This series is a companion to my story Truth & Admiration.
My intent is not to offend, but this is a d/s lesbian romance with strong themes of nonconsent and reluctance. If that's not your cup of tea, I understand and hope you will find another story to enjoy.
As always I hope you will enjoy the story, and that if you do you will leave a comment.
XOSNS
Secret Garden
Leethie left Palm Springs in the dark, driving hard to make it to Sea Ranch before dark. As it turned out, it was super bowl Sunday and not only did she have the I-5 almost entirely to herself in both directions, she didn't see a single cop the whole day. Leethie opened it up, racing past huge industrial feedlots and ticky-tacky houses. She got to Donald and Bobbie's an hour early, well before sunset.
Her Godparents were waiting in the drive when she found the house. She bounded out of the car to their open arms.
"Oh Jesus! Jesus Leethie I can't believe it! I can't believe it!" Donald said, hugging her tight, then pushing her back to look at her. He had tears in his eyes. "You're so beautiful! Look at you, you're a woman! A woman! What happened? What did you do with my girl?"
"Get off her!" Bobbie commanded, the tiny woman squeezing her from the side. "Leethie darling you must be exhausted, come in! Come in! Donald will get your bags and I'll fix you a drink."
"It's just the two bags on the back seat!" Leethie called over her shoulder, smiling at Donald as Bobbie pulled her into the house.
"The loft is all ready for you!" Bobbie told her loudly, then with a wicked grin she added in a quieter voice, "We're having martinis."
"I drove like the devil to make it here before sunset," she told Bobbie as she entered the rough-hewn cedar living room. Its picture windows facing out over the cliff to the pacific. The sun was still well over the horizon, but throwing beautiful long light into the house through tall dramatic-looking clouds.
"Your mother has told me about the pace you've set for yourself," Bobbie told her as she led her into the house. Pointing to the bathroom, she told her, "take your time."
Leethie stood at the basin staring at herself in the mirror. Her face was wet, her hair pulled back, loose strands were dark from where she'd splashed them while washing up. Her eyes looked tired but relaxed. She wondered if Miranda would think she looked different.
She made herself smile, watching her face until she was convinced, and then headed to the living room, peeking in on Bobbie, who was breaking the ice from trays in the compact galley kitchen.
"Leethie," her godmother said, without looking up."Promise me you're not rushing off. You must stay!"
"I'm trying-"
"No!" Bobbie said, cutting her off. Leethie watched her fill a giant-looking martini shaker. Bobbie turned, holding it up. Leethie decided that while it was actually enormous, that it just looked comically large in Bobbie's small hands. "Three nights!"
"But I don't-"
"Three!" She said, shaking the stainless steel pint viciously. Then stopped, prompting Leethie with a raised eyebrow.
"If I don't-"
"Three!" Again shaking hard and loud, then pausing for her answer.
"Yes, of course. Thank you Bob-" but again she was cut off by the shaking. This time however Bobbie was smiling widely in triumph.
"I thought I'd wait for that to get resolved," Donald said, peeking into the room as if he'd been hiding off stage. He had her bags and set them down by the steps to the loft, and handing her one of his thick cardigans he gestured at the patio door. "Come on, it's lovely out and we have oysters to shuck. Bobbie will bring the drinks to us there."
Donald had a surprisingly high voice and spoke with a lilting South African accent. He was a big handsome barrel-chested man like her father, but he was almost twenty years older and kept his grey hair buzzed to little more than a silver haze on his tan head. Her father had worked for him straight out of college and Donald had been his mentor and friend ever since.
"Did she tell you about hiking tomorrow?" He asked with a nervous glance back into the house.
"No?"
"Well brace yourself," he warned, as he handed her a towel and an oyster knife lowered himself into one of the deck chairs. Donald's cardigan was heavy and smelled like wood smoke, as she pulled it around herself. He pointed at the storm clouds out on the horizon. "She won't be deterred. It's a whole situation."
Leethie opened the cooler. There were two pecks of oysters on ice, still in their mesh sacks.
"Oh my God you guys are so awesome," Leethie laughed as she cut the heavy green mesh. "How are we going to eat all these?"
"As if we've never seen you eat oysters!" Bobbie laughed from the doorway, she held a tray of dirty martinis, each filled to the brim with vodka so cold it was cloudy and seemed almost viscus. "I've never met a girl who likes oysters more!"
Leethie twisted her knife and felt the chalky shell give. Prying it wide enough to explore the smooth domed interior of the shell with the blade. She cut the little animal free from the mother of pearl, before breaking the two half-shells apart. She went to hand it to Bobbie, who had set their drinks down but was waved to a platter of crushed ice and lemon slices.
"First a toast!" Bobbie ordered.
Careful not to spill its brine, she placed the oyster next to the two Donald had already shucked. She wiped her hands and set her dishtowel down so she could take the large conical glass from Bobbie. Careful to hold it level, she looked up at Donald, who raised his glass.
