For disclaimers please see MYSTI: Mistress of Dreams

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Mad Max And The Publisher
by Sam Ruskin
~ July 19th, 2001 ~

Max smiled into the warm green eyes and waggled her dark brows. No words needed to be spoken as clear blue eyes darted to the shower and back, suggestively.

"Oh, you are so bad, Max. I love that about you," grinned the blonde as she pushed her lover backward into the streaming water.

"And you," husked the taller woman as she licked the offered breast, "are soooooooooo good."

Moans filled the steamy bathroom as the lovers celebrated their anniversary, once again. Never mind that a full two weeks had passed since the six-month anniversary of their intimate wedding.

It had been a casual joining, held in the room where they'd met nearly two years before, with only the women from the support group present. No one officiated, really. Max and Gillian chose, rather, to share something with one another that spoke of how they felt.

Clinging to her trembling partner, each of the women recalled the very special day.

...........Max swallowed. "Gillian and I want to thank each of you for being here to share this very special time with us. We wanted to do this here, with you, because it's where we met. Although it is our belief we have always known each other, we treasure the first moment our eyes met...right here, in this room, with each of you.... laughing and curious, as I recall."

Gillian spoke. "We have elected not to involve a minister since the short-sighted and narrow-minded laws of this land choose to acknowledge only heterosexual unions. Instead, each of us has prepared something to share with the other. After that, we have created our own vows, which we ask you - our most beloved friends - to witness, acknowledge and support."

Max draped a long arm across the slightly shaking shoulders. Gillian looked up with such love several of the women sighed aloud. Both Max and Gillian blushed.

"OK," winked the artist. "I'll start."

"Love wears so many faces
But my favorite one is yours.
It comes to me in dead of night
When shadows cross the floors.

I see your face in moonlight
Or the waters of the sea;
Even the sky at midday
Can smile and wink at me.

But lest you think me shallow,
I feel you in the snow.
The ice and rain and thunder
Is a part of life, you know?

In case you haven’t noticed,
I see you everywhere.
There’s not a single moment
I do not feel your care.

Whatever lies before us now,
Whatever paths we find,
I’ll never be alone again
You're in my heart and mind.

And so we stand together
Joining heart and soul.
We will not be alone again.
Our love has made us whole."

Sniffles mixed with all the appropriate ooo's and aahhh's as Max bent down to lightly kiss the blonde brow. "My turn now," she smiled and wiped her palms on her silky grey slacks. Gillian brushed the hand away with a grin and Max smiled at how much she enjoyed the small gesture.

"I've never been a poet
It just isn't who I am
But I know I've always loved you
It's part of some great plan.

How ever many lives I have,
Where e're my soul may go,
I want you there beside me..
It's the one thing I DO know.

Long before I met you
I dreamed of emerald eyes,
So, when I offer you forever,
It's destiny - not surprise."

Max extended her strong arms and Gillian stepped into the embrace as though she were born to be there. [Mysti, the mysterious Mistress of Dreams wondered if either woman knew yet that was exactly what happened. They were both – finally - in precisely the right place, with the right person, at the right time. Gods in heaven, it had taken so many lifetimes but the dream mistress was determined. She never gave up.]

Feeling the gentle pressure of her love's lips on her head, Gillian smiled knowingly.

"Max and I have shared with you the beautiful tale of the Mistress of Dreams. Whether you believe her to be real or not, it is to her we dedicate this Joining. Without her, there would have been no dreams - and without a dream there can be no dream come true. Thank you, Mysti, beloved friend of dreamers everywhere."

The only sound in the room was the hum of the overhead lights and the occasional sounds from traffic in the hall.

"Gillian, I offer you my heart, my life, my solemn vow to be faithful with my every breath. From this day forward, in everything I say or do, I will consider you first, last, always. You are truly the other half of my soul. Before God, our friends, your parents -who I know in my heart are watching-, and Mysti...I proclaim my love and dedicate my eternity to you."

"Max, I accept your heart, your life, and your vow to be faithful. I tuck it into my soul and join it with my own...you and I, together forever. I promise you will never be alone or know a single moment without love again, in this or any lifetime. I knew you were my soulmate, my dearest love, long before I even met you. Believe me when I tell you, I thank every god who can hear my voice for the day you were born. Before God, our friends, my parents - I too, know they are watching, and Mysti...I proclaim my everlasting love and dedicate my eternity to you."....................

Icy cold water tore the lovers from their memories as green and blue eyes twinkled at the knowledge that, once again, they were taking the same, sentimental journey.

"Today's the day you have to go to Boulder, isn't it?" Gillian asked later, as they dressed and munched on toast.

"Yeah. I really should. I want to check this one out myself, sweetheart. I'll be back in time to pick you up this evening though. No way am I making this job more important than my time with you. Not now. Not ever." Max bent down and punctuated her promise with a deep kiss.

"Mmmmmmmmm." Gillian felt her knees start to give way as Max slid her hands to Gillian's rear and pulled her close, solving the balance problem in the process. "God, woman. I love the way you do that. I really do, Max. But we were in the shower a looooong time and I don't want you speeding to get to Boulder on that thing."

"That *thing*, as you call it, was a gift from my sexy wife." Max waggled dark brows and brightened her eyes.

Playfully smacking her wife on the rump, Gillian said: "Oh, you are so bad."

Max snickered and licked an ear lobe. "Sweetie. I think that's how the shower screams began."

"Oh! You are so...ah, I see what you mean." The blonde shuddered as the hot tongue entered her ear. "Um, okay. So you'll drop me off and then pick me up tonight. That's doable. Just no hot-shotting, OK?"

Tilting her face to one side, Max pointed to her own chest with a crooked thumb. "Moi?"

"Yes, you! And don't try to look innocent with me. I was in the shower, remember?" giggled the artist.

Max kissed the palm that caressed her cheek as they sped along toward the tall office building where Gillian spent most days. It was a short trip and soon the tall biker was watching the retreating form and licking her lips. Gillian swayed a little more, on purpose, feeling her beautiful wife's eyes upon her. It was a teasing game they played nearly every day and the blonde smiled knowing tomorrow would be her turn to catch the 'show'.

The early morning air was cool and after riding all the way to the outskirts of Boulder, Max needed some hot coffee. She tugged the leather gloves from her fingers and slipped them off her large hands so she could warm her face with her palms. Locking the bike, she strode into the small diner.

"Coffee?" asked the young waitress.

"Please," the tall beauty replied sliding the helmet into the booth before her. "And keep it coming."

"Sure thing, stretch." The woman smiled as she turned the cup right side up and filled it with the steaming brown liquid. "Get ya anything to eat today?"

"Hmmm," thought Max. "Sure. Why not? Bring me a short stack and link sausage. I'll just run back to Denver later," she joked.

The sandy haired woman laughed out loud. "Right. That looks like it's a real problem with you, stretch. What are you, one of those model types? Always worryin' about puttin' on a pound or two?"

Max thought about that for a second or three. "Nope. Not at all but I gotta stay in shape so I can keep up with my wife." Then, the dark haired woman watched for a reaction. She was being wicked and Gillian would have already kicked her under the table, but what the heck. Might as well have some fun. Right?

"Right," snickered the waitress as she finished scribbling the order and started to walk away. Two steps out she stopped and turned back around. "Did you say you had to stay in shape to keep up with your WIFE?"

Cool blue eyes never blinked. "Yes."

"Oh. That's what I thought you said." The waitress neither smiled nor frowned but merely put in the order and went to greet the older couple that'd just come in.

Watching the younger woman deliver the pancakes and refill her coffee cup several times while carefully avoiding any possibility of contact, Max nearly laughed out loud.

The waitress winced. "Something funny, ma'am?"

Snickering, Max shook her head. "No. Not really. I was just thinking what a good influence my gorgeous wife has been on me. See? A couple years ago I'd have reamed you out by now and informed you it's not contagious. Worse, I would have done this at the very top of my lungs. Trust me, it's a scary sight."

Brown eyes opened wide as Max wiped her mouth with a napkin and put a ten-dollar bill down.

"Like I said," the biker continued. "That was a long time ago. A sad and lonely lifetime ago. You are very lucky...um.... Jessica," Max looked at the nametag. "You wouldn't have liked me before Gillian. You wouldn't have liked me at all."

Moving aside so Max could exit the booth, the waitress made no effort whatever to apologize. It was just the sort of attitude that would have set the beauty off not so very long ago. Today, she found it amusing and smiled as she pulled the midnight blue helmet on over her dark, flowing tresses. It would make a nice tale to tell Gillian on the way home this evening. Ignoring the curious and rude stares, Max left the small diner, which served barely adequate pancakes, and went on about her day.

It didn't take long to track down the information she needed and locate the client's "friend". It was as she suspected though, and the information would not be relayed. The retainer, on the other hand would be returned immediately, minus expenses. She was not in the business of helping would-be stalkers. This guy could do his own dirty work.

On the bright side, it was barely lunchtime and she was right around the corner from the little shop her assistant told her about. She'd mentioned at work wanting to get a very special jacket for Gillian, something in leather but highly personalized and this was the shop her new assistant recommended. Max rode over to the Boulder Buddies Biker Shop and parked outside, locking up. She smiled when instead of the typical "ding", the opening door launched a sound not unlike the scream of a large jungle cat.

"Oh, I like that." Max smiled and began to look around the dimly lit shop.

The burly man looked up from his work. "Help you find something or you just wanna have a look-see?"

"I'll just look around a bit. Thanks," Max replied.

"No problem. Just let me know if I can help you with anything." He went back to the stubborn carburetor.

Max browsed aimlessly for a while, until her eyes fell upon beautiful, soft brown leather jacket on display. Unable to catch herself in time, she gasped aloud.

"Yeah, that's a popular one. Can't keep em in stock, hardly. Sorry but all I have left are those three and they're all smalls. I remember because earlier a guy got pissed about it." The owner replied to the gasp from the far right.

Max quickly narrowed her ice blue eyes in the direction of the jackets. Clenching her strong jaw, she mentally counted to ten, twice. "They're breath-taking. I think I'd like to buy them all. Can you get more of them? I want to outfit my new club with these beauties," Max smiled around nearly grinding teeth. She was thinking fast and hoping it sounded believable.

The owner’s mental calculator was clicking away. "Sure thing, honey. Day after tomorrow, I think. How many you want?"

"All they have," Max ran the tip of her tongue across her pearly teeth. "I mean I want to buy all that exist. I kind of want to be sure no one else has one so they’re exclusive to the club. Ya know?"

"Oh. Well, I only got them in a few days ago and have sold only the other three. I guess I could call them and see if they would sell em to ya? If you want me to, I mean." He watched to see if he could add more zeros in his head.

Max grinned. "Can't keep em in stock, eh? Well, business is business and sure. I’ll pay double what they paid and give you fifty bucks for each one you manage to secure. Plus another fifty if you can get all three. How’s that?" Without missing a beat, Max pulled a business card from her inside jacket pocket. "Here’s my card. Just leave a message and I’ll come and pick up the others. I'm in a bit of a hurry. Can you put these on my credit card and bag em up for me?" Max could hardly wait to show the goddamned things to her wife.

Somewhere there was a publisher whose ass just turned to grass.