GENRE: Lesbian Sci-Fi Spicy Romance
LENGTH: 34,069 words
RATING:

Leighton Voss arrives on Echo Island, drawn by reports of strange occurrences which have disrupted its once tranquil serenity. As an investigative journalist with a passion for uncovering hidden stories, Leighton hopes to uncover the truth behind the island’s mysteries, something that might offer the clarity she’s been seeking, both in her career and her personal life. What she doesn’t expect is to become entangled in a mystery that feels far more personal and unsettling than anything she’s chased before.

While exploring the island’s jagged cliffs, Leighton stumbles upon a hidden passage that leads her to a world frozen in time -- a vintage village suspended in the past and a woman named Audrey, whose quiet sadness seems to hold the key to the island’s strange happenings. Audrey’s elegance and mysterious presence immediately draw Leighton in, and as the two grow closer, Leighton finds herself deeply immersed in the enigma surrounding Audrey and the island.

Caught between the need to uncover the truth and her growing, undeniable feelings for Audrey, Leighton is forced to face an impossible choice. There may be a way out of the cycle that has entrapped the island, but escaping it could mean losing the woman she’s come to care for. As the tension between the promise of freedom and her emotional attachment to Audrey intensifies, Leighton must confront how much she’s willing to sacrifice -- not just for her own future, but for the woman who has captured her heart.

EXCERPT:
Note: may contain sexually explicit scenes of a homoerotic nature.

I could feel the exhaustion setting in from endless hours of research. Audrey must have noticed it, too, and without a word, she reached out and gently placed her hand on mine. Her touch was soft, grounding me in the moment.

“Leighton,” she said, her voice steady and warm, “I have an idea. How about we take a break tonight? Something fun. A proper date.”

I raised an eyebrow at her, intrigued. “A date?”

She nodded with a grin that made my heart skip a beat. “Yeah. Dinner, and then ... we’re going to the theater.”

I could feel the weight of the investigation, the long day of digging into facts and chasing leads, lifting off my shoulders at the thought of spending time with her, away from all of it. “You know what? That sounds perfect,” I replied, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. I was charmed by her and the invitation was like a breath of fresh air after being stuck in a stuffy room for too long.

“Great,” Audrey said, her smile widening. “Meet me in front of the theater at five.”

I agreed, and after walking out together, I headed back to the inn. I took a long, hot shower and changed after fixing my hair and even putting on a little make up. As I walked back down the stairs and out into the cool evening air, the anticipation of the night ahead made my steps lighter.

I found Audrey standing by the theater, her eyes bright, already looking the part of someone about to enjoy a good night out. The corner of her mouth curled up into that playful grin I loved so much.

“So, what are we seeing?” I asked, stepping up to her.

Audrey’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “I thought we’d catch a Katharine Hepburn movie. Even though I’ve seen all of them a million times, Katharine’s always easy on the eyes.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You know, in my time, people say Katharine was likely into women.”

Audrey looked intrigued, leaning in closer. “Really? Tell me something else I don’t know yet.”

I smiled at her, enjoying the way she was hungry for more trinkets of knowledge from the future. “Well, in a few years, another Hepburn will rise to fame. Her name will be Audrey.”

She blinked, her lips curling into a knowing smile. “I like that,” she said softly, her hand brushing against mine.

We walked together into the theater, and as we bought our tickets, Audrey glanced over at the candy counter. “Any of these look familiar?”

I studied the display for a moment, the colorful wrappers and familiar shapes. “The packaging’s different now, but I recognize a lot of them.”

Audrey looked pleased to hear that, and I smiled as she picked out a box of Dots. “We’ll split these,” she said, handing me the box as we made our way to our seats. The theater was nearly empty, just the two of us nestled into the soft seats, and I couldn’t help but appreciate the quiet intimacy of it.

As the lights dimmed, the opening credits of the movie flashed onto the screen. I leaned closer to Audrey, my voice low. “I know that name,” I said, pointing at the screen.

Audrey raised an eyebrow. “Really? Does she go on to have other roles?”

“Yeah,” I replied, nodding. “A lot of them. But the one that really sticks out to me ... is when she plays a teapot.”

Audrey cocked her head to the side, clearly puzzled. “A teapot?”

I laughed, unable to hold it in. “Believe me, it’s a great movie. You’ll see, one day. I am sure of it.”

The film started in earnest, and as it played, I found myself leaning closer to Audrey, our hands inching together until finally, our fingers brushed. We both smiled, and she laced her fingers through mine. I felt a sense of warmth spreading through me, as if the world had quieted down just for us. The movie faded into the background as we sank into the shared comfort of the moment, the glow of the screen casting shadows on our faces.

Time seemed to stretch out, the movie becoming less about the plot and more about the way our hands fit together, the way our laughter seemed to echo in the empty theater, and the way Audrey’s presence filled the space beside me.

By the time the movie ended and the credits rolled across the screen, I knew it had been exactly what I needed ... what we both needed.