Insight

by Jennis Slaughter

  Closing her eyes, Rae hung her head before she glanced at Del, “Go ahead, get you clothes and let’s get out of here.”

  Del paused, regarded the other woman, wanting to reach out to her, knowing the Chief had hit a nerve. Instead, she opted to listen to Raelin, and went to retrieve her clothes, allowing Rae a few minutes to herself. She dropped her bag in the back of the Jeep and went to check out, handing over the keys and thanking the owner for the service. Returning, Raelin sitting in the passenger’s seat, her eyes focused on nothing in particular. “Are you okay?” she asked quietly, waiting to start the Jeep until she was sure Raelin was as okay as she could be given the circumstances.

  “We need to leave. That crowd is really upset that we aren’t in the back of Sam’s car, and I can’t hold them back much longer without hurting someone. I can cause a diversion and then we can escape.” The witch continued to stare straight ahead, trying to keep control of her emotions.

  “Damn,” breathed Del, noticing how Rae had avoided her question, but put it away until a better time. “Yeah, anything you can come up with would be great, as long as you don’t drain yourself too badly. You’ve been tapped into the lines since we got here.” She quickly started the Jeep, and was just starting to back out of its parking space when she noticed a group of town folk approaching.

  Closing her eyes in concentration, Raelin focused her energy on the closest electric transformer, and quickly followed the path to the rest in town. After locating all six, she pushed the energies of the lines through them, causing anything electrical to either blow the fuses or explode at once.

  Del jumped as the street lights sparked and went out, providing the needed distraction for them to pull out of the yard, quickly putting the town behind them. As she steered up the road to Raelin’s place, Del glanced out of the corner of her eye at the brunette, sensing her unease and sadness. Saying nothing, she reached over and threaded her fingers through Rae’s, hoping it would provide even a little comfort.

  Slowly, Rae pulled her hand away from the blonde under the pretense of wiping her hands across her face. “I just came out of the closet and the only thing that I’ve done is kiss. I don’t believe I just did that,” she giggled and leaned her head against the window, trying to get as far away from the blonde as she could without hurting her feelings. The power was still rolling through her, and she was scared that if Del was holding on to her, she could get hurt. She needed to release it soon, but she couldn’t in a moving vehicle.

  Del got the distinct feeling that something was off with Raelin. She concentrated for a moment and felt the faint thrumming she’d come to know as a signal that the power of the lines was being used, or nearby. She quickly pulled to the side of the road, got out and walked around the passenger side door, opening it and motioning for Raelin to get out. “Whatever it is you need to do, do it. You’re hurtin’, I can feel it, and it’s killing me. Please,” she implored softly, reaching out to touch Raelin, but pulling back when she flinched away.

  “Don’t...please don’t touch me...I need to release the power and I’m scared that I’ll hurt you.” Rae took a deep breath. “I need you to get into your Jeep. It’s grounded and you’ll be safer there than anywhere else.”

  Del hesitated; conflicted between following Raelin’s wishes and the need to help the woman she was quickly coming to love. Finally deciding to respect Rae’s wishes, she walked back around the Jeep, getting in, but never taking her eyes off the witch.

  Closing her eyes, Rae pictured the lines that ran through the town and towards her home, and grimaced. If she released the power back into the ground, it could disrupt the flow, and it would be worse that it was before Del arrived into town. However, if she pushed the power into the air, it would settle gently back down on the ground like snow.

  Bending over, she grabbed two handfuls of dirt, and walked about twenty paces away from the Jeep. Saying a prayer to the Goddess and whispering a spell, she focused all the energy into the dirt and tossed it in the air as hard as she could.

  The dirt filled the air and it was like fireworks in the sky. The energy gave it color and sparks as it drifted on the air and Rae smiled at the sight.

  Del watched in awe, and she had to resist the urge to join the brunette to watch the sight. Just when Del thought she’d seen everything, Raelin proved her wrong. She thought back on the witch’s words from the kitchen after dinner. Perhaps they really were meant for each other. Her chest tightened at the thought and her heart sped up at the thought of someday waking up every morning with that beautiful woman beside her.

  Watching through the window, she felt the breath leave her at the sight. The last bits of light had started to fade and the energy crackled around Raelin, bathing her in gentle light, her dark eyes shining as she smiled, dark hair blowing around her face and shoulder with the breeze. There in that quiet moment in the middle of nowhere, Del realized that for all her good intentions on taking things slow, she’d fallen ass over teakettle in love with Raelin. She watched as Raelin started back to the Jeep, unable to form any sort of words, she waited for her to get back in.

  Turning from the energy work so to speak, Rae smiled at the sight of the blonde waiting for her. She knew that it was hard for Del to stay in the Jeep, because she knew that the blonde wanted to be right beside her. She was about to raise her hand to have her join her, when she got really light headed and collapsed.

  Del smiled at Raelin, but it faded when she noticed Rae deflate a little. As she started to leave the Jeep, she saw Rae collapse and damn near tripped over herself in her haste to get to the fallen witch. Sliding to the ground next to her, she pulled the limp woman into her lap. “Raelin? Baby, open your eyes. Wake up. I’m right here, but you’re scaring me and I need you to wake up for me,” she whispered frantically into Rae’s ear.

  Brown eyes fluttered open, and looked up into Del’s worried face. “What does a girl gotta do to get a kiss?”

  Del couldn’t help but laugh, and leaned down to grant the woman’s kiss, but stopped short a scant hair’s breadth from Raelin’s lips. “A little melodramatic don’t you think? You could have just asked.”

  Not bothering to answer her, Rae reached up to thread her fingers through golden hair and kissed her like there was no tomorrow

  Del melted into the contact, all of the emotions from a few minutes ago rushing back through her. She broke the kiss just long enough to take in a quick breath before leaning in to reclaim soft lips. Having thoroughly kissed the woman beneath her, she finally pulled away, only to swat playfully at her tummy. “You scared the crap out of me. Are you really okay?”

  Raelin nodded. “I am now. With what I did earlier today, and then tonight, I overloaded my system. Then when I released the energy, I did it all at once instead of a little at a time, and I paid for it. It wasn’t a ploy to get a kiss, but you do sort of recharge me, so it worked for the both of us.”

  “Well, I’m glad I can help. Let’s get you off the cold ground and back to the house. You promised me some sofa cuddles if I remember correctly and I think it would do you some good to just lie down and relax. Let me help you up and we’ll get you home.” Del helped Raelin stand, taking most of her weight as they returned to the Jeep. Soon enough they were back on the road and heading towards home.

  A Chapter 10 a

  Del grinned victoriously as she wiped at her cheek, leaving a black smudge from handling the generator. After she’d gotten Rae settled on the couch, she gotten busy with starting a fire for warmth, and then started the generator running for some electricity. She headed back into the house and towards the living room.

  Rori had told Rae, after a lengthy lecture about overdoing things and the proper use of the lines, that Jenny was still asleep and hadn’t so much as moved, and she had left the young girl to her rest.

  She entered the living room to find Raelin already half-asleep. She finished drying her hands from when she’d stopped to wash them, and approached the sofa, leaning down to kiss
the sleepy woman awake as she’d done earlier. “You going to make room for me or should I just plunk myself on the floor?” she asked with a grin.

  Rae smiled up at the blonde. “If you’re going to plunk yourself anywhere, it’s gonna be next to me. Come’re.” The brunette scooted over so that Del would have enough room...well, enough room so that the witch could really enjoy having her close.

  It wasn’t a big couch, but Del didn’t mind as her body settled against Raelin’s. She sighed at the feeling of the other woman so close, and closed her eyes in contentment. She wrapped an arm around Raelin, holding her close as they cuddled, letting the stress of the last few hours drain away. “Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked, still a little concerned for Raelin’s well-being.

  For a response, Rae leaned in and gave Del a kiss, one that was full of promises and love. “I am now.”

  Del enjoyed the feelings the kiss stirred in her, giving back in spades. She ran her fingers over Raelin’s bottom lip, green eyes catching brown. “Do you want to talk about it?” she asked, making it clear in her tone that Del didn’t expect her to, but was here to listen if she wanted to.

  Shaking her head, Rae whispered, “There’s nothing to talk about. It’s the past and as much as I would like to change it, I can’t. I’ve learned to live with not knowing who my father is the same way Jenny has. It’s one of the reasons why we are so close.”

  “I’m glad you’ve had someone. I know how it feels. You already know about my mother. Your strength amazes me. I’m not sure I could have dealt with how people treat you and Jenny. Humanity scares me sometimes. I see all these terrible things because of work, and then, I meet you, and it sort of, gives me hope. Reminds me that not everyone is a homicidal monster.” Del ran her hands along Rae’s spine, enjoying the play of muscle over bone as she breathed.

  Sliding her hands under Del’s shirt, Rae took pleasure in how the blonde gasped at her touch. “You’re just as strong as I am, if not more so. With all that you see, I can’t even imagine what you must go through.”

  “It’s not all bad,” Del replied, tangling their legs together, one hand dropping to the small of Rae’s back to hold her in place. “You tend to try and remember the times that you’ve returned frightened children to their parents, or helped a husband or wife find a spouse. It seems to remind you why you do the work in the first place,” Del murmured into Rae’s hair, kissing her temple.

  Rae had to close her eyes and concentrate from rolling her hips against the detectives. She wanted nothing more than to be skin to skin with the blonde, and letting her show Rae what she had been dreaming about all her life. “Mmm, how did you get into your line of work? Isn’t it rather unusual to have a woman in your position?”

  Del laughed at that. “Yes, I imagine it is. I wanted to be a cop, but I’m too short. So I decided to do things myself.”

  “I don’t think that you’re too short...I think that we fit together perfectly.” Sliding her hands farther up underneath Del’s shirt, Rae loved the way that the blonde’s muscles moved beneath her fingers.

  Del couldn’t stop the muffled moan that bubbled up through her throat as Rae explored her skin. Sliding her own hands under Rae’s shirt, she ran her fingers over the expanse of her back, feeling the dips of her spine and smooth skin as she let her palms rest on the contours of Raelin’s shoulder blades. “You are seriously testing my will power you know,” she growled, nipping at the soft spot below Rae’s ear.

  Impulsively, Rae leaned back and started unbuttoning the blonde’s shirt. “May I see you...? I really want to.”

  Del could only nod as she felt gentle hands work the buttons of her shirt. “As long as you don’t overdo anything. You pushed yourself too far today.”

  “I feel fine as long as I’m touching you...you give me strength is so many ways.” Rae stared into Del’s eyes, not wanting to look down until the shirt was completely undone. When it finally was, she took a deep breath and looked, seeing a toned belly and two perfect breasts that were barely covered by a while lace bra. “You are spectacular,” Rae breathed.

  Del felt her face flush at the words. “You’re pretty amazing yourself. You take my breath away.” Del couldn’t remember a time when she’d been so comfortable with someone studying her body so intently. More proof that they were bound to each other she supposed.

  Reaching out, Rae slid her hand along Del’s stomach, feeling the blonde trembling beneath her fingers. “What’s the matter?” She pulled her hand away.

  Del nearly whimpered when she felt Rae’s hand retreat. She quickly grabbed it with both hers, and pressed it back to her stomach. “Nothing is the matter. This is what you do to me; you leave me a trembling quivering mess whenever you’re near. I guess; I’m also a little nervous too. This is important to me, and I don’t want to do anything to mess it up. I want things to be perfect for you.”

  Letting her fingers resume their exploration, Rae whispered, “Nothing is ever perfect...we need to enjoy the here and now, enjoy each other. That is what’s important. That’s what will make everything just the way that it’s supposed to be.”

  Del watched Rae’s face reassuring herself that she wasn’t pushing too hard. Seeing nothing but want, and what she hoped was love, she gently pushed Raelin until she was on her back and looking up at her. She leaned over the witch, running her hands across a delicate collarbone. “Can I?” she asked, toying with the top button of Raelin’s shirt, her lips close enough to brush against Rae’s, teasing her as she spoke.

  “No...not here, but would you join me in my bed?” Rae softly asked. She wanted plenty of room to explore Del’s body.

  “Yes, as long as you’re sure.” Del brushed a gentle kiss across Rae’s lips, before sitting up, pulling Raelin with her.

  As Del got off the sofa, she held out her hand to help her witch stand, but Rae pushed it aside to lean forward to place a kiss against the peaches and cream stomach. The blonde gasped and placed her hands on Rae’s shoulders, letting her do what she wanted.

  Rae reached up to push off the opened shirt and let her eyes caress the body that was standing in the flickering firelight. “Did you happen to light a fire in my bedroom?”

  It took a moment for Del’s brain to kick in again after Raelin had effectively shut it down, and she thought back on what she’d done when they’d arrived. “No, sorry, I didn’t know you had a fireplace in there and I didn’t want to invade your space. I remember my grandmother being very particular about people going in and out of her rooms. Something about wards and energies?”

  “My love, this house is open to you for as long as you want it to be. I’ll take care of the fire once we get in there.” Standing, Rae held out her hand. “Would you care to join me?”

  The endearment took her by surprise, but only briefly as the surprise soon settled into warmth spreading through her. “God yes,” Del breathed, taking Raelin’s hand and allowing herself to be led through the house and to the master bedroom.

  Del paused just inside the door, taking in the room. It was large, but not extravagantly so and it radiated warmth. The walls were painted in browns and golds, giving off an earthy vibe Del was quickly coming to associate with her witch. The large bed sat at an angle in the corner and a bookshelf and comfortable chair sat in the corner opposite. She watched as Rae knelt in front of the fireplace, blowing on a piece of paper to light it.

  Once it was lit, she tossed the paper into the fireplace, watching to make sure it caught. Having got the fire burning to her satisfaction, she then started moving about the room. Lighting the candles scattered on the mantle and dresser.

  Del watched her move, the flickering light from the fireplace causing her bronzed skin to glow. Watching Raelin move about the room with a practiced ease, completely at home with herself, Del couldn’t stop the words that came out of her mouth next, “I love you.” She felt her eyes widen as she heard the words leave her lips and froze, hoping Raelin hadn’t caught them.

  Rae looke
d over her shoulder and smiled at the blonde. “I’m in love with you too.”

  Del let out the breath she’d been holding and slowly approached the taller woman, running both hands up Raelin’s arms, across strong shoulders and up her neck until she was cradling Rae’s face in her hands. Locking her gaze, she opted to let her eyes do her talking for her. Without ever breaking eye contact, she rose to her tiptoes to place a gentle kiss on Rae’s lips.

  Rae closed her eyes as Del’s lips touched hers, and she pulled the shorter woman closer, letting her own hands run lightly down her strong back until she came to the waist of her pants. There she allowed her fingers delve beneath the cloth before she pulled them back out. Leaning back, she looked at Del and knew that she had never seen anything more beautiful than this woman, who was standing in front of her in a sexy lacy bra, a pair of jeans with kiss swollen lips.

  “I want to see more...” Rae brought her hands around the front of Del and dropped to the button of her jeans. Popping it open, she slowly slid down the zipper and lowered the pants until they were in a pool at Del’s feet. “Step...”

  Del obediently stepped out of her pants, and then she kicked them to the side, to be forgotten. Del ran her hands down Raelin’s front lifting the hem of her shirt to spread her hands across her tummy. She trailed her lips across Raelin’s jaw; her hands began to wander, eventually coming to rest on Raelin’s ribs. “No fair, you’re wearing too many clothes.”

  Smiling down at her soon to be lover, Rae hoped that Del would understand what she was about to say. “No, I’ve got on what I am supposed to have. It is not my time to be loved yet and besides, one needs to know how to give before they are allowed to receive. Tonight, I am going to learn how to bring you pleasure...your body will be my teacher.”