“Oh God,” Nita said, stopping by her car. “I don’t know why I’m pretending with you. I haven’t the slightest idea what I’m doing with her.”

“Maybe that’s good,” Tory said. “Maybe it’s better not to have expectations, either good or bad. That way, whatever happens will just be true.”

“Wouldn’t that be nice,” Nita whispered as she slid into her car.

She rolled down her window and waved as Tory unlocked her Jeep.

“Have fun with your sheriff.”

Tory grinned. “That’s my plan.”

• 180 •

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CHAPTER NINETEEN

The station house was empty except for Gladys, sitting behind the semi-circular counter that held several computer screens and the radio equipment.

“Hi Gladys,” Tory said. “Reese around somewhere?”

“In the offi ce,” Gladys replied, inclining her head toward the closed door behind her. “I hope you came to kidnap her.”

“You’re reading my mind.”

“Good, because as much as I love her, I’m getting tired of her company.”

“I’ll take her off your hands for tonight, at least.” Tory saw by the large plain-faced clock on the wall that it was closing in on six-thirty.

Gladys usually left two hours earlier. “Shouldn’t you be getting out of here too?”

“I will, as soon as one of the boys shows up to relieve me.”

Tory wagged her fi nger as she pushed through the wooden gate and threaded her way between the desks towards the chief’s offi ce. “I know everyone’s working overtime, but I’m counting on you to set a good example for this crew.”

“You know damn well that if Reese works eighteen hours a day so will everyone else, even if she doesn’t tell them to.”

“Well I’m going to take care of that problem right now. She won’t be back tonight.”

“Good.”

Tory tapped on the door which said Nelson Parker in bold black letters and walked into the unadorned ten-by-twelve-foot offi ce. Reese was behind the desk, her tie askew and her eyes red rimmed. She looked more harried than tired.

“Hello darling.”

Reese dropped her pen and leaned back in her chair, a welcoming smile on her face. “This is a nice surprise.”

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“Busy?”

“I can probably spare you a minute.”

“Oh, you think so?” Tory circled the desk, grasped the arms of Reese’s swivel chair, and kissed her. Once certain that she had Reese’s attention, she slid onto her lap and wrapped her arms around Reese’s neck. Reese gripped her waist, groaning softly as Tory slowly and thoroughly explored her mouth. After a minute, Tory realized her plan to seduce her lover into leaving work was about to backfi re. They hadn’t made love in a few days, and the kiss was quickly getting away from her and turning into something far more serious. Reese felt so good, her body so tight and hard, her lips so soft, so hot. Tory wasn’t thinking about dinner anymore, she was thinking about Reese’s mouth on her, teasing her until she was too helpless to do anything except come. Tory pulled back, breathing hard.

“I think I need more than a minute.”

“Christ,” Reese muttered. “Kiss me again like that and I’m not even going to need thirty seconds.”

Tory laughed and massaged Reese’s shoulders while gently rolling her hips in Reese’s lap. “I have every intention of kissing you again like that.” She brushed a quick kiss over Reese’s mouth. “In fact, I’m going to do a lot more than that. After you take me to dinner.”

Reese growled and buried her face in Tory’s neck. As she bit slowly on the muscle that shadowed the pounding pulse in Tory’s neck, she skated both hands up Tory’s sides and over her breasts. Tory gasped, feeling herself get wet. Twisting her fi ngers through Reese’s hair, she dropped her head back and closed her eyes.

“Don’t get me too excited, darling, please,” Tory whispered, rocking her ass harder into Reese’s crotch.

“Why should I be the only one going crazy?” Reese grunted. She found Tory’s nipple and pinched rapidly.

“Oh God, Reese…don’t. You know how much that makes me want to come.”

Reese tugged Tory’s earlobe with her teeth, then skimmed the tip of her tongue along the shell of her ear. “I love it when you need to come. I love the way you rub against me, the way your breath catches in your throat. I love the small sounds you make when you start to swell and pound inside, almost like it hurts, but I know it doesn’t.”

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“Stop it.” Tory pushed Reese’s hands away. “That’s so wonderful I can’t stand it.”

Laughing, Reese wrapped her arms around Tory’s waist and kissed her throat. “Didn’t you come here to seduce me?”

“Into taking me to dinner. I wasn’t planning on having an orgasm in your offi ce.” Panting softly, Tory rested her cheek against Reese’s shoulder. “Sex was supposed to be dessert.”

“Let’s make it the appetizer. Then we’ll pick up the baby and get takeout.”

“Yes,” Tory murmured, nuzzling Reese’s neck. “Yes, soon. I just need a minute to settle down so Gladys doesn’t take one look at me and know what we’ve been doing.”

“Don’t settle down too much,” Reese warned, stroking Tory’s hip.

“I’m taking you straight home to bed.”

“Mmm,” Tory sighed. “Will you make love to me until I scream?”

Reese’s expression darkened and her voice dropped impossibly low. “Until you scream for me to stop.”

No longer caring about anything except giving herself over to the connection she shared with Reese and no one else, Tory rose, her legs shaking as she clutched Reese’s hand. “Now. Take me home now. I need you.”

❖

When Deo’s phone rang at quarter to seven, her stomach sank.

Nita was calling to cancel. She’d worried all day, despite their brief conversation during the afternoon, that in the cool light of day Nita would change her mind. It was one thing to give in to passion in the heat of the moment, and quite another to view it as something you wanted, something you wanted with another person, and to allow it to happen.

Truth be told, she was nervous herself. Usually when she ended up in bed with a woman it was because she clicked with her by chance—

she wanted company, and so did her bedmate, or she was twisted up inside, running on adrenaline, needing release, and a woman was there, offering a few hours of pleasure. She’d never thought about a woman the way she thought about Nita, day in and day out, remembering the

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way she looked or something she’d said or the slightest touch. She never thought about a woman and wanted her enough to say, Be with me tonight.

“Hello?”

“Deo, it’s Nita.”

Deo held her breath.

After a moment of silence, Nita said, “Are you there?”

“Are you canceling?”

“Do you want me to?” Nita said softly.

“No. No, I don’t.”

“I got done early and I’m home. Can you pick me up here?”

The tightness in Deo’s chest eased. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.

Do you mind walking from there? It’s not far.”

“That would be nice. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

Deo disconnected, shoved the phone into her pocket, and grabbed her keys. She wanted to get there, get to Nita, before something happened to change everything. Rather than fi ght traffi c, she swung around the far West End and drove up 6 faster than she should have until she could cut back into town. She parked on a side street around the corner from Nita’s and hurried down to Commercial. When she rounded the corner, she slowed. Nita waited on the sidewalk in front of her house. She had changed into casual black slacks with low heels and a cream colored silk blouse. Her hair was loose and the same brisk wind that lifted her hair in thick dark waves molded the silk to her body, outlining her breasts. Deo imagined the weight of Nita’s breasts in her hands and stumbled. Just at that moment, Nita turned in her direction.

Her face softened as she laughed.

“Hi,” Deo said.

“Good evening.” Nita looked Deo up and down. Tonight, loafers replaced her work boots, and her navy blue polo shirt and tight blue jeans left nothing about her muscular body to the imagination. On impulse, she took Deo’s hand. “You look great.”

“So do you.” Deo kissed her lightly. “Better than great.”

“I’m starving,” Nita whispered, afraid if they didn’t move soon she would simply pull Deo down the path behind them and into her apartment. And then all pretense that they were doing anything other than preparing to vent their pent-up sexual frustration would be lost.

She wanted her, and she couldn’t hide it. What she saw in Deo’s eyes

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convinced her she wasn’t alone. “Are we still going to dinner?”

“Yes.” Deo’s voice was hoarse. “We are.”

Nita nodded and fell into step as Deo led the way. At just before seven, the sun still held some heat and the ocean breeze was welcome.

The streets were crowded, the atmosphere jubilant, and Nita realized she hadn’t been on a date—an evening out with a woman whom she found attractive and interesting—in years. Swiftly, she reminded herself that this wasn’t a date. She couldn’t allow herself to think otherwise.

“Are we going to Porto’s?”

Deo looked surprised. “Yes. You know it?”

Nita shook her head. “No, but Tory said it’s wonderful. That your family owns it.”

“My aunt and uncle on my father’s side.”

“What if I told you I wasn’t going to sleep with you tonight.”

Deo’s pace didn’t slow. “I’d tell you to try the lobster fra diavlo.

It’s the house special.” She stopped as they turned a corner into one of the narrow side streets and pulled Nita around to face her. She kissed her, more deliberately than she had a few minutes before. “I’d tell you that I like to look at you. I think you’re beautiful.” She cradled Nita’s face and kissed her again, leaning into her until their bodies just barely touched. “I’d tell you that I want to make love to you so much I hurt, all the time, but if all you want is dinner, we’ll sit and talk over glasses of port until my cousin throws us out. Then I’ll walk you home and say good night.” Deo kissed her again, tracing her tongue inside Nita’s lower lip. Nita tasted sweet and warm. Then she pulled back and caressed Nita’s shoulders and down her arms. “So what are you telling me?”

“The very fi rst time I saw you I imagined you touching me.” Nita stroked Deo’s face. “And every time since. I imagined it, but I didn’t want it. I don’t know what I want tonight.”

“Try the lobster fra diavlo.” Deo started walking again, Nita’s hand fi rmly in hers.

❖

Lying on her stomach with Reese stretched out along her back, Tory thrust her hips up and moaned when Reese rocked against her.

Reese’s cheek was damp against the back of her neck, and Reese’s grip

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on her hands was so tight her fi ngers ached. The weight of Reese’s body pinning her down was at once comforting and exciting. Tory held her breath, listening to Reese’s labored gasps, her own arousal at a fever pitch. Just when she was certain Reese would climax, Reese lifted up and away.

“Don’t stop, darling, I want you to…oh God.” Tory lost the words as Reese cupped her from behind, alternately entering and then stroking her. As Tory hurtled toward orgasm, she was dimly aware of Reese pressing rhythmically against her hip and whispering her name. “Inside me,” Tory moaned, “inside me…be inside me when I come.”

With a muffl ed cry, Reese pushed into her. As Tory slipped into orgasm, she sensed Reese follow. She held onto the pleasure as long as she could, sliding up and down Reese’s fi ngers, milking the rippling contractions until she collapsed into a boneless puddle. Reese groaned and rolled off. Tory spooned her backside into the curve of Reese’s stomach and sighed with contentment.

“I hate to be unoriginal,” Tory murmured, “but that was so good.”

Reese chuckled and moved Tory’s hair aside to kiss her neck.

“Sorry it was so fast. I can’t seem to wait these days.”

“It wasn’t too fast.” Tory turned onto her back and cupped Reese’s jaw. “I don’t want slow and easy. I want to feel you everywhere at once, as deep inside as you can get. I need that too.” She kissed her. “Slow and easy will come when we’re both ready.”

“I need you all the time.”

“I’m not complaining.”

“Being away from you shook me up,” Reese said, her expression distant. “I was too busy all the time to really think about it, but nothing felt right. Inside. You and Reggie, you’re my reason for everything.”

“Before you had us, being a marine was everything.” Tory draped her leg over Reese’s and curled closer. “You wouldn’t have come here fi ve years ago if you hadn’t been looking for something else you needed.