Read Online Periphery by Lynne Jamneck - Free Book Online Page A

cinnamon.
    Jamila’s fingertips brushed the short, sharp hairs at the back of Edie’s neck. Edie’s arms encircled Jamila’s generous waist; then explored the broad expanse of hips and buttocks.
    They continued to kiss, tongues probing deeper.
    Jamila pressed her body harder against Edie’s package. The pressure sent a quiver along Edie’s thighs. She allowed a groan to escape between her lips.
    Edie slipped her hand under Jamila’s sweater. Her skin was warm and dry against Edie’s palms. She moved upwards, stroking spine and softly cupping shoulder blades. On her way back down, Edie paused when she felt scar tissue under Jamila’s armpits. Jamila pulled away from the kiss, her eyes dared Edie to comment. Is this why the others cancelled? Edie wondered. Edie continued to stroke the scars, which ran all the way to Jamila’s breastbone.
    “Can I see?” Edie asked.
    Jamila shrugged and lifted the sweater over her head.
    A holographic tattoo of the Goddess Kali danced along two angry, pink scars. The miniature goddess was only three inches tall. Her skin was blue and she wore a skirt of skulls. As she danced, she waved her multiple arms menacingly. Edie smiled as it hopped from one scar to the next to continue the dance.
    Edie ran her hands down Jamila’s sides, feeling the feminine curves. So she’d lost her breasts to cancer, Edie thought. There’s so much more to a woman.
    Edie leaned in for another deep, probing kiss.
    Jamila worked open Edie’s fly. Her hand closed around the hard plastic and gave it a little tug. “I love a girl with a dick,” she said. “I want to see the whole look. Take your shirt off.”
    There was something about the command that made Edie hesitate. She was used to this sort of talk from clients, and perhaps that’s what stopped her. She’d forgotten for a moment that this was just another job. As an ishtartu the client’s pleasure was her duty, but….
    An unfamiliar heat blushed her cheeks.
    Jamila released Edie’s dildo and stepped out of their embrace, clearly expecting her order to be obeyed. “I like to see what I’m buying,” she said with a smile. “All of it.”
    That’s right. This is for money. Give the client what she paid for, girl, Edie reminded herself. She unknotted her tie and let it slip to the floor. Edie found her eyes unable to meet Jamila’s as she began unbuttoning. Her fingers shook, but somehow she undid them all.
    Edie looked up, the shirt undone. Jamila waited, watching.
    Cold air met her flesh, as Edie let the shirt slide to the floor. She shivered, feeling exposed under Jamila’s unwavering gaze. Edie fought the urge to cover her breasts with her arms. She felt like a whore, and a tear formed in the corner of her eyes.
    Then, Jamila spoke: “My vulva, the horn
    The boat of Heaven
    Is full of eagerness like the young moon
    My untilled land lies fallow
    Who will plow my vulva?
    Who will plow my wet ground?”
    Jamila said the ritual words with such conviction, such passion that Edie looked up into Jamila’s face.
    Jamila’s eyes glowed red, like molten rock. For a moment, they stood in the center of a ruined temple, dark and thick with vines. Above, the ceiling had crumbled and was open to the air. Kudzu crisscrossed the circular space like a spider web. Edie could see Venus, sacred to Ishtar, shining brightly next to a full moon. Mourning doves flitted from perch to perch, calling out their sad songs to each other. The air was warm and rife with mildew.
    Edie blinked, and the illusion was gone.
    Jamila’s arms were open, welcoming, and Edie knew the Goddess had not abandoned her after all.
    “I will,” Edie whispered the ritual response, and felt warmth flood between her legs. No longer feeling ashamed of her nakedness, Edie straightened her shoulders. More firmly, she repeated: “I will.”
    Jamila’s smile was as bright as the evening star.
    *
    LM: Even though my AngeLINK series ended, I still find myself wanting to play around in that