Into the Sunrise

Chapter 2-3

Zoe and Lorna left the bar. It was around eleven P.M., and they’d had three beers apiece. Zoe wouldn’t call herself tipsy, though she didn’t have a great head for beer. She should have stopped at two, but she hadn’t wanted to leave the bar. Lorna intrigued her. That was the word. The woman was friendly, but it was on the surface. A nice shine on a suit of armor. So much locked away safe and out of sight behind it.

“Let me walk you to your door,” Zoe said.

“Then who’ll walk you to yours?” Lorna’s cheeks were a little flushed in the light from the motel rooms arranged in a square around the parking lot. The beers had loosened her up, but she must have a better tolerance than Zoe. Her manner was still guarded.

Zoe shrugged. “Let’s take one problem at a time.” They walked. Zoe didn’t resist the urge to link arms with Lorna the way she had coming out of the diner earlier. In a moment they reached Lorna’s door. An SUV stood outside it. Lorna fished in her purse for the room key and found it. She smiled at Zoe.

“It’s been great to meet you, Zoe. Maybe we’ll see each other in Vegas.”

“Yeah…Maybe…”

She saw Lorna flash a glance at the diner and the bar, both still open and lit up. People around. “Do you…want to come in for a minute?” Her face was unreadable in the darkness. Did she want more than to share a coffee and some more friendly chat? “I have snacks in my room if you want to…”

“Sure.” Zoe had no interest in snacks. Lorna turned away and opened the door. Zoe followed her in, blinking when Lorna turned the lights on. The room was neater than Zoe’s, with most of Lorna’s things tidied away in the suitcase that stood on the folding stand. A laptop bag stood on the dresser along with a hairbrush and a few bits of makeup. Just passing through, the room said. Don’t get comfortable.

They were both passing through. The odds of accidentally running into each other in Vegas were small. There was only tonight to act on what she felt. If they’d both been settled somewhere, same town, nearly neighbors, Zoe would have taken it slower. But they only had tonight. Lorna turned to her, and Zoe stepped into her arms, lifted her face as Lorna bent her head, and their lips met.

Lorna’s purse thumped to the floor, and she pulled Zoe closer, heat and passion surprising from one so cool and reserved. Banked fires inside the armor, as Zoe had suspected. After a moment Lorna pulled away and stared down at Zoe, breathing fast. She was wide-eyed.

“I haven’t…for a long time.”

“It’s okay,” Zoe said. There was a long story there, she was sure, but she didn’t want words. Actions. Kisses. “Think of this as one of the adventures you want to have.”

“Adventures…yes.”

They kissed again, and Zoe ventured a hand down Lorna’s back, to stroke into the hollow of the base of her spine, then trace rivets and pockets on her jeans. The ass was as firm as Zoe had expected and hoped.

“No, wait,” Lorna gasped and pulled away. She stepped back from Zoe, leaving her feeling cold and bereft. “I can’t…not now. I just left…” She stopped, then went on in a calmer voice. “This isn’t the right time.”

“We won’t have another time.”

“I know. I’m sorry, I can’t explain.”

Damn. She fought down the disappointment. It had been a nice evening anyway. More fun than watching TV in her room. “Okay. I’ll get out of here then. You have a safe trip to Long Island.”

“And you to…”

“To wherever.” Zoe blew her a kiss and left. Not quite ready for adventures yet.