To Protect & Serve (26 page)

She placed her hands over Keri’s naked breasts and kneaded the soft flesh into puckered mounds of arousal. Keri moaned softly and arched her back to give Alex greater access. She was so open and trusting, so willing to give herself without reservation. Alex dropped to her knees. Sitting on her feet, she leaned back to take in the full exposure of Keri’s body, nipples hard, olive skin tinted with heat, and the light tuft of dewy hair at the apex of her thighs. She pressed her face against the warmth of Keri’s abdomen. “You make me crazy.”

Keri breathed in a raspy staccato as Alex’s fingers teased her nipples. “I hope that’s a good thing.”

“You have no idea how much I need you.” Alex rose, kissed Keri again, and led her to bed. As Alex removed her own clothes, Keri’s appreciative gaze danced from one body part to the next. Her eyes were misty with tears when Alex lay gently down beside her.

“Are you okay?” Alex asked.

Keri wiggled closer, entwined their legs, and stroked the side of Alex’s face. “I just never thought I could be so moved by the sight of another woman’s body. Just looking at you turns me on.”

Her moist tongue teased Alex’s lips, softly tracing back and forth, up and down as passion built between them. Alex’s breathing increased and desire twisted her insides into pulsing knots. She wanted to ravish Keri, to immediately relieve the burning pain of desire that tormented her. At the same time she enjoyed the teasing and loving attention to her body.

When Keri’s searching tongue began a slow entry into her waiting mouth, Alex could stand it no longer. She sucked her in, desperate to feel the warm, probing presence inside her. Hungrily, she allowed herself to be filled and drank of the sweet exchange between them. In and out, Keri’s tongue stroked the inside of her mouth and Alex’s pelvis pumped the air in response, the blessed tightening already beginning inside. Hot hands explored Alex’s breasts and began a slow agonizing descent.

“Will you let me make love to you?” Keri whispered. Alex’s mind flashed to the last woman who’d made love to her and who sought to control her, mind and body. She stopped Keri’s hand midabdomen and looked into Keri’s eyes. The gentleness and love she saw there turned her grip on Keri’s hand into a caress. She knew she could trust this woman with her body, her mind, and even her life.

“You can do anything you want to me,” she said. “But please make it soon.”

Keri stroked the slight dip of Alex’s abdomen and inched toward her pubic mound. She knew that if Alex could trust her with her body, there was also a chance she would trust her with her heart as well. Alex’s body rose to meet her, but Keri slid her fingers down to stroke the join of thigh and torso instead. Alex moaned in agony and shifted to make full contact.

“You’re killing me…please.” Alex drifted into a red haze of passion. She thought of all the times she’d lusted for this woman, of her sensuously full lips, of her kisses that could suck the life right out of her, of her butt in jeans crossing the parking lot at work, of her touch in the gym, of her body in wet, see-through shorts and T-shirt. Her desire spiraled out of control. She craved this, with this woman.

Keri slid her fingers into the damp hair between Alex’s thighs, closed around a handful of tender flesh, and tugged gently. The quick flicker of pain transformed to pure pleasure and leapt through Alex’s body. “This is torture.”

A chuckle sounded from the woman beside her. “I thought you liked things the hard way, Lieutenant.”

Alex tried to laugh, but the stroking between her legs increased and all that came out was a whimper. “Just this once, I’ll take fast and easy. I can’t wait any longer.”

“Tell me what you want, baby.” Keri shifted on top of Alex and rubbed their bodies together in full contact. “Tell me.”

“Jerk me off until I’m ready to come, then I want you inside me.”

Keri shimmied her hand between them, moved her fingers slowly into the moist folds hooding Alex’s clit, and captured her rigid flesh.

“Oh yes.” Alex’s body begged for release as her moan clung to the air like a fog. Her thrusting hips pounded against Keri’s hand as the tugging on her distended tissue intensified. “Yes,” she pleaded, “that’s it.” She pumped faster. “Don’t stop.”

Keri scrunched down slightly and straddled Alex’s thigh, watching as Alex’s face flushed and her legs began to shudder. “Come for me, darling.”

Alex tensed when she felt the evidence of Keri’s arousal wet and hot against her naked flesh. The pressure in her pelvis ached for release. She reached for Keri’s breasts and stroked them in time to her thrusts. “Now, baby, go inside me now,” she cried as the initial tremors began. With Keri’s fingers buried deep inside her, she let go. Time crawled as she trembled with rolling waves of orgasm. She couldn’t remember a climax that had lasted so long, or felt so complete and freeing as this one. She knew her release was much more than physical. Her body quivered as each tiny shock contracted and released around Keri’s fingers. Pent-up fluids and frustration rushed from her and bathed her partner. She wrapped her arms tighter around Keri as she continued to ride her thigh.

She could tell that Keri’s release was imminent and wanted nothing more than to feel her surrender. Keri’s body rocked back and forth and short bursts of air escaped her lungs between moans. Alex felt her stiffen, and heard a low growl escape from her lips as she collapsed on top of her.

They lay quietly in each other’s arms for several minutes. Eventually, Alex shifted and nestled Keri’s head against her breast, combing her fingers through Keri’s tousled hair. Only two words came to mind. “Thank you,” she said. But those two words didn’t begin to cover her feelings.

Keri raised her head and stared into her eyes. “I love you, Alex Troy.”

Oh, my God.
Alex knew the fire threatening to consume her was too intense to be anything but love. She burned for Keri, ached for her with every ounce of her existence.
When did it happen? I’m totally undone by her, so why can’t I tell her I love her?
Maybe it was because she’d soon be sending this woman into the jaws of death. How could she declare her love and do that to her? And what happened if she didn’t come back? The thought sent shivers through Alex.

“You don’t have to say anything. I just want you to know how I feel,” Keri said. “And it’s not going to change, no matter what happens.”

Alex snuggled deeper, warm and comfortable. She owed her so much. Keri had given herself completely and in so doing, allowed Alex to do the same. But more importantly, she’d demonstrated that it was possible to give and express love freely without expectations. Her faith amazed Alex.

They spent the night making love until they collapsed in each other’s arms exhausted. Alex didn’t want to talk or think about anything else. She wanted to touch and experience everything possible about Keri Morgan in one miraculous, delicious, all-consuming night. Because after tonight, she had no idea what came next.

Alex twirled her pen and jabbed question marks onto a blank yellow page as Beth briefed her on the interview and booking of their dealer from the night before.

“He refused to give up his source, but we got a good enough sample from the buy to make a comparison with the others. Chad called Davis and he sent someone to post our snitch out. Overall, it was a great night.” Beth eyed her mindless doodling. “Are you listening?” No response. She tried again. “Keri Morgan.”

Alex’s head came up immediately. “What? What did you say about Keri?”

“I knew it. You’re gaga over her. Want to talk about it?” Beth couldn’t suppress a smile.

“No, I don’t.” It was bad enough that she spent every waking moment thinking about her and every sleeping moment dreaming about her. She absolutely did not want to talk about Keri. Besides, Beth had probably already guessed from the look on her face that they’d slept together. “I’ve already said enough as it is.” Alex dropped her pen onto the notepad. “We have work to do. Let’s go to lineup.”

As soon as they entered the conference room, Beth said, “There’s only one new item on the clipboard today. Homicide squad’s got a body found behind the abandoned warehouses on Phillips Avenue. A young black female. It appears she was tied up for a while, then shot. I’ll pass the picture around. If anybody knows this girl, contact homicide detectives.” She passed the photo to Renee and kept talking. “Our next move with Davis is to prepare for the actual buy from him. We’ll need Chad to—”

“Oh, my God!” Keri cut Beth off. “The son of a bitch killed her.”

Alex felt the hairs on the back of her neck bristle. “Morgan, do you know this girl?”

Keri looked at Alex, her eyes circles of disbelief and horror. “It’s Tiffany Brown, our witness and Davis’s ex-girlfriend. I saw the picture Steve took of her when he interviewed her.” She passed the picture to Steve. “Look.”

“Yep, that’s her. Somebody must’ve screwed up. She was supposed to be held without bail.” He sighed. “But we don’t know for sure that Davis had her killed. We’ll need proof.”

“Davis was pissed,” Keri said. “He admitted to me that she’d be pushing up daisies soon. And you heard him, Lieu. He told her he meant for her to get the drink that killed Stacey. Do they have a time of death?”

Beth checked the alert. “Nothing here about it. They recovered a bullet at autopsy, but no weapon at the scene. Go talk to the homicide detectives when we break lineup and tell them what we suspect. Let them know they can’t identify you as the source of this information yet because you’re still undercover. But they at least need to check it out.”

Alex felt the level of tension rising in the room. “Okay, folks, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Davis may be connected to this murder or not. All we have now is circumstantial evidence and a strong gut feeling. Let the homicide guys do their job on this one. We need to stay focused on our objective, nailing Davis for drug distribution and the other deaths.”

“We have to be even more cautious,” Beth said. “No one takes unnecessary chances.” She stared directly at Keri. “Where are we on lining Davis up?”

“Chad’s had a conversation with him. He’s pissed about the arrest. I think he’s about ready to deal.”

Alex looked at Keri. “Is Chad’s cover still intact?”

“Davis doesn’t have a clue.” Keri smiled with pride. “He’s called me a few times since the strip club. All he can talk about is getting hooked up for that threesome he wants. I’ve been playing it cool.”

“Good. So all we need is for Chad to put the idea in Davis’s head that there’s one surefire way to get you interested. Davis won’t see it as permanent, just a means to an end.” Alex considered the timing of the bust and Davis’s apparent willingness to deal with Keri directly. He seemed anxious enough. It was now or never. “Tell Chad to set it up. If even the slightest thing feels off, tell him to drop the conversation. I don’t want Davis getting suspicious.”

“So, what if Davis calls me and makes an offer?” Keri asked.

“Set up a meet on neutral territory—not his house, not a public place—in case there’s…trouble.” Alex couldn’t bring herself to say the word that initially came to mind: gunfire. The thought gave her chills.

“I’ll take care of it, Lieutenant.” Keri’s eyes met hers and the look bored deeply into her.

Beads of perspiration formed between Alex’s breasts and legs where Keri’s lips had so hungrily fed. Alex dropped her gaze to Keri’s hands and the pulsing in her clit soared painfully. The sparkling glimmer in Keri’s eyes said she knew exactly what Alex was thinking. She licked her lips and grinned. Alex knew she was playing with fire but she couldn’t help herself. It was like she’d had her first hit of cocaine and was forever addicted. She had to feel that high again—and soon.

She rose on weak legs. “Let me know when you have anything further. And contact homicide ASAP and fill them in.” She walked toward her office to consider her growing uneasiness about the case. Her insides knotted with apprehension. She wondered if she was losing her analytical and tactical skills or if this was the price she paid for becoming emotionally involved.

*

“He called,” Keri said, standing just inside the doorway of Alex’s home office. They’d spent the past two nights together, getting very little sleep, reveling in the passion that burned hot enough to consume them.

Alex sat hunched over her desk, her firm, full breasts peeking from the unbuttoned sides of an oversized denim shirt. Keri was amazed by the wave of desire that swept over her like a hot shower. She wouldn’t have thought herself capable of such feelings a few days ago, but now they were ever present and unstoppable anytime she was in Alex’s presence. She loved the time they’d spent together and tried not to overanalyze it. She could hardly believe her luck at being with such an amazing woman. Alex had turned out to be everything she could have hoped for—warm, loving, open, honest, and crazy about her. But Keri was also confused about what was going to happen next. She’d decided to live in the moment, give herself completely, enjoy Alex fully, and just wait. The fact that they hadn’t talked about what was happening between them nagged at the back of her mind, but she dismissed the avoidance as inevitable. It was bad timing.

“He wants to meet in a couple of days,” she said.

“That’s great news.” Emotions warred inside Alex. What if something went wrong?
I can’t let her go.
“Did he say anything incriminating?”

“No. He’s too smart for that.” Keri crossed the room to lean against the desk.