Gun Shy
Page 49
Dez opened her eyes, but didn’t move her head. “I thought about that, too,” she said in a low voice. “I don’t know.”
“Is there some policy about this?”
“No, but there’s always the sexual harassment policy.”
“What?” Jaylynn asked, surprise in her voice.
“Technically speaking, as your FTO, I supervise you. You could consider this harassment if you wanted to file a suit saying I took advantage of you.” She lifted her head and found the startled hazel eyes above her. With a smirk she went on, “If you’re sleeping with me for a passing recommendation, you already had it.”
“Very funny.”
“There’s the flip side, too. If any of the other rookies wash out, they could say you got preferential treatment.”
“I don’t think any of them will wash out.” She looked at Dez. “Hey, they’ll all make it, right?” Her eyes narrowed, and she poked her in the side. “Dez!”
Dez lifted her upper body on her elbows and scooted herself up until she lay next to Jaylynn. She snuggled closer until her dark head nestled into the crook of Jaylynn’s neck. Jaylynn put an arm around her shoulders and moved closer. With a sigh of pleasure, Dez wrapped her arm across Jaylynn’s middle, feeling the taut muscles of her stomach and the silky warmth of her skin. “Neilsen is the only one I am concerned about.”
“Why?”
“Besides the fact that he’s an asshole?”
Jaylynn gave her a look. “You’re still remembering that one altercation, right?”
“Of course. But besides that, he’s already pulled his gun far too many times. Drives like an idiot. Talks big. Pisses citizens off. I’d like to smack him.”
“You have smacked him.”
“No, I mean really smack him. He’s a jerk. Shouldn’t be a cop. I’m sorry, but Alvarez and I talked about this. He’s not sure what he’ll do, but I’m recommending to the lieutenant that Neilsen not pass probation. Maybe he’ll get enough support from other FTOs, but not from me.”
“Hmm.” Jaylynn looked down at the dark head in her arms and brought her hand up to absentmindedly stroke the pale white cheek. “Can I ask you something else?”
“Um hmm.”
Jaylynn took a deep breath and snuggled as tightly with Dez as she could. Her fingers feathered across the warm arm against Dez’s abdomen. She said, “Do you remember when we first met?”
“You mean last summer or later at the precinct?”
“At the house that night.”
“Yeah, why?”
“What do you remember?”
Dez closed her eyes and recalled the scene in the darkened house: the screams, the low laughter of the big man with the knife. She remembered her own fear as a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach—and an overwhelming desire to get into the house for reasons she couldn’t understand. She’d tossed aside protocol and gone in alone without backup, something she didn’t usually do. Once she got up the stairs, everything was a jumble of physical action, of shouting, of pure exhilaration as she beat down the two assailants. She’d felt so alive, adrenaline coursing through her veins like electricity.
And then, she’d looked up and felt one moment of jolting connection. Her eyes had met Jaylynn’s, and she felt that strange recognition which she didn’t understand at the time. She knew now she’d made a big mistake in disregarding that link. “Why do you ask?”
“Just curious.”
Dez rolled from her side to her back and inched over so her whole right side was touching Jaylynn. She found her lover’s hand and laced their fingers together. “I remember you.”
Jaylynn paused. “What does that mean?”
“I can’t explain it. I tried to ignore it. I’ve fought it.” She looked over at Jaylynn and saw the puzzled look on her face.
“Why is that?”.
“Why is what—why can’t I explain?”
Jaylynn toward her. “No, you fool. Why have you been fighting it? I gave in at the hospital the night of the attack—within minutes.”
“Guess you don’t have the endurance I do,” Dez said in a low, grudging voice.
“Yeah, right.” Jaylynn scooted up on her hands and knees and moved over Dez, straddling one lean leg. Looking down into unflinching blue eyes, she lowered herself until her warm torso touched an even warmer stomach and chest, melting into Dez as strong arms wrapped around her middle and stroked her back. With her face tucked into the crook of Dez’s neck she whispered, “You’re a very good lover.”
In a low voice, Dez responded, “You’re not so bad yourself.”
Jaylynn laughed outright. “O, woman of few words, you crack me up.” She shifted a bit to the side, and let herself relax upon her partner, nuzzling her face into her neck again. Jaylynn wanted to say how much she loved her, how for the first time ever, she felt complete, but she held back. She didn’t know if Dez was ready for that. She lifted her head and gazed into serious blue eyes, feeling her breath catch. A smile worked its way across her face, even though she tried to suppress it, and Dez gave her a questioning look.
Stroking Jaylynn’s back, Dez said, “What? What are you thinking?”
Jaylynn grinned. “I’m very happy, that’s all. You make me happy.” Dez’s arms tightened around her, and she felt entirely safe and protected.
“I’m glad.” An impish grin spread across her face, and Jaylynn admired the even, white teeth.
“You should smile more often, Dez. You’re really beautiful.” Jaylynn laughed to see her partner blush.
“I bet you say that to all the girls.”
“Nope. Only to you.” Jaylynn moved up onto her elbows and leaned in for a kiss, which quickly kindled rising excitement for both of them. Their bodies melded together into a tangle of warmth and desire, and for a little while, all thought vanished of anything other than the wild hunger for one another.
Dez rested her right side, left arm around the body in front of her, and her legs tucked in behind Jaylynn’s. She let out a contented sigh.
Jaylynn craned her neck around, trying to see her partner. “What was the big sigh for?”
“I don’t know. Maybe you’re wearing me out. You’re a lot younger you know.”
“What?” Grinning, she turned over to see Dez’s smile, and she brushed long dark hair off Dez’s face. “You’ve barely got four years on me.”
“I can tell math is not your strong suit, Jay. I’m almost thirty.”
Jaylynn laughed, a deep throaty sound that vibrated against Dez’s chest. “I plan to get back at you big time, too.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“When you turn thirty, it’ll be payback time. And I’m not that bad at math. I know exactly how many days ’til your birthday. And you, O Ancient One, are only four years and nine months older than me. That’s nothing. When you turn seventy-five, I’ll be almost seventy-one, so big deal.”
Dez lifted her gaze to meet the hazel eyes glittering before her, and said, “I hope I know you when I’m seventy-five.”
“Why wouldn’t you?” Jaylynn asked, exasperation in her voice. She let her hand slide along Dez’s thigh, feeling the strong curve there.
Dez shrugged and looked away. “I don’t know.”
Jaylynn snuggled closer and hooked her arm under Dez’s neck, wrapping her arms around her partner. “Fifty years from now, I hope we are curled up together like this on this very bed.”
In a dry voice, Dez said, “I’m pretty sure we’ll need a new mattress by then.”
Jaylynn reached down to tickle her. “Very funny, you smart aleck.”
She poked at the muscle in Dez’s stomach. Dez doubled over and squirm away. “Hey!” she said in a mock-threatening tone. “You better not start anything you can’t finish.”
“I told you,” Jaylynn said, “I never start anything I can’t finish.” She shrieked with laughter and made another grab for Dez’s stomach, but just then a series of thumps sounded on the floor.
Dez fr
oze. “Uh oh, it’s Luella.” She stared for a split-second at Jaylynn, then leapt out of bed. “She’ll be on her way up here!” In four long strides she was across the floor to the bathroom grabbing her red robe off the back of the door. “Lucky she’s slow on the stairs.” She slipped on the robe and tied it in front. “I’ll go see what she wants.”
She went out to the kitchen and opened the door. Luella’s head was just appearing as she tenaciously climbed the stairs. Several days had gone by since she’d talked to Luella, and Dez was glad to see her. Smiling, she stood in the doorway, wrapping the red robe around her.
“Thought maybe you up and skipped town, Dez,” Luella said as she rounded the newel post. She trained warm brown eyes on her tenant and shuffled toward her.
“Nah, just busy.”
“I don’t smell a single cooking odor from your place, so I thought maybe you two would like to come down for vegetable beef soup and sandwiches.” Dez’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. Luella grinned at her, white teeth sparkling. “Her car’s out front. You should’ve hid it if you didn’t want me to know.”
Just then, Jaylynn, barefoot and dressed in sweatbottoms and a T-shirt, squeezed into the doorframe next to Dez. “Hi, Luella,” she said, the warmth evident in her voice. “I would love to come down for dinner. Wouldn’t you, Dez?” She looked up at her red-faced lover and grabbed hold of her forearm.
Dez stammered, “Sure, yeah, okay.” She looked down at her robe. “Let me go, ah—finish changing.” She fled, leaving Jaylynn and Luella looking at one another, amusement etched in their faces.
Luella said, “Looks like patience paid off, as usual.”
Jaylynn nodded. “Yup.”
They shared a conspiratorial grin, and Luella said, “Now just stay after her. She’s a tricky one, that one is, but she’s a mushball at heart.”
Jaylynn giggled. “So I’ve gathered.”
From the other room a testy voice called out, “You two can stop talking about me as if I can’t hear ’cause I can.”
“Good thing,” Luella said in a loud voice. “Now we’re on the way downstairs to talk some more about you where you can’t hear.” She grabbed hold of Jaylynn’s hand and pulled her toward the stairs.
“Oh, no you don’t.” Dez burst into the kitchen dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt.
“My, my, my,” Luella marveled, “she’s dressed already. That girl does do everything fast, doesn’t she?”
Jaylynn gave her a sly look as she rounded the newel post and said, “Well, not exactly everything.” She tossed an evil grin back at Dez who once more colored up quite nicely.
In her best menacing voice, Dez said, “You two better not gang up on me again.” She was answered by two smirks. “Oh, no,” she grumbled. “I’m toast.”
“You can say that again,” Luella said. She and Jaylynn looked at one another and burst out laughing, and the three of them made their way downstairs to the warmth and happiness of a shared meal.
About The Author
Lori L. Lake is the award-winning author of eleven novels and two short story collections. She’s edited four anthologies, including one with Jessie Chandler called Lesbians on the Loose: Crime Writers on the Lam, which won a Goldie. Her short work is featured in a dozen anthologies including Best Lesbian Romance and Women of the Mean Streets. Lori’s known for sharing writing resources with aspiring and published writers and is especially fond of teaching about crime fiction. Her next novel release, Adventures Unlimited, is an action/romance. She’s also working on the fifth book in The Gun Series. Lori lives in Portland, Oregon, at the Fortress of Solitude. Website: www.LoriLLake.com.
Check out the sequel to Gun Shy, titled Under The Gun, as well as the third novel, Have Gun We’ll Travel, and the fourth, Jump The Gun. A fifth novel is in the works.
Table of Contents
B O O K S B Y
Praise for The Gun Series
Gun Shy
A Launch Point Press Trade Paperback Original
Musical Permissions
Author’s Note
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
(Untitled)
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
(Untitled)
(Untitled)
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
About The Author