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This series of stories was inspired by one of my favorite romances. Don't steal it! At least without permission. This is for all of us still searching.
The Bedtime Stories: Breakfast in Bed, Lunch in Bed, Dinner in Bed & Dessert in Bed.
Breakfast in Bed: Part 1
The wind howled outside as Karen Campbell steeled herself to approach the closed front door of her inn. Cold fingers gripped the lapels of an ivory silk robe even tighter when a bolt of lightening lit up the ocean that crashed two miles beyond the dining room windows. Karen awaited the accompanying boom of the thunder. The loud pounding on her front door that drew her downstairs filled the silence instead. Everything became amplified in the dark, she told herself this as she fought a shiver of fear.
Karen rushed to the door, turning the heavy locks quickly. As the door opened the belated thunder clapped around her dramatically, shaking the windowpanes and undoubtedly the very foundations of the house. It was like a scene from some creepy horror movie.
She didn't realize that her eyes were closed until a hand gripped her wrist. With a start Karen jumped and met the hooded silhouette of the stranger standing beyond her doorway.
The rain fell like a wall of white beyond the shelter of the verandah creating white noise, but Karen was able to make out the stranger's question. "Are you okay?"
A woman.
But of course it's a woman. Bianca told her to look out for the arrival of a Ms. Sereta Wood. Soon to be Mrs. Dr. Sereta Wood. A university professor and PhD candidate at Southeast Atlantic University. "I'm fine. I'm fine." Karen repeated it more so for herself than Ms. Wood. She balled her shaking hands into fists, cursing her childish fears as she ushered the woman inside. She battled the wind and rain but was finally able to close the heavy door after a hefty shoulder shove. The approaching storm was forecasted but Karen thought that she had a few more hours to prepare for it. Karen was glad that she told the two couples, the only other guests in the inn, about the location of their flashlights and batteries in each room.
Seven Rose Inn could withstand the worst of the temperamental, tropical weather thrown at St. Montaque. More particularly so, the residents of Potter's Island where Karen lived, one of five islands that made up the tropical country off of the eastern coast of Florida.
Karen damned the thunder to hell. Since she could remember she hated the sound of it. Added to that, her house robe was now completely soaked at the hem and that made for a very miserable Karen; she didn't like wearing wet clothes. They made her cold. She became even more unsettled thinking about the floor she'd have to buff in the light of day.
The smack of a duffle bag hitting the floor reminded Karen that she was not alone in the dimly lit foyer.
The woman...stranger...not a stranger...Ms. Wood stood staring around the foyer curiously only to level an intense pair of dark brown orbs on a shivering Karen. The bag that looked to have held a laptop was more gently lowered to the ground.
She was shorter than Karen's 5'-11". Then again, most women were. But what the shorter woman lacked in height she seemed to have made up for in physique. As the fitted leather jacket dripped rainwater onto Karen's polished oak floor, she watched as the hood was removed to reveal the face of her late night guest. The woman smiled sheepishly as she ran her fingers through shoulder length dred locks. A gesture that should have appeared casual instead looked decidedly sensual. Something inside Karen began to stir in awareness.
"Ms. Campbell right? Karen Campbell?" Karen tried to respond to the question as she took in the chocolate colored skin, doe eyes and surprisingly cherub looking lips. How is it possible for lips to look that angelic?
The innocent face didn't compute with the obvious power straining against the seam of a dark brown leather jacket. A soon-to-be-removed leather jacket that looked expensive but well cared for and stopping just above hips that swelled nicely.
Karen sucked in a breath as Ms. Wood shrugged a pair of toned arms free of her jacket. The woman came out in the cold rain in nothing more than a flimsy tank top beneath the leather. She'd learn quickly about Potters Island spring rains. The tank top looked to be one of the blouses that companies like American Apparel spat out in their factories. It covered just enough skin to be legal and looked roomy enough to be fashionable. Water made the already thin blouse seem almost transparent. Karen felt a dormant area in her lower stomach fan to life again as she ran her gaze over the edges of what had to be Ms. Wood's brassier.
What has it been now Karen? Eight months? Eight months since Tina decided she needed someone more exciting, young and pretty? That explained it, this sudden urge to jump a stranger in her dining room. Karen had a good feeling that Ms. Sereta Wood had no problem feeling beautiful. Not with those dark, pretty locks and that face, and those arms, and those palm-sized breasts, and those thighs .. .she already pointed out that mouth didn't she? A mouth that was saying something. Karen was sure that she would've glowed a bright red if her brown skin could blush. "I'm sorry?"
With a half smile Ms. Wood shook her head. "I said that I apologize and asked if you were okay?"
"Apologized for what?" Karen was having a major problem focusing on more than one sentence at a time. She needed to compartmentalize her attraction, make sense of it so that it could be stored safely away. Karen wondered how Bianca met a woman like Ms. Wood. She didn't look like any university professor Karen had ever seen during her two years at college.
"For waking you." Waking me? What was she talking about? Karen mentally shook herself from her confusion wondering at her sudden bout of stupidity. She was sure that the woman thought she was an idiot of the highest degree. Karen then felt her entire being still as dark brown, doe shaped eyes travelled the length of her body, making Karen become aware of her lack of attire in front of the strange woman. Her body trembled in the knowledge of its nakedness beneath her robe. Without her permission, Karen's nipples hardened, begging for attention. Karen told herself that Ms. Wood's eyes could not possibly be on her breasts at that precise moment. Not her breasts, they were nothing like Ms. Woods, or Bianca's for that matter. "Bianca Rosato said that you were expecting me." Speak of the devil Karen.. .
Despite the sobering thought, Karen felt herself responding to the appraisal, wondering how her body could defy her so blatantly. If only it picked a better time to suddenly wake up in need.
Karen cleared her throat, hoping the sound could bring her own mind back from its trip to the gutter. "No worries Ms. Wood. For a friend of Bianca I can sacrifice a few hours of beauty sleep." She chuckled, hoping to ease her own tension. Maybe the other woman missed the trepidation in her voice.
"And brave the storm." Karen tried to ignore the twitching between her thighs at the adorable smile and sheepish expression.
"No worries." Karen pulled her robe tighter as they stood in the quiet foyer.
"Not that you need it." When Karen's head tilted in question Ms. Wood allowed a slow smile to brighten the space between them. "Beauty sleep."
A tangible awareness settled with a thud between them. All at once Karen heard a voice clearly whispering in her ear, "she's sexy, she's a woman, she's dripping wet in you foyer". Too many positive variables. Karen cleared her throat, ready to ease back into the safety of formality. "We should get you settled in. Bianca told me that you'll be needing a room furthest from the hallway and any potential disruptive noises."
"If it's not a bother." When Karen reached for Ms. Wood's bags she found them snatched out of her reach. "I'll get this."
Karen nodded and led the way past the dining room but not before peeking in to check that each window was secure.
"Looks like I missed dinner." Karen jumped, she was now unaccustomed to another person being so near to her late at night. The woman stood no more than three feet away. Far enough to avoid the invasion of Karen's personal space but close enough for her to smell the scent of her spicy perfume and the rain that still clung to her skin and shimmered in her locks.
"You did." Karen spun around, steeling her mind from its wayward thoughts. "Are you hungry?" Karen tried not to think of the ways she'd like to feed her.
"I could eat."
I'm sure you could.
Karen stopped abruptly at the crass thought. What is WRONG with me? Ms. Wood followed so closely that she felt the damp press of the other woman's jeans through her robe when they collided. She spun around for balance and distance but instead breathed in the nutty scent of coffee on her visitor's breath. Karen felt the cool skin of her shapely arm on the side of her breast and held in a groan when they grew heavy. Unable to hold in the gasp Karen stepped back half a step and hoped that the sound was interpreted as a gasp of surprise. From the way Ms. Wood stared at Karen's lips, she wasn't so sure she was successful. "Ms. Wood?"
"It's Sereta."
"Sereta." Karen tightened the grasp on her robe as brown eyes that looked black in the dark dining room lifted to gaze at her.
"Yes?"
"You're crowding me." Karen watched the other woman blink. A moment later she breathed in relief when Sereta stepped back. The only sign of Sereta's discomfort was a hand rubbing the back of her neck beneath her locks and the lowering of her gaze.
"I'm sorry, I guess I'm pretty hungry." The words were ripe with innuendo. Karen bit her lower lip to keep from smiling at the embarrassed expression on the other woman's face. For some reason she hated to have embarrassed the other woman.
"Well we can resolve that if you'll just follow me." Not waiting to see if Sereta did as she was told, Karen quickly made her way through the dark house.
"I've never had soup that good. What was in it?" Karen couldn't hide the smile of appreciation at the way Sereta wiped her bowl with the thick, fluffy bread she baked yesterday. She loved pleasing her guests but took special pleasure in seeing the woman hum into her meal.
"It's crab soup."
"I knew that I smelled seafood in there." With a content sigh Sereta sat back and rubbed her stomach. A stomach that Karen noticed still looked as flat and taut as ten minutes ago. She busied herself with gathering the bowl and saucer from the table.
"A recipe my mother taught me."
"You must have been some lucky kid growing up." Karen's smile dimmed at the thought of her childhood. Lucky? She guessed in some ways she was, in others.. . "I'm sorry, I made you sad."
Sereta's perceptiveness surprised her. Rarely did she allow her sadness over missing pieces of her childhood to show. "No worries." After wiping down the counter top a third time she sighed and turned to her guest. She gasped when she found the woman no more than a foot away and stretching around her.
"Just putting my cup away." The quiet words were nearly whispered into Karen's ear.
"I could have gotten it."
When Ms. Wood smiled Karen felt her heart melt a little. It was a very nice smile. It made Karen want to sigh and hug Sereta's body closer. From the way the laugh lines easily framed the soft lips, it was obvious that the woman smiled a lot. "Haven't I inconvenienced you enough?"
Karen wished the woman would move away, give her room to breathe, but she didn't. Instead she leaned a hand on the counter and rubbed her stomach. "Thanks again for dinner. It was a late flight coming into the island."
"I have the blue room ready for you." Karen sighed inwardly at the stupid response.
"I'm sure that it's lovely." The d‚cor of the room was a safe enough topic. "I'm looking forward to my stay in your inn."
"I'm glad Ms. Wood."
"Sereta." Karen lowered her eyes, unsure about why the woman was eyeing her lips the way that she was. When she looked up again she sucked in a breath at the obvious fascination the woman had with her breasts, or at least what she could see of them.
"Sereta." Her nipples begged for contact and she breathed deeper to calm her body down.
"See? That wasn't so hard now was it?" The tone of the woman's voice grew deeper, huskier.
"Wh-what are you doing?" Karen knew what the other woman was doing. She may have been out of the dating game for a while but she knew the signs. Sereta was eyeing her neck as if she wanted to kiss her. When the other woman ran the tip of a very moist and very pink tongue over soft lips Karen leaned back, fighting the urge to take the fleeting tongue between her lips.
"I'm just making conversation," came the distracted response.
"You're flirting with me?" Karen cursed herself for the accusing tone of the question. She didn't want this stranger, who probably had women flirt with her by the hour, know how little the same happened to her.
"Am I?" Karen didn't miss the humor in the simple question. "What's a little innocent flirting among strangers?"
"Nothing I guess." Sereta leaned marginally closer. "Unless you're engaged to be married to the woman who recommended my inn to you."
Like cold water over a fire Karen's words doused the heat simmering between them. Sereta blinked again and as if coming up out of a deep sleep. She stepped back then did it again and ran her hands over her face. When she removed her fingers her eyes were lowered to the ground and seemed troubled. "I'm sorry Karen."
Don't focus on how good the alto voice sounded saying your name Karen. She told herself this as she nodded.
"I serve a light breakfast at 8 and dinner at 6. People tend to enjoy fending for themselves for lunch on the island. You're tired," she said the latter for her own benefit. "Let me get you to your room." Without turning back she quickly made for the door and waited with her hand over the light switch for Sereta to get her bags. As soon as she grasped the straps Karen plunged the kitchen into darkness.
Sereta turned off the air-conditioner in her bedroom as soon as she was awake enough to do it. She didn't like the cold artificial air unless absolutely necessary.
The other guests in the inn were probably already up and about but Sereta liked a slow start in the mornings when she could have one. The last few weeks those slow starts were few and far between.
This break was a must. Bianca told her about her friend's inn weeks back when she complained about not having quiet at home to complete her research paper. A paper that was turning into a full on textbook. A getaway to a Caribbean island in the middle of the Atlantic.
She was excited about the six week leave her Dean granted her to complete her writing. She'd spend a few weeks on the island and the rest she'd spend back in Florida. Thankfully she completed her research some time ago and at this point was tying all of the photographs, interviews, architectural plans and text readings together. When she broached the possible topic of the psychology of Caribbean architecture to her advisor over a year ago, it was well received. Now, Sereta was one step closer to completing her PhD in architectural history. "Dr. Sereta Wood." She smiled at the sound of it. The smile dimmed when she thought of the responsibility she was about to carry with the additional title to her name.
Mrs. Sereta Wood. If only Kat could see her now. Her best friend laughed at her outright when she told her she was going to marry Bianca Rosato. Kat stopped when she realized Selena was as serious as a heart attack. "What the FUCK are you talkin' about Sereta?" Sereta chuckled at the memory of the animated conversation.
All at once Karen Campbell's face flashed in her mind.
She opened the curtains, tying them to the sides by the hanging chords placed there and effectively framing the beautiful scene Bianca told her she'd meet upon her arrival. Being a college friend she visited the quaint inn on more than one occasion. The rain hid the beauty of the island upon her arrival but now every color imaginable bloomed before her eyes in the flowers and bushes that grew wild, yet still maintaining some form of order. The most vivid color of course was the deep aquamarine of the Atlantic Ocean. She'd have to remember to find some sea glass for Ebony. Bianca's little sisters loved the little gems.
Bianca.. .my fianc‚.. .
The commitment ceremony was a little over five weeks away. Bianca settled on a formal trip to Maine in the near future to legally marry. They agreed to legalize their joining in every way so had a lawyer friend of Bianca's ready with papers filled with fancy lawyer jargon. Everything was neat and tidy. Only her beating heart was needed now to join with another woman's. Nothing major. Just a heart.
Don't think about it now Sereta.
"Jesus," She murmured as she leaned against the window frame taking it all in. She reminded herself to take in the grounds and walk out to the charming dock that jutted out into the water. From the two chairs positioned on the edge of the dock it appeared to be someone's special place. Sereta wondered if it were Karen's special place.
She rubbed her face to shake away the image of the innkeeper in her pretty ivory robe. The last thing she expected was the tall, lithe image of Karen Campbell to open the door to the inn last night. Bianca mentioned Karen of course, but from their conversation she thought that Karen was some kind of spinster. She was under the impression that she was old, wrinkled and ready to dote on every guest. Sereta prepared herself for that image.
Karen Campbell was anything but old looking. Sereta wasn't prepared for that.
Sereta thought of the tall woman, model tall really and wondered why she was hidden away on this island in St. Montaque.
Get to work Sereta. Forget about Karen Campbell. She shook her arms as she reached for her jeans and a sports bra. She pulled out her laptop and the stack of notes she brought with her, depositing them on the tasteful writing table facing a window. Though she thanked God for her laptop she still needed good old-fashioned hand written notes to guide her along.
She transcribed most if not all of her research into Word documents to avoid lugging behind the heavy tombs she referenced for her paper. She soon located where she stopped and after reviewing her notes felt the words once again aligning themselves in her mind. Sereta patted her chest then the pockets of her jeans subconsciously as she fished around for her glasses. She hated having to wear the things but figured if she had to then she might as well get a pair she wouldn't be completely embarrassed by. From the way her friends complimented her look in the thick-framed, turquoise shelled glasses she knew they were at least passable. She found them in her laptop bag.
She was soon settled again. With fingers poised over the keys she allowed her head to empty. When the words filled her mind as a stream of consciousness she allowed herself to become lost in her work.
When Sereta surfaced again the sunlight was filtering into the room at a dramatically different angle. She checked the time on her laptop surprised to see that it was almost noon. Her stomach chose that moment to grumble loudly. She had her hand on the doorknob ready to follow her hunger into the kitchen when she remembered that she didn't have much clothes on. A sniff of her armpit reminded her that she also needed to wash up.
Food would have to wait a few minutes.
Karen sat at the table going over her dinner plan for the next few days. Tonight would be a light vinaigrette salad, jasmine rice and beans, lightly jerked chicken, baby carrots with her special blend of seasonings. She was thinking about pound cake with ice cream for dessert but remembered that she ran out of flour the day before.
She noted for tomorrow that she'd bake some bread. Sweet potato soup would be nice since it was forecasted that more rain was on the way. She hoped that it held a little so that Sereta could take in some of the island without the heavy rain clouds threatening to burst. Her pen paused on the note pad as she became aware of the natural way she thought about Sereta's enjoyment. She didn't worry about the Fonda's on the Johnson sister's enjoyment of her island home.
"She is your very good friend's fianc‚." She repeated the words over and over in her mind until she was sure they were cemented there. It was nearing twelve. She ran her hands over her slim fitting jeans and pulled at the tunic blouse she wore like a uniform. She had about 20 of the loose fitting tunics, all in an array of colors and patterns.
Karen was sure that the Johnson's were in town buying as many souvenirs as they could carry back to Atlanta, but the Fonda's could be on the property and that could toss a monkey wrench in her plans to visit the grocery store for a few odds and ends.
The side door opened up and a tall, broad shouldered man walked in. He smiled and Karen couldn't help but smile in return at the handsome man. "Hey good lookin'."
"Hey beautiful." Kevin was Karen's handyman and landscaper but in reality, he was really the neighborhood's handyman. Like Karen, Kevin grew up on the island. They were close cousins since they were kids, always found playing in her uncle's work shed. When Karen's mom died he was the first one there to sit with her. He had an older sister but Rachel lived in Texas with her family. Though he was a year older than Karen, she took on the dual roles of sister and mother.
"I fixed that loose plank in the eastern lower verandah."
"I had a loose plank?" Kevin fished around for the pitcher of juice he knew he'd find in the fridge. Karen noticed that his t-shirt was wet at the neck in sweat and could only imagine the work he dug up to busy himself with. She filled a glass with ice for good measure.
"That's why you pay me the big bucks cuz!" Karen laughed at that. They both knew that Karen didn't pay him much at all. But Kevin being Kevin took the small apartment on the edge of the inn and an occasional meal now and then when he wanted company and called it even. She knew that his other jobs around the island kept him busy enough to sustain his simple lifestyle since he never once asked for more. Even when she offered he'd just laugh and hug her, patting her head as if she amused him by asking at all.
"You heading into the hardware store anytime soon Kev?"
"Maybe. I need to get some nails for the roof. I didn't like how heavy that wind was last night." He leaned into the counter with lips pursed in thought. It always amused Karen how seriously he took his job as caretaker. Everything he did was done with care and pride. A trait instilled in the both of them from her uncle.
"You're gonna make some woman a great husband one day you know?"
He looked up at the words, immediately grinning in his boyish way. Karen was sure the whispers she heard about her cousin's prowess with the ladies weren't exaggerated by the cheeky grin he wore. "Ain't no woman gonna tie down this rolling stone."
"So you say now casanova." Kevin laughed and walked over with arms extended for a hug. He was incredibly affectionate. Karen loved that because some days it was the only human contact she'd have.
"Ohh! You have more muffins!"
Karen slapped at his hands playfully when his fingers were a mere inch from the basket of corn muffins. "Don't touch! Those are for my guest."
"I thought your rule was when you miss a meal you snooze you lose?" She ignored his pout, pushing him out of the way as she pushed the basket a safe distance away.
"She missed breakfast."
"She?" Kevin missed nothing. "Now I'm beginning to understand."
"You don't understand anything big head." He laughed and pointed at her accusingly. "Just leave before I hurt you."
"Oh really? So you're new girlfriend gets a muffin-" Karen jumped him before he could get another word out tickling him in his weak spot, at the nape of his neck. He shouted out for her to stop but she was adamant about getting him to shut up. He changed tactics though and grabbed her waist. When she squealed for him to stop he laughed. "Who is she?"
"Let me go big head! What are you? Five?" Karen tried to make a run for it but he was always ready for a chase. More like a big kid for as long as she could remember. He grabbed her from behind and lifted her up laughing the entire time. "Let me go!"
"Haha! Not until I steal a muffin and you tell me-" Karen giggled as she tried to jab Kevin in the arm and wipe at her tears at the same time. She wondered at his sudden silence then realized they weren't alone when she was gently lowered to the floor.
Sereta stood in the doorway looking cautious with a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "I heard the shouting.. ."
Kevin grinned and stepped forward offering his hand in his friendly way. "That was Karen I'm afraid. I always make her scream." At the way Sereta's eyebrow raised Karen knew that she took the words to mean something else entirely.
"Kevin, go find something to do with yourself."
He grinned but not before eyeing Sereta from head to toe, an appraisal that didn't escape Karen as she watched him leave. "Yes ma'am!" When he left, as usual he took the sudden burst of childish pleasure with him.
"He's a bit high strung."
"I didn't notice." Sereta wondered at the sudden shyness that emanated from the innkeeper in waves. She didn't know what to make of the scene she walked in on. The fella was a tall, strapping one and you'd be blind to not notice how handsome he was. The way he held Karen made something tighten in Sereta's stomach but she forced herself to relax.
Karen laughed at the dry tone. She shook her head, running her hands through her short, cropped hair.
"You two seem close." Karen wondered why the cautious tone sneaked into Sereta's voice. Maybe she wasn't used to seeing family so playful with each other.
"We are." Karen popped the muffins in the still warm oven and poured a cup of coffee for her rumpled guest. She liked the way Sereta rolled her blue and white striped button down shirt up to her elbows. She also liked the way the khaki pants loosely hugged Sereta's thighs. They fell comfortably over a pair of pretty and surprisingly girly toe thong slippers.
Sereta looked comfortable. Sexy.
"I'm sorry?" Once again she became so lost in admiring the other woman that she missed an entire part of the conversation. She poured a cup of the juice that Kevin left out for herself taking a hearty sip of the freshly made concoction.
"I asked how long you were dating."
When Karen inhaled her drink Sereta stepped forward looking concerned. "Are you okay?"
Karen tried to catch her breath in between fits of couching. When she finally did, she looked at Sereta's mortified expression and started to giggle. She held out her hand when Sereta began to run her fingers through her hair anxiously. "It's fine Sereta. I'm fine."
"I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd choke when I asked that."
"I'm fine now. It's just that he's my COUSIN Sereta." Karen watched the embarrassment turn to confusion and settle into relief. It was the last emotion Karen couldn't understand.
"You're cousin?"
"Yes. Hence my laughter. I just couldn't imagine what you were talking about, then when I did.. ."
Sereta laughed quietly as she shook her head. "I'm sorry, you just seemed so close."
"That's because we are. We grew up together from the time we were toddlers." Sereta leaned against the kitchen doorway. She tucked a hand into the pocket of her trousers looking comfortable and ready for a chat session. Karen on the other hand was becoming more aware of the woman's shower gel or soap. It was clean smelling, powdery fresh. She tried to pick out the spicy scent of the perfume from last night but it wasn't there.
"You grew up here didn't you?"
"Yes, very near this inn actually." Karen tucked the pitcher into the fridge and opened the oven, removing the now warm muffins from the rack. The scent of corn muffins filled the kitchen space. She glanced at Sereta's stomach when she heard and audible growl. "Someone's hungry."
"Someone missed breakfast."
"I hope that you like the room. Is it working out for you?" Sereta murmured thank you as she settled in the kitchen chair. She loved the way the kitchen looked in the light of day. Sereta never was one for cold steel and marble but she could handle it all if warm woods or brick camouflaged modernity. She saw glimpses of modern appliances in the kitchen but the refrigerator was the only obvious appliance. It was huge and orderly with its sub zero sections puffing out a thick fog when open.
"I love the room. It's very peaceful, beautifully decorated." Sereta watched the shy pleasure glint in the innkeepers eyes.
"And you're able to work?" Sereta smiled at the obvious worry in Karen's eyes as she busied herself. She sensed that Karen hardly ever stood still. She wondered what she'd see when she finally did. Would she see something like the glimpse of heat she saw last night.
Sereta noticed. She noticed everything.
"Let's just say that I was able to finish an entire chapter."
"How many pages is that for you?"
"About fifteen or so for this text." Sereta bit into the muffin and closed her eyes at the soft sweetness that met her tongue. The muffin didn't crumble into a mess in her hands too, it was tasty and held its form. "This is delicious Karen."
"Thank you." Karen smiled at the praise, unable to hold anything back with this woman. "How many chapters will the book be?"
"I believe that I'm looking at four hundred and fifty." Sereta bit her tongue at the look of surprise that fluttered across Karen's face.
"I thought that you were working on a research paper?"
"I am."
Karen tilted her head thoughtfully, her eyes round in awe. "That's more like a tomb Sereta."
She didn't know how to take Karen't surprise but decided to just enjoy it like all of the expressions that she read on Karen's face. It was a nice face, slim with fine features contrasted with bursts of fullness, like her eyes and her upper lip. It was heavy and plumper than the lower. Exotic and kissable. Nothing like Bianca's. Bianca. Her fianc‚.
She lowered her gaze and focused on eating the last two muffins in silence. Karen, as if sensing her unease grew silent too, leaving as soon as she lowered the saucer to the sink for washing later. "I'll be heading into town in a few minutes to buy a few things."
Sereta stood following Karen to the stairway that led to the guest rooms above. A mature couple made their way slowly down the stairs smiling pleasantly as they chatted animatedly with Karen.
"You'll find the market in town to be very exciting and not to mention the garden. The Greek garden is the envy of the islands."
"I'm sure! I'm sure! We'll see you ladies later on then." Sereta waved at the adorable couple. The fellow reminded her of Albert Einstein with his white hair sticking up in all directions. The lady looked like an older version of Jane Fonda. All elegance and class.
"They're cute." Sereta said when Karen closed the door. She watched her fish around in the hall closet for an oversized purse.
"They are. They're here for another week then they're off to The Bahamas for another week."
"Ahhh, the joys of retirement."
Karen laughed and shook her head. "The joys of a happy marriage too."
Sereta smiled, loving the carefree burst of laughter that bubbled up from Karen's chest. It sounded real, more real than a lot of things she'd been feeling lately.
Karen couldn't help the words that tumbled from her lips next. "Soon you'll know what that feels like." The shuttered look that fell over Sereta's eyes wasn't what she expected and she struggled to find some way to reverse the sudden dimming of the mood. "I have to go to the grocery store and florist."
"You do?" At the shy smile Karen knew that she did the right thing. Maybe Sereta needed a distraction for an hour or two.
"Yes, and if you can take a break from your writing I could use some company."
Kevin waved away Karen's instructions to listen out for the telephone from his perch on the roof doing God knows what. She wasn't one to question his work ethic because the old colonial house never had any major problems with Kevin always tinkering around.
They were settled in Karen's Mini Cooper driving along the coast in under five minutes. Sereta sighed at the sight of the Caribbean-perfect waters lapping at the shore. "The color of the water always astounds me when I visit the Caribbean."
"You've visted before?"
Karen looked over and wished Sereta didn't have her eyes hidden behind the dark shades. They pulled into the grocery store's parking lot as Sereta told her about her trips to Jamaica and The Bahamas. "I fell in love with Jamaica the moment I step foot on that runway." She sighed and breathed deeply. Karen wondered what scent made the smile grow. "But this place, I just might have to have an affair with it." Karen looked at Sereta over the top of her car. The words repeated in her head over and over, "an affair, affair, affair".
"You know, they say that The Bahamas and St. Montaque aren't really a part of the Caribbean." Karen hoped that the idle conversation would keep her mind from straying into deep waters.
"Why's that?"
"Because geographically we aren't located in the Caribbean Sea."
Sereta shrugged. "I guess it's like being sexy then."
Karen smiled at the quirky comment. "How is it like being sexy?"
"Sexiness is a state of mind. Some would argue that Caribbeaness is too."
Karen smiled brightly at the comment, storing it away to dwell on Sereta's intelligence later.
"Have you heard from Bianca since your arrival?" The intention was clear, focus on how attainable Sereta Wood was NOT.
Sereta followed at Karen's elbow as she made her way through the aisle, picking up an item or two now and then. "Last night actually." When Sereta was trying to fall asleep actually. She barely recalled the conversation but knew that Ebony was having problems with a calculus assignment and wished that Sereta were there to help her. "She's good. They've had a rough time since Jeanne died."
"They were a close knit unit the three of them." Karen remembered how much Bianca talked about her mother. She was surprised that she didn't meet Sereta before then and didn't recall seeing her at the funeral. "You weren't at the funeral."
"I wasn't. I had exams at the time and still regret not making it."
"You knew each other for a long time."
"Since high school. When I came out she was one of the few who stuck by me." Karen empathized. Her own coming out was hard on the island. In a community where Bible verses were repeated like a second language Karen had a hard time ignoring the whispering of her family and the few friends she maintained before college. After she returned there was no use in pretending she kept any real friends. There was only Kevin and her mom who always knew and encouraged her to be real with herself.
"When her mother died she made me promise to look out for Bianca and Ebony."
To the point of marrying her? Karen asked herself as she placed a package of flower in the trolley. Sereta stared ahead as if lost in some maze of thoughts. "You're a good person Sereta." Almost too good.
When the dark eyes returned back to the present they immediately smiled. "You think so huh?" The heat that flared in the dark eyes was doused just as quickly. Sereta lowered her shades and shoved her hands in her pockets as they continued through the store in silence.
Karen noticed Sereta's need to be a gentleman so allowed her to take the groceries out and open the car door. Her heart skipped a beat when her driver's door was opened and held for her. When she reached for the keys she carefully reached for the silver car key, trying to avoid touching Sereta, but the other woman seemed to be focused on shaking her world. She gently grabbed Karen's hand turning the hand over until her palm faced the sky and deposited the key there.
"Thank you."
"Anytime." Sereta waited for Karen to settle in before she started to speak again. "So, we're off to the florist now?"
"Yes. I won't be very long. I need new flowers for your rooms."
"You don't have to do that Karen."
Karen smiled as she spared a glance at Sereta sitting so close, her hand no more than a foot away on the edge of the seat. "I know, I like how they look though."
They drove in silence as they neared the city center. More cars filled the roads and pedestrians walked along the well-planned streets going along with their lives. Sereta saw more flip-flops and Bermuda shorts than business suits and had no trouble picking out the natives from the tourists.
They entered the florist and Sereta watched as the woman who appeared to be around Karen's age hugged her and asked about her day so far. Sereta tried to look absorbed in a particular arrangement of exotic lilies while she tried to study Karen inconspicuously.
She could get in trouble being around a woman like Karen all day. She had the type of elegant beauty that seemed effortless. A beauty Sereta could never possess even if she wanted to. She had the physique of a model but was completely unaware of it. That was one of the biggest turn ons for Sereta since her early years of chronic dating during university. By her masters she grew tired of the vanity of the women she became sexually attracted to. No longer trusting herself she pulled away from the dating and clubbing scene some years back and found a peace she hadn't known she lacked in her life.
Her research fulfilled her now. That is until mama Jeanne died. She went to her bedside and promised, for a reason she'll never fully understand, to marry and take care of Bianca. A high school romance was rekindled after meeting again at a party and Sereta set out to tentatively date her old friend.
Flighty Bianca that everyone worried over on a normal day was inconsolable after her mother's death. She was better now, growing under Sereta's attention and Bianca's own drive to complete her interior design degree. Then there was Ebony, she was like a little sister to Sereta now. The two lives were so interwoven with her own all of a sudden that she didn't know what else to tell the dying woman on her deathbed.
So where did this attraction to her innkeeper and Bianca's friend come into play? Dangerous. It was dangerous.
She eyed the fitted jeans Karen wore, loving the way they hugged the lithe figure that was lightly muscled from running around that inn. Her eyes moved to the round little ass she had a good look at the night before as Karen bent into the fridge to get her dinner. So round and taut, perfect really, two twin globes of-
"Ms. Wood!" Sereta looked up to the amused face of the florist. When the woman began to laugh Sereta figured that the arrogance of her youth could get her past her embarrassment at being caught checking out Karen's ass. She lifted her chin daring the woman to say something as she smirked confidently. The woman's smile dimmed and her cheeks became a rosy light brown. "I was asking about your stay so far."
"I'm loving it. Karen is a gracious hostess and is taking very good care of me."
"I'm sure that she is." The woman said with a deep chuckle. Karen rubbed the tip of her nose then hurriedly grabbed the bags of flowers on the counter. Sereta reached for the bags. Karen smiled thankfully.
"On that note I'll be seeing you Christine."
"Before you go!" Sereta stood at the door, holding it open with a foot as Christine whispered something to Karen that had her face pinched in embarrassment. She said something earnestly back and quickly left the florist with Sereta following close behind.
Sereta nodded toward the flower shop. "She's a nice lady."
"She is." Came the tense response.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
"Karen?" Sereta felt her hand moving of its own accord to rest on Karen's knee.
"I'm FINE Sereta." Only when Sereta removed her hand did Karen breathe easier. Karen knew that she could admit it now. The innocent touch made her realize that she wanted Sereta, badly. She desired her body, her lips, her touch. She had three weeks with the woman, three long weeks.
Karen didn't know if she should feel relief or disappointment at Sereta missing dinner that night. When she missed breakfast the next morning Karen knew that it was most definitely disappointment.
By dinner time her other guests were starting to wonder if Sereta really resided in the inn at all. She went on a mission to find her and pull her out of hibernation. After a series of knocks Karen began to think the worst. What if she fell down in the bathroom and couldn't get up? What if she was passed out in her bed? She knocked louder but still no answer.
Finally she inserted the spare keys she carried with her and opened the door. Immediately she was hit by how warm the bedroom was. She then realized the reason why Sereta couldn't hear her knocking. She was at the writing desk with headphones covering her ears. They resembled the headphones a DJ would wear in a club.
She didn't know which part of Sereta made her heartbeat drum. Was it the glasses precariously perched on her nose? Or maybe the lack of a shirt over her sports bra? Maybe it was the way her locks were held on the top of her head in a loose knot, making her look both academic and ten years younger.
Whatever it was, combined with the focused way her fingers stormed over the keyboard Sereta looked decidedly sexy. Like the sexy professor out of every college students wet dream. Karen wondered if she'd wear sexy skirt suits or pant suits to work. Maybe neither and instead, jeans with button down oxford shirts.
"Sereta." No answer. At least she ate the breakfast she brought up that morning. Karen took a step closer and cleared her throat. "Sereta!" When there was still no answer Karen tapped her shoulder. "SERETA!"
The woman stood up as she spun around. The sudden action flipped over the chair she sat in and pulled the headphones from the laptop. At once SWV's R&B hit Weak filled the bedroom. "Jesus! You scared me!" Sereta shoved the glasses further up her nose wide-eyed.
Karen tried to ignore the taught stomach and the perfectly encase breasts as Sereta rubbed between her eyes tiredly. Karen wished that she were made of stone, because then maybe she could not envision her lips following the line of sweat that ran down the lines of Sereta's abs. Damn, she was in shape.
"I was just...umm.. ." Sereta removed her glasses for a moment to rub her eyes and Karen used the time to pull herself together. "We missed you at breakfast and dinner last night."
"I got into a groove last night and couldn't stop." Sereta stretched like a cat while Karen watched closely. She took note of the scar at her ribs and the spikey hairs at her arm pits, loving the bit of imperfections. When Sereta yawned and rubbed her stomach Karen wished it were her hand instead rubbing the soft skin and lowering to the thin line of fine hairs that promised to be soft and delicate.
She wanted to kiss her there. Right on those hairs. Would Sereta tremble at her touch? Would she ask her to go lower? She bit her lip at the open button of her jeans and the peek at boy shorts with the letters C & K peeking out.
'Good Lord Bianca, what have you done?'
Karen would never let a woman like Sereta out of her sight let alone send her off to the inn of a single lesbian who went without sex for months. Karen would have kept her chained to her bed where she'd do unimaginable things to her all day and all night. Only one thought blinked in her mind like a neon sigh, 'I have to get out of here before I embarrass myself'.
She stepped back, blinking as if coming up from a coma and saw the awareness and realization on the other woman's face. 'She knows. Dammit.' Karen back peddled to the door but Sereta followed closely, too close to let her go.
SWV sang in the background about being weak in the knees and Karen nearly laughed at the appropriateness. ".. .'Cause my heart starts beating triple time, with thoughts of loving you on my mind. I can't figure out just what to do, when the cause and cure is you.. ." Karen felt blindly behind her, hoping that she neared the door.
"Wait." The command belied the storm in the dark brown eyes.
"No."
"Karen, just wait so we can talk." Karen shook her head and reached blindly for the door handle. Sereta closed it firmly, loudly. "Wait." She said in a firm tone that made Karen's thighs tremble even as it made her angry.
"Step back." Sereta slowly shook her head and moved closer instead. Karen breathed in deeply then wished that she hadn't. Sereta smelled like sweat, perfume and soap. In a word, sexy. Sexy as hell. "Let me go Sereta."
Sereta shook her head as she pressed her body closer. "I can't do that Karen." With hands pressed to the door Karen tried to shrink away from the cool nose that rubbed against her cheek. She heard Sereta inhale deeply, heard her licking her lips. "God, you smell so good Karen." When she licked her lips a second time Karen felt the moist flesh glance over her skin. Her nailed scraped against the wooden door.
"Let me go."
"I'm not stopping you." But they both knew better. Her very presence stopped Karen cold.
"We can't do this Sereta."
Sereta closed her eyes now as she breathed Karen in. Exotic flowers and sandlewood. Those were the scents she picked up. Her lips tingled with a need to taste the skin at Karen's pulse point. The very point that was drumming wildly on the surface of an elegant throat.
"Do what Karen?" If she could just kiss her there.. .
"We can't?"
"We're not doing anything." Yet.
"Let me go." Karen closed her eyes to the desire that was evident on Sereta's face. She looked as if she were in pain. "You have to let me go Sereta."
"Give me one good reason?" Sereta opened her eyes. Karen's resolve crumbled at the need there. As Sereta's lips neared hers she felt warm hands slowly moving up the sides of her thighs to her waist, their grips becoming firmer, stronger. "One good reason."
Karen felt her body giving way, changing into a different matter than flesh and blood. She felt the sticky heat between her thighs grow and wished for Sereta to take it away, increase it, just do SOMETHING. But a certain smell brought her back to the present. It filled her head and made her eyes widen in awareness as if seeped into every corner of her consciousness. It was the scent of Sereta's need. "I can give you two." She watched the desire clear to a manageable level and before she said the names she knew that Sereta remembered too. "Bianca and Ebony."
Sereta rested her head against Karen's shoulder for a moment before stepping away. She ran her hands through her locks, musing the knot until they rained down to her shoulders again. "I'm sorry."
Karen closed her eyes to the apology, knowing that it was an apology for more than Karen was prepared to understand. "I came up to ask if you'd like to come down for dinner. The other guests were asking about you."
Sereta nodded her head and walked over to the chair to hold onto the back of it. "I'll be down shortly."
When she didn't turn around again Karen nodded and left the bedroom. She leaned against the closed door and fought the tears that filled her eyes as she thought of how fitting it would be for her to finally find a woman to make her body burn and make her laugh more than any woman ever had only to have her belong to someone else. How fitting indeed.
End of Part 1