Winds of Fortune (32 page)

“Can’t,” Deo mumbled, her head pillowed on Nita shoulder. “I’m wasted.”

“That’s good. That’s just really good.” Nita laughed and stroked Deo’s hair. “You sleep now baby.”

Nita lay very still, listening to the angry world outside and the steady, comforting sound of Deo’s even breathing. When her muscles finally relaxed, she let Deo slip out of her and eased Deo onto her side. Deo muttered a faint protest but didn’t move as Nita carefully untangled her so she could sleep comfortably. Then she curled up in Deo’s arms and closed her eyes, satisfied and unafraid.

Tory sat up on the sofa, alert to the sound of quiet footsteps on the deck. A shadow moved across the glass doors, and she heard the quiet snick of a lock sliding open. The restless unease that was always with her when Reese was away disappeared instantly.

“I’m here, darling,” Tory called softly. There was enough light from the almost-dawn that she didn’t bother to turn on the nearby lamp.

“Why aren’t you upstairs in bed?” Reese asked, her voice sounding hoarse as she settled onto the couch next to Tory. She pulled off her tie and tossed it onto the end table, then loosened her gun belt and laid it carefully by her side.

“Because you’re not there.” Tory leaned her cheek against Reese’s shoulder and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Have you been out all night?”

“Most of it.” Reese sighed and leaned her head back. “We’re going to get hit, Tor. With high winds and storm surge at the very least.”

“When?”

“Late tomorrow and on into the night, probably.” Reese stroked Tory’s arm. “Did you hear from Kate?”

“They made it to Cath’s about midnight. Traffic was backed up everywhere. The baby was asleep.”

“Mmm.”

Realizing that Reese was nearly asleep, too, Tory lifted Reese’s legs and guided her down until she was stretched out on her back. After retrieving Reese’s holster and placing it on the nearby table, she unlaced her shoes and dropped them on the floor.

“Can’t sleep now,” Reese muttered.

“Yes you can.” Tory curled up beside her, draping her body over Reese’s, and closed her eyes. Reese was rumpled and tired and barely present, but she was warm and her body was solid and her heartbeat steady. She was everything Tory needed to anchor her in the coming storm.

*

Nita heard the shower running and checked the clock. Just after six a.m. She stretched and the muscles in her inner thighs protested. Smiling, she thought about why she was sore, and the memory of straddling Deo’s tight, narrow hips while she rode the thick length of her made her clench inside. Tossing the covers aside, she rose quickly and hurried into the bathroom.

“Morning,” Nita said, slipping into the shower next to Deo. She wrapped both arms around Deo’s waist and kissed her.

“Sorry,” Deo murmured after a minute. “I was trying not to wake you.”

“That’s all right.” Nita smoothed her hands over Deo’s shoulders and down her arms. “I need to call Tory. I have a feeling we’re going to be running the clinic twenty-four hours a day from now until this is over.”

“How are you feeling?” Deo soaped her hands and caressed Nita’s breasts, giving a low growl of approval as Nita’s nipples hardened into dark pebbles against her palms.

Nita caught her breath sharply. “I woke up thinking about you inside me.”

“I woke up wanting to come inside you again.”

“Handy,” Nita whispered, her eyelids flickering as Deo played with her breasts.

“Are you going to let me?” Deo skimmed one hand down Nita’s belly until her fingertips touched the soft triangle with the diamond-hard center nestled between her legs. Then she circled slowly and pressed.

Nita whimpered and let her head fall back against the shower wall. “Oh, baby, that feels so good.”

“To me too.” Deo’s breathing kicked up a notch. “You didn’t answer.”

“What was the question?”

Deo slid a finger inside her. “Whether you were going to let me come inside you again.”

“Oh yes. Yes. As often as you like.”

“I’m going to make you come now.”

“I know.”

“You know why?” Deo murmured, kissing Nita slowly.

Nita shook her head, her eyes closed, pelvis lifting to take Deo deeper.

“Because I love to make you come, and you know it.”

Nita forced her eyes open. Deo was very close, her dark eyes black, all pupil. She was staring so intently Nita could feel the heat on the backs of her eyelids. Deep inside her orgasm unfurled and spread, powerful wings beating against the heavy air of her desire. “Is it really so simple?”

“No.” Deo added another finger, then another, and another. She barely managed to get her arm around Nita’s waist as Nita’s legs gave out. Still, she held her gaze as Nita trembled on the brink of orgasm. “It’s not simple at all.”

“Don’t let me fall.”

“No, no I won’t.” Deo slipped her tongue deep into Nita’s mouth and Nita came.

*

“You and my dad should leave this morning,” Bri said, yanking on her uniform pants. She shoved in her shirt and hastily threaded her belt through the loops. Carre sat on the edge of the bed watching her, and Bri could feel her bristling from across the room. Without meeting her eyes, she repeated what she’d been saying since the night before. “It’s not safe here, babe, and I’m going to be out on patrol pretty much all the time from now on.”

“I can take care of myself, Bri,” Carre said. “You don’t have to worry.”

“But I will.” Bri leaned her shoulders back against the wall and stuffed her hands in her pockets. “My dad just got out of the hospital.”

“I know, baby, and that’s one reason I’m staying. You know he’s not going to leave.” Caroline crossed the room and wrapped her arms around Bri’s shoulders. “When you go in today, I’ll head over to Nelson’s. We’ll be fine.”

“If you’d just go inland, I wouldn’t have to worry,” Bri said, afraid she sounded like she was whining. In fact, she was pretty sure she
was
whining.

“What are you scared about, baby,” Carre said gently.

Bri shook her head.

Carre bumped her pelvis into Bri’s and bit her lightly on the tip of her chin. “Say.”

“Cut it out,” Bri said grumpily.

“Nuh-uh.” Carre nibbled on Bri’s lower lip. When Bri cupped her butt, she smiled. “Better. But you still have to talk.”

Bri growled and skimmed her hand under the back of Caroline’s T-shirt.

“We’re not having sex,” Carre whispered, kissing the corner of Bri’s mouth. “We’re just having a moment.”

“Thirty seconds will do it.”

“Yeah,” Carre said breathily, “maybe. But you’re not getting thirty seconds. Not unless you tell me what you’re scared of.”

“A couple weeks ago, I thought my dad was going to die,” Bri said so quietly Carre could barely hear her.

Carre grew very still, holding Bri. Waiting.

Bri took a shaky breath. “That was really scary.”

“I know, baby.”

“No, you don’t know what I mean.” Bri cupped Carre’s face. “I love my dad, I do. But you…with you it’s different. I won’t be able to come take care of you if things get bad. If something happens to you because I’m not there, I’m going to lose it for good.”

“Oh, baby, no,” Carre whispered. She threaded her fingers into Bri’s hair and caressed her neck. “I’m going to be fine, and you are going to do what you need to do, because people are depending on you. And because it’s your responsibility and that’s who you are.” She kissed her softly. “Don’t you think I’m afraid for you?”

“I’ll be okay.”

Carre smiled. “You expect me to trust you, but you have to trust me, too.”

“Just be okay. Okay? Please.”

“Promise. I love you.”

Bri rested her forehead against Carre’s and closed her eyes. “Me too. So bad.”

“Got thirty seconds?”

“I just got dressed.” Bri said, sounding unconvincing.

“Okay. A minute and thirty seconds, then.” Carre grabbed Bri’s hand and pulled her toward the bed. “Get over here and give me something to think about until I see you again.”

“Two minutes,” Bri muttered, fumbling with her belt. “I’ve got at least two minutes.”

*

At the sound of a gunshot, Reese grabbed the marine next to her and dove for cover, scrambling with one hand for her weapon while shielding the body beneath her with her own. She swept the ground in front of her, and her right hand closed over the grip of her revolver.

“Keep your head down,” Reese grunted, yanking her weapon free from its holster.

Tory clamped both hands around Reese’s wrist. “Reese! Reese, we’re safe. You’re home. Reese!”

Forms took shape in the murky light. The desert, cold and black as death at midnight, blindingly bright and scorching in the light of day, faded from her mind’s eye and Reese saw her living room, her kitchen, and beneath her, her wife. “Tory. God, Tory. Did I hurt you?”

“Darling, no, of course you didn’t.” Tory smiled shakily. “Put your gun away, darling.”

Reese stared at the weapon gripped in her hand and Tory’s fingers clenched around her wrist so tightly they were white. “I’m sorry. God. What was that?”

“I don’t know. Maybe a tree coming down.” Tory released her hold on Reese’s arm. “It doesn’t matter. Everything is all right.”

“No it isn’t.” Reese pushed away, re-holstered her weapon, and slumped back against the sofa, not looking at Tory. “Did I hurt you? I’m sorry.”

Tory sat up in the narrow space between the sofa and the coffee table, which had been pushed aside when Reese had pulled them off the sofa and onto the floor. Her hip ached from landing on it, but that wasn’t what hurt her. Reese looked haunted, tortured, and she simply couldn’t stand it anymore. She got to her knees and straddled Reese’s lap. She held her lover’s face in both hands and forced Reese to look at her. “You are not to say that to me anymore. You have never hurt me. You never will. You have nothing to be sorry for. You’re exhausted. That was instinct. Your instinct to protect me. To protect those you love and are responsible for. I love you for that.”

Reese’s eyes were bruised with uncertainty, and Tory slid her hands higher, into Reese’s hair. She leaned down and kissed her. “You did your duty. You served when called. You have nothing to be ashamed of just because part of you questioned why you were there.” She stroked Reese’s face. “I let you go, because I knew that you had to, but I’m not ashamed that I didn’t want you to go. I won’t apologize for that, and I won’t apologize for saying that I don’t want you to go again.”

“Tory,” Reese whispered, circling her waist. She laid her cheek between Tory’s breasts. “If I didn’t have you I’d be lost.”

“No you wouldn’t,” Tory murmured, brushing her lips over Reese’s forehead. “But you don’t have to worry about it, ever. I promise.”

“I have to go to work soon.”

“I know. So do I.”

“I wish you weren’t going to be here for this.” Reese kissed the base of Tory’s throat, then lower between her breasts.

“I can’t be anywhere else. You’re here, and I won’t leave you. And I have a responsibility too.” Tory reached between them and opened the buttons on her blouse, then cradled Reese’s cheek against her breast. “Listen to my heart. It beats for you. You and only you, for all my life.”

Reese shuddered and Tory felt tears on her skin.

“I know you’ll be careful,” Tory said, “and so will I. And when this is over, we’ll make love and I’ll make sure you know just exactly where you belong.”

“As if I could forget,” Reese whispered, tilting her head back and grinning weakly.

Tory smiled. “Well, I’ll enjoy reminding you just the same.”

*

Nita curled up in the big chair in Deo’s bedroom and watched Deo dress. She loved to see her move, especially naked. When she stretched to pull pants off a hanger in her closet, the muscles in her back and shoulders bunched and rippled. Her ass tightened, and Nita had a quick memory of running her hands over those muscles and digging her fingers into them as Deo thrust between her legs. She must have made a small sound because Deo turned in her direction.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Deo narrowed her eyes and studied Nita in the soft light from the bedside lamp. Nita’s skin held a hint of heat beneath the smooth tan surface. “You’re thinking about sex.”

“No I’m not.”

“Uh-huh.” Deo stepped into her briefs, then pulled on her pants. Naked from the waist up, she walked toward the dresser on the wall behind Nita. She stopped by the chair, leaned down and kissed Nita soundly, then kept going. “Yes you are. Why don’t you want me to know?”

Nita was about to make a flip reply about preferring to take her by surprise, and then the entire building shook, rattling the windows in their casements. The room dimmed as the scant light from the cloudy gray sky disappeared. Rain hammered against the skylight. A small TV on Deo’s dresser was turned down so low the sound of the weatherman’s words were barely audible, but the map behind him with its large red arrows and heavy black circles centered over the New England coast told the story with dramatic effectiveness. Nita appreciated, as she hadn’t until that moment, that before the day was out they were all likely to be in deadly danger. “I can’t look at you or think of you without wanting you, and that makes me uncomfortable.”