Well, what can I say, you all are just too wonderful to me. My heart is full and is overflowing with gratitude. And I didnt properly thank yall for all the well wishes on both my new position and with my healthto let yall knoweverything is great and looking brighter everyday. So THANK YOU!

Katey, thank you. I am a fan of yours as well and welcome to our little tight knit familyit seems to grow and growyou gotta love it.

Alma & Barbyou know I am fans of your too(aroo4life & tenderwolfe)everyone needs to check out the three authors stories if you already havent. Thank you for your E-mails.

LSU & Geauxtiger, I will keep em coming as long as yall keep reading em. I guess this is all we have left until football season huh (well at least yallI dont think UK knows what a football isLOL)

Souschef & SLMthanksyou guys are awesome too.

Alywhat can I say, thank you for the new name..yall can give a humble gal from the south one big head. Yall are great.

Darkhorse & CubanslaveI know you are out thereso thank youI hope all is well with you.

AND K, my muse, my wonderful distractionWhat about the new name??? Is it me? You would be the one to truly know. Thank you for being with me throughout all of thisa lifetime will never be enough time with you.

And now for the words I know you have missed saying everyday (because I have missed writing them everyday)Grab whatever and enjoy(& KI know that bottle of red wine is calling your nameso grab me a glass too.)

Chapter 22

On the drive home, Howie yawned at least twenty times. Dana would look in the rearview mirror to check on him and each time there he would goanother yawn. As she would grin, she would glance over at Lara who was looking out the front, lost in thought. With each glance, Danas heart seemed to fill just a bit more. When they pulled up in front of Danas her heart was ready to burst.

Howie leaned up and took the keys from Dana before she could even pull them out of the ignition and was already inside before Dana and Lara had taken their seatbelts off, which neither was in too much of a hurry to do. Lara looked over at her brunette maven and just smiled.

What? Dana asked as she laid the side of her head on the headrest.

Just thinking.

I could tell. Danas eyes sparkled as she smiled and moved closer to Lara. What about?

Lara moved close enough to Dana so she could whisper in her ear. The hot breath on Danas ear made her squirm. I was thinking how ***** you are and how much I want you. With that Lara took her lovers earlobe in between her lips and began to tease her.

As Lara continued her assault on Danas ear, her hand glided up Danas arm to her neck. Her thumb found Danas bottom lip and began to caress it until her mouth replaced it.

Dana couldnt believe that she was making out with her lover in the car, right there under the streetlight where anyone could see Lara begin to slide her other hand underneath her shirt. She still hadnt been able to become totally comfortable with the public affection, but she loved it when Lara would touch her. Her body responded to the fingertips upon her skin, the lips upon her lips. A low moan escaped from Danas mouth into Laras.

You like that, huh?

Mmm hmm. Dana placed her hand behind Laras head and pulled her in for an even deeper kiss. Damn what the passers by thought.

Umm, Danas kiss silenced whatever Lara was about to say. Baby. Another silencing kiss covered Laras mouth.

Dana didnt know what was taking over her body, her mind. She just knew that she had to have the woman that was before her. Her body ached for her caress, her kiss. Danas breathing was becoming more ragged as her other hand began to fumble with the bottom of Laras shirt. She seemed almost desperate to have Lara right there.

Finally, Lara broke the kiss, almost pulling Dana with her.

How about we take this inside? Laras right hand brushed through Danas hair, placing it behind her left ear before returning to her cheek.

Anything you want. Dana was breathless.

I want you. That is all. Lara moved in for one more kiss before opening the door to get out of the SUV.

As they approached the door, Lara grabbed Danas arm and swung her around. The force of the kiss backed Dana up into the doorframe, Lara pressing against her. As their passions began to rise, the door opened.

Uh hmm

Oh *****! The kiss was abruptly ended and Dana tried to straighten her clothes out. Lara just stood there smiling like the cat who ate the canary.

This is your house, why are you ringing the doorbell?

Neither had noticed that Danas back was against the doorbell button. The blush on Danas face just got deeper as her chin almost made it to her chest as she and Lara walked past Howie.

So does this mean I need to find some headphones or something tonight? Howie laughed as he shut the door.

You may want to. Lara just smiled at Howie. Your sister tends to scream.

LARA! As if Dana wasnt embarrassed enough.

Lara sauntered up to Dana, But you know you do. And if the car is any indication of what is going to happen, I may be a little loud tonight myself. With that, Lara placed a deep passionate kiss upon Danas waiting lips.

Lalalalala Howie placed his index fingers in his ears. To much information. Damn!

Dana and Lara both broke the kiss laughing as they looked back at Howie.

Do you need anything How?

Nah, Im just gonna crash and watch some TV before I go to sleep.

Well, you know where everything is, so we will see you in the morning. Dana took Laras hand and began to lead her up the stairs.

Night Howie. Well try not to keep you up too late. Lara just smiled as Dana pulled her harder and faster up the stairs, leaving Howie standing there, shaking his head. The next thing he heard was the door slamming closed and a thud, like someone had been pushed against it hard.

Lara had Dana pinned up against the door. Their bodies pressed together. God you are so hot. Laras eyes overflowed with desire as she dove in to take the supple lips.

Danas hands found where they had left off in the SUV. They began to travel under the back of Laras shirt as she began to back Lara to the bed. Only when Laras legs hit the edge of the mattress did the kiss break. The urgency, the desperation was still present as Dana began to undress Lara, exposing her hot skin to the cool air. Lara liberated Dana from the clothes that constricted her body. Once the last piece of clothing was discarded, Lara pressed against Dana, her arms around her waist.

God you are beautiful, Lara whispered as she kissed Dana and laid her on the bed.

The desperation that existed earlier now turned to a hunger. Dana needed to devour and be devoured. As she rolled Lara to her back, she parted Laras lips with her tongue, being granted the entrance she needed.

As the kiss broke, Dana gazed into Laras eyes, now dark with passion and desire. She searched for Laras soul, once found, she knew that it was hers to protect and love. A grin spread across Danas face as her left hand began to caress the curve of Laras body, down to her hip. Her hand rested there as she placed her thigh in between Laras legs and slightly began to place pressure where Laras wetness was so evident.

Dana didnt kiss her, she just kept their eyes locked on each other as she leaned on one forearm for balance, while the one that was on Laras hip began to massage her breast.

Laras breathing started to slowly become more ragged, her hips began to stir ever so slightly. Dana knew what Lara wanted, and she would be happy to oblige.

Danas thigh was replaced by her wandering hand. When her hand found the wetness between Laras legs, Lara drew in a sharp breath at the touch. Her head tilted back, her eyes closed, exposing her neck to Danas watering mouth.

As her mouth found the exposed neck, her long, slender fingers found their destination, inside of Lara. As she began to crook her fingers in a come hither gesture, she found the sweet spot that sent the beginning waves of ecstasy through Laras body.

Her hunger to fulfill Laras need took over. She took Lara to new heights as she felt Laras stomach muscles contract, her legs stiffen. She never removed her hand from its home nor stopped her relenting fingering of Laras special spot.

As Laras back involuntarily arched, she let out a loud moan, praising Danas talents. She finally collapsed back onto the bed, her body still shuddering slightly.

Dana once again looked into the now glazed over eyes of Lara and just smiled as she placed a light kiss upon the lips that had just given her such praises. As her fingers were released by Lara, she slowly removed them, eliciting a small groan from her lover.

They laid there for a few minutes, Lara trying to recover, Dana proud of the accomplishment. Dana propped herself up on her elbow and just looked at Lara, studying her.

Lara glanced over and kept her eyes upon the woman who had just given her such pleasure. She didnt know what Dana was thinking. But she knew that she wanted Dana to experience the heaven that she just had.

Before Lara could do anything, Dana began to once again shower Laras body with feather kisses, taking in the taste of Laras sweet skin mixed with the beads of perspiration. The taste was amazing. Lara s body never had a chance to fully recover, Dana kept it tettering on the edge of passion with every kiss that was placed.

The need to have Dana experience what she just had was almost lost, but it returned when Dana had made her way from Laras stomach back to her waiting lips. As Lara placed her hand upon Danas cheek to pull her into a deep kiss to begin her ravishing of her lovers body, Dana stopped her.

Tonight was about you and your happiness.

I want to you to share in the happiness Dana.

I am. Just being here with you is enough for me. Dana held Laras hand in place and turned to place a kiss in its palm.

I want to learn so much more about you Lara. I need to know more. You know all about me. I dont know hardly anything about you.

Tears welled in Laras eyes. No one had ever wanted to know about her past. She had never let anyone close enough to care about it.

All I know is that you have been shut out by your family and friends, but I want to know everything about you. Dana now laid her head upon the pillow next to Laras, still facing her. You have been my rock over these past few days and weeks. I want to be your rock too. You have been there for me when I came out to my parents and you re here for me now when my mom is in the hospital.

Through the tears, Lara knew that Dana was right, she had to tell her about her life, her past, her pain, but now wasnt the time.

Baby, I promise you that you will know all about me. You have my heart and I love you more each time I take a breath, but right now we are going to conquer the problem before us first. And when everything is settled and back to some semblance of normal, I will tell you about my past. Laras blue eyes searched for the understanding that she knew Dana had, as her hand now ran through Danas hair.

With that, the tears spilled from Laras eyes and Dana kissed what she could away and took her into her arms. As they laid there in the embrace, Lara began think, No one has ever cared about me like this. Thank you God for bringing me this woman.

As Laras tears wet Danas shoulder, she began to wonder what could have caused this wonderful woman so much painand she then thanked God for the chance to love Lara.

They fell asleep wrapped in each others arms. Not moving, they were comfortable. They were home.

Downstairs, on the couch, Howie thanked God that there was finally silence.

Across town in Sharons room, Irwin thanked God for allowing him to love the woman that was laying in the bed in front of him.

In that same hospital, in the ICU, a woman watched Irwin from afar, praying that God protect and let Sharon wake up soon.