Legend of the Rainbow Moon

By Joanne Marie Maloney

Lou has spent the majority of her twenty-two years on the vigilante-run planet Cityworld, living hand to mouth from her earnings as a skate courier in the Inner. Her dating life is next to non-existent—not from lack of interest from women, but from her desire to find true compatibility in the bedroom. Then Lou meets the stunningly beautiful and super-confident Tessa—CEO of Bliss Foods. Surely, the wealthy businesswoman who exudes style and class would never be interested in a tomboyish courier? But Tessa, as Lou soon finds out, is full of all sorts of surprises, and Lou finds herself swept along for the ride of her life.

When Lou discovers that Tessa is not only fraternising with the enemy but also so much more than Lou ever expected, will she stay and pursue a chance at happiness, or run for the security of her old life? Along the way, Lou may find that she is also so much more than she ever expected.

Legend of the Rainbow Moon is a lesbian romance set in Earth's future on distant worlds. It explores concepts of veganism, the Law of Attraction, the Universal Mind and what we may be capable of one day if we learn to harness the power of our minds.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: May 28, 2024
• ISBN: 9781779417688

Joanne Marie Maloney

Joanne Marie Maloney writes spicy lesbian romance with a Sci-Fi and metaphysical theme. Her stories feature strong, complex women passionate about life and love. When not writing, Joanne loves whipping up vegan dinners, rescuing local wildlife and meditating with her cat. Keep in touch with Joanne and her writing on Instagram @jmmaloney.

Book preview

Prologue

Tessa Moore headed out of the inner city building where her company, Bliss Foods, was located on the fourth floor. A block away was the commercial kitchen equipment company, Kitch-Tech, that she needed to get to before closing. Although she was the CEO of the small vegan foods company, she was the only one currently free to pick up the dehydrator machine part. Besides, getting out of the office for some different scenery was nice for a change. Tessa strode down the sidewalk, her pumps clacking on the concrete. She noted the fruit and veg street vendor starting to pack up. The traffic was bumper to bumper, the occasional hover car taking flight at the higher traffic level. Tessa arrived at the store and entered, smiling at the salesman, who recognised the stunning thirty-something businesswoman.

Sorry, Ms Moore, I haven’t had a chance to slip out the back yet. I’ll go get it now.

No problem, Raj. Thank you, Tessa smiled at the salesman.

Tessa wandered to the window while waiting. She noticed the fruit and veg street vendor arguing with someone, then with alarm, noticed a young man kick over one of the vendor’s fruit stands. Another grabbed the vendor by the scruff of the neck while a third was ransacking. Tessa turned to the back of the kitchen equipment store, but Raj was nowhere to be seen. She lifted her wrist-com, thinking of activating her holographic personal assistant, but stood frozen in amazement as a young woman flew across the street on inline skates, decked out in a courier company helmet and backpack, leapt up the footpath and landed on the young man who was demolishing the stall. With one down, she spun on one-wheeled foot and used the weight and momentum of the other skated foot to sweep the feet of the attacker still holding the vendor. The young man who had been ransacking turned and grabbed the young woman. Tessa spun around again, screaming for Raj. Raj came running out of the back office with an alarmed expression.

Call your security! Tessa told him, wild-eyed and breathless.

What’s going on? Raj ran to the window while tapping on his wrist-com.

As Raj arrived at the window and Tessa turned back to see what was happening, she was surprised to see two young men picking themselves up off the ground and making a run for it. The third had his arm twisted up behind his back by the young woman. He fell onto his knees, and although Tessa could not hear anything outside the shop, she got the impression he was screaming in pain. He received a skated foot to the back of the shoulders, sprawled on the pavement, scrambled to his feet and ran as fast as he could in the opposite direction to the two other young men. The young woman helped the vendor to his feet, brushing him off. She looked up and saw two building security heading towards herself and the vendor. The skater stepped onto the roadway and strode off up the street, quickly disappearing out of view behind the grounded and hovering traffic. Tessa ran out of the building too late to thank the courier, so she went straight to the vendor to check on him.

Are you okay? Tessa asked the older man as the security officers arrived.

Thanks to Lou, the vendor breathed to Tessa.

Do you know the name of the vigilante? one security officer asked.

Suddenly feeling like he might get the young courier woman in trouble, the vendor quickly denied knowing her. The other security officer used his wrist-com on medical scan to check over the vendor.

Nothing broken, no concussion, he nodded to the vendor.

Tessa and the vendor gave a description of the attackers to the building security officers. They would also get the footage from building cameras and pass it on to the local area neighbourhood watch team for investigation. Raj came back out of the store and handed Tessa her order. As the security officers left, Tessa asked if she could do anything for the vendor and told him where her office was if she could further help. She also decided right there and then that she needed to find and hire that courier for her business. Not only did she need a reliable courier, but she also wanted to keep an eye on the young woman—make sure she didn’t get into trouble for her vigilante efforts—and, besides, she was helluva cute!

Chapter One

Lou’s heart was pounding, the wind rushing through her hair. She was fatigued but exhilarated by the adrenaline pumping through her veins. She sucked in deep breaths of the cold morning air as she weaved in and out of the human and non-human foot traffic. Their movements were irritatingly slow and dangerously unpredictable in contrast to her speed and agility as she glided past them. The wheels on her feet of her old millenium Earth-styled inline skates had become an extension of her body. She felt as comfortable skating the dirty, overcrowded inner city streets, or Inner as it was colloquially known to locals, of the planet Cityworld as most people did walking. Lou hated walking. Running, skipping, skating, and biking were all preferable to the slowness of walking, especially around the overcrowded streets of the Inner. The only place she ever enjoyed walking was in the Cityworld polar forests, and only then with a backpack on her back and hiking boots on her feet.

She moved deftly from the footpath to the road, back to the footpath. She scissored over small cracks and jumped over larger ones. She dragged her right foot wheels to control her speed and kept her eyes ahead, planning her route through the many obstacles. A human toddler wandered aimlessly across the path a few metres ahead. It was usually the three-foot-wheeled maintenance drones that Lou found a trip hazard. Lou slowed as she neared the child, then sped around the young one, striding strongly back to her previous pace once clear. Lou navigated herself back onto the road and dodged hover and ground vehicles instead of people. She quickened her pace as she strode down a clear street, then, at full speed, bounced both skates with her boots pressed together up onto the footpath again. She skidded to a halt with showy style at the base of a set of stairs. She ran up them quickly, using her forward momentum and sideways boot placement to ensure her safe navigation of each step. Lou loped along through the foyer of the business building, maintaining a low profile as she rolled into the lift with some workers in business suits. Lou’s black urban inline skates, of the style of a millenium ago instead of the force field skates of the modern era, cargo pants, T-shirt and backpack didn’t exactly help her blend in, but the city workers were used to all types of couriers and ignored Lou’s presence.

Lou smiled sweetly at the nonchalant but beautiful, blue-skinned receptionist from a planet and species that Lou didn’t recognise, who signed for Lou’s cylindrical package. The majority of Cityworld was populated by humans from Earth, like Lou—but around 10 per cent were from neighbouring non-human planets. The receptionist ignored Lou’s smile. The returned expression was one of disdain, giving Lou the impression that her presence was only temporarily accepted due to the importance of her delivery and that her prompt exit from the building would be greatly appreciated. Lou was used to this response from self-important receptionists and secretaries. She figured it was due to her windswept hair, sweaty appearance, and dependent on the sort of trip she’d had, that is, how many muddy puddles and other obstacles she had managed or not to navigate, generally dishevelled presentation. She was happy to play the part of the lowly human messenger and left quickly and with as low a profile as she had arrived. The attitude of the office workers was a small price to pay for the freedom that her job gave her. Although Cityworld’s population was almost ninety per cent human—most coming from the exodus from Earth as it became less and less habitable over the last millenium, Lou still often managed to feel like a second-class citizen when dealing with the upper class of Cityworld—be they human or alien. But then, how many people got paid to skate around the city? Weekend ‘old millenium’ skaters got chased away for damaging property, but Lou’s presence was accepted as an essential part of the workings of the city. The advertisement of her courier company on her backpack and helmet was her key to the city streets; every security officer, council worker, and executive let her skate by without comment or objection.

Lou cruised along the footpath, dropping onto the roadway when too many slow-moving bodies were in her way. She flipped through the digital pages on her wrist-com, checking the address and route to her next pickup. She recognised the address and didn’t need to follow her map, speeding up her pace, ducking down alleyways and shortcuts to the next city building. Her next pickup was at a heritage-style building, although internally, it had been completely revamped in a very modern style. Lou was a little more cautious entering, feeling guilty about her wheels on the white marble replica flooring. Everything was pristine; the vastness of the space and tall ceilings made it almost cathedral-like, and Lou couldn’t help but enter as quietly and smoothly as she could, almost expecting a reprimand to be shouted at any moment. None came. Lou entered the lift and rode to the fourth floor, sharing the lift with a drone, a self-navigating refreshment trolley and a group of mainly human business suits, as Lou thought of any businessperson. She was the only one to exit to the fourth floor, stepping into a large reception area, but no receptionist was in sight. Lou cruised to the desk and looked cursorily for a bell or buzzer but could find none. She perused the round reception area, noticing doors to presumably offices every few metres around the perimeter of the reception. Lou cruised slowly, cautiously up to each door, taking note of the title each one displayed. She paused at the door labelled CEO. She shrugged mentally to herself and knocked gingerly on the door.

Come in, was the immediate reply from a modulated female voice.

Lou opened the door and leaned into the room slightly. It was carpeted in a creamy, luxurious, long-piled rug. Lou considered it hesitantly.

Come in, come in, a blond, business-suited human woman seated at an elegant and spacious desk motioned to Lou.

Lou looked down at her wheeled boots and gestured to them awkwardly. The businesswoman chuckled. It’s okay; ploddle over here the best you can, sweetheart. She stood and moved around to the front of her desk.

Lou walked over to the woman like an awkward stilt-walker. She caught her breath slightly as she looked closer at her client. Her attraction to her was immediate. The businesswoman’s long blond hair fell over her face as she scooped together and tidied her papers. She was tall, curvaceous under her business suit, and had a good ten years on Lou’s twenty-three years on the planet. Her makeup was flawless and subtle, although the decadent hint of gold shimmer made her brown eyes sparkle. Her lips were a deep, glossy red, and her silver-painted toenails were tucked in her delicate, gleaming black stiletto sandals. Her inch-long, two-toned acrylic nails were perfectly sculpted, and her fingers were dressed in an assortment of silver, diamond and platinum rings. Lou felt herself blush as the woman’s big dark brown eyes met hers.

The businesswoman smiled. Here you go, darl’, she handed Lou the envelope. Lou grasped it, but the woman held it firmly. Lou’s eyes met her intense gaze again. I might need a regular daily pickup for a while. Would this time suit you?

Yes, absolutely, no problem, Lou nodded earnestly.

The woman continued to hold the package. I may need some urgent pickups from time to time, too. Can I contact you on your wrist-com if I need you?

Yes. Of course. Lou smiled and nodded, attempting to soak the woman’s calm, modulated voice, her intoxicating scent, and the beauty of her thirty-something face into her memory.

In an unexpected, over-familiar response, the woman reached out and took hold of Lou’s arm firmly. She pressed her own wrist-com against Lou’s. They beeped to each other as they collected contact details. Most business interactions usually involve a voice-recorded exchange of contact details or a visual scan of the business card. Pressing wrist-coms together was normally saved for close friends. But Cityworld, with its mixed species population, had social norms that varied greatly and frequently.

You look like you can move pretty quick. You’re going to be a useful person to have around, the woman smiled.

Lou gestured to her wheeled boots. Yeah, they’re pretty handy. Lou smiled back.

I think you’d be quick, wheels or no wheels, the woman said with a wink, which again made Lou flush to her great embarrassment as she finally let Lou take the package. So, what’s your name, gorgeous?"

Lou, Lou said shyly.

I’m Tessa, the businesswoman took Lou by the arm and led her over the carpet to the door. The extra height of Lou’s skates made Lou almost eye to eye with the taller woman. The close proximity allowed Lou to breathe in Tessa’s intoxicating perfume. Now this envelope needs to go to ‘the Exchange,’ Lou. I’ll see you at the same time tomorrow unless I call you sooner. Tessa winked and smiled at Lou again.

No problem, Tessa, catch you soon, Lou smiled and glided over to the lifts. Lou looked back towards the businesswoman’s office, but Tessa was out of sight. She slumped against the wall of the lift as the doors closed and sucked in a deep breath, still able to smell Tessa’s scent. Her body felt like electricity was coursing through it, and at the same time, she felt drained. She thought back to the conversation she’d just had with Tessa. She was trying to put the idea out of her head that the businesswoman was flirting with her. She was probably just one of those extra-friendly female business types who felt they had to look out for other women. She probably felt sorry for me, Lou tried to convince herself. Sorry for the poor dyke who is too much of a tomboy to get a date and too stupid to be able to get a ‘real’ job.

Lou strode strongly to the Exchange, the city’s hub of commerce and trading. There was a name on the envelope and a building address with the floor and office number. Tessa hadn’t requested a signature, but Lou decided she wanted to hand the package personally to the addressee. She suddenly felt protective of her new client and silently vowed to treat Tessa like a Gold Class Client, dropping everything to be at her beck and call and taking special care of all her deliveries. She knew she might have to double-time a few deliveries to be able to prioritise Tessa, but she didn’t care. A businesswoman that beautiful and warm was going to get Lou’s complete loyalty.

The rest of Lou’s deliveries for the day were routine. Tessa didn’t call with any emergency or urgent requests. Lou was actually relieved. As much as she wanted to see Tessa again, she wanted to feel a little fresher and maybe even have some semi-intelligent things to say. Lou raised her eyes mentally and shook her head to herself. She’s not interested in you, Lou told herself as she made her way home at the end of the day and tried to put the beautiful, warm businesswoman out of her mind.

Lou rolled from the lift to the front door of her apartment, touching her wrist-com with her right-hand finger to unlock and open the door in a perfectly timed manoeuvre so she rolled straight into the hallway, then slumped into her comfy kitchen armchair as the door slid shut behind her. She unstrapped and unbuckled her skate boots, slid out her socked feet, then ripped the thick bamboo socks off, tossing them straight into the clothes washing and drying drawer. She quickly removed her clothes, stepped into the broom closet-sized shower, and washed away the grime of the day. Dressed just in her underwear, Lou took the vegetables and bean curd out of her backpack, quickly and expertly chopped them with her favourite chef’s knife, tossed them into her sizzling wok, then boiled the kettle and pulled out a packet of dehydrated noodles. She added some nuts, herbs, and spices from her pantry to the wok and rehydrated the noodles with the boiled water. Lou assembled her meal into a large bowl, then sat in her comfy armchair to eat. She sat her wrist-com on the armrest, set it to display holographically, and then watched and listened to the local lesbian news report while she ate.

After her meal, Lou dressed in her designer two-toned satiny shirt, black pants, and Cuban-heeled boots. She styled her short brown boyish hairdo, slid on her wrist-com and headed out the door. Lou only had to walk a short distance down her street before she was in the central lesbian district. Cafes, restaurants, bookshops and nightclubs full of like-minded women of assorted species and races. Lou passed her regular bookshop-café and martial arts club and walked into the not-so-subtly named Club She She. As soon as she opened the door, the pounding bass of the dance music pulsed through her body. The smell of alcohol and perfume mixed with the flavour of the month vapour cigarettes told Lou she was in familiar and comforting surroundings. She made her way through the throng of multi-species women, some new faces who checked her out as she walked by, some regular faces who either acknowledged or ignored her, lost in their own thoughts and conversations.

Lou headed past the DJ and dance floor, arriving at her usual section of the club, where the table games were being played. She put her name down for the competition and bought a low-alcohol drink at the bar. Lou liked to keep her mind and body always at the ready. She loved the competition of the games but also had a strong sense of self-preservation. She had lost her last known living relative two years ago. It had given her a strong sense of independence and self-sufficiency but also, at times, made it difficult for her ever to feel she could rely on others.

Lou swapped a friendly greeting with her opponent and took on her first game. She jigged and danced to the music in between turns. Into her third match, Lou noticed a young human woman smiling at her from a nearby table. At the end of the match, the woman wandered over to Lou, two drinks in her hands. She handed one to Lou, as Lou called ‘good game’ to her opponent.

Thanks, Lou smiled as she took the drink from the pretty young woman.

Did you win? the young woman’s striking blue eyes were fixed on Lou’s.

Two out of three, Lou grinned. Did you want a game?

Lou chatted with the young woman, desperately trying to find a way to gently let her know that she wasn’t the slightest bit interested in pursuing anything other than friendship. Lou suddenly felt that coming out that night was a huge mistake. Her mind kept drifting back to the tall, blond, gorgeous businesswoman she had met that morning.

Lou excused herself from the young blue-eyed woman who didn’t hide her disappointment. As she walked home, she lamented how complicated it was being a lesbian with very particular bedroom tastes. Her tomboyish good looks had a history of attracting women who assumed she would eagerly embrace a more dominant role in the bedroom or, worse still, enjoy oral sex. She let her mind drift to think of the beautiful, confident and extremely feminine Tessa. But women like her were always straight, weren’t they? At least in Lou’s experience, they were either straight or wanted to be loved in a way that Lou could never offer. Lou sighed as she entered her apartment and readied herself for bed.

Chapter Two

Lou’s heart skipped a beat when she saw a call for a pickup from Tessa’s company just before lunch the following day. As Lou entered the heritage/modern building, she subconsciously wiped her wheels on the doormat, then cruised in smoothly. As she arrived at the reception area of Tessa’s company, it was a complete change from the emptiness of the previous day. Business/office people of all varieties of species and nationalities milled and rushed from office to office. The reception desk was again unoccupied, so Lou made her way to the CEO’s office, the door ajar this time. She poked her head into the office. A group of ‘suits’ sat in a circle debating and discussing. Lou’s eyes fell on Tessa, who seemed to be debating and discussing not so much in a typical CEO authoritarian style but more like just one of the group, trying to be heard and make her points. Tessa’s eyes met Lou’s. She visibly relaxed, smiled and gestured to her desk as she made her way towards some envelopes piled neatly on it. Lou met her at the desk.

You’re a punctual little thing, Tessa said, briefly caressing Lou’s arm as she handed her the envelopes. I’ve got a few destinations for you today. I hope that’s okay? Tessa looked questioningly at Lou.

Yeah, no problem, Lou said with her usual gentle enthusiasm.

But don’t rush too much, sweetheart; I worry about you on those wheels, Tessa said as Lou scanned the addresses on the envelopes into her wrist-com and placed the envelopes carefully in her backpack.

Lou and Tessa’s conversation ended abruptly as