The Dark Side of the Moon by BadSquirrel

Part Four

Pete and Amanda's wedding was lovely. Amanda's dress was fantastic and it took two young boys to handle her train. They did a beautiful little candle lighting ceremony that brought tears to Sarah's eyes, but she had to smile when they ended the ceremony by jumping over a broom. She knew it was a historical reference to the marriage ceremony for slaves, but it felt like the newlyweds were honoring the sacrifices of their ancestors with the ritual.

During the professional photo shoot after the ceremony, Sarah wandered the edge of the room and took pictures with her digital camera. She got several of Jordan, but mostly she concentrated on the candid shots the photographer was missing in his quest for posed perfection. Sarah had no idea who most of the people were so she just watched for moments of connection. The flower girl and the ring bearer were adorable in their wedding clothes and she got several of them. She even caught the fathers of the bride and groom sharing a hip flask and a guilty look.

People looked at her now and then, but by and large, her presence was negligible. Sarah preferred it that way. It made taking pictures easier and meant she didn't have to worry about what to say. Soon enough, it was over. Jordan joined her at once.

"What did you think of the wedding?"

"It was wonderful."

"Are you ready to party?"

Sarah slipped her hand through the offered elbow. "Lead on."

It was a ten minute drive to the hotel that was hosting the reception. Jordan parked the Jaguar and reached out for Sarah's hand. "Wait."

Curious, Sarah sat silently.

Jordan swallowed in uncharacteristic nervousness. "I've been trying to do this all day and I'm afraid if I don't just do it, it'll get away from me."

"Do what?"

Taking a deep breath, Jordan fished a small wrapped gift from under the car seat. "I love you and I want you to have this. I mean, it's Valentine's Day."

Sarah put a hand over her mouth. "Oh, God. I didn't think. It never occurred to me . . . I didn't get you anything."

Jordan's eyes relaxed and she smiled. "You give me everything, little one. I've never been so happy. I don't need a gift."

"Neither do I," she argued. "I'm sorry, Jordan. I just didn't put it together in my head. I haven't had to think about Valentine's Day since I was in grade school."

"Sarah," Jordan said firmly. "All I want is to give you this and hopefully see that you like it. Give me your pleasure in the gift and I'll be happy. If you like it a lot, maybe you'll give me a kiss, too. Please?"

She felt stuck between a rock and a hard place. It wasn't fair to turn down the gift just because she had forgotten.

"I love you, Sarah. Please accept this gift as a small token of my feelings for you."

Damn! Now she couldn't refuse without hurting Jordan. Sarah opened the gift to find a slender gold bracelet. It was utterly unremarkable, but it spoke volumes to her. Jordan could have spent a ton of money on diamonds and jewels, but she hadn't. It meant that she knew how uncomfortable Sarah would have been with it and that how she felt mattered to Jordan. It was thoughtful and sweet and charming in its simplicity and Sarah thought it was perfect. She lifted it up on gentle fingers to catch the light. "It's perfect, Jordan. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

It was clear to see that Jordan was pleased. Sarah leaned over to kiss her. "Will you put it on me?"

"My pleasure."

Sarah watched the concentration on Jordan's face with a feeling of tenderness. She still felt foolish for letting Valentine's Day slip by her, but at least Jordan hadn't made it intolerable. She really was quite gallant. "You constantly surprise me," she said softly.

"Is that a good thing?"

"So far," Sarah conceded with a grin.

Jordan finished securing the bracelet and lifted Sarah's hand to her lips. "Shall we go in?"

The reception hall was set up for dining with long tables, silver and crystal. It was perfection. Sarah left her gift beside the small mountain of presents for the happy couple. It had been hard to figure out what to get them, but she had settled on a bamboo wind chime that sounded like rain to her. Now, looking at the hall, she wondered if she should have gone with something more elegant. "Jordan? What did you give them?"

"I paid for the wedding. Why?"

"I got them a wind chime. A wood one. What if they hate it?"

"They won't hate it, little one. Trust me. Don't start feeling insecure. Your gift shows creativity and thought. How much imagination does it take to pick out a blender? One of us should stay sober for driving home later. Do you want to flip for it?"

"You go ahead," Sarah said. "I'll stick to soda or something."

The bride and groom arrived by limousine a short time later and the party began. An army of waiters served dinner with quiet precision and the room was filled with talking and laughter. A great many toasts were given, including one by Jordan. Sarah made her single glass of champagne last through them all.

After the meal, the tables were cleared away and the floor was opened for dancing. Sarah watched the newlyweds take the first dance. They were so happy and every one watching them was obviously happy for them. Not that it appeared either of them knew how to dance. At least, not ballroom dancing.

Jordan leaned down to talk to her. "I'm going to have to dance with a few people. It's part of standing up with him at the wedding. Will you be all right until I'm done?"

"Of course. I'll go hang out with Maggie and her friend."

"I love you, baby."

Sarah smiled. "I love watching you dance."

"You're so beautiful."

Sarah realized that Jordan was a little intoxicated. Not enough to be noticeable yet, but definitely tipsy. "You're drunk."

"Not quite, but I'm getting there. You're still beautiful."

"So are you. Go do your thing."

Sarah spent the next hour circulating with Maggie and Hazel. They didn't seem to be bothered by the fact that they didn't know very many people. Sarah was drawn into a number of conversations and learned that strangers weren't so hard to get along with. You just had to suck it up and introduce yourself. She met aunts and uncles, cousins and in-laws, grandparents and friends. Everyone was very nice.

Every time she looked, Jordan was dancing with another woman. She looked to be having a good time and it made Sarah start to feel jealous. It was an uncomfortable emotion and Sarah kept trying to banish it. When another of Pete's men asked her to dance, Sarah impulsively said yes.

"My name's Trip."

Being in his arms was nothing like being in Jordan's arms. It was more than the fact that he didn't dance right. It just felt wrong. "Trip?"

"It's in the way of a nickname. What's your name?"

"Sarah."

"You're with Jordan?"

She didn't want to confide in this man. "I work for him."

"What do you do?"

"I'm a maid."

"Are you seeing anyone?"

Sarah was stunned. "Are you hitting on me?"

Trip smiled and one gold tooth winked at her. "Well, now, that all depends."

"On what?"

"Do you want me to hit on you?"

"Not in particular."

"Because I'm black?"

Sarah took a chance. "Are you dancing with me because I'm white?"

"Yes."

It was ludicrous. Sarah shook her head in disbelief. "You're kind of a jerk, Trip."

He only laughed and then leaned a little closer. "You know, it's true what they say about black men."

She opened her mouth to ask him what he meant and felt him rub against her hip. It was the most disgusting thing ever and made her furious. Sarah deliberately laughed at him. "Is that all you've got?"

"You'll feel me, girl."

Sarah took a half step back. "Feel this." She brought her knee up sharply and connected squarely with his groin. Trip staggered back and curled around his wounded genitals with a high-pitched whine. Sarah's moment of righteous wrath faded as she realized what she had done. She couldn't go around kneeing rude guys in the balls at other people's weddings. Sarah looked around to find the other dancers smiling at her.

"You go, girl," one of them laughed.

Embarrassed, Sarah slapped the woman's upraised hand and turned to leave the dance floor. She ran right into Jordan's broad chest. Strong hands grasped her upper arms and kept her from falling.

"What happened? Are you all right?"

Jordan's face and voice were as hard as Sarah had ever seen them. Sarah knew instantly that if she didn't intervene, Jordan would do something stupid and unnecessary. She only knew one way to distract Jordan. Sarah slid her hands over her lover's hidden breasts and stretched up on her toes to whisper, "I'm not wearing anything under my dress."

Jordan blinked and dragged her eyes from the rejected suitor to Sarah. "What?"

She almost had her. "I'm naked." A hand slid over Sarah's hip slowly and Jordan began to smile seductively. Sarah relaxed.

"I guess I'll kill Trip later. After you tell me what he did."

"Dance with me, Ace."

Jordan moved into Sarah's body with supreme confidence and authority. Sarah surrendered without hesitation and saw the glow of pride in her lover's eyes. It made her feel warm and happy to know that she had given that feeling to Jordan. A firm thigh insinuated itself into Sarah's sex and she shivered with pleasure. She could feel what Jordan was packing in her boxers and it was nothing like what she had felt with Trip. "I feel you," she said with soft desire.

"I'm so hard," Jordan breathed in her ear. "You make me crazy with wanting."

Sarah was feeling a little crazy and reckless herself. Their bodies moved in perfect harmony and she was completely aware of how close to naked she really was. It had not been a deliberate thing. A bra was out of the question because of the strapless shoulder and all of her underwear had left panty lines. Going without had just made sense at the time. The fact that she was enjoying how she felt made her wonder what had happened to the girl nervous about showing her belly button at the Halloween party. She had changed somewhere along the line.

For a moment, it made her uncomfortable, but Sarah realized that she liked the woman she was becoming. Just the fact that she was starting to think of herself as a woman and not a girl was a new development.

Jordan abruptly started laughing.

"What?" Sarah looked around, but nothing was happening. "What is it?"

"Just trying to reconcile the yielding woman in my arms with the Amazon who nutted Pete's little brother at a wedding reception."

Sarah put images of Pete and Trip side by side. "That was his brother? They don't look anything alike. Do they have the same parents?"

Jordan only laughed harder. "Air," she gasped. "I need air."

Sarah had to quick step to keep up. It was cold outside. The sky was clear and there was no wind, but there was a bitter chill that cut through her filmy dress. It hardened her nipples instantly. Sarah hugged herself as her teeth began to chatter.

"You totally nailed him," Jordan wheezed. "Adam and Eve felt that one."

"He deserved it." Jordan took off her jacket and wrapped it around Sarah. Her body heat was still in it and Sarah snuggled it gratefully. "Thanks."

Jordan's laughter was easing up. "What did he do?"

"He made a pass at me. It was no big deal."

"I think I'm over wanting to kill him," Jordan grinned. "What was it exactly that he did?"

"I handled it," Sarah insisted.

"You're not going to tell me?"

Sarah shook her head.

Jordan looked very surprised. "Why not?"

"Because it was gross and I don't want to talk about it."

"You can tell me anything, little one."

"Do I have to?"

Jordan took a sobering step back. "You make an excellent point." Her humor returned like a light coming on. "I wish I had it on film. It was a thing of beauty."

"I hope I didn't hurt him too bad."

"I hope they ache for days."

"Have you had enough air? It's freezing out here."

"Sure. Come on."

The warmth of the hall was a welcome relief. They didn't get ten steps before Maggie caught them.

"Is everything all right, dear?"

"Jordan just needed some air."

Maggie took her arm conspiratorially. "Every one is talking about you. Something about Pete's brother?"

Sarah flushed with embarrassment. "I can't believe I did that."

"The consensus is that it was high time. You're something of a heroine. What happened?"

"She nutted the bastard," Jordan bragged.

Maggie's eyes widened. "Did you really?"

Sarah covered her eyes with a sigh. "I'm never going to live this down. I'm going to be remembered forever as the girl who crippled Pete's brother. I'll never get invited to another wedding."

"Maybe not Trip's," Jordan said dryly.

Maggie slapped at Jordan's arm. "Go get us a drink. I'll handle this."

Jordan wandered off without her coat and Sarah hugged it in her absence. "He thinks it's funny. For a minute there, I thought he was going to kill Trip. I've never seen him so angry."

"You don't strike me as the sort of girl who fights back for no reason. What did Trip do?"

Sarah glanced around to make sure they wouldn't be overheard. "He was rubbing his crotch on me. It was gross."

Maggie grimaced.

"Do women usually respond to that?"

"From the right man in the right time and place. Not from a total stranger at a wedding reception. You did the right thing, dear. I'm proud of you."

Sarah wanted to believe her. "I didn't tell Jordan. He was so mad, Maggie. I really thought he would try to kill him. Thank God he's a little drunk or I might not have been able to distract him."

"He probably wouldn't have actually killed him, dear, but this is not the time or the place for fisticuffs. It would have ruined the reception for Pete and Amanda. It sounds to me like you handled everything just right."

"You won't tell Jordan, will you?"

"Of course not, dear. This is just between us girls. What you need to do now is hold your head high and be proud. Don't apologize to anyone for it. If anyone asks you about it, tell them you were adjusting Trip's hormone level."

Sarah burst out laughing.

"That's better. Now, go find your man and do some more dancing. The night is young."

As it got later, the older crowd left and the music got faster. Jordan got a little drunker, but she was jovial rather than belligerent. Sarah thought it was kind of funny to watch her. She got a chance to talk to Pete and she treated his apology for his brother as if it were unnecessary. Amanda congratulated her on her aim and asked if she'd like to have lunch after the honeymoon. Sarah readily accepted.

There was one tense moment for Sarah. She and Jordan were in the buffet line when Trip walked by them. Jordan casually reached out and put a hand on his neck. Pulling him close, Jordan whispered in his ear and then looked him in the eye with a deadly smile. Sarah saw him swallow hard, then turn and walk away.

"What did you say to him?" she asked.

Jordan raised an eyebrow. "What did he do to you?"

"Umm..."

"It's okay, Sarah. It's over as far as I'm concerned. There's nothing to worry about."

She was dying to know what was said, but she could tell she wasn't going to get any more information from Jordan. Sarah shrugged and let it go.

After the newlyweds left in their limousine, the party got a little wild. At least, Sarah's little piece of it did. Jordan had that smoky, amorous look in her eye. Since Sarah didn't know anyone else at the party, she judged it safe and danced teasingly for Jordan. It was hot and sexy and the most fun she'd ever had. They were all but making love on the floor in front of God and everybody. Jordan looked ready to explode.

Sarah finally decided it was time to go. Teasing wasn't enough anymore. She collected their things and took Jordan's keys. Jordan sang all the way to the car. She didn't know all the words to 'Wanna Kiss You All Over', but Sarah gave her points for volume and flair.

Driving the Jaguar was sweet. Even on the icy streets, it ran like warm butter. They were halfway home when Jordan reached under Sarah's dress.

"You're so wet. Wanna fuck you so bad."

Sarah grabbed at Jordan's wrist with a laugh. "Easy, Ace. Keep that up and I'll drive us into a tree."

Jordan abruptly looked like she was going to cry. "Almost lost you. Felt like I was dying, too."

Sarah lifted Jordan's hand to her lips, her own scent rich on the long fingers. "Everything is okay, Jordan. I'm just fine."

"You're perfect," Jordan said dreamily. She hiccuped. "Better pull over, baby."

"We're almost home."

"Sick."

Sarah aimed the car at the side of the road, but it was too late. Jordan threw up all over everything. The windshield, the dash, the stick shift and both of them. It was all Sarah could do not to vomit herself. Pulling to a stop, she jumped out of the car.

"Ugh." It was all down one leg and she grabbed handfuls of snow to get it off. "I can't believe you threw up on me. Couldn't you have waited until I pulled over?"

Jordan fell out of the other side of the car and Sarah walked around to look down at her. Propped up on her elbows, Jordan was vomiting helplessly. It sounded like she was going to die. Sarah put her hands on her hips. "I so hope you remember this in the morning."

Leaving her there, Sarah fished the keys out of the car and opened the trunk. "Thank you, Cirenio." There were rags, a blanket, a flashlight, road flares, some basic tools and a bottle of water tucked in one corner. Promising to hug Cirenio later, she grabbed the rags and the water and set about cleaning the inside of the car enough to drive.

"Sarah?"

She didn't even look up. "Don't pass out. I'm not going to be able to get you back in the car by myself."

"I'm sick."

"Duh."

"Cold."

Sarah had to admit that the car was as good as she could get it for the moment. There was nothing she could do about the sour stench. Tossing the rags on the passenger side floorboards, Sarah went around to help Jordan. It was like trying to pick up mercury.

It was a relief when the cop pulled up behind them with his lights flashing. Sarah tucked her frozen fingers up under her arm pits while he got out of the car and played his flashlight over the two of them. "You don't know how glad I am to see you," she said as he approached.

"What seems to be the problem?"

"I didn't know what I was getting into when I agreed to be the designated driver. He's drunk and he threw up inside the car. I've got it cleaned up enough to drive, but I can't get him back in." The flashlight hit her square in the eyes.

"Have you been drinking, ma'am?"

"No," she said patiently. "We were at a wedding reception. I had a single glass of champagne between six and six-thirty, but no alcohol since then. I'd be happy to take a breathalyzer test, but I'd like to get him out of the snow first. Will you help me?"

He seemed to be happy with that answer and had Jordan in the car in only minutes. Jordan's head lolled in a drunken stupor. She was clearly out for the night.

Now that things were back under control, Sarah was freezing. Her teeth chattered uncontrollably.

"Do you have someone to help you get him inside, ma'am?"

She thought of Maggie, but that wouldn't do. Sarah thought it over. On any other day, she would call Pete and ask for help. "The garage is heated and it has a bathroom. Maybe I can leave him in there."

"How far are you going?"

"Maybe ten minutes? To the Crisp Estate."

"I thought he looked familiar," the officer grinned. "I'll follow you and give you a hand."

"Thank you."

Fifteen minutes later, the officer dropped the blanket wrapped woman on the bed in one of the suites. "I can't thank you enough," Sarah said gratefully. "I couldn't have handled it on my own."

"Not a problem, ma'am. You have a good night."

Sarah walked him to the front door and locked it behind him. Peeling off the ruined high heels, she padded barefoot back to the bedroom. Jordan was snoring. "You owe me big for this," Sarah told the comatose woman.

It wasn't easy, but she got Jordan stripped and cleaned up, then rolled her between the sheets. Gathering up the soiled clothing, she tossed it all in the tub and threw her dress on top of it. Too late, she realized that neither of them had clothes. No way was she going to put that dress back on. Wrapping herself in a lush towel, she went down to Jordan's room and took a shower. After drying her hair, she pulled on a T-shirt and a pair of Jordan's boxers. They were both too big, but they would do. For Jordan, she took a pair of striped pajama's and headed back upstairs.

Jordan was huddled over the toilet with the dry heaves. Wetting a wash cloth, she pressed it to the back of the kneeling woman's neck. "How are you doing, Ace?"

Jordan put her head down on her arm with a groan. "Feel terrible."

"If I find you some aspirin, do you think you can keep it down?"

Eyes closed, Jordan shook her head. "Just leave me here."

"You'll freeze to death on this tile."

"Don't care."

"Well, I do. Stay put. I'll be right back."

Maggie kept aspirin in the kitchen. Sarah took three of them and went back. Jordan was still hunched miserably over the toilet. Sarah got the aspirin and a half glass of water into her and then helped her with the pajama's.

"Never drinking again," Jordan said as she fell back into bed.

"Thats got my vote," Sarah agreed. "Go to sleep, Jordan. You can figure out how to make this up to me in the morning."

"Stay."

"I will. I'm just going to straighten up a bit. Go to sleep." She leaned over to kiss Jordan's forehead. A feeling of such tenderness welled up in her. "You mean so much to me," she whispered.

Jordan was out. Sarah brushed the dark hair back and reconsidered cleaning up. There was nothing she could do for the car at this hour of the night and the rest of it could be handled in the morning. Turning off lights, Sarah crawled in beside Jordan and went to sleep.

Sarah wandered into the kitchen shortly after dawn. "Morning."

Maggie set the paper down and took off her glasses. "Hello."

Pouring herself a cup of fresh coffee, Sarah dropped into a chair and held the steaming liquid under her nose. "You make the best coffee in the whole world."

"Thank you, dear. You're up early. What time did the two of you get home last night?"

"I don't know. It was a mess, Maggie. Jordan threw up in the Jag. All over me and the car and everything. Then this cop had to help me get her back in the car and into the house. I totally lost track of time." Sarah yawned so hard it brought tears to her eyes. "I wish I didn't have to go to school today."

"So don't. Go back to bed. I'll bring you a hearty breakfast in a couple of hours and you can take the day off."

"I can't."

"Why not? Can't one of your little friends take notes?"

Sarah considered it. She had two classes that day. One of them she could afford to miss and the other had one of the girls from her study group in it. So far as she knew, there were no exams or tests scheduled. She could get caught up without any trouble. "Maybe I will stay home. I can study later and read ahead."

"Good for you."

"Um, I don't have any clothes. My dress is ruined."

"I'll fetch something for you."

Sarah had another thought. "What time do the housekeepers start?"

"Nine."

"We're in the green suite. Are they going to be working there today?"

"I'll see that they don't."

"Thanks, Maggie."

"Go back to bed, dear."

Sarah went back downstairs and got a complete outfit for Jordan to wear when she woke up. It wouldn't do to have her wandering around as a woman with the staff in the house. Leaving the clothes on a chair, she crawled back into bed and snuggled up to Jordan. In spite of the coffee, she fell asleep almost instantly.

"Where the hell am I?"

Sarah stretched as Jordan's rough question woke her. "The green suite. I couldn't get you downstairs. How do you feel?"

"Like shit. My mouth tastes like road apples and my head hurts."

Sarah smiled. "Let that be a lesson to you."

Jordan grunted and slowly rolled out of bed. Sagging over her knees, she cradled her head in her hands. "This sucks."

Pulling the blankets up tight around her ears to keep the warmth in, Sarah yawned. "Come back to bed and sleep through it." Jordan cautiously got to her feet and staggered into the bathroom to pee. Sarah watched her, amazed at how unselfconscious Jordan was about it. Maybe it was the hangover.

"Looks like somebody had a party in here," Jordan grumbled. "Why are our clothes in the tub?"

"You threw up on them."

"Oh. I don't remember that." Jordan washed her hands and dug around in the drawers until she found a toothbrush. She struggled with the wrapper for a few minutes and then brought it to Sarah. "Open this for me."

Hiding a grin, she obeyed and handed it back. "There you go."

"Thanks." Jordan scrubbed her mouth thoroughly and drank water out of the palm of her hand before washing her face. She came back to bed and pulled Sarah close.

"Better?"

"Not much," Jordan sighed. "Did I do anything stupid?"

"Besides throwing up in the Jag and having to be carried into the house by a cop?"

Jordan groaned. "Besides that."

"No."

"Good."

"Next time, you get to be the designated driver. I quit."

"Sounds fair."

Sarah wrapped herself around Jordan and savored the heat. "I just can't seem to stay warm. It's like my bones are frozen."

Jordan rubbed Sarah's back with her hands. "No school today?"

"Too tired."

"Thanks for taking care of me, baby."

"You're welcome, Ace."

~***~

With Pete gone, Jordan had to fill in for him. Sarah hadn't realized how much Pete actually did. Pete never looked all that busy, but Jordan was swamped. A week into Pete's honeymoon, Jordan called Sarah on the phone.

"Do you know anything about spreadsheets and account balances?"

"Somewhat."

"I need you."

Laughing at Jordan's predicament and worried that she would make herself look foolish, Sarah went up to the house. Pete's office was a mess and Jordan looked to be at the end of her rope. "What's the problem?"

"I was just inputting some of the bills and now it says I'm in the red by something like fifty thousand dollars. I've checked everything about ten times and I can't see where I went wrong. I'm about to chuck the damn thing out the window."

Sarah sat down in Pete's chair and studied the computer monitor. "Have you saved anything since you started?"

"No."

"Who was the last person to open this file?"

"Pete."

Sarah reopened the file without saving Jordan's changes and the balances looked much better.

"Shit."

Grinning, Sarah looked up at her boss. "Why don't you show me what you want done and I'll see what I can do."

Jordan gathered some papers together and handed them to her. "These need to get paid and payroll is due."

"Have you written the checks out?"

"Not yet. I think some of them get deposited electronically. Doesn't this program do that?"

"I don't think so. Why don't you go relax and give me a chance to see if I can figure Pete's system out."

"Good luck," Jordan snorted derisively.

It took about an hour to get the hang of it. The hardest part was finding Pete's notes on passwords and account numbers. Thirty minutes later, she was done. The bills were paid and the payroll printed out. There were a few checks to sign for bills, but it hadn't been hard at all. Sarah was shocked at how much it cost to maintain the estate. The power bills alone were staggering. Not to mention that Jordan paid her people very well.

Sarah went looking for Jordan and found her in her office. "Here are the payroll checks to sign and if you'll sign these, I'll get them ready to mail."

"You did it?"

"Don't look so shocked. This is what I go to school for."

Jordan came around the desk and hugged Sarah hard. "Thank you."

Sarah hugged her back. "Actually, it was kind of fun to find out that I could do it. If you need anymore help, just let me know."

"You're a lifesaver."

Jordan signed the checks and Sarah put them all in their envelopes. Leaving the payroll checks on the corner of the desk, Sarah straightened up a little and turned off the lights. She stopped outside of the kitchen door at the sound of her name.

". . . Sarah's a freaking genius. I spent half the day screwing that program up and she fixed it in two seconds flat. She figured out what to do and did it in less than two hours. Payroll, bills, everything. I've got her working as a maid, for Christ's sake."

"That was her choice," Maggie said calmly. "I don't imagine it's what she intends to do for the rest of her life."

"I worry about that, you know. I think she'll stay until she graduates, but then what? She can do anything she wants. Why would she stay here?"

"To be with you?"

"She can do better than me, Maggie. We both know that."

"I know nothing of the sort, dear. You're a much better person than you give yourself credit for. Sarah knows how special you are."

"No where near as special as she is."

"You're being awfully hard on yourself today. Why is that?"

"Maybe I'm premenstrual."

Maggie blew one of her trademark raspberries. "Come on, Jordan. What's going on with you?"

"I don't know. I feel restless. Fidgety. Like I've got an itch I can't scratch. It's been coming on for a couple of days now and I'm not sure what it is."

"What do you think it is?"

"I wish I knew."

Sarah backed quietly away from the door and left the house from the other side. It was wrong to eavesdrop like that, but she thought she might know what Jordan's problem was. Ever since the reception, Jordan had been holding back in bed. Though that wasn't quite right. Jordan was just as attentive and passionate as ever, but there was always a point at which she seemed to physically restrain herself during their love-making. Sarah had a pretty good idea why. Jordan needed to play.

Was she ready? Jordan had her play list and her safe word. Sarah had been expecting Jordan to broach the subject, but nothing had been said. Maybe Sarah needed to be the one to initiate it. That kind of fit with what she'd read in the books. Jordan was consistently cautious about taking power from Sarah. She might need Sarah to formally ask to play.

What would she do? Since Jordan had Sarah's list, it was up to Sarah to surrender control and let Jordan do what she wanted. Of course, Sarah had every right to tell Jordan exactly how she wanted the scene to go, but Sarah suspected that it wouldn't be as satisfying for Jordan if she did. At least, not this time.

After throwing up, Sarah's senses seemed to be both numbed and heightened at the same time. Her mind hung in limbo, watching abstractly as she took a shower and braided her hair back. Jordan wasn't the only one who needed this. Sarah could see clearly now that she had been building toward it for some time. Thinking about it wasn't enough anymore.

Maggie was doing the dishes when Sarah stepped into the kitchen. The old woman smiled over her shoulder and then did a double take. "Are you all right?"

Sarah was far away. "Is everyone gone?"

"Yes. You look strange."

"Go home, Maggie."

She seemed torn between finishing the dishes and arguing, but then the fight went out of her. Maggie wiped her hands dry and reached for her coat. "Do you know what you're doing?"

"No. But Jordan does." A feeling of peace settled over her shoulders. "I trust her. Everything will be okay."

Maggie kissed Sarah's cheek and left the house. Breathing in the silence, Sarah committed herself completely to what she was about to do. There would be no turning back. Needing to prove to herself that she was acting of her own volition and not merely in response to Jordan's needs, Sarah stripped down completely. She would go to Jordan naked.

Leaving her clothes folded neatly on a chair, Sarah lifted her chin and strode through the house with confidence. Arousal shot through her like lightning with every step. She was wet and her nipples ached for attention. The sound of a television guided her to one of the living rooms. Sarah stepped inside and waited for Jordan to notice her. The hardening of desire on Jordan's face made her weak and she had trouble shaping words.

"It's time."

Neither of them moved for an eternal moment and then Jordan stood up. Sarah turned and led the way upstairs. When she reached for the dungeon door, Jordan's hand reached over her shoulder to stop her.

"Remind me of your safe word."

Sarah could feel the strength and heat of Jordan at her back and it nearly unhinged her. This was really happening! "Jaguar."

"Don't expect me to keep reminding you that you can stop me. I'm going to do what I want until I'm done or you use your word. Do you understand?"

"Yes," she breathed. Jordan's hand moved and Sarah opened the door.

~***~

All of the hard edges of Jordan's face were gone now. She looked soft and vulnerable and peaceful. Sarah couldn't take her eyes off of her, which wasn't hard as she was curled up in Jordan's lap. She had never felt so boneless and relaxed. "My favorite part?" she repeated thoughtfully. "You. The way you were with me."

"What was it you liked?"

"Well, you're always strong and compelling, but this was different."

"Different how?"

It was hard to put it into words. In fact, speaking at all was arduous. "You handled me. Like what I was feeling belonged to you. You made something inside of me and my purpose was to experience it."

"And you liked that?"

"I loved it. I think . . . I've been wanting that since . . . forever. Only I didn't know it."

"Sometimes it happens like that," Jordan said tenderly. "You don't know what's missing until you find it."

Sarah traced Jordan's chin with a finger tip. "It's been happening to me a lot lately."

"It can be very disconcerting."

"Yes."

Jordan ran her hand around the curve of Sarah's cheek. "Tell me another thing you liked."

That was easy. "I liked being tied up. I liked it a lot."

"Can you tell me why?"

Sarah mentally put herself back on the cross. It was the first place Jordan had bound her and Sarah had been shocked at how exciting it was. "Part of it was being helpless. I know I have a safe word, but I really didn't remember that at the time. I felt like I had no control. You could do anything you wanted to me. The other part was that...it made me feel...like I belonged to you. Like you have a right to have me like that. And..."

"You're doing fine. Take your time."

Sarah concentrated on what she had felt. "I felt like I had no choice but to enjoy it. Like being tied up gave me permission to just feel." She sighed. "My words don't even come close to what I felt. I just don't know how to verbalize it."

"It's okay, baby. I'm just glad it's something you want."

"Oh yeah," Sarah grinned. "You can tie me up anytime."

Jordan chuckled. "I may take you up on that."

Sarah pulled her down for a brief kiss. "Please do."

"Okay. Now, tell me something you didn't like."

Sarah considered it. "Well, there wasn't anything I didn't like, but I didn't really get the feather thing."

"No?"

She shook her head. "I didn't hate it. It just didn't really make me feel anything. Is it supposed to tickle or something?"

Jordan shrugged. "For some people, it does. Others enjoy the torment of being touched so softly when they want more. For me, it's mostly a visual treat. From a purely aesthetic standpoint, it was lovely, but it's not something I'm going to insist on."

"Oh, you can do it. It didn't bother me. I just thought maybe I was supposed to feel more than I did."

"You're only supposed to feel exactly what you feel, baby. Don't start putting expectations on yourself."

"Tell me something you liked, Jordan."

With a gentle smile, Jordan laid her head over on her shoulder. "For me, everything was absolutely perfect, but the thing that put me over the edge was when I put my thumb up your ass."

Sarah couldn't help but blush.

"You loved that," Jordan smiled.

"I did," she admitted.

"I was afraid you wouldn't, you know."

"It was so intense. It was like you were stimulating my nervous system directly. Why do people talk about that like it's terrible?"

"Maybe for some people, it is."

Sarah closed her eyes to recapture the feeling. "It was like being right on the edge of coming the whole time. I felt frantic for it. Like I was bursting right out of my skin."

"You were incredible, little one. I have never enjoyed anyone more than I did you tonight. It transcended playing on every level. It's never been anything like that for me. I am curious though as to why you picked tonight. The way you came to me . . . I didn't expect that at all."

"You needed it," she said simply. "I think maybe I did, too, but you were hurting for it."

Jordan looked confused. "I'm not sure I know what you mean."

"I overheard you talking to Maggie in the kitchen. You said you were feeling restless. Like you had an itch you couldn't scratch. I knew right away what it was."

"You did this for me?"

"Yes."

Jordan looked truly anguished. "Sarah."

Placing her fingers over Jordan's lips, Sarah spoke from her heart. "You needed this. Maybe I needed to know you needed me this way before I could take the last step. You're always so careful not to pressure or influence me. You always put my needs and feelings first. It's wonderful that you do that, but sometimes I wish you wouldn't. Sometimes I need you to tell me how it's going to be or what you want. I know I can say no, Jordan. It's like you don't trust me sometimes to stand up for myself. You didn't do anything tonight that I didn't want. That's why I came to you like I did. I didn't want there to be any question about my commitment. Yes, I chose tonight because you needed it, but I needed it, too. Not just this, but feeling like I could do something to take care of you. You're so strong that sometimes I feel like you don't really need me."

"That's not true."

"Maybe not, but sometimes it feels that way. I don't think it's you though. Maybe it's my own insecurities. Maggie says I'm listening to my parents too much. She's probably right. I could never do anything to make them happy or make them love me. They didn't need anything from me or even want anything I had to offer. Most of the time, I don't know what it is that you need or want from me. I spend a lot of time guessing. The way you were with me tonight gave me permission to just be. I didn't have to think about what to do. You made me what you needed. I think I need more of that. It made me feel safe and . . . whole."

A single tear slowly rolled down Jordan's cheek. "You just don't know what a treasure you are to me."

Sarah caught the tear on her fingers. "Did what I said make sense?"

"You expressed yourself very well, little one. I didn't understand what it was you needed from me. And I think you're right that I haven't trusted your strength. I apologize for that and I'll try to do better in the future."

"Thank you."

Jordan took a deep breath. "Unless I request it of you, don't ever walk through the house naked again. There could have been someone here."

"Maggie said there wasn't."

"Maggie's not in charge."

Sarah smiled at Jordan's shift in attitude. "Point taken."

"Good. You liked it, didn't you? Coming to me naked like that?"

Another blush crept up her neck. "It was exciting."

Jordan smiled. "Excellent. I think I'll make a new rule. When you come down to my rooms, you'll stop at the bottom of the stairs and take off your clothes. I'll put in a shelf and some hooks for your things. You are not allowed to wear clothing of any kind in my rooms."

It seemed like an odd request, but it wasn't anything Sarah had a problem with. "All right."

Jordan's confidence was building. "From now on, when I tell you I love you, I want you to tell me something you love about me. I know it's hard for you to say the words and that's fine. When you do say it, I'll know you really mean it, but I need something back from you when I tell you how I feel. It doesn't have to be something big or profound. Just the first thing that comes to your mind. Can you do that for me?"

It was actually a huge relief. Not being able to force herself to tell Jordan that she loved her had been nagging at her. She was feeling obligated to say it back and it was killing her that she couldn't. Knowing how Jordan wanted her to respond made it much easier. "I can do that."

"I love you."

The first thing that came to mind? "I love how sweet you are with me."

"I love you."

"I love the way you kiss." The kiss Jordan gave her was more comforting than passionate, yet no less fulfilling.

"I'm going to sit here and watch you while you clean up after us," Jordan said gently. "Then we're going to go downstairs, take a long hot bath together and get some sleep. I know it's not very late, but you'll need all the sleep you can get. You'll be sore tomorrow."

Sarah put a hand to one breast. "My nipples are already sore from the clamps. They're throbbing."

"That will probably last through tomorrow. They'll toughen up in time."

"I'm not sure I want them to," she admitted.

Jordan grinned. "Then I'll see to it that they don't."

~***~

"I'm going to be a little late tonight," Sarah said as she pulled her shirt over her head. "I have to stop at the lawyer's office. She said something about an offer that we should go over."

"How much is it?" Jordan asked from the bed.

"I don't know. If it pays all the hospital bills and lets me buy a car, I'll be happy."

"I'll sell you the Jag for a thousand."

Sarah knelt to look under her bed for her other shoe. "It's worth more than that."

"Cirenio can't get the smell out."

Looking over the mattress at her lover, Sarah thought it over. "Are you serious?"

Jordan stretched and folded her hands under her head. "A thousand bucks and it's yours."

A two year old Jaguar sedan for a thousand dollars? Just because it smelled funny? How hard was it to buy one of those scented trees? "Let me think it over for a couple of days."

"On one condition."

"Here it comes," Sarah mumbled.

"You have to park it in the garage. It won't do to ruin the paint job by leaving it outside."

That didn't sound so bad. "Okay." Finding her shoe, she crawled up on the bed to put them on. "I'm going to invite my study group to come over tomorrow afternoon. Probably about three. Saturday is the best day for everyone to get together for a longer period."

"Do I get to meet my competition?"

Sarah snorted. "Don't even go there. You have no competition and you know it."

"True."

She sounded so smug. Sarah reached over and tweaked a nipple, eliciting a twitch and a grin. "Do you want to meet them?"

"Yes. But I don't have to if it will make you uncomfortable."

She finished tying her shoes and crawled over to lay on Jordan. "I don't mind if you meet them, but I'm not sure how to introduce you."

"Let's start with boss and go from there."

Sarah bit her lip. "But that sounds so impersonal. I don't want you to feel like I'm embarrassed by you."

Jordan put a hand to Sarah's hair in a soft caress. "I'll tell you what. I'll show up about five with pizzas and we'll wing it. I'll let you introduce me however you feel most comfortable at the time and I promise not to be offended. No matter what happens, I'll just picture you naked and bound to the cross. That's all the truth I need."

Sarah kissed Jordan hungrily. "It's been over a week. When are we going to do that again?"

"Soon, baby. First, I want you to come to the party on Sunday night. There will only be ten or fifteen people there so I'll be able to give you more attention."

Her heart quickened and her skin tingled. "What do I do?"

"Just follow my lead. Now, you'd better get going or I'm not going to let you leave."

Sarah glanced over at the clock. "I've got ten minutes. I'll bet I can make you come in that time."

Jordan smiled lazily. "You're welcome to try."

She did it in eight and Jordan was sleeping when she left. The image of her satisfied lover sleeping in her bed made the whole day seem brighter. Her classes were interesting and her study group acted like they'd been invited to the White House at her invitation. Everything was great until she got to the lawyer's office.

Later, she couldn't remember driving home. One minute she had been in the mahogany furnished office and the next she was sitting at her dining table. How she got from one place to the other was a complete mystery. Sarah didn't know whether to throw up or pass out.

After the hospital bills, the lawyer's cut, the expense of the rental car and the estimated taxes, she was going to have somewhere in the neighborhood of $300,000. That didn't seem like a lot considering that the case was being settled for three-quarters of a million dollars, but it was still an extraordinary amount of money. It seemed like far too much money for something that had done so little actual damage to her. It didn't seem fair somehow.

The lawyer had been quite proud of herself, but Sarah just felt sick. She was smart enough to realize that she now had all the capital she could wish for when she decided to start her business-whatever that was going to be. For that matter, she could buy an existing business and try her hand at running it. Or, if she was careful, she could do nothing and live off the money for years. Hell, she could live like a queen forever in Mexico. She could buy a house and never have to pay rent again. She could invest it or buy T-Bills or roll around naked in it.

She had worked so long and hard to achieve a single goal that having the means to realize any number of dreams just fall into her lap was scaring her silly. The plan had been to work and save money over a number of years. That wasn't necessary anymore and she didn't know how to handle it. The plan would have to change, but how? Now that she had financial security, what did she want? How did she want her life to change?

Sarah realized in a moment of clarity that she didn't want her life to change. The way it was right now was better than anything she had ever imagined for herself. Sure, when she graduated she would go looking for a job in her field, but a job would just replace the time she now spent on classes and study. Nothing else had to change. She could keep on working for Jordan and living on the estate. Cleaning the dungeon felt more like a hobby than an actual job anyway. In fact, if Jordan would let her stay, she would clean it for free. She didn't need the money; especially since she lived largely off the tips already. Most of her paychecks went into the bank and stayed there.

Things started to click into place and her fear of the money vanished. She would open a savings account and put the money in it. It could sit there and draw interest until she decided what she wanted to do with it. Regardless of whether or not she deserved it, it was hers. It would be a mistake to think of it as anything other than a tool. A fabulous tool, yes, but only a tool. When she figured out how best to use it, she would build something with it.

Now that she felt better, Sarah glanced at the clock. The players would start to arrive in an hour and a half. If she wanted to see Jordan, she would probably have to go up to the estate. Sarah changed her clothes and grabbed her pack on impulse. Maybe tonight she would stay in Jordan's room. Most of the time, Jordan came to Sarah's cottage. If it was all right with Jordan, this would make a nice change for both of them. She had to be up at the house early to work anyway.

This was only the third time Sarah had been in Jordan's rooms since the new rule had been set. As instructed, Sarah stopped at the bottom of the stairs and took off her clothes. Leaving her pack under her neatly folded clothing, she entered the apartment. It was exciting to be naked here. In part because she was naked, but mostly because she was choosing to follow an order. Obeying gave Jordan power and for reasons she didn't fully understand, Sarah found that highly arousing.

Jordan was just getting out of the shower. Sarah smiled at the towel around Jordan's slender waist. It was exactly the way a man wore a towel. Women wore it under their armpits, but Jordan didn't. It was strangely endearing. "Hi there."

"Hey," Jordan replied with a possessive look at Sarah's nudity. "Didn't think I would get to see you. How did it go?"

"Pretty well. Is it all right with you if I stay down here tonight?"

Jordan brushed water out of her eyes and leaned over to give Sarah a kiss on the cheek. "Of course. I'd like that."

"I brought my books so I could study."

"That's fine."

It occurred to her that she had never seen Jordan get ready for one of the parties. Now she was curious. "May I watch you dress?"

A grin tugged at the corner of Jordan's mouth. "Sure."

Sarah put the lid down on the toilet and sat down. True to form, Jordan let herself air dry as she worked on her hair. Jordan was quite vain about her hair. As far as Sarah could see, it wasn't at all unmanageable, but Jordan took pains with it. Somehow that vanity made Jordan more human and less a super hero. Jordan brushed her teeth, splashed on some scent and dropped her towel on the floor. Sarah picked it up and put it over the shower door before following Jordan into the bedroom.

The mingled scents of leather and cedar in the walk-in closet surrounded Sarah like a blanket. For her, they would always be associated with Jordan.

"Would you like to dress me?" Jordan asked.

Sarah's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"

"Sure. We'll start with my cock."

The harsh word was a bit of a shock. They never talked about it even though it was as much a part of Jordan as the color of her eyes. For all Sarah's talk about accepting the man in Jordan, she had not explored this part of her lover. Maybe it was time.

"Choose a harness for me, little one."

They were hanging next to Jordan's ties. Sarah didn't even know which one was Jordan's favorite. All she knew for sure was that Jordan liked black leather. Choosing one that was familiar to her and looked simple to put on, Sarah slowly knelt in front of Jordan and held it for her. A hand rested on the top of her head for balance as Jordan stepped into it. Working from the memory of how it should look around Jordan's hips, Sarah eased it into place and secured it. "Is that right?"

"Perfect."

Jordan had quite a private collection of dildos. Some were just vague shapes that would fit into her BVD's, but most were quite functional. Sarah opened several drawers, trying to decide which one would be best. In the end, she picked the one that was hardest for her to appreciate. Eight inches long, it looked like a real penis. Not that Sarah had ever seen one in the flesh, but she'd seen pictures. This was a man's penis. If the whole point was to make Jordan a man, then Sarah wanted her to be the very best one. And really, what difference did it make what it looked like? Ultimately, it was just a chunk of latex with a nice paint job. Sooner or later, it would end up in the dishwasher.

Sarah reached for the harness and slid the dildo into place. It occurred to her that Jordan didn't look strange wearing the toy. Sarah frequently saw her taking one off and putting one on, but she had never really given it much thought. "What does it feel like to wear this all the time?"

"I'm not really aware of it all that much. It was uncomfortable at first, but I've become accustomed to it over time."

Sarah put her hand around it. She handled dildos all the time, but this was different. This was a part of Jordan; a part she accepted but didn't explore. Turning her grasp into an experimental caress, she heard a hitch in Jordan's breathing. Sarah looked up into the smoldering gaze. "You can feel this?"

"After a fashion."

"How?" Jordan's hand closed around Sarah's and began to move the device against her groin. There was something erotically alien about it that quickened her.

"The base moves against my clitoris," Jordan said in a husky voice, "but part of it is visual. Seeing you touch me like this is very arousing."

Jordan's hand left hers and Sarah continued the motion. "I've been ignoring this part of you."

"I know. It's all right."

"I'm still a little scared of it," she admitted, "but I'll try to do better."

"I know you will. Being a lesbian makes this doubly difficult for you, but I'm not in any hurry. We'll go at whatever speed feels right to you. There's no rush."

Silently promising herself to pay more attention to Jordan's masculine side, Sarah helped her into the vest that hid her breasts and gave her bulk. Of all the things Jordan wore, Sarah hated the vest the most. The strap-on was an addition. The vest took part of Jordan away. She understood the necessity, but resented it.

After the vest, Sarah chose a tight pair of black leather slacks. She liked the way they hugged Jordan's ass and made her legs look so long. Kneeling on the floor, she dressed Jordan's feet in socks and boots. It was almost like having her very own living doll to play dress up with, even if it was awkward.

That done, she began to look for a shirt. There were so many to choose from. "What do you usually wear?"

"You're doing just fine, baby. Keep going."

Sarah pictured the dungeon in her mind and looked for something that would fit in. Jordan was the Dungeon Master. She not only had to be in control of the players, she should also be as intimidating as the room itself. Sarah found a shirt that could do that. It was a fine silk in a red so dark it was nearly black. Only as it moved under the light did the red come out. It was deliciously sinister and felt like a whisper on her skin. She liked it even better on Jordan. Sarah buttoned it up and meticulously tucked it into the pants before fastening them. "I feel like a squire readying her knight for battle."

"Or a slave dressing her Master."

The truth of that gave her pause. "I'm not your slave."

"I know. Just indulging in a little fantasy."

Sarah loosened the silk shirt in Jordan's pants so she would have room to move. Her mind was turning the situation over carefully. Here she was, naked, and dressing Jordan like a body servant would. It was probably natural for Jordan to have such a fantasy. In fact, if she was honest with herself, she was having a bit of that fantasy herself. After all, what was a squire, really, but a body servant? If she could appreciate the one, why not the other? It's not like she wasn't in control of what was happening. It had been her choice to come down to Jordan's rooms and take her clothes off. Jordan had asked if Sarah wanted to dress her. If it was all Sarah's choice, then she could choose to be okay with it.

Stepping back, she studied her creation. Jordan looked hot, but unfinished. That collar begged for a tie. None of Jordan's ties really worked with it though. Then she found several bolo ties. One of them had a red and black emblem that looked like a yin/yang symbol except that it had three sections instead of two. "Does this mean something?"

"It's the symbol for the BDSM lifestyle," Jordan answered.

"Perfect." Sarah slipped it around Jordan's neck and arranged it under the collar. Snugging it up and centering it, she let her hands slide down the now smooth chest. "I love this shirt on you."

"I'll have to remember that."

She thought of something else. "You need a belt." Sarah chose a braided leather belt that matched the tiny braids of the bolo and ran it through the loops. Jordan waited patiently as Sarah buckled it. "There. That's better. Now you look ready."

Jordan turned to the mirror and studied herself. Straightening her collar, she looked at Sarah through her reflection. "Very nice. Thank you."

Sarah warmed at the compliment. "You're welcome." She warmed even more as Jordan's arms embraced her and held her close.

"I'm going to go crazy," Jordan whispered fervently. "Thinking about you waiting for me down here while they play their silly games. So soft and warm and sexy. I love you so much."

Sarah's desire hardened at the words; her body suddenly painfully sensitive to the twin feelings of silk and leather along her length. She knew she was supposed to tell Jordan something in return, but the ability to speak was lost to the demands of her passion. She felt ravenous for Jordan's kiss and eagerly sucked at the knowledgeable mouth. There was something about being naked when Jordan wasn't that just sent her over the edge. It wasn't the first time she had been aware of it. In fact, it was how she felt when Jordan bound her in the dungeon. It was an urgent, tingling, needy feeling that filled her up and begged desperately for more.

"I have to go."

Sarah buried her face in Jordan's neck at the regretful words. "I wish . . ."

"I'm sorry, baby. I really am. I'll make it up to you."

With a last slow grind of her hips against leather, Sarah eased back. "It's okay."

Jordan followed with nibbling kisses and soft touches. "I hate doing this to you. Making you all hot and wet only to have to leave."

Still aching with need, Sarah did feel a little bit better. "Will you wake me up?"

"You can count on it."

She nodded, her hands smoothing the expensive fabric over Jordan's chest. "Have a good time, okay?"

"Are you kidding?" Jordan looked shocked. "It's going to be agony. Every minute is going to feel like a year in hell. All I'm going to be able to think about is making you come. Ah, the hell with it."

Sarah didn't even have time to gasp as she was lifted and Jordan's body pressed her firmly against the wall. She groaned into Jordan's searing kiss as her legs were lifted to circle the slim waist and Jordan began thrusting against her. The firm bulge behind the leather of Jordan's pants was stroking her clitoris and the silk of the dark shirt felt like sandpaper on her nipples. Grasping at the dark head, Sarah put her head back with a tormented moan of need. Sharp teeth nipped at her throat. Tightening her legs for leverage, Sarah found the counterpoint to Jordan's thrusting hips with her own. Hands covered her breasts roughly and she cried out at the exquisite pleasure of having her nipples massaged.

It was so fast. Almost before she was ready, her orgasm ripped through her. She was only out of touch for a moment and then she was fully cognizant of Jordan's need. The strong woman was moaning freely, her entire body straining into Sarah. Still enjoying the echoes of her own numbing pleasure, Sarah continued to writhe against her lover. "I want you to come," she pleaded in a near growl that almost shocked her.

Jordan responded to her voice with a groan and Sarah licked her lips as she separated herself from her pride. Tangling her fingers in Jordan's short hair, she demanded, "Fuck me, Master."

The dominating woman came moments later with a shuddering howl and Sarah knew she had never heard anything so sweet. Keeping her legs tightly scissored, she relaxed her arms and combed her fingers through the tousled hair. "I've messed you all up."

Jordan chuckled as her hands slid beneath Sarah's hips to hold her up. "Girl, all you have to do is look at me and I get messed up inside. You're amazing."

Sarah giggled and held on as Jordan lifted her away from the wall.

"Grab those, would you?"

Following the tilt of Jordan's chin, Sarah picked up leather gloves from the dresser top. Walking made her clit rock over the slick leather and she bit back a gasp as passion began to grow again. Jordan was going to leave in a short time and Sarah already missed her. Laying her head on the sturdy shoulder, she hugged her hard.

"Oh, baby," Jordan crooned. "I wish I didn't have to leave, but I'm not going very far and I'll hurry back to make love to you properly. Will you be all right here alone?"

Sarah nodded. She wasn't at all sure she would be able to let go. Jordan stopped at the door leading upstairs and simply stood there, holding Sarah tight. Sarah felt like ivy clinging to a wall. Several minutes passed before she was able to lower her feet to the floor, but Jordan didn't let go and it made her feel a little less lost and helpless. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me, little one. Being with you is the greatest honor and privilege of my life. Letting you go is torture."

Sarah smiled through the tears in her eyes. "You always say the nicest things."

Jordan kissed her thoroughly, pulled on her gloves and then she was gone.

~***~

The looks of awe and jealousy on the faces of her study group was quite satisfying. "This is yours?" Lisa asked.

"Yep. Come on in."

Bonnie walked backwards through the door, her eyes on her memory of driving by the big house. "That's the biggest house I've ever seen. It's a mansion. You clean that?"

"Parts of it."

"Can we get a tour?"

Sarah had been afraid of that. "I don't think so. It would be inappropriate. After all, that's where my boss lives."

"This is a great house," Janet said with approval. "I thought you said it was a cottage."

Sarah closed the door and began taking coats to hang in the closet. "Well, compared to the big house, it is. My boss calls it a cottage and I've gotten used to thinking of it that way. Do you guys want coffee? I've already got it going, but I've also got juice and sodas."

The girls didn't even ask if they could look around. They wandered into her bedroom as if they had a right to be there. Sarah was very uncomfortable with that, but figured they would get it out of their systems and settle down. She forced herself to go into the kitchen and set their drinks out while they looked around, thankful that she had taken the time to clean up and make sure there was nothing incriminating lying out where they could see it.

Tamar was the first to return to the kitchen. "Thanks for letting us come out here. It's nice to get away from school for a while. Even if we are going to study."

Sarah kind of liked Tamar. She tended to be quiet, but she was focused and more mature than the others. Tamar was taking business classes so she could go into corporate law. The choice made her unpopular with her traditional Jewish family, but it made Sarah respect her more. It had to be hard to go against your family's wishes like that and probably accounted for Tamar's maturity. "I'm glad you came. Do you want anything in your coffee?"

"Milk, please."

Sarah set out milk, cream and sugar on the counter as the other girls joined them.

Lisa was grinning. "So, does your boss need anyone else to work for him?"

"I don't think so."

"Too bad. I'd love to have a set up like this. Does he pay well?"

"I do all right," Sarah hedged.

"What's his wife like?"

She had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. "Um . . . there's no wife."

Bonnie leaned on the counter with a glint in her eye. "Is he cute?"

It was an impossible situation. Sarah wanted to claim their relationship there and then. Anything to keep these girls from lusting after Jordan. But she just couldn't do it. She couldn't bear the questions and the teasing she was sure to get. Sarah could feel the cowardice in the marrow of her bones and it made her feel lower than dirt.

"I don't care if he's cute," Lisa laughed. "If he's old, I'll take him. As long as he puts me in the will."

Tamar was the only one who didn't laugh. A look of disgust passed between them and Sarah decided that she did want to know her better. Having an ally, even if she didn't know what was going on, gave Sarah courage. Lifting her chin, she spoke firmly. "He's not old and he's one of the nicest people I've ever met. In fact, when he heard you all were coming, he volunteered to bring us pizza in a couple of hours. You'll get a chance to see him for yourselves. I suggest we get to work and see how much ground we can cover before he gets here. Bonnie, you wanted to present your business plan and see if we could find areas of improvement? I'd like to do that as well."

Tamar nodded. "If we have time, I'd like to go over yesterday's finance class. Professor Moore just confuses me."

The others seemed to understand that they had embarrassed themselves and the five of them sat down at the dining room table with no further comment on Jordan's availability. Sarah felt better in her element and had no trouble getting them all to focus.

They spent the first hour rehashing the finance class. Professor Moore was a tad confusing. If you read ahead and concentrated, he wasn't too bad, but he expected his students to have the basics down. He wasn't good at making sure everyone was on the same page. Between the five of them, they got his lecture sorted out and even did some prep for the next class.

Bonnie stood up to present her plan. It sounded pretty naive to Sarah. Bonnie seemed to be under the impression that all she had to do was open the doors to her little book store/coffee shop and customers would be flocking in. She didn't seem to have any of it figured out. All she really had was an idea. It was pretty far into the semester to be so unprepared. Sarah had been expecting numbers, not decor.

Tamar was the first to venture a question. "Um . . . What's your overhead?" The blank look on Bonnie's face prompted her to add, "You know, how much daily business do you have to turn to cover your expenses?"

Bonnie shuffled through her papers and found the one she was looking for. "Mostly, I've just got the start-up figured out. You know, what it's going to cost to get the place set up and the equipment I'll need. I'm working on the inventory stuff now."

Sarah leaned over to look at the paper Tamar was studying. It was pathetic. Bonnie was scribbling about how much to spend on art and paint, for crying out loud. She even had the color scheme set out. Sarah suddenly realized that Bonnie was not cut out to be a business woman. Maybe a mid-level office manager if she ever grew up, but nothing more. It shocked her to the core and left her speechless.

"This is all well and good," Tamar said slowly, "but is this what your advisor wants?"

Bonnie sat down with a sigh. "All he ever talks about is projections and market curves and supply and demand and taking it to the next level. This is what I'm good at. I could make a great business. The kind of place where people feel comfortable. The kind of place where they want to come. I just want to build it, not run it."

Sarah could see the crestfallen look in Bonnie's eyes and she got an idea. "Maybe you're going about this in the wrong way."

"What do you mean?"

Taking the paper from Tamar's hands, Sarah held it up. "If this is what you're good at, why not make it your business plan?"

"I don't understand."

"If you don't want to run a coffee shop, why are you writing your plan on one? If what you like to do is design, then write about that. All you have to do is figure out how much you want to make and whether or not you want to hire contractors or employees. If you start as a home-based business, your overhead will be minimal and you'll get some nifty tax breaks in the bargain. The customer pays for everything. You won't have to figure out inventory or equipment. Especially if you go with contractors."

Sarah wadded up the worthless paper and tossed it over her shoulder. She could see that she had Bonnie's attention. "You're going to have to start over. Let's brainstorm what you need to find out."

Bonnie wrote down their questions and ideas as fast as they came. Sarah thought if she could just focus long enough to get the answers, she would have a paper worth turning in. She certainly seemed more confident in the new direction her project was taking.

The knock on the door took Sarah unaware. She had been so involved in getting Bonnie's mess straightened out that she had forgotten all about Jordan coming. Her stomach immediately tied itself in a knot. "That must be the pizza," she said with a weak smile. Her knees shook as she went to the door.

Jordan had four pizzas balanced on one hand, a case of cokes in the other and a smile. "How's my timing?"

The smile made Sarah feel marginally better. "Pretty good. Come on in."

Closing the door behind her lover, Sarah turned and saw the awestruck looks on her classmates. Jordan went straight to the kitchen and put the food and drinks on the counter. "Howdy all. Thought you might need some brain food right about now. Lord knows it got me through college."

For a long moment, no one said anything and Sarah realized that it was up to her to make the introductions. It was the moment of truth and Jordan looked perfectly at ease with anything that should come out of her mouth. "Uh . . . Jordan, this is Janet, Bonnie, Tamar and Lisa. Ladies, this is my boss . . . and my best friend. Jordan Crisp."

She hadn't been sure what was going to come out of her mouth until it had. It felt like exactly the right thing to say and the smile in Jordan's eyes was approving. Sarah relaxed as Jordan shook hands around the table.

"It's a real pleasure to meet you," Lisa said in a syrupy voice. "Sarah says such nice things about you. You're awfully sweet to bring us pizza. Will you stay and have some with us?"

Sarah wanted to scratch her eyes out and set her hair on fire.

"I'm afraid I can only stay for a few minutes," Jordan said easily as she took her hand back. "I have an engagement this evening to prepare for. It was not my intention to interrupt your studies."

Sarah suddenly didn't want her to leave. "You brought enough pizza to feed an army. At least stay long enough to help us eat some of it."

Jordan turned her back on the girls and smiled a secret smile just for Sarah. "Since you asked so nicely, I will."

Setting out plates and napkins, Sarah kept an eye on Jordan as the girls gathered around the counter. Sure enough, Lisa managed to put herself at Jordan's elbow. Sarah had a strong desire to find out if Lisa could fly if she had a broom stuck up her ass.

"So, Jordan, what was your major in college?"

Jordan never even looked at Lisa. "History." She pulled two slices of the combo pizza onto her plate and stepped back.

"I love history," Lisa oozed. "It's so fascinating."

Tamar rolled her eyes and held her plate towards Sarah. "Would you toss a piece of the veggie on here?"

"Sure." Sarah gave her a big slice and then took one for herself. "Does anyone want ice for their coke?" No one did and Sarah leaned back against the counter to watch. She felt like she was in the middle of a disaster film. Everything seemed okay at the moment, but any second now, all hell was going to break loose. It made her want to giggle.

"Are all of you business majors?" Jordan asked.

"I am," Lisa announced. "I think it's important for women to understand the world that men live in. Maybe if more women took an interest in corporate America and the economy, men wouldn't be under so much stress. A man should be able to come home from the office and relax. I think understanding what a man does all day makes a woman more helpful as a mate."

Sarah nearly inhaled a chunk of bell pepper. This was news to everyone. Lisa talked all the time about opening a chain of tanning salons. Catering to the needs of a man like a 1950's housewife was never in any agenda she ever talked about.

"I'd love to get your perspective on that some time."

Jordan looked like she was trying to understand a foreign language. After a moment of silence, she made a thoughtful noise in her chest and turned to Janet. "And you?"

"My dad owns a hardware store," Janet said. "I worked for him all through high school and during the summers since. He promised if I got a business degree, he'd open up a second store and let me manage it. He's planning to do it anyway, but it's pretty cool that he's willing to wait for me and give me a chance. Of course, I think I'll gear mine more towards the yard and garden crowd once it gets on its feet."

"Sounds like your dad is pretty proud of you," Jordan nodded. "Good luck with it." She looked at Bonnie. "What about you?"

"Definitely business, but I'm not sure yet how I'll use it. I've got some ideas, but nothing firm."

"Nothing wrong with that," Jordan conceded.

"I'm pre-law," Tamar volunteered. "Specifically, corporate law."

"Hmm. Why corporate?"

Tamar shrugged. "Money. Power. Prestige."

Jordan chuckled. "An honest answer. I can respect that."

Lisa sidled up to Jordan. "What do you do, Jordan?"

She took a big bite and grinned around it. "Pizza delivery. The tips are great."

Apparently, Lisa thought this was the funniest thing she'd ever heard and it gave her a reason to put a fluttering hand on Jordan's arm. Before Sarah could kill her, Jordan stepped forward to pick up a napkin and moved to stand next to Sarah, putting her out of Lisa's reach. It was very casually done, but it meant everything to Sarah.

"No, really," Lisa persisted as she closed in again. "What kind of work do you do?"

Sarah set her plate aside in anticipation. If Lisa made one more attempt to touch Jordan, Sarah was going to choke her to death with her own intestines.

"I'm a research scientist," Jordan lied casually. "I'm trying to find a cure for leprosy."

Surprised at the lie, Sarah glanced up at her just as Jordan reached back to scratch vigorously at the nape of her neck. It was just too funny and she burst out laughing at the frozen looks on her study group.

"What?" Jordan asked innocently.

"Leprosy? Good one." Sarah was still laughing as she stepped forward and gently, but firmly, pushed Lisa out of the kitchen. "Cool your jets, Lisa."

Lisa gaped in feigned innocence. "I'm not sure what you mean."

Sarah wasn't afraid anymore. "Back off," she said with what she hoped was a dangerous smile, "or I'll rip your arm off and shove it up your ass. He's taken." The utter shock in Lisa's eyes was supremely satisfying.

"But . . .you? I thought . . . Aren't you gay?"

Sarah folded her arms. "Usually. What's your point?"

Lisa still looked like something big had fallen on her head. "You're sleeping with your boss?"

Jordan snorted. "Sleeping?"

Sarah threw a warning look over her shoulder.

Jordan gave her an amused thumbs up. "Sorry. You're doing great, babe. Keep it up."

Shifting her hands to her hips, Sarah faced Lisa again. "Are we clear?"

Lisa took a step back and held up a hand. "Sure. No problem. I didn't mean to poach. If you'd just said something . . ."

"I'm saying it now." Sarah looked at the other girls. Tamar was trying to hide a grin behind her napkin. "Anybody have a problem with that?"

"Nope," Janet said as heads shook. "No problem at all."

"Good." No one said a word as Sarah retrieved her pizza and reclaimed her spot next to Jordan.

"Actually," the older woman said to break the silence, "I'm primarily involved in community projects right now."

Tamar nodded. "Anything we might have heard of?"

Jordan shifted to cross one leg over another, incidentally leaning against Sarah. "Well, I'm marginally involved with the Downtown Revitalization Project and the local Battered Women's Shelter, but the thing I'm excited about right now is an idea Sarah came up with a couple of months ago. I've got a rather large circle of friends and we're looking to get involved with helping people on a more personal level. It's all well and good to throw money at problems, but not every one has money to throw. Besides which, money by itself doesn't fix things and a lot of that money ends up greasing the wrong palms. Most things that need doing need people willing to get their hands dirty."

"What kind of things are you hoping to accomplish?"

"Finding projects is the easy part. Setting the priorities and getting approval from the city is where it gets tough. It's one thing to volunteer to clean and paint the youth center and quite another to get permission to actually do it. Everyone gets a little territorial when you offer to do for free what they're hoping to get paid for. Until we get that sort of thing approved, we're talking about regular blood drives and picking up trash in the parks. Did you know you can't just go out and randomly clean alongside the highway?"

Sarah frowned. "Why not?"

"Beats the hell out of me. You've got to apply for a specific stretch of road and then they want to put up a sign staking your claim. Of course, if you go that route, they want you to do it on a regular schedule and they'll hound you if you don't. It's no wonder more people don't volunteer with it being so hard to do. Maybe I'm naive, but I thought the city would be bending over backwards to accommodate an army of volunteers. Instead, they're throwing up roadblocks left and right. It's frustrating."

They had not talked about the players volunteering since the subject had first been broached. Sarah had been under the impression that Jordan had lost interest in it. She was surprised to learn that Jordan had been following it up. "How many people want to do it?"

"A hundred and twenty-seven."

"So many?"

Jordan smiled. "Cool beans, huh?"

"Yeah."

"Remind me to fill you in later." Jordan glanced at her watch. "I really should go. I've got a few things to take care of before my meeting. Everything cool here?"

Sarah nodded. "Thanks for bringing us dinner."

"Anytime, babe." Jordan wrapped another slice of pizza in a napkin and leaned over to kiss Sarah with a brief touch of her lips. "You rock," she whispered.

Sarah was blushing as Jordan said her good-byes and left the cottage. Four sets of eyes swivelled to her as soon as the front door closed.

"Oh . . . My . . . God." Bonnie fanned herself with one hand. "Does he have a brother? A cousin? Hell, I ain't picky. Does he have a dog? What a hunk!"

"He seems really nice," Tamar said.

Sarah smiled at her. "He really is."

"Those eyes," Janet sighed. "He's gorgeous, Sarah."

"Rip my arm off and shove it up my ass?"

Uh oh. Lisa did not look happy. Sarah's belly rolled over and tied itself in a knot.

"Is it my fault that I didn't know you were boinking your boss? If you'd just told us up front, I never would have made a play for him. Did you have to embarrass me like that in front of him?"

Tamar snickered. "I think you did a better job of that than Sarah did."

"Bite me." Lisa all but tossed her plate on the table. "Why didn't you just tell us instead of jumping down my throat like that? You embarrassed me. Some friend you turned out to be."

"Are we friends?" It was an honest question, but it sounded harsher than she intended. "I mean, I know we're friendly, but do you consider us friends?"

Lisa made a noise of affront. "Well, I did until you said that. Jesus, Sarah. We've been hanging out for months."

"We don't hang out, Lisa. We study together. We're more like co-workers than friends. I was under no obligation to tell you about my relationship with Jordan. That's a private thing between the two of us and none of your concern. The only reason you know now is because you forced my hand."

"Excuse me? Now it's my fault that I've been humiliated?"

Sarah's nerves settled. She had every right to be upset and she wouldn't allow Lisa to make her feel small and petty. This was her house and Jordan was her boyfriend. "You would have stood a better chance if you'd just been yourself, you know. Jordan isn't some stupid frat boy who keeps his brain in his pants."

"Oh. So now you're going to lecture me about how to catch a man? That's rich. A lesbian is giving me pointers. What do you know about men?"

"Well," Tamar drawled, "she caught Mr. Dreamboat."

Lisa glared at Tamar. "You stay out of this." She turned back to Sarah with flashing eyes. "You're nothing but a feather in his cap. Every man wants a shot at a lesbian. It's an ego boost. He's probably bragging to his friends about doing you. Sooner or later, he'll bring home another woman and ask if he can watch the two of you doing it. You're nothing but the little mistress he's keeping in this cottage, Sarah. You're a toy."

Nothing Lisa was saying had any truth in it. Jordan wasn't like that. Not just because she wasn't really a man, but because it just wasn't in Jordan's nature. But it still hurt. It touched on all of the insecurities Sarah worked so hard to deny. The hairy ones that came out to play when she was alone. She had only one defense. "He loves me."

Lisa laughed cruelly. "Of course he does. They all say they love you. They'll say anything-do anything-to get into your pants. If you knew anything at all about men, you would know that. He's using you and you're too clueless to see it. You can't possibly think that he intends to marry you and make you the lady of this estate. Please tell me you aren't that gullible." Looking smug and self-satisfied, Lisa folded her arms. "Maybe you are. You'd have been better off sticking to women and leaving the men to us. I hope I'm around to see it when he dumps you."

Sarah was shocked by the deliberate attack. Lisa was trying to hurt her. She intended to cause Sarah pain. Such calculated vindictiveness cut right through Sarah's shields and neatly eviscerated her heart. This was why she hadn't told them up front. Her feelings for Jordan made her feel so vulnerable and raw anyway. Telling people about it was like giving them a knife to use against her. All she could do was stand there as tears streamed down her face.

"Poor little Sarah," Lisa mocked. "You are so out of your league."

"Shut up," Tamar said. "You're such a bitch, Lisa. You made a complete ass of yourself and now you're taking it out on Sarah. That's fucked up."

Lisa rounded on Tamar. "You know what? You can kiss my ass. I only let you into my study group as a favor anyway."

"Your study group?" Tamar looked truly amused. "I think we all know it's Sarah's study group. She's the one doing us a favor. It's pretty clear to me that she doesn't need our help to do well in school."

"Fine," Lisa huffed as she reached for her back pack. "You can stay here with the lesbo. Maybe you can be the other woman for her boyfriend. The rest of us are out of here."

"Good riddance to you," Tamar laughed.

Desperate to retain at least some dignity, Sarah wiped her tears away. This whole scene was out of some bad movie and she would be glad when it was over. "I'll give you a ride, Tamar."

"Thanks."

"Um . . ." Janet was waffling, her eyes giving away the fact that she wasn't sure which way to jump. "School is important to me. I need this group. Can't we just work this out?"

Lisa looked for a moment like she had been sucker punched. Then she straightened. "Bonnie and I are leaving. You can come with us or you can stay here with the dykes. You choose. But, if you stay, you're not my friend."

Janet paled noticeably. "What are you saying?"

"I'm pretty sure I said it. What's it going to be?"

No one moved or made a sound while Janet worked it out. "Well, since my whole future is on the line, I guess I'm staying." Her eyes shifted to Sarah hopefully. "If that's all right with you?"

Sarah could hardly believe it. Half of the group was choosing her over Lisa. Janet was even giving up a friendship to do it and Lisa looked like she was going to spit nails over it. "It's okay with me," she smiled tenuously.

"Great," Janet smiled in relief.

"Come on, Bonnie. Let's get out of here."

Her heart still felt like it had been tap danced on, but Sarah pulled herself together. There would be time later to examine the wounds. For now, she had company. Heck, maybe she even had some friends. It was still hard to believe that these two had seen her as more essential than Lisa. Not that Lisa was really all that great a prize with her mediocre intelligence and shallow values, but people didn't choose Sarah so often that she could take it casually. It had been an ugly encounter, but maybe a little miracle had come out of it.

As soon as the door closed behind Lisa and her sidekick, Tamar threw out a hip and flipped her hair back. "Oh, Jordan. I looove history! It's sooo fascinating!"

The tone of voice and the way she flounced around made Sarah dissolve with laughter.

"Don't you think I'm pretty?" Tamar was fawning over Janet as a surrogate for Jordan. "I know! You can screw me and I'll spend all your money. Doesn't that sound like fun?"

Sarah held onto the counter for support as all three of them laughed hysterically. All of the tension and drama of a few minutes before was washed away.

"She is such a Barbie," Tamar continued in her own voice. "What the hell was she talking about with understanding men and stress? Did she really expect that to accomplish anything?"

Sarah used a napkin to dry her merry tears. "I don't know, but did you see the look on Jordan's face?"

Janet grimaced. "If he'd looked at me like that, I'd be hitch-hiking to Tibet to search for inner peace."

Sarah pulled her hair back and took a cleansing breath. "I'm sorry about that whole thing. I had no idea it would get out of hand like that. Jordan just wanted to meet everyone and I thought it would be okay."

Tamar was grinning ear to ear. "I so wanted to see you kick her ass."

"Oh, God," Sarah groaned. "I can't believe I acted like that."

"You were great," Janet said. "If she'd been putting those pathetic moves on my boyfriend, I'd have snatched her bald."

Sarah looked at Janet with regret. "I'm sorry you lost a friendship."

Janet huffed in dismissal. "If we were friends, it was in Lisa's mind. It's just like you said: we were friendly. Not friends. I only asked if I could join the group because you were in it. Everyone said you were the best." She shrugged. "I didn't expect to like you, too."

"Same here," Tamar added. "I thought you'd be a tight ass, but you've got a great sense of humor and you're smart as hell. Speaking of which, what the heck was that disaster Bonnie called a plan? How on God's green earth did she get to be a senior if that's the best she could do? Where is that paper?"

They liked her. Sarah could hardly credit her luck. She joined them over the crumpled paper to laugh about Bonnie's underdeveloped scheme and her heart was light and free.

Continued...