Free Broken Wings by L J Baker Page A

It’s obviously so very
important to you. But you don’t have to hide from me.”
    The next Fifth Day morning, Rye found it hard to concentrate even on so mundane
a task as making breakfast. She had a date with Flora at ten o’clock. And sex.
    “I’m away, Holls,” Rye called. “Remember that I’ll be late. I’m going to the
library after shopping. Okay?”
    “Don’t forget the borage juice this time,” Holly called.
    “I won’t.”
    Rye hurtled down the stairs to the base of the apartment tree and ran toward the
market. She raced through her shopping. When she carried her bags to the
rendezvous, she found Flora waiting for her. As soon as Rye climbed in and
snapped the safety harness on, Flora hit the power. She speeded away. At Flora’s
apartment, they began undressing each other before they got out of the carpet.
    Later, Rye sighed and eased herself up onto an elbow. They lay tangled together
on the floor in the short hall between the garage and the living room. Their
discarded clothes formed an untidy trail back to the carpet. Flora stretched
lazily and smiled at Rye.
    “I suppose it’s too late for me to play hard to get?” Flora said.
    “That’s okay. Cheap and easy is fine by me.”
    Flora looked deeply offended, but ruined it by sitting up to loop her arms
around Rye’s neck and kissing her.
    “Hmm. You taste good,” Flora said.
    “You feel good. And smell nice. That hint of pine sap. It’s like bonking a
building site.”
    Flora hit her and rose. She looked gorgeous as she stalked away. She paused
halfway across the living room and gave Rye a look that clearly indicated Rye
ought to be following her.
    They settled on a sofa to feed each other bits of fruit. Rye soon discovered
that juice tasted much nicer licked off a dryad’s body. Sex on the sofa left
colourful stains on the upholstery.
    After a long, hot, steamy shower, they reluctantly dressed.
    “I’d better get home,” Rye said. “Holly will be forgetting what I look like.”
    “Would I offend you terribly if I said that I hoped your school will have
another power cut?”
    Rye smiled and pulled Flora close. That she, Rye Woods, could enjoy the
privilege of touching so beautiful, so sexy a woman was nothing short of a
miracle.
    “I don’t have class this Fourth Day,” Rye said.
    “Oh, goody. Can you come over?”
    Rye frowned. “I want to. More than anything. But I mustn’t leave Holls. The kid
sees little enough of me as it is.”
    Flora looked disappointed. Rye bent so that their foreheads rested together.
    “Do you think they’d invent a whole new day of the week for us?” Rye asked. “One
that we can have just to enjoy ourselves in?”
    “Fuck Day.”
    “I’m betting it would be very popular.”
    Flora slid a couple of fingers into Rye’s waistband and gently tugged. “Until
then, Fifth Day mornings will have to be our fuck days. You can make it next
week?”
    “Even if I have to tie Holly in a chair and run all the way here carrying my
grocery bags.”
    “We needn’t be quite that drastic.” Flora lost her smile. “This is going to be
the longest week of my life.”
    “I’ll call.”
    “It’s not the same. But please do.”
    After a long, lingering, regretful kiss, Flora fetched her purse. Rye retrieved
her groceries from the cooler.
    Rye asked Flora to stop the carpet at the street corner before her tree.
    “You don’t want Holly to know about us?” Flora said.
    Rye frowned out of the side window. Flora wouldn’t understand if Rye told her
that she didn’t want Holly to know she was gay. Rye did not want to explain
about Fairyland and her fear of getting sent back.
    “She hasn’t seen me with anyone before,” Rye said. “Um. It’s complicated. I
mean, it could get complicated. Do you mind?”
    “As long as you’re not ashamed of me.”
    “What? No! Of course not. She thinks you’re the top of the trees. But I bet
she’d think you were a lot less stylish if she knew you were seeing