The Reunion Read online

  Sarah shivered. She hoped her jaw hadn’t dropped. A lesbian pastor? Goodness. And her parents? They never rocked the boat. Or did they? They must’ve. “Why didn’t they ever tell me? I never knew.”

  “Maybe they thought you knew they were non-judgmental and that was enough. They weren’t the kind of folks who wore their values on their sleeves. They just practiced them.”

  “I’ll be. Thank you, Emily, for telling me. Even Adam said they were non-judgmental when we were growing up as kids. Guess I never appreciated that fact.”

  “Sometimes children are the last to see their parents for who they really are. Probably the opposite is also true. Well, I know you’re exhausted and I don’t want to keep you. I just wanted to say thank you for your parents. And,” Emily winked, “I am a pastor. Always remember, Sarah, God accepts each of us for who we are.”

  Emily hugged Sarah soundly and headed toward the stairs and her office.

  In a daze, Sarah looked around for Adam and Maria. It was time to begin getting on with their lives. She had so much to think about, and Emily had certainly answered some basic questions about her parents and their capacity for being flexible and accepting of people unlike themselves.

  Three nights later, Sarah stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows in her lakefront condo peering out at the familiar lights of buoys and piers and who knew what else moving slowly in the dark. Perhaps those were ships transporting ore to the steel mills of northern Indiana, or maybe they were pleasure boats with people seeking escape from the tugs and pulls of day-to-day routine.

  She sighed. What a whirlwind the last week had been. The call from Harry. The confrontation with Daniel. The funeral. Pastor Emily’s freeing words. Every conceivable emotion had been touched.

  Adam had been so comforting and willing to do anything she needed—until the funeral was over, and then he’d fled. He’d become antsy and decided to fly back to California that same night. Maria had stayed behind and came along to Chicago to support her.

  They’d spent the past two days moving in slow motion. The two of them had tidied up the condo, drunk lattes at her favorite bistro, and held hands walking the beaches of Lake Michigan. Maria hadn’t been demanding at all. And they’d hardly mentioned Adam.

  Although he’d been so helpful, the funeral must have taken Adam well out of his comfort zone. Maybe having a healthy relationship with him was impossible. At last, she’d concluded it wasn’t she who was scaring Adam—it was Adam, himself. He wasn’t ready to own his softer side.

  Sarah nodded at Maria’s reflection in the window as she came up behind her and began kneading tight neck muscles. She immediately softened under Maria’s superb touch. “Thanks. You’re so good for me. That helps a lot. It’s a gorgeous night out there. I never tire of the sight of Lake Michigan at night.”

  “You’re the gorgeous sight,” Maria whispered, untying Sarah’s robe and letting the folds fall where they might. One breast remained covered. The other was visible in their reflection, as were her loins.

  Sarah made no move to cover herself. She trusted Maria implicitly. She ached with a kind of wanting she’d rarely felt. It was time. She dropped her chin to her chest. Maria had become an integral part of her existence. Did Maria know that? What were they going to do about it?

  Maria pulled back her hair and grazed her neck with soft lips.

  The view in the window nearly took Sarah’s breath away. Their image was surreal. But then the entire week—hell, the entire time since that night with Adam at the reunion had been surreal.

  She laid a palm on top of Maria’s hand that cupped her breast. How had she come to love this sweet, generous woman so much? She did. She wasn’t ashamed to admit it, at least to herself. Had the conversation with Pastor Emily opened her to accepting herself? How could she expect Adam to accept himself if she couldn’t accept who she was?

  She’d dabbled with women while in college, but that was entirely different from what she and Maria shared. That was a social experiment as much as sexual—it was the thing to do to be avant-garde. She rested her head back against Maria’s shoulder. This had nothing to do with doing the in thing. This was who she was. A mature bi-sexual woman. There—she’d named it. Her skin prickled in response.

  “You’re not alone, you know.” Maria’s voice soothed.

  “I know.” Sarah patted Maria’s hand. “But I’m the end of my family line, and I’ll have no children.” She winced. “So this is it.”

  “I can’t make the hurt go away. You have a huge hole of grief that will never entirely disappear. But I am here to remind you, you’re not alone. You have me, and you have Adam.” Maria nibbled on her ear. “If you want us.”

  “You think.” Sarah shook her head. “Didn’t you see the fear in Adam’s eyes before he bailed for the airport? He was afraid I’d trapped him, that the death of my parents had somehow moved him into a level of commitment he didn’t want.”

  Maria wrapped her arms around Sarah’s mid-section and hugged her close. “You may be right. I believe it’s a matter of readiness. Adam isn’t ready yet.” She paused and caught Sarah’s eyes reflected in the window. “But I am.”

  Sarah beamed at her lover’s image. “So am I. You are so lovely, Maria. Why did it take so long to find you?”

  “Maybe that had something to do with readiness, too. For both of us.”

  There was silence. Sarah could hear her own heart pounding in her ears and feel Maria’s thudding against her back. They were on the cusp of something huge. This was about much more than superior sex.

  “We haven’t made love for a week, Sarah. Would you like to come like this? We can retire to the bed later. I’d like to love you as you stand here, if that’s okay with you.”

  Sarah’s toes curled in the thick carpet. She couldn’t contain the waves of giddiness. “Yes, please,” she whispered, nodding her pleasure. Their relationship might be moving toward a new level of commitment, but they weren’t about to leave that superior sex behind. Thank God.

  She inhaled watching Maria tug on her nipple while slipping a hand lower across her belly to the juncture of hips and tuft.

  “Can you widen your stance for me?” Maria breathed. “I need to be in you.”

  “Yes,” she whimpered. “I need you in me.”

  Sarah gasped and tilted her pelvis as Maria’s finger searched for her entrance. She rose on her toes when Maria found it and entered, then she lowered her torso, impaling herself as Maria probed.

  “Always so hot,” Maria purred, rubbing her crotch across Sarah’s ass.

  Canting her head to greet Maria’s lips, Sarah ground back against Maria’s loins. She swore she could feel the love coursing between their bodies. “So good,” she murmured. “Too long.” There was no hurry.

  Her breast was left alone as Maria lowered her other hand to cover her clit. Sarah grabbed her own nipple and pulled on it. Her breathing had turned ragged.

  “I love the way your body responds to me.” Maria studied their reflection in the window. “Our reflection is coming alive.

  “Yes.” Sarah shook her hair. Her hips began to undulate against Maria’s finger. “But faster, please. Help me over. Love me.”

  Maria ground her pussy harder against Sarah’s butt, working two fingers into her vagina while stroking her clit. “Come to me, Pepper. Come to me. I’ll always love you.”

  Sarah’s mouth slackened. Her juices flowed. “Jesus. It’s been too long.”

  Maria held her up when she thought she might fall.

  Gradually, feeling returned to Sarah’s wobbly legs and she turned to kiss her lover thoroughly. “Thank you. Thank you for being you. Now, we should do you.” She held out her hand and Maria took it. “I’ve never made love to a woman in my bed.”

  Maria’s finger curled tighter around hers. “I’m glad you waited for me.”

  - o -

  Gleefully, Maria watched Sarah’s dark head work its way across her belly to her patch of ringlets. Sarah nev
er paused. She licked the edges of Maria’s pussy. She nibbled on the folds. She separated them and pushed her tongue inward.

  Raising her head, Sarah grinned widely. “You taste so refreshing, Maria.”

  Maria arched her back when Sarah’s tongue reentered her, joined by a finger. She soared, waiting for her own orgasm to build. It was there, tucked away in the mists. Her eyes closed as she coaxed her response. Then she frowned, aware of the absence of the tongue and finger that had been so pleasurable. Her eyes sprang open and she smiled.

  Sarah kissed her way back up Maria’s body and covered her lips. She probed her mouth and her crotch rubbed across Maria’s. Soon Sarah found the critical spot, rose on her hands and worked wonders on Maria’s clit, drawing tiny concentric circles around it with her pussy. Sarah’s eyes rounded and she gnawed on her bottom lip.

  Maria arched against her and then Sarah settled. Breasts against breasts. Clit against pussy. Tongue against tongue. Sarah started sliding slowly and then faster, increasing the friction between their bodies. Maria wrapped her arms around her lover and clung on for the ride.

  Sarah had definitely found the key to the mists—Maria felt a ball of flame building in her loins. It burned, it scorched. “Holy mother,” she wailed, bucking under ivory flesh. Sarah did not lose her perch.

  Maria tensed. “Here I come. Oh, so sweet. Don’t stop.”

  “Me, too,” Sarah moaned. “Don’t worry about me stopping.” Sarah tossed back her head, pressing her loins against Maria’s as if afraid of losing her.

  Maria flexed her hips to match Sarah’s until exhaustion over took her, then Sarah calmed. Her ragged breathing echoed in Maria’s ear. Maria held Sarah in place, not wanting to lose the contact of pussy against pussy.

  There was no telling how long they remained like that, glued to each other. “Wow,” Maria groaned at last. “That was inspired. You know our juices are co-mingling.”

  “I know.” Sarah said, smiling. “I’m pleased.”

  Maria knew they were giggling like new found lovers. They rolled over and cuddled, unable to keep their hands still. Maria breathed in Sarah’s scent. She never wanted another day to go by without breathing in that scent. But what about Sarah? Would she be willing to consider their future? Or was it too soon?

  Eventually, they quieted. Maria closed her eyes. Moments later she opened them to see Sarah staring at her wide-eyed. “You can’t sleep either.”

  Sarah shook her head. “I don’t want to miss a minute with you.”

  Maria said a quick silent prayer before forging ahead. “So what are you going to do about us?” Maria asked, running a finger down Sarah’s nose.

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “Love me?”

  “I do.” Narrowing her eyes, Sarah added, “What about Adam?”

  Maria shook her head. “We’ll deal with Adam later. Right now we’re talking about us. I don’t want to be separated from you. I’m not into a transcontinental relationship. I want to wake up with you in the mornings. Will you move to California, or do I have to come to Chicago? I will, you know.”

  Shock registered in Sarah’s eyes. Maria’s heart lurched. Had she pushed her too far, too quickly?

  “You would do that? For me?” Sarah’s voice was plaintive.

  Maria grinned. That kind of shock she could handle. “Yes.”

  “No, you have a network of people there. I have so few friends here I’ll hardly be missed at all. There’s nothing keeping me in the Midwest.”

  “Then you’ll move to California?”

  Sarah exhaled slowly. Maria thought she could see her lover’s brain spinning.

  “It’ll take some time,” she said at last. Maria’s heart started beating again. “Some of the accounts I’m working on will have to be transferred to other agencies. Some I’ll be able to keep. It doesn’t matter where I work, as long as I meet my deadlines.”

  Sarah moved to sit cross-legged beside Maria.

  Maria smiled—Sarah’s pussy was still puffy and partially open from their lovemaking. She’d never tire of the view, though she expected lovemaking was the farthest thing from Sarah’s mind as she began arranging a mental to do list.

  “That would probably take a month,” Sarah said, her brow furrowing. “Of course, I’d sell this condo. It’ll take time to find a suitable place in California.”

  “Why not Adam’s place?”

  “Maybe I shouldn’t rush anything.” Sarah hugged herself, obviously holding back tears. “What if Adam doesn’t want me in his life?” Her features contorted. “What will you do then? What will happen to us?”

  “I have a lot of confidence in Adam. I believe he’ll figure things out so we can all be together.” Maria lifted Sarah’s chin and smiled wanly. “But, and I have given this a lot of thought, where you go, I go. I said I’d move to Chicago if that’s what you wanted.”

  Could Sarah look any more serious? “Are you certain?” she asked. “Absolutely certain?”

  Maria gave a slow nod. “Absolutely certain.”

  Sarah slanted a finger across Maria’s lips and then brought it to her own. “Then it’s done. We’ll be together in California. And Adam remains a mystery. But that’s hardly news.”

  Climbing off the bed, Sarah paced the bedroom floor, apparently talking to herself as much as to Maria. “I can’t believe what I’m doing. Is it risky? Yes, but it’s worth the risk. Would my parents approve? Pastor Emily implied they would. What will Adam do?” Sarah stopped and whirled on Maria. “Adam will have a fit.”

  “Maybe.” Maria stretched her arms high above her head, feigning indifference. “He’ll probably accuse me of stealing you from him.”

  “He was hardly in a hurry to put his brand on me, not that’d I’d let him.”

  “But now you’re carrying my brand.”

  “Right here.” Sarah smiled, placing a palm over her breast.

  “Me too.” Maria covered her heart with her hand.

  “Does that make us a couple of cowgirls?” Sarah did a little jig. Her breasts bobbed nicely. “So, I’m actually moving west. Come, Maria. Let’s take a shower.”

  Maria stood and gave Sarah a half smile. “Do we want to wash these co-mingled juices away?”

  Sarah pulled on her hand, none too gently. “Not to worry—I have ideas for more co-mingling. I hope you’re not planning on sleeping tonight.”

  Scrambling toward the bathroom, Maria laughed. “What a terrible waste of time that would be.”

  - o -

  Four days later, Sarah sat next to Maria on a plane headed for California—her new home. She held her lover’s hand tight in her lap while her brain swirled. She’d put the condo up for sale. The realtor thought it was fairly priced and would not stay on the market long. She’d taken initial steps to transfer some of her advertising accounts. Harry would continue to work for her as her Chicago-based liaison. She and Maria had spent hours of hard labor packing her things. She was ready to move.

  But where would she move? Her current plan was to leave things in storage until she had a clearer idea how Adam was going to react to this new commitment she and Maria had forged.

  While she didn’t harbor a glimmer of doubt about them, she was having doubts about Adam. Would he blow up? Would he run? Would he kick the two of them out, or would he give them time to find a place of their own? Would he feel betrayed by Maria, by her?

  No matter how Adam reacted, she resolved to follow her heart with Maria. She squeezed Maria’s fingers and drifted off to sleep.

  - o -

  Maria scrunched around in the passenger seat and returned her dozing partner’s squeeze. Sleep had been rare over the last several days. They’d made time for loving in and around packing boxes, finding a secure storage company, and interviewing realtors, but there had been little time for sleep.

  Closing her eyes, she cherished the warmth of Sarah’s fingers intertwined with hers. She was warm-hearted and hot as hell in bed. Maria smiled. What else could sh
e wish for?

  Adam’s dark eyes surfaced before her. Maria sighed. Adam. Adam wasn’t going to be easy. He’d claim she’d stolen Sarah away from him, but he’d had his chance to move first. He either didn’t or couldn’t. Now things would have to shake out however they were going to.

  She wanted to share her life with Sarah and Adam, but she wasn’t going to give up the love she shared with Sarah for fantastic sex with Adam. There was more than sex between the two of them. She knew that, but Adam shied away from naming it. He’d been running like hell ever since his old classmate had arrived on the scene.

  No, if he wanted in, he’d have to open up to her and to Sarah. There was no turning back now. She’d committed herself to Sarah. She’d never done that with anyone before, and she didn’t take commitments lightly. She grinned to herself. Maybe she was a good Catholic after all.

  - o -

  Adam stared blankly toward the ocean. The women would be back today. That was good and bad. He’d missed them. He missed their ongoing battle to include him in their budding companionship. He grimaced. They’d been away from him for over a week. Would they even remember he existed? Would they be ready to move out? Would he let them? Did he want them out of his life?

  Why the hell hadn’t he gone with them to Chicago? That was the original plan, but he’d panicked.

  The funeral and all its arrangements had made him feel like part of a family. He knew better than that, and just in case he’d forgotten, the confrontation with Daniel Sullivan had been an apt reminder. He didn’t belong. Sarah Atkinson was out of his league. He didn’t deserve to have a family.