Winds of Heaven (10 page)

Skye giggled, put her little hand in Casey’s big one, and shook.

“
Dea
...” She giggled and grabbed Casey around her neck.

“Okay, you’re strangling me now,” Casey said with embarrassment as Skye pulled back.

“Kiss me,” she said and Casey blinked. “Peas.”

Casey gave her a wary grin. “Just like all the women in my life.” She leaned down and dropped a kiss on her cheek. “Now be good for Mommy,” she said, trying to sound firm while avoiding Liz’s grin.

“Have a safe trip,” Liz said and ran her fingers through her hair. She looked up into Casey’s eyes.

“Thanks,” she said. “Look. I’m sorry about last night. This is just all so bizarre and I’m trying to get a handle on it, I guess.”

Liz heard the uncertainty in her voice, and still, she felt there was something on Casey’s mind. “It’s an adjustment for all of us, Casey.”

“Mama, give
Cafey
a kiss bye,” Skye said from her chair.

Liz’s eyes widened; she felt the color rush to her face. Letting out a nervous laugh, she stepped away from Casey and sat next to Skye. “Finish your breakfast.”

“I all done, Mama.”

Liz looked down at the empty plate in front of her daughter; she couldn’t even look at Casey. However, she heard her laughter as Casey walked out.

“Goodbye, ladies,” she called over her shoulder. “See you in a few days. Don’t burn the cabin down.”
 

When she heard the front door close, Liz hid her face in her trembling hands. “Good Lord.”

Casey sat in the studio with the headphones on listening to the recording. She shook her head angrily. “No, no, no!” She growled and took off the headphones. “Niles, get in here, peas,” she said and stopped. “Please.”
 

Niles ran his fingers through this blond hair as he walked in and waited. “The second refrain, am I right?”

“Yes. It’s way too fast, and the brass is too loud. Can we get them back for another take?”

“Sure, they’re scheduled for tomorrow morning. You have them all day. The producers want this done yesterday,” he warned.

“I know.” She looked at her watch. It was four thirty. By now, Skye would be up from her nap. All of the sudden, she wanted to be there and take the little dwarf
fimming
. She laughed out loud.

Niles gave her a wary look. “Are you all right? Usually when the conductor messes up this badly, you’re ballistic,” he said, watching her.

“I just had a good thought.”

“You did?”

Casey raised an eyebrow at the incredulous tone. Niles folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the desk. “What’s the good thought?”

Liz Kennedy’s blue eyes flashed through her mind. She felt her heartbeat race for a moment.

“What in the world are you thinking about? You’re all flushed,” Niles said. “And if you don’t tell me, I’ll—”

“See you in the morning.”

“Got a hot date?”

Casey waved as she walked out the door. “Good night, Niles,” she said and slammed the door.

“God, I’ve missed you,” Suzette said as she walked into the tenth-floor apartment. She wrapped her arms around Casey’s neck and kissed her deeply. “Mmm. You taste good,” she murmured into Casey’s mouth.

“It’s my toothpaste,” Casey said, her green eyes dancing. “C’mon in,” she said and turned.

Suzette pulled her back and quickly started unbuttoning her shirt. Casey raised an eyebrow as she allowed Suzette to disrobe her. “Or we can have sex right in the foyer.”

They eventually made it to the bedroom. With a trail of clothes, at least they would be able to find their way back to the front door. Both flopped down naked on the bed. Suzette really missed Casey. She ravaged her, kissing up and down Casey’s neck pinning her beneath her.

“I should go up north more often.” Casey gasped as Suzette lay between her legs.

Suzette lowered her head and kissed Casey’s breast. Her tongue slowly flicking, encircling the aching nipple, she then took it into her mouth and roughly sucked as her other hand wandered down the length of her torso.

Without a word, Suzette made up for lost time...

Much later, they lay in bed sipping champagne. “You should stay in Chicago. There is so much more to do here. Your
Northwoods
are so woodsy,” Suzette pointed out as Casey lay on her side watching her. “Or you should take me more often.”

“I like woodsy and my solitude,” Casey murmured and took a drink of champagne. Before swallowing, she engulfed Suzette’s breast and sensually licked the bubbly spirits away. “The only way to drink champagne,” Casey admitted and lowered her head.

Once again, the phone rang.

“Didn’t this happen last time?” Casey grumbled and Suzette reached for it. “Don’t you dare.”
 

“It might be Jeffrey,” Suzette said, getting to the phone before Casey.

“Hello?” Suzette sighed as Casey nibbled at her shoulder. “Yes, she is. Who’s calling?” She stopped and gave Casey a heated look. “It’s a Liz Kennedy.” Suzette smiled sweetly, then tossed the phone at her.

Casey juggled it like a hot potato and glared at Suzette. “Liz? Is everything all right? Is
Shortround
okay?”

“Y-yes. Everything is fine. I know I’m interrupting, but it’s only six and I, well, I didn’t think. Well, I thought it would be okay to call.”

“It’s fine. What’s the matter?” Out of the corner of her eye, Casey caught Suzette downing a glass of champagne.

“I feel so stupid. It’s raining and the lights went out. I called Marge, but there’s no answer.”

“Shit, I’m sorry. Look in the kitchen, there’s a breaker box.”

There was silence for a moment when Liz replied, “Okay, got it.”

“Flip the breaker on.” Another moment passed before Casey asked, “Did it work?”

“No, I flipped the switch and nothing happened.”

“Okay, it’s not unusual. It must be raining hard.”

“Like cats and dogs.”

Casey sat up on the edge of the bed. She could hear the fear in Liz’s voice. “Okay, I’m coming back.”

“No, don’t. God, I feel like an idiot calling you in the first place,” Liz said quickly. “Wait. Hold on.”

“Liz?” Casey heard nothing. She jumped up and paced, naked by the bed. Suzette was on her second glass of champagne as she watched. “Liz? Damn it.”

Now all sorts of ugly scenarios flashed through her mind as she heard Skye crying in the background. “I knew I shouldn’t have left them.” Her heart raced as she waited.

“Casey?” Liz asked through the crackling phone line.

“Sweetie, what’s going on?”

“It’s okay. Marge is here. I just don’t know where everything is here. We’re fine, please go back—” She stopped and Casey blushed. “We’re fine. I’m so sorry I bothered you.”

“You call me. I don’t care what time,” Casey said firmly. “Understand?”

“Y-yes, I will, thanks, Casey, bye. Oh, wait, Skye wants to talk to you. Is that okay?”

“Sure, put her on.” Casey instantly grinned. She looked at Suzette, who raised her champagne glass. Casey turned away.

“
Cafey
, light go out. I scared,” Skye whispered. “Mama scared. Mama say damn.”

Casey laughed out loud. “Don’t be scared,
Shortround
. The lights will come back on when it stops raining. You take care of Mommy, okay?”

“’Kay. Come home,” Skye pleaded. “Peas.”

“I-I will,
Shortround
. You be good for me?”

“’Kay.”

“Let me talk to Mommy, sweetie,” Casey said. She wanted to say “I love you.” Why didn’t she? Why would she? she asked herself. What right does she have to even—

“Casey, again I’m sorry.” Liz’s voice was full of concern.

“Don’t be, it’s fine.”

There was silence for an instant. Casey’s mouth went dry; she swallowed once but said nothing.

“Skye misses you.”

Casey heard the softness in Liz’s voice and her heart continued to race. “That’s because she wants a present.” Both laughed, easing the tension between them.

“You know my daughter too well, Ms. Bennett,” Liz said, still chuckling. “Well, bye. We’ll see you in a few days?”

“Yes, I’ll be home soon.
G’bye
, Liz.”

Casey hung up the phone and looked at it for a moment. She then looked up to see Suzette holding an empty bottle of champagne. “Suzette, my pet. Put that down,” Casey said slowly.

“I should object,” Suzette sighed as Casey crawled back onto the bed, taking the champagne bottle out of her hand.

“That would be most objectionable,” Casey assured her as she nibbled her way down the length of her torso. She kissed the soft dark curls as Suzette parted her legs, letting out a deep groan as Casey nestled herself between her legs.

She kissed her inner thigh, nipping up and down, eliciting small gasps from Suzette, who was holding onto the headboard for dear life murmuring encouraging words as Casey leaned in and parted the thick folds with her tongue, easily gliding up and down. Suddenly, Liz Kennedy’s face flashed through her mind and she stopped in mid-glide. She blinked a few times, then shook her head.

Suzette whimpered, “Don’t stop.”

Casey tried desperately to concentrate. Finally, Suzette moved quickly and Casey looked up, dumbfounded.

“That does it. I know your touch, Casey Bennett,” she said evenly and started gathering her clothes.

Casey was still stupefied as she sat up and just watched.

“Why don’t you go back up to the
Northwoods
and do whatever you have to do? Seduce her, sleep with her, but get it out of your system,” she said, now more angrily. “We have no commitment, and that’s the way I like it, truly. However,” she said as she dressed. “I would like to think that when you’re fucking me, you’re at least thinking about me.”

Casey’s eyes widened in shock. “Wait, it’s not like that. I mean, yes, her face flashed through my mind, but, Suzette, she’s pregnant.”

“What?” she bellowed, then gave her a sick look. “You’re fantasizing about a pregnant woman?”

Casey rolled her eyes at Suzette’s horrified tone. “It’s not like that. She has a little girl.”

“What?” Suzette exclaimed again and threw up her hands. “She’s pregnant and has a kid? Are you sick?”

Now Casey was angry. “No,” she said, trying to gain some credibility. “I am not sick. It’s not what you’re thinking. She’s very attractive, but I-I’m not attracted to her.”

Suzette rolled her eyes as she buttoned her blouse. “Casey Bennett, don’t try to blow smoke up my ass. If you want to fuck her—”

“Don’t talk like that about her.”
 

Suzette raised an eyebrow. “You just made my point,” she said, chuckling as she slipped on her shoes. “You need to think about this one, Case. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill Casey Bennett fling.”