Ready for Love (20 page)

“I’m sorry, Mommy.”

LJ cleared her throat. “What do you say we go in the house and see what there is for dinner?”

Kylie’s stomach took that moment to growl, and she laughed. “Sounds like a good idea to me.”

†

The inside of the main house was warm and cozy, and Kylie suspected it was just as LJ’s grandmother had left it. An old, deep purple divan dominated the living room along with a piano. It also had a recliner, a well-worn, overstuffed chair with an ottoman, and walls filled with family pictures. The kitchen was old as well, with a beautiful, well-worn, round oak table, and against one wall was a wooden larder complete with flour and sugar bins.

“Wow, would you look at this kitchen. It is fantastic.” Kylie turned in a circle as she took in everything. “I can tell there was a lot of love in here.”

“Yeah, my gran loved to cook. I’d come home and she’d always have a custard pie for me. If I asked her why she made it, she’d say because she knew I’d like it.”

“Did you?”

“Yes. It was my favorite. I could always count on her making all my favorites.”

“Those are the memories you need to keep in your heart and let out when you’re feeling down.” Kylie tapped her heart. “Do you feel it?”

LJ smiled. “I do. Thank you for reminding me.” She moved to the refrigerator and opened it. “Let’s see what Nina left for us.”

“Who’s Nina?”

“Ben’s wife. He manages the place for me and they live in the bigger of the houses across the way.”

“So what do we have?” Kylie stood hip to hip with LJ before they began pulling the meal out of the refrigerator.

That night they dined on fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, and blueberry cobbler.

†

“I’m so happy you asked us to come here. This place is awesome.” Kylie waved her hand around the front room.

“It is, isn’t it? I’ve missed seeing that. Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For coming into my life and helping me open my eyes to what is important.” LJ hugged Kylie close. “Want to sit out on the porch with me?”

“Sure.” Kylie smiled happily. “Let me check on Ryan first. I can’t believe she fell asleep at dinner.”

“That isn’t surprising since she was all over the place today.”

“Be right back.”

A minute later, Kylie walked out onto the porch.

“Is she okay?” LJ asked.

“She’s sleeping with a blissfully happy look on her face, and it’s all thanks to you.” Kylie smiled at LJ, who was sitting on the swing with a blanket in her lap.

“Come join me.” She motioned Kylie over and took her hand when she sat down. “Closer, sit closer and we can share the blanket. It gets cold out here at night.”

Kylie leaned her head on LJ’s shoulder. “I love this place. It’s so peaceful out here.”

After smoothing the blanket out over them, LJ stretched her legs out and crossed them at the ankles. Then she took Kylie’s hand again, brought it to her lips, and kissed it gently. “You know,” she began, “I never thought it would be possible to feel again after my gran died. It was like the final blow for me. I didn’t know if I could ever love again either, especially after losing Holly.” She stopped speaking, and it seemed to Kylie as if LJ were in another place and time.

Kylie waited patiently, expecting the letdown she always knew LJ would give her. LJ had always said she might not be able to offer her what she needed and deserved. Now, here on this porch in the middle of nowhere, she would be given the “I just want to be friends” talk. The very thought sent shivers through her body and a great sense of sadness in her heart.

“Is it too cold out here for you?” LJ asked. She looked intently at Kylie. “What’s the matter? You look like you’re about to cry.”

Kylie heard the compassion and concern behind LJ’s words and turned her head away.

LJ took her chin and brought her back. “Please, tell me.”

“You’re about to give the ‘I just want to be friends’ talk, and it breaks my heart.” Kylie couldn’t stop the tears from brimming over and flowing down her cheeks.

LJ cocked her head and raised an eyebrow. “That’s news to me. Why would you think such a thing?”

Kylie took a deep breath. “You were talking about Holly and how you didn’t think you could ever feel like that again. It only stands to reason there isn’t room in your heart for anyone else.” She lowered her head.

“You know what, Kylie Wilcox? You are a silly goose who jumps to conclusions.”

Kylie’s head snapped up, and she looked at LJ in puzzlement. “Then why were you waxing on so nostalgically?”

“If you remember, I mentioned my gran first. Yes, Holly left a hole in my heart, but it was nothing like the crater losing my gran left.” LJ kissed her. “A part of me will always remember Holly and what we shared. I know now that she was my first love, and it was all-consuming at the time but….” LJ lifted her eyes to look into Kylie’s face. “I was going to say I never considered the possibility of caring about someone else until you came into my life and that all changed.”

“My heart aches for you when you’re away, and it soars to the heavens when you are near,” Kylie whispered.

The kisses began small, then erupted into a passion that astounded Kylie. She wanted and needed more as her body filled with electricity and desire. “Make love with me,” she whispered.

“Are you sure that’s what you want?”

“Yes. I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.”

LJ knew that once they made love, there would be no turning back because she never wanted to be without Kylie in her life. Her parents were accepting of the possibility of them having a relationship, and for LJ that was important. They had held hands and kissed in public, and Kylie didn’t flinch or turn away. It was finally time to take the next step.

LJ put an arm under Kylie’s legs, lifted her off the swing, and carried her into the house. In the bedroom, she undressed Kylie, taking great care to be gentle and loving. For a moment, she stood looking at the naked body before her. Gazing into the gray eyes, she saw what she knew were love and desire. It was time to join the living and leave the relics behind.

Her passion increased after sliding naked next to Kylie before softly running her fingers over the trembling body. Soon she felt Kylie’s fingers mirroring her movements. As she bent to kiss the waiting lips, LJ gloried in the absolute, overpowering desire and passion that filled her soul.

She lifted up and looked deep into Kylie’s eyes, asking a silent question. Kylie smiled back and said
yes with her eyes
. With that, LJ took a hard, extended nipple in her mouth and began slowly sucking it while running her tongue over the surface.

Kylie responded with low moans as she caressed LJ’s head, holding it in place.

When LJ lightly bit the nipple, Kylie’s body exploded in a series of small, intense quivers. The only thing LJ cared about was making Kylie happy and showing her how much she cared for her. She moved to the other nipple as her hand stroked the inside of Kylie’s trembling thighs. She nipped again at the bud of Kylie’s nipple, making her body tremble.

Kylie grabbed her head and pulled her up for a kiss. It was so passionate and long that LJ found herself gasping for breath. Kylie was crying. “Have I hurt you?” she asked before kissing the tearstained cheeks.

“No,” Kylie managed to say. “I have never felt like this before. It’s so powerful. I want more, LJ. I want all you can give me.”

Gently brushing blonde locks away, LJ smiled. “We have a lifetime.” She kissed the waiting lips and she stroked Kylie’s clitoris lightly. She was wet and ready, but LJ waited, taking her higher and higher. LJ’s fingers slid inside easily, and Kylie instantly began moving.

LJ stopped her motion, gently kissing Kylie before guiding Kylie’s hand down to her own saturated folds. For a moment, she closed her eyes and tried to control her overwhelming need and let her fingers moved through Kylie’s wetness. Soon they were moving as one. They panted as they bore down on the other’s fingers, wanting and needing release.

“Now, Kylie, now,” LJ cried as one explosion of pleasure after another filled her.

Spent and lying in Kylie’s arms, LJ went silent for a time. She never thought she would be this unbelievably happy again. Yet, here she was in the arms of this wonderful woman. Most incredible of all was the unabashed love she felt for Kylie. It was astonishing how she hadn’t seen how empty her life had been before Kylie came into it.

“It’s amazing,” Kylie said.

“What is?”

“For the first time in my life, I can relate to what all the love songs and poems mean. I never imagined my body would react in such a primal way.” She ran a finger down LJ’s chest. “Even more amazing is that my passion and desire is for you.”

“Because I’m a woman?”

“No. You were so impossible when we first met that the thought of being here with you was the furthest thing from my mind. You’re being a woman seems quite natural to me.”

“I love you, Kylie. I think I always have. I just couldn’t let myself believe it. I feel more passion and desire for you than I ever thought I would be capable of with anyone.”

“Oh LJ, I love you so much.”

Their kisses began once more, igniting their passion as their bodies again began to dance.

†

The next morning Kylie woke and frowned. LJ was gone, and all her insecurities and doubts resurfaced.
Was last night a one-night stand?
Then she heard laughter coming from outside the window. With a sheet wrapped around her naked body, Kylie walked to it and saw LJ pushing Ryan on a swing suspended from a very large oak.
How did I miss that?

She opened the window. “Hey, I see you’re getting your exercise early this morning.”

LJ and Ryan looked at her. “Good morning, sleepyhead. Ryan and I thought we’d let you sleep in since you had such a late night.” LJ winked.

“Mommy, Lgie is swinging me.”

Kylie laughed. “You two be careful. I’ll be right back I’m going to take a quick shower, then I’ll make breakfast. What would you like?”

LJ gave her a knowing smile.

“I want pancakes,” Ryan said.

“Okay, pancakes it is. As for you, Dr. Evans, I will fill your request later.”

When the spray of the shower hit her body, Kylie was suddenly aware of how alive she felt. Her nipples were especially sensitive, and when she washed between her legs, she closed her eyes, recalling the night before. She wanted to be with LJ again and didn’t see how that would be possible.
I’ll just have to wait until we’re alone tonight.

†

LJ let Ryan go with Ben to the barn to feed the horses and headed for the kitchen, where she knew she’d find Kylie. She opened the door quietly and stood outside it for a moment, watching Kylie sway her hips in time with a song on the radio while she flipped pancakes. Then with sure steps, she moved behind her lover, wrapped her arms around her waist, and kissed her neck.

“Good morning.”

“I heard you come in and hoped you’d come to me.”

“Always.”

“I wanted you when I woke up,” Kylie whispered.

“Ryan knocked on the door and I heard her, so I told her to wait for me in her room and I’d be there in a minute.”

Kylie turned around. “Oh. That was nice of you. Did she say anything about us sleeping together?”

“Not a word. It didn’t seem to faze her. I got her dressed, and then we went outside.”

“Where is she now?”

“Ben took her to the barn.”

“How long do you think they’ll be there?”

LJ’s lips hoovered over Kylie’s. “It usually takes him a half hour to forty-five minutes to feed the horses.”

Kylie twirled around, took a pancake off the griddle, and turned off the burner before turning back to LJ. “I want to feel you inside me again.”

LJ groaned. “Here?”

“No. I want you naked. Text Ben and tell him to let you know when he’s bringing Ryan back.”

LJ fumbled with her phone but managed to send the text while Kylie was leading her into the bedroom.

“Lock the door.” Kylie began removing LJ’s clothes.

†

After lunch, Kylie and LJ sat in the porch swing as they watched Ryan playing with her Barbie.

“I want to tell the world about us,” Kylie said as they swung lightly. LJ’s body stiffened. “Is something wrong?”

“I worry about the fallout once people know. I don’t want you to have to experience what I did.”

“You still don’t get it, do you?”

“Apparently not.”

“The people I care about and who genuinely love me already know, and they accept us. The rest of them are unimportant to me.”

“You haven’t experienced what people can do and say. I couldn’t bear to see you hurt in that way.”

Kylie snuggled closer and kissed LJ’s cheek. “I know what I feel and want, and I can handle anyone who has something negative to say about our relationship. You have to believe that.”

LJ looked in Ryan’s direction. “Look at her playing without a care in the world. Kids can be so cruel to each other. Do you really want to subject her to that?”