Burning for an Assassin

by Serenity Snow

  Sabrina rolled her eyes and heard something fall. Pam groaned, and she surmised it was her. Then the phone rang again.

  “Damn it. Hello?”

  “We need to talk about your boyfriend.”

  She’d put the phone on speaker? Why?

  “What’d he do?” she demanded and Sabrina heard something rustling.

  “He’s careless that’s what he did. Now, I can’t fix this. I’m going to have to let it play out, but I want you to get your ass up and get out of there. I’m taking you to rehab.”

  “I can’t just leave, Wes.”

  “You have no choice,” Charles snapped. “His luck has run out and you’re out of options.”

  “What about Sabrina?”

  “Forget about her for now,” Charles muttered. “I’ll be there in ten minutes. Be dressed and ready.”

  “I can’t pack in ten minutes even for rehab.”

  “Forget it,” he snarled. “Just be ready and bring all the footage with you. Do you have copies of that night?”

  “No. I only have the originals. Wes’s making copies tonight, so I picked them up from the bank today.”

  “Yeah, he fucked up big time. The Hatter or the Bureau is going to get him before the night is over.”

  “Charlie you have to help him,” she begged. “He only got into this because of—”

  “There’s nothing I can do now, honey. Hang up. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  “Fine. I’ll be waiting out front.” She heard a groan and then peeing.

  The toilet flushed. Sabrina took the three cards labeled insurance and headed back upstairs as water ran in the sink. She slipped out the door locking it behind her, glad the copies she had were the only ones there were.

  Pamela wouldn’t be able to hold anything over her head and she wouldn’t have to kill her.

  Chapter Eight

  Veda made it to the club at eight ready to dance. She headed to the bar for a drink having made up her mind she wasn’t going home with anyone tonight.

  She was going back off women for a while longer. Look how easily she’d tumbled into bed with Sabrina and where that had gotten her. She didn’t need that kind of craziness in her life. She had enough on her own.

  “Hi, Veda.” The brunette bartender stopped in front of her with a big smile. “Haven’t seen you in a few weeks. The usual?”

  “Yes.” She grinned.

  “Margot was asking about you,” she said. “I thought that was over.”

  “Way over,” Veda muttered darkly. She’d learned Margot was only using her for her money when she’d walked in on Margot and another woman.

  “It’s about time you came back around,” a sultry voice drawled from her right and Margot climbed onto the stool next to her. “I missed you. Let me buy you a drink.”

  “No thanks,” she retorted.

  “Don’t be such a cold fish,” Margot murmured. “We both know how warm you really are.” Margot put a hand on her thigh and Veda pushed it off.

  “Don’t touch me,” she snapped and the wolf, her power animal, growled in warming. but Margot hadn’t heard Sparks—yet.

  “All of a sudden I can’t touch you? We both know you want me.”

  “Wanted. Past tense,” Veda said acidly.

  Margot put her hand on Veda’s back and Veda flinched ready to ask Becky to get the bouncer. At the same time, she felt her wolf’s energy as it moved at her feet.

  “Ouch!” Margot screamed. “Fuck.”

  Veda turned to see her being jerked off the stool, arm twisted up behind her back. She was shoved up against the bar forcefully and Margot let out another cry.

  “The lady said no, dip shit. Take a walk, or I’ll break it.”

  Veda’s eyes widened when Sabrina jerked Margot’s arm up a little more.

  “You bitch, let go of me. Now!”

  “I’ll kick your ass ten ways to Sunday if you don’t leave my bitch alone, got it?”

  Margot drove her elbow into Sabrina’s stomach and stomped on her foot. Sabrina released her and she spun around ready and Veda tensed. She’d seen Margot kick ass before and knew she was a real bad-ass which was another reason for the breakup.

  It only took once to be hit by a lover for her to move on.

  Sabrina caught the punch leveled at her face and drove her fist into Margot’s stomach before delivering a right cross to her jaw. Margo grunted and struck back. Sabrina took the punch and back-handed Margot so hard her head jerked to one side, and she let out a cry.

  “All right boys, break it up,” a male bouncer muttered. “Margot you’re out of here. You’ve had enough for one night. I’ll get you a cab.”

  Margot glared at him and tried to break free, but he dragged her resisting form away. Sabrina grimaced as she climbed up on the stool Margot had occupied. “Scotch, Becks.”

  Becky gave her an amused look, shaking her head. “Sabrina, I swear, one of these days you’re going to really get your ass kicked for trying to play the gentleman.”

  “Wouldn’t be the first time,” she muttered and threw Veda a look and Veda shivered at the heat in her eyes.

  “I’m sure Veda appreciates it though. Margot’s manhandled her more than once.” Becky set a drink on the bar.

  “Thanks.” Sabrina handed her a bill. “That should cover mine and hers.”

  Becky’s gaze went from Sabrina to Veda. “Oh. Yeah. Enjoy.” She smiled.

  “Keep the change, Becks.”

  “Will do.” She made her way further down the bar.

  Sabrina threw Veda another look. “We meet again.”

  “Are you following me?” Sabrina wasn’t wearing the scarf and the top four buttons were open revealing the black leather of her bra.

  “Not yet but it looks like I should be,” she murmured and tossed back her drink. She grimaced and Veda wrinkled her nose.

  “How can you drink that stuff?” she demanded.

  Sabrina’s lips quirked and her brows lifted in amusement. “You should give a try sometimes.”

  “No thanks.” She shuddered in distaste, her eyes on Sabrina’s mouth. She forced herself to look away when her mind began taking a turn down more sensual avenues.

  “Wanna dance?” Her tone was low and seductive enough to harden Veda’s nipples.

  Veda blinked. Sabrina didn’t strike her as the dancing type.

  Sabrina slid to her feet and held out her hand. Veda hesitated staring down into hazel eyes that felt like a caress on her face.

  That look made her hunger for one more night with Sabrina that would only end in hurting her more.

  She just couldn’t do it. Last night had already been way too rough her nerves and her heart.

  “Sabrina,” she said softly as she gripped the medal of her rosary.

  The imploring look in Sabrina’s eyes tugged at her heart. “Just one dance,” she said over the music. “One.” The woman was no good for her. She’d said it herself.

  Sabrina led her to the dance floor and began to sway to the up tempo beat still holding Veda’s hand. She drew her close and Veda let her, resting her hand on Sabrina’s waist.

  Sabrina drew her in closer gliding her hand down Veda’s shoulder and over her back. Sabrina squeezed her hip and butterflies danced in Veda’s stomach. She averted her gaze not wanting to get caught up in Sabrina’s stare.

  Those intense eyes had roped her in last night and almost this morning too. And even now her heart was thudding like a jack hammer and her thoughts raced. Last night had been proof that she wasn’t ready to have her heart broken let alone disappointed over even the simplest romantic misstep. She knew how easy it was for her to relapse. It had happened so many times.

  Sabrina spun her out and brought her back before releasing her and picking up the beat. Her movements were graceful though not exactly in time to the music and her eyes twinkled with merriment.

  Veda relaxed a little allowing her body to flow with the music. She was a little upset when a slim red head behind
them rubbed her back against Sabrina’s and then did a hip bump with her. Sabrina grinned and winked at her before curving an arm around Veda and drawing Veda to her and spinning her around.

  Veda moved with her laughing now as she gripped Sabrina’s waist and rolled her hips toward her. The move was a sensual one that led into another and Veda was fully into the music, laughing.

  The song melded into a slow one and Sabrina moved in closer putting both hands on Veda’s amble waist to draw her close. Their eyes locked then and Veda’s blood heated. She looked away, lips parched as they parted.

  She met Sabrina’s gaze again and held her stare refusing to look away though inside she was trembling. She was on the cusp of something, and everything inside of her wanted to see this through rather than run from it.

  But there was so much uncertainty. Sabrina being the biggest X factor because what was she really up to?

  How could she even know without taking that leap?

  She didn’t always go after what she wanted romantically because she was afraid it would break her, but what if it didn’t?

  The song ended and Sabrina slowly released her as if she didn’t want to let her go. She started back to the bar and Veda reached for her having made up her mind about what she was going to do.

  “Sabrina?”

  Sabrina turned to meet her gaze again, the look enigmatic.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Veda suggested.

  Chapter Nine

  Out in the parking lot Veda breathed in the warm air, drawing cigarette smoke into her lungs from two patrons standing a short distance from the entrance smoking. They exchanged greetings with them before walking on.

  “Veda, I meant what I said this morning,” Sabrina said as they reached Veda’s car. “I’m no good for you.”

  Veda leaned against the driver’s side door. “I’m probably no good for you either, but reality doesn’t end there.” She shrugged. “I’m not thinking I can change you. I don’t even want to try, but I do want you.”

  “Even if that’s only for a week or month?”

  Veda nodded slowly thinking the words over. “Too many times I take the path of least resistance which always leads to unhappiness,” she murmured. “This once, I want to take a chance even though I know the risks.”

  “Veda—”

  Veda pressed a finger to Sabrina’s lips. “Don’t promise me anything except that you’ll never lie to me.”

  Sabrina curled her fingers around Veda’s wrist. “There maybe things about my life I never tell you,” Sabrina admitted. “But I’ll never lie to you about the things you need to know.”

  “That’s all I’m asking for.” She leaned forward and cupped Sabrina’s jaw and brushed her lips against hers lightly.

  Sabrina’s lips firmed against hers and Veda continued to hold her stare. The spark of heat was echoed in her body as her nipples hardened in hunger for touch.

  “Let’s go have dinner,” Sabrina suggested.

  “Why don’t we go to No Dice?” Veda suggested.

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m not hungry for food,” Veda murmured. “I want to spend the evening in your arms. You can always order something after you’ve sated yourself on me.”

  “I—”

  “There’s a hotel not too far from here then,” Veda cut in. “They have room service.”

  “Okay.”

  Veda grinned. “I’ll see you there.”

  ****

  Sabrina didn’t have a problem with sex, but she wasn’t sure of Veda’s motivations. Maybe she thought a strictly sexual arrangement was what she was after. Veda was lovely and more than sexually satisfying, but she wanted to know a little more about her than how good she felt naked.

  It wasn’t often that she gave a damn about what was inside a lover’s head because it was about the moment, not forever. However, Veda intrigued her, made her want to find out what she’d been missing by keeping women at an emotional arm’s length.

  But she’d play it Veda’s way—tonight.

  She made her way back to her Mustang and unlocked the door and climbed in. Sabrina started the engine. She found the hotel fifteen minutes later and Veda was coming out of the office. She let her car idle while Veda climbed in to her car and drove to the side of the motel which faced an island of trees.

  She whipped into a parking space and cut the engine as Veda cut hers. Sabrina climbed out and made her way to Veda’s car to open her door for her. Veda gave her a smile and accepted the hand Sabrina held out.

  “Thank you.”

  Sabrina released Veda’s hand as Veda closed the car door and looked up at her. The moon luminous overhead, cast its silvery smile over them, and she questioned what she was about to do.

  Veda seemed more vulnerable than the women she usually hooked up with. They knew a night or two meant nothing and expected nothing, but she wouldn’t say the same about Veda. She was uncertain of her own charm, her own prowess, and she wasn’t as confident as she should be with her looks and curves.

  She leaned forward putting her hand on the car’s roof next to Veda. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “I guess you aren’t,” she said softly and toyed with the medal briefly. “I didn’t expect you to go through with this. Women as beautiful and confident as you are like skinny women not fat ones.”

  “You keep talking about your weight like you’re so unaware of how hot you really are,” Sabrina murmured. “All I can think about is how you deserve more than a woman who’s not going to stick around.”

  “If that’s your only concern, let me deal with that tomorrow,” Veda murmured putting her hand on Sabrina’s waist. “While you deal with me tonight.”

  Sabrina leaned a little closer and kissed her slowly. Veda melted into her and Sabrina slid her hand up Veda’s back, stroking down to grip her hip as their tongues dueled slowly. She savored the sweetness of her kiss, and hungered for more.

  The sound of a bottle clattering to the ground drew Sabrina’s head up quickly. She looked around, eyes quickly adjusting to the parking lot’s yellow light. Like a hawk she spied the man bending to pick up the dropped item before he staggered across the lot.

  “Let’s go inside.” Nothing seemed amiss to her, and there was no one after her. Her sister wouldn’t have any idea she’d taken the video files that could send Sabrina to jail for the rest of her life.

  She was not going to pay for crimes she’d been perfectly justified in committing.

  Sabrina followed Veda inside and pushed the door closed behind her and leaned against it facing Veda. Veda’s lush lips were parted, wet and enticing. Her clit pulsed and her nipples hardened.

  Veda closed the distance between them in the room illuminated by the golden glow that fell over her making her hair gleam copper. Her shoulders rose and fell with the harshness of her breathing.

  Sabrina didn’t move, but Veda traced a soft finger down Sabrina’s jaw. The soft touch was nothing like the abomination of that night and Sabrina pushed those thoughts aside as the woman before her leaned in to kiss her softly.

  ****

  Veda’s fears that Sabrina would change her mind faded as the other woman slid her arms around her waist and tugged Veda roughly against her. Sabrina deepened the kiss as she turned them, putting Veda’s back against the door. She pressed her against it, pinning Veda’s arms to the wood as she took over the kiss.

  Her blood rushed and her juices eased past the folds of her pussy to dampen her panties. Then, Sabrina bent her knees to grind against Veda pushing her strap-on flush against Veda’s clit. Veda whimpered, her clit tingling.

  She strained closer needing more of that delicious pressure and Sabrina repeated the action and pressed her tighter against the wall.

  Veda’s eyes slid closed as hunger and heat collided. Their tongues dueled, teeth nipped and harsh breaths created a sensual symphony. Sabrina traced rough kisses along Veda’s jaw and down the column of her throat. She swirled her tongue in the ho
llow.

  “You have no idea how bad I want you,” Sabrina said, breathing harshly and Veda looked into Sabrina’s eyes seeing hunger that made her hotter.

  Sabrina pushed her hands beneath the dress Veda wore, caressing the silky skin of her thighs and sending ripples of pleasure coursing through her.

  “I’m glad the feeling’s mutual.” Veda pushed her fingers into Sabrina’s hair as she leaned forward to claim her mouth greedily.

  “Mmm.” Sabrina found the zipper of Veda’s dress and tugged it down before brushing the sleeves down her arms and pulling the bodice down, revealing the lacy shelf bra the color of moss. Sabrina drew the soft scent of her in. “Your perfume is different tonight.”

  “Do you like it?” she murmured stroking her fingers along Sabrina’s nape.

  She’d gone home and changed tonight before going to the bar, but she’d had no intentions of this happening. She’d dabbed on her favorite perfume intent on pleasing herself not enticing another woman’s senses.

  “Very much.” Sabrina squeezed the firm mounds and then caressed Veda’s arms before pushing the dress down to pool at their feet. The matching lacy panties hugged her hips and bore a tiny bow in front. “Very pretty.”

  Sabrina kissed her again as she started to reply. As their tongues brushed against each other, Sabrina pulled the straps of the bra down and then broke the kiss as she peeled the cups down to lick over one nipple and then the other. She flicked her tongue tip over one taut caramel peak before sucking the nipple into her hot mouth. She swirled her tongue around the areola as she pinched the other nipple.

  Veda’s head rolled against the door and her eyes closed. “Mmm, Sabrina. You’re making me so hot.”

  Sabrina drew on the other nipple, scraped it with her teeth before trailing kisses over Veda’s collarbone while she glided her hands down Veda’s thighs increasing the ache inside her.