Women of the Dark Streets Read online

  Grinning, Eve backed away from the embrace she surely felt coming, then withdrew a rolled blanket from her pack. She spread it on the ground in front of them before nonchalantly tugging her T-shirt over her head. Selene gaped at the ease with which Eve displayed her lacy black bra.

  “I told you, we’re alone.” Eve unhooked her bra and tossed it aside. “Let’s go swimming.”

  Selene swallowed at the sight of Eve’s bare breasts. Two months after surviving a brutal attack, Eve’s body had healed. The only physical scar that remained was a thin slice along her cheek. Regaining equilibrium in a drastically changed life—one that included a supernatural girlfriend—had been more challenging. Yet at that moment, baring her body without hesitation, Eve glowed with a new, radiant energy.

  “You’re gorgeous.” Selene dragged her gaze down the center of Eve’s belly, eager for every inch of bare flesh. When Eve pushed her jeans to her ankles, Selene nearly pounced as the fragrant scent of desire mingled with the heady smell of the outdoors. “Let’s swim later—and make love now. Here on the blanket or inside on that bed. Your choice.”

  Eve’s eyes sparkled. “My choice is to swim now, make love later. Unless you honestly can’t wait.”

  Selene would never take advantage of Eve’s willingness to satisfy her uncontrolled full-moon cravings. “I can wait.” Hearing the pout in her voice, she added, “I can’t promise I won’t be just a little impatient.”

  Eve slipped off her panties, now gloriously nude. “Swimming will be fun. Besides, a little anticipation always makes sex better.”

  Selene couldn’t deny that. She quickly shed her clothing and followed Eve to the edge of the river, then laughed as Eve dipped a toe into the water and yelped. “Cold?”

  “Refreshing.”

  “I see.” Selene submerged her entire foot. It was cool, but not enough to provoke a reaction. “I don’t think I’m as temperature-sensitive as you are.”

  “Just one more super-awesome thing about being Selene Rhodes.” Taking a deep breath, Eve walked into the water until it reached her calves. “Yikes!”

  Bolstered by Eve’s words, Selene decided to show off. She charged into the water, diving beneath the surface and swimming a short distance away. Coming up sputtering, she laughed at Eve’s incredulous expression. “Definitely not as temperature-sensitive.”

  “Now you’re just rubbing it in.”

  “Come here.” Selene held out her arms. “I promise to warm you up.”

  “I don’t doubt it.” Eve hissed as she took slow, torturous steps deeper into the river. “Seriously? You don’t feel how cold this is?”

  “Right now cold is the last thing I feel.” Selene didn’t bother hiding her blatant appraisal of Eve’s pink nipples, which had pebbled and hardened as though begging to be sucked. Eve shivered, then slipped beneath the water to swim the short distance between them.

  When she surfaced, Eve leapt into Selene’s waiting embrace. “I appreciate the very hot thoughts you just had. Not sure I could’ve taken that little dip without them.”

  Selene kissed Eve’s shoulder. “You felt that?”

  “Of course.” Eve tilted her hips, pressing their lower bodies together. “I feel everything with you.”

  Selene shivered, and not from the water. “You’re doing a poor job of keeping my mind off sex.”

  “Sorry.” Cuddling closer, Eve looped her arms around Selene’s neck and made eye contact. “So what does it feel like to swim as an aquatic animal?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Seriously?” Eve seemed genuinely surprised. “You’ve never tried?”

  “No.” Selene shrugged, holding Eve tightly against her chest. “Haven’t really had the opportunity—it’s not often that I can swim in complete privacy.”

  “Well…” Eve backed out of Selene’s embrace, gesturing around them. “You can now.”

  Eve had already seen her shift a few times, but the prospect still flooded Selene with shyness. “I don’t know…”

  “Show me.” Eve traced her finger down the length of Selene’s arm. “Please.”

  Embarrassed, Selene said, “What do you want me to be?”

  Eve’s face softened. “Sweetheart, I don’t want to force you. If you’re not comfortable—”

  “I’m comfortable.” Selene started to say more, then stopped. Unable to explain how she was feeling, she allowed Eve to experience her conflicted emotions instead. Eve stood quietly, as though listening, then nodded.

  “There’s no reason to be shy. I’m not going to judge you, I won’t freak out, and I definitely, definitely will not love you any less.” Eyes shining, Eve said, “Honestly, Selene, don’t you believe in us yet?”

  She did. She believed Eve loved and accepted her, wholeheartedly. But years of shame weren’t so easy to overcome.

  Eve inhaled. “Oh, so that’s it.” She caressed Selene’s arm. “You saved my life, more than once, because of what you are. Embrace it. Own it. To hell with what anyone has said—or made you feel—in the past.”

  Knowing Eve was right, Selene closed her eyes, recalled a recent article in National Geographic, and swiftly became a pink Amazonian river dolphin. Instinctively she sucked in a large breath through the blowhole on top of her head, then dove beneath the water and tested her fins against the river’s gentle current. The sound of Eve’s delighted laughter above the surface bolstered her enthusiasm, inspiring her to swim quick circles around her lover.

  “That’s brilliant, Selene.”

  Eve’s unabashed joy coaxed Selene to the surface. Rolling onto her back, she flapped her tail fin in Eve’s direction, as though waving. Thrilled by the giggles that move elicited, Selene surged beneath the water once more. After building up speed, she launched herself into the air, executing a flip that probably looked even clumsier than it felt. Deciding that practice makes perfect, she tried another flip, this one flawless.

  Eve cheered as Selene leapt from the water one last time, reverted to human form at the apex of her leap, then splashed noisily upon reentry. She paddled over to Eve beaming so hard her face ached.

  “Pretty good?” Eve clearly knew the answer.

  “Pretty fucking awesome.”

  “I figured.” Taking slow, deliberate steps, Eve approached Selene with a predatory glint in her eyes. “Want to check out that bed now?”

  *

  They didn’t actually make it inside until hours later, after the sun sank in the sky and the evening breeze raised gooseflesh on Eve’s naked skin. Though they had been making love for hours, red-hot passion eventually gave way to lazy touching and murmured conversation.

  “Let’s skip dinner and go to bed,” Eve said. She’d barely crossed the threshold when Selene picked her up and hoisted her over her shoulder. Laughing, Eve reached out to slap Selene’s bare bottom moments before being tossed onto the mattress. Eve came up on her elbows, warmth blooming in her chest as Selene settled in at her side.

  “I love you,” Eve murmured.

  Selene’s hand fluttered to her chest. “I feel it.” She rested her other hand on the slope of Eve’s breast. “Do you feel how much I love you?”

  The rush of Selene’s adoration threatened to sweep Eve away completely. “Oh, yes.”

  Selene dipped her fingers into the valley between Eve’s breasts. The soft touch curled Eve’s toes in pleasure. Selene smirked.

  “You look pretty pleased with yourself.” Eve edged closer. “Feeling better about this weekend?”

  Selene’s mirth faded. “Sure. A little.”

  “You know you can’t fool me, right?”

  Selene snorted. “Tell me about it.”

  “Don’t worry about the moon.” Eve nipped at Selene’s clavicle. “You were magnificent earlier, in the water. So beautiful.” Mild disbelief rippled through Selene, making Eve frown. “I could’ve watched you forever.”

  Selene shook her head, but a ghost of a smile played across her lips. “I still can’t get over the fact that yo
u’re okay with…everything.”

  “Okay with it? It’s wonderful.” Remembering how it felt to watch Selene, graceful and shimmering beneath the water, Eve sighed. “I’d give anything to spend even five minutes with your ability. The hard part would be deciding what to try first. To experience life from so many perspectives would be a dream come true. You’re blessed, sweetheart, and I could just pinch you for not seeing that.”

  Selene projected a jumble of emotion—shame, embarrassment, and sheepish realization. Eve’s goal for the weekend was to help Selene look at her ability in a new way. She sensed they were on the right track.

  “I’ve been foolish, haven’t I? Treating this like a curse?” Selene stared at the ceiling, tracing circles around Eve’s navel with her fingertip. Melancholy shimmered from her to Eve. “Before the moon started changing me, I loved shifting. All it took was that first transformation to convince me I was a monster.” She swallowed audibly. “I never even doubted it before I met you.”

  Eve met Selene’s eyes. “How could something that allowed you to save my life twice be a curse?”

  “It couldn’t.”

  “You’re a superhero, Selene.” Eve kissed Selene’s top lip, then the bottom. “Deal with it.”

  Selene kissed her harder, sliding her hand between Eve’s thighs and stroking gently. She slipped inside Eve’s folds with deft fingers, skimming across swollen, oversensitive flesh that had already been the source of so much mutual pleasure over the course of the day. Three months in, Eve was still astonished by their sexual connection. Having never been multiorgasmic before, she now regularly lost track of how many times she climaxed in a given day. Eve let her legs fall open and surrendered to the exquisite sensation of their otherworldly intimacy.

  Selene broke away to breathe. Her hand never faltered, rubbing slow circles over Eve’s labia, around her clit, before venturing lower to tease her opening. “I’m going to make us come again.”

  Eve grinned. There was something delicious about knowing that her orgasm would trigger one in her lover. She cupped Selene’s breast, rubbing her nipple lightly. The stimulation would intensify their mutual pleasure, and quite frankly, she found it difficult not to touch Selene.

  “Watch,” Selene whispered in her ear. Eve gazed down at the sight of Selene’s slim, feminine hand working between her thighs. She shivered, then giggled when Selene trembled in sympathy. “You are so sexy.”

  Selene pushed a single finger inside, both of them groaning at the snug fit. “And I am one lucky dog. Literally.”

  Eve’s laughter turned into a breathy moan. “Don’t stop.”

  “I won’t,” Selene said. She didn’t.

  *

  The next morning, Eve woke to an empty bed. She immediately forced her sleep-fogged mind to the task of finding Selene. Though she didn’t understand how their connection worked, she trusted it. Their bond allowed her to feel Selene’s mood even at a distance, and worked almost like a magnet, pulling Eve to her at all times.

  Dressing quickly, Eve went downstairs, then out the back door. She folded her arms over her chest and scanned the surrounding redwoods. Selene was close, but Eve didn’t see her. She walked toward the river, then stopped when a good-sized turtle with yellow spots on its head climbed on shore. Her heart raced when the turtle morphed swiftly upward, revealing Selene in all her naked glory.

  “The strange thing about being a turtle,” Selene said conversationally, “is the breathing. Took me a minute to get used to that.”

  Eve loved turtles and happened to know a bit about their physiology. “Buccal pumping. Turtles pull air into their mouths, then push it into the lungs via oscillations of the throat floor. They also contract the abdominal muscles that cover the posterior opening of the shell to draw air into their lungs. Similar to the mammalian diaphragm.” Noticing Selene’s amusement, Eve corralled her inner geek. “Fascinating creatures.”

  “Complicated, sounds like.” Selene stopped in front of her, lush and gorgeous in the morning light. “I don’t like losing control. Probably never will. But you’re right. If I don’t embrace the good with the bad, I’ll always be miserable.”

  “And we don’t want that.”

  “No, we don’t.” Selene stepped closer, tracing her finger over Eve’s chest. “Honestly, knowing that you love this about me makes it a whole lot easier to love myself.”

  “Good.” Eve shivered beneath her touch.

  Selene stepped away, leaving Eve cold with her absence. Seconds later, Selene returned and offered Eve the backpack that had been sitting on the riverbank. “Put this on.”

  Eve obeyed. She had no idea what Selene had planned, but she was breathless in anticipation. When Selene shifted into a large black horse with a long, wavy mane and tail, Eve gasped.

  She was gorgeous—and intimidating.

  Selene ambled closer and lowered her massive body until she rested on her belly. When Eve didn’t react, she whinnied, tossing her head back and forth playfully.

  Startled, Eve said, “You want me to ride you?” Selene neighed this time. “I’m actually a little…cautious about horses.”

  Selene literally rolled her eyes.

  “Okay, now that’s just fucked up.” Chewing her bottom lip, Eve took a tentative step forward and petted Selene’s mane. “This is the perfect opportunity to get more comfortable with horses, right? After all, I’m pretty sure you won’t throw me or turn around to bite my ankle.”

  Selene tossed her head again.

  Aware that Selene was trying to offer her a gift, Eve pushed aside her anxiety about riding such a large animal. This was Selene, after all.

  “Okay,” Eve whispered. Gathering her courage, she grasped a handful of mane and climbed onto Selene’s back. Selene stood slowly, rising to her full height with conscious grace. “Okay.” Eve tightened her grip when Selene took a few confident steps forward. “I can do this.”

  She didn’t have to hear Selene speak to know what she would say: We can do this.

  *

  Selene had never had a rider. Hell, she’d never ever been a horse. So she was surprised how natural it felt, how comfortable. Even slightly arousing, carrying the woman she loved on her back and giving her access to an animal she had never been comfortable around. Eve nearly vibrated atop her, expelling bursts of innocent joy as she exclaimed over the beauty of the surrounding redwoods, one hand fisted in Selene’s mane.

  So much had changed since Eve entered her life. Loving, and being loved, made her a different person. One who simply couldn’t hate herself the way she once had. Selene had no idea how to repay Eve for the gift of growing self-acceptance, but she planned to spend the rest of her life trying.

  Eve rubbed a hand along Selene’s neck. “Thank you, Selene. This is a moment I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

  The sincerity of Eve’s hushed whisper sent shivers racing down Selene’s spine, making her skin jump and twitch. She slowed for a step, overcome by the intensity of their emotional connection. Only a day away from the full moon, her senses were heightened. So was her physical need for Eve. She had no idea how to contend with the flood of almost crippling want that coursed through her veins, so she simply stopped and stood still.

  “Why don’t you let me dismount?” Once again, Eve was on her wavelength.

  Selene knelt, taking care not to jostle Eve too badly. Her control was always tenuous during this stage of the lunar cycle, so she wanted to be extra careful with her precious cargo. Eve slid off and backed away a couple of steps.

  Selene reverted to human form, enjoying the rush of shifting in a whole new way. Primal energy throbbed between her thighs. What had been desire exploded into need. It took every bit of Selene’s willpower not to rush to Eve and claim her body. Eve had never complained before, but Selene didn’t want to be too aggressive.

  Eve removed her shirt, tossing it onto the dirt. Selene drank in the rise and fall of her heaving chest, her flushed skin. Eve beckoned her forward. “Come h
ere.”

  Selene’s feet moved automatically. She took Eve by the elbows and pulled her into a passionate but restrained kiss. Eve gripped her biceps and squeezed hard, holding nothing back. The fire in Eve ignited an answering flame in Selene, rendering her powerless against the crippling need to take Eve hard and fast.

  Wholly in synch, Eve tore her mouth away and said, “Did you bring a blanket?”

  Selene grunted, scrabbling at the backpack’s zipper like a clumsy teenager. Giggling, Eve took over, quickly extracting and laying out their blanket. Then she grabbed Selene’s arm and pulled her down onto the ground, where they came together with open mouths, dueling tongues, and roaming hands.

  Eve rolled them over so she was on top, pinning Selene’s wrists above her head. Then her hand was between Selene’s thighs and she entered her roughly, in one sharp thrust. The intrusion stole Selene’s breath and sent toe-curling pleasure rocketing through her body. Satisfaction glimmered in Eve’s eyes.

  “You like it rough?” Eve rasped, thrusting into her again, deeper.

  Selene nodded. Eve had stolen her ability to speak.

  “Good.” Eve grabbed Selene’s hand and guided it down the front of her pants. “So do I.”

  *

  Not long after, they lay on their backs and panted up at the trees, bodies slick and sore from their frenzied lovemaking. Sated, Selene turned her head and regarded Eve warmly. There were so many things she wanted to tell her, but words seemed inadequate. Luckily, she didn’t need to say something for Eve to know it.

  Eve grabbed her hand and squeezed. “I’ll remember this, too.”

  Selene finally found her voice. “So will I.”

  “Do you think there are others like you?”

  The question startled Selene. It came from out of nowhere, stirring emotions she hadn’t felt in a long time. “I don’t know.”

  “You must wonder.”

  “I used to wonder all the time. After a while it seemed easier not to hope. I’ve never seen any evidence of others. Then again, I don’t make myself known to others. So perhaps there are more, hidden like me.”