Part 32 (2/2)
* 230 *
Winds of Fortune ”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 o.r.g.a.s.m unfurled and spread, powerful wings beating against the heavy air of her desire. ”Is it really so simple?”
”No.” Deo added another fi nger, 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 o.r.g.a.s.m.
”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.
y ”You and my dad should leave this morning,” Bri said, yanking on her uniform pants. She shoved in her s.h.i.+rt 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 fi ne.”
”If you'd just go inland, I wouldn't have to worry,” Bri said, afraid * 231 *
RADCLY fFE 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 b.u.mped 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 b.u.t.t, she smiled. ”Better. But you still have to talk.”
Bri growled and skimmed her hand under the back of Caroline's T-s.h.i.+rt.
”We're not having s.e.x,” 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 fi ngers into Bri's hair and caressed her neck. ”I'm going to be fi ne, 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?”
* 232 *
Winds of Fortune ”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.”
y 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 s.h.i.+elding 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. G.o.d, Tory. Did I hurt you?”
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