Free No Boundaries by Donna K. Ford Page B
Authors: Donna K. Ford
board as she focused on the glide of the flat craft across the water.
Thoughts of Gwen had played through her mind all night, and she had slept restlessly. Even now images of Gwen swept across her vision. She could conjure the perfect image of Gwen’s lips, the glint in her eyes when she laughed, the subtle way she gestured with her hands when she talked. It seemed Andi had memorized every movement of Gwen’s body, and now her own invented new thoughts of what it would be like to touch her, to hold her long lean form next to her and taste her sweetness on her tongue.
Andi pushed her board through the water with increasing effort as she tried to use the rhythm of her body and the stroke of the paddle to calm the restlessness she felt growing under her skin. She focused on the lake, allowing the smooth surface and gentle lap of the water to sooth her. She drew in a deep breath of the fresh mountain air, trying to clear the restlessness from her mind.
It wasn’t unusual for her to have difficulty sleeping. She often welcomed the dawn, anxiously waiting to shed the weight of memories that haunted her each night. But last night had been different. She wasn’t running from fear or hurt, she was running from the stirring within her that craved the closeness of a woman.
That was a pain she couldn’t flirt with. Women had been both the nectar of life and the kiss of death for her. As sweet as the beginning heat could be, the pain at the end would be too much. For the first time in months, Andi thought of JC. They had been lovers for two years, and JC had made it clear from the beginning that her job was more important to her than Andi. And when Andi had really needed her, when she was in real trouble, JC had turned her back on her. That was a pain she still couldn’t put to rest and something she didn’t think she could survive again.
As Andi turned into one of the many coves that made up the intricate pattern of the lake, a great blue heron took flight in front of her, its giant wings gliding gracefully as it maneuvered its long, stork-like body no more than a foot or two above the water, the tips of its wings brushing lightly across the surface.
Andi shifted her weight and slowly lowered herself until she was sitting on the board. Giving in to her fatigue, she lay back and gazed up into an endless blue sky. The sun was fully up now, and the brilliant, cloudless sky reminded her of the tender blue of Gwen’s eyes and the way they made her feel as if they looked into her soul.
Andi closed her eyes for a moment as if she could shut out the image her mind had conjured. She didn’t quite know what to think of her new preoccupation with Gwen Palmer. She hadn’t entertained thoughts of a woman in so long, she had thought she would never again crave that closeness. She had chosen solitude and had committed herself to a single life. It was easier that way, less complicated, safer.
Andi thought over her life. In all her relationships, she had never really been loved in return. It seemed she always found herself with people who didn’t want to accept her past, or life would intervene and pull them apart before any real feelings could surface. Her thoughts drifted to Melissa, and a terrible pain ripped through her chest. No. She wouldn’t think of that time in her life. She pushed the memories aside and swore at herself for her weakness.
Since meeting Gwen, she had grown restless and the once-peaceful solitude had become too still, too quiet. But she wasn’t ready to open up her heart again. She wasn’t ready to trust someone enough to try. Her brain felt heavy as too many thoughts warred in her mind at once. Nothing had happened last night. Gwen hadn’t said or done anything throughout their evening together to suggest anything other than friendship. The thing that troubled her was that she had been disappointed that Gwen had kept her word. But it was for the best. Gwen was her ultimate dream woman, the perfect
Thoughts of Gwen had played through her mind all night, and she had slept restlessly. Even now images of Gwen swept across her vision. She could conjure the perfect image of Gwen’s lips, the glint in her eyes when she laughed, the subtle way she gestured with her hands when she talked. It seemed Andi had memorized every movement of Gwen’s body, and now her own invented new thoughts of what it would be like to touch her, to hold her long lean form next to her and taste her sweetness on her tongue.
Andi pushed her board through the water with increasing effort as she tried to use the rhythm of her body and the stroke of the paddle to calm the restlessness she felt growing under her skin. She focused on the lake, allowing the smooth surface and gentle lap of the water to sooth her. She drew in a deep breath of the fresh mountain air, trying to clear the restlessness from her mind.
It wasn’t unusual for her to have difficulty sleeping. She often welcomed the dawn, anxiously waiting to shed the weight of memories that haunted her each night. But last night had been different. She wasn’t running from fear or hurt, she was running from the stirring within her that craved the closeness of a woman.
That was a pain she couldn’t flirt with. Women had been both the nectar of life and the kiss of death for her. As sweet as the beginning heat could be, the pain at the end would be too much. For the first time in months, Andi thought of JC. They had been lovers for two years, and JC had made it clear from the beginning that her job was more important to her than Andi. And when Andi had really needed her, when she was in real trouble, JC had turned her back on her. That was a pain she still couldn’t put to rest and something she didn’t think she could survive again.
As Andi turned into one of the many coves that made up the intricate pattern of the lake, a great blue heron took flight in front of her, its giant wings gliding gracefully as it maneuvered its long, stork-like body no more than a foot or two above the water, the tips of its wings brushing lightly across the surface.
Andi shifted her weight and slowly lowered herself until she was sitting on the board. Giving in to her fatigue, she lay back and gazed up into an endless blue sky. The sun was fully up now, and the brilliant, cloudless sky reminded her of the tender blue of Gwen’s eyes and the way they made her feel as if they looked into her soul.
Andi closed her eyes for a moment as if she could shut out the image her mind had conjured. She didn’t quite know what to think of her new preoccupation with Gwen Palmer. She hadn’t entertained thoughts of a woman in so long, she had thought she would never again crave that closeness. She had chosen solitude and had committed herself to a single life. It was easier that way, less complicated, safer.
Andi thought over her life. In all her relationships, she had never really been loved in return. It seemed she always found herself with people who didn’t want to accept her past, or life would intervene and pull them apart before any real feelings could surface. Her thoughts drifted to Melissa, and a terrible pain ripped through her chest. No. She wouldn’t think of that time in her life. She pushed the memories aside and swore at herself for her weakness.
Since meeting Gwen, she had grown restless and the once-peaceful solitude had become too still, too quiet. But she wasn’t ready to open up her heart again. She wasn’t ready to trust someone enough to try. Her brain felt heavy as too many thoughts warred in her mind at once. Nothing had happened last night. Gwen hadn’t said or done anything throughout their evening together to suggest anything other than friendship. The thing that troubled her was that she had been disappointed that Gwen had kept her word. But it was for the best. Gwen was her ultimate dream woman, the perfect