Hidden Love
By : Autumn Blackwell
Chapter 1
DJ rounded the corner to make a stop at the local women’s bar. Hearing the music booming from the doors, she knew that the bar was packed. Making her way past the long line of women waiting to get in she stopped and said her hello’s to the bouncers at the door.
“Heya DJ How goes it tonight?”
“Nothing but the usual, Robbie. How’s business?” The raven-haired woman shifted her feet waiting to be let in so she could go and get a drink.
“Business is the same as it always is. You carrying tonight?” At that last comment, DJ thought to herself and smirked, ‘And wouldn’t you like to know where it is this time…’
“Business is business just like you said and of course I am. Am I ever not carrying?” Giving Robbie a lop-sided grin she looked down at her feet and back up to make eye contact. This was the worst part about being known. A little small talk here and a little small talk there and then there was business, nothing but business. ‘When did I lose sight of having my own life?’
“No trouble tonight. Okay?” Robbie brought DJ out of her own thoughts and she looked up at him to let him know that she was listening. Robbie knew that if he gave her a hard time it would be his job at stake but he also knew that he had to do his job. His boss had always made sure that all of the bouncers knew his business partners. So therefore Robbie had to let the boss’s friends and partners inside the club no matter what.
“Thanks man.” DJ gave him a ten-dollar tip and made her way through the open doors. It was the type of bar that made you feel at home. Good music, good booze, and by the end of the night, a good time. Walking up to the end of the bar she ordered her first drink and sat down to enjoy it.
Five minutes later the bartender came back and said she had an admirer. Shaking her head about the absurdity of this, she looked down at herself. DJ was about five foot eleven inches with long dark, almost black hair and blue eyes. She realized that she hadn’t dressed up for the night and had decided to wear a pair of fitting black slacks, a lavender silk shirt with a black blazer, and a pair of her black combat boots. For not wearing her usual best she concluded that she didn’t look half bad. Smirking to herself and thinking, ‘Heh, and by the end of the night the woman still won’t know my name.’ That was the way it had to be with her. She couldn’t get close to anyone in fear that they would be put in danger and that would only lead to putting herself at risk as well.
DJ had always been told that she was mysterious by anyone who wished to get close to her. Which she chalked up to the protection of herself and her heart. The bartender came back around and she ordered another drink.
Grabbing her new drink she decided to mingle a bit. She casually made her way to the other side of the bar near the deejay. The music was hot tonight and so were the ladies. Playing a bit of everything it gave all the patrons of the bar something to really get down with and enjoy. She stopped off at the back bar, and dropped her glass off. She made her way out onto the dance floor to dance with some of those beautiful ladies.
After dancing with a few good looking women and not being overly impressed, she decided it was time for another drink and went back to the bar with her tab. She signaled to the bartender to bring her another Jack and Coke as she propped one of her feet on the bar stool next to her. She lit up a cigarette and savored the first drag.
Sipping her drink and getting lost in her thoughts she was brought out of her reverie by one of her favorite songs. Tapping her foot to the music and smoking her cigarette, the memories came flowing in and DJ realized she needed to get laid. ‘What a perfect place to be to find someone,’ Smirking, she put her cigarette out and slowly turned around to look at the crowd. She had a thing for blondes ever since … Well, ever since one special blonde had walked into and out of her life.
While DJ scanned the crowd she signaled to the bartender for another drink. ‘What is this my fourth or fifth?’ Shaking her head, she figured it didn’t matter since she would be leaving early in the morning. Traveling was always lonely for the raven-haired beauty but she had gotten used to it.
Turning fully around she rested back against the bar, her clear blue eyes caught the back of a very short blonde in the middle of the dance floor. In a heart beat she knew who it was but said to herself ‘It couldn’t be, she doesn’t dance.’
The bartender came back with DJ’s drink and said, ”She’s a beauty, isn’t she?” Throwing the bartender a sideways smile she turned her attention back to the dance floor. While reasoning with herself about how this woman is not who she appears to be, she noticed how high the slits in the blonde’s dress were and that her hair was longer. She was dancing with a tall dark-haired woman, but not close enough that DJ felt she would be intruding. Just by going over there, the dark-haired woman would know not to mess with her or the blonde. The bartender interrupted DJ’s thoughts and said, “Some woman have all the luck.”
Throwing back the last swallow of her drink DJ was becoming very intrigued while she watched. The song that started to play caused the blonde woman to fall into its intoxicating beat with her hips, not missing any. Watching this display of sexuality before her caused her to stare all the more. The petite woman was starting to drive DJ out of her mind. ‘Now or never,’ she thought to herself as she finally decided to go up to her.
Coming up behind the blonde, she slowly slipped into sync with the movements of the stranger’s hips. The slow beat drove them closer together, and when the woman noticed that she had someone dancing with her she slowly reached back and put her hands on DJ’s hips to help her get into the groove. Dancing with each other seemed to come naturally and the beat was like their heart beats driving them further and deeper into the music.
Getting caught up in the beats, DJ caught a whiff of the woman’s perfume and immediately tensed. She took the blonde’s arm and swung her in a circle so that they were facing each other. What she saw, her mind did not want to grasp. Before the beautiful woman could open her eyes from their trance, DJ locked the woman’s hips to hers and moved her into a slow circular dip. She carefully and seductively pulled the woman back up and turned her around, neither of them missing a beat.
When the song changed, DJ went on an adventure in her mind and followed the new beat wherever it was going to take her. Slowly strutting around the blonde, she tightly pulled them face-to-face but never once did the woman open her eyes. ‘I wonder who she is wishing I was….’
Moving to the sensual beat, the couple got closer and closer. DJ dropped her head to her dance partner’s shoulder and sensually started to slide her hands up and down the woman’s hips. It took all her control to keep herself from brushing her lips along the soft skin of the neck presented to her. Each beat, each heart beat sent passions rising.
DJ slipped her leg in between the blonde’s thighs and dipped her in a circular motion again, but this time the blonde was braced with a strong thigh at her center. While her hands were wrapped around the petite woman’s back, she repeated the motion back to the other side. The blonde knowing that she was held by the strength of her dance partner let her body fall completely into the dip and dropped her hands so that her fingertips grazed the floor.
Slowly pulling her partner up, DJ felt the woman’s trustful dead weight on her leg and decided it was playtime. She began to press and flex her thigh into the women’s sex as she moved her to a beat made all on their own. Crouching to the floor while at the same time bringing the blonde upright and face-to-face with her, DJ brought them back up to a standing position. As the song came to an end, she whispered in the woman’s ear, “Did you miss me?”
Raspy with lust, DJ’s voice had a low, velvety soft timbre to it. The blonde was afraid to look up, afraid to be wrong, and most of all, afraid that she was right.
Laine slowly raised her emerald eyes to meet blue. “Fancy meeting you here.”
The walls around DJ’s heart fell for one moment in time. The blonde’s voice came across her ears like fingertips on silk. The woman that she could never have was standing in front of her with the look of innocent hero-worship that she always remembered. Grabbing Laine by the shoulders she pulled her into a tight but tender hug.
Laine knew that this meeting was completely by chance, and had to ask, “Are you here for good, or for business and just passing through?”
DJ broke the connection and started to walk away. “I am here for business … and just passing through.” Afraid to see another hurt look on Laine’s face she walked to the bar and ordered herself another drink. Turning around hoping that her old friend had followed her, she asked with a sparkle in her eye, “Can I buy you a drink gorgeous?”
Laine just stared into a pair of blue eyes that haunted her day and night. Lost into a sea of deep blue a smile began to creep into her face. “Since you asked with that lop-sided grin I love, sure, I suppose I wouldn’t mind a drink.” Smiling, she told the bartender what she wanted and he went to make their drinks.
After many uncomfortable moments of silence, DJ decided that she needed to say what she had wanted to say for a very long time. She had rehearsed this over and over in her head and now was not the time to get tongue-tied. She only had five hours before she had to head out of town and back to where she had made her home.
Laine watched and waited for DJ to say something. After all these years of not knowing if she was still alive, it broke her heart to see DJ so withdrawn into herself.
Through sneaked telephone calls and emails, Laine and DJ had developed a bond and had made it through losing the raven woman’s mother and sister. Laine thought back to all those hard times they had to go through, and now in the present how it had shaped them to survive. Interrupted, Laine re-focused on DJ and the here and now.
“Boy, I never thought that this would be so hard. All I have wanted since the day your family left is to find you, and I practiced what I was going to say over and over in my head. Look at me, with my tongue tied.” DJ slammed her hand down on the bar top and berated herself for not saying what she wanted to say. Instead she turned towards the bar rather than looking at the most beautiful site she had seen in quite a while.
“Why is it so hard DJ? It is still just me, just like it always has been between us.” With that said, Laine rested her hand on top of her tall friend’s. “Tell me what you want to say. This might be our last chance since you are leaving.” She looked to the floor in hopes that DJ would tell her what she needed to hear. Those words spoken out loud would empower her with the strength to stay and wait as long as she needed to until DJ would someday return and take her as her own.
Moving her hand to cover Laine’s, she asked in a choked voice, “Will you stay with me, until I have to depart?” She asked hoping that the blonde would accept her offer and drop the conversation. “Here is not the place to talk about this.” DJ had never been the one to open up and talk about her innermost thoughts that seemed to sometimes hold her hostage. “Besides, I would love …” she paused afraid to stop, and afraid not to finish.
DJ removed her hand and wiped the sweat on her black slacks. She turned her azure gaze onto Laine and saw the compassion and understanding lying in the depths of the greenest eyes she had ever seen. Choosing to finish DJ continued, “Besides, I would love to be alone with you before I leave.”
A moment of silence passed between them and DJ shifted her weight nervously before Laine answered. “Yes, I would like that very much.” Locking green on blue, Laine knew that they needed those moments and with the promise of time and love came commitment.
DJ paid the tab and put her hand out for Laine to take hold of. Laine looked down at the hand offered to her and felt a shot of electricity go through her body. ‘Only DJ and Autumn can do that to me.’ Realizing that DJ was waiting, Laine took her hand and followed her out of the building.
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By the time they had arrived at the hotel, nothing had been said or talked about on the ride there. Laine didn’t know what to expect from DJ’s request, as this was a nice turn of events for the evening but something she had not planned for. Over the years Laine had been with plenty of women, but they all followed the same guidelines: tall, dark-haired, blue eyed if possible, and she didn’t want to know them past one night.
“Laine?” DJ touched her thigh. “You okay?”
Turning her head to face DJ she responded with a simple, “Yes, I am fine. Are we here already?” She reached down and touched the slender fingers to reassure her that she was indeed okay.
“Yep, this is where I am staying.” Grabbing the keys out of the ignition and opening her door, DJ went around to the passenger’s side and opened Laine’s door for her. She took a quick look around the parking lot to see if anything was out of the ordinary and didn’t see anything.
Focusing her attention on the beautiful woman getting out of her car she extended her hand down to Laine, quirked an eyebrow and smiled. Laine took her hand in hopes that her connection to DJ was still there and would be there for as long as they were touching.
Walking through the lobby DJ stopped at the front desk to her messages. Keeping the petite blonde close to her side, the man at the front desk said, “Hello Ms. Kaldresh, What can I do for you?”
“Do I have any messages waiting for me?” She shifted uncomfortably as the hairs on the back of her neck started to rise. Laine noticed that DJ seemed on guard and asked, “Everything alright?” Taking hold of her hand she squeezed once for reassurance. After receiving her messages, she turned to Laine and put her hand behind the blonde’s back, “You coming?”
“Aren’t you going to read your messages?”
“I guess I could, would that make you feel better, my dear?” DJ tried using the old term of endearment with a smile to calm the blonde but could still sense her hesitation.
“I guess I am just being silly, but …” Laine leaned closer to DJ, and she brought her head down to the shorter woman’s level. Whispering in DJ’s ear she continued, “but something doesn’t feel right.” DJ knew better than to distrust Laine’s ‘feelings’, it had all but saved her life once before.
Nodding understanding DJ turned her attention to her messages. One was from her boss, telling her the details of tomorrow’s trip and where they would be meeting. Laine looked up at DJ questioningly, and DJ smiled. The second message was cryptic. Basically stating that someone knew of her whereabouts. Once again she signaled to Laine that everything was okay. The last thing she needed to do was involve Laine in any of her problems. The third note was a little more disturbing, having read through it for the second time Laine looked at DJ and could tell that was something up. “What is it DJ? Is everything okay?”
The tall dark-haired woman took Laine by the arm and proceeded to the elevators. After the doors shut and the travel upwards began, DJ stopped the elevator and pulled out her gun.
“What’s wrong?” Laine’s voice came across panicky and scared. DJ checked how many bullets she had left and put the gun in between her belt and her slacks at the small of her back. Laine put her hand under DJ’s chin and brought her eyes to meet with hers. “Tell me, what is wrong?!” Laine demanded and DJ sighed regretfully.
“It seems that once again you have done me a favor, it looks as though someone, I don’t know who, is waiting for me in my hotel room.” DJ put her hands on Laine’s shoulders and firmly stated, “You are to stay in the elevator no matter what. Do you understand me?”
Laine shifted her weight and stepped back out of DJ’s grasp. “I am not the baby you first met, nor the baby you used to leave behind.” Laine leaned down and pulled the length of her skirt up to reveal a black leather guarder-belt that held her gun. She took the sub-compact Glock out from its hiding place. Laine looked up at DJ and grinned at her tall friend. Standing stock still with her mouth slightly open, blue eyes stared at Laine with wide eyes.
“What is that?” DJ stammered.
“Well, it is a gun silly. See the barrel where the bullet comes out so that you can protect yourself.” Laine raised the gun up to DJ’s face so that she could see it more clearly.
“What are you doing with a gun Laine?” DJ asked out of confusion as to why Laine would need a gun and to protect herself much less. ‘What kind of danger could Laine possibly be in for her to have obtained a gun and apparently know how to use it too?’
The petite woman just cocked a smile at DJ and began to check her gun over so that she was prepared. She asked again, “What are you doing with a gun, Laine?”
Laine got irritated with DJ asking her again, “What do you think I am doing with a gun!? After my parents moved me, and you and Autumn got separated, I learned how to take care of myself. For heavens sake, I had to! Knowing the Kaldresh family put me at more risk then any of your one-night stands. I learned how to protect myself.”
Sighing and upset with herself for taking out her frustration on DJ, she continued to explain. “Come on DJ, do you really think that any of your family’s enemies didn’t know that I was the center of yours and Autumn’s attention, when we were younger?” DJ just stood rooted to her spot and couldn’t say anything. She was very confused and worried that because of her childhood decisions she had now put Laine in danger and most of all in this position.
Laine shook off the conversation seeing that DJ wasn’t getting the point and got to the point for her. “The point is that you and I ‘and your sister’ are connected and we always will be, so can we just get this over with and continue on with our night?” With that stated, Laine took the safety off and cocked her gun.
DJ just stood and stared at this woman who meant the world to her. She was flattered with the fact that Laine would go out of her way to learn her own way of life, but troubled with the fact that the Kaldresh family had put Laine at risk.
She realized that they were in this together. So Laine was right, and now they needed to work together to get out of this mess. “Okay, lets go.” DJ put a stoic mask on her face, and went to release the elevator so it would continue to the top, but stopped herself. DJ turned and brushed her lips across Laine’s. The soft contact sent a warm rush throughout both women. They had shared kisses similar to this when they were growing up, but somehow this was different. Laine wrapped her arms around her neck, while DJ ran her hands up and down Laine’s back. DJ broke away before she tried to deepen the kiss. Keeping eye contact for a moment longer, DJ reached behind herself and pushed the button. Once the elevator started to move again DJ broke the eye contact to Laine’s disappointment and faced the doors to the elevator.
The elevator came to a stop and DJ signaled for Laine to step to one side as the doors opened. DJ looked outside the elevator to one side and then to the other and saw nothing. She waved her hand at Laine to follow her and be casual. She put a protective hand around Laine’s waist and started walking to her suite. A little ways down the hall, DJ hesitated for a split second. The hairs on her neck were tingling again, she looked back down the hall right before a gunshot sounded.
Pushing Laine to one side of the hallway, she quickly moved for cover on the other side. Keeping her gun in shooting position she crouched down near the floor, she glanced at her friend. She slowly leaned around the corner to see where their assailant was located, and quickly got another shot fired in her direction.
Leaning back against the wall, they were trapped and without a clean breakaway they might be here all damn day. She cursed herself for not being more careful. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Laine trying to get her attention. Laine motioned for DJ to look again while she would find the target and take a shot. DJ adamantly shook her head no, as Laine challenged her on the idea. DJ knew deep down that it was their only chance to get this over with, but she had no clue how good a shot Laine had become. Taking her chances, she nodded her head that she was ready and for Laine to watch her next move. DJ measured the distance between where she was and the doorway that Laine was in. It would take a very quick roll to get her there unharmed and decided to do it anyway.
Getting ready to move, DJ winked at Laine and gave her best lop-sided grin. She grinned and got ready to fire after DJ started to move. A few shots were fired and a grunt was heard, she couldn’t see where he was because he fell out of sight after the bullet connected.
DJ made it somewhat safely to Laine’s side of the hallway except for rolling over Laine’s high-heels. She groaned when she felt the points of the heels go into her side. Laine looked down at her tall friend making sure she was okay and realized why DJ had groaned. Wincing, an apologetic smile passed between them. Waving Laine’s grimace off her face and smiling, DJ began to move to the next doorway.
One by one she moved closer to where Laine had fired her gun, until she could see the feet of their assailant. Laine stood up and moved behind DJ as they made their way down the hallway. Looking down at the assailant, she asked, “So who is it? Do you know?”
Before she answered warning bells went off her in head, and knew that danger was near. Laine looked at DJ, ‘Here we go again.’ She turned and fired her gun once and hit the man right in the temple a few doorways down from where they had just come from. DJ blinked twice and turned her attention to Laine. She engulfed her into a huge hug.
“DJ honey … I’m okay, but are you?” She took a step back to look the woman over and released the breath she had been holding.
“Yes, I am okay, but I am still not sure about everything that just happened … and that it actually happened.” DJ chuckled, “It is my job to protect you not the other way around, but I am thankful I had you here to help me.” DJ tapped Laine’s nose, which caused a giggle.
Sliding her arms around Laine’s waist, DJ gave her another hug and whispered, “Seriously though, thank you for helping me,” in the blonde’s ear. DJ started to walk down to her room arm in arm with Laine and sweetly leaded over and gave Laine a kiss on the cheek.
Arriving at DJ’s suite, she pulled out her room card, “How I miss keys.” She snickered at DJ. “Laughing at me, are you?” Laine nodded and DJ gave her best ‘you are in trouble look’. “We shall see about that my dear. Paybacks are a bitch ya know.”
Finally getting the door unlocked DJ opened it wide so that Laine could walk in first. The blonde walked past her with sultry intent. Stopping directly in front of her, Laine got close to DJ’s neck. “You wouldn’t do that to me, now would you Dorian?” The heat from Laine’s breath caressed the side of DJ’s neck and a moan almost escaped her lips. DJ leaned towards her and tried to catch the petite blonde, but Laine stepped back and continued inside the suite. DJ sighed and fell back into the open door and watched as the object of her desire made her way into the room.
DJ closed the door behind her and took her cell phone out of her jacket pocket. She needed to make a quick call to her boss. Let him know what happened and get someone here to clean up the ‘trash’ in the hallway. Turning to Laine, “I gotta …”
“Make a phone call, you will be right back. Go ahead and do what you need to do, I am going to call room service and have them bring some drinks up here. I think we could use a few.” She winked at DJ and turned to go use the suite phone.
Laine picked up the phone and dialed zero for the operator.
“Yes I would like to order some drinks to be brought up to Suite 611.” She sat down in the chair next to the phone and the window.
“Okay ma’am let me transfer you to Room Service.” The phone clicked over to elevator music and emerald eyes turned their attention to all the lights outside the window. “Room Service, Hello?” Even at midnight the city was still alive. Amazed at how little cars looked and all the people still out and about, Laine knew that she was happy to be here with DJ.
“Room Service, Hello? Anyone there?” An irritated man on the line barked into the phone.
“Oh yes, sorry, I am here.” Laine said very embarrassed about daydreaming.
“What would you like tonight?”
“Yes, could you please bring up two beers and two Jack and Cokes made the strong way?” She figured DJ could use the extra whiskey in her drink.
Concluding the phone call, the blonde leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes waiting for her long-time secret love to return.
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DJ returned from the side room of her suite to find dream lover sitting in a chair by the window. The drinks Laine had ordered were on the table in the middle of the room. Not wanting to disturb her yet, she decided to lean against the door jam and gaze at her beautiful guest.
Laine had matured greatly in looks since she had seen her last. Chuckling softly to herself about the little girl she first met when she was in third grade, a lot of time had passed since then. Laine had probably been the smallest kid in her entire kindergarten class, but the memory would always be burned into DJ’s mind.
The next time DJ would really see her would be when she was sixteen and Laine was thirteen. DJ’s parents had separated and shortly after that they were reported missing and then dead. The Holden Family and what was left of the Kaldresh Family had joined together on the day for their Memorial Services.