Justifiable Risk

by V. K. Powell

  Greer slid her hands around Eva’s back, pulled her tight against her, and stood up. Eva was amazed and turned on at her strength as she rose from the floor, lifting Eva easily from the chair. “Now?” she asked.

  “Yes, now I’m taking you to bed.”

  Greer eased Eva onto the side of the bed and again knelt in front of her. She flipped her shoes off and skimmed her hands up her legs and under her skirt. “You truly are gorgeous.”

  Greer’s comment touched Eva. Women she’d bedded in the past hadn’t bothered to compliment her beauty, usually too preoccupied with their own. “Thank you.” She responded almost inaudibly, her breath coming in short bursts.

  “May I undress you?” Greer asked.

  “I wish you would, and quickly.”

  Caressing her way slowly up Eva’s legs, Greer reached around and unzipped the skirt, then eased it down her body onto the floor. She kissed a delicate path from Eva’s knee to the top of her thigh, switched to the other leg and did the same, avoiding the aching pulse point between her legs. Eva groaned and Greer smiled with understanding.

  “Patience.” Greer scooted Eva up on the bed, straddled her, and began to slowly, methodically unbutton her blouse. With each closure she released, Greer applied a kiss to the sensitive skin underneath. Her lips were hot and moist, like Eva’s center, and she wanted the two joined soon. The pleasurable torture was pushing her too quickly toward climax.

  “I can’t take this much longer. I want you so badly.” Eva dug her fingers into the top of Greer’s shoulders and squeezed.

  The last button on her blouse was just above her cleavage, and when Greer opened it, she let out a long, shaky breath. “Oh, my God—so gorgeous.” She pushed the garment off Eva’s arms and tossed it to the foot of the bed. For several seconds she stared at Eva’s breasts, captured in a beige, lacy, front-clasp bra. “This is wrong.” Greer unhooked the bra and cupped the malleable flesh in her hands. “That’s more like it.”

  Greer palmed and rolled Eva’s breasts back and forth, flicking her now-erect nipples with the tip of her tongue. Eva bucked as the pressure built, desperate for contact in the one place Greer circumvented.

  As Eva pled for mercy once again, Greer stretched out on top of her and pressed her ear against Eva’s chest. “Shh, I want to listen to your heart.”

  Eva ran her fingers through Greer’s thick blond hair and pulled her closer. She’d never felt so appreciated as she did at this moment. Perhaps Greer’s loss of a loved one helped her fully appreciate the mere heartbeat of another. The simplicity was poetic.

  “You’re amazing and so gentle.”

  Greer kissed her way up Eva’s neck and nipped her ear. When Greer closed her mouth over Eva’s, she responded eagerly. She sucked Greer’s tongue in tempo to the thrusting of her hips against Greer’s still-clothed leg. Her thong was soaked but too rough against her clit. “Get undressed. I need to feel you.” Eva removed her remaining piece of clothing and waited impatiently for Greer to rejoin her.

  Greer shucked her shirt off without unbuttoning it and wiggled out of her dress pants. She wore no bra or panties. Another wave of arousal engulfed Eva. She reached for Greer, who topped her again, rubbing her center against Eva’s pubic mound and staring at her with a come-and-get-me look. Greer had been patient and controlled when Eva wasn’t touching her, but that was about to end. Eva needed to reciprocate and she needed relief.

  She cupped one of Greer’s breasts and squeezed. With her other hand, she slid her middle finger between Greer’s legs and stroked. “No more teasing.”

  “Ye-yes, okay.” Greer stretched back on her feet, exposing her protruding clit. “Do that again. Please.” Eva complied and Greer pumped her pelvis forward and back to meet her slow caresses. “Faster.” Greer’s head was thrown back and her small breasts rocked with their motion. Eva wanted to watch Greer’s expression, to see her face, to stare into her eyes at the moment of climax, which wouldn’t be long.

  “Do you like that, Detective?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  The motion of Greer rubbing against her was testing Eva’s limits as well. She didn’t usually come without internal stimulation, but this would be one of many differences between Greer Ellis and every other lover she’d had. “Look at me, Greer.”

  When they made eye contact, Eva gasped. Greer’s face was a canvas of transparent need. Her blue eyes were open wide, the irises pinpoints of focused desire. She looked so beautifully vulnerable as she captured her quivering bottom lip between her teeth.

  “Sorry,” she breathed. “Can’t stop.”

  Greer cried out and thrust her hips forward one final time before her rigid clit trembled and eventually softened under Eva’s touch. “Come with me,” she pleaded. Before Eva could respond, Greer positioned Eva’s leg between her own and entered Eva with her finger. The pace of her entry kept perfect time with her vigorous strokes against Eva’s thigh.

  “Yes.” Eva moaned as the orgasm uncoiled and spiraled out to every nerve in her body. “Yes, my darling, yes.”

  “You are so beautiful,” Greer whispered in Eva’s ear before another climax ripped through her. “I feel you coming. Don’t stop.” Greer’s pumping increased as she rode Eva’s thigh to another release of her own, then collapsed beside her. “Kiss me, more.”

  And Eva did. She accepted the sweetness of Greer’s mouth, the tenderness of her lips, and the urgency of her tongue with the joyous knowledge that she was receiving something that only one other woman in Greer’s life had. Her doubts fully resolved, she hugged Greer closer.

  “Again,” Greer said.

  Eva looked at Greer’s red-streaked eyes and half-mast lids and shook her head. “First you rest, then we make love. You haven’t slept in over twenty-four hours. When we make love again, I want you to be one hundred percent because I intend to show no mercy.”

  “But—”

  “But nothing, Detective. No excuses.” They lay together, cuddling and kissing as Eva stroked Greer’s hair, quietly encouraging her to rest. She resisted only slightly before her breathing slowed to the steady cadence of sleep.

  As Greer slept in her arms, Eva marveled at this amazing woman. How had she so firmly and seamlessly established herself in Eva’s life? Obviously, Greer had come to terms with Clare’s death and chosen to take a chance on her. Once she had made her decision, Greer was emotionally forthright and physically engaging, as if full commitment was her only option. But that was Greer—complete and total loyalty. And if Eva was honest, their interaction wasn’t simply about sex any longer for her. They had crossed a threshold, and Greer had been brave enough to admit it. But did she possess the courage to follow through?

  She inched closer to Greer and alternated between taking short naps and thinking about her life. Her career had given her purpose and direction, but it also held her back emotionally and personally. She’d used her job as an excuse to avoid getting close. If she wanted her life to be different, she had to make different choices. Her feelings for Greer were real, she was certain. But how those feelings meshed with her world still puzzled her.

  Eva sighed in frustration and Greer stirred beside her. She wanted to wake Greer with kisses, tell her exactly how she felt, and make love to her until they collapsed in exhaustion. But Greer was already fatigued after working nonstop. So instead of another round of sex, Eva watched Greer sleep and counted the minutes until she could wake her lover.

  She placed her hand gently on Greer’s chest to feel the rise and fall of her breathing. The essence of life itself pounded beneath her hand. She started counting the heartbeats, but her cell phone rang and broke the peaceful calm. Reaching into her handbag beside the bed, she opened it before it woke Greer. “Hold on,” she whispered.

  Slowly disentangling herself from Greer’s embrace, Eva rolled out of bed and quickly dressed. Night had brought a fall chill to the air so she grabbed the quilted comforter from the back of one of the barrel chairs, wrapped it around her, and tiptoed to th
e bottom of the stairs.

  “It’s about time,” her boss said. She heard him exhale a big puff of cigarette smoke. “Sorry, how are you holding up?” The obligatory concern was so atypical it amused her.

  “I’m fine. What’s up?”

  “I’ve got an assignment that’s right up your alley—Kyrgyzstan, political unrest, the usual. Can you leave in two days?”

  “Kyrgyzstan in two days? I’m not sure I can get there that soon.” Eva stretched as the muscles along her shoulders tensed. She wasn’t ready for a new assignment. Her work here wasn’t finished—and neither was her play. But her boss wasn’t the type of man you kept waiting. He’d probably had a hard time honoring her family leave and not calling sooner.

  “Jesus, Saldana, what’s going on? You usually jump at a chance like this. Well, I need an answer tomorrow. If you don’t want it, I’ll have to pull somebody off another project.”

  Before Eva could say anything, he hung up. She stared at the phone and shook her head. What should she do now? Paul’s case wasn’t wrapped up…and whatever was going on with Greer had barely started.

  “When do you leave?” Greer’s tone made Eva wince. She had no idea how long she’d been standing there or how much she’d overheard. She quickly reviewed what she’d said aloud and knew the conclusion Greer had reached. Eva looked up at her, desperate to explain, and stopped.

  Greer stood at the top of the stairs completely nude, hands clenched at her sides and her body trembling. The usual pale pink of her skin was stark white.

  “I’m not sure I am going.”

  “You said two days. It’s your job. It’s what you do, isn’t it?”

  Greer implied that it would be wrong for Eva to take the assignment. She was stable and totally devoted to this place and these people She couldn’t understand moving from place to place for the sake of a job. But Eva didn’t know anything else. “Yes, it is what I do.”

  “I don’t want you to go.”

  The statement surprised Eva and her vision blurred with tears. She hadn’t expected Greer to say this. But she had been honest all night, so why would this pivotal moment be any different? “I guess I’m not as loyal as you are.”

  “That’s not true.” Greer came down stairs and sat next to Eva, covering her shoulders with the edge of the comforter.

  “I’ve never stuck with one thing or one person for very long.”

  “You stay in touch with your family no matter where you are. You’ve held a steady job all your adult life. You came halfway around the world to clear your brother’s name. What is that if it’s not loyalty and commitment?”

  “I don’t know. I’m not sure about anything right now.”

  “You’re every bit as committed as I am, Eva, but you don’t believe it. You think your father made the wrong choice and that you’re incapable of making a different one. I’m not convinced either of those things is true.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Your father loved all of you. Why do you think he kept coming back? His family was his anchor. It allowed him to rejuvenate and return to the work he enjoyed. And like your father, only you can choose how to live your life.”

  Greer’s words settled comfortably in Eva’s mind as she considered their potential. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe it is possible to have a job and a life I love.”

  “I just want you to be happy.” Greer raised Eva’s hand to her lips and kissed it tenderly. “Come back to bed? I’m freezing out here.”

  “In a few minutes. You go on.”

  Greer kissed her and ran back upstairs. “Don’t be long. It’s lonely without you.”

  Since that first day, when against her professional judgment Greer offered to help her, Eva had felt a connection. It was as if she’d always belonged here and only now realized it. And Bessie was like a mother and best friend. Eva couldn’t remember when she didn’t want a life like this. But right now she needed time to think without the distraction of Greer’s warm, inviting body just steps away.

  She tiptoed back up, placed the comforter inside the apartment, and peeked in at Greer. She appeared to be asleep again. Eva closed the door and left quietly. Maybe she’d go for a drive to clear her head. Walking would be asking for trouble. If Greer were awake, she’d argue that either was too dangerous. But Eva could take care of herself, and she’d be cautious. She’d be observant and head for a public place where she could drink coffee and think—the diner. She needed time to process, and she couldn’t while Greer was so close.

  At the bottom of the stairs Bessie’s old Honda seemed to be waiting patiently. She fished the spare set of keys Bessie had given her from her purse, put the car in neutral, and let it roll out of the garage.

  At the bottom of the driveway, she cranked the car and headed toward town. Any other time she would be investigating Paul’s death, putting pressure on those who were, or developing informants to help find Baron Wallace. But tonight a more pressing issue demanded her attention. Tonight she had to decide about the rest of her life. Was that the real reason she left Greer’s bed? Or was she simply doing what she usually did when someone tried to get too close—running away?

  The assignment from her boss would be the perfect out, but it didn’t pique her enthusiasm as others had in the past. Perhaps she needed to reconsider her other professional options. CNN had offered her her own show, but she wasn’t sure she was ready to give up the excitement and travel. So far this drive wasn’t helping her concentration or providing any answers.

  She slowed as she approached the first stoplight on the outskirts of New Hope and noticed for the first time how dark it was at this end of town. Either she’d been too preoccupied to notice before, or her recent brushes with death had made her more attentive. She stopped and waited as several cars crossed through the intersection. The last one in the line stalled directly in front of her and the driver got out.

  The man wore a pair of torn blue jeans, black sweatshirt, and a ball cap pulled low on his forehead. It concerned Eva that she couldn’t see his eyes. Alarm shot through her as he neared her car. She clicked the door-lock button and scanned the area for an escape route. Her years as a foreign correspondent had taught her to trust her instincts.

  “I’m sorry about this, ma’am. I’ll get it started soon as I can.” The man shrugged in apology but still didn’t make eye contact.

  Eva kept her window rolled up but asked, “Do you need me to call someone for you?”

  “That would be real nice, ma’am,” he replied as his gaze darted around the area.

  Something about this guy was familiar in a scary way. “Okay, I’ll make the call,” she said as she simultaneously floored the gas pedal, swerved around his vehicle, and left him standing in the middle of the road. Eva turned to retrieve her cell phone and looked in her rearview mirror. As the man was running to his car, she glimpsed his face in the illumination from the streetlight. He resembled the man in the picture Greer had shown her—Baron Wallace. She dialed 911, reported the suspicious activity, and described the man and his vehicle. Eva identified the man as Baron Wallace. She hadn’t gotten a good look at him, but the pieces fit. Eva told the dispatcher she’d be at the diner if an officer wanted to talk with her.

  When she found a corner seat and ordered coffee, Eva let the fear the encounter elicited surface. She clenched her shaking hands into fists and willed them to be still. The staccato beat of her heart slowed as she regulated her breathing. This was the third time someone, probably Baron Wallace, had tried to harm her since she arrived in New Hope. She didn’t worry about being in danger on her job. She assumed she’d be okay. But this was personal, and though it frightened her, she wouldn’t back down.

  Eva kept her eye on the street out front for the man who’d feigned car trouble. Baron Wallace had probably stalked her, and if he was brazen and desperate enough to accost her in the middle of the street, he wouldn’t hesitate to try again. Until Wallace was taken into custody or the nagging feeling in the back of her
mind disappeared, Eva was content to wait in a safe public place that served potable coffee. She’d waited out security lockdowns, dust storms, and media blackouts in much worse places.

  When the waitress passed with Eva’s second cup of coffee, her adrenaline rush had taken a backseat to the caffeine surge. She scribbled the pros and cons of her own CNN show on one side of a napkin and the points for and against a relationship with Greer on the other side. If she ran out of ideas on one topic, she flipped the flimsy paper over and worked on the other.

  After cup number three and a couple of hours, Eva’s mind was spinning with possibilities and her future seemed more promising. She was ready to talk with Greer about their life. As Eva left a hefty tip to compensate for occupying the table so long, a young police officer entered the diner and headed toward her.

  “Ms. Saldana?”

  “Yes?”

  “Just wanted to let you know that we haven’t found your guy yet, but we’re still looking. You need a ride somewhere?”

  “No, thanks. I have my car out back.”

  “Let me walk with you. It’s pretty secluded out there. If I don’t get a call, I’ll follow you to the city limits. I’d feel better knowing you’re on your way again.”

  The young man followed Eva to her vehicle, waited until she was safely inside, then returned to his patrol car. As they pulled to the exit, the officer activated his lights and siren and took off in the opposite direction. So much for the escort, she thought.

  Eva was about to pull out of the lot when her driver’s-side window shattered with a tremendous crash. Fragments of flying glass pelleted her face and body, stinging and burning as they cut and scratched her. She tried to dial 911 but Baron Wallace stuck a gun to her head.

  “Drop the phone and put the car in park. Now!” He punctuated his order by shoving the gun barrel to her temple. Then he opened the door, dragged her from the car, and pushed her onto the uneven ground.