Even if that whatever included this tall, beautiful woman who had pretty much put herself on the line for Kerry, in more ways than one. She sat thinking about Dar actually getting into the cockpit of a fighter jet just to come and find her, and a silly, incredulous smile edged onto her face. It was like a fairy tale, really. No one ever did that in real life, right? Of course not. And yet, she had, making nothing of it as though it were an everyday occurrence for her. “My hero,” Kerry whispered softly, curling a dark lock around one finger as she gazed at her sleeping lover’s face.
Her eyes fell on the neat bandage taped across the cut the stool had made in Dar’s neck, and she pursed her lips. She’s lucky she moves as fast as she does, Kerry reflected wryly. I would have clobbered her otherwise, poor thing. She felt very protective of Dar suddenly and felt a fierce surge of simple affection for her, beyond their physical relationship.
Idle words formed in her head, and she let them chase themselves around a little, ordering and reordering them. Finally she smiled wistfully to herself.
“Haven’t done that in a long, long time,” she whispered, winding her fingers around Dar’s, which were resting on her hip. “Didn’t think I even remembered how, but there’s something in you that touches something way down deep inside me, Dar. And it makes me feel things so strongly, it’s like seeing life in a million colors suddenly, instead of just a few.” The words floated by again, and she closed her eyes and recited them silently, tasting their depth.
The winds of life are circling
Over grass and under trees,
Touching my heart and lifting me up to soar.
And as my eyes fall upon you,
an ancient song surrounds me
Binding our souls together with sure hands.
The future lies an uncertain path
Under dark and stormy skies,
But I will walk in sunlight beside you forever.
Kerry smiled in silent wonder, then her eyes flickered open as a fingertip traced her lips. “Oh.”
“What’s so funny?” Dar inquired curiously, her voice husky from sleep.
“Life,” Kerry answered softly. “You don’t have to get up. Go back to sleep, Dar. You still look pretty tired.” She smoothed the disordered hair back out of the taller woman’s eyes. “I’m going to root around and scare us up some dinner.”
A frank, lazy grin appeared. “Scare is probably the appropriate word. I Tropical Storm 449
think I’ve got grapes, milk, some frozen pizzas, and a can of fruit cocktail,”
Dar admitted. “Maybe we should order in.”
“Ah ah ah.” Kerry shook her finger playfully. “Where’s the challenge in that? I like this, Dar. I get a chance to use my imagination. Give me a minute, okay?”
Blue eyes gentled. “You feeling better?”
Kerry exhaled. “Yeah, now that the shock is kind of over. I just want to get on with my life, you know?” She played with the edge of Dar’s sleeve. “It’s weird to realize I don’t have to worry about their opinions anymore.” A shrug. “And, I think it was also that I was just really tired, my defenses were sort of shot.”
Dar relaxed back into the soft leather and let her hands wander down the denim-covered leg resting over her own. She could feel the muscles tensing as she explored, and she put strong hands to use in a gentle massage. “Maybe in time they’ll change their minds,” she offered. “Kerry, no matter what, you’re still their daughter.”
Kerry exhaled slowly. “Do you think your mother will ever change her mind?” She looked up, right into Dar’s eyes.
Dar’s gaze dropped to the surface of the couch. “That’s different. She’s angry with me because she thinks I don’t understand how much she loved him.” Dar spoke quietly. “I told her… We got in a big argument after he died when I told her he’d gone the way he’d always wanted to, and she should just let him go.”
“Mmm.” Kerry twined her fingers with Dar’s.
“She told me I didn’t understand, and probably never would.” Dar remained silent for a moment. “Maybe she was right.”
“She must have loved him a great deal,” Kerry murmured.
“He was everything to her. She’d look at him, and it was like he was some god or something.” Dar sighed. “She knew, before they came to the house.
She’d been beside herself all day long.”
“Maybe, maybe they were soulmates,” Kerry said hesitantly, the word tasting sweet but strange on her tongue. “You know that old story—two halves, that kind of thing.”
A long moment of silence while Dar considered her words. “I…I never believed in any of that stuff, but…” She shrugged. “Who knows?” Her eyes studied the blonde woman. “Do you believe in that, in there being such a thing?”
Kerry kept quiet, thinking about the question. “I didn’t used to,” she admitted finally. “I never considered myself a romantic person, or someone who believed in great, mythical love.” A pause. “But, I don’t know, it’s a really nice kind of possibility, you know?”
“Yeah,” Dar murmured.
“When I was up in Michigan, I got to talk to an old pastor of mine, Pastor Robert. He used to talk about that all the time, so…” Kerry carefully kept her eyes on her hands. “And, um, well, he kind of told me about that, and how he thought you could tell. I mean, if you’ve found yours, that is.”
“Yeah?” Dar cleared her throat. “Just for argument’s sake, what did he say?” She propped her head up on one hand, and paid close attention to a 450 Melissa Good seam in the leather.
Kerry lifted her eyes and studied the dark, bowed head. “I, um…he…um, he said you can tell, because when you look at that person, you see everything you need to complete yourself.” Faintly startled blue eyes lifted and met hers.
“Which sorta makes sense, I guess,” Kerry added in a low mutter.
Dar simply breathed for a long instant. “In-interesting theory,” she finally managed to say, clearing her throat when her voice came out a touch hoarse, her eyes still locked with Kerry’s.
“Isn’t it?” Kerry replied softly.
“It, um,” Dar rubbed the back of her neck and exhaled, “…has a certain logic to it.” She pursed her lips, then glanced up into Kerry’s eyes again. “Did you say something about dinner?”
Kerry smiled, feeling a happy little jolt in her chest. “Uh, yeah. Let me go see what I can find.” She leaned forward and brushed her lips against her lover’s, enjoying the tingle of heat that stirred up in her guts. “On the other hand…” she murmured, delighting in the distraction as her body forgot about dinner and concentrated on something equally as tasty.
Dar’s hand slid slowly off her hip, and she felt a teasing touch exploring her ribs under her T-shirt. “Mmm,” Kerry murmured softly, unbuttoning Dar’s cotton polo and tugging it loose from her belt. “By the way, have I told you how inspiring you are?”
Teeth nibbled her ear teasingly. “Inspiring?” the deep voice inquired curiously. “How so?”
“You ignite my dreams,” Kerry replied softly, her hands exploring hungrily. Dar’s skin was amazingly soft, and had a warm, silky texture she really liked. The muscles felt thick and strong under their light layer of softness, and the blonde woman traced their contours with sensual delight.
“I do?” Dar sounded a bit surprised. “Imagine that.” She let her hands slide down Kerry’s waistline, long fingers working loose the top button of her jeans with a soft pop. “Coincidentally…” Another pop, as the second button came free. “You…” A third. “Dominate mine.” The last button loosened, and she slid her hands under the heavy fabric. “I’ve been dreaming about us together since before that trip.”