Part 6 (1/2)
Solley's skin pebbled under Gin's gaze rather than the cool seawater. Her caramel-colored swimsuit was now soaked a deep toffee. Beads of water quivered on her bronzed curves.
Secretly she was pleased that her mishap had scored a warm fl ash of those dark eyes. Flirting mildly with Gin felt safe, and her confi dence was slowly beginning to build.
”If we go out round the point into Cherry Cove we can tie up at the pontoon at Charlie's Bar and grab an early c.o.c.ktail?”
Gin said above the thrum of the motor.
”Yes, a c.o.c.ktail sounds lovely.”
They'd brought water to sip, but a late afternoon drink at the famous fl oating bar seemed a decadent and fantastic end to their relaxing afternoon. Okay, so it wasn't a date. But this little sliver of quality time defi nitely had her looking at Gin with new eyes. Fresh eyes, even. And she'd fl exed a tiny bit of fl irtin' muscle. She remembered her new mantra and applauded herself inwardly for at last being a little braver.
”Is it bad to be having so much fun without my kids?”
Solley's fi ngers slid slightly on the moisture-beaded highball gla.s.s as she sipped her daiquiri.
a 68 a Gin laughed. ”Everyone needs a break, even you. You're on vacation, too, don't forget.”
Smiling, Solley s.h.i.+fted her gaze from Gin's distracting body to the fl oating wooden starfi sh that was Charlie's Bar.
A long walkway connected the popular venue to the sh.o.r.e, so the sun seekers of Cherry Cove could dawdle up for a colorful beverage when they needed a break from sand and surf. The cove was a loud and busy public beach, a complete contrast to the quiet and solitude of the privately owned La Sirena Verde.
Well, quiet when a stunt crew wasn't fi lming there.
Small craft bobbed alongside, allowing the crew to step along the pontoons to the central circular c.o.c.ktail bar. The gentle Pacifi c roll that made Cherry Cove so popular among swimmers also provided the bar's occupants with a soothing sway. Lounging under the cool shade of the thatched parasol roof while being caressed by warm breezes, made Charlie's one of the most pleasant places to stop by for a drink.
”Thank you for the afternoon,” Solley said. ”It's been great fun. I loved seeing the seals up close.”
”When I visit here, I always go out to watch them. I could sit for hours just listening to the gulls and the waves against the hull. Next time we should bring the kids.” Gin broke off, realizing there might not be a next time. Embarra.s.sed, she fi ddled with her straw, not sure how to rescue the conversation.
”Sorry, I was just thinking, if there's some time in the future when we're all visiting again...”
Solley let her fl ounder in silence for a few seconds before taking pity and rescuing her. ”Hey, let's not invent more troubles than we already have. This is an afternoon for my memory book, a lovely day to look back on, no matter what happens. So, thank you.”
Relieved, Gin grinned. ”Janie said you'd love it.”
a 69 a ”Janie?”
”Yeah, she suggested it. She thought it would do you good to get away from the kids for a while.”
Anger swelled like a fl ood tide in Solley's chest. Janie had set her up. That interfering, matchmaking little sneak. Why couldn't she just let her make her own decisions in her own G.o.dd.a.m.n time? Hiding her irritation, she smiled sedately at Gin before downing her drink in several long, angry gulps.
Gin blinked at the decimation of the c.o.c.ktail in seconds fl at. ”Can I get you another one?”
”No, thank you. It's getting late and the kids are bound to be home by now. Maybe we should get back.”
”Oh...no problem.” Gin looked a little confused. ”Is everything okay? Did I say something?”
”No, not at all.”
Solley wished Gin hadn't picked up on her souring mood.
It piqued her that Janie wasn't far wrong about her frustration level. Hadn't she just preened in the boat for Gin like some witless bimbo, all legs and t.i.ts? It was pointless to deny that she was s.e.xually attracted to the woman. And if Janie had seen how deep it ran, who else had noticed? Solley felt dismayed and exposed...and h.o.r.n.y. Incredibly, hopelessly h.o.r.n.y. d.a.m.n it!
a 70 a
CHAPTER SIX.
The last rays of the sun had just dipped below the horizon when Solley and Gin fi nally strolled up from the jetty toward the house. The evening air was warm, and the sound of happy voices and the smell of barbeque drifted over the dunes to greet them. It felt good, like truly coming home.
Simultaneously, they smiled at each other, eyes locking for the merest instant. But in Solley's guts that brief glance felt like a year-long fall down a dark well. She put the children to bed soon after dinner, and Marsha and Janie retired early, too. Gin went into town with a few of the crew members for a drink and work gossip, so Solley found herself alone. She sat outdoors, contentedly listening to the waves, fi nis.h.i.+ng a beer.
Sometime after eleven o'clock the pad of quiet footsteps on the deck behind her announced Gin's return.
”Hey, there. Everyone gone to bed?”
”Yeah.” Solley's pulse surged off the meter. Trying to sound casual, she said, ”Want a beer? There's plenty in the fridge.”
Gin went into the house and returned with a beer for each of them. She sat down beside Solley on the top step. ”It's a beautiful night.”
”It is. I'm so lucky Janie and Marsha have a home here.
And that they like being invaded by visitors.”
a 71 a ”Me, too. Your family has made my summer.” Gin smiled shyly. ”And I've really enjoyed getting to know you.”
Their eyes locked and Solley felt the reverberation of her dream, deep inside her belly. Her breathing became shallow as she gazed into the same black depths that had monopolized her afternoon. Reason and logic drained away with the suction of quicksand. Time, and the world around her, seemed to freeze.
Mesmerized, she was drawn irresistibly toward those eyes and the warm, full lips just inches from her own. Gin's dark gaze encompa.s.sed hers, silent and unwavering.
This is how she does it. Solley's last coherent thought drifted through her head as she slowly leant forward, her eyes locked on the beer-moistened lips . She hypnotizes women into being s.e.x slaves. This was what f.u.c.kicide felt like.
As their lips softly touched, Gin gave a small involuntary gasp, and Solley, driven by years of lackl.u.s.ter love, deepened the kiss pa.s.sionately. As she slid her tongue across Gin's lower lip, she heard a m.u.f.fl ed sigh and Gin grasped her shoulders, gripping her tightly. Her urgent response and deep moan were rocket fuel to Solley's ardor, and she intensifi ed the kiss. Her red-hot temperament not only emerged in anger, it was also the source of a dormant but volcanic pa.s.sion she now instinctively unleashed. A dam had burst. Never had she felt so blissfully out of control. This was pure, unadulterated l.u.s.t.
White light seemed to streak through her fevered mind as she fumbled with the tiny b.u.t.tons of Gin's fi ne cotton s.h.i.+rt.
After a sharp tug, the garment parted to reveal small, fi rm b.r.e.a.s.t.s topped with deliciously dark nipples. Solley's hurried attentions hardened them, extending the taut tips. G.o.d, Solley groaned, how many years of wors.h.i.+p had made them so fi rm and long? They were like cigar b.u.t.ts. Pulling one into her mouth, she bathed it with hard strokes of her tongue as she rolled the other between her fi ngers.
a 72 a She heard Gin mutter her name between soft cries. The hands kneading her shoulders trembled. Abandoning the succulent breast tissue, Solley ran her tongue from clavicle to earlobe. Gin groaned again and Solley became aware of frantic hands pulling at her, squeezing her upper arms. Words cut into her consciousness.
”Solley, we can't do this.” Gin's voice was thick and throaty. Her skin was fl ushed and heated, her dark eyes glowing and unfocused.
”Why?” Solley drew back, breathing hard.
”You've made it clear what the risks would be. I want to make love with you, but I know what's going to happen tomorrow. You'll wake up in a panic and tell me your life is ruined and you're going to lose your kids because we couldn't keep our pants zipped up.”
Aghast, and sick with desire, Solley objected, ”No, I won't.”