The Brass Ring (32 page)

"That's it," Kendra fumed as she grabbed Jamie and pulled her in for hug. "God, it's good to see you, blondie." Once she released the giggling blonde, she glared at both of them. CC couldn't help but smile at her friend's antics. "Now fess up and tell me what's going on. Besides the fact that you're in some kind of trouble which you can't tell me about."

"Oh, you mean her?" CC taunted the tall ebony beauty as Jamie firmly swatted her on her backside. "Ouch. Again with the hitting?"

"You're such a baby," Jamie scoffed.

"Isn't she?" Kendra agreed. "So what happened? Did you finally swallow your pride and decide to listen to your old friend? I've been telling her for years that gorgeous women don't fall into your lap every day."

"You have?" Jamie gushed; CC blushed at the memory of Jamie literally falling into her lap the second time they'd met.

CC smiled at the blush Jamie was also sporting. "It's true," CC confirmed softly. "Almost every time we got together, Kendra would find someway to let me know just how big of an idiot I was to let you go," CC explained truthfully.

"She was right," Jamie responded in a husky tone. "But I was an even bigger fool."

CC was overwhelmed by Jamie's words and the misty gleam in her brilliant green eyes. She leaned over and brushed her lips against Jamie's soft trembling ones. As she felt her lover's tongue brush against her lips, she parted her own and allowed Jamie to explore the warmth of her mouth. "Oh," Kendra gushed as the innocent kiss flamed into fiery desire. "Okay, enough," Kendra scolded them. "You're turning me on." CC's body was quivering slightly as she stepped away from her lover. "So tell me how the two of you got back together," Kendra persisted as CC maintained her distance from Jamie, knowing that she wouldn't be able to control herself if she was near her.

"Well, it was at the hospital," Jamie started.

"Right, the dead guy," CC added.

"I told you off," Jamie filled in.

"No, first you acted like you didn't know me," CC clarified.

"Right, then I told you off," Jamie agreed as Kendra stared at both of them with a baffled look.

"Then there was the other dead guy," CC continued.

"He wasn't dead," Jamie corrected her.

"Are you sure?" CC questioned her.

"Yes, and you were banging your head at the nurses' station. I still don't understand that one," Jamie expanded. "I told you off again."

"Then you checked out my ass," CC teased her with a smirk.

"I so didn't," Jamie protested.

"You did," CC bragged. "Then we got drunk."

"And slept together." They laughed in unison.

"That's when you got back together," Kendra supplied gleefully.

"No," they moaned in unison.

"Jamie completely freaked out," CC continued with a grimace.

"Twice," Jamie added. "First for sleeping with you and then when I realized I lived next door to you."

"Oh right," CC agreed with an understanding nod. "Then Stevie told us both off."

"We played miniature golf," Jamie proceeded thoughtfully.

"Slept together," CC added with a blush. "Then there was the fire."

"Right," Jamie filled in. "Then I thought you were sleeping with the contractor and you thought I was sleeping with my sister."

"Eww!" Kendra blanched.

"Then the murder. And your stalker," CC supplied.

"Ringing telephones, doorbells, pagers, broken windows, you kissing the pathologist, ice cream, handcuffs, and somewhere along the line we realized that we're still in love with one another," Jamie concluded with a flurry. "Did I leave anything out?" she asked the giggling detective.

"No, honey; that's just about everything," CC managed to choke out.

"Sounds very romantic," Kendra responded sarcastically. "Now I need to get back to work and try to figure out what you just told me. Are you sure you don't want any champagne?"

"Sorry, I'm still on duty," CC apologized. "And I have an early day tomorrow. Thank you for everything."

"My pleasure," Kendra responded with a smile. "I'll just leave the two of you alone," she said as she handed CC the card key. "I'd tell you to behave but apparently you don't understand the meaning of the word. Handcuffs and ice cream? I don't even want to know about that." She laughed as she departed.

"Should we call room service and order some ice cream just to mess with her?" Jamie suggested playfully. CC didn't respond to her lover's joke. Instead she wrapped Jamie up in her arms and clung tightly to the small blonde. "I need to be close to you," she said with a whimper. "I can't lose you," CC sobbed as the fear finally took complete control.

Jamie stepped back from CC's embrace, her emerald eyes burning into the brunette's soul. "You're not going to lose me," the small doctor vowed.

"I can't." CC trembled.

"You won't," Jamie promised her once again as she reached up and claimed the taller woman's lips.

CC knew that she was trembling; she couldn't stop her body from shaking. For the first time in a very long time she was afraid. Her mind started to shut down as the fear gripped her rapidly beating heart. She was unaware that the kiss had ended or that Jamie was removing her clothing, until she felt herself being lowered onto the bed. She looked up in confusion at her lover who was leaning over her.

Jamie's eyes bore into her soul. The look of reassurance and love cast down upon her was the only answer Caitlin Calloway needed. She lay naked on the bed as Jamie slowly removed her clothing, only breaking her gaze or contact with CC's body when she needed to discard an article of clothing. CC felt her fears melt away as her lover's naked body lay down beside her own.

Jamie cupped her face with both of her hands; CC sighed as she melted into her lover's touch. This wasn't about their overactive libidos. This moment was about the love they shared for each other. "I belong to you," Jamie promised before she tenderly brushed CC's lips. "And you belong to me," she added before reclaiming the brunette's lips. "No one is going to take us away from each other. There isn't a force strong enough to break us apart again," Jamie promised as CC wrapped her arms around the smaller woman's slender waist.

CC gasped sharply as their breasts lightly brushed. "I love your body," Jamie confessed in a breathy tone as her small hands began to caress CC's broad shoulders. Jamie guided the tall policewoman onto her back and CC allowed her lover to take control, needing Jamie's touch to remind her of their deep unbreakable connection.

Jamie's body rested halfway on hers and halfway on the mattress as her nimble fingers began to trace every curve of CC's long smooth body. CC could feel her fears ebbing as Jamie watched her fingers elicit a trail of goose bumps along CC's body. As Jamie's fingers ran along the swell of her breasts, the blonde leaned in and placed a tender promising kiss on the brunette's lips.

Missing from Jamie's kiss was the urgent probing that would drive CC to the brink of insanity. In its place was the love they shared. This was what CC needed, not the overwhelming need to be sated. Tonight she needed to feel and be shown the love that Jamie felt for her. "Still with me?" Jamie inquired softly.

"Yes," CC responded firmly as her hand came to rest on the curve of Jamie's hip. Her fingers danced along Jamie's quivering flesh. Jamie flashed her an endearing smile as her fingers continued their gentle exploration.

Jamie's fingers trailed along her full breast, circling and caressing but never quite touching her nipple. CC's fingers began caressing Jamie's flesh, drifting from the curve of her hip to the blonde's firm backside. CC allowed the tips of her fingers to simply glide along Jamie's flesh. Absent was the panting and groping until they both collapsed in exhaustion. Jamie sighed contentedly, mirroring CC's own inner feelings as she gently brushed her fingers across CC's nipple.

CC lifted her other arm and began to run her fingers through Jamie's short blonde locks. She gently massaged the blonde's scalp as Jamie's tongue peeked out and began to circle her nipple. She could feel Jamie relax into her touch, purring like a kitten as the blonde's tongue began to flicker slowly across her nipple.

Both of CC's nipples became erect and still she felt no desire to rush the moment they were sharing. Jamie's slow tender suckling reflected her own desire to take things slowly. Jamie's curls brushed against her thigh as she pressed it slightly into Jamie's center. CC moaned as Jamie's teeth grazed her now aching nipple. Jamie's body shifted slightly, nestling herself firmly against CC's thigh while pressing her own firm thigh against CC's center.

Their hips began to sway in a gentle sensual rhythm as CC continued to caress Jamie's back while still running her fingers through her hair. The soft scent of the blonde's shampoo filled her senses as she felt her lover's desire painting her thigh. "I love you." The honest words escaped from CC's lips as Jamie lifted her head and stared deeply into her eyes.

They continued to stare deeply into one another's eyes as their hips continued to dance slowly against each other. Their clits met, beating steadily with a soft loving desire as they melted into one another's touch. "I love you, Caitlin," Jamie whispered sincerely as they continued to thrust slowly against one another. Jamie supported herself on her arms, leaning above CC's body as her breasts swayed against the brunette's skin. CC clasped her lover's hips, gently guiding her to meet her growing desire.

CC lost herself in the feel of their wetness painting each other's bodies. The look of love in Jamie's eyes melted her heart and inflamed her passion as they began to thrust wildly. CC could feel the need for release growing between them. "I love you," CC choked out as she felt the climax steadily building. She fought against the tears that threatened to escape as they lost themselves in the beauty of the moment.

They climaxed together as soft cries escaped tight throats. Jamie curled up in CC's arms as their hearts beat in unison. CC clung to her lover, knowing that this was where she belonged. Holding Jamie in her arms was the only thing in the world that really mattered at that moment in time.

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

C
C'S AZURE EYES blinked opened as she heard the chirping sound of her cell phone. She untangled her body from Jamie's that was resting comfortably on top of her. The doctor grumbled sleepily in protest. CC kissed her lover's brow and tucked Jamie back under the covers. CC already missed feeling her lover next to her. The policewoman's body was slightly sore from the evening's activities.

After the sweet gentle affirmation of their lovemaking, the couple had climbed under the covers to cuddle. A simple touch and tender kiss and soon their bodies had complete control. "That girl is going to be the death of me." She yawned as she searched the darkened room for her cell phone.

"Are you complaining?" came the muffled query from her lover who still snuggled deeply into her pillow.

"Never," CC responded boldly as she tripped over her pants. Looking down she could see the glint of her cell phone. She picked it up and punched in her code to retrieve the message from the call she'd just missed. Not surprisingly it was from Max.

Her partner had called to fill her in on what was happening with the investigation. They had found the car, and before they could have it impounded for being parked illegally, the doctor had shown up. Max remained in the cruiser just out of the doctor's sight, listening to his explanation. He would have believed that the young doctor was just going to surprise his girlfriend if he didn't already know the truth. Max further explained that when he emerged from the cruiser, Dr. Fisher had paled. Max added that he had spoken with her neighbors and someone matching Dr. Fisher's description had been seen lurking around Jamie's townhouse. Max concluded that he put a rush on the forensics from the Murdock crime scene and he felt that they had enough to bring the good doctor in for another interview.

CC quickly dialed Max's cell phone. "Hey, buddy," she greeted him, hoping that the roughness of her voice wouldn't reveal her earlier activities. Max's chuckle quickly dashed that hope. "Did you make it home yet?"

"Yeah, I'm home and the wife is steamed," Max grunted.

"So you think we can bring him in for another round?" she pressed, eager to climb back into bed and hold her lover in her arms.

"He was in the area," Max explained. "I bet your neighbors can ID him. He's still lying about his relationship with Jamie," he pointed out. "And she's already filed a complaint with us."

"And her supervisor at the hospital," CC informed him.

"Good," Max responded eagerly. "It's not enough for a restraining order but it's getting us closer to where we need to be."

"He's on the day shift now," CC continued. "Why don't we have him come in right after his shift? I know I can't be present but I really want to watch. Besides, if he's at the station I know Jamie will be safe at work. We need to do a follow-up with Terrell and the Romeo who was on duty the night Sandra disappeared."

"Sounds like a plan," Max confirmed. "Get in as soon as you can; we need to speak to the boss about all of this."

"I will," she promised before ending her conversation with Max.

Wearily she climbed back into bed with her lover. Jamie instantly nestled her body against CC's. "Now will you tell me what's going on?" Jamie inquired softly as she rested her head on CC's chest.

"Yes," CC agreed, feeling that her control had returned and her fears had been properly reigned in. "Ellen Murdock was a pediatric nurse and her car was parked next to Sandra Bernstein's the night she disappeared. She was on vacation so no one knew that she was dead in her own apartment. She was murdered in the same fashion that Sandra was as well as two other girls in San Diego. The only difference is that Ellen's body wasn't dumped. Two killings in one night - the killer probably didn't have the time to dump the body." CC looked down at Jamie who was still nestled against her chest and twirling a strand of CC's hair between her fingers.