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  “Hey, you two,” Candace greeted the pair. “Where are Toby and Doug?”

  “Camping in my old tent with the kids,” Jonah said.

  “Is that what you were up to out there?” Candace asked.

  “Yeah. I thought they might have fun with that. J.D. helped me pitch it while they got the boys ready. Do we have anymore flashlights?” he asked his mother.

  “I think there might be a couple in that old box in the back of the barn,” Candace said. She rummaged through a kitchen drawer and handed Jonah some batteries. “Pearl’s not so secret stash. I discovered it when I was ten. She’s never moved it,” she winked.

  “Thanks, Mom,” Jonah said. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “You sleeping out there?” she asked.

  “Yeah, should be fun,” he said with a kiss to his mom’s cheek. “Love you, Mom.”

  “I love you too,” Candace said as she made her way to the whistling kettle.

  “Night J.D, thanks letting me hang out with you guys,” he said.

  Jameson laughed. “Don’t thank me. You’ll be begging my forgiveness by morning. You’ve never shared a tent with Doug after a barbecue and beer.”

  Jonah laughed. “Noted. Night, Sis.” Marianne nodded. She watched as her brother bounced back out the door as if he were twelve again. She tried not to focus on the scene unfolding a few feet away.

  “Need anything before I head up?” Jameson asked Candace.

  “Nope,” Candace replied.

  “Okay, don’t stay up too long,” Jameson whispered, but Marianne heard her clearly.

  “Why? Afraid of the dark?” Candace teased Jameson.

  “Yes, and you gave away all the flashlights,” Jameson replied.

  “I’m confident Jinx will protect you,” Candace reassured her lover.

  “Big help he’ll be. What’s he going to do, knead the monsters to death and purr?” Jameson whined.

  “You really are a bit touched,” Candace observed affectionately.

  Jameson winked and kissed Candace tenderly. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

  “Yes, you will.”

  “Good night, Marianne,” Jameson said.

  “Night, J.D.”

  Candace took the opportunity to wink at Jameson when Marianne looked down the table. She placed a cup of tea in front of her daughter, sat down, and waited.

  “I’m sorry,” Marianne said. Candace sighed. “I love you, Mom,” Marianne said so honestly that it nearly took Candace’s breath away.

  “I know that,” Candace said, reaching across the table and taking Marianne’s hand. “Tell me the truth. What is it that has you so worried about Jameson?” Marianne looked up with unshed tears. “Go on,” Candace encouraged her daughter.

  “I don’t want to see you hurt again.”

  “Yes, I know. It’s more than that,” Candace said.

  “Sometimes, I don’t want to share you,” Marianne admitted. Candace smiled and moved across the short distance to embrace her daughter. “I already have to share you with too many people. What about Spencer? He has to share you too,” she said. “I know…I’m selfish.”

  “Maybe, but I appreciate what you said more than you know,” Candace replied. “It’s funny, you know? That’s exactly the reason Jameson gave as to why she doesn’t want to have children.”

  “What do you mean?” Marianne asked.

  “Well, our time is so divided now. We both have careers that occupy much of our week. I have you kids and Spencer. Jameson has her family, not to mention all of our friends and the people we both employ. If I decide to pursue anything else, well…that will add another layer. It’s a lot to juggle.” Candace said.

  “You almost sound disappointed,” Marianne noted.

  “No….Well, maybe I am, just a little,” Candace confessed.

  “Really?” Marianne asked.

  Candace nodded. “Yeah. Maybe a little, just a little. I guess as much as it would scare me, seeing Jameson with those kids…hell, seeing her sitting with you three made me realize how much she has to offer, and not just to me.”

  “Did you tell her that?” Marianne asked.

  Candace smiled. “No. I have a feeling she knows how I feel. That’s not something I want now. It isn’t something she does either. I don’t really want to share her any more than I already do either.”

  Marianne nodded. “I do like J.D.”

  “I know you do,” Candace said. “That’s what worries you. You love your dad. You and Jessica were close. Closer than Jonah and Shell,” Candace said. “I already know.”

  “She really loves you,” Marianne said. “I knew that, but…”

  Candace was beaming. “Yes, she does.”

  “And, you really love her; don’t you?” Marianne asked.

  “Yes, I do,” Candace smiled. “Not more than I love you, though.” Candace felt Marianne’s tears begin to flow. “In some ways, you are my greatest treasure,” Candace said. Marianne cried in her mother’s arms. “I don’t think I understood what it meant to love completely until I held you. You taught me that,” Candace said.

  “I’m sorry, Mom. I really…”

  “Marianne, no one knows you better than me. No one. Sometimes I would like to throttle you,” Candace chuckled and Marianne chuckled along with her. “I do know you. I do love you. No one that comes into my life will ever change that.”

  “I know. I’m still sorry.”

  “So am I,” Candace said.

  “For what?” Marianne asked.

  “For all the loss you’ve experienced; all of it. For my disappointments also being yours,” Candace said honestly. “I wish more than anything that you never had to go through any of that,” Candace said as she battled her own tears.

  “Sometimes, I feel like I’m five when I’m with you,” Marianne said.

  Candace laughed. “I hope you always feel a little bit like that.”

  “You do?”

  “Of course, it means you still need me,” Candace said.

  Marianne looked at her mother. “I do.”

  Candace nodded. “I know. There are two important people up there waiting that need you right now,” she said.

  “Yeah…and someone waiting for you,” Marianne smirked.

  “I guess there is,” Candace smiled.

  “Do you think you and J.D. will make it, Mom?”

  “No one can predict the future,” Candace said. “You just prepare for it as best you can. Relationships are the same. All you can do is build a solid foundation and hope it holds up against the inevitable cracks. It’s always under construction.”

  Marianne laughed. “She’s rubbing off on you.”

  Candace winked at her daughter and held out her hand. “Yeah, I know. Who would have thought I’d have a cat!”

  Marianne laughed and followed her mother as Candace shut off the lights. “At least Jinx doesn’t need his diapers changed,” Marianne joked.

  “No, he has a whole box to himself. And, that was in the negotiations. That is Jameson and Pearl’s territory. One that I have no desire to encroach upon….ever. Not even if they throw up the white flag!”

  “Night, Mom,” Marianne laughed.

  “Night, sweetheart,” Candace said.

  ***

  Candace slipped into bed and kissed Jameson sensually on the neck. “What are you doing?” Jameson asked.

  “What do you mean?” Candace feigned innocence.

  Jameson closed her eyes against Candace’s sensual assault. Candace’s hands had slipped underneath Jameson’s T-Shirt and were massaging her abdomen. Her lips and tongue were tracing patterns on Jameson’s neck. Jameson moaned. “If you don’t stop, I cannot be held responsible for myself.”

  “Surrendering so soon?” Candace teased.

  “To you? Yes,” Jameson giggled and then sighed.

  “I want you,” Candace breathed in Jameson’s ear.

  “Marianne is next door,” Jameson whispered.

  “So? She kn
ows how babies are made,” Candace said as she pulled off Jameson’s shirt and quickly sucked a straining nipple into her mouth.

  “Jesus!” Jameson moaned.

  “Shhh,” Candace cautioned. “Your parents are across the hall, you know?”

  “You are evil,” Jameson breathed.

  Candace teased Jameson’s nipple with her tongue and teeth. They had not made love in days and Candace had found herself thinking about touching Jameson all day long. She loved to watch Jameson playing in the pool, much like she enjoyed watching Jameson work on the house or in the yard. Jameson had a delicately sculpted body. She was not overly muscular, but when she moved certain ways, Candace could note the lines of muscle definition in her back, abdomen, arms, and legs. Now that summer had fallen upon them, Jameson had developed the hint of a golden tan. She was still fair, but unlike Candace, when the sun kissed Jameson’s skin it left a lasting reminder of its presence. There were moments that Candace found Jameson irresistible. That was still a new sensation for the senator; one that she hoped would last the rest of her life.

  Jameson stroked Candace’s hair while Candace continued to play with her breasts. Candace flicked her tongue over the tip of one nipple while she rolled the other between her fingers gently. This night would be soft. She wanted to make love to Jameson, slowly, deliberately searching out every piece of flesh beneath her. She lowered her other hand to Jameson’s thigh and brushed over it lightly with her fingertips. Her kiss strayed from one nipple to the other sucking gently, her teeth raking lightly over the tips just enough to produce a visible shudder from Jameson’s body in response.

  “Candace,” Jameson called as softly as she could. Her voice was low and desperate. Candace lifted her mouth to Jameson’s lips and kissed her slowly, taking the time to explore Jameson’s lips and tongue thoroughly with her own. “Tell me, love,” Candace whispered.

  “I love you so much,” Jameson nearly cried.

  Candace smiled down at the woman beneath her. She caressed Jameson’s face and kissed her again gently. “I love you, Jameson,” she said. “You know what I love?” she asked. Jameson shook her head and bit her lip gently. “I love this little scar right here,” Candace said, taking a moment to kiss the small scar that was left as a reminder from Jameson’s mishap on the ladder at Christmas. “And, I love this little freckle right here, right next to your ear,” Candace breathed in Jameson’s ear. She kissed the freckle and then licked behind Jameson’s ear slowly.

  “Mm,” Jameson moaned.

  “I love your eyes,” Candace said as she kissed both eyelids. “And your nose,” she said nuzzling her nose against Jameson’s. “I love your mouth.” She traced Jameson’s lips with a finger and then dropped her mouth over Jameson’s and kissed her soundly. “So sweet,” she whispered. Candace let her fingers trace a slow trail over Jameson’s throat to the swell of her breasts, which were heaving noticeably. “I love this, kissing this,” Candace said as she allowed her kisses to follow the trail her fingers had just blazed down Jameson’s throat. She let her tongue dance over both breasts and circle each of Jameson’s nipples. “I love this,” Candace said. She took Jameson’s nipple into her mouth and Jameson gasped. Candace felt a jolt of excitement pass through her body. She was beginning to struggle against the rising tide of her own arousal.

  “Candace,” Jameson sighed again, dropping her hands to Candace’s head and gently urging her on.

  “Mmmm,” Candace moaned seductively. Jameson was spiraling in a swirling array of sensations. She had become lost in the emotions Candace’s declarations and passionate touch evoked in her.

  Candace pulled back slightly, needing to calm the brewing storm within her veins. Jameson’s words were echoing in her mind. “I love you so much that it hurts some days.” The look in Jameson’s eyes, when she spoke those words, had penetrated any remaining doubts Candace had about their relationship. She looked down at Jameson and closed her eyes for a moment to still her emotions.

  Jameson reached her Candace’s face. “Hey?” she called. “What’s wrong?”

  Candace opened her eyes and searched Jameson’s endlessly. “I love you so much it hurts.” Jameson smiled and pulled Candace to her. “I want you to know,” Candace said.

  “I do,” Jameson promised. She caressed Candace’s back as Candace rained kisses all across Jameson’s abdomen until she reached her thighs. She lowered the boxer shorts that Jameson was wearing with a questioning raise of her eyebrow.

  “What? You don’t find Wonder Woman sexy?” Jameson asked.

  Candace continued pulling off the bright red boxer shorts. “I find everything about you sexy.” She looked up at Jameson affectionately before beginning a lazy ascent up both of Jameson’s legs, kissing and caressing every inch of skin on her way. “I love your legs,” Candace breathed seductively. “I love watching you swim in that pool. I love watching you in the shower,” she said. Jameson was beginning to feel lightheaded. Candace watched as her lover’s eyes grew dark with desire. “I love feeling you beneath me,” she told Jameson. “Touching you, feeling you, tasting you,” she said. She placed a feather-light kiss on Jameson’s leg and inhaled deeply. “I love making love to you.”

  Jameson threw her head back when she felt Candace’s tongue begin to delicately trace the outline of her center. “Oh, God!”

  Candace’s hands reached out and held Jameson’s. She savored her lover’s softness over and over with her tongue, gliding back and forth and slipping inside for just a second to tease Jameson into a frenzy. Jameson’s hips were beginning to gyrate and arch in desperation. Candace slowed her pace. “Relax,” she said. “Just feel me.” Jameson felt Candace’s thumbs both brush over the tops of her hands. Candace’s tender exploration gradually increased in intensity. She finally curled her tongue around the soft bud that always sent Jameson soaring. She circled Jameson’s clit again and again, tasting it, flicking it lightly until Jameson’s body began to grow tense. “Relax, love,” she called to Jameson, tightening her grasp on her lover’s hands. She returned to her task with fervor, moaning at the multitude of sensations that besieged her senses. The soft wetness of Jameson’s excitement mixed with the heat of her mouth and tongue. Candace felt a steady stream of tremors beginning to flutter in her core. She felt Jameson shift slightly and allowed Jameson’s leg to slip between her thighs. Her lips wrapped around Jameson’s clit and she sucked firmly as Jameson pressed against her.

  “Oh…Candace!” Jameson cried out, no longer concerned who might hear them.

  Candace felt Jameson’s body rise and fall and struggled to keep her in place as they crested and fell together repeatedly. She wanted to cry out, but she resisted, desiring to draw out Jameson’s release as long as she could. Jameson’s body was quaking with such power that Candace was finally compelled to pull away and hold her lover. “I’m right here,” she promised, cradling Jameson in her arms as a series of aftershocks coursed through her lover. Slowly, Candace’s breathing returned to normal, a satisfying tingling still traveling up and down her body. She pulled Jameson closer. “And, I love this,” Candace whispered.

  “What?” Jameson panted.

  “Holding you close after we make love,” Candace said honestly.

  Jameson labored to take a full breath. She laid her head on Candace’s breast and sighed. She was happily spent. “I’m glad because I think you might be in this position for a while,” Jameson chuckled. Candace kissed Jameson’s head. “You think they heard us?” Jameson asked a bit sheepishly.

  “I think they might have heard you in Jonah’s old tent,” Candace said. She felt Jameson’s head burrow into her chest and laughed. “It’s okay. They’ll probably just think you were in trouble.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure,” Jameson mumbled. “Maybe you should gag me next time you want to make love and your kids are here.”

  “Your mother is across the hall,” Candace reminded her lover with a chuckle. Jameson groaned in embarrassment. “I can do that when we have company if
you like,” Candace said. “I didn’t think you Republicans were into such daring endeavors.”

  “What are you talking about?” Jameson asked.

  “You’ve been holding out on me,” Candace said. “Your mom told me.”

  “My mom has no idea about my sex life,” Jameson said.

  “She might now,” Candace giggled. Jameson groaned. “I meant your political affiliation. How come you never told me you were a Republican?” Candace asked.

  “Would it have mattered?” Jameson wondered.

  “No. I seem to have a thing for lesbian lunatics; party affiliation doesn’t matter, just the lunacy and the lesbian are prerequisites.”

  Jameson chuckled. “Good to know. And, I didn’t tell you because I’m not.”

  “Not a lunatic or not a lesbian?” Candace asked. “Have to make sure we check the right boxes.”

  “Not a Republican. I never was.”

  “What?” Candace asked.

  “I had my friend make up the card. I never voted at home, so she never knew the difference. I just like to let her think I went to the wild side.”

  Candace snickered. “Jameson, you may be the only person I have ever heard refer to the Republican Party as the wild side….Your poor mother thinks you’re an elephant.”

  “Well, I know I’ve put on a few pounds,” Jameson was interrupted by a pinch to her back side. “Ouch!”

  “Behave,” Candace said with a yawn.

  “I think you should do it; run for governor.”

  “Really?”

  “Yep.”

  “Why do you think that?” Candace asked.

  “Because….I think you’d be terrific. And, imagine living in that house!” Jameson said.

  Candace smiled. “So it’s all about the house?”

  “No. That’s just a bonus,” Jameson said through a yawn. “It’s up to you.”

  “No, it’s up to both of us. I’m not going into anything unless you are comfortable with it,” Candace said. “I promise you that.”