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  As she settled into her Jeep, Jemima hung her head, feeling like the worse kind of idiot for having angered her father. And on his birthday! Truly, she had underestimated the bond Tahlia and her father shared. Although she’d hid her psychic abilities from him, she couldn’t block his feelings of loneliness and sadness that he so bravely tried to hide from her. She also knew of those times at night when he quietly sobbed in his room. It was at times like those that her senses heightened, and she could feel Tahlia’s presence strongly in the house. She could feel the comfort she offered her father and her soft words of whispered encouragement.

  Something unbelievably strong bound Tahlia and her father. They loved each other. It was evident in the warm tones in which they communicated. They were not lovers, but something so much deeper. Jemima thought of Tahlia’s otherworldly aura. It was obvious that the friendship Tahlia and her father shared was not of this world. In today’s age, the unconditional trust and commitment they had for each other was almost unheard of. She knew she would never understand the bond between them and that alone was reason for her to keep her nose out of it. She needed to learn to respect her father’s wish where Tahlia was concerned and stop acting childish.

  She jammed the key into the ignition and started the Jeep. She would go to the Fire Stall for a drink and see where that led.

  †

  Twenty minutes later, Jemima stepped into the lesbian bar and immediately was pleased with her decision. The place was packed, and the atmosphere was great. At closer inspection, she realized that most of tonight’s patrons were dressed in tracksuits. She squinted to see the logo. Ah, a visiting ladies’ softball team. When she was younger she actively took part in the local women’s softball league, but it had been years since she’d been to one of the tournaments. The Fire Stall was a major sponsor of the league and always hosted after-game celebrations. She scanned through the throng of patrons, nodded and smiled broadly. This could turn out to be an interesting night. She pushed through the crowd and headed for the bar. She was pleased to see a few ladies trying to make eye contact with her. Her spirit soared.

  She found a spot at the bar, and a light beer appeared in front of her. She smiled into the eyes of the bartender, Inez Hernandez, an aspiring actress who juggled her time among acting classes, auditions, and bartending. Inez was sexy as hell, apparently straight, and the reason the bar was full almost every day of the week. As she looked into the smiling dark eyes of Inez, Jemima couldn’t help but feel a familiar stirring in her stomach. Her eyes boldly traveled over the bartender’s torso. Inez’s dark nipples were visible through her tight white top. When she looked back into Inez’s dark eyes, Jemima found her warmly looking back.

  “You haven’t been in here for a while, sexy. The girls have been asking about you,” Inez purred in heavily accented English.

  Jemima imagined how it would feel to hear that voice gasping explicit orders in the throes of passion. She felt a warm rush between her legs, and she knew her eyes were darkening automatically. She quickly cast her gaze away from the woman and took a sip of her beer as she tried to hide her arousal from Inez. She was not averse to flirting with the sexy bartender and looked back at her.

  “And you?” She took another sip from her beer. “Did you miss me, too?” She saw a look flash in Inez’s dark eyes and her eyebrows rose slowly. No way! She was sure she hadn’t imagined it. The look was definitely lustful. After months of trying to seduce the sexy Latina, it seemed she might’ve struck gold at last. The hunter in her awakened and she leaned closer.

  “What time do you finish up here? I can give you a lift home, if you like.” Inez stared at her for a few agonizing seconds and Jemima held her breath.

  “I need extra classes, and Sam’s agreed to let me work overtime to pay for them.”

  Jemima nodded and took another swig from her beer, her blue eyes locked with dark ones. She didn’t say ‘no’ out right, now did she? As long as there was an attraction, even a slight one, she was sure she would get Inez flat on her back.

  Inez went to the other side of the bar, and Jemima made use of the time to scan the interior of the club. She wasn’t planning to go to bed alone, and a back-up plan was a superb idea. Who knows, Inez might chicken out at the last minute and leave me high and dry.

  Her eyes fell on a pretty redhead sitting at a table with a group of women. They were all clad in softball tracksuits. Her interest piqued as she studied the woman. She was a bit on the short side, but a quick glance at her chest made Jemima grin. The woman was top heavy. That was a definite plus. Why wait? Now that she’d taken notice of the girl’s ample bosom, she wanted her. If need be, they could get to know each other better in the backseat of her car. The jeep had more than enough space in the back, and this would not be the first time she used the backseat for that purpose. Ready to close in for the kill, she placed her beer bottle on the bar.

  That’s when she saw her. Jemima’s mouth fell open as she gaped at the woman. “Good, heavens!”

  The woman was tall—at least six two—two inches taller than she was. The way she was walking—no, gliding—indicated that she was a very confident woman—confident, powerful, and incredibly sexy. Jemima felt her mouth going dry. There was a subtle predatory feel about her, which added to her overall appeal. Straight, blue-black, shoulder-length hair framed a strong, handsome face, but that wasn’t why her mouth ran dry.

  It was her eyes. Ink-black, they stared straight into hers. Stupefied, Jemima stared back. At the same time, a niggling sensation spread through her. There was something familiar about the woman. She reminded her of someone. The black eyes flashed at her suddenly. Shocked, Jemima blinked. Was that an invitation, or did I imagine it? The woman disappeared in the direction of the bathrooms. She looked around to see who else had read the invitation and was surprised to notice that more than half of the women in the bar were staring after the tall woman.

  Jemima quickly pushed away from the bar and followed lest she have to fight off half the bar. Once she reached the bathroom, she slowly pushed the door open and peered inside. Her heart stuttered…stuttered again…and stopped. A second went by, then another, and only then did she remember to breathe. The woman was leaning against the washbasin, obviously waiting for her. Jemima nervously looked her up and down. Close-up she is even more breathtaking. How can one person look like that? They stared at each other for a few moments: blue eyes held by unfathomable black ones.

  †

  Tahlia was grateful for the support of the sink. She never had expected that her first face-to-face meeting with Jemima would be so powerful. Nothing had prepared her for this moment. Even after nineteen incarnations, she was still blown away by the beauty and the essence of this woman. She consciously stopped herself from reaching out to touch Jemima.

  Jemima entered the bathroom, filling it with her nervous tension. Tahlia watched as Jemima looked her up and down before her blue eyes held hers.

  “C…Can I buy you a drink?” Jemima asked.

  Tahlia let her black eyes fix intently on Jemima’s tempting lips, mentally kissing them, worshipping them. It was torturous standing so close to her object of desire, and Tahlia had to draw on centuries of practiced restraint not to grab Jemima and really kiss her. Not like the slow mental kiss she had just given her, but a hot, tongue-in-the-throat kiss. She almost groaned when Jemima lifted her hand and touched her lips. No, let me, she wanted to scream. She held back. She delicately sniffed the air and this time she couldn’t stop from groaning inwardly.

  Amongst the smell of urine, perfume, and flowery liquid hand soap, another stronger scent permeated the small room—Jemima was highly aroused. The musky scent that filled Tahlia’s nostrils didn’t do much for her fragile self-control. With every second spent in the presence of Jemima, and with every look of those beautiful blue eyes, her resolve was slipping, making Tahlia panic—something she hadn’t done in centuries. The situation needed diffusing. Now! She saw the blue eyes look at her questioningly, and s
he remembered that Jemima had spoken to her.

  “I do not want anything to drink.” Tahlia saw the desperation in Jemima’s eyes, and it felt strangely satisfying to know that Jemima was desperate to keep her tonight. Her eyes moved over Jemima’s tall athletic frame. There was no doubt that Jemima was hoping to use her for sex, and just the thought of those delicious lips caressing her body made the blood shoot straight between her legs. She fought an internal battle to keep her eyes impassive as she tried to suppress the volcano about to erupt. Oh, beloved, you are slowly killing me. Jemima’s proximity bombarded Tahlia’s senses.

  “Would you like to go for a drive instead? It’s beautiful outside.”

  The desperation she had detected in Jemima’s eyes sounded in her voice. Tahlia looked into the pleading blue eyes and felt her resolve melting away. Please, do not look at me like that, woman. You have no idea what you are doing to me. As much as she wanted to indulge her, Tahlia knew that now was not the right time. If seen together now, Jemima would become a target. She had managed to keep Jemima hidden from renegades since her birth, and she wanted to keep it that way.

  It was amusing to think that she could keep renegades away from Jemima, but she simply couldn’t keep herself away from the woman any longer. She pushed away from the sink and stepped closer—their bodies were almost touching. Jemima looked up into her eyes and Tahlia stared down into the dark blue eyes. The action brought their lips very close, and Tahlia felt her willpower slowly seeping away.

  “I cannot, but if you give me your number, I will call you. Maybe we could go for a walk then.”

  The disappointment in the blue eyes was so heart-rending that Tahlia couldn’t help reaching out, wanting to comfort as she’d done thousands of times over the years. The minute her fingers touched Jemima’s soft, parted lips, Tahlia knew it was a mistake. A deep growl reverberated through her body, and Tahlia knew that her control had snapped, the pieces blown to the four winds.

  The first touch of their lips was so exquisite that Tahlia whimpered at the strong electric current that rushed through them. Tahlia tried to pull away, but Jemima made a soft pleading sound in the back of her throat, encouraging her to prolong the kiss. Their tongues reached out at the same time and together, they began to explore one another’s mouth. Tahlia felt her knees buckle. Shocked by the familiarity of the kiss, she pulled Jemima closer for support. The kiss grew in intensity, stealing air, until Tahlia wrenched her mouth away. She knew if they kept on kissing it would most definitely lead to a point of no return. Jemima would hate her for that, especially when she discovered Tahlia’s identity.

  For centuries, Tahlia had allowed her lovers to come to her on their own after she revealed herself and their immortal love affair to them. But never before had she been so tempted to seduce and take what was hers. She had followed Jemima to the bar to ensure her safety as she had done for the past six years since Jemima started going out after dark. It wasn’t really her intention to seduce her, but when she saw her flirting with the bartender, she knew that unless she stepped in, Jemima was going to take the other woman to bed, and that she’d wanted to avert at all cost.

  She felt Jemima shifting against her body and a heat flash rushed through her own, settling in the pit of her stomach. She needed to put space between them before she couldn’t think straight anymore. Soon, my love. Very soon, you will know who I am, and then I will be yours and yours alone to do with as you wish. Tahlia realized that the words were more of a comfort to her than to the woman she was clutching tightly to her body.

  When the blue eyes opened slowly, Tahlia saw raw desire blazing in them. She stared at Tahlia in stunned silence. A few seconds passed before the silence was broken.

  “Come home with me.” Jemima’s shaking hands came to rest on Tahlia’s hips.

  Although tempted, Tahlia knew that it was not to be. No matter how hard it was going to be for her and how much it might hurt Jemima, she had to turn her down. For one last time she stared into the familiar blue eyes. Oh, beloved. She gave herself a mental shake and took a step back from Jemima, breaking contact.

  “Go home. I will find you.” For a moment, Tahlia looked into the blue eyes before she stepped past Jemima and left the bathroom.

  †

  Jemima was gulping down her beer, trying to wash the bitter taste of rejection out of her system. Everyone’s eyes were on her when she came out of the bathroom, but she’d pointedly ignored them all and walked up to the bar where Inez had a beer waiting for her. The Latina gave her a soft pat on the hand before moving away to serve other clients.

  “Just looking at her almost makes me forget that I have a wife I need to get home to now.”

  Jemima turned and smiled at the attractive blonde standing behind her. Sam was the owner of the club. Jemima had frequented the bar throughout her university days, and they had become good friends. Ten years her senior, Sam always had been a great source of advice. She followed Sam’s gaze and found the black eyes resting on her.

  After the woman had left her alone in the bathroom, Jemima had dispassionately stared at her reflection in the mirror. She wasn’t vain, but she had always known that she was above-average looking and that both sexes found her attractive. Tonight’s rejection was a great blow to her ego. Jemima knew it wasn’t likely she would recover quickly enough to try her charms on another woman. Instead, she’d settle for getting drunk. But, the look in those bottomless black eyes threatened to make her change her mind.

  Maybe she should try her luck again. She could just walk over and tell the woman that she wanted her tonight, not some other night. She could book them into a hotel and spend the night making love until they were both too sore to move. She stared into the black eyes, not hiding her need, wanting the woman to see what she wanted. But the expression in the black eyes didn’t change. They looked back at her cool and unfazed. Getting drunk definitely seemed a better option.

  “Yes, but she’s a tough one. Chewed me up and spat me out a few minutes ago,” she said quietly.

  Sam laughed. “How did she manage to do that?”

  Jemima shrugged and downed the rest of her beer. She was thinking of ordering another, but instead placed a twenty dollar bill on the bar.

  “I’m off, Sam. See you.” She walked out of the bar without looking back.

  †

  Tahlia clearly heard every word the two women exchanged from where she was sitting. When Jemima had looked her way, Tahlia’s stomach began to spasm. The message was clear—Jemima wanted her. It had taken all her willpower not to walk over to the bar and accept her unspoken invitation. But she didn’t. She was the stronger one and only she had the ability to diffuse the situation, and even though it hurt like hell, she did.

  She heard the resignation in Jemima’s voice as she talked to the blonde and saw Jemima place the empty beer bottle on the counter and turn away. Jemima didn’t even look in her direction as she walked past her table. Tahlia quickly gulped down the remaining red wine in her glass and followed Jemima out. Earlier, she had earlier sensed the presence of a group of renegades. She would vent her frustration on them before joining Jemima at home.

  Chapter Six

  Jemima’s footsteps slowed as she neared the kitchen. She knew what to expect. As usual, her father would be in there reading his morning paper while sipping his third cup of coffee. That was usually how his day started, before he parked himself behind his laptop and typed away until the cook called him for lunch. Afterwards, he’d spend some time with her in her studio before going back to work on his book.

  She stopped before entering the kitchen and leaned her back against the wall. She needed time to compose herself, and she nervously brushed over her hair. James Marsden was very observant, and he would know if she was acting weird. The last thing she wanted was to tell her father about the strange dream she had the night before. A shiver surged through her body, which heated up at the thought of the dream. It felt so real. After an absence of three years, the dream agai
n had invaded her sleep. Again, she had dreamt of her—of Tahlia…

  After coming home from the bar, she’d grabbed two cans of beer from the fridge and locked herself in her studio to work on a painting. It was past midnight when she packed up her stuff and went to her room. After a quick shower, she’d gone to bed and, surprisingly, fell asleep almost immediately. She didn’t know how long she’d been asleep, but after a while, she found herself sitting up in her bed with her room engulfed in total darkness. It was so dark she couldn’t make out the inside of her room. But what made her uncomfortable was the feeling that she wasn’t alone. The darkness hid something—or someone. She’d leaned over to the lamp on her nightstand.

  Before she could touch the lamp’s switch, she was pushed back against the pillows and then she’d felt the soft pressure of warm lips against her own. The kiss was so persistent that she couldn’t help but open her mouth slightly and groan when she a hot, slick tongue slipped effortlessly into her mouth. Almost immediately, the kiss became incredibly tender just as a hard naked body covered hers.

  Strong, purposeful hands had joined the sensual ambush and she moaned softly as they slid under her t-shirt, stroking first her ribs and moving up to cup her breasts. The lips were dragged from her mouth, trailed a warm path down her neck, and latched onto a hard nipple through the light cotton t-shirt. She gasped softly, bucked her hips, and pressed her pelvis into the hard body, urging her midnight lover on. She felt a cool breeze over her heated skin and knew that her t-shirt had been hiked up, exposing her breasts. A hot tongue circled first one nipple and then the other, nibbling and sucking them hard.