Identity (12 page)

“Who?”

“My friend Don. Remember, I called you?”

“Right. I’m sorry. Distracted.”

Liza stood, dwarfing Shay, and Shay moved back as if afraid. Liza noticed but didn’t remark on it. “Need some help? Fishing just isn’t what I’m in the mood for, I guess.”

A war raged inside Shay. Should she let Liza into her fortress? She disliked letting others see her neurotic precautions, worried about what ideas they would form in her silence. Explaining was something she wasn’t able to do just yet. A scheduled visit could be dealt with but a random visit… Her mind listed her last visual references of her house as Liza waited patiently.

“I guess…” she began hesitantly.

“Good.” Liza strode across the road and tossed her pole into the back of her pickup and led the way up the drive. Shay hurriedly caught up, wondering whether she should broach the subject of Pepper. She hesitated, and they were at the front door within moments.

If Liza noticed the number of deadbolts, she didn’t comment on them as Shay leapt forward to painstakingly unlock each one. Instead she talked about how she had always loved this estate and how she had often played there as a child. She complimented Shay’s landscaping improvements.

Hesitating at the door, Shay quit breathing as a new fear beset her. Suppose Liza
did
want to hurt her? Or perhaps kiss her again?

“Shay?You all right? Did I say something?”

Shay looked up and fell deep into Liza’s concerned gaze. She was watching Shay closely, her face mirroring Shay’s own worry. The gaze was loving and kind and Shay’s fear dissipated like morning mist in sunshine. Shay wanted to kiss her then and it took everything she had not to wrap her arms around the taller woman’s neck and pull her close. Disturbed, she pushed open the door and stepped through.

“Well, this is home, such as it is. Make yourself comfortable and I’ll get us some of that wine you love,” Shay said as she scrubbed her hands together nervously.

Liza sensed the other’s unease and was puzzled by it. “Thanks,” she said, gently trying to force eye contact. Shay lifted her gaze once briefly, then vanished into the kitchen.

Liza took in the large combined family and dining room with its high-stuccoed ceiling and airy comfort. A large navy blue sofa dominated the room, but two red Queen Anne wing chairs complemented it. A darkly polished wooden coffee table rounded out the seating area.

To the left of the front door was a dining area with a bare, unadorned cherry table and chairs and a large matching china cabinet on one wall and a matching sideboard on the other. Although the china cabinet was filled with pale blue dishes, the rooms were strangely uncluttered. Liza noticed several packing crates occupying a far corner of the main room and remembered how long Shay had lived there.

Photographs speared neatly on a bulletin board over the tidy desk area snared her gaze. Stepping closer she saw one photo of a smiling older couple, probably Shay’s parents. There was a distinct resemblance. The other photos were generally of Shay with dogs, mostly a beautiful, comical boxer. Other photos showed her surrounded by fuzzy collie puppies. In one she had an arm thrown around a heavily beribboned reddish dog with cute, floppy ears. Liza didn’t recognize the breed.

“Hey, what kind of dog is this?”

Shay appeared in the kitchen doorway. “Hmm?”

She saw where Liza was and approached cautiously. As if stalling for time, she handed Liza a cold glass of wine. “This is the Riesling you liked.”

“Ahh, that’s as good as I remembered,” Liza said after savoring a sip. “This one here, the one with all the ribbons.”

Shay cleared her throat. “That’s Candy, or as she’s officially known, Star Farms Wayward Wind M&M.”

“Wow, what a name.”

“Yeah,” Shay replied with a heavy sigh.

“What breed is she? She’s really beautiful.”

Shay smiled and reached out one hand to touch the photo. “Rhodesian Ridgeback. They’re an awesome breed. So intelligent.”

Liza peered closely at the photo. “She looks spirited too.”

“Oh yes, very. But a good girl.”

Liza looked at Shay. “You showed her, didn’t you?”

Shay shook her head. “Not really, only in a pinch. I trained her. My friend Carter was her handler.”

“That is so cool. Now I finally know a little something about you.” Liza studied Shay with amused eyes.

Shay became defensive. “What do you mean? You know just about everything there is to know.”

“Like hell! You have to admit, you’re a little overcautious. I didn’t even know you trained dogs.”

Shay shrugged. “It’s not important. It just never came up.”

Liza’s jaw dropped. “Shay? Remember the day at the shelter? Can you think of a better opportunity to mention it?”

Shay fluttered one hand, dismissing the issue, yet she bristled angrily. “Look, did you come here to argue or to help me get ready for guests?”

Liza grinned a disarming grin and placed her wineglass on the desk blotter. “Shay, anything for you, honey. Just tell me what you need me to do.”

Pale skin still flushed with anger, but smiling, Shay set her own wine aside and led Liza down a short wide hallway to a large bedroom. It was simply furnished, with a large queen-sized bed, unmade, and a mirrored bureau and tall chest of drawers.

“This is nice,” Liza commented, studying the room with appreciation. “I like the light in here.”

She noticed suddenly that each of the two large windows had a delicate filigree of wrought iron on the outside. She made a mental note to check for an alarm panel by the front door. She hadn’t noticed earlier.

“I thought we’d make the bed and fluff things up a bit,” Shay said, her small teeth pulling at her bottom lip.

“Sounds good. I really like this beautiful quilt too,” she said, pointing to the stacked linens at the foot of the bed. Determined to put Shay at ease, Liza kept up a constant stream of easy chatter as they worked. She rambled on about helping her grandmother make a quilt when she was younger. Gamboling thoughts plagued her, though. What horrible event had happened to Shay?

As they made their way back to the front of the house, Liza, with new awareness, peered into each of the open rooms they passed. Sure enough, each one had windows barred on the outside. Why hadn’t she noticed it from their approach along the drive? She realized then that the filigree panels were so delicate that they added to the overall exterior rather than appearing like the protective bars they actually were. There
was
an alarm panel by the front door, as well as the four deadbolts on the actual door. The sliding glass doors, a true vulnerability, had an outer cage of wrought iron as well as a thick burglar bar on the inside.

Liza felt a pressing need to know what Shay feared but was afraid to broach it with her. She didn’t want to set off that Irish temper again, preferring to spend quality time with the enchanting woman.

“This one is Hattie,” Shay said, quietly drawing Liza’s attention. She stood by the bulletin board, holding Liza’s glass of wine.

Liza approached and took the glass from Shay’s hands. She finished the wine in one gulp as she studied the photo. “She’s beautiful. You loved her a lot, didn’t you?”

Shay nodded and a huge tear rolled slowly along her cheek. Late day sunlight streaming in through the western dining room windows caught the tear and made it into a sparkling diamond. The sight broke Liza’s heart.

“Oh, Shay, honey, please. I can’t take it if you cry,” Liza said gently. She placed her empty glass on the desk and took Shay’s hands in hers. She leaned forward and kissed the salty tear away, following its path down to the corner of Shay’s pale lips. She leaned back and found Shay’s gaze upon her.

Without warning, Shay’s arms were around Liza’s neck, her hands entwined in Liza’s thick hair and their eyes locked, just inches apart. Shay’s pleasant coconut scent engulfed her. It was too much. Liza’s whole body lurched into combustion and her brown eyes smoldered.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Shay saw the need appear in Liza’s gaze and a thrill went through her body. This woman wanted her badly. That desire hit Shay below the belt and she felt a quicksilver pool suddenly form there. Her own desire caused her to stop breathing, and she moved her form sensuously against Liza, enjoying the taller woman’s gasp of surprise.

Liza held the firmness of Shay’s runner form close and Shay felt her knees weaken. Liza’s hands came around to cup Shay’s small bottom and pulled their bodies even closer. Only then did Shay allow her lips to touch Liza’s. The kiss transported both women to a new place, a cocoon of rampant desire. Liza’s hands moved up to smooth through Shay’s long hair, the strands thick and silky. Her fingers were hypersensitive as they caressed Shay’s long white neck and jaw. Her lips followed her hands, then returned to find the warm energy of Shay’s mouth which ignited Shay anew.

Shay’s hands wandered under Liza’s T-shirt and over her sports bra, finding full, firm breasts, their nipples rigid with need. Her hands moved around and caressed the hard musculature of Liza’s back. She sighed. Liza felt so good.

Another, powerfully penetrating kiss weakened Shay’s knees, and she felt that if Liza weren’t holding her she would fall. She pulled away, tugging Liza with her and led the way down the hall. At her bedroom door, she paused in a moment of trepidation. Making her mind up, she pulled Liza’s shirt over her head, mussing the short blond hair. She chuckled and combed the hair into place with her fingertips. Liza’s eyes were at half-mast and her breathing heavy.

“I knew you’d be the one,” Shay whispered as she studied Liza’s dear face.

Liza nodded. “I’m the one,” she whispered against Shay’s mouth before taking possession again.

They undressed slowly, Liza enjoying the gradual revelation of Shay’s small form. Freckles followed tan lines, but her breasts and bottom were like white clouds in a summer sky. Reverently, Liza reached to touch the whiteness, sure she’d never seen such purity before. Oddly enough, a dark blue tattoo of a lizard stretched diagonally across her pale lower stomach. Seeing Liza’s interest, Shay covered it with her hand, her mouth growing grim. Knowing that now was not the time to comment, Liza moved close and took Shay into her arms.

Shay ran her hands across Liza’s broad shoulders, fingers lingering as if enjoying the planes and curves usually hidden by clothing. Her palms teased at Liza’s hard nipples and Liza closed her eyes and moaned. Encouraged, Shay smoothed her hands along Liza’s tight waist and suckled gently, first one breast, then the other.

“Oh God, no you don’t,” Liza murmured as she pulled back and maneuvered Shay onto the bed. Her gentle touch was everywhere. Her warm lips would leave Shays mouth to worship her body, then come and plunder anew, leaving Liza weaker and more aroused each time. Soon Shay was whimpering with need. She pulled Liza’s hand low, pressing herself against Liza’s palm, seeking release from the torment of her desire. Liza pushed rhythmically in response to Shay’s innate movements for some time. Then her fingers slipped easily inside, going deep and pressing upward. Shay exploded. The orgasm ripped through her and from its power, Liza imagined she could see Shay actually leave her body and then rain back into herself. Shay cried then, great, tearing sobs that she could not seem to stifle.

“Oh, honey, oh babe, please, sweetheart, don’t.” Liza pulled her close. Her foot flipped up the blanket folded at the foot of the bed and she snuggled Shay, warming them under the blanket. She murmured soothing words and kept kissing Shay’s face and hair until the smaller woman quieted into soft hiccups.

“I’m sorry,” Shay managed finally, wiping her face with her hands. “I’m such a fool and it’s been so long…”

Liza reached and brought her T-shirt around to dry Shay’s face. “Here, blow,” she said, holding the shirt over Shay’s nose. Shay laughed then, the sound shattering her heart into shards of joy. Shay took the shirt and mopped her face and nose, then tossed it aside. Within seconds, she had flipped Liza and was sitting astride her, her wet center pressing onto Liza’s stomach. She took Liza’s arms and stretched them over the woman’s head, holding her prisoner. Shay gently ground herself into Liza’s stomach, gasping each time the sensation overloaded. “God, you feel so, so…” she said.

Liza was watching Shay with amused desire. She grinned. “Kiss me, Shay. I want you.”

Shay obliged, leaning forward to pillage Liza’s mouth. Her breasts grazed Liza’s and as the kiss progressed, Liza felt as if each thrust of Shay’s tongue in her mouth melted her further into the bed. She pushed her body into Shay, frustrated by her inability to pull her close. Shay shifted her thigh, pressing it between Liza’s legs, and her lips moved to Liza’s breasts, suckling and nipping gently. Liza cried out from the sensation this spawned, and Shay’s lips smiled against her skin. Freeing Liza’s arms, Shay moved lower until her lips and tongue found Liza’s flat belly. She played there for some time as her hands tweaked Liza’s breasts. Liza pressed upward with need, and Shay’s tongue easily penetrated Liza’s softly furred folds to flick against her clit.

Liza stilled and the only sound was her harsh breathing.

“You like that?” Shay teased as she pulled her mouth away. Her fingers slid inside and she explored the slick walls within Liza.

“Oh yes,” Liza murmured.

Shay’s tongue found Liza again and too soon it was over. Liza cried out and her inner walls clutched and throbbed on Shay’s hand. Shay’s mouth moved to luxuriate across Liza’s muscular thighs as her fingers splayed inside, as if enjoying the final pulsations of passion.

Later, Liza moved their bodies into a horizontal curve across the bed and pulled the blanket over them.

They studied one another with new eyes, knowing that a bond had formed. Liza, still basking in the glow of their lovemaking, watched as Shay’s usual anxiety began to rebuild itself.

“How did we get here?” Shay moaned, hiding her face in the blanket.

Liza, now alert to the nuances of Shay’s fear, tried to reassure her. “It’s gonna be okay, sweetheart. You know this was meant to be, don’t you?”