Conscious Bias

by Alexi Venice

  “How did the Seif family take it?”

  “They didn’t say much, but their body language looked like they were devastated.”

  “What a nightmare. They probably think we’re all biased.”

  “I hope Mike, Al and I countered that sentiment.” Monica turned into Jim’s circular driveway, and they marveled at his substantial lakehouse that sat atop a hill overlooking Lake Wissota.

  “Beautiful view,” Shelby said.

  “Almost as beautiful as you.” Monica turned and fingered one of Shelby’s curls.

  The sultry smirk appeared, and Shelby hooked her index finger under Monica’s chin, coaxing her closer for a kiss.

  When their lips met, Monica felt overcome with desire to devour all of Shelby. In time. Be patient. For now, she was content with a deep kiss that left them both breathless.

  “I want more of you,” Shelby said against Monica’s wet lips.

  “Hold that thought for today.” Monica traced Shelby’s jawline and looked into her hungry hazel eyes. “You turn me on when you look at me like that.”

  “So I can use it to my advantage today?”

  “You already have the advantage,” Monica said. “I’ll do anything you ask.”

  Shelby arched a brow.

  “Are you ladies going to make out in my driveway all day, or are you ready for boating?” Jim yelled from his deck, hands on his hips.

  “Busted.” Shelby giggled. “Let’s go.”

  They hopped out of the truck. Monica grabbed the cooler out of the bed and wheeled it over to the deck.

  “Good to see you again, Shelby,” Jim said, giving her a light hug.

  “You too.”

  “Everyone is down at the dock, getting things ready,” Jim said.

  “Super. Show us the way.” Monica wheeled the cooler down the brick sidewalk behind Jim and Shelby.

  As soon as they circled the house to the lakeside, an Australian Shepherd came running over, barked a few times, and sniffed their legs.

  “This is Lilly,” Jim said.

  “Hi, Lilly.” Monica and Shelby allowed Lilly to lick their hands before giving her a little scratch behind the ears. Content with the introduction, Lilly continued to herd the three of them, as they walked down a short flight of steps to a beautiful beachfront with a fancy boat tied to the dock.

  “Hey,” Nathan said from the center of the boat, “welcome aboard!” He and Matt extended their hands, helping Monica and Shelby step over the side onto the seat, then down to the carpeted floor.

  “Hey, Matt,” Monica said. “Long time, no see.”

  “Hiya, roommate,” he said.

  “Hi, Matt,” Shelby said flirtatiously. “Heard you’ve been sleeping at Monica’s house.”

  Matt laughed. “I do love my job. Should I stay there tonight?”

  “Um. I don’t think so,” Shelby said.

  Matt laughed.

  Monica turned, and was surprised to see Dominique, her long, blonde hair in a pony under a ball cap. “Hi, Monica.”

  “Hi, Dominique. How are you today?” Monica tried not to look surprised.

  “I could be better, but this is a great way to celebrate defeat,” she said.

  “You did everything you could,” Monica said. “It isn’t on you.”

  “Thanks.” Dominique extended her hand to Shelby. “I’m Dominique Bisset. Pleasure to meet you.”

  “Shelby St. Claire. Likewise.”

  “Matt,” Jim said, “If you could unclip the lines once I fire up the engine, I’d appreciate it.”

  “Will do, Captain.” Matt scooted around the ladies and leaned against the side of the boat, resting his hand on the line.

  “Give me some orders, too, Captain Jim,” Nathan said.

  “Make sure these beautiful women have drinks in their hands,” Jim said.

  “Aye, aye.” Nathan turned to the women. “What can I get you?”

  They made their requests, and cans flew from the cooler.

  “Where would you like us to sit?” Monica asked Jim while cracking a beer.

  “Anywhere. Bask in the sunshine while you can. The bow has comfortable seats and a good view.”

  “That’s where we’ll go then.” Monica grabbed Shelby’s hand and led her up to the front. They snuggled next to each other on the white bench seat. Monica was wondering if they could sit any closer, without Shelby sitting on Monica’s lap, when Dominique took the seat across from them. Her presence didn’t stop Monica from putting her arm around Shelby’s waist.

  Lilly jumped up next to Dominique, licked her face, then perched at the very point of the bow, her nose to the wind.

  Shelby casually placed her hand on Monica’s thigh, as if she had done that forever. Acting on its own volition in response to the scorching touch, Monica’s leg opened slightly, inviting Shelby’s hand to curl around Monica’s inner thigh. The spark that ignited in Monica’s jeans took her breath away. Look casual. Stay cool. How am I going to be able to carry on a conversation with Shelby’s hand here?

  She inhaled and exhaled very carefully. Fortunately, Shelby did the talking for them.

  “I saw you on the news,” Shelby said to Dominique. “Bizarre verdict. Have you had verdicts go awry before?”

  “Yes,” Dominique said. “I can’t take it personally. I represent the people of the state and prosecute good cases. I had to prosecute this case, but I knew from the outset that we faced major challenges.”

  “Well, according to Monica, you did an outstanding job,” Shelby gave Monica’s thigh a squeeze. “Let’s forget about it today, though. What do you like to do in your free time, Dominique?”

  Dominique’s expression softened, a look of relief unfurrowing her brows. She spread her arms wide, roughing up Lilly’s ears. “I love being on the water. Jim and I logged quite a few hours on this boat last month, didn’t we, babe?”

  “Here’s to boating,” Jim said, raising his can in salute.

  Dominique blew him a kiss.

  How does he do it? Monica wondered. One beautiful woman after another. Two ex-wives and now the DA!

  “What a gorgeous, fall day. I heard it’s supposed to hit 70 degrees,” Shelby said.

  The crystalline sky illuminated the shades of red, gold and orange glimmering from the few leaves that still clung to the trees.

  “Maybe we can squeeze in a few more summer-like weekends before the snow flies,” Jim said.

  “Our last hurrah before we cross the Rubik’s Cube,” Monica said.

  Everyone but Jim looked at her like she was nuts.

  “You’re never going to let me forget that one, huh?” Jim asked.

  “Um, probably not,” Monica said.

  “What are you talking about?” Dominique asked.

  Monica told her about Jim’s use of crossing the Rubicon.

  “Oh yes,” Dominique said. “He used the same phrase on me when I filed charges against Trevor McKnight.”

  Monica nodded knowingly.

  “You said, ‘rutabaga’ when we ate dinner,” Nathan said.

  “I know,” Monica said. “I was giving Jim a hard time.”

  “I think we can learn a lot from this guy,” Nathan said, throwing his arm around Jim’s shoulders.

  “I think we already have,” Monica said.

  As they motored into deeper water, the sun warmed the ladies in the bow. Shelby removed her hand from Monica’s thigh, immediately disappointing Monica, only to unzip her hoodie and shrug it off. Monica pulled down the back for Shelby and was rewarded by Shelby’s toned body in a t-shirt. It was only with great restraint that Monica didn’t lean into Shelby’s neck and kiss a trail down to her collarbone.

  “Does that feel better?” Monica asked.

  “Only if you put your arm around me again.” Shelby snuggled against Monica.

  Monica obeyed and was rewarded with a sly smile and Shelby’s hand back on her thigh.

  Dominique politely averted her eyes, mumbling sweet nothings to Lilly. Afte
r a few minutes, she asked, “Are you looking forward to your new law firm, Monica?”

  “More than you know. There are a few assholes at our old firm.”

  “Jim might have mentioned something along those lines,” Dominique said. “Good for you by calling out Charles and Richard on their hideous behavior.”

  “Pretty scary, right?” Monica asked.

  “Very. So, tell me. How did you two meet?” Dominique gestured to Monica and Shelby.

  They looked at each other, and Monica couldn’t resist. “You tell the story.”

  “Me?” Shelby asked in mock-protest. “I thought you were the storyteller?”

  “I want to hear your perspective.” Monica ran the back of her finger down Shelby’s spine, causing shiver then a lean into Monica.

  Shelby turned to Dominique. “Well, I like to do CrossFit, and I regularly attend an early morning class a few times a week. In walked Monica one morning, looking way too gorgeous at that hour—”

  Monica balked.

  “Seriously!” Shelby said. “Your hair pulled back loosely. Your sleepy emerald eyes soft and mellow. Your lips puffy from sleep. Dimples when you smiled at me. Your Lulu’s inside out—”

  Monica’s heart melted.

  “Inside out?” Dominique laughed.

  “I was wondering if that would come up,” Monica said.

  “It’s true,” Shelby said to Dominique. “When I rested my finger on the small of her back to tell her, I felt immediate chemistry. I didn’t know if Monica was gay, but I was determined to find out.”

  “So, a gym romance, huh?” Dominique asked.

  “We call it a ‘Momance’ since we go to MoFit.” Shelby squeezed Monica’s thigh again, sending jolts to her heart…and other places.

  “Niiiice,” Monica said, laughing. The beer was going straight to her head. She had half a mind to kiss Shelby in front of Dominique but didn’t want to make the DA uncomfortable. Instead, she asked, “How did you and Jim meet?”

  “Don’t tell her!” Jim yelled from the helm.

  Dominique waved him off. “Bar association lunch. He sat next to me and started playing footsie with me.”

  Jim groaned in protest.

  “A risky move,” Monica said.

  “Very,” Dominique said. “He was regaling me with stories, but his foot, only in a sock, mind you, started rubbing my ankle, then moved up my calf. Apparently very practiced in the art, he did everything right that day.”

  Monica laughed. “He’s a smooth one. I could probably pick up a few tips from him.”

  “Don’t you dare!” Shelby surprised Monica with a punch to the arm. “I want you all to myself.”

  Chills ran up Monica’s spine. Or, maybe down. She didn’t know because she felt like she was upside down and on fire.

  They circled the lake, which took about an hour, then Dominique declared that she needed a potty break back at Jim’s house. He expertly docked the boat, and the women got out first, grabbing the empty cans and walking up the hill to the comfort of indoor plumbing.

  Dominique showed Monica and Shelby where the bathroom was off the kitchen while she ran up the stairs to what Monica assumed was the master bedroom bath.

  Once they were finished, Monica and Shelby found themselves alone in the kitchen. Shelby practically attacked Monica, pushing her into the counter. The small of Monica’s back hit the edge of the cool granite as Shelby’s hands fiercely cupped Monica’s jaw, setting off cherry bombs in her belly. She was pinned and loving it. Shelby getting physical was a huge turn on.

  After a rapacious kiss, Shelby asked, “Are you okay doing this?”

  Monica placed her index finger on Shelby’s lips. “Shush.” She unleashed almost every pent up Shelby fantasy, getting lost in a deep kiss.

  Shelby met Monica’s passion with equal force, swirling her tongue and gliding her hands around to the back of Monica’s head.

  God, you taste as good as you smell, Monica thought. All the nighttime tossing and turning, the daydreaming while gazing out her office window, the longing, came to fruition. As Monica swam in and out of a rainbow of color and sensations that she had only hoped to experience, she heard herself moan loudly, something she never recalled doing—ever—while kissing.

  She floated on a cloud, wanting their kiss to go on forever. To be entwined with Shelby forever. To swim inside her warm mouth forever. She fell into a deep pool where time and space were a distant concept, her heart exploding with desire and her legs getting weaker by the second.

  Shelby gently squeezed Monica’s neck with her strong hands—the hands Monica had seen lift weights. So capable. So sure. So sweet. And a little callused. The roughness scraped her neck, made sweet by the promise of sex.

  Monica dove into the hot center of Shelby’s mouth, turning on an electrical current that danced across her body and zapped her heart. Who knew kissing could feel this good? After a time, she drew back, playfully sucking on Shelby’s sumptuous lower lip, savoring its texture and sweet taste. So soft. So raw. She had never been this turned on only kissing. The heat was palpable.

  Monica suddenly realized that her hands were resting only on Shelby’s hips when they could be doing so much more. She placed them on Shelby’s slim waist then dragged them up her rib cage until Monica’s thumbs met Shelby’s bra under her t-shirt. Monica traced the fabric under Shelby’s breasts, pressing her thumbs gently into the underside of Shelby’s breasts.

  Shelby arched. “You’re torturing me.”

  “Hmm?” Monica kissed Shelby’s tasty neck.

  “If you’re going to run your hands under my breasts, you have to do more. Give them some attention. Please…”

  Oh God. The way she said “please.” Before Monica could answer, Shelby’s mouth covered Monica’s again, their tongues twisting into a hot mass.

  Monica didn’t need to be asked twice, covering Shelby’s breasts with her hands, eliciting a guttural moan, followed by a shiver that ran through both of them. Shelby’s firm breasts were hotter than hell under Monica’s palms, as she gently toyed with them, determined to give Shelby as much pleasure as possible. When Monica swept her thumbs across Shelby’s taught nipples, fire pooled in the vee between her legs. Monica pushed her thigh between Shelby’s legs and was rewarded with Shelby kissing her even harder.

  “I want to fuck you,” Shelby whispered between kisses.

  “I want that too.” Monica nibbled Shelby’s ear lobe.

  Shelby arched—or more accurately, spasmed, into Monica’s arms, letting her head fall back, exposing her delectable neck.

  Monica continued massaging Shelby’s breasts as she kissed her neck, first lightly, then with her open mouth, pressing the middle part of her tongue against Shelby’s pulsing jugular. Monica felt Shelby’s pulse accelerate, tempting her to take her on the kitchen counter.

  She vaguely wondered if there was a bedroom nearby, and was about to suggest that very thought when she heard Dominique coming down the stairway.

  “Don’t mind me, girls, just passing through.” They paused briefly, their foreheads resting against each other, panting shamelessly, as Dominique left through the kitchen door.

  Shelby groaned against Monica’s lips. “I suppose we should stop, huh?”

  Monica felt the heat traveling up her neck and was sure she had a fire-engine-red face. “Before we embarrass ourselves?”

  “Like we haven’t already?”

  “Do you think we took it too far?” Monica asked.

  “Nah,” Shelby said in a raspy voice full of want. “I bet Dominique and Jim have done it on the kitchen counter.”

  Monica placed her hand on Shelby’s beating heart—still going fast. “It’s his counter, so they can do whatever they want.”

  Shelby ran her fingers down the side of Monica’s face. “I want you in my bed.”

  Monica’s neglected parts thrummed with excitement. “Are you talking dirty to me?”

  Shelby’s eyes turned molten. “If you fuck like you k
iss, we’re never leaving my bedroom.”

  Monica wasn’t prepared for that level of dirty. Her heart caught on a jagged breath.

  They heard footsteps across the deck, and Jim came into the kitchen. “Still at it, huh?”

  “Um, yeah,” Monica said. “We had a lot of fun today, but I think we’re going to take off.”

  “Why am I not surprised?” he asked, laughing. “Do you want your cooler?”

  “No,” Monica said. “Feel free to drink it dry.”

  “We might do that,” he said. “I’d tell you to enjoy the rest of the day, but somehow, I think you already are.”

  Jim backed out the screen door and yelled over his shoulder. “You must really want it bad if you’re willing to give up a cooler of beer. Have fun! Good to see you again, Shelby.”

  “You too, Jim!” Shelby yelled after him.

  “Your house?” Monica asked.

  “My bedroom,” Shelby said.

  Monica couldn’t help the silly smile that claimed her face. “Absolutely.”

  Shelby wound a dark strand of Monica’s hair around her finger. “Your hair looks sexy when it’s messed up.”

  “Let’s get out of here,” Monica said.

  As soon as they were in her truck, Shelby’s hands were all over Monica—sliding up and down her right thigh, caressing her hip and abs.

  Monica turned on her iTunes mix and sped down the highway. “I hope you like Billie Eilish.”

  “Uh-huh.” Shelby unclipped her seat belt and scooted over to Monica, spearing her ear with a fiery hot kiss, her fingers walking up and down Monica’s inner thigh, while Billie sang, “I just kinda wish you were gay.”

  “Umm,” Monica moaned, her hips writhing involuntarily. “I’m not going to be able to drive if you do that.”

  Shelby ignored her, French kissing Monica’s ear, trailing Monica’s jawline with the tip of her tongue, and scooting over enough to claim Monica’s mouth with a new intensity that left Monica dizzy, swimming in and out of reality, all the while trying to see the road and steer the truck.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Three months later

  One of the regulars at CrossFit now, Monica was beginning to see results in her body. Definition and tone replaced soft arms and ample thighs. And, she felt better, which was key for her new law practice. Instead of eating sweets in the kitchen to relieve stress, she worked out. Running the law firm required a ton of energy and the great paradox of working out resulted in a mega energy boost. Or, maybe falling in love with Shelby had energized her. Either way, she felt like she could do anything, as long as Shelby was by her side.