Morgan’s alarm on her phone went off at four forty-five a.m., and she had half a mind to throw it across the room. Who in their right mind got up this early while on vacation? Shawn better have a very good reason for getting her up this early. Morgan had washed her hair the night before so all she had to do was take a quick rinse in the shower and pull her hair into a ponytail. She’d checked the weather last night and knew the temperature would be mild. She wore a sweatshirt over a T-shirt, jeans, and her hiking boots. She’d packed a small tote with a baseball cap, sunscreen, and her sunglasses, as well as a couple of bottles of water and small bags of mixed nuts for a snack. Shawn had been fairly secretive about this excursion, but she was fairly certain they’d be stopping for breakfast at least.
At five thirty on the dot, Shawn knocked on Morgan’s door. Just the sight of Shawn made Morgan’s heart race. She’d decided that she would talk to Shawn about her attraction, however she wasn’t against it happening organically. That was good because Morgan wasn’t sure if she’d be able to keep her hands, or lips, off of Shawn.
“Are you ready for your adventure, Ms. Campbell?”
“All set, Ms. Evans. Show me your Lake Tahoe.”
Shawn opened the passenger door for Morgan, closing it once she was safely inside. My, my. Shawn definitely knows how to act like a gentlewoman. Morgan had a feeling Shawn was talented in many areas.
Shawn started the car and looked over at Morgan. She looked like a kid headed to Disneyland. Even in the dark, Shawn’s smile was bright, and Morgan felt blessed to see this side of her. When they turned right on Highway 89 from their street, Morgan was a little disoriented. Although she’d been there for a week, she hadn’t ventured south of her cabin. Shawn had her bright headlights on as there were no other crazy people on the road at this time on a Sunday morning. Neither of them was really saying much. Morgan knew
her silence was due to not having a proper cup of coffee yet. Morgan felt Shawn’s silence might be due to her excitement. If Morgan had lived here, she was sure she’d be excited to show someone the sights as well.
A short time later, they pulled into the parking lot of Emerald Bay State Park. The sky was starting to turn from pitch-dark to a dark purple. The ridge of mountains east of the lake were rimmed in an orange-yellow hue that promised a spectacular daybreak.
“This is the best place to watch the sunrise. It’s not too busy now, but in about fifteen minutes, the parking lot will be packed so we’d better hurry.”
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” Shawn grabbed a blanket and thermos of coffee and led the way for the best view. Shawn navigated climbing the large boulders with ease. Morgan? Not so much.
“Hey, a little help here?”
Shawn turned around and sheepishly smiled. “Sorry. Hang on. Let me put our stuff down and I’ll come back and help.”
Shawn returned and guided Morgan around the large boulder and followed a dirt path to reach their destination, the back side of the rock had nooks that could be used as steps.
“Seriously, Shawn? We couldn’t have taken this way to begin with?”
Shawn shrugged. “Yeah, but this way isn’t as fun as climbing rocks.” Shawn looked like a child who was scolded for not cleaning up after herself.
“How did you do that with your hands full?”
Shawn spread out the blanket for them to sit on then held onto Morgan’s hand as she helped her sit. “Lots of practice, I guess. I’ve been doing it since I was a kid. I’d go explore the woods when I came to visit my grandparents, which included climbing a lot of rocks.”
“Your childhood sounds like it was a lot of fun coming up here.”
“It was. Here, let me pour you a cup of coffee.” Shawn pulled two paper coffee cups out of her small backpack, and she poured each of them a cup of the strong, hot liquid.
Morgan took her first sip of coffee for the morning, and she sighed once it warmed her throat. The sky continued to slowly lighten, the stars and moon faded, and Morgan shivered as a slight breeze of cold air tickled her face.
“Cold?”
“A little. Not too bad.”
Shawn took Morgan’s cup and placed it next to hers. “Here, sit in front of me.” Shawn spread her legs, and Morgan hesitated. Sweet Jesus. Shawn was slowly killing her, yet her pulse quickened despite being at death’s door. What Morgan wouldn’t give to feel the sensation of being between Shawn’s legs, and she was offering. She crawled closer then scooted back until her behind was nestled into Shawn’s center. While she’d been repositioning herself, Shawn pulled something out of her pack and opened it.
“What’s that?” Shawn placed it in front of Morgan and wrapped it around her.
“It’s a safety blanket. It will keep you warm.”
Morgan turned her head to look back at Shawn. “What will you use to keep yourself warm?”
Shawn smirked. “You.” Shawn wrapped her arms around Morgan. “Is this okay?”
Morgan nodded, not trusting her voice. She was sure it would be high and shaky, giving away more of Shawn’s effect on her. Morgan took a deep breath, the cold air nearly burning her lungs, but her insides were on fire. There she was, sitting between Shawn’s legs with her arms loosely around Morgan’s waist, waiting to watch the sunrise in one of the most beautiful places Morgan had ever seen. She felt like she was the lead in a rom-com film, or the protagonist in a romance novel.
“What did you do yesterday?”
Shawn’s words broke her out of her trance of waiting for the sun to dawn a new day.
“Nothing much. I meditated in the morning, did some yoga. I spent most of my afternoon sitting outside reading.”
“I tried meditating a few times, but it was too still for me, you know? I like to be active, and I feel like I get my peace when I’m kayaking on the lake or hiking through the wilderness. It’s still quiet, and I can still think while being active.”
“Meditation is new to me, and at first I had a hard time quieting my mind. But in a way, what you do is meditation. What do you think about while you’re active?”
Morgan felt Shawn shrug by the slight lift of her arms that were still around her waist.
“I don’t know. I guess I think about my family, how I miss my parents. I talk to my grandfather a lot, especially when I’m on the water.”
“How often do you see your parents?”
“Oh, about twice a year, but it’s usually them that come to see me. I’m always so busy with the diner so it’s hard to get away.”
“Don’t you go on vacations?”
“Not really. Why would I? I mean, look where I live. I don’t have a desire to go anywhere else. I prefer the mountains to the beach. Where was your last vacation?”
Morgan chuckled and leaned her head back on Shawn’s broad shoulder. “Here, actually. The first time I met you. Although the trip was cut short because there was a work emergency. That’s when I discovered Jess was cheating on me.”
Morgan felt Shawn’s arms tighten around her and she placed a kiss to Morgan’s temple.
“I can’t believe she did that. If you were my girlfriend, I’d never look at another woman.”
Morgan stayed quiet as she took to heart what Shawn said. For some reason, Morgan wanted to believe her. But as much as she felt like she’d been healing, the thought of Jess cheating on her still tore at her heart. She was still cautious of her well-being and her still fragile heart. She wasn’t interested in being with someone who was a player or couldn’t keep it in their pants when a pretty face came along. She wanted to love and be loved by a woman who would be faithful to her. She needed to try and trust again.
“I’m a believer in things happen for a reason. If I hadn’t gone down the rabbit hole after the breakup, I wouldn’t be here with you at this very moment. And this is exactly where I want to be right now. I really like that we’ve become friends.”
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now either. I mean, check out the sunrise.”
Morgan looked straight ahead and could see the top of the sun break the peak of the mountain. She’d heard some of their fellow sunrise watchers’ commentary, but honestly, no words could do it justice. Morgan watched as the sun slowly rose, bringing more yellow than orange to meet the purple sky. She wasn’t sure why, but she felt this was a turning point in her life. A peaceful sensation came over her, like she could see the colors more clearly, she was able to breathe easier, and she felt like she’d come home.
The feel of Shawn’s arms around her, Shawn’s chin resting on Morgan’s right shoulder as they watched the sunrise had Morgan feeling things she’d never felt before. She’d loved and lost a few women in her life, women who she felt could have been long-term, but she’d never felt this strongly for any woman as she felt for Shawn in that moment. She didn’t know if it was a fleeting moment, one captured in the beauty and stillness of the sun rising over the mountains, but Morgan felt like she needed to explore her feelings for Shawn.
The past two months, but particularly the past week, had been life-changing for Morgan. She felt like she’d grown mentally and emotionally so much that she felt like a new woman. One who wanted to do more for herself, do more for others somehow. She wasn’t sure what yet, but she was certain that would come to her when the time was right. She wanted to live life to its fullest, take chances, and embrace love. Morgan reached behind her and grabbed Shawn’s head as she turned her own.
“Kiss me, Shawn.”
Shawn turned a little more and slowly approached Morgan’s lips with her own. She didn’t question Morgan. She didn’t say a word. She just did what Morgan commanded of her, and Morgan thought that was very sexy. The anticipation alone made Morgan wet, and her clit twitched. When their lips finally met, Morgan felt the explosion of the sun beyond the ridge light up behind her eyelids. She opened her mouth slightly to allow Shawn’s tongue to slowly enter and touch her own tongue. Morgan sighed her pleasure, yet regretted the time and location. There were people around them, preventing Morgan from fully exploring Shawn’s mouth. She slowly ended the kiss but kept her eyes closed. She felt Shawn’s forehead meet her own and Shawn’s ragged breath tickle her skin.
“That was some kiss.”
Morgan’s laugh was shaky. Despite her wanting to take it slow, Shawn’s attention, her chivalry, her kiss was confusing Morgan. Right now, she wanted all of Shawn, future heartache be damned. “It sure was. And I want to do a lot more than kissing, but I’m really looking forward to you showing me more of your Tahoe.”
“Let’s go then.”
They stood and gathered their things, and once they were off the boulder, Morgan took Shawn’s hand in hers. It felt right, their fingers interlocked, fitting perfectly together. Shawn’s fingers squeezed hers as she turned back to smile at Morgan. That smile set off a heatwave throughout Morgan’s body, as if it was midday in the summer, and the sun was shining directly above. Some of the other spectators headed toward their cars now that the day’s opening show had ended. Others made their way across the street to the trail head for Eagle Falls. When they reached the car, Shawn opened the door for Morgan, and once she was inside, Shawn closed the door for her. Morgan kept her eyes on Shawn through the side mirror as she walked to the back of the car, opened the rear door, and deposited their belongings.
Shawn climbed into the driver’s side, started the car, and pulled out of the parking lot, then headed south again on Highway 89 toward the South Shore. Once they were on the road, Morgan boldly grabbed Shawn’s hand and held it in her lap. When Shawn looked at her, Morgan could see the question on Shawn’s face. Morgan smiled and winked before pulling Shawn’s hand up to her lips and kissed it.
“That sunrise was…I don’t have the words to describe it. Beautiful and amazing just aren’t strong enough adjectives.”
“I see the sunrise almost every morning from the diner’s windows, but I don’t think they’ve ever been as gorgeous as the one today.”
“Maybe it was the company.”
Shawn laughed and squeezed Morgan’s hand. “I have no doubt about it.”
They were quiet for a few minutes while Shawn maneuvered the hairpin turns leaving Emerald Bay. Once they’d reached flat road, Shawn brought Morgan’s hand to her mouth and kissed it as Morgan had done earlier.
“So, can we talk about the kisses?”
Morgan could hear the quiver in Shawn’s voice. Nerves? Arousal? Both? Morgan owed it to her how she’d been feeling of late, especially since she’d told her early on that she just wanted to be friends.
“Yes, of course.”
Moments of silence passed as did the pine and aspen trees out the passenger window.
“I’ve discovered some things about myself this week, which had a little to do with you. I’m forty-one years old, and I’ve worked hard my entire life. I have a few great friends and many acquaintances, but I don’t do a lot of things for myself. It seems I’m always going and going and never stopping long enough to enjoy life. I’ve always looked for the next client, the next sale, the next bonus check. This past week, I’ve realized there’s more to life than work. I’ve learned to discover the beauty in things, to be adventurous, and that’s because of you, Shawn. I want to be present, to live in the moment, and not let special things or people pass me by. That includes you.” Morgan took a deep breath, trying to slow her hammering heart. “I’m attracted to you, Shawn. I like the way you live your life. I like the way you love your family. I like how you love your dog.”
Shawn laughed, and the deep timbre in Shawn’s voice caused Morgan to smile.
“I know I’m only here for a little while longer, but we live only two hours apart. I’m hoping you’d be interested in dating me, to see if there’s something more between us, because I think there is.” Once Morgan had her say, she quieted to let Shawn voice her thoughts. Shawn’s silence was deafening to Morgan’s ears, and she feared she said too much too soon.
“I’m attracted to you too, Morgan. I’ve enjoyed my time with you.”
Morgan could feel a “but” coming on that would lead to Shawn’s denial.
“I do have concerns though. I want to eventually settle down with a woman I can fall asleep and wake up with in my arms. To fall in love with a woman I can share my life with. That’s my end goal.”
Morgan started to speak, but Shawn held up her hand, indicating she wasn’t finished.
“With that being said, I would like to see where things with us could go. The one thing I need from you though is complete honesty. If it’s not working out, then we let the other know. I’ll be honest with you, as well.”
Morgan felt like she could breathe again, and her body thrummed with excitement and possibility. “I agree to those terms, Ms. Evans. Shall we shake on it?”
Unplanned, yet simultaneously, they both started shaking and wiggling in their respective seats, causing them to burst out into nearly uncontrollable laughter. Shawn wiped the tears from her eyes.
“I have a better idea.”
Shawn pulled over into a turnout, placed the car in park, and leaned over the center console to fully envelop Morgan’s lips with her own. Morgan grabbed the sleeve over Shawn’s shoulder and pulled her closer. The feel of Shawn’s tongue gliding with her own made Morgan want all of Shawn, wanted her weight on Morgan’s body, wanted her sex filled with Shawn’s fingers, or perhaps a toy. Morgan wanted to grab Shawn’s naked ass, grip her fingers in the muscled flesh, and pull her closer, deeper into her.
“God, Shawn.” Morgan breathed heavily. “We need to stop, or I’ll demand you take me back to your cabin and fuck me for the rest of the time I’m here.” Morgan’s panties were soaked. That, and her rock-hard clit, would make for a lot of discomfort today.
“That sounds like a great idea. I’ll turn us around.” Shawn looked over her left shoulder to check for cars, and Morgan reached out to stop her.
“No, you promised me a drive around the lake, but first, I need you to feed me.”
Shawn looked at Morgan and had one eyebrow raised.
“Breakfast, Shawn. Feed me breakfast. Get your mind out of the gutter, dirty girl.”
“Trust me when I say you’ll like me dirty, baby.”
Morgan let out a whoosh of air. “Jesus.”
Shawn chuckled as she pulled back out on the roadway. On the drive to what Shawn called “the second-best breakfast place in Lake Tahoe,” Morgan studied Shawn’s hand in hers They were strong and sure, a little calloused, most likely from kayaking and mountain biking. Morgan noticed a few faint linear scars, prominent veins, and freckles under her tanned skin. Her nails were blunt and clean, her fingers thick. A lesbian’s wet dream come true. Morgan had to put a lot of effort into not imagining how they’d feel inside her, stroking slow and easy at first, morphing into fast and powerful to bring her to orgasm. Nope. Nuh-uh. Not going to think about that at all. She lowered her window to allow the crisp air to cool her down.
All during breakfast, Morgan and Shawn mostly spoke with their eyes. Shawn’s gaze was hungry, and not for food, Morgan assumed. She was fairly certain she was giving Shawn the same look. Morgan had never felt more conflicted in her life. She wanted both to enjoy the day and scenery with Shawn driving around the lake, yet she wanted to hurry back to Shawn’s cabin and have sex with her all day and night. She could be patient, but holy mother, if Shawn kept looking at her the way she was, she would just crawl into the back of the SUV and let Shawn have her.
After breakfast, Shawn suggested they go gamble for about an hour to let their food digest before going for a hike. Morgan wasn’t much of a gambler, that was always Jessica’s thing when they came up to South Lake Tahoe, but she didn’t mind playing a little video poker. Not more than five minutes after sliding a twenty-dollar bill in a video poker machine, her machine drew a royal flush on one hand. The bells whistling from the machine and the light flashing overhead had Morgan and Shawn going crazy, jumping up and down. A smattering of people gathered around despite the casino being nearly empty on an early Sunday morning. Morgan had won a progressive jackpot worth over a thousand dollars. Shawn hit the Cash Out button and took the ticket that was dispensed, placed it in her wallet, and slid another twenty into the machine.
“Hey! That’s my ticket, you slot machine jackpot thief.”
Shawn laughed and spoke into Morgan’s ear. “I’m just keeping it safe until we leave. Then you can take it to the cashier and get your money. Now hush and keep playing.”
They spent the next forty-five minutes playing, and Morgan had won around another two hundred dollars while Shawn broke even. As they walked to the ticket kiosk to cash out her winning tickets, Morgan wrapped her arm around Shawn’s waist and pulled her closer.
“I think I can become a professional gambler. This is easy!”
Shawn nodded. “I think you’re right. I’m all for anything that will keep you here.”
Morgan pulled Shawn to a stop and faced her before giving Shawn a chaste kiss since they were in public. Shawn’s firm and slightly chapped lips felt wonderful against Morgan’s, and she wanted to kiss Shawn as much as she could. Once they got back to Shawn’s car, she and Shawn kissed again, this time with more heat. Morgan felt like a sixteen-year-old girl making out with the hottest girl in the school. Shawn gripped her waist and squeezed it like a cat pawing a soft blanket. Her clit throbbing synced up with Shawn’s gentle movements. Morgan moved her hand and found the inside of Shawn’s right thigh inching slowly toward her center. Shawn let go of Morgan and stopped her hand from progressing farther.
“God, you have no idea what you’re doing to me, Morgan. I’m about to come in my jeans.”
Morgan could feel her eyes widen and her breathing quicken. “Yes, let’s try for that.” She started moving her hand again and Shawn stopped it. Again.
“Nuh-uh. The first time we have sex, we’ll be completely naked in a soft bed so I can take my time with you.”
“Shawn, you’re killing me here.”
Shawn picked up Morgan’s wandering hand and brought it to her lips, sucking her index finger into her mouth, making Morgan’s stomach flip. She felt her eyelids grow heavy with lust, and desperately needed Shawn to relieve her of her aching need.
“What a way to go though, right? I promise, I won’t leave you unsated when the time comes.”
“I’m holding you to that, Evans. Fine. Start the damn car and let’s continue on.” Morgan smiled to let Shawn know she understood, but inside, she was a complete mess. If Shawn’s kisses completely undid her this way, Morgan thought she might actually die when they finally had sex.
The rest of the drive was incredible. They stopped at a few vista points so Morgan could take pictures. The sun was shining high above, the cloudless sky a deep blue that matched the lake water. They pulled into Sand Harbor parking lot where they watched the sunset two nights ago, and they went for a walk along a newly built pedestrian trail that rimmed three miles of the eastern shore. To see the sights, the white boulders in the water and the colors of the water in the daylight left Morgan in awe. Greens morphed into turquoise, which morphed into a deep blue, and Shawn explained the change in colors had to do with the depth.
They strolled hand in hand, enjoying the light breeze that ruffled Shawn’s thick hair. Morgan took a deep breath, smelling the mixture of pine and vanilla that Morgan now associated with the clean air and trees of Tahoe. They watched a few sailboats and motorboats dash across the water, leaving crystal wakes behind them.
By the time they got back to Shawn’s car, Morgan was starving, her breakfast long worked off by all the hiking and walking they’d done. Shawn promised her the best lunch in the best diner in all of Lake Tahoe. They pulled into the parking lot of Ray’s Diner, and Morgan looked to Shawn.
“So, how do you want to do things. Are we walking in as friends or potential lovers?”
Shawn’s eyes grew dark, and Morgan had an idea of what her answer would be.
“There’s no ‘potential’ about it. It’s just a matter of time.”
Morgan fanned her face. “Oh, my.”
Shawn chuckled as she exited the car, walked to the other side, and opened the door for Morgan. Shawn grabbed her hand and led her through the door to the diner that smelled of cheeseburgers and French fries, the evidence of breakfast long gone. They waved at the servers and to Melvin and Shorty through the pass window. Shawn led them to a corner table in the back of the restaurant that was in front of a window where they could continue their day with a lakeside view.
“How’s it going, boss? You couldn’t find a classier place to take this gorgeous woman to?”
Morgan felt herself blush in front of the server she knew by face but not by name. Shawn ignored the comment.
“Morgan, this soon-to-be-fired lady is Kerrie. Kerrie, this is Morgan.”
“It’s so nice to finally know your name, Kerrie. And don’t worry…Shawn knows better than to fire her best employee.”
Melvin and Shorty stepped out from behind the kitchen door, and one of them cleared his throat.
“The name’s Melvin, ma’am, and I believe I’m the best employee here.” Melvin’s white T-shirt was stained with grease from running the grill. The other gentleman stood well over six feet tall and built like a brick house shoved Melvin out of the way an extended his hand. “I’m Shorty, ma’am, and I think I’m the best employee here.”
Morgan laughed while Shawn shook her head. “It’s nice to meet all of you. If I may offer an opinion, the food I’ve had here has been nothing short of spectacular.” Morgan looked at Kerrie. “And the service is exemplary. Shawn is lucky to have the three of you working with her.”
The smiles on each of their faces told Morgan they loved her opinion.
“In that case, what can we get you? It’s on the house.”
Shawn’s eyebrows raised into her forehead. “Hey! We don’t give away free food.”
Kerrie stepped closer to Morgan and slid her arm around her shoulders. “Well, boss, we’re giving you the check to pay, so technically it’s on the house since you own the joint.”
“If anybody pays, it should be Morgan. She took twelve hundred dollars of Harrah’s money on video poker this morning.”
“Great job, Morgan.” Kerrie’s hand squeezed Morgan’s shoulder, and she got nods from Melvin and Shorty. Morgan and Shawn were the only two customers in the diner since they only had an hour to closing. Once Shawn suggested the club sandwich to Morgan, Melvin and Shorty went back to the kitchen to get started on their late lunches while Kerrie filled two glasses of iced tea for them.
“You know…” Shawn leaned closer to Morgan and placed her hand on her knee. “I wanted to take you out for a nice dinner tonight, but I’m not sure we’re going to have any room left in our stomachs after we eat the monster sandwiches.”
Morgan placed her hand over Shawn’s and guided it up her leg, closer to where she needed, wanted to be touched. “I have an appetite for something other than food tonight.”
“Christ.” Morgan’s heat made Shawn want to keep her hand where it was, but when Kerrie brought their plates to the table, Shawn withdrew her hand and sat up tall in the chair.
Morgan took a piping hot fry off her plate, blew on it to cool it off, then dipped it in ranch dressing. She slowly brought it up to her mouth and licked off a drip of the dressing. Just the sight of the tip of Morgan’s tongue had Shawn thinking of what that tongue could do to her.
“I say we box up this food and have it for a snack later.”
Morgan took a bite of the fry and slowly shook her head. “Now why would I want to do that?” Morgan took a small slice of bacon from her sandwich and took a delicate bite, showing a bit of her teeth.
Shawn was tempted to spread a little bacon grease on her if the flavor made Morgan do that with her mouth. Lunch took longer than it should have due to Morgan’s teasing, but Shawn didn’t mind the show. As it got near closing time, Morgan used some of her earlier winnings to buy their lunch and leave a very generous tip. They bid their good-byes to Kerrie, Melvin, and Shorty.
“Do you want to come over for a while or go back to your cabin?” Shawn stole a glance while trying to keep her eyes on the road.
“I think I’ll go back to the cabin.” Morgan’s answer disappointed Shawn. They’d had a great time together, and Shawn wasn’t ready for it to end.
“I want to get cleaned up then I’ll come back over to your place, if that’s okay.”
Now we’re talking. “Yes, I’d love that. I’ll take doggo for a walk and wear off some of his energy.” Shawn pulled into Morgan’s driveway and turned off the ignition. She hurried over to open the door for Morgan and held her hand as they walked to the door.
“I’ll see you soon, right?”
“How about two hours? You can go for a walk and get cleaned up.”
“Yes.” Shawn grabbed Morgan’s hips and pulled her closer. “I can’t wait.” She kissed Morgan. Gentle. Soft. Until Morgan wrapped her arms around Shawn’s neck and deepened the kiss. They went at it for minutes, maybe hours. Who knew? Time spent with Morgan had a way of being distorted especially when she was kissing and teasing Shawn. They finally broke free, both gasping for breath, and Shawn felt her legs might give out.
“Um, yeah, so I’ll see you in a couple of hours.” Shawn nearly tripped as she walked backward toward her car, unable to pry her eyes from the stunning woman standing on the front porch. Shawn fumbled her keys as she tried to put them in the ignition. She would definitely need to get a grip on her emotions before Morgan came over later, but would that even be possible? At that point, Shawn realized she really didn’t care.