Lapidot (SIN) Dump

HOUSEMATES (part 11)

When my eyes opened again Lapis was just pulling off of the highway. I blinked, feeling groggy. I'd been asleep for a couple of hours, at least. She looked over at me a moment as she stopped at the bottom of the exit ramp.

"Good morning, sleepy head," Lapis giggled. I laughed too.

Lapis turned left onto Route 119. I looked out the window, taking in the surroundings, never having been up this way before. Route 119 rose further up into the mountains, winding around gently. The trees were a bit shorter and scrubbier than at sea level, with more evergreens. Sharp walls of rock where the road had been blasted out years ago were common.

Mid-afternoon was starting to give way to late afternoon; I rolled down a window. It was brilliantly sunny, but up here spring hadn't fully taken hold yet. The breeze that came through the open window had a definite chill to it. I shivered and rolled the window up again and sat back, enjoying the ride as we slowly rose, Lapis turning after 10 miles or so onto a road that went more steeply up for a while, then leveled out. Long meadows interrupted by occasional stands of mixed evergreen and hardwoods on either side of the road drank in the sun as we drove along. Then up gently again for a while . . . steep rocky slopes dropped quickly away from the sides of the road, and the trees were more closely spaced.

Gradually the road narrowed and flattened out. I could feel we were pretty high up; my ears popped a bit. Big glimpses of the mountain lake were visible in the distance, the water a rich blue on this bright day.

Lapis slowed the car as the road became very twisty and turned after a bit down a narrow lane that would've been easy to miss if one weren't looking for it. This "lane" went sharply downhill for a bit, then leveled out. I looked to my right and saw a house, nestled into the side of a hill and realized that this was in fact Lapis' driveway. The car came to a stop.

Lapis turned off the car and smiled at me. "Mmmmmmmm we're here, finally, slut. I don't really mind the drive up here but it feels so good when it's over." I was going to agree then remembered I'd slept through half of it. I laughed sheepishly.

We got out of the car and I grabbed my little bag, and her slightly larger bag from the back. Lapis had me set the bags down and took my hand. "Come along," she said.

We walked across the lawn, obviously well-maintained. We stopped just before we reached the few feet of sandy shoreline, and then that blue expanse spread out, almost over our entire field of vision. The lake was huge. Lapis stood behind me, her arms around me, as I took in the beauty of it. My eyes moved around the edges of the lake, seeing the shoreline, ringed by hills, houses here and there dotting the landscape, some lower down, almost at the water level, others higher up with narrow wooden stairways leading down to the shore. I could see docks at every house, boats gently bobbing on the water here and there.

I let it all wash over me, luxuriating in her warm embrace, feeling the peace, the beauty, and the seclusion of the place settling in deeply. Lapis kissed my cheek and whispered "so beautiful, isn't it?" I could only close my eyes dreamily, feeling her lips and the sun on my face.

"Yessssss Mistress . . . amazingly so."

I felt as though I could stand there in her arms forever. Gently she let go of me.

"Come on, pet . . . let's get settled in. We have lots of time to enjoy the lake." I smiled, reminded that we were here for maybe two weeks. I followed her back to where we'd left the bags. I picked them up and we went to the door. Lapis let us in and we stepped inside.

I dropped the bags, mouth open, somewhat awestruck. The entry opened into the great room; rough-hewn beams crossing the high ceiling. A huge fireplace dominated one wall; the furniture was warm, inviting, and obviously expensive. A mix of natural and modern. Designed, but not "decorated." The overall effect was enticing, enthralling . . . the place casually but definitely drew one in immediately upon entering.