Shalimar looked in disbelief at the throng of writhing bodies on the dance floor. Not that there was anything unusual about the sight; lots of barely clothed, gorgeous men and women going about the standard mating rituals. No, the only unusual thing going on was that her lover had left her in the dust and was currently doing a very slow, very erotic bump and grind with another woman.
Emma's red hair gleamed in the flashy lighting, and her lithe body was being touched and caressed by an amazon of disturbing proportions. Not that Shalimar couldn't take the bitch, she could. Absolutely. Well, if she used her powers, definitely.
To her further disbelief, Emma was suddenly sandwiched between partners. Another woman, not quite so imposing, but still in great shape, came up behind Emma and ran her hands up and down the slight woman's body.
Shalimar's growl was instantaneous when the amazon leaned forward and licked the base of Emma's throat. No one did that but her, God damn it! Striding through the crowd, she grabbed Emma's arm and shouted over the music, "Let's go!"
But Emma yanked her arm free and leaned against the amazon provocatively. "I think I'll stick around a while."
"What!?"
Staring Shalimar deliberately in the face, Emma said in a normal tone, "You heard me. I'm staying."
What the fuck was going on!? Shalimar was about to bodily haul Emma off when both dance partners stepped protectively in front of the red head. Fuming, she snarled, "Fine! I'm going home!"
Shalimar rushed away from them, unable to bear the sight any longer. Tears stung her eyes as she finally reached the cold air outside. Emma had been acting strange all week, distant and cool, even more so than when they'd first met. The other woman had remained warm and loving with everyone else, so Shalimar knew the problem was with her. Maybe Emma had finally outgrown her, an insecurity that had plagued Shalimar since they'd become lovers. Emma was so much smarter than her, and maybe it was part of her feral nature, but she'd never be interested in the same things that Emma was.
The drive home was too long and held no distractions from the bitterly hurt tinge her thoughts had taken. When she reached Sanctuary, it seemed as though everyone was in bed, which suited her perfectly. She just couldn't stand Jesse and Brennan's newfound love just then, not when her world was falling apart. Or Adam's benevolent and yet knowing gaze that was worse than if he just shouted at her.
"So right now, are wondering what you did wrong, or wallowing in self-pity? I'm betting the self-pity thing, myself. Bren?"
Jesse's voice startled her as Shalimar turned the corner to find him and Brennan waiting outside her bedroom.
Brennan looked abashed as he said, "Sorry Shal, but I was in no position to protest."
Confused, but with a sinking feeling in her stomach, Shalimar asked, "Protest what?"
"Payback for what you and Brennan did to Jesse," Emma said from behind.
Her stomach completed its fall as she saw Emma's angry expression. "Emma..."
"No! I don't want to hear it, Shal! What you two did to Jesse was just mean, and it's not something I'll tolerate from anyone, let alone you!" Emma stated flatly. "This week was just a taste of what he went through. Be glad that Jesse's so nice. I was perfectly content to let it continue for the same amount of time as it did with him."
With that, Emma turned and stalked to her own bedroom. Sighing guiltily, Shalimar looked at Jesse and asked, "So you didn't believe my apology then?"
"No, actually, I did," Jesse answered. "But when Emma heard what happened, she went ballistic. This was all her idea."
Now why didn't that surprise Shalimar any?
"Anyhow, I'm more than willing to move on if you are," Jess continued.
Hopeful, Shalimar questioned, "Really?"
Holding out his arms, Jesse grinned and commented, "What sister hasn't played a mean joke or a hundred on her brother?"
Grinning too, thoroughly relieved, Shalimar went into his arms and hugged him tightly. "Thanks, Jess."
"No problem."
When he released her, Shalimar turned to Brennan and punched him in the shoulder. Hard.
"Ow! Hey!"
"You could've warned me what was going on!" Shalimar exclaimed.
Rubbing his shoulder, Brennan replied, "Yeah right. And get on Emma's bad side? I don't think so."
Shalimar looked down the hall towards Emma's room. "Shit, guys, what am I going to do?"
"Grovel?"
"Beg?"
Laughing at the simultaneous suggestions, Shalimar said dryly, "Thanks. Big help."
"Good luck," Jesse offered.
Brennen grinned and intoned, "And may the Force be with you."
Shaking her head as they walked away, Brennan's arm tucked around Jesse's waist, Shalimar took a deep breath and headed for Emma's room. Groveling and begging sounded just about right at this point.
Tapping lightly at the door, Shalimar called, "Emma? Love? Can I come in?"
Silence.
"Please? Pretty please with sugar and a cherry on top?"
More silence.
"Emma, come on!I'm sorry about what happened, but Jesse's not mad at me any more, so why are you?"
The door opened so quickly that Shalimar knew the other woman had been standing right on the other side of it.
"Are you?" Emma demanded, hands on her hips. "Or are you just sorry you got caught?"
Stunned by the anger radiating from Emma in waves, it was a second before Shalimar could answer, "Of course I'm sorry! I didn't want to hurt Jesse, it was just a joke that got out of hand!"
"And what am I?"
Jaw dropping at the utterly unexpected question, Shalimar could only stammer, "Huh?"
Drawing her arms tight around her chest, Emma repeated, "What am I to you, Shalimar? Another joke that got out of hand?"
"Are you kidding?" Shalimar demanded incredulously. Seeing the sudden vulnerability in Emma's face, Shalimar stepped through the door and closed it behind her. Reaching out, she cupped the other woman's face in both hands and whispered, "You're my heart, Emma. My conscience, too, apparently. I love you with everything I have, and I always will. Why would you even doubt that?"
Troubled and looking far younger than her years, Emma replied, "Because sometimes you're so flip, Shal. You're so casual about us that it's hard to know what you truly feel. And Ferals are kind of, um, known for their conquests."
Lightly kissing Emma's lips, Shalimar vowed, "You're no conquest or fling, Emma. I love you. Period. End of story. You have helped me, and stood by me, through Ashlocke's insanity when anyone else would have headed for the hills. It's hard for me to believe that you're with me, so sometimes I do make jokes, and I'm sorry. I won't anymore, I promise. And one more thing...when Ferals truly mate, it's for life, you know, so I hope you don't mind being stuck with me forever."
A brilliant smile was Emma's answer and it stole Shalimar's breath away. "God, you're so beautiful."
Blushing, Emma tried to shake her head, but Shalimar tightened her grip and repeated, "You're beautiful."
They met in the middle and it seemed to Shalimar that she could taste Emma's happiness as she pulled the slender woman close. Feeding deeply on her lover's mouth, Shalimar explored it as though it was the first time: slowly and lovingly.
Lightly, barely there caresses fluttered down Shalimar's arms, drawing out goosebumps in the wake. Putting a hand on Emma's waist, she guided them to the bed without losing the kiss. Once there, she pulled back only long enough to tear off her shit as Emma did the same. Grinning when she saw no bra to hamper her, Shalimar insulted fondly, "Slut."
Eyebrows wriggling, Emma replied, "Only for you, Shal."
Growling as she remembered the nameless amazon licking her territory, Shalimar bit at the exact same juncture, smelling the stranger on her woman, her mate. Emma gasped and went still as Shalimar began reclaiming what she'd thought she'd lost. After licking, kissing and biting her way over Emma's throat and chest, Shalimar forcefully pushed Emma onto the bed.
Posing wantonly with her back arched and her breasts thrust forward, Emma whispered, "All yours Shalimar, take it. Take me!"
Blood boiling, Shalimar shucked her jeans and underwear in one motion, then leaped easily onto the bed. She crawled over Emma's lower half that was still clothed and pinned the smaller woman's thighs to the bed. Her eyes glowed as she growled, "You'd better believe it's all mine, Slut."
It was less than a minute later that Shal had Emma stripped bare and pinned beneath her. Hip to hip, groin to groin, cunt to cunt, breasts to breasts, they were a surprisingly good fit. Shal was long in the legs, but Emma was long through her torso, so it evened out somehow. Devouring Emma's mouth, biting and sucking lips and tongue in equal measure, Shalimar began rocking against the other woman.
Moaning into her mouth, Emma gasped with sensation and her legs splayed out, feet pushing her up hard against Shalimar. Growling, Shalimar thrust just as strong back against Emma, feeling the slippery come between them and loving that it was impossible to tell what came from who. Their sweat and scent and come mingled together, creating a unique flavor that Shalimar loved to drown in.
It had been a while since they'd come just from this, but the intensity, the emotion, the drive was all there. Shalimar ground against Emma continuously as the psionic bucked almost furiously against her. Her cunt tightened, spasmed, and Shalimar groaned, long and loud as she came, drinking in Emma's cry of pleasure as she continued to push and thrust, wanting more and more, wanting everything Emma had to give...until...
* * * *
Brennan jerked awake at the howling that echoed through Sanctuary. Jesse protested and sleepily pulled him back down, curling as tight around Brennan as he could. Brennan hugged the smaller man and kissed a still-damp temple. "Sounds like Shal and Emma have made up."
"'Bout damn time," Jesse muttered through a yawn.
And that was a sentiment that Brennan totally shared. Closing his eyes, he let sleep and contentment claim him once more.
Created on ... April 29, 2003