CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

GINNY LOOKED UP at the sound of the bell, like she always did. Her smile faltered and she dropped the change she was handing to Mrs. Peters, listening as it clattered to the counter top, then the floor. Kara.

" I'll get it, " Mrs. Peters said, but Ginny hardly heard. Startled green eyes met blue across the room.

Her heart beat painfully in her chest and she couldn't breathe. But Kara was there, standing by the door, still holding it open, as if she were afraid to come inside.

Ginny moved, her feet carrying her slowly around the counter, her eyes never leaving Kara's. She stopped a mere foot from her, surprised to find fear in Kara's eyes.

" Don't you ever... leave me again, " Ginny whispered.

" No."

Ginny let her breath out slowly, then moved into Kara's arms, pressing against her warmth, feeling so much relief that she thought she would surely die. Strong arms held her close and she breathed in Kara's scent.

" Ginny..."

But Ginny pulled out of her arms and turned to Nana, who was watching them with wariness.

" Can you manage without me? "

" I suppose, " Nana said, unable to meet Kara's eyes.

Ginny turned and walked out the door, feeling Kara's presence behind her. Why was she here? Did she come back for Ginny or did she come to finally explain? She stopped at Kara's Land Cruiser, then turned and met her eyes, tears forming in her own at the profound sadness in Kara's.

" Ginny... I..."

" I don't want to talk yet, " she said, wiping a tear off her cheek.

Kara drove quickly down the road, her eyes glancing at Ginny frequently, but Ginny refused to look at her. " We need to talk, " Kara finally said. " Do you want to go to your house? "

" No. I'm not ready to talk, " Ginny said quietly.

Kara drove to the Dobson cabin in silence, glancing occasionally at the woman beside her, the woman who simply stared out the window as they drove. Once inside, they stood staring at each other for countless seconds, both trying desperately to read the other's eyes.

" I'm sorry, " Kara finally said. " I just wanted you to have a chance..."

" I said... I don't want to talk yet, " Ginny whispered. She went to Kara and slipped into her arms. " I just want to love you, " she said softly.

" Oh, Ginny, " Kara murmured into her hair, breathing deeply. All the endless weeks of pain vanished as her hands moved over Ginny's soft body, molding her to her own.

" I need to... be with you, " Ginny whispered. " I need to know if it's true, " she said.

" If what is true? "

" I saw it in your painting, but I thought maybe I was just hoping, wishing, " she said, her voice ripe with emotion and unshed tears. At Kara's frown, she said, " I went to Seattle looking for you. I saw the tree. I bought it."

Kara touched Ginny's face, tears brimming in her own eyes.

" Tell me I didn't imagine the love in that painting."

" I knew for certain that I loved you that night, " she whispered. " And I was afraid."

Ginny drew Kara's head to hers, meeting her lips for the first time, feeling as weak as she had that other time, so long ago now. " Show me, " she whispered.

Kara drew Ginny's naked body to her, touching her breasts with gentle fingers, feeling the familiar hardness against her palms. She had thought, once, that she might never again feel Ginny beside her, like this. But Ginny was here, she was real and Kara loved her with a passion she had only dreamed of. Her mouth left Ginny's, moving to her breasts and Kara buried her face between them and she cried.

" Kara? "

" I love you, " Kara whispered. " I'm so sorry. I was just scared to death over what I felt."

Ginny pulled her up, letting her own tears fall and she pressed her face into Kara's neck. " Don't cry, sweetheart, " she whispered. " I love you so very much. I'll never hurt you."

Ginny pushed Kara gently on the bed and covered her, needing to show her how much she loved her. Her kisses were soft, feather-light on her face, her eyes. Words of love poured from her and she murmured in Kara's ear, promising her, tempting her with the ecstasy that was to come. Her tongue slid slowly over Kara's, into her mouth, needing to know her again. She moved to her breasts, her tongue raking each nipple in turn, feeling them harden, taking each into her mouth, feeling them swell even more as she gently sucked, gently teased.

" Ginny."

" Yes. I'm here." Ginny's tongue moved over her, tasting her, wetting a path that her mouth followed and she heard Kara's heart beating loudly, heard her breath catch when Ginny kissed her thighs, moving over her, touching her first with gentle hands, soothing her, spreading her thighs even more. She breathed the scent of Kara and she was lost. She knelt between her legs, eyes closed as she touched her, fingers moving through her silkiness, then inside her as Kara moaned softly.

" I love you so much, " Ginny whispered. She lay down and buried her face between Kara's legs, tasting her, loving her. Her tongue moved deep within her, feeling Kara drawing her in. She took her gently between her lips, her tongue moving over her, stroking her, feeling Kara move with her, writhing under her mouth before yielding to the pleasure that Ginny brought to her. Kara clutched Ginny's head, fingers entwining in her hair, and she held Ginny to her, hard, pushing her hips against her face, begging her.

" Ginny... oh, Ginny, " she breathed and then she stilled, her voice gone as her breath caught and her hips arched once and she screamed out, calling Ginny's name again before her legs gave way and she relaxed, spent, arms falling to her sides, chest heaving.

Ginny knelt between her legs, hands resting on Kara's stomach. " I love you, Kara, " she whispered.

Kara's eyes opened slowly and she reached out to touch Ginny's face, still wet with her. " I hurt you, " she said. " I'm so sorry."

" Yes, " Ginny nodded. " You hurt me. You left me and I wanted to die, " she said. " I just couldn't understand, Kara. I felt so strongly about this and you just disappeared, as if it meant nothing to you."

" I ran. I was..."

" You were scared I would hurt you, " Ginny stated. She crawled next to Kara, wrapping her arms around her and snuggling close to her. " It wasn't until I saw the painting that I finally realized why you had really left. But I couldn't find you." Her voice broke and she swallowed back tears. " I tried."

" I won't leave you again, " Kara promised.

" No. I won't let you. This is what I want, Kara. Not some faceless woman from my future. Not a chance to meet someone else, someone other than you." She traced Kara's lips with her finger, then cupped her cheek, making Kara look at her. " You not only took my heart, Kara. You took my soul. I'm just half a person when you're gone."

Kara let tears slip easily from her eyes as she held Ginny's gaze. Foolish women in love. Indeed. She had made a big mistake by leaving. They should have talked then, they should have shared all of this then. But she had been too scared all those weeks ago. Her pride had told her to run before Ginny decided there were others out there, much better than herself.

" I just wanted you to be sure... that I was what you wanted. I didn't want to assume..." Kara said, trying to explain.

" I'm sure." Then Ginny smiled and leaned over to touch her lips to Kara's. " I'm sure that I want you in my life, like this. I'm sure that I love you. I'm sure that I want you to make love to me... right now, " she finished in a whisper as her kiss deepened.

Kara's lovemaking was slow, unhurried. She touched Ginny with gentle hands and soft lips, saying she was sorry, over and over again. Then Ginny was guiding her, spreading her legs for her and Kara went to her, her mouth loving her, her tongue moving through her wetness, her moan mingling with Ginny's as her tongue slipped deep inside her.

Much too soon, Ginny thought. Too soon. But she couldn't stop the flame as it moved through her body, consuming her, igniting the fire that burned beneath Kara's mouth. She clutched at the bed, her fists raking through the covers as she tried to anchor herself, but she was washed away as wave after wave hit her, causing her to cry out, to scream Kara's name, to press Kara even closer to her.

" Oh... my... God, " she whispered. " No one but you, " she breathed, so softly.

Kara gathered Ginny in her arms. " No one but you."