Venus in Love (6 page)

“No, I don’t have anywhere I need to be at this moment, except right here.” Morgan grinned. “What did you have in mind?” Morgan blushed at her unintended double entendre.

Lee cleared her throat at the unexpected rush of heat that seared through her body. The thought of having her way with Morgan made Lee’s legs weak.

“Well, I was thinking we could go back toward the museum and have a latte. Then maybe just…wander around a bit?” Lee thought about those couples she watched from her window of the flat on her first night in town.

“That would be lovely. Plus, it’s near my apartment, so I could walk home.”

“We’re neighbors? Excellent!” Lee winked. “After you, mademoiselle,” Lee said as she helped Morgan into the waiting car.

Morgan suggested a quaint little café near the museum, where they each ordered a latte to go. Nearby was a small park that was frequented by frolicking children and dogs during the day and by courting couples at night. At the center of the park was a large, tiered fountain that spilled shimmering water into a round pool. A few couples were seated at the edge of the water, amorously kissing and embracing. There were a few others scattered under the surrounding trees, enjoying each other far more than they were the scenery.

Morgan fidgeted with her drink. “Would you like to sit for a moment or keep walking?”

Lee looked around at the other couples and observed the romantic mood the park had. “I think this is a perfect place to enjoy dessert.”

Morgan stared and Lee watched the reflections of the moonlight on the water dance across her strikingly beautiful face.

“I couldn’t agree more.”

*

They found a place near a large tree and sat side-by-side in the grass. Morgan curled her legs under herself and leaned toward Lee who was sitting so close that their shoulders touched. Lee didn’t resist the urge to stroke the loose tendrils of Morgan’s hair that fell between them. Just as Lee had always imagined, it felt like spun silk running through her fingers. The curls stretched and sprung back into place perfectly as if they were never touched.

“Mmm, that must be the best feeling in the world.” The way Morgan purred the words caused butterflies to set flight in her belly.

Lee stopped, frozen in mid-stroke. She brought her hand to her lap. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never really had long hair, and my mother wasn’t really the doting, hair-stroking type.” Her mother loved her, Lee had no doubt in the world. It was just that being raised in society never really leant itself to one-on-one, quality time with her mother.

“Oh, mine was, well, is. That may be one of the biggest things I’ve missed while being here.”

“Your mother, or having your hair touched?” Lee smiled. She missed her mother too, and for the first time, felt a twinge of regret at having left her mother to once again flee responsibility.

Morgan acknowledged the friendly tease with a smile. “Both actually. You don’t have to stop, but be warned, I may lie down in your lap if you continue.”

“Well now, we wouldn’t want that…would we?” Lee clasped her hands and ringed them unconsciously in her lap. She was no longer thinking about her mother. Instead, she was thinking about Morgan and imagining her laying her head in her lap. The thought warmed her entire body.

Morgan tugged on Lee’s shirtsleeve. “I was kidding.”

“Oh no, I’m okay. I was just thinking about how I’ve wanted to touch your hair so many times, and it feels better than I ever imagined.” Even in the moonlight, Lee’s blush was visible. “And I can’t believe I just said that…out loud.” Lee felt something twist in her chest.

“How many times could you have possibly thought about it in just two days?”

Lee cleared the knot in her throat. “Uh, try the last five years.” Lee was losing control of herself, and it was making her both exhilarated and anxious at the same time.

Morgan looked at Lee, clearly confused.

“I watched you every day, in every class we ever had together.” Lee pulled up her knees and wrapped her arms around them.

The shock was clear in Morgan’s face. “I…I…you did? Why didn’t you…how did I not know?”

“Yes. I watched the way your eyes sparkled and your face lit up whenever a professor discussed a painting or sculpture. You never had eyes for anything except for the lesson being presented. The first time you ever looked at me was the day my—was the day I sat next to you in the back of the auditorium. You…” Lee closed her eyes, remembering how she held her breath and prayed that nothing would break the spell between them.

Recognition hit and Morgan whispered, “I remember that. You were late. Again.”

“You huffed at me…You remember that?” It was Lee’s turn for shock.

Morgan smiled guiltily. “Yes. And with your frequent tardiness and in-class nap sessions, I’m surprised that you made it as far as you did.”

“Yeah, I didn’t exactly put forth my best—wait, what?”

“I figured you dropped out or got expelled. I never saw you again after that day,” Morgan said matter-of-factly.

Lee felt a small and swift twinge of hurt rise before it quickly subsided. “Huh, I guess one would think that. But it’s not exactly true.” Lee couldn’t hide her upset.

“Tell me.”

Lee sighed at Morgan’s apologetic request.
It always comes back to this. Like a Band-Aid. Just tell her
. “My father. He died that day. I got the call after class and I left to take…to tend to things.”

“Oh God, Lee. I’m so sorry. I didn’t…God, I’m such an asshole.”

Lee didn’t want Morgan to feel like an asshole for assuming Lee was just another spoiled kid riding status through college. It was partly true. “No. No, you’re not. Who knows? My grades weren’t terrible. And I had been warned plenty about my…how did you say…
frequent tardiness and in-class nap sessions.
” Lee smiled to try to ease some of the tension that was building between them.

“I’m still sorry for assuming.” Morgan rested her hand on Lee’s.

“If you’re ready, I’d really like to walk you home.” Lee didn’t want the night to end. She was feeling more alive than she had in a long time, but she needed to regain control before fear and reality outweighed the magic of the evening.

“I would like that very much.” Morgan ran her thumb over Lee’s fingers.

They walked hand in hand from the park to Morgan’s flat. They stood on the sidewalk in front of the building. Lee didn’t want to offer the first good night. It was Morgan who finally gave in. “I had a wonderful time. It was almost perfect.”

Lee’s eyes widened. She couldn’t have dreamt up a more perfect evening and hadn’t in all the years that Morgan had invaded her dreams. “Almost?”

Morgan leaned into Lee and draped her arms around Lee’s shoulders. Morgan’s eyes darkened as she slowly inched her lips toward Lee’s slowly parting ones. She brushed her lips ever so slightly over Lee’s then paused. Before Morgan had the chance to pull away, Lee wrapped her into a tight embrace and claimed her mouth with a passionate and ravenous kiss.

*

Morgan felt the warmth rise rapidly between her legs as her knees trembled and heart pounded in her chest. Morgan opened her mouth, allowing Lee’s tongue to meld with hers. When Lee released her lips, they were both panting and breathless. Morgan felt as if her whole world was spinning. Her heart continued to hammer in her chest and her body felt molten. Morgan was thankful of Lee’s firm embrace that kept her from slipping to the ground when her legs liquefied.

Lee didn’t release Morgan. Instead, she looked into her eyes with an unmistakable hunger. “I would like to see you again. Soon.”

Morgan’s stomach flipped, but she didn’t hesitate to say, “Come with me. Tomorrow. To the opening, as my guest.”

Lee grinned at the unintentional overtone. She dipped her head into Morgan’s neck and softly whispered, “I would be truly honored.”

Morgan groaned as her entire body thrummed with excitement. She wanted Lee to come up with her. Her senses were on overdrive, and she no longer had control over herself. It scared her. Morgan had never had a one-night stand.

Before Morgan could ask, Lee pulled away and ran her thumb lightly over Morgan’s bottom lip and kissed her once more quickly. Morgan felt both disappointed and relieved. She thanked Lee for the beautiful evening as Lee stepped away.

Once Morgan was safe inside her apartment, she leaned against the door and touched her fingers to her lips.

Morgan stood in her bedroom staring at the charcoal gown lying across her bed. She had picked this dress weeks earlier as the one she would wear to the opening. It was amazing, and she had spent more money on this one dress than she had ever spent on a single outfit. She was grateful beyond words when she got the surprise check from home with a very stern note about how this money was to be spent on nothing but the dress. Morgan had been excited to finally wear it, and now the excitement had doubled knowing that Lee was going to see her in it.

“You are gonna knock her dead in this,” Morgan said to the empty room.

It was ten after five when Morgan began styling her hair and applying her makeup. She needed to be certain she was ready when Lee arrived at seven o’clock. The opening wasn’t until eight, but Morgan had chilled a bottle of champagne to share with Lee and toast this big moment in her life. Part of Morgan saw it as toasting their blossoming friendship as well.

Two hours to get ready seemed excessive to Morgan, who could usually get up, showered, dressed, and out the door in mere minutes. But she was strangely nervous and used this as a distraction to fill her time. She swept her hair into a long and loose ponytail with a slight top poof that accentuated her neck in the strapless gown. She tamed curls that flowed down the middle of her back into long, smooth ringlets. As she ran her fingers through her hair, she imagined Lee releasing the clip that held her hair back and running her strong hands through the strands just as she did the night before. But this time, she could almost feel Lee’s breath on her neck and her soft lips leaving kisses across her collarbone.

Once she finished her hair and makeup, she had just enough time to slip into her dress and change her shoes three more times. She ultimately settled on her first choice, a pair of black, strappy sandals that gave her an extra three inches in height. She thought they were the perfect height to bring her eyes into alignment with Lee’s. As she admired herself in the mirror, she couldn’t wait to see the look on Lee’s face when she arrived. It truly was a beautiful dress that reminded her of Lee’s hair. Now that she was ready, the time slowed to a crawl and she was going nearly crazy with anticipation. She hoped that Lee would arrive early.

*

Lee checked herself in the mirror again. She knew what she looked like and she was pleased. One of the things that Lee could control in her life was the crispness of a shirt and the perfect fit of a suit. Although the excitement Morgan was already bringing to her life was exhilarating, Lee was still apprehensive about letting herself go completely. She was no longer the carefree college girl, but there was a part of her that felt if that girl still existed somewhere deep inside, Morgan would be the one to bring her out. Lee patted the pockets of her Armani suit for all of her essentials, wallet, keys, ChapStick, and cell phone.

“And we’re off.”

Just as Lee shut her front door and headed to the elevator, her cell phone rang. “Ainsley Dencourt at your service.” She answered the phone without even looking at the caller ID; she was soaring.

“Ms. Dencourt. This is Henry. I’m calling…it’s your mother, ma’am.”

Lee was instantly dizzy and reached for the nearest wall as her knees began to buckle under her. She felt the nausea rise in her throat as she tried desperately to subdue it. She felt the world closing in around her, like a jet-black cloak over her eyes. She broke into a cold sweat. “Henry, please…please don’t. Not again, please.”

“Lee, listen to me. Your mother has been admitted to Inova Loudoun. The hospital. She was having some pain in her chest. She is stable, but she has asked for you. You need to come home Lee. I suggest as soon as possible.” There was silence on both sides. “Miss Dencourt?”

Lee struggled to breathe and gasped for air. “Henry, is she okay? Please tell me she’s okay.”

“She’s stable and alert and she has asked for you. That’s all I know at this point I’m afraid. When should I tell her you’re arriving?” He was anxious for an answer.

Lee tilted her head back and stared at the ceiling trying with all her might to prevent the tears that threatened. There was no time for crying. She needed to maintain the upper hand even over her emotions. “I’m leaving now. I’ll be home in nine hours. Henry? Tell her I love her, please?”

“Of course, kiddo. See you soon.”

*

Morgan stood and paced the floor again. It was quarter past seven. She needed to be at the museum in thirty minutes, and Lee had not yet arrived. She had hoped Lee would arrive early, but now she was worried she wasn’t going to arrive at all. She didn’t know how much longer she could or should wait. She usually walked the few blocks from her apartment to the museum, but she didn’t think it was such a great idea considering that it took about thirty minutes when she wasn’t in heels and an evening gown.

At 7:25 p.m., Morgan went across the hall to her neighbor’s apartment and knocked on the door. She prayed that Bette was home tonight. When her neighbor answered the door, she begged her for a ride. After Bette was dressed, they met in the hallway and made their way downstairs. Morgan still hoped that Lee would be walking in as they were walking out. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Bette dropped Morgan off at the side entrance so Morgan could sneak in unnoticed. When she finally made her way to a very full reception and a very nervous curator, it was five to eight.

“I am so very sorry, Madame Dautry. I think I was stood up.” She vaguely explained the situation, the high points anyway. How she waited too long for a date that never arrived or called and how she begged her neighbor, who is practically a stranger, to drive her the few blocks so she wasn’t late to the most important evening in her career. By the time she finished explaining her night thus far, she was both winded and beyond pissed.