Part 2 (1/2)

Kerry smiled as she walked over to the bedroom, rubbing her fingers against the wooden doorjamb as she entered. It was her favorite room in the cabin, and not just because of the obvious. She knelt and started the small motor that would inflate the Aerobed, then walked over and inspected the bathroom, approving the neat work around the sunken spa tub. One corner of the s.p.a.ce was a gla.s.sed-in shower, the other was the tub, and between lay a large vanity flanked by not one, but two toilets.

Kerry liked that. She and Dar had pondered over the notion for quite a while before they'd decided to have it done. The vanity had 14*

a three-quarter mirror around it, providing just enough privacy.

She opened the cabinet, idly looking at the few supplies they'd left there.

This would be only the third night they'd spent at the cabin, and she found herself looking forward to the time when all the furniture would be there, and the place gained a sense of...home.

She left the bed to inflate and walked back to their dual offices, now just empty s.p.a.ces waiting for the delivery of the custom-made desks they'd ordered. Both rooms had big windows and skylights.

Once the furniture was in, they could plug into the company network as easily as if they were at the condo. Or at the office. She was looking forward to spending more time there.

The pump cut off and she returned to the bedroom, picked up the sheet set, and shook it out over the queen-size, double-height air mattress. She tucked in the fabric, then unfolded the comforter she'd brought with her from Michigan and settled it over the bed, tossing their pillows up to the head of the bed when she finished.

Kerry walked back into the living room and retrieved the overnight bag they'd brought in from the boat. She zipped it open, smiling as familiar scents were released from the clothing and other sundries inside. Two towels were on top. She removed them and put them in the bathroom, then took out the s.h.i.+rts they both liked to wear before bed.

It had taken her a little while to get used to sleeping in the nude, but once she had, she'd become almost addicted to the primal comfort of snuggling under the covers with Dar, and she found she slept like an absolute rock once she'd tucked herself around her partner's body.

Her ears perked up as she heard the back door to the cabin open, and Dar's rhythmic footsteps approached.

”Ker?”

”In here,” Kerry replied, turning as a dark head poked into the bedroom. ”Just getting stuff out.”

Dar held up a brown paper wrapped package invitingly.

”Dinner?”

Kerry held up her s.h.i.+rt. ”Shower first?”

One of Dar's eyebrows quirked. ”I'll stick this in the fridge,”

she remarked with a knowing smirk before disappearing in the direction of the kitchen.

Kerry chuckled softly to herself. ”Heh.” She dropped the s.h.i.+rts onto the bed and eased her light cotton blouse off her shoulders, wincing slightly at the sting of a mild sunburn. ”Ouch.”

”Uh huh.” Dar had returned, bearing a small blue jar. ”Figured we both could use this.” She held up the cold cream. ”With aloe.”

”You rock.” Kerry held out a hand and led Dar to the bathroom, opened the shower door, and reached in to start the*15 water running. The first time they'd stayed in the cabin, the electricity hadn't even been on, and after bravely bearing the oppressive heat inside the half-finished building, they finally admitted defeat and curled up together out on the beach, hoping against hope they'd escape both crabs and foul weather.

They had, but Kerry had found tiny, suspicious red marks on her neck that had worried her a lot until Dar rather sheepishly admitted to having made them with some overenthusiastic nibbling.

Ah, love. Kerry turned to see Dar with her disintegrating shorts unb.u.t.toned and her tank top half over her head. She reached over and tickled her belly b.u.t.ton, watching Dar's abdominals contract as she chuckled in reaction. Blue eyes emerged a moment later as Dar got her s.h.i.+rt off, and shook a finger at Kerry in mock remonstrance.

Kerry relented as she pulled off her own s.h.i.+rt, feeling a light tickle as Dar unhooked her bra. They finished getting undressed and squeezed into the shower together. ”Ooo,” Kerry hissed as her sunburned skin protested the pressure of the hot water. A moment later, the pressure ceased as Dar stepped between her and the spray.

”Hang on.” Dar adjusted the water to a little cooler temperature and less force. ”There.” She dropped her arms around Kerry and pulled her closer, rubbing her back gently. ”Better?”

”Much.” Kerry nuzzled between Dar's b.r.e.a.s.t.s. ”That wreck today was awesome. The visibility was incredible.”

”Yeah.” Dar squeezed out some coconut body wash and started rubbing it over Kerry's skin. ”Did you get a shot of that sand shark?”

”The one that was fascinated by your flippers? You bet.” Kerry lathered up a handful of soap and started was.h.i.+ng Dar. ”For a minute there, I thought it was going to start munching on you.”

Dar squirted some shampoo on her partner's damp head and worked it in with her fingers, ma.s.saging Kerry's scalp as she got the salt water and sand out of it. ”I did too,” she confessed. ”Did you see me grab my knife?”

Kerry was busy scrubbing Dar's thigh. ”Yep. That was the best picture. That wreck in the background, all that white sand in front of it, and you and the shark facing off. Perfect.”

”Uh oh. I sense more bathroom art.” Dar gave a mock sigh. ”If you put it up in the office, every ten minutes you'll have to answer 'which one's the shark?'”

Kerry snickered, her shoulders shaking as she patted Dar's side. She caught Dar's right hand and rubbed her thumb over the top of it affectionately, then stopped and examined the skin more closely. The knuckles were slightly swollen, and a sc.r.a.pe marred the second one. Her eyes lifted in question to meet Dar's.

16*

Dar continued rinsing Kerry's hair with her free hand. ”I ran into a brain-cell-deficient organism at the market.” She grinned rakishly. ”Some punk who thought bullying old men and shooting animals was a good time.”

”Ah.” Kerry brought the knuckle up and kissed it. ”I love it when your Robin Hood streak comes out. Did you really hurt him?”

”Nah. I hit him in the head and the nuts.” Dar turned and got them both under the spray, rinsing off the coconut body wash. She started to lather shampoo in her hair, but felt Kerry tugging her down, and gracefully lowered herself to her knees, giving her shorter partner access to her head.

Dar slid her hands up Kerry's strong thighs and playfully nibbled her navel as Kerry washed her hair. She felt the surface under her lips move a little more strongly as Kerry inhaled sharply.

Slowly, she worked her way up, past the curving arch of Kerry's ribs to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, feeling the fingers tangled in her hair move with a suddenly insistent rhythm.

Teasing, she nipped at the underside of one breast then, even over the pattering of the water, heard Kerry's ragged intake as she went a little higher. With a smile, she released Kerry's nipple and eased to her feet, planting kisses up the center of her partner's breastbone until she reached the lips waiting for her.

Kerry's body slid against Dar's, and Dar felt Kerry's hand slide up the inside of her thigh. The water washed the shampoo from her hair down both of them as they kissed and exchanged more intimate touches. Dar fumbled behind her and shut off the faucet, then booted the door open as they eased out of the shower and reached for towels.

The slightly rough surface of the terry cloth was like an explosion of sensation against her already tingling skin, and Dar found her own breathing growing short as Kerry dried her off and she returned the favor. They managed to find their way through the still-unfamiliar confines of the cabin's bath and the short distance to the bed, falling onto it and rolling as the air mattress bucked with unexpected motion.

”Used to the waterbed.” Kerry chuckled softly, as she recaptured Dar's lower lip in her teeth.

”Ungh.” Dar stretched out, then wrapped her body around Kerry's, claiming possession of every inch of her. She slid a leg between Kerry's and felt her partner's body lean against hers, a rush of warmth after the cool air of the room. Kerry's hand cupped her breast and an almost primal growl emerged from her.

Before rational thought became impossible, Dar did briefly hope they wouldn't forget this bed had no retaining b.u.mpers.

d.a.m.n floor didn't have any padding and neither of them really bounced well.*17 ”Rrr,” Kerry burred, as their lips once again tasted each other.

Dar stroked her delicately and the sound deepened to a groan.

She stopped worrying about the floor.

KERRY PULLED TO a stop at the corner and waited, allowing a car to pa.s.s before she eased up on the throttle a little and turned onto the main and only street that went through the town. She settled her weight on the motorcycle and enjoyed the breeze as it blew against her, gaining guilty pleasure from the fact that she'd shucked the long-sleeved leather jacket tucked into the strap at the back of the bike for her short trip up the road. It was early, the sun just easing over the trees, and the weather was crisp and cool; she'd taken a calculated risk that her growing mastery of the relatively sedate motorcycle wouldn't make her regret it. She was, after all, wearing her jeans and boots and helmet, so leaving her upper body unprotected was hopefully just a limited exposure. So to speak.

Dar was getting the boat ready for the next leg of their vacation, so Kerry had volunteered to make the short run up to the nearest Wal-Mart for a few things they'd realized they'd forgotten.

Dar had laughed and accused her of just making an excuse to take the bike out, but since she liked to ride it as much as Kerry did, the accusation was specious at best.

”Vroom, vroom.” Kerry glanced down at the Honda Shadow Spirit, then quickly focused her eyes back on the road.