Inside This House
© 2007 by Linda Crist
Chapter 5
Carson waited patiently, watching the clock and a red light over it that, when lit, would be her cue that they were on the air. She was glad it wasn't television, given the early hour she'd risen and the resulting dark circles under her eyes. Her palms tingled slightly and she swiped them against her jeans, hoping her nervousness wouldn't reach her vocal chords.
Kennedy sat right next to her, crammed into the small space along with her interviewing hostess, KUT's morning drive DJ, Brandi. She was a typical radio-television student, wearing fatigue cargo pants, Vans, and a sleeveless black t-shirt with a skull and crossbones on it. A tattoo of a snake wrapped around a cross adorned her upper arm, and her dark hair was short and spiked with dyed patches of blue and purple. Carson counted at least 5 piercings in the one ear she could see, along with an eyebrow stud and a nose ring. The nose ring had a chain running to one of the earrings, but she had a brilliant, warm smile that negated her attempt at a fierce, neo-punk appearance.
"You'll do fine." Kennedy twined their fingers.
"Is it that obvious?" Carson looked over at her, receiving a warm smile she was much more familiar with.
"Eh, well, not really, except your palm is a little clammy." Kennedy brushed her thumb against the palm in question.
"Sorry." Carson started to remove her hand to wipe it again, but Kennedy kept a firm grasp.
"No worries." She leaned over, whispering in Carson's ear, "I kind of like you sweaty, you know."
"Stop it." Carson felt a blush heat her cheeks.
"I'm sorry we don't have a camera on you," Brandi interrupted. "Because you two are too cute for words." Before either woman could respond, she pointed at the clock. "You ready?"
"Yes." Carson watched the light turn red and swallowed, grateful for the cup of ice water just at her fingertips.
"And we're back with a bonus to The People's Attorney. Joining us this morning is Carson Garret, Kennedy Nocona's partner. Good morning Miss Garret, and welcome to the show." Brandi turned to Carson.
"Thank you. You can call me 'Carson'." She smiled, feeling Kennedy's solid presence at her side.
"Carson." Brandi played with a few buttons on her control panel. "Your partner, Kennedy, is running for seat forty-eight in the Texas House of Representatives. I assume that's with your permission?"
Carson laughed lightly. "Kennedy doesn't need my permission to do anything, but she did discuss it with me first, and has my full support." She received a nudge in the ribs and turned.
Kennedy mouthed the word 'liar' and smiled. Carson stuck her tongue out in answer.
"I see your partner believes she does need your permission." Brandi watched Kennedy. "By the way, for those of you listening, Kennedy Nocona is still with us, and is nodding in agreement."
"Maybe I should clarify." At a cue from Brandi, Carson pulled her microphone a little closer. "She doesn't need my permission to do anything, but she's a very wise woman. We're partners, and she would never make a big decision that effects both of us, without discussing it with me first, and that goes the same for me."
Brandi raised one eyebrow and studied some notes. "Does that mean if she's elected, she'll come to you when making decisions that affect the people of the State of Texas? Do you share the same political beliefs?"
"Last question first." Carson felt her scalp prickle and knew she was treading in dangerous water. "For the most part, we do. She hasn't converted me to vegetarianism just yet, but in the important things, we feel mostly the same. As for your first question, I would never dream of interfering with Kennedy's decisions as state representative, but I think it's unrealistic to think that elected officials don't discuss things with their spouses. We know former U.S. presidents have, so there's no reason to expect anything different on down that chain of command. If she were to come to me seeking an opinion, I'm going to tell her what I think, but I'd never dream of telling her what to do."
"Seems fair enough. You had some pretty harsh words for the religious right last week. Would you care to discuss that?" Brandi pushed her notes aside.
Carson looked her directly in the eye, smiling slightly. "What would you like to know?"
"Do you believe in God, Carson?"
The question hit her directly in the gut, making her heart pound as it had when she was a child, responding to a church alter call that she barely understood. At the time she'd thought God was speaking to her, but in later years, had come to recognize her physical response as a common flight or fight one -- heart beating, breathing heightened, her body on high alert. She took a sip of water and felt Kennedy's hand let go, then her arm slide around Carson's shoulders. "I believe in a higher power," she answered slowly. "I want to believe there's someone or something greater than us, taking care of us, but honestly, no, I don't believe in God as I was taught about him in Sunday School."
"You grew up Southern Baptist, correct? In fact, as a student at The University here, you were a member of Hanover Baptist Church?"
"Yes." Carson felt the nerves begin to retreat, and sat back in her chair, glad of Kennedy's arm anchoring her.
"When did you decide to leave the church, and what prompted that decision?"
"It wasn't any one thing, or even any one time." Carson looked down, gathering her thoughts, and felt a warm hand massage her neck. She looked back up. "I won't go into all the contradictions in the Bible, or the violence, or the subjugation of women, or the countless acts attributed to God that are cruel, hateful, and intolerant. For me, I could no longer follow a religion that taught me to hate, made me live my life based on fear for the future, and told me that anyone who believed differently than me was going to burn in Hell. I'm not perfect, you see, but I would never send anyone to Hell, at least not for disagreeing with me. God is supposed to be perfect and loving. Sending someone to Hell just because they don't believe in his son - that is neither perfect nor loving. If I find more love in myself than I do in God, why would I follow him?"
"So you believe you are better than God?" Brandi smiled, gentling her question for Carson's eyes. It was fairly obvious she was not conservative, given her appearance, but merely asking questions that would draw in the listening audience.
"To believe I’m better than God, I would first have to believe in God, now wouldn't I?" Carson smiled back.
"Touché." Brandi sat back in her chair and relaxed, crossing one leg over the other. "But you said you believe in a higher power. Can you describe what that is, to you?"
"My partner follows some of the ways of her Comanche ancestors. There is a way of living that is in tune with the Earth, honoring and respecting it, and seeking balance and guidance through silence and meditation." Carson reached over, her hand resting lightly on Kennedy's thigh. "I think that is a good and healthy way to live. I think if all of us took the time to seek inner strength and inner peace, if we could find that part of nature that speaks to us, we would all be better people for it. The Earth lives in harmony with itself, supporting a diversity of life. Humans would be well-served to do the same."
"Have you participated in any Comanche rituals or ceremonies?"
Carson looked over at Kennedy, their eyes twinkling in mutual understanding. There would be no mention of a white buck that magically appeared in places hundreds of miles apart. Having a spiritual guardian was a private thing to the Comanche. Besides, it was one thing to come across a bleeding heart liberal, and quite another to come across as crazy. She turned back to Brandi. "No. I might like to sometime in the future. I'm not sure if marrying a Comanche makes me one." Carson laughed. "I haven't looked into it. What I do know is that watching Kennedy and her father, and seeing the peace they find from their beliefs, that is something I find very appealing."
"Just as you find Kennedy appealing, no? You two met about seven months ago and have pledged to spend the rest of your lives together. Do you feel that is a bit quick?" Brandi casually turned her right arm over, forearm up, revealing a small tattoo of a pink triangle on her inner wrist.
Carson smiled. She had suspected Brandi was gay, and cocked her head to one side, studying the tat as she answered. "Hmmm. Well, we didn't go rent a U-Haul after the first date. By lesbian standards we took things pretty slowly."
Brandi laughed. "True. But moving in together and exchanging vows are two different things. How do you know you'll last forever?"
Because we've been together forever, something inside Carson silently screamed. She looked over at Kennedy, trying to figure out how to describe the indescribable. Kennedy's eyes warmed and softened, and she smiled, her fingertips still drawing lazy circles along Carson's neck and shoulders. The answer came with sudden clarity, and Carson turned back to Brandi. "Because when I look into her eyes, I see my future."
Brandi was silent long enough to constitute dead air. Finally, she re-gained her composure. "I believe our time is about up, and I don't think we could end on a better note than that. Carson, thank you for joining us this morning. We hope to have you back on again before November.
"Thank you," Carson answered. The hand at her neck had gone completely still, and she looked over, to see tears swimming in a pair of shocked blue eyes. "I love you," she leaned over and whispered.
They stood and Brandi set music to play, then escorted them to the door. "Thanks." She shook both their hands, holding onto Kennedy's and squeezing it. "For what it's worth I've got an entire student co-op registering to vote. We live just inside your district and some of them felt they had no choices in the last election, but with you, they have a choice. Most of us are gay. They've all been listening to your show here from day one, and let me tell you, having the ability to get a bunch of punk student dykes up before dawn on Monday morning -- that's an amazing amount of power you hold. When they heard you were running for office, they organized their own mini campaign. You're the first politician in a long time who speaks our language and isn't full of BS. Now I think I understand what drives you." She glanced at Carson.
"It's the only thing that drives me," Kennedy responded. "Tell them all 'thank you' for me. See you next week for the regular show."
"Thanks." Carson smiled at Brandi, then took Kennedy's hand and led her out of the building to the freshly-risen sunlight. "You have time to grab a coffee with me before you go into work?"
Kennedy engulfed her in a hug, standing there on the sidewalk, oblivious to the foot traffic all around them, as Austin came to life for a new day of work and school. "I always have time for you," she answered. Draping her arm across Carson's shoulders once more, she guided her across the street to Starbucks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Slam dunk!" Kennedy watched the wadded-up resume land dead-center on top of a pile that threatened to spill over and onto the floor from her office trash can. Finding a new law associate was proving to be more difficult than she'd thought. "See ya."
"Another one bites the dust?" Valerie looked up from the couch under the window across the room.
"What are they teaching these kids these days?" Kennedy scratched her head. "Don't they know they should at least spell-check a resume before they send it in?"
"Girl, don't get me started." Valerie stood and stretched, then plopped back down on the couch and folded one leg beneath her. "There may be no child left behind, but the grammar and spelling books -- those never got on the bus."
"Much as I support them, unless things change drastically, I don't think I'll be sending my kids to public school," Kennedy responded absently. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and retrieved another resume from a slowly-shrinking stack.
"Kids?" Valerie looked up and grinned. "Something you need to tell me?"
"No," Kennedy answered, a little too forcefully. "No," she repeated. "Not any time soon, at any rate."
"But?" Valerie persisted. "Come on, girlfriend, fess up."
"We'll have some, eventually." Kennedy looked up from beneath long bangs. "One way or another."
"There was enough chemistry coming over the airwaves this morning to get one or the both of you pregnant." Valerie studied her smugly. "Although a few hearts were probably broken. Serena and I were at Gabby & Mo's last week and overheard a group of sweet young things discussing what a hottie you are."
"Get out." Kennedy had the grace to blush. "I am not a hottie."
"Please." Valerie rolled her eyes. "Don't even pretend you don't know how babelicious you are. My girl Carson sure seems to think so. 'When I look into her eyes, I see my future.' Girl, that'll be a quote somewhere on MySpace before the day is over."
Kennedy felt a familiar lump in her throat and grabbed a nearby bottle of water, guzzling half of it down. She closed her eyes, feeling them threaten to leak if she met Valerie's gaze. "I think she forgot we were on the air." She finally opened her eyes. "I know I did."
"You need a moment?" Valerie's voice softened. "Sorry, boss lady. I shouldn't have gone there."
"It's alright." Kennedy smiled, her voice hoarse. "Val, can I confess something?" Her law partner nodded. "I spend half the day in a sugar-coated haze, and the other half pinching myself. Here I am running for office, and I'm supposed to be practicing law, and all I can think about is how much I can't wait to get home. Love has kicked my ass."
"Welcome to the club." Valerie smirked. "Do you know how many times a day I text-message Serena?"
"How many?" Kennedy glanced at her Treo, noting the five or six messages she'd sent to a certain blonde since she arrived at the office.
"I have no idea, but it's a good thing my plan doesn't charge me per message." Valerie laughed lightly. "I'm just saying."
"We're whipped, I tell ya." Kennedy joined in the laughter, and then her face sobered. "How long have you and Serena been together, again?"
"Seven years, baby, and still chasing each other around like bunnies." Valerie buffed her nails against her shirt collar.
"Lord, I don't know if I can survive feeling like this for seven years." Kennedy leaned back in her chair, the resume on the desktop forgotten. "It's fun, and it's amazing, but at this rate, it might kill me." She laughed again and threw her arms up in the air. "But what a way to go, huh? Maybe I'll --" Her Treo rang and she looked at the caller ID. "It's Heidi."
Valerie's brows shot up. "Haven't heard from her since --"
"Forever," Kennedy finished for her, as she swung the phone up to her ear. "Heidi?"
"Shea!" An exuberant voice made her ear drum vibrate. "I was trolling Monster and saw you're hiring."
"Yeah. Gonna need some help around here." Kennedy propped her legs up on the desk. "I guess you know I'm running for the State Legislature."
"What I know is that you're crazy," Heidi answered. "How many resumes you get so far?"
"A bazillion. Why? You applying?" Kennedy held the phone away from her ear, in deference to Heidi's usual tone. She glanced over at Valerie, who was laughing silently.
"As a matter of fact, I’m sending my resume to you right now." Even as Heidi spoke, Kennedy saw her e-mail notification pop up.
She grew silent, a hundred thoughts flitting through her mind. This was Heidi, her best friend from law school, former pot-smoking buddy, and suspected alcoholic. Heidi, who slept with a different girl every weekend, still partied until dawn on Saturdays, and ordered her Crown Royal by the case. Heidi, who, despite everything, had been named one of Dallas' top business lawyers, and billed a seven-digit year for the large firm she worked for. Heidi, who could golf with the best of the good old boys, and afterward, dance the night away with their wives, if they weren't looking. Kennedy sighed. This was Heidi, who had dropped everything for her on Carson's behalf, more than once, who stood by her side as Angela died in her arms, and whom she would still trust with her life. "You're hired." Kennedy grimaced, as Valerie threw her stack of resumes on the floor and stomped out of the room.
"One condition." Kennedy ignored Valerie. Those feathers were next on her list to smooth. "You stay clean. First time you come in hung over or drunk, you're out."
"Shea," Heidi spoke earnestly. "I've been meaning to talk to you. I started going to AA right after Christmas."
"Really?" Kennedy sat up at attention, as if her friend were sitting across the desk.
"Listen, I fucked up. Drove home wasted after a party and sideswiped an entire row of parked cars. In Highland Park."
"Ouch!" Kennedy hissed.
"Yeah. I made it home and managed to remember where it happened. I went back the next morning and left notes on all their windshields. But I got lucky. No cops. No breathalyzer. No DWI and no yanked driver's license. But let me tell you, my monthly insurance bill now looks like the budget for a small country."
"Ooo. Big ouch." Kennedy had put the Treo on speaker, and looked over to see Valerie standing in the doorway again, her head cocked to one side, her expression one of amazement. "Guess that was a wake-up call."
"It wasn't the insurance that got me." Heidi's voice was shaking. "All I could think about was what if it had been people instead of cars. Shea, I've been driving home like that at least twice a week for years. You know that."
"Yeah, I do," Kennedy answered softly.
"It's a miracle I haven't killed anyone by now," Heidi whaled mournfully. "Or that I haven't lost my job. But I need a clean start, Shea. It's hard to be here with the same friends in the same city, when I'm not the same person anymore."
"I know." Kennedy's heart hurt. It had been years, but she could still remember the day she'd sat on her parents' front porch in Alpine and made the same decision. It seemed like a lifetime ago. "It's why I left Houston. After Angela died, and all."
"I know," Heidi almost whispered. "I know you had to get away from me, most of all. I've thought about you almost every day since I started going to AA. You're so strong. You just decided to change, and you did. Me, I struggle every day. Every day that I don't go to the liquor store or stop off at Sue Ellen's on the way home, that's a day I go home and celebrate, just me and the dog. I know I have to do the work, but damn, it's hard. If I could start over somewhere --"
"I completely understand, and I’m sorry, Heidi. I did run, but most of all, I had to get away from myself, not you." Kennedy looked over at Valerie, who no longer appeared amazed. Instead, she was looking at Kennedy as if seeing her for the first time. Kennedy took a deep breath and looked down. They'd been law partners for five years, but some things had never been shared. Sure, Valerie knew some bad things had happened in Houston, but she'd never pressured for details. Valerie had only known two Kennedy's -- the one who was a hard-nosed, driven, perfectionist, and the one who had fallen head over heels in love with Carson. She'd not known the hell-raising, pot-smoking, booze-guzzling wild child who had all but died on the side of a two-lane Texas highway after a car crash that had changed her life forever.
A note slid across the desk, into her line of sight. 'Tell her again that she's hired,' it read. Kennedy looked up, as another note followed it. 'And I'll keep you, too.' Raising her eyes higher, she met Valerie's steady gaze, finding nothing but acceptance.
"How soon can you be moved down here?" She felt Valerie squeeze her shoulder.
"Yes!" Heidi shouted, causing both women to jump. "Two weeks. I have to give notice here, pack, and get movers. My condo is already on the market, but I can buy one down there before it sells. I'll probably put my stuff in storage and live in a corporate apartment for a while, and take my time house hunting."
"Great. Then I'll see you in two weeks. We need to go out and celebrate when you get here." Kennedy laughed. "Time you spent an evening with someone besides the dog."
"Thank you, Shea. It means a lot."
"No need to thank me," Kennedy verbally waved her off. "You came to my rescue not so long ago. About time I was able to return the favor."
"Hey. How is Carson? You two doing okay?"
"Better than ever," Kennedy practically gushed. "I know she'll be glad to hear you're moving down here. She likes you, you know."
"Hey, we sun goddesses have to stick together." Heidi laughed. "Tell her I'll be over to hang out on the boat in two weeks. Until then, I'll be in touch."
"Will do. See you soon." Kennedy ended the call and clipped the Treo back into its holster. She looked over at Valerie. "Guess I have some explaining to do."
"Your past is your business." Valerie smiled warmly. "If and when you feel like it, that's fine, but you don't owe me anything, at least not for that. Hiring Heidi, on the other hand . . ."
"I know. Thanks for that." Kennedy smiled charmingly. "Lunch?"
"Girl, for this, lunch ain't gonna cut it. This calls for at least a steak and lobster dinner. Even sober, she's a piece of work, and you know who's going to be spending most of the time working with her, and it isn't you." Valerie leaned over, bracing her weight on the desk top.
"Steak and lobster?" Kennedy chuckled. "Okay, but I'm a vegetarian. What am I going to eat?"
"Salad." Valerie shoved a framed photo of Carson across the desk. "You can have your main course when you get home." She smirked, and turned, stopping in the doorway to look back. "Gotcha."
Kennedy covered her eyes and groaned, shaking her head.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Kennedy pulled up in the driveway, her Treo rang. She looked at the caller ID. "Erin?"
"Auntie Shea," a forlorn voice greeted her ears. "It happened."
"What happened?" Kennedy put the Treo on speaker and pressed a button to close the electric gate behind her, pressing another to open the garage door.
"I started my period," Erin fretted. "No one told me it would hurt."
"Oh. Cramps." Kennedy entered the garage and cut the engine. "Sweetpea, do you have a heating pad?"
"Yeah." Erin sounded near tears. "Oh, it hurts!"
"I know, and you're being very brave. Listen to me." Kennedy got out of the 4Runner, shouldered her briefcase, and closed the garage door. "Get some Advil, and the heating pad, and make yourself some hot herbal tea. Take the Advil, drink the tea, and get in bed with the heating pad over your stomach. Find yourself a good book to read. Do you still run track at school?"
"Yeah." Erin gasped in pain.
"In the morning, I want you to get up and go to school early, and run a few miles around the track. Then take as hot a shower as you can stand, and then take more Advil." She reached the house and stepped up on the back porch.
"Auntie Shea, are you crazy? I can hardly walk, much less run."
"I know it feels that way, but trust me. The exercise will make the cramps better, not worse." The menagerie greeted Kennedy as she entered the kitchen and she stepped around them, dropping her briefcase in the entryway. "You want to talk to you mom?"
"I guess I should." Erin hesitated and Kennedy heard a sigh. "It's a little embarrassing. I haven't told Dad yet."
"I know, but sweetie, he knows about these things. Besides, you need to tell him you're going to bed with the heating pad so he can look in on you and make sure it gets turned off if you fall asleep with it. He's been through this almost every month with your mother, since before they were married. If you need some help getting supplies from the store, or anything like that, you can go to him." Kennedy found a note on the center island in the kitchen. It brought a smile to her lips and she forced herself to set it aside. "But do call your mother. You're her only daughter and I know she'd want to know what's going on. You may want to wait until tomorrow, though. I think she's asleep already. It's almost nine o'clock, and you should be getting to sleep as well."
"Okay." Erin sighed again. "Auntie Shea, I wish I was there with y'all. I miss my Mom, and I wish I was around girls right now instead of all boys."
"Your Mom misses you, too, sweetie." Kennedy removed her suit jacket and shoes. "And we all wish you were here. Maybe next summer, after things calm down, you can come out for a long visit. Would you like that?"
"Oh, yes!" A girlish giggle bubbled over the line. "That would be awesome! Goodnight."
"Goodnight to you, too. Hug your brothers for me."
"Ewwww!"
Kennedy laughed as Erin hung up. She turned back to the note. It read:
"Katie's asleep. I'm on the boat with dinner. Clothing is optional. - C"
After a hundred resumes, it was the most inspiring thing she'd read all day. She made her way to the bedroom and removed the rest of her work clothes, hanging them up and trading them for a soft cotton tank top and a pair of board shorts. With a few swipes of a wash rag, she removed her make-up and then brushed her teeth, finishing up with a spritz of cologne. As she passed back through the kitchen, she plucked a rose from the dozen that had been delivered to Carson that morning, right on schedule.
Her feet padded softly against the weathered wooden dock, and she stepped onto the sailboat, finding Carson standing down at the far end, leaning against the back railing. Kennedy crept across the deck and sidled up to her, offering over the rose. "Thought you said clothing was optional." Carson was clad in a tiny bikini top, with a clingy knee-length sarong wrapped around her waist. Given the moonlight, the gentle rocking of the boat, and her suddenly-heightened libido, Kennedy privately wondered how long she could resist untying the floral wrap. "Not that I don't like this." She gave the bikini ties a tug. "You're beautiful."
"Thank you." Carson accepted the flower, white with pink-edged petals, drawing it up to her nose and inhaling. "These are extra sweet. They have a hint of spice. And I meant your clothing was optional."
"Why, Miz Garret, are you trying to get me naked?" Kennedy wrapped an arm around her waist, stroking a bit of exposed skin with her thumb.
"Mmmm. I do like getting you naked." Carson nuzzled her shoulder. " But I figured I might feed you and seduce you, first. You hungry?"
"God, yes." Kennedy's stomach chose that moment to growl. "It's been a long day, and it just ended with me explaining to Erin how to handle her first case of menstrual cramps."
"Poor thing. Must be tough not having Katie around." Carson gave the shoulder she was nuzzling an experimental lick, and then kissed the spot. "You're going to be a great mom someday."
Kennedy laughed, as pleasant chills danced across her skin and skittered down her spine, then warmed and settled in an even more pleasant place. "There's something so wrong about you saying that while you're doing what you're doing right now."
"Most women become mothers because of doing things like what I'm doing right now." Carson looked up and batted her eyelashes. "I'm still convinced you've got it in you to get me pregnant, stud."
This only made Kennedy laugh harder. "And it's really wrong that my reaction to that is that my stomach just growled like a banshee."
"I know, I heard. I got your cryptic message about Valerie forcing you to go to dinner and eat salad." Carson reached over, brushing Kennedy's bangs out of her eyes. "Why didn't you get to eat anything else?"
"She made me take her out for steak and lobster." Kennedy closed her eyes, enjoying the attention, as Carson continued to arrange her hair. "I owed her one."
"But you eat fish," Carson questioned with a frown.
"I don't like lobster and there wasn't a single vegetarian main dish on the entire menu." Kennedy turned, placing her hands on Caron's hips and leaning over to peck her on the lips. "Figured I might be eating PB&J when I got home."
"How does a mess of grilled shrimp and a bottle of Tequila sound?" Carson stood on her toes, going back for a second sampling of Kennedy's lips.
"Sounds like the second-tastiest thing on this boat." Kennedy winked. "Toss you in and it sounds like heaven."
Carson studied Kennedy's weary eyes. They'd gone all soft and silver in the moonlight reflecting off the lake. "Honey, you look tired."
"I am tired." Kennedy drew her over to a bench bolted near the ladder to the upper deck. "After we finished coffee, I went into the office, filed three sets of corporate documents, met with two AIDS patients who've been evicted for no apparent reason, and went through a hundred resumes for our new associate."
"Any luck?" Carson scooted in behind her and began massaging her neck and shoulders.
"God, that feels good." Kennedy's head dropped forward and she sighed in utter contentment. "Um. I hired Heidi. She'll be moved down here in two weeks."
Carson's hands stilled. "Was that a good decision? I like her a lot, and I know she's your friend and all, but after everything you've been through with Pete --"
"She claims she's sober and going to AA regularly." Kennedy patted a hand resting on her shoulder. "Please continue. I think my knots have knots."
"Sorry. Really?" Carson took up the gentle kneading again, digging in and working at a tight spot at the base of Kennedy's neck. "That's great news. Did she say what prompted it?"
"She took out a row of parked Mercedes and BMW's in Highland Park and has the insurance premiums to show for it."
"Good lord." Carson whistled. "Glad something smacked her into awareness. I was hoping you wouldn't have to deal with more than one --" She trailed off. It was one of the few touchy subjects between them -- Kennedy's estranged relationship with her brother Pete. Carson was constantly torn between respecting Kennedy's choice to cut off all contact with him, and the knowledge that Kennedy's parents, whom she adored, wished their offspring would start mending bridges. It was one of the reasons they'd stayed in Austin for Christmas.
"Carson, I can't." Kennedy read her mind. "There's too much pressure from other sources at present. I know. He's my brother. I know that. And I've thought the same thing you are, that someday I was going to have to stick Heidi's butt in rehab. I'm glad, too. Okay? One is enough, especially one who almost got us killed. And I know what Mama and Pa want me to do. I just can't."
Carson felt the tension, and the slight tremor that worked its way through the body she was pressed against. "I know." She kissed Kennedy's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I just hate --" She trailed off again, realizing she really wasn't dropping the subject by continuing. She loved Kennedy's parents. They'd become the family she had lost. Much as she wanted Kennedy to be in a good place with her family, Carson recognized her own desire to remain in contact with them as part of her motivation for wanting Kennedy to open up dialogue with Pete.
"Listen." Kennedy turned, touching Carson's arm. "I appreciate that you care."
"I just miss them, that's all." Carson looked down. "And I hate you losing ground you worked so hard to build up."
Ah. Kennedy drew in a sharp breath. It hadn't occurred to her just how much her family meant to her orphaned lover, or to remember how much the only child in Carson hated familial tension of any kind. Amazing how quickly one could feel like a complete ass. "My folks aren't going to disown me just because I'm not speaking to Pete." Kennedy stroked Carson's forearm. "And I have a feeling they'd disown me before they'd disown you." She smiled as Carson looked up.
"I really love them," Carson stammered. "I know they're your parents, but they mean a lot to me."
"And they love you, too, sweetheart." Kennedy leaned closer, kissing her forehead. "Which reminds me. We need to take a picture of our rings and e-mail it to them."
"I'd like that." Carson blinked, a few tears scattering down her cheeks. "Sorry." She sniffled, swiping the back of her hand across her eyes.
Kennedy captured the hand and brushed her lips across Carson's knuckles. "No. I’m sorry. And even if I can't deal with Pete right now, I'll make an effort at keeping in better touch with my folks. You know, you can call and e-mail them, too, if you want. They'd be thrilled if you did."
"I know. I thought about it. It's just that I know things are a little strained between you and them right now, and I don't want you to feel like I'm nosing in." Carson sniffled, and found her face captured and cradled in two strong yet gentle hands.
"I didn't realize how much this was hurting you, sweetheart." Kennedy stroked her cheeks. "Listen. I told you in Alpine I didn't mind if you want to talk with my mother sometimes. I know you need that. And she loves you. So does Pa. Remember what he called you?"
"He said I was one of his children." Carson sniffled again and began to cry outright, burying herself into Kennedy, who wrapped both arms around her.
"Shhhhhh. It's okay. Everything's going to be okay, I promise. I'll eventually talk to Pete, and no matter what, Mama and Pa and I aren't in all that bad a place with each other. They understand why I'm not talking to him, even if they don't like it. Pa said so the last time I talked to him. Most of all, they don't ever quit loving me or any of their children, no matter what we do, and that goes for you now, too." She kissed Carson's head again and just let her cry. "Didn't realize you were holding all this inside."
Carson drew in several shaky breaths and finally looked up. "Neither did I. Sorry. Thanks for understanding, and for sharing your family with me. It means a lot, that your folks have accepted me." She looked down, tracing one of Kennedy's biceps with her fingertip. "This isn't going as planned at all."
"You wanna start over?" Kennedy tilted her chin up and smiled. "What did you have planned?"
"I was going to hand feed you the shrimp, get you silly on tequila, and do the naked horizontal tango with you down in the forward berth." Cason smiled, as Kennedy tweaked her nose.
"How about we feed each other, and get silly and naked together?" Kennedy pecked her lips. "Seems like we could both use a little TLC right now."
Carson hugged her close. "You know one of the things I love about you?"
"What?" Kennedy spoke softly into her ear, nibbling at her hair.
"Even if I'm having a bad day, I know eventually I'm going to be with you, and that turns it back into a good day." She pulled back and pecked Kennedy's nose. "I'll go get the shrimp and the booze. Be right back."
She scampered down to the galley and soon they were trading bites of shrimp amid much laughter, all seriousness set aside in deference the warm, moonlit night and the simple pleasure of being together. "This is messy." Carson laughed, swiping butter sauce from her cheek.
"Yeah, but there's something very satisfying about sitting on your own boat with a belly full of shrimp and a hot chick next to you." Kennedy offered over another piece of shrimp, which Carson snagged, nipping her fingers as well. More butter dribbled down her chin and Kennedy leaned over, cleaning it with flicks of her tongue that ended in a long, sloppy kiss. "Now that was even more satisfying." She tugged at Carson's bathing suit top, untying the ties between her shoulder blades and then sliding her fingers up to undo the bow at the base of her neck. The top fell away, fluttering down to the deck.
"I'm at a disadvantage here," Carson huffed. She leaned close, pulling Kennedy's tank top up and over her head. As she tossed it aside, a warm palm cupped one of her breasts, while a long arm snagged her and drew her forward until their bodies were pressed together.
"Still feel like you're at a disadvantage?" Kennedy purred. She felt Carson go limp against her, her own body reacting strongly to the sudden skin on skin contact. In an instant nieces and resumes and ruffled law partners were forgotten, replaced by a warm surge of pure physical sensation that settled in her gut and made her breathing go uneven. Carson dove into her, capturing her lips in a dizzying round of kisses that left her head spinning.
"We didn't drink any tequila yet." Carson retrieved the bottle from beneath the bench. "You know," her voice wandered an octave lower. "We could have some fun with this. You wanna do a body shot off me?"
"What if I admitted I've never done one?" Kennedy eyed the bottle with more than usual interest.
"Ooo, a body shot virgin." Carson opened the bottle and poured up a shot glass full. "Okay. First, pick a spot to lick me and lay down some salt." Kennedy eyed a nipple and Carson laughed. "Pick someplace else first. You start there and I may not get a chance to do you."
Kennedy spread her arms out at both sides, resembling a swan. "Babe, you can do me up, down, sideways, or any way you want."
"I mean if you start someplace too sensitive, I'm just going to toss the tequila aside and I want to do a shot off you, first." Carson slapped her lightly on the leg.
"First?" Kennedy teased. "You mean we're going to do something besides body shots before we get off this here boat?"
"K!" Carson stamped her feet for emphasis. "Play nice."
"Kinda hard to want to be nice while I'm watching your breasts jiggle like that." Kennedy reached over, brushing her palm across one of the said breasts, and at the same time, leaned in, swiping her tongue across the indention of Carson's collarbone. She picked up the salt shaker and placed a fine white grainy coating on the wet spot, using her finger to spread it around. "That more what you had in mind?"
"Yes," Carson answered on an uneven breath, her body reacting to her lover's touch and tongue with a powerful surge of passion. "Now." She gently pushed Kennedy's hand away. "I can't think when you do that."
"Thinking is way over-rated." Kennedy picked up the shot glass. "I believe I recall you telling me that only a few yards from here, right before we made love that first time."
"I did, didn't I?" Carson's voice grew dreamy for a moment. "I promise. A few shots and no more thinking. Now, take the glass and put it in my cleavage."
"It'll fall." Kennedy held it between Carson's breasts.
"No it won't. I'll hold it in place." She pressed her arms against her breasts, squeezing the glass between them. "See?"
"I'm seeing a lot of nice things right now." Kennedy tweaked a nipple. With her arms occupied, Carson stuck her foot out and pinched Kennedy's calf with her toes. "Ouch! Okay. I'll follow the rules. What next?"
"Take a slice of lime from that saucer and place it between my lips, then you have to put your hands behind your back, get your lips around the shot glass, and tilt your head back and drink the shot. Then you lick the salt away and take the lime from my lips and suck on it."
"I can think of other things I'd rather suck on." Before Carson could answer, Kennedy put the lime in her mouth.
"Mmmmph!" Carson frowned her disapproval at her lover's comment. "Nmph Niphee."
"I never claimed to be nice." Kennedy pushed her own hair behind her ears, clasped her hands behind her back, and with a final coy expression, leaned forward and in one expert motion, took the glass in her mouth and downed the shot. She lowered her head and deposited the empty glass in Carson's lap, then slowly rose, running her tongue from Carson's navel all the way to the salty patch of skin, which she thoroughly cleaned, taking her time in suckling Carson's now-very sensitive skin. "Oops. Hickey." She laughed as Carson slapped her on the arm and then grabbed her, spitting the lime out and going for her lips.
"You. Don't. Play. Fair." Carson came up for air, pressing their foreheads together.
"Neither do you. I didn't get my lime." Kennedy pretended to pout.
"Oh, I'll give you some lime alright!" Carson pushed her onto her back on the padded bench and made quick work of pulling Kennedy's board shorts off. She pounced on Kennedy, pinning her down. "Now." She poked the tip of Kennedy's nose. "We escalate the game."
Kennedy nipped her finger in response. "Is this the part where you do me?" She folded her hands nonchalantly behind her head. "All yours, babe. Have at me."
"You are maddening, you know?" Carson leaned over, kissing her way down to Kennedy's navel. "I'm going to take my shot from right here. But first, the salt." She kissed her way back up to Kennedy's breasts and took a nipple into her mouth.
Kennedy gasped, then released a throaty, sexy laugh. "You wouldn't let me put the salt on your nipple, but sweetheart, you can put it on both of mine if you'd like. See, I'm a more generous player than you are." Carson bit her nipple. "Ouch! Ooo, hurt me some more, please!" Kennedy laughed harder as Carson growled, her lips still firmly wrapped around her highly-sensitized flesh.
"You are evil." Carson bit and then licked the other nipple, doing her lover's bidding, and giving both breasts a generous coating of salt.
"I have a devil of a bedmate for inspiration." Kennedy patted Carson's ass and then slapped it a few times. Carson temporarily forgot the next step in the body shot and melted against her, rubbing the full length of her body against Kennedy as Kennedy continued to knead her butt cheeks, before giving her another light slap.
Carson shuddered, in a very good way, her stomach clenching with unexpected reaction. She gasped and pressed her lips against Kennedy's ear. "I think you just made me come. Just a tiny one, but still."
They both paused, their eyes meeting and twinkling. "Did we just cross over into S&M?" Kennedy traced a dusting of pink that blushed prettily across Carson's cheeks and nose. Carson buried her face into her shoulder, and Kennedy hugged her for a moment. "Hey, you okay?"
"Yeah." Carson peered shyly at her. "Just. That's the first time I've ever done that when we were together, without you touching me."
"I was touching you." Kennedy lightly rubbed Carson's behind. "I just wasn't 'touching' you. It's all good, right?"
Carson leaned down to kiss her. "Definitely good," she whispered against Kennedy's lips. "Now, where were we?" She tilted her head to one side, smiling seductively.
Kennedy watched, as Carson filled the shot glass again and the dribbled its contents out until the indention of Kennedy's belly button was filled. "Oops. Some leftover." Carson sipped half the remaining contents, then pressed the glass against Kennedy's lips. As Kennedy swallowed, Carson took her hands and pushed them up over her head. "No touching me this time." She plucked up the discarded tank top and loosely bound Kennedy's wrists.
Kennedy tested the bonds, both of them knowing she need merely pull hard to release them. "I do love it when the nympho in you comes out to play. Mmpph."
Carson silenced her with a wedge of lime. "Nympho my ass."
Kennedy spit the lime out. "I think your ass is what woke the nympho up, at least this time around it did." She waggled her eyebrows.
"Arrrrggg!" Carson picked the lime up and placed it between Kennedy's lips again. "Keep it there this time. Don't make me gag you."
Kennedy effected a leer, despite the lime.
"Hopeless. Hopeless, I tell you!" Carson smiled, nonetheless and slithered back down Kennedy's body. She kissed and nipped all around her navel, then lapped at the agave nectar until she'd consumed it all. "Ah, salt." She meandered back up, stopping to kiss and lick Kennedy's ribs and the undersides of her breasts. She felt a strong pair of legs wrap around her. "Should've tied those, too." The legs squeezed her in answer and she chuckled, then slowly removed the salt from Kennedy's nipples, feeling her lover's hips begin to grind against her. "Getting you a little hot and bothered, huh?"
Kennedy spit the lime out again and a frank grin spread across her face. "You didn’t let me have any lime, so you don't get any, either." With one smooth motion, she freed her hands and flipped Carson on her back, then scooped Carson's bikini top up from the deck, and before Carson could move, tied her hands to the arm rail at the end of the bench.
Carson tugged at the ties hard and gulped, realizing Kennedy had truly rendered her hands useless. She tilted her head up and studied the knots, then tilted it back down to find a pair of blue eyes very close. "I won't hurt you, Carson. You want me to untie you?"
Kennedy's voice was as gentle as she could ever recall, and it took only a second to decide to continue playing. Carson felt a familiar throbbing of anticipation, and shook her head. "I trust you." She relaxed back into the padded cushion and arched her back slightly, consciously putting her body on display for Kennedy's appreciative eye. She was on fire and could barely keep from squirming as Kennedy studied her with a hungry expression.
"I like that belly button thing you did." Kennedy took the tequila and poured it directly from the bottle, filling Carson's navel and allowing some to dribble across her stomach. It was slightly cool and Carson's stomach quivered in reaction. Kennedy trailed her finger across the smooth surface, making it ripple some more. "You have the most amazing body," she commented reverently. "Oh. Salt."
Slowly, she lifted Carson's sarong, which was still tied around her waist, and her head disappeared beneath it. Carson whimpered as she felt a warm, wet tongue, swipe each of her thighs, followed by the rough texture of the salt as Kennedy spread it over her wet skin. "God," she hissed.
She heard Kennedy laugh and then saw her face once more. "You know," Kennedy turned the tequila bottle first one way and then the other, pondering the label. "I like using the shot glass too." She picked it up and filled it, and lifted Carson's skirt once more. Carson felt smooth, cold glass pressed between her legs. "Hold onto it babe." Kennedy nudged her leg. "Don't move or it'll spill."
"You're killing me," Carson moaned, even as she complied. "Lime?"
"Oh, we've done fine without it so far, but how about we start with lime this time?" Kennedy took the poor tossed about lime wedge and generously coated Carson's lips with its juice, then leaned over, sampling them slowly and thoroughly, until their tongues were swirling together. It felt wonderful and she deepened the kiss, feeling Carson's body shake with the effort of holding back so she wouldn't spill the tequila. She ran her hands up Carson's sides, cupping her breasts and kissing them, before giving full attention to each nipple in turn. "It's so nice to not have to keep my hands off these anymore," Kennedy murmured. "They're perfect." She nuzzled Carson's cleavage, then moved down to finish off the tequila in her belly button.
Carson felt a tug to her navel stud, the sensation shooting into her groin like a lightning bolt. She was shaking all over, her body screaming to move, her arms straining, trying to hold onto something, anything. Kennedy lifted up and stroked her head, gentling her like a colt. "Easy, babe. I’m going to take care of you, real soon."
"You'd better," Carson growled through clenched teeth.
Kennedy burst out laughing. "Demanding," she tisked. "I like it, and here, I thought I might actually get you to beg."
"Bite. Me." Carson snapped, and then she smiled. "Pretty please?"
Kennedy laughed some more, as her head disappeared beneath Carson's sarong again. As she began to clean away the salt, Carson's heels dug into the bench pad. It was all she could do to not levitate straight into the air. "Kennedy Shea, you had best finish off that tequila, now!"
"Oooo, touchy." Kennedy slid both hands beneath Carson's backside and gingerly took the shoot glass into her mouth. She sat up and tilted her head back, closing her eyes in pleasure as its contents slid down her throat and burned as it hit her stomach. She could taste Carson on the surface of the glass, and her nostrils flared as a wave of scents washed over her -- the tequila, the lime, and Carson's sweet musky fragrance.
"No more games," Kennedy husked. With hooded eyes, she lowered herself and slipped beneath Carson's skirt once more. Free at last to move, Carson eased her knees up, her legs pressed against Kennedy. She looked down, her desire ratcheted higher as she realized she could only feel and not see what Kennedy was doing. With Kennedy's first touch, and the gentle yet insistent probe of her tongue, Carson's hips flew off the bench and she gasped in utter pleasure, before falling into an easy, familiar rhythm, her body rocking in reaction to her lover's attentions. All too soon her climax hit her, her stomach muscles rolling as her body slowly stilled, save the heaving of her chest as she struggled to catch her breath.
Kennedy reappeared and smiled, finally removing Carson's sarong and placing gentle kisses all over her fully-naked body. At last, she untied her, taking each of Carson's wrists and rubbing them, before planting a bracelet of kisses around each one.
"I don't think I can move," Carson finally croaked out.
Kennedy gathered her into her arms and stretched out on the bench, holding Carson close and rubbing her back in calming circles. "I like body shots. We need to do them more often."
Carson grew completely still, then forced herself to rise up long enough to gaze seriously into Kennedy's eyes. "Shhhh. Too much talking."
"Sorry." Kennedy smiled, brushing Carson's bangs out of her eyes. "Just, that was a damned lot of fun."
"Yes, honey, but I'm still trying to find my brain cells." Carson patted Kennedy's belly. "They just went screaming into the night when they realized I bit you, you spanked me, and we tied each other up, while having sex. What little Baptist is left in me is a bit mortified right now."
Kennedy studied Carson's face for signs of regret, instead noting a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. "How about the devil in you?"
Carson laughed. "Oh, her? She had a hell of a good time!" She wrapped herself around Kennedy and kissed every inch of skin she could reach, before nudging her legs apart. "Now she wants to take care of you."
Kennedy felt a firm thigh pressed against her, and squeezed Carson, pulling her close. "Ah, babe." Her body started to rock, quite of its own accord. "The devil in me loves the devil in you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Continued in Chapter 6
© 2007 by Linda Crist
Chapter 5
Carson waited patiently, watching the clock and a red light over it that, when lit, would be her cue that they were on the air. She was glad it wasn't television, given the early hour she'd risen and the resulting dark circles under her eyes. Her palms tingled slightly and she swiped them against her jeans, hoping her nervousness wouldn't reach her vocal chords.
Kennedy sat right next to her, crammed into the small space along with her interviewing hostess, KUT's morning drive DJ, Brandi. She was a typical radio-television student, wearing fatigue cargo pants, Vans, and a sleeveless black t-shirt with a skull and crossbones on it. A tattoo of a snake wrapped around a cross adorned her upper arm, and her dark hair was short and spiked with dyed patches of blue and purple. Carson counted at least 5 piercings in the one ear she could see, along with an eyebrow stud and a nose ring. The nose ring had a chain running to one of the earrings, but she had a brilliant, warm smile that negated her attempt at a fierce, neo-punk appearance.
"You'll do fine." Kennedy twined their fingers.
"Is it that obvious?" Carson looked over at her, receiving a warm smile she was much more familiar with.
"Eh, well, not really, except your palm is a little clammy." Kennedy brushed her thumb against the palm in question.
"Sorry." Carson started to remove her hand to wipe it again, but Kennedy kept a firm grasp.
"No worries." She leaned over, whispering in Carson's ear, "I kind of like you sweaty, you know."
"Stop it." Carson felt a blush heat her cheeks.
"I'm sorry we don't have a camera on you," Brandi interrupted. "Because you two are too cute for words." Before either woman could respond, she pointed at the clock. "You ready?"
"Yes." Carson watched the light turn red and swallowed, grateful for the cup of ice water just at her fingertips.
"And we're back with a bonus to The People's Attorney. Joining us this morning is Carson Garret, Kennedy Nocona's partner. Good morning Miss Garret, and welcome to the show." Brandi turned to Carson.
"Thank you. You can call me 'Carson'." She smiled, feeling Kennedy's solid presence at her side.
"Carson." Brandi played with a few buttons on her control panel. "Your partner, Kennedy, is running for seat forty-eight in the Texas House of Representatives. I assume that's with your permission?"
Carson laughed lightly. "Kennedy doesn't need my permission to do anything, but she did discuss it with me first, and has my full support." She received a nudge in the ribs and turned.
Kennedy mouthed the word 'liar' and smiled. Carson stuck her tongue out in answer.
"I see your partner believes she does need your permission." Brandi watched Kennedy. "By the way, for those of you listening, Kennedy Nocona is still with us, and is nodding in agreement."
"Maybe I should clarify." At a cue from Brandi, Carson pulled her microphone a little closer. "She doesn't need my permission to do anything, but she's a very wise woman. We're partners, and she would never make a big decision that effects both of us, without discussing it with me first, and that goes the same for me."
Brandi raised one eyebrow and studied some notes. "Does that mean if she's elected, she'll come to you when making decisions that affect the people of the State of Texas? Do you share the same political beliefs?"
"Last question first." Carson felt her scalp prickle and knew she was treading in dangerous water. "For the most part, we do. She hasn't converted me to vegetarianism just yet, but in the important things, we feel mostly the same. As for your first question, I would never dream of interfering with Kennedy's decisions as state representative, but I think it's unrealistic to think that elected officials don't discuss things with their spouses. We know former U.S. presidents have, so there's no reason to expect anything different on down that chain of command. If she were to come to me seeking an opinion, I'm going to tell her what I think, but I'd never dream of telling her what to do."
"Seems fair enough. You had some pretty harsh words for the religious right last week. Would you care to discuss that?" Brandi pushed her notes aside.
Carson looked her directly in the eye, smiling slightly. "What would you like to know?"
"Do you believe in God, Carson?"
The question hit her directly in the gut, making her heart pound as it had when she was a child, responding to a church alter call that she barely understood. At the time she'd thought God was speaking to her, but in later years, had come to recognize her physical response as a common flight or fight one -- heart beating, breathing heightened, her body on high alert. She took a sip of water and felt Kennedy's hand let go, then her arm slide around Carson's shoulders. "I believe in a higher power," she answered slowly. "I want to believe there's someone or something greater than us, taking care of us, but honestly, no, I don't believe in God as I was taught about him in Sunday School."
"You grew up Southern Baptist, correct? In fact, as a student at The University here, you were a member of Hanover Baptist Church?"
"Yes." Carson felt the nerves begin to retreat, and sat back in her chair, glad of Kennedy's arm anchoring her.
"When did you decide to leave the church, and what prompted that decision?"
"It wasn't any one thing, or even any one time." Carson looked down, gathering her thoughts, and felt a warm hand massage her neck. She looked back up. "I won't go into all the contradictions in the Bible, or the violence, or the subjugation of women, or the countless acts attributed to God that are cruel, hateful, and intolerant. For me, I could no longer follow a religion that taught me to hate, made me live my life based on fear for the future, and told me that anyone who believed differently than me was going to burn in Hell. I'm not perfect, you see, but I would never send anyone to Hell, at least not for disagreeing with me. God is supposed to be perfect and loving. Sending someone to Hell just because they don't believe in his son - that is neither perfect nor loving. If I find more love in myself than I do in God, why would I follow him?"
"So you believe you are better than God?" Brandi smiled, gentling her question for Carson's eyes. It was fairly obvious she was not conservative, given her appearance, but merely asking questions that would draw in the listening audience.
"To believe I’m better than God, I would first have to believe in God, now wouldn't I?" Carson smiled back.
"Touché." Brandi sat back in her chair and relaxed, crossing one leg over the other. "But you said you believe in a higher power. Can you describe what that is, to you?"
"My partner follows some of the ways of her Comanche ancestors. There is a way of living that is in tune with the Earth, honoring and respecting it, and seeking balance and guidance through silence and meditation." Carson reached over, her hand resting lightly on Kennedy's thigh. "I think that is a good and healthy way to live. I think if all of us took the time to seek inner strength and inner peace, if we could find that part of nature that speaks to us, we would all be better people for it. The Earth lives in harmony with itself, supporting a diversity of life. Humans would be well-served to do the same."
"Have you participated in any Comanche rituals or ceremonies?"
Carson looked over at Kennedy, their eyes twinkling in mutual understanding. There would be no mention of a white buck that magically appeared in places hundreds of miles apart. Having a spiritual guardian was a private thing to the Comanche. Besides, it was one thing to come across a bleeding heart liberal, and quite another to come across as crazy. She turned back to Brandi. "No. I might like to sometime in the future. I'm not sure if marrying a Comanche makes me one." Carson laughed. "I haven't looked into it. What I do know is that watching Kennedy and her father, and seeing the peace they find from their beliefs, that is something I find very appealing."
"Just as you find Kennedy appealing, no? You two met about seven months ago and have pledged to spend the rest of your lives together. Do you feel that is a bit quick?" Brandi casually turned her right arm over, forearm up, revealing a small tattoo of a pink triangle on her inner wrist.
Carson smiled. She had suspected Brandi was gay, and cocked her head to one side, studying the tat as she answered. "Hmmm. Well, we didn't go rent a U-Haul after the first date. By lesbian standards we took things pretty slowly."
Brandi laughed. "True. But moving in together and exchanging vows are two different things. How do you know you'll last forever?"
Because we've been together forever, something inside Carson silently screamed. She looked over at Kennedy, trying to figure out how to describe the indescribable. Kennedy's eyes warmed and softened, and she smiled, her fingertips still drawing lazy circles along Carson's neck and shoulders. The answer came with sudden clarity, and Carson turned back to Brandi. "Because when I look into her eyes, I see my future."
Brandi was silent long enough to constitute dead air. Finally, she re-gained her composure. "I believe our time is about up, and I don't think we could end on a better note than that. Carson, thank you for joining us this morning. We hope to have you back on again before November.
"Thank you," Carson answered. The hand at her neck had gone completely still, and she looked over, to see tears swimming in a pair of shocked blue eyes. "I love you," she leaned over and whispered.
They stood and Brandi set music to play, then escorted them to the door. "Thanks." She shook both their hands, holding onto Kennedy's and squeezing it. "For what it's worth I've got an entire student co-op registering to vote. We live just inside your district and some of them felt they had no choices in the last election, but with you, they have a choice. Most of us are gay. They've all been listening to your show here from day one, and let me tell you, having the ability to get a bunch of punk student dykes up before dawn on Monday morning -- that's an amazing amount of power you hold. When they heard you were running for office, they organized their own mini campaign. You're the first politician in a long time who speaks our language and isn't full of BS. Now I think I understand what drives you." She glanced at Carson.
"It's the only thing that drives me," Kennedy responded. "Tell them all 'thank you' for me. See you next week for the regular show."
"Thanks." Carson smiled at Brandi, then took Kennedy's hand and led her out of the building to the freshly-risen sunlight. "You have time to grab a coffee with me before you go into work?"
Kennedy engulfed her in a hug, standing there on the sidewalk, oblivious to the foot traffic all around them, as Austin came to life for a new day of work and school. "I always have time for you," she answered. Draping her arm across Carson's shoulders once more, she guided her across the street to Starbucks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Slam dunk!" Kennedy watched the wadded-up resume land dead-center on top of a pile that threatened to spill over and onto the floor from her office trash can. Finding a new law associate was proving to be more difficult than she'd thought. "See ya."
"Another one bites the dust?" Valerie looked up from the couch under the window across the room.
"What are they teaching these kids these days?" Kennedy scratched her head. "Don't they know they should at least spell-check a resume before they send it in?"
"Girl, don't get me started." Valerie stood and stretched, then plopped back down on the couch and folded one leg beneath her. "There may be no child left behind, but the grammar and spelling books -- those never got on the bus."
"Much as I support them, unless things change drastically, I don't think I'll be sending my kids to public school," Kennedy responded absently. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and retrieved another resume from a slowly-shrinking stack.
"Kids?" Valerie looked up and grinned. "Something you need to tell me?"
"No," Kennedy answered, a little too forcefully. "No," she repeated. "Not any time soon, at any rate."
"But?" Valerie persisted. "Come on, girlfriend, fess up."
"We'll have some, eventually." Kennedy looked up from beneath long bangs. "One way or another."
"There was enough chemistry coming over the airwaves this morning to get one or the both of you pregnant." Valerie studied her smugly. "Although a few hearts were probably broken. Serena and I were at Gabby & Mo's last week and overheard a group of sweet young things discussing what a hottie you are."
"Get out." Kennedy had the grace to blush. "I am not a hottie."
"Please." Valerie rolled her eyes. "Don't even pretend you don't know how babelicious you are. My girl Carson sure seems to think so. 'When I look into her eyes, I see my future.' Girl, that'll be a quote somewhere on MySpace before the day is over."
Kennedy felt a familiar lump in her throat and grabbed a nearby bottle of water, guzzling half of it down. She closed her eyes, feeling them threaten to leak if she met Valerie's gaze. "I think she forgot we were on the air." She finally opened her eyes. "I know I did."
"You need a moment?" Valerie's voice softened. "Sorry, boss lady. I shouldn't have gone there."
"It's alright." Kennedy smiled, her voice hoarse. "Val, can I confess something?" Her law partner nodded. "I spend half the day in a sugar-coated haze, and the other half pinching myself. Here I am running for office, and I'm supposed to be practicing law, and all I can think about is how much I can't wait to get home. Love has kicked my ass."
"Welcome to the club." Valerie smirked. "Do you know how many times a day I text-message Serena?"
"How many?" Kennedy glanced at her Treo, noting the five or six messages she'd sent to a certain blonde since she arrived at the office.
"I have no idea, but it's a good thing my plan doesn't charge me per message." Valerie laughed lightly. "I'm just saying."
"We're whipped, I tell ya." Kennedy joined in the laughter, and then her face sobered. "How long have you and Serena been together, again?"
"Seven years, baby, and still chasing each other around like bunnies." Valerie buffed her nails against her shirt collar.
"Lord, I don't know if I can survive feeling like this for seven years." Kennedy leaned back in her chair, the resume on the desktop forgotten. "It's fun, and it's amazing, but at this rate, it might kill me." She laughed again and threw her arms up in the air. "But what a way to go, huh? Maybe I'll --" Her Treo rang and she looked at the caller ID. "It's Heidi."
Valerie's brows shot up. "Haven't heard from her since --"
"Forever," Kennedy finished for her, as she swung the phone up to her ear. "Heidi?"
"Shea!" An exuberant voice made her ear drum vibrate. "I was trolling Monster and saw you're hiring."
"Yeah. Gonna need some help around here." Kennedy propped her legs up on the desk. "I guess you know I'm running for the State Legislature."
"What I know is that you're crazy," Heidi answered. "How many resumes you get so far?"
"A bazillion. Why? You applying?" Kennedy held the phone away from her ear, in deference to Heidi's usual tone. She glanced over at Valerie, who was laughing silently.
"As a matter of fact, I’m sending my resume to you right now." Even as Heidi spoke, Kennedy saw her e-mail notification pop up.
She grew silent, a hundred thoughts flitting through her mind. This was Heidi, her best friend from law school, former pot-smoking buddy, and suspected alcoholic. Heidi, who slept with a different girl every weekend, still partied until dawn on Saturdays, and ordered her Crown Royal by the case. Heidi, who, despite everything, had been named one of Dallas' top business lawyers, and billed a seven-digit year for the large firm she worked for. Heidi, who could golf with the best of the good old boys, and afterward, dance the night away with their wives, if they weren't looking. Kennedy sighed. This was Heidi, who had dropped everything for her on Carson's behalf, more than once, who stood by her side as Angela died in her arms, and whom she would still trust with her life. "You're hired." Kennedy grimaced, as Valerie threw her stack of resumes on the floor and stomped out of the room.
"One condition." Kennedy ignored Valerie. Those feathers were next on her list to smooth. "You stay clean. First time you come in hung over or drunk, you're out."
"Shea," Heidi spoke earnestly. "I've been meaning to talk to you. I started going to AA right after Christmas."
"Really?" Kennedy sat up at attention, as if her friend were sitting across the desk.
"Listen, I fucked up. Drove home wasted after a party and sideswiped an entire row of parked cars. In Highland Park."
"Ouch!" Kennedy hissed.
"Yeah. I made it home and managed to remember where it happened. I went back the next morning and left notes on all their windshields. But I got lucky. No cops. No breathalyzer. No DWI and no yanked driver's license. But let me tell you, my monthly insurance bill now looks like the budget for a small country."
"Ooo. Big ouch." Kennedy had put the Treo on speaker, and looked over to see Valerie standing in the doorway again, her head cocked to one side, her expression one of amazement. "Guess that was a wake-up call."
"It wasn't the insurance that got me." Heidi's voice was shaking. "All I could think about was what if it had been people instead of cars. Shea, I've been driving home like that at least twice a week for years. You know that."
"Yeah, I do," Kennedy answered softly.
"It's a miracle I haven't killed anyone by now," Heidi whaled mournfully. "Or that I haven't lost my job. But I need a clean start, Shea. It's hard to be here with the same friends in the same city, when I'm not the same person anymore."
"I know." Kennedy's heart hurt. It had been years, but she could still remember the day she'd sat on her parents' front porch in Alpine and made the same decision. It seemed like a lifetime ago. "It's why I left Houston. After Angela died, and all."
"I know," Heidi almost whispered. "I know you had to get away from me, most of all. I've thought about you almost every day since I started going to AA. You're so strong. You just decided to change, and you did. Me, I struggle every day. Every day that I don't go to the liquor store or stop off at Sue Ellen's on the way home, that's a day I go home and celebrate, just me and the dog. I know I have to do the work, but damn, it's hard. If I could start over somewhere --"
"I completely understand, and I’m sorry, Heidi. I did run, but most of all, I had to get away from myself, not you." Kennedy looked over at Valerie, who no longer appeared amazed. Instead, she was looking at Kennedy as if seeing her for the first time. Kennedy took a deep breath and looked down. They'd been law partners for five years, but some things had never been shared. Sure, Valerie knew some bad things had happened in Houston, but she'd never pressured for details. Valerie had only known two Kennedy's -- the one who was a hard-nosed, driven, perfectionist, and the one who had fallen head over heels in love with Carson. She'd not known the hell-raising, pot-smoking, booze-guzzling wild child who had all but died on the side of a two-lane Texas highway after a car crash that had changed her life forever.
A note slid across the desk, into her line of sight. 'Tell her again that she's hired,' it read. Kennedy looked up, as another note followed it. 'And I'll keep you, too.' Raising her eyes higher, she met Valerie's steady gaze, finding nothing but acceptance.
"How soon can you be moved down here?" She felt Valerie squeeze her shoulder.
"Yes!" Heidi shouted, causing both women to jump. "Two weeks. I have to give notice here, pack, and get movers. My condo is already on the market, but I can buy one down there before it sells. I'll probably put my stuff in storage and live in a corporate apartment for a while, and take my time house hunting."
"Great. Then I'll see you in two weeks. We need to go out and celebrate when you get here." Kennedy laughed. "Time you spent an evening with someone besides the dog."
"Thank you, Shea. It means a lot."
"No need to thank me," Kennedy verbally waved her off. "You came to my rescue not so long ago. About time I was able to return the favor."
"Hey. How is Carson? You two doing okay?"
"Better than ever," Kennedy practically gushed. "I know she'll be glad to hear you're moving down here. She likes you, you know."
"Hey, we sun goddesses have to stick together." Heidi laughed. "Tell her I'll be over to hang out on the boat in two weeks. Until then, I'll be in touch."
"Will do. See you soon." Kennedy ended the call and clipped the Treo back into its holster. She looked over at Valerie. "Guess I have some explaining to do."
"Your past is your business." Valerie smiled warmly. "If and when you feel like it, that's fine, but you don't owe me anything, at least not for that. Hiring Heidi, on the other hand . . ."
"I know. Thanks for that." Kennedy smiled charmingly. "Lunch?"
"Girl, for this, lunch ain't gonna cut it. This calls for at least a steak and lobster dinner. Even sober, she's a piece of work, and you know who's going to be spending most of the time working with her, and it isn't you." Valerie leaned over, bracing her weight on the desk top.
"Steak and lobster?" Kennedy chuckled. "Okay, but I'm a vegetarian. What am I going to eat?"
"Salad." Valerie shoved a framed photo of Carson across the desk. "You can have your main course when you get home." She smirked, and turned, stopping in the doorway to look back. "Gotcha."
Kennedy covered her eyes and groaned, shaking her head.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Kennedy pulled up in the driveway, her Treo rang. She looked at the caller ID. "Erin?"
"Auntie Shea," a forlorn voice greeted her ears. "It happened."
"What happened?" Kennedy put the Treo on speaker and pressed a button to close the electric gate behind her, pressing another to open the garage door.
"I started my period," Erin fretted. "No one told me it would hurt."
"Oh. Cramps." Kennedy entered the garage and cut the engine. "Sweetpea, do you have a heating pad?"
"Yeah." Erin sounded near tears. "Oh, it hurts!"
"I know, and you're being very brave. Listen to me." Kennedy got out of the 4Runner, shouldered her briefcase, and closed the garage door. "Get some Advil, and the heating pad, and make yourself some hot herbal tea. Take the Advil, drink the tea, and get in bed with the heating pad over your stomach. Find yourself a good book to read. Do you still run track at school?"
"Yeah." Erin gasped in pain.
"In the morning, I want you to get up and go to school early, and run a few miles around the track. Then take as hot a shower as you can stand, and then take more Advil." She reached the house and stepped up on the back porch.
"Auntie Shea, are you crazy? I can hardly walk, much less run."
"I know it feels that way, but trust me. The exercise will make the cramps better, not worse." The menagerie greeted Kennedy as she entered the kitchen and she stepped around them, dropping her briefcase in the entryway. "You want to talk to you mom?"
"I guess I should." Erin hesitated and Kennedy heard a sigh. "It's a little embarrassing. I haven't told Dad yet."
"I know, but sweetie, he knows about these things. Besides, you need to tell him you're going to bed with the heating pad so he can look in on you and make sure it gets turned off if you fall asleep with it. He's been through this almost every month with your mother, since before they were married. If you need some help getting supplies from the store, or anything like that, you can go to him." Kennedy found a note on the center island in the kitchen. It brought a smile to her lips and she forced herself to set it aside. "But do call your mother. You're her only daughter and I know she'd want to know what's going on. You may want to wait until tomorrow, though. I think she's asleep already. It's almost nine o'clock, and you should be getting to sleep as well."
"Okay." Erin sighed again. "Auntie Shea, I wish I was there with y'all. I miss my Mom, and I wish I was around girls right now instead of all boys."
"Your Mom misses you, too, sweetie." Kennedy removed her suit jacket and shoes. "And we all wish you were here. Maybe next summer, after things calm down, you can come out for a long visit. Would you like that?"
"Oh, yes!" A girlish giggle bubbled over the line. "That would be awesome! Goodnight."
"Goodnight to you, too. Hug your brothers for me."
"Ewwww!"
Kennedy laughed as Erin hung up. She turned back to the note. It read:
"Katie's asleep. I'm on the boat with dinner. Clothing is optional. - C"
After a hundred resumes, it was the most inspiring thing she'd read all day. She made her way to the bedroom and removed the rest of her work clothes, hanging them up and trading them for a soft cotton tank top and a pair of board shorts. With a few swipes of a wash rag, she removed her make-up and then brushed her teeth, finishing up with a spritz of cologne. As she passed back through the kitchen, she plucked a rose from the dozen that had been delivered to Carson that morning, right on schedule.
Her feet padded softly against the weathered wooden dock, and she stepped onto the sailboat, finding Carson standing down at the far end, leaning against the back railing. Kennedy crept across the deck and sidled up to her, offering over the rose. "Thought you said clothing was optional." Carson was clad in a tiny bikini top, with a clingy knee-length sarong wrapped around her waist. Given the moonlight, the gentle rocking of the boat, and her suddenly-heightened libido, Kennedy privately wondered how long she could resist untying the floral wrap. "Not that I don't like this." She gave the bikini ties a tug. "You're beautiful."
"Thank you." Carson accepted the flower, white with pink-edged petals, drawing it up to her nose and inhaling. "These are extra sweet. They have a hint of spice. And I meant your clothing was optional."
"Why, Miz Garret, are you trying to get me naked?" Kennedy wrapped an arm around her waist, stroking a bit of exposed skin with her thumb.
"Mmmm. I do like getting you naked." Carson nuzzled her shoulder. " But I figured I might feed you and seduce you, first. You hungry?"
"God, yes." Kennedy's stomach chose that moment to growl. "It's been a long day, and it just ended with me explaining to Erin how to handle her first case of menstrual cramps."
"Poor thing. Must be tough not having Katie around." Carson gave the shoulder she was nuzzling an experimental lick, and then kissed the spot. "You're going to be a great mom someday."
Kennedy laughed, as pleasant chills danced across her skin and skittered down her spine, then warmed and settled in an even more pleasant place. "There's something so wrong about you saying that while you're doing what you're doing right now."
"Most women become mothers because of doing things like what I'm doing right now." Carson looked up and batted her eyelashes. "I'm still convinced you've got it in you to get me pregnant, stud."
This only made Kennedy laugh harder. "And it's really wrong that my reaction to that is that my stomach just growled like a banshee."
"I know, I heard. I got your cryptic message about Valerie forcing you to go to dinner and eat salad." Carson reached over, brushing Kennedy's bangs out of her eyes. "Why didn't you get to eat anything else?"
"She made me take her out for steak and lobster." Kennedy closed her eyes, enjoying the attention, as Carson continued to arrange her hair. "I owed her one."
"But you eat fish," Carson questioned with a frown.
"I don't like lobster and there wasn't a single vegetarian main dish on the entire menu." Kennedy turned, placing her hands on Caron's hips and leaning over to peck her on the lips. "Figured I might be eating PB&J when I got home."
"How does a mess of grilled shrimp and a bottle of Tequila sound?" Carson stood on her toes, going back for a second sampling of Kennedy's lips.
"Sounds like the second-tastiest thing on this boat." Kennedy winked. "Toss you in and it sounds like heaven."
Carson studied Kennedy's weary eyes. They'd gone all soft and silver in the moonlight reflecting off the lake. "Honey, you look tired."
"I am tired." Kennedy drew her over to a bench bolted near the ladder to the upper deck. "After we finished coffee, I went into the office, filed three sets of corporate documents, met with two AIDS patients who've been evicted for no apparent reason, and went through a hundred resumes for our new associate."
"Any luck?" Carson scooted in behind her and began massaging her neck and shoulders.
"God, that feels good." Kennedy's head dropped forward and she sighed in utter contentment. "Um. I hired Heidi. She'll be moved down here in two weeks."
Carson's hands stilled. "Was that a good decision? I like her a lot, and I know she's your friend and all, but after everything you've been through with Pete --"
"She claims she's sober and going to AA regularly." Kennedy patted a hand resting on her shoulder. "Please continue. I think my knots have knots."
"Sorry. Really?" Carson took up the gentle kneading again, digging in and working at a tight spot at the base of Kennedy's neck. "That's great news. Did she say what prompted it?"
"She took out a row of parked Mercedes and BMW's in Highland Park and has the insurance premiums to show for it."
"Good lord." Carson whistled. "Glad something smacked her into awareness. I was hoping you wouldn't have to deal with more than one --" She trailed off. It was one of the few touchy subjects between them -- Kennedy's estranged relationship with her brother Pete. Carson was constantly torn between respecting Kennedy's choice to cut off all contact with him, and the knowledge that Kennedy's parents, whom she adored, wished their offspring would start mending bridges. It was one of the reasons they'd stayed in Austin for Christmas.
"Carson, I can't." Kennedy read her mind. "There's too much pressure from other sources at present. I know. He's my brother. I know that. And I've thought the same thing you are, that someday I was going to have to stick Heidi's butt in rehab. I'm glad, too. Okay? One is enough, especially one who almost got us killed. And I know what Mama and Pa want me to do. I just can't."
Carson felt the tension, and the slight tremor that worked its way through the body she was pressed against. "I know." She kissed Kennedy's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I just hate --" She trailed off again, realizing she really wasn't dropping the subject by continuing. She loved Kennedy's parents. They'd become the family she had lost. Much as she wanted Kennedy to be in a good place with her family, Carson recognized her own desire to remain in contact with them as part of her motivation for wanting Kennedy to open up dialogue with Pete.
"Listen." Kennedy turned, touching Carson's arm. "I appreciate that you care."
"I just miss them, that's all." Carson looked down. "And I hate you losing ground you worked so hard to build up."
Ah. Kennedy drew in a sharp breath. It hadn't occurred to her just how much her family meant to her orphaned lover, or to remember how much the only child in Carson hated familial tension of any kind. Amazing how quickly one could feel like a complete ass. "My folks aren't going to disown me just because I'm not speaking to Pete." Kennedy stroked Carson's forearm. "And I have a feeling they'd disown me before they'd disown you." She smiled as Carson looked up.
"I really love them," Carson stammered. "I know they're your parents, but they mean a lot to me."
"And they love you, too, sweetheart." Kennedy leaned closer, kissing her forehead. "Which reminds me. We need to take a picture of our rings and e-mail it to them."
"I'd like that." Carson blinked, a few tears scattering down her cheeks. "Sorry." She sniffled, swiping the back of her hand across her eyes.
Kennedy captured the hand and brushed her lips across Carson's knuckles. "No. I’m sorry. And even if I can't deal with Pete right now, I'll make an effort at keeping in better touch with my folks. You know, you can call and e-mail them, too, if you want. They'd be thrilled if you did."
"I know. I thought about it. It's just that I know things are a little strained between you and them right now, and I don't want you to feel like I'm nosing in." Carson sniffled, and found her face captured and cradled in two strong yet gentle hands.
"I didn't realize how much this was hurting you, sweetheart." Kennedy stroked her cheeks. "Listen. I told you in Alpine I didn't mind if you want to talk with my mother sometimes. I know you need that. And she loves you. So does Pa. Remember what he called you?"
"He said I was one of his children." Carson sniffled again and began to cry outright, burying herself into Kennedy, who wrapped both arms around her.
"Shhhhhh. It's okay. Everything's going to be okay, I promise. I'll eventually talk to Pete, and no matter what, Mama and Pa and I aren't in all that bad a place with each other. They understand why I'm not talking to him, even if they don't like it. Pa said so the last time I talked to him. Most of all, they don't ever quit loving me or any of their children, no matter what we do, and that goes for you now, too." She kissed Carson's head again and just let her cry. "Didn't realize you were holding all this inside."
Carson drew in several shaky breaths and finally looked up. "Neither did I. Sorry. Thanks for understanding, and for sharing your family with me. It means a lot, that your folks have accepted me." She looked down, tracing one of Kennedy's biceps with her fingertip. "This isn't going as planned at all."
"You wanna start over?" Kennedy tilted her chin up and smiled. "What did you have planned?"
"I was going to hand feed you the shrimp, get you silly on tequila, and do the naked horizontal tango with you down in the forward berth." Cason smiled, as Kennedy tweaked her nose.
"How about we feed each other, and get silly and naked together?" Kennedy pecked her lips. "Seems like we could both use a little TLC right now."
Carson hugged her close. "You know one of the things I love about you?"
"What?" Kennedy spoke softly into her ear, nibbling at her hair.
"Even if I'm having a bad day, I know eventually I'm going to be with you, and that turns it back into a good day." She pulled back and pecked Kennedy's nose. "I'll go get the shrimp and the booze. Be right back."
She scampered down to the galley and soon they were trading bites of shrimp amid much laughter, all seriousness set aside in deference the warm, moonlit night and the simple pleasure of being together. "This is messy." Carson laughed, swiping butter sauce from her cheek.
"Yeah, but there's something very satisfying about sitting on your own boat with a belly full of shrimp and a hot chick next to you." Kennedy offered over another piece of shrimp, which Carson snagged, nipping her fingers as well. More butter dribbled down her chin and Kennedy leaned over, cleaning it with flicks of her tongue that ended in a long, sloppy kiss. "Now that was even more satisfying." She tugged at Carson's bathing suit top, untying the ties between her shoulder blades and then sliding her fingers up to undo the bow at the base of her neck. The top fell away, fluttering down to the deck.
"I'm at a disadvantage here," Carson huffed. She leaned close, pulling Kennedy's tank top up and over her head. As she tossed it aside, a warm palm cupped one of her breasts, while a long arm snagged her and drew her forward until their bodies were pressed together.
"Still feel like you're at a disadvantage?" Kennedy purred. She felt Carson go limp against her, her own body reacting strongly to the sudden skin on skin contact. In an instant nieces and resumes and ruffled law partners were forgotten, replaced by a warm surge of pure physical sensation that settled in her gut and made her breathing go uneven. Carson dove into her, capturing her lips in a dizzying round of kisses that left her head spinning.
"We didn't drink any tequila yet." Carson retrieved the bottle from beneath the bench. "You know," her voice wandered an octave lower. "We could have some fun with this. You wanna do a body shot off me?"
"What if I admitted I've never done one?" Kennedy eyed the bottle with more than usual interest.
"Ooo, a body shot virgin." Carson opened the bottle and poured up a shot glass full. "Okay. First, pick a spot to lick me and lay down some salt." Kennedy eyed a nipple and Carson laughed. "Pick someplace else first. You start there and I may not get a chance to do you."
Kennedy spread her arms out at both sides, resembling a swan. "Babe, you can do me up, down, sideways, or any way you want."
"I mean if you start someplace too sensitive, I'm just going to toss the tequila aside and I want to do a shot off you, first." Carson slapped her lightly on the leg.
"First?" Kennedy teased. "You mean we're going to do something besides body shots before we get off this here boat?"
"K!" Carson stamped her feet for emphasis. "Play nice."
"Kinda hard to want to be nice while I'm watching your breasts jiggle like that." Kennedy reached over, brushing her palm across one of the said breasts, and at the same time, leaned in, swiping her tongue across the indention of Carson's collarbone. She picked up the salt shaker and placed a fine white grainy coating on the wet spot, using her finger to spread it around. "That more what you had in mind?"
"Yes," Carson answered on an uneven breath, her body reacting to her lover's touch and tongue with a powerful surge of passion. "Now." She gently pushed Kennedy's hand away. "I can't think when you do that."
"Thinking is way over-rated." Kennedy picked up the shot glass. "I believe I recall you telling me that only a few yards from here, right before we made love that first time."
"I did, didn't I?" Carson's voice grew dreamy for a moment. "I promise. A few shots and no more thinking. Now, take the glass and put it in my cleavage."
"It'll fall." Kennedy held it between Carson's breasts.
"No it won't. I'll hold it in place." She pressed her arms against her breasts, squeezing the glass between them. "See?"
"I'm seeing a lot of nice things right now." Kennedy tweaked a nipple. With her arms occupied, Carson stuck her foot out and pinched Kennedy's calf with her toes. "Ouch! Okay. I'll follow the rules. What next?"
"Take a slice of lime from that saucer and place it between my lips, then you have to put your hands behind your back, get your lips around the shot glass, and tilt your head back and drink the shot. Then you lick the salt away and take the lime from my lips and suck on it."
"I can think of other things I'd rather suck on." Before Carson could answer, Kennedy put the lime in her mouth.
"Mmmmph!" Carson frowned her disapproval at her lover's comment. "Nmph Niphee."
"I never claimed to be nice." Kennedy pushed her own hair behind her ears, clasped her hands behind her back, and with a final coy expression, leaned forward and in one expert motion, took the glass in her mouth and downed the shot. She lowered her head and deposited the empty glass in Carson's lap, then slowly rose, running her tongue from Carson's navel all the way to the salty patch of skin, which she thoroughly cleaned, taking her time in suckling Carson's now-very sensitive skin. "Oops. Hickey." She laughed as Carson slapped her on the arm and then grabbed her, spitting the lime out and going for her lips.
"You. Don't. Play. Fair." Carson came up for air, pressing their foreheads together.
"Neither do you. I didn't get my lime." Kennedy pretended to pout.
"Oh, I'll give you some lime alright!" Carson pushed her onto her back on the padded bench and made quick work of pulling Kennedy's board shorts off. She pounced on Kennedy, pinning her down. "Now." She poked the tip of Kennedy's nose. "We escalate the game."
Kennedy nipped her finger in response. "Is this the part where you do me?" She folded her hands nonchalantly behind her head. "All yours, babe. Have at me."
"You are maddening, you know?" Carson leaned over, kissing her way down to Kennedy's navel. "I'm going to take my shot from right here. But first, the salt." She kissed her way back up to Kennedy's breasts and took a nipple into her mouth.
Kennedy gasped, then released a throaty, sexy laugh. "You wouldn't let me put the salt on your nipple, but sweetheart, you can put it on both of mine if you'd like. See, I'm a more generous player than you are." Carson bit her nipple. "Ouch! Ooo, hurt me some more, please!" Kennedy laughed harder as Carson growled, her lips still firmly wrapped around her highly-sensitized flesh.
"You are evil." Carson bit and then licked the other nipple, doing her lover's bidding, and giving both breasts a generous coating of salt.
"I have a devil of a bedmate for inspiration." Kennedy patted Carson's ass and then slapped it a few times. Carson temporarily forgot the next step in the body shot and melted against her, rubbing the full length of her body against Kennedy as Kennedy continued to knead her butt cheeks, before giving her another light slap.
Carson shuddered, in a very good way, her stomach clenching with unexpected reaction. She gasped and pressed her lips against Kennedy's ear. "I think you just made me come. Just a tiny one, but still."
They both paused, their eyes meeting and twinkling. "Did we just cross over into S&M?" Kennedy traced a dusting of pink that blushed prettily across Carson's cheeks and nose. Carson buried her face into her shoulder, and Kennedy hugged her for a moment. "Hey, you okay?"
"Yeah." Carson peered shyly at her. "Just. That's the first time I've ever done that when we were together, without you touching me."
"I was touching you." Kennedy lightly rubbed Carson's behind. "I just wasn't 'touching' you. It's all good, right?"
Carson leaned down to kiss her. "Definitely good," she whispered against Kennedy's lips. "Now, where were we?" She tilted her head to one side, smiling seductively.
Kennedy watched, as Carson filled the shot glass again and the dribbled its contents out until the indention of Kennedy's belly button was filled. "Oops. Some leftover." Carson sipped half the remaining contents, then pressed the glass against Kennedy's lips. As Kennedy swallowed, Carson took her hands and pushed them up over her head. "No touching me this time." She plucked up the discarded tank top and loosely bound Kennedy's wrists.
Kennedy tested the bonds, both of them knowing she need merely pull hard to release them. "I do love it when the nympho in you comes out to play. Mmpph."
Carson silenced her with a wedge of lime. "Nympho my ass."
Kennedy spit the lime out. "I think your ass is what woke the nympho up, at least this time around it did." She waggled her eyebrows.
"Arrrrggg!" Carson picked the lime up and placed it between Kennedy's lips again. "Keep it there this time. Don't make me gag you."
Kennedy effected a leer, despite the lime.
"Hopeless. Hopeless, I tell you!" Carson smiled, nonetheless and slithered back down Kennedy's body. She kissed and nipped all around her navel, then lapped at the agave nectar until she'd consumed it all. "Ah, salt." She meandered back up, stopping to kiss and lick Kennedy's ribs and the undersides of her breasts. She felt a strong pair of legs wrap around her. "Should've tied those, too." The legs squeezed her in answer and she chuckled, then slowly removed the salt from Kennedy's nipples, feeling her lover's hips begin to grind against her. "Getting you a little hot and bothered, huh?"
Kennedy spit the lime out again and a frank grin spread across her face. "You didn’t let me have any lime, so you don't get any, either." With one smooth motion, she freed her hands and flipped Carson on her back, then scooped Carson's bikini top up from the deck, and before Carson could move, tied her hands to the arm rail at the end of the bench.
Carson tugged at the ties hard and gulped, realizing Kennedy had truly rendered her hands useless. She tilted her head up and studied the knots, then tilted it back down to find a pair of blue eyes very close. "I won't hurt you, Carson. You want me to untie you?"
Kennedy's voice was as gentle as she could ever recall, and it took only a second to decide to continue playing. Carson felt a familiar throbbing of anticipation, and shook her head. "I trust you." She relaxed back into the padded cushion and arched her back slightly, consciously putting her body on display for Kennedy's appreciative eye. She was on fire and could barely keep from squirming as Kennedy studied her with a hungry expression.
"I like that belly button thing you did." Kennedy took the tequila and poured it directly from the bottle, filling Carson's navel and allowing some to dribble across her stomach. It was slightly cool and Carson's stomach quivered in reaction. Kennedy trailed her finger across the smooth surface, making it ripple some more. "You have the most amazing body," she commented reverently. "Oh. Salt."
Slowly, she lifted Carson's sarong, which was still tied around her waist, and her head disappeared beneath it. Carson whimpered as she felt a warm, wet tongue, swipe each of her thighs, followed by the rough texture of the salt as Kennedy spread it over her wet skin. "God," she hissed.
She heard Kennedy laugh and then saw her face once more. "You know," Kennedy turned the tequila bottle first one way and then the other, pondering the label. "I like using the shot glass too." She picked it up and filled it, and lifted Carson's skirt once more. Carson felt smooth, cold glass pressed between her legs. "Hold onto it babe." Kennedy nudged her leg. "Don't move or it'll spill."
"You're killing me," Carson moaned, even as she complied. "Lime?"
"Oh, we've done fine without it so far, but how about we start with lime this time?" Kennedy took the poor tossed about lime wedge and generously coated Carson's lips with its juice, then leaned over, sampling them slowly and thoroughly, until their tongues were swirling together. It felt wonderful and she deepened the kiss, feeling Carson's body shake with the effort of holding back so she wouldn't spill the tequila. She ran her hands up Carson's sides, cupping her breasts and kissing them, before giving full attention to each nipple in turn. "It's so nice to not have to keep my hands off these anymore," Kennedy murmured. "They're perfect." She nuzzled Carson's cleavage, then moved down to finish off the tequila in her belly button.
Carson felt a tug to her navel stud, the sensation shooting into her groin like a lightning bolt. She was shaking all over, her body screaming to move, her arms straining, trying to hold onto something, anything. Kennedy lifted up and stroked her head, gentling her like a colt. "Easy, babe. I’m going to take care of you, real soon."
"You'd better," Carson growled through clenched teeth.
Kennedy burst out laughing. "Demanding," she tisked. "I like it, and here, I thought I might actually get you to beg."
"Bite. Me." Carson snapped, and then she smiled. "Pretty please?"
Kennedy laughed some more, as her head disappeared beneath Carson's sarong again. As she began to clean away the salt, Carson's heels dug into the bench pad. It was all she could do to not levitate straight into the air. "Kennedy Shea, you had best finish off that tequila, now!"
"Oooo, touchy." Kennedy slid both hands beneath Carson's backside and gingerly took the shoot glass into her mouth. She sat up and tilted her head back, closing her eyes in pleasure as its contents slid down her throat and burned as it hit her stomach. She could taste Carson on the surface of the glass, and her nostrils flared as a wave of scents washed over her -- the tequila, the lime, and Carson's sweet musky fragrance.
"No more games," Kennedy husked. With hooded eyes, she lowered herself and slipped beneath Carson's skirt once more. Free at last to move, Carson eased her knees up, her legs pressed against Kennedy. She looked down, her desire ratcheted higher as she realized she could only feel and not see what Kennedy was doing. With Kennedy's first touch, and the gentle yet insistent probe of her tongue, Carson's hips flew off the bench and she gasped in utter pleasure, before falling into an easy, familiar rhythm, her body rocking in reaction to her lover's attentions. All too soon her climax hit her, her stomach muscles rolling as her body slowly stilled, save the heaving of her chest as she struggled to catch her breath.
Kennedy reappeared and smiled, finally removing Carson's sarong and placing gentle kisses all over her fully-naked body. At last, she untied her, taking each of Carson's wrists and rubbing them, before planting a bracelet of kisses around each one.
"I don't think I can move," Carson finally croaked out.
Kennedy gathered her into her arms and stretched out on the bench, holding Carson close and rubbing her back in calming circles. "I like body shots. We need to do them more often."
Carson grew completely still, then forced herself to rise up long enough to gaze seriously into Kennedy's eyes. "Shhhh. Too much talking."
"Sorry." Kennedy smiled, brushing Carson's bangs out of her eyes. "Just, that was a damned lot of fun."
"Yes, honey, but I'm still trying to find my brain cells." Carson patted Kennedy's belly. "They just went screaming into the night when they realized I bit you, you spanked me, and we tied each other up, while having sex. What little Baptist is left in me is a bit mortified right now."
Kennedy studied Carson's face for signs of regret, instead noting a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. "How about the devil in you?"
Carson laughed. "Oh, her? She had a hell of a good time!" She wrapped herself around Kennedy and kissed every inch of skin she could reach, before nudging her legs apart. "Now she wants to take care of you."
Kennedy felt a firm thigh pressed against her, and squeezed Carson, pulling her close. "Ah, babe." Her body started to rock, quite of its own accord. "The devil in me loves the devil in you."
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Continued in Chapter 6
