Terran Times 18 - Emerald Envisage (12 page)

“Now what do you say?” Lara asked with a smug look on her face.

“Can I eat my breakfast now?”

She nodded. “Just remember that it didn’t glow on you.” She held it the way he had with a thumb and index finger around her neck and almost immediately her heart started to race and the emerald began to brightly glow.

Ian’s forkful of egg stayed poised below his mouth as his eyes widened. “It’s even brighter than before!”

“I know,” Lara replied as her mind filled with visions of Skye. She removed the necklace and placed it back inside her purse, then slipped out of the booth.

“Where are you going?”

“Let’s not kid ourselves, Ian. This isn’t going to work.”

“Come on, Lara.”

She shook her head. “I won’t give up a lifelong friendship or the wonderful memories of my grandmother to please you…someone I’ve only known for six months. Everything happens for a reason and I’m glad we found out before we moved in together.”

His jaw twitched. “So this is it? You’re dumping me?”

She touched his hand. “Ian, you know that eventually we’d grow to resent each other. It’s better we end it now.”

He sighed heavily. “Say for arguments sake I do believe in the necklace…do you know what your hidden desire is?”

“Yes,” she replied softly.

“Will you tell me?”

“No.”

“If I had agreed right away about the necklace would that have made a difference?”

“No. My heart would be denied it’s true desire.”

He nodded. “You’re a strange woman, Lara, but I’ll never be sorry I met you.”

“Me either, Ian.”

“We can still be friends and who knows.” He shrugged his broad shoulders.

“Yeah, who knows what the future holds for any of us.”

Lara restlessly paced around the apartment, anxiously waiting for Skye to return from work. She’d thoroughly cleaned the apartment, ran to the market and popped a roast in the oven. When it was almost time for Skye to come home, she dimmed the lights and lit several candles. Every few minutes, she peered out the window, but Skye’s Chevy was nowhere in sight. She lowered the temperature on the roast and rechecked the table.

Two hours later, she packed the food up and placed it in the refrigerator, then blew out the candles, which had melted down. She’d checked her cell phone periodically, but there was no message from Skye. She was avoiding her and Lara couldn’t blame her.

She wondered if there had been signs through the years that she’d missed. Skye had never given her the impression she cared for her in any way other than as a friend. And she’d never seen Skye show interest in any woman. She’d dated through the years, but had never met anyone she seemed to want a permanent relationship with. Lara had just assumed Skye was picky. Had she hidden her feelings so deeply that Lara hadn’t noticed? Or maybe it had always been there just beneath the surface and Lara, focusing on one relationship or another, had never seen it.

Where was Skye right now? Worry began to set in. This wasn’t like her. Or was it? How many nights had
she
not come home until after Skye had already gone to bed? She chewed her bottom lip. Maybe Skye had a girlfriend. Of course, she wouldn’t have told Lara since she’d been hiding her sexual preference from her all these years.

The thought of Skye in the arms of some woman sent a crushing pain through Lara’s heart. She knew she had no right to feel the way she did. Skye had a right to live her life and, if she had found someone, Lara would just have to accept it and be secure in the knowledge that she and Skye would still maintain their friendship as they always had. She knew that nothing or no one would ever break their deep bond.

At ten o’clock, she wrote a note to Skye telling her that she’d broken off with Ian and needed to talk to her. She propped the note in front of a living room table lamp, which she dimmed to the lowest setting.

She showered, hoping maybe by the time she finished, Skye would be home. The living room was the way she’d left it so she went to bed. No matter what happened, she knew her subconscious had released everything she’d been hiding. She drifted into a peaceful sleep and awoke with a jolt when she felt a soft hand on her shoulder. She smelled the light fragrance of Skye’s perfume.

“I read your note,” Skye whispered. “How did Ian take it?”

Lara sat up slowly. “He’s okay. There’s some food in the fridge if you’re hungry. What time is it anyway?”

“A little after midnight. I grabbed some dinner downtown.” She sat on the edge of Lara’s bed. “You made a special dinner, didn’t you?”

Lara’s cheeks grew warm. “I…I shouldn’t have assumed…I mean you might have a girlfriend.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t return your call. I drove around for hours, trying to clear my head. And no, I don’t have a girlfriend.” She touched Lara’s cheek with the back of her hand.

Lara grabbed Skye’s hand and held it tightly. “How could I have been so blind all these years?”

“It wasn’t the right time.”

“And now?” Lara whispered hopefully.

Skye slipped out of her clothes and climbed into bed.

Lara shivered with anticipation as Skye’s soft warm body stretched out next to her. How many times had they shared the same bed through the years and talked for hours about their hopes and dreams? How must Skye have felt wanting her, but knowing she couldn’t touch her? Now things were different and Lara didn’t know what to do. What she did know was she felt truly alive for the first time in her life.

Skye’s fingers trailed down Lara’s arm, then she turned her face toward her and tenderly outlined Lara’s lips with a fingertip. Lara became wet and a longing surged through her unlike any feeling she’d ever felt before. She pressed her body closer to Skye’s. “I’m afraid,” she whispered.

“Don’t be, baby,” Skye whispered into her ear before gently nibbling on an earlobe.

“I don’t know what to do,” she said in a shaky voice.

“Just do what comes naturally.”

Lara ran her hands over Skye’s body, feeling more aroused as she explored. Skye rolled on top of her and kissed her neck before finding her lips. Skye’s kiss was the sweetest most tender she had ever received and it made her want more. She parted her lips and hungrily accepted Skye’s tongue as her legs wrapped tightly around her body. Her hands cupped Skye’s ass and she heard her moan.

Skye shifted her body and Lara thought she would explode as Skye ground herself into her.

Lara panted and spread herself wide as Sky moved off her and placed her hands around Lara’s ankles. She rested her face briefly in Lara’s damp mound, then spread her lips.

Lara screamed with desire as the tip of Skye’s tongue touched her clit. She grabbed the sheet as Skye manipulated her clit, bringing her to an explosive climax.

Skye planted a trail of kisses on Lara’s flesh as she made her way back up her body, finally reaching Lara’s hungry lips.

Lara couldn’t get enough of her. The scent of Skye filled her nostrils. She wanted to crawl inside of her and never break the wonderful oneness they now shared.

Skye moaned as Lara gently inserted a finger inside of her, finding her waiting clit. “Fuck me, baby,” Skye pleaded.

All the insecurities of not knowing what to do evaporated as the need to satisfy her lover the way she had just been satisfied overpowered her.

“Yes,” Lara panted as she tenderly suckled Skye’s breasts in turn before moving to her lover’s moist pussy. She buried her face in Skye’s vagina before dipping her tongue inside. She quickly found Skye’s clit and softly sucked on it enjoying the way Skye screamed her name as she came.

Later they lay side by side, exhausted, but satisfied. Skye put an arm around her and kissed her forehead. “You were wonderful.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you,” Lara said, snuggling close to her.

“That’s a promise I’ll hold you to.” She squeezed Lara’s shoulder. “I don’t remember the end of the emerald story, do you?”

“Yes. If I’ve acknowledged my hidden desire, the necklace will remain static. If not it will still glow.”

“Let’s see if it worked.” She smiled confidently. “I have no doubt that it will.”

“Me either.” Lara retrieved the necklace, put it on, then waited, but nothing happened. After ten minutes, she snuggled back up to Skye. “It looks like you don’t need to go looking for a roommate now.”

“I’ve already got one,” she replied as her lips hungrily sought Lara’s once again.”

BEHIND THE
JADE
TIGER

Christie Gordon

Jordan shifted his pale-blue eyes to the picture windows of his loft and looked out over the twinkling lights and squat buildings of downtown Scottsdale at night. There it was, the place he wanted to go to. A phone receiver pressed against his ear. “I’m telling you, it’s the best way to get a girl. You know how they love those gay bars.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. If you really want to go there, you’re on your own, dude.”

“Shit, Steven, don’t make me beg.” He raked his hand through straight, reddish-brown locks, angling down across his eyes and over the collar of a trendy black T-shirt. His lean and muscular build pulled the fabric tight across his chest.

“I won’t because I’m not going.”

“Fine. While I’m getting it on with some hot chick, you’ll be all alone.” Walking toward his kitchen, he sighed and slammed the phone down on a granite counter. “Asshole.”

He stuffed his hand into the front pocket of his low-rise jeans, passed the silver skull of his belt buckle and took one last look around his loft. A modern, black leather couch sat opposite two chairs while sleek, cherry-wood end and coffee tables sat between and around them. Architecture trade magazines lay sprawled in a neat row across the top. He let out a soft chuckle. “Shit, maybe I am gay.”

He strolled to a small table resting next to the door, grabbed his keys and stopped. Was this really a good idea? Hell yes it was. Margie told him all the hot chicks dug that place and he was going. It was about time he got laid. Six months without sex was enough to drive any twenty-three year old insane. And the nightmares were getting worse. At least if he had someone in his bed, he might not have one tonight.

He opened a tall door, stepped beyond it and shut it behind him. “I’m going.” As he walked the hallway, his eyes focused on the strange doorknocker a new tenant installed. It was in the shape of a tiger and made of some green stone. Was it jade, maybe?

He shivered as he passed. Whatever it was, it reminded him of something, more like a mixture of feelings he couldn’t quite describe.
Déjà vu, yes, that’s it.

After fumbling for his identification with the front door bouncer and paying his five bucks, he stopped just inside the bar. Disco lights flashed over a crowd of mostly male dancers and people chatting at tables. Techno music swept over his ears and pounded in his chest, matching his quickening heartbeat.
Nothing to be nervous about, it’s just a nightclub.
He slipped through the crowd and stepped up to the bar. A blown-glass counter glowed from underneath in hues of gold and chocolate.

A bald man, naked from the waist up and heavily muscled, turned to face him. “What can I get you?”

He opened his mouth.

“He’ll have a gin and tonic, Harry.”

He twisted his body. His breath caught in his throat.
Beautiful.
What the hell was he thinking? His eyes roamed down the shorter, lithe frame of a young Asian man with large, brown eyes and dark hair framing his face in wispy layers. Long, red braids, no bigger than a pinky finger each, fell down over his tanned shoulders and leather vest. Numerous thick, silver chains hung around his neck and wrist and silver hoops adorned his ears.

“Hi, I’m Kira.”

“K-Kira?” His tongue felt thick and his mind reeled.
Snap out of it. This is a dude, Jordan, a dude.

“Yeah, it’s Japanese. You have a name?” A wide, flirtatious smile curled Kira’s lips as his body slowly swayed to the rhythm of the music.

“I-I’m, uh, Jordan.” Letting out an exhale, he willed his shoulders to relax.

Harry placed a drink on the bar in front of him. “That’ll be seven dollars.”

“I’ll get it. After all, I did order it for you.” Kira slipped a hand into the front pocket of his jeans and pulled out a wad of bills. He rifled through them and slapped a ten on the bar. “Keep the change.”

“Thanks.” Harry grabbed the money and walked back to the till.

He snatched the drink, lifted it to his lips and drank a few gulps. Burning lit up his throat. He coughed.

“Take it easy, it’s not a shot.” Kira laughed, a soft, sensual laugh and rubbed his palm over Jordan’s back.

The touch and the low and seductive quality to the young Asian man’s voice rushed a familiar feeling into his groin, a feeling he usually got around women, not men. He stepped away. “I’m okay.”
Holy shit, this is not what I expected at all. Where are the women?