Susanne Novan - Driven

"Yes."

It was amazing, Cat mused, how that one simple word could restore hope to a heart gone cold. Still, the smile that might have been expected stayed from

her lips. "I think…I think that maybe part of my…jealousy…came from not…knowing…that." The silence was still thick, and Cat found herself turning her head away yet again. "I know it sounds like I’m dumping all of this on you, but I’m not. Not really. I guess I was just…scared…."

Not sensing any movement, Cat was startled at the sudden feel of long, strong arms wrapping themselves around her and the press of a tight, lean body

against to hers. Emotionally drained, she could do nothing but melt into the enveloping warmth, her hands coming up to tangle in the fabric of Dylan’s shirt as if holding onto a lifeline. "I’m sorry," she whispered, voice muffled against the fabric covering her lover’s chest. "I’m so sorry."

"It’s okay," Dylan murmured, brushing her hand against Cat’s back in soothing circles. "It’s okay. I’m here. It’s okay." After a moment, she pulled away slightly and gently tipped the younger woman’s chin up so that their eyes met. "I love you, Catherine. I’m sorry that it’s taken me this long to tell you how I feel. I’m so—."

"No," Cat replied, touching a finger against Dylan’s full lips, "please, don’t apologize for my insecurities. My heart knew your answer before I even asked the question. I know you love me, and I knew it then. I just…."

"Cat, if this photo shoot bothers you so much, I’ll call Horace and tell him to shove it. I don’t want you hurting like this."

"Dylan, I can’t ask that of you, and I won’t. This is a part of who you are, a part of who you’ve always been. I absolutely hate the way you were coerced into it, and I hate being a part of that, but I also realize that it bothers me a lot more than it bothers you." She smiled. "I trust you. I think…I think I just need to learn how to trust myself."

Dylan was silent for such a long time that Cat began to fear that she’d misspoken. Finally, the tall woman’s expression cleared and she looked down at her partner intently. "If you don’t have any plans for the morning, why not come to the shoot with me?"

"Oh," Cat demurred, "I’m not sure I—."

"Please. I think it would really help you to see what goes on during these things. I think you’ve built an image up in your mind that nothing but experience is gonna erase. I don’t want that image coming between us, Cat."

Cat looked up at her pensively.

"Please."

Taking in the naked plea in those arresting eyes, Cat can do nothing but not her acceptance. The kiss she received in thanks drove any further

apprehension from her mind.

*******

The photography studio was large and well-appointed, and Cat found her nerves settling just a little as they walked in and were greeted by Cory, the

photographer’s assistant. Cory was a well dressed, reed thin young man with a thick mop of curly red hair and a bubbly, welcoming personality. Leading

them over to a nattily upholstered couch in the rather large sitting room off to one side, he slipped a bottle of juice into Dylan’s hand and a steaming cup of coffee into Cat’s. "Now you just wait right here and I’ll get Wendy. She’s putting the finishing touches on the layout."

Dylan and Cat exchanged amused looks as he hurried off, babbling to himself. Quaffing her juice in several large gulps, Dylan stood to throw the bottle

away just as the chimes above the door sounded. Straightening, she grinned as the immaculately dressed and almost criminally handsome Marquis

Jackson strode through the door, followed by his equally exquisite wife Marcelle.

Spying Dylan, Marquis beamed and moved to engulf her in a massive hug which Dylan returned in full measure. Cat looked on, astonished at seeing her

lover so dwarfed. They were both of a height, but Jackson was much broader across the shoulders and chest, making Dylan look almost petite within the

enshrouding shelter of his massive arms. Finally pulling away, he grinned at her, white teeth flashing brilliantly against the ebony of his skin. "Damn, girl!

You’re looking fine! Where’ve you been, lately?"

"Around," Dylan replied, turning to the young woman standing at Marquis’ side. "Marcelle, it’s good to see you again."

Laughing lightly, genuinely, Marcelle stepped into Dylan’s fond embrace and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. "He’s right," she said. "You look wonderful."

"So do you. You been keeping him in line?"

"Oh," Marcelle smirked, "he knows what side his bread’s buttered on."

The three shared a laugh. Dylan then turned to Cat and held out a hand. Coming to her feet, Cat crossed the room and smiled at the newcomers. Marquis

Jackson she recognized easily—who wouldn’t? He was to men’s basketball what Dylan was to women’s. The best player ever. When he turned his smile on

her, she had, she admitted silently, a bit of a fan geek moment, though it was nothing compared to the feeling that came over her when she heard Dylan’s

casually spoken words.

"Marquis, Marcelle, I’d like you to meet Catherine Hodges, my partner."

"Oh ho!" Marcelle quipped, turning to Cat with a wide, knowing grin. "So you’rethe reason she’s been behaving herself, huh?"

Cat found herself blushing deeply as the beautiful woman bent forward and gave her a hug. "You take good care of her, alright?" Marcelle whispered in her ear. "She means a lot to us."

"I will," Cat replied, dazed. "I promise."

Her sense of unreality trebled as Marquis stepped over and hugged her tightly, the scent of his cologne tingling pleasantly in her nose. "I’ve seen you on TV," he said, finally pulling away. "You’re pretty damn good!"

Tongue tied, she could only blink at him, wondering if pinching herself to assure herself this wasn’t a dream was proper protocol in such a situation.

Dylan’s arm around her shoulder thankfully brought her back to planet Earth before she could embarrass herself any further. She felt herself being led back to the couch, and she lowered herself, a bit unsteadily, then offered a smile to Marcelle who eased in beside her.

"First time at one of these shindigs?"

"Yes," Cat replied, quite pleased at her ability to actually utter those words aloud. A few feet away, Dylan and Marquis were deep in conversation about something. Basketball, probably.

"They’re not too bad, once you get used to having the one you love prowl around half naked like some porn star for all the world to see."

Reality came back to Cat in a flash, and she looked over at Marcelle, stunned. "You feel that way too?"

"Not as much anymore," the young woman replied. "But at first, yeah, it was pretty bad."

"Bad how?"

"You know, the usual." She shrugged. "Jealousy, mostly."

"Been there, definitely done that! What made it better for you?"

Marcelle lifted an elegant hand. "Watching what goes on behind the scenes. It’s work, plain and simple. They know it, I know it, and after this, you’ll know it too."

"I hope you’re right," Cat grumbled, slumping back against the couch.

"You’ll see."

At that moment, Cory stepped back into the room, trailed by a young, attractive, blonde-haired, woman who was even shorter than Cat herself. Stopping

before Dylan and Marquis, she greeted them with a friendly grin, then murmured something to them both. Nodding, they left the room behind the ever-

efficient Cory. The young woman then turned her bright grin on Cat and Marcelle, approaching them with a quick, no-nonsense step. "Mrs. Jackson, it’s a pleasure to see you again."

"Hey, Wendy," Marcelle returned with a grin. "You’re gonna take care of him, right? He’s just getting over a pulled hamstring."