Chapter Twenty-one

By the time Stef, Denny, Jock, and Ember approached the campus sports facility, Stef had tried many times to reach Laurel. She’d been stunned to find Ember at the hotel when she got back after the bloodless coup that had neutered her brother and his buddies. When Laurel didn’t show up or answer her cell phone, she decided not to wait.

A tremor shook her spine as they turned into the parking lot and saw flashing lights. An ambulance and police cruisers were parked close to the front doors. Medics were guiding a gurney to the back of the vehicle. The occupant was waving her arms around and screaming for a doctor.

Stef fought her way through the crowd and skidded to a halt by the gurney to see Rochelle with an ice pack on her nose and her clothes covered in blood.

“Oh, my God.” Her heart stopped and she frantically looked around for Laurel.

Ember touched her arm and Stef whirled on her, panic consuming her. “Where is she? I can’t see her.”

“There.” Ember pointed to the police cruiser. “In the backseat. She’s…her head is bandaged.”

Shouting, “Laurel!” Stef rushed to the car and within seconds they were in each other’s arms, tears streaming down their faces.

“Are you okay? I’m going to knock that bitch from here to…” When she was able to look into Laurel’s eyes, she saw joy there.

“You don’t have to, my love, I’ve already taken care of that.” Laurel winked at her. Winked!

Stef asked, “What happened?”

Ember had hustled up to them and answered on Laurel’s behalf. “She beat the wicked witch, and everyone’s talking about it. Dr. Jacobs tried to attack her when she won at racquetball and ended up hurting herself. That is so cool.”

Stef held Laurel at arm’s length and said, “You beat her at racquetball? Really?”

Nodding, Laurel said, “Yup. And she got so upset she tried to serve the ball to my face.” When she saw Stef react she quickly said, “I didn’t have time to think, I must have instinctively flipped my racquet in front of my face and the ball hit the racquet. It rebounded into Rochelle’s nose and I think she broke it. Talk about instant karma.”

“But how did you get the bandage on your forehead?” Stef didn’t care about Rochelle, she wanted to know about Laurel.

“I guess the recoil of the racquet when the ball hit it nailed me. It all happened so fast, then chaos ensued, as it were.”

Stef stared at Laurel for a second, then smiled. “You’re enjoying this. Congratulations. The wicked witch is dead.”

“Or at least out of my life.” Laurel was actually bouncing on the balls of her feet.

“What about school? She’s still department chair.”

“I’ll think about that later. Let me finish here and then will you please take me home? We have all the time in the world to plan our next move.”

Despite all the commotion, Laurel had managed to send a message that landed directly in Stef’s heart and made the world a brighter place. They had all the time in the world.

An hour later they were back at the hotel, and much to Laurel’s surprise, her friends had held up their celebration until she could be present. Her heart flooded with appreciation at that knowledge.

Denny and Jock took the champagne and sparkling cider and filled the delicate flutes that Sika and Mrs. C had set out.

Sika said, “To courage, then and now.”

They all had a sip and sat down and were chatting excitedly when Seraphina Drake Holloway stood and held her glass up, tapping it gently.

In a voice that belied her age, she said, “Years ago, a member of the Elysium Society gave us what was to become a toast we often used. I think it is appropriate tonight. To celebrate all of you. Your courage, your history, and your future.”

All stood and held their glasses to the air and waited.

“‘When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.’ Here is to the miracle of the women that have gone before us, and the miracles we have yet to perform for others. Here is to the future.”

They drank and were silent. After a moment, Laurel said, “I know that quote. It’s from Helen Keller. Was she a…”

Sika raised her glass again and said, “To the Elysium Society, as it rises again.”

Back in their room, Laurel and Stef were quiet, each absorbing the events of the day. Laurel glanced at Stef, so deep in thought, and went to her.

“Penny for your thoughts.” She took Stef in her arms.

Cocking her head, Stef said, “Pre nineteen eighty or post?”

“Hmm?”

“Well, there was more copper in them pre nineteen eighty and so they weighed more and are worth more today, you know.”

“Okay…pre nineteen eighty.” Laurel wondered where this was going.

“Well, I was wondering what your reaction to your time with Rochelle was. I mean, I was hoping that…”

“Do you know that Rochelle once told me that her partner should tell her she’s right, no matter what she says? And I didn’t question that, I held my tongue.”

Eyes round, Stef said, “Wow. That woman is such a…”

Hugging her tightly, Laurel said, “That is so nice of you to take my side and I love you for it. But I was wrong for not running as fast as I could out the door. She told me exactly the kind of person she was, and I was so insecure I couldn’t leave her. Knowing that, how can you respect me?”

Stef could only answer from her heart. “Maybe I’m the same kind of person as Rochelle. I’m hot-tempered and always looking for betrayal. I can be arrogant, self-centered, egotistical…” A finger gently placed on her lips followed by a soft kiss shushed her.

“Not to mention redundant.” Laurel deepened the kiss.

Pulling a millimeter away, Stef murmured, “That, too.”

“For the record, Stef, you are nothing like Rochelle. You are strong and kind and sweet and honest, and I love you.” A few more heated kisses and Laurel managed, “I’m a mess and I need a shower. I’d invite you in but it’s so cramped I’m afraid we’d get stuck and the call for help would be really embarrassing. What about you?”

“I’ll get in after you. All that stark terror has left me in similar shape.”

Laurel backed away and squeezed Stef’s hands. “I won’t take long, and don’t you either.” She was stripping on her way to the bathroom and naked by the time she stood in the door, smiling seductively. “Be right back.”

Stef wondered if perhaps she was in a dream, a fantasy of what love could be like if it was real. She drifted into the bedroom and removed her clothes, slipping into a short terry robe. She took the few steps to the bathroom door and pushed it open.

Laurel was easily visible through the clear shower curtain. She was soaping her body and Stef could only admire every move. After a moment, Laurel realized she was there and smiled, resoaping her breasts and using slow circular movements to rub them, then lightly pinch her nipples, her eyes never leaving Stef.

Stef stood transfixed as Laurel rinsed, then squeezed some gel in her hands and addressed her center, running the length of her sex and pulling slightly, until Stef could see her swollen clit, and she licked her lips, longing to taste. She let the front of her robe fall open and Laurel’s eyes darkened with passion.

“God, Stef, come here.” She separated her labia and let the water rush to cleanse the soap, moaning at the sensation.

Stef moved to be by her side, standing just outside of the enclosure. She pulled back the curtain and reached, feeling Laurel’s need, all of the blood in her body rushing to the same place as Laurel’s. She stroked Laurel as Laurel slowly sank to her knees.

Clinging to her, Laurel breathed, “Don’t stop, darling, don’t stop.”

Stef concentrated on the sensation of her fingertips, the way she could feel every change in Laurel’s body. She held her when she curled back, knowing her orgasm was imminent, and then shuddered as the spasms overtook her love as she came and it flowed over her hand. The hard pulsing in her clitoris told her she was close to her own orgasm.

Laurel said urgently, “Stand up, stand up.”

Stef struggled to her feet and Laurel wrapped her arms around her waist and buried her face in her lover’s core, sucking and stroking with her tongue until she felt Stef explode into a universe that was entirely their own.

When Stef came to her senses Laurel had switched positions on her and was outside the shower, dripping wet, washing her. She was leaning against the wall but was able to stand and still Laurel’s hand as she began to address her throbbing center.

“Get dried off or you’ll catch cold. I’ll meet you in bed in five minutes.” One corner of Laurel’s mouth quirked up and she nodded, grabbing a towel and drying herself as Stef watched. She could barely wash her clit without coming again.

Stef turned off the faucets and grinned when a dry towel was tossed in her direction. She took her time, and when she crawled into bed next to Laurel, she turned off the lamp beside the bed and took Laurel in her arms. “Every time we’re together it’s different. It’s always stronger, it always makes me love you more. But I worry.”

Laurel was still, sensing something important was happening. “What about, darling? What worries you?”

“I think that I’ll hurt you, that you’ll think I’m like…that woman. That I’ll be too rough with you. You’re such a…so much a lady.”

Laurel let out a sigh. “So that’s why you always let me set the pace of our lovemaking, because you don’t want to hurt me or remind me of her. ” She was grateful to Stef for talking about it.

“Yes. My feelings are so strong, so frighteningly strong sometimes. I…worry.”

Reaching up to turn the lamp back on, Laurel said, “Darling, look at me.”

Stef gazed at her, raw emotion there for her to see.

“I’m tougher than I look. I want you to take me any way you want me. And if you don’t fuck my brains out for the rest of the night, you’ll disappoint me. Because I definitely have plans for you.”

When Laurel smiled slyly and reached for the lamp switch, Stef stopped her. “No, I want to see you.” She rolled her on her back and pulled the covers off.

Laurel bent her knees and opened her legs wide. “Take me.”

And Stef did, all night long.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-30