Eve Aliqua.
"I'll call Colleen. Fairhill might have some room."
As she outlined a plan from beginning to end, she was aware of Kurt's indulgent smile. A minute later, he slipped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close, resting his cheek on top of her head.
"You are somethin', you know that?"
She laid her head on his shoulder, loving the protective feel of his arm, the soft pressure of his face against her hair, his heart beating strong and steady beneath his shirt. They cuddled quietly for a few minutes, then Kurt lifted her chin and gazed at her without speaking. She looked into his eyes, saw the desire, and spiraled into a whirlpool of her own longing. The spin ended as his lips covered hers, melting her against his body and capturing her in the kiss she'd dreamed about for so long.
When their lips parted, a flash of courage surprised her.
"You're not too bad yourself," she whispered, breathless from the sexual energy coursing through her body. "I think we're pretty good together."
Kurt pulled her closer, his hand quickly moving to her breast, his voice husky with need.
"Let's find out."
Marilyn sat straight up in her recliner.
"What's goin' on? What're you doin' here?"
Liz leapt up from the couch, embarrassed at having been caught in Kurt's arms, and struggling to control the emotions raging through her head.
She moved to the chair. "How are you feeling?"
Marilyn looked confused, then indignant. "I'm fine. Now, what the hell are you doin' here?"
Liz laid her hand lightly on the woman's arm. "Do you remember the fire?"
A brief silence, then recognition flashed across Marilyn's lined face. Her worn features crumpled with the reality that the fire hadn't been a bad dream. She started to weep and keen, rocking back and forth in her dingy chair. Liz felt helpless, watching pain rack the old woman's body and mind.
Marilyn's tears finally subsided, and she turned her misery-ravaged gaze toward Kurt. "Are they all gone?"
"No, they're all okay. We put them down by the pond."
The old woman began to weep again, this time, with relief.
After about an hour, Marilyn had regained her composure. Liz took charge and the conversation turned to the fate of the horses.
"I can take three or four to my place. We'll find temporary homes for the rest while you rebuild the barn."
Marilyn's red eyes brimmed with tears again. "I can't rebuild. I don't have no insurance...I couldn't pay the premiums."
Kurt hadn't said much, but now he spoke up.
"How about we get them settled somewhere, then help you sell them?"
Marilyn looked defeated. "Yeah, I guess that'd be okay. I really can't take care of 'em anymore. I'm too old, and I can't afford their upkeep. Sellin' 'em's the best thing to do."
The outlines of the trees were barely visible against the dawn sky when Kurt and Liz silently climbed into the truck. As they headed down the lane, Liz looked back once more at the blackened rubble, and shuddered.
Kurt remained quiet during the drive. Liz glanced at him several times, wondering what he was thinking. Her own thoughts were filled with the embrace on the couch. God, I have never felt so wonderful in my life! The skin on her breast tightened with the memory of his caress, and she felt a stir deep inside. Her breath quickened. In moments, they'd be able to pick up where they'd left off.
The truck eased to a stop by her back door.
Kurt's expression was serious. "Listen, I'm sorry about last night. I got a little carried away - tired from all the excitement, I guess." He hesitated. "Truth is, I just don't have any room in my life for a relationship. You really turn me on, but as you pointed out, we shouldn't mix business with our personal lives."
The words stung like a slap, and Liz's thoughts hardened. You arrogant son-of-a-bitch! Without a word, she opened the door, and jumped to the ground.
His voice followed her. "I'll probably see you around."
Looking back at him, she saw a hint of sadness cross his features.
"I'll call Colleen. Fairhill might have some room."
As she outlined a plan from beginning to end, she was aware of Kurt's indulgent smile. A minute later, he slipped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close, resting his cheek on top of her head.
"You are somethin', you know that?"
She laid her head on his shoulder, loving the protective feel of his arm, the soft pressure of his face against her hair, his heart beating strong and steady beneath his shirt. They cuddled quietly for a few minutes, then Kurt lifted her chin and gazed at her without speaking. She looked into his eyes, saw the desire, and spiraled into a whirlpool of her own longing. The spin ended as his lips covered hers, melting her against his body and capturing her in the kiss she'd dreamed about for so long.
When their lips parted, a flash of courage surprised her.
"You're not too bad yourself," she whispered, breathless from the sexual energy coursing through her body. "I think we're pretty good together."
Kurt pulled her closer, his hand quickly moving to her breast, his voice husky with need.
"Let's find out."
Marilyn sat straight up in her recliner.
"What's goin' on? What're you doin' here?"
Liz leapt up from the couch, embarrassed at having been caught in Kurt's arms, and struggling to control the emotions raging through her head.
She moved to the chair. "How are you feeling?"
Marilyn looked confused, then indignant. "I'm fine. Now, what the hell are you doin' here?"
Liz laid her hand lightly on the woman's arm. "Do you remember the fire?"
A brief silence, then recognition flashed across Marilyn's lined face. Her worn features crumpled with the reality that the fire hadn't been a bad dream. She started to weep and keen, rocking back and forth in her dingy chair. Liz felt helpless, watching pain rack the old woman's body and mind.
Marilyn's tears finally subsided, and she turned her misery-ravaged gaze toward Kurt. "Are they all gone?"
"No, they're all okay. We put them down by the pond."
The old woman began to weep again, this time, with relief.
After about an hour, Marilyn had regained her composure. Liz took charge and the conversation turned to the fate of the horses.
"I can take three or four to my place. We'll find temporary homes for the rest while you rebuild the barn."
Marilyn's red eyes brimmed with tears again. "I can't rebuild. I don't have no insurance...I couldn't pay the premiums."
Kurt hadn't said much, but now he spoke up.
"How about we get them settled somewhere, then help you sell them?"
Marilyn looked defeated. "Yeah, I guess that'd be okay. I really can't take care of 'em anymore. I'm too old, and I can't afford their upkeep. Sellin' 'em's the best thing to do."
The outlines of the trees were barely visible against the dawn sky when Kurt and Liz silently climbed into the truck. As they headed down the lane, Liz looked back once more at the blackened rubble, and shuddered.
Kurt remained quiet during the drive. Liz glanced at him several times, wondering what he was thinking. Her own thoughts were filled with the embrace on the couch. God, I have never felt so wonderful in my life! The skin on her breast tightened with the memory of his caress, and she felt a stir deep inside. Her breath quickened. In moments, they'd be able to pick up where they'd left off.
The truck eased to a stop by her back door.
Kurt's expression was serious. "Listen, I'm sorry about last night. I got a little carried away - tired from all the excitement, I guess." He hesitated. "Truth is, I just don't have any room in my life for a relationship. You really turn me on, but as you pointed out, we shouldn't mix business with our personal lives."
The words stung like a slap, and Liz's thoughts hardened. You arrogant son-of-a-bitch! Without a word, she opened the door, and jumped to the ground.
His voice followed her. "I'll probably see you around."
Looking back at him, she saw a hint of sadness cross his features.
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