Monday Minute Fiction: Soul Mates

Soul Mates

Monday Minute Fiction

March 29, 2010

This is a work of fiction. All rights belong to Ashley Ladd.

This story may not be reproduced without the written consent of the author, Ashley Ladd.

If you are under 18, please do not read further. This is a transgender romance.

Darren McDavid finished off his third beer as he waited at the bar for his best buddy from his Air Force days, Joe Spangler. Back in the nineties they'd raised so much hell in Japan and Korea they'd been kicked out of the Far East.

He'd had a thing for Joe but had been afraid to show his true self, both because he was scared his friend would reject him and also because the military would have kicked him out if they'd known he was bi.

They hadn't seen each other in at least ten years but they'd been emailing. Joe had emailed that he'd be in Darren's neck of the woods so they'd planned to meet here tonight. He'd But it was getting late and the guy wasn't answering his phone so Darren was about to leave. His idea of a good time wasn't hanging around a smoky bar alone, being stood up by someone so important to him.

Then a svelt woman claimed the chair next to him. She sent a flirty smile at the bartender and tilted her head, sending a cascade of silky bronzed hair over her shoulder. "I'll have a Guinness."

Interested against his will, Darren let his gaze slide over the woman who looked to be his age and shared his taste in beer. She was tall and big boned for a woman but had a slim waist and tons of curves. Maybe tonight wouldn't be a bust. He whipped out a couple crisp bills and thrust them at the bartender. "The lady's drink is on me."

The woman's smile widened and she clinked her beer to his. She looked around him then up at him. "Thanks. Are you here alone?"

Darren twisted in his chair and scanned the dim room. "Looks like I've been stood up so yeah."

The woman twisted the gold hoop in her ear as she pouted. "Bummer. Who are you waiting for?"

He put his beer down and squared off against her. "An old buddy."

She sent him a coy look. "Not a woman friend?"

Darren chuckled and shook his head. Why did people assume he'd be waiting for a woman? "There's been no one special in a long time."

The woman sidled closer and her knee brushed his and her skirt swooshed back revealing a length of sexy thigh. "That's hard to believe about such a handsome man."

At least the night wouldn't be a total bust that Joe hadn't shown up. "And what about you? Do you have a special someone?"

The woman took another swig of her beer then licked her lips. "Just someone I've had a long time crush on."

His heart fell and he twisted back to the counter. So it wasn't his night. Damn! "Oh."

She touched his arm. "You, Darren McDavid."

Surprise flooded him and his groin tightened. He turned back to her and studied her closer. She looked slightly familiar but he couldn't place her. He inventoried her expressive sky blue eyes, her heart-shaped face, and the slight tilt on the tip of her nose.

Sky blue eyes...

Joe had the same shade of bright blue eyes, eyes the women had loved. Was she related to his friend? Had Joe sent his sister to tell him he couldn't make it? Or to set them up? "What's your name?"

"Jo." She held out her hand in greeting.

"Jo as in Jo Ann or Jo Ellen?" He folded her hand in his and was surprised it was larger than he would have imagined for a woman. He turned it over and examined it from the jeweled nails to the long fingers.

"Just Jo."

Even the voice had a familiar ring. He squinted to see better. "Do we know each other? By any chance are you related to Joe Spangler?"

Jo turned her hand in his and squeezed his. "Darren, I am Jo Spangler. The person you came to meet."

Darren's heart stopped. His jaw dropped. He blinked. "Impossible. My friend Joe's a guy."

"I was born Joseph William Spangler, but I was always Josephine inside." Jo rubbed his knuckles hypnotically with her thumb.

Shocked, Darren stared unabashed. "But you're so-so feminine, so beautiful. Joe was so macho." Upon closer inspection he noted wide shoulders and an Adam's apple.

"I was hiding my true self. I was hiding my attraction to you. But I wasn't hiding our friendship or who I was otherwise. Can we still be friends?"

Hell! His body wanted to be way more than friends even as his mind was reeling. Was this really so weird? He'd gotten it on with guys a few times and enjoyed it. He'd been attracted to Joe as a man but hadn't made a move as Joe had seemed so macho and the military had been so down on gays and bi-sexuals.

Dizzy, he asked, "Why didn't you warn me?"

"I wanted to see if you'd recognize me. If you'd accept me as a woman. Do you?"

"Are you really a woman?" Darren's gaze lowered to the juncture between Jo's thighs. Just because he couldn't see a bulge didn't mean it wasn't there.

Jo's grin kinked. "Absolutely, inside and out now. And this woman's in love with you. Does that shock you?"

Darren stood and pulled Jo into his arms. He cradled her against his heart and lowered his lips to capture hers.

Jo put her hand to his lips. "Does it?"

Darren murmured, "Does it feel like I'm shocked? Would it shock you to know I wanted you when you were a man?"

Her eyes widened. Then joy flooded them. "Really? But you liked women. Remember those working girls we chased in Korea?"

Darren pulled her hips against his, couldn't wait to get much closer. "I like men and women, but I liked you best."

Jo let her fingers flutter to his chest, removing the barrier to her lips. "So my sex doesn't matter?"

Love flowed through Darren and he felt free for the first time in years. He couldn't wait to take her home and get her in private. "I love you. We're soul mates."

She stood on tippy toe and pressed her breasts to him. Against his lips she huskily murmured, "Let's get out of here. I want you. Now."

"And I want you now and forever."

To read more new Monday Minute Fiction free stories posted today, visit:

Just A Kiss - Brynn Paulin

For Life - by Simone Anderson

Also, be sure to visit every Monday for a new free short story here.

Recent posts you might like to read:

Weathering A Bad Review

What Do You Want in a Romance Hero & What Do You Want in a Real Life Husband?

Rejection: Where Do You Go Next?

Procrastination

Cliche or Coincidence?

What Prompts Me To "Follow" A Blog

Make Sure Pretentious Words Don't Turn Off Your Readers

Dedicating Books

You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)