they just make you go to more therapy or take away your computer for a couple of days. When that happens, I just do some homework.” Chuckling, she said, “Being in trouble helps my GPA.”

“I’m not going to ask what you did to have your computer taken away.”

“Best not to,” Townsend said, doing a darned good imitation of a South Carolina accent. “Hey, uhm…I don’t mean to butt in, but your boat’s making its way to France.”

“Shit!” Hennessy had been paying such close attention to their conversation she’d completely forgotten about steering. “It’s not doing what I tell it to!” She turned the little wheel frantically.

“You’re out of range.” Townsend clapped her on the back. “You’ve lost it.”

“No way! It’ll come back with the tide.”

“Not here it won’t. But with any luck, it’ll wash up intact somewhere. Maybe the person who finds it will go buy a controller and have some fun with it.”

“How much did it cost?” Townsend didn’t answer quickly enough. “How much?”

“Not sure. They weren’t cheap, I’d guess. But no one will even notice. These were my grandfather’s. He gave them to me when he got new, more advanced ones. Kevlar sails…”

Hennessy kicked off her shoes, shucked her shorts, then her shirt and started to wade in. “Holy mother of God! I’ve never been in water this cold!” Then she stuck her hands in front of her and dove in, swimming as quickly as she knew how. She was a strong swimmer, having been in the water since she was a baby. But swimming in such cold water was a whole ‘nother thing. She hoped Townsend didn’t have to call the police—or the coroner to yank her frozen body out of the water.

The boat was only a little past its range, and she got to it in two or three minutes—the longest minutes of her life. Then she pushed it in front of her, giving it a good shove, then swam after it. Townsend had the boat’s controller in her hand, and she started to steer it as soon as it was in range, allowing Hennessy to forget about it and swim for her life.

She got close to shore, stood and started to high-step out of the water, breaking through the gentle surf. “Gonna freeze!”

“Hold on,” Townsend said, shoving the controller at Hennessy before taking off for the SUV. In a few hours—or a few minutes—depending on your perspective—she was back, holding a blanket. “It’s your lucky day,” she said. “We’ve always got a blanket in the truck.”

“Don’t f…f…feel l…l…lucky,” Hennessy said, shivering roughly. “Keep an eye on my b…boat!”

“I’m watching, I’m watching,” Townsend said, smirking. “I’m not the one who lost it in the first place.”

“Don’t ever let me play with toys that cost more than ten bucks,” Hennessy begged. “Promise me.”

“Got it. I think I have a rubber ducky you can play with in the tub. I guarantee you can’t lose it.” She slapped Hennessy hard on the butt. “Saw you in your undies! Fodder for my masturbation fantasies.”

“Super. Just super.” Hennessy knew she should be embarrassed, but they’d had so much fun she couldn’t manage a bit of shame.

After dinner, they drove back home and started to walk to the guest house. But Townsend took Hennessy’s hand and said, “Let’s walk down to the beach. You’re not too cold, are you?”

“I’m fine,” she said, even though she was a little chilly. “Just holding your hand warms me up.”

They picked their way across the stones set into the turf, leading down to the beach. Someone had toted those darned things into place and buried them so they were the perfect height to walk on. Money made everything easier—even walking.

It was too cold to go barefoot, so Hennessy surveyed the surf, picking out a line they could walk that would keep them dry.

In just a few yards Hennessy could feel her arm itch to lie across Townsend’s shoulders. This happened every time they were alone. She really wanted to touch her, to let her body follow its instincts. But she always had to spend some time considering not just what she wanted, but how Townsend would interpret it.

A shiver ran up her spine as she considered that was exactly the way she had to deal with her mother. Every action, every gesture had to be thought out.

Once again Hennessy breathed a sigh of relief that she and Townsend didn’t live close to one another. It was too draining to keep this up for long. But when she let her arm have its way, and Townsend smiled up at her as she snuggled close, a little planning didn’t seem like too great a price to pay.

“I love you,” she said, not even realizing she was going to speak.

“I love you, too.” Townsend pulled her close and kissed her cheek.

“I had a really nice day with you. Thanks for not fighting me like a panther all day,” she added, chuckling.

“When I can do this…just this,” she added, rubbing her face against Hennessy. “I feel better. Calm,” she admitted.

“Me too. This is what I always thought of when I dreamed of being in love. Making the simple things special because you’re together.”

Townsend gazed at her, looking so content and peaceful. But her devilish side couldn’t help but come out. “My dreams always involved lots of bare skin and glass-shattering orgasms, but this is nice, too.”

“Let’s go home and build a fire,” Hennessy said. “No orgasms, but I bet we can have fun fully clothed.”

“You’re still in charge, so I’ll give it a try. But next year? All naked, orgasms galore.” She gave Hennessy a swat on the ass and took off running, her laughter barely rising above the pounding of the surf.

They went to their respective rooms to get ready for bed, and Townsend walked into the main room a few minutes after they returned, wearing her pajamas and slippers. “Good job on the fire,” she said, smiling at a pleased-looking Hennessy. “You look cute in those pajamas, by the way.”

“I splurged,” she said. “I didn’t have any real ones, just sweats and T-shirts. I didn’t know what the set-up would be here, and I thought I should look presentable.”

“You look more than presentable. The sky blue color nearly matches your eyes, and those white clouds make you look like the angel you are.”

“That’s me,” she said, her teeth shining in the becoming light. “The angel Hennessy.”

Townsend had her hairbrush in her hand, and she walked around to the back of the sofa where Hennessy was sitting. “My hair was a mess after that walk on the beach. Want me to do yours? I’ve always wanted to.”

“Uhm…sure,” she said after delaying her answer for a few seconds. Just like Hennessy to weigh the pros and cons of having her hair brushed.

Townsend set to work, gently untangling a few strands, then gliding the brush through the long, dark locks. With a sexy moan, Hennessy lifted her hand and draped her hair across the back of the sofa, then let Townsend work. “God, that feels good. No one has brushed my hair since I was a little girl. I’ve forgotten how wonderful it feels.”

“Relax and enjoy it. Feel the brush where it tickles your scalp and pulls a little when it slides through your hair. Isn’t that nice?”

“Uh-huh. So nice.” Hennessy spread her long arms along the back of the couch and was soon pressing against the brush.

Townsend marveled at her pure, sensual beauty, slowly realizing that Hennessy was acting freer and more openly sexual than ever before. It suddenly struck her. Hennessy was acting like a normal person because she wasn’t being pushed. She was like a pussycat when she was in control. Purposefully, Townsend gentled her touch even more, with Hennessy turning her head this way and that, seeking the elusive pressure. Without a sound, Townsend set the brush down and began to use her fingers on the sensitized scalp, her knees nearly buckling at Hennessy’s guttural groan.

With gentle, loving care, Townsend trailed her fingertips in long, unpredictable paths all along Hennessy’s arms, leaving her mark on every inch. Hennessy pushed against her fingers, nearly rising from her seat when Townsend pulled away a few inches.

After touching and teasing and caressing her for what felt like ages, Townsend let her fingers slip below the collar to stroke Hennessy’s incredible skin, trailing over her neck and the slope of her shoulders. The flannel pajamas were a slight impediment, and to her amazement, Hennessy opened a couple of buttons and exposed her shoulders completely, the fabric slipping down to barely cover her nipples.

Townsend almost choked. Hennessy was acting like a different woman, a woman who wanted to be touched. It was all she could do to not climb over the sofa and ravage her, but that wouldn’t work. Hennessy had to want it, had to ask for it. If she just teased Hennessy, simply stroked her tenderly, she might ask for what Townsend so desperately wanted to give her.

Suddenly, Hennessy’s hands were sliding up Townsend’s arms. When they reached her neck, gentle pressure urged her down, and she accepted the invitation by tenderly nuzzling on the perfect, smooth skin. She kept her touch light and soft, trying to make Hennessy ask for what she wanted and, hopefully, what she needed. With a whisper-like kiss, Townsend slipped her lips across the expanse of Hennessy’s shoulders, occasionally smoothing her path with a light swipe of her tongue. Hennessy did nothing but moan and writhe against her, but that alone was everything Townsend could have hoped for.

When Townsend began to delicately lick and suckle on an earlobe glowing pink with arousal, Hennessy had reached the breaking point. “Kiss me,” she whispered, her voice so sexy and syrupy sweet Townsend almost fainted.

She managed to walk around to the front of the couch and gasped softly while she took her in. Hennessy was splayed out across the sofa, her shirt half open, breasts barely hidden by the fabric. She looked like a woman weak with desire, and it was all Townsend could do to move slowly and cautiously. Sudden moves might scare her.