Returning Tides

by Radclyffe

  When the woman…Linda…Laurie…Lisa…tugged weakly at her jeans and murmured, “Take these off so I can do you too, baby,” Ash thumbed the woman’s still pulsating clit to distract her. Lisa writhed under her and went back to chewing on her neck. After a few more pumps, Lisa forgot all about pleasuring Ash, which was exactly what Ash wanted.

  “Fuck me, baby. Fuck me, fuck me, fuck me!”

  Ash did, until the woman finally stopped coming and just drifted off into an exhausted sleep. Trembling, Ash sat on the side of the bed until her legs would hold her. Then she found her shirt on the floor, missing a couple of buttons, and pulled it on. She still had her boots and jeans on, and after checking to make sure she had her wallet, she let herself out. As she stumbled home, exhausted and a little high, she became aware of the uncomfortable pressure in her groin and the painful press of her swollen clitoris against the rough denim. She didn’t know how long she’d been with the blonde—hours, she thought. She hadn’t come once. Hadn’t wanted to. She knew if she went home and tried to come, she wouldn’t be able to. If she was lucky, a shot or two of whiskey would let her sleep. And if she couldn’t sleep, it was only a few hours until morning.

  Morning. And she’d see Allie again. For the first time since she’d left the bar, she felt something besides numb. And no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t kill the sweet surge of anticipation.

  Chapter Eight

  A little after five a.m., Reese slipped out of bed, grabbed her clothes, and carried them downstairs to shower and dress in the guest bathroom so she wouldn’t wake Tory. Then she settled on a stool at the breakfast counter and called the station house.

  “It’s Reese. Is Officer Wayne there?”

  “They just came in a few minutes ago, Sheriff,” Smith said. “Hey, Carter. Phone for you.”

  “Hello?” Carter said.

  “Carter, it’s Reese. I need you to run a check on an inmate—William Everly. He should be doing time at Cedar Junction. If he’s out, get me his last known address and a number for his parole officer.”

  “On it.”

  “And, Carter, keep it quiet for now.”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  “I’ll be in for shift change. Anything I need to know now?”

  “Nothing I can put my finger on, but…”

  When Carter hesitated, Reese said, “Trust your gut, Carter.”

  Carter sighed. “Rica’s car was broken into in the lot on Bradford last night.”

  “Is she okay?”

  “Yes. There was no one there by the time she found it.”

  “You don’t figure it was random.”

  “I don’t know,” Carter said. “That’s what’s bugging me.”

  “I’ll put some extra cars in your neighborhood and make sure street patrol checks Rica’s gallery frequently.”

  “Thanks. I’ll get on this other thing right away.”

  “Good. I’ll check with you when I get in.” Reese disconnected and swiveled around at the sound of footsteps behind her.

  Tory, barefoot except for her ankle brace and wearing only a thigh-length pale green sleep shirt, slid between Reese’s legs and wrapped her arms around Reese’s waist. She kissed the corner of her mouth and said, “Good morning, darling. You’re up awfully early.”

  “And you should still be asleep. How’s your leg?”

  “I’ve got some numbness on the side of my foot. More annoying than any kind of functional problem.” Tory sighed. “It’s from the swelling, which is pretty bad. I’ll need to elevate it as much as I can.”

  Reese raised an eyebrow. “You don’t usually admit it when anything’s bothering you this much.”

  “You’d see it. You’d know.” Tory rested her cheek against Reese’s shoulder. “And I can hardly expect you to come clean with me if I don’t do the same.”

  “Can you stay home today?”

  Tory shook her head silently.

  Reese closed her eyes and breathed in Tory’s scent, a combination of coconut and fresh salt air. “Half a day?”

  “Maybe. I’ll try.” Tory leaned back, searching Reese’s face. She looked tired. “What about you? You didn’t get much sleep last night.”

  “Yeah, but I had a hell of a bedtime sedative.”

  Tory laughed. “Mmm, that was nice.” She kissed Reese again. “In fact, now that I think of it, we’ve got time for a repeat.”

  “I’m already dressed for work!”

  “That’s what buttons are for, darling,” Tory said, swiftly opening Reese’s uniform shirt. “They open and close so you can take your shirt off and put it back on again.”

  Reese slid her hands up the back of Tory’s thighs and underneath the lower edge of her sleep shirt, encountering bare skin all the way up to her ass. She groaned and pulled Tory tighter into her crotch. “Love, I really need to go to work.”

  Tory slid her hand inside Reese’s shirt and toyed with her nipple through her undershirt. “I know what time your day starts. They don’t need you right away.”

  “I’ve got Carter running a check for me on the guy who assaulted Bri. I need to meet her before shift change.”

  “You think it was him last night?” Tory slipped her hand out of Reese’s shirt.

  “I don’t even know if he’s been released yet. Just covering the bases. If he is out, I want to know about it. I don’t want Bri and Caroline becoming targets.”

  “Or you. He has every reason to go after you, but, of course, you’ll worry about everyone except you,” Tory said with an edge. Reese had been home from Iraq for less than half a year. While she’d been deployed, she’d nearly died. Tory tried not to think about that. She tried very hard to erase the utter desolation she’d felt during the days when she hadn’t known if Reese was ever coming home. She’d mostly learned to live with the inherent danger of Reese’s job, but the fear still rode close to the surface. Especially when she was reminded that Reese never put her own safety before that of others.

  “Hey, hey! Love, we’re getting way ahead of ourselves.” Reese ran her hands up and down Tory’s back, soothing caresses meant to calm rather than excite. She kept it up until she felt Tory relax. “One step at a time, okay?”

  Tory nodded and pressed her face to Reese’s neck. “There’s something I need to tell you. I was going to do it last night, but then…” She sighed. “I know how much work there is to be done in the next few weeks with the recovery in town, and now with this…who knows when we’ll ever have time to ourselves.”

  Reese’s heart jumped into overdrive. “Is something wrong? What’s the matter?”

  “Nothing. Darling, nothing’s the matter.” Tory caressed the back of Reese’s neck and smiled. “I want to have another baby.”

  “Another…” Reese’s head pounded and her vision dimmed, the way it had in the middle of the firefight in the desert, the way it had last night when Tory had called her on the phone and said there was someone in the house…

  “Reese,” Tory said gently. “Reese, how do you feel right now?”

  Shuddering and trying to hide it, Reese forced a smile. “Just surprised.”

  “No. Something else.” Tory took Reese’s hand. “Come sit down and tell me what just happened.”

  Reese shook her head. “It’s nothing. I’m all right.”

  Tory stroked Reese’s cheek. “Do not do this. I’m a doctor, Reese, but anyone could have seen you turn pale and your pupils dilate. Right now, you’re shaking. Tell me how you feel.”

  “I’m okay now,” Reese said. “For just a second, maybe two, there was a roaring in my head and I couldn’t focus, couldn’t hear. Goes away really fast if I just hang on for a few seconds.”

  “How often?” Tory asked, ignoring the churning in her stomach, keeping her voice level and quiet. “How often has it happened?”

  Reese shrugged. “I don’t really know. Just a couple of times in the last few weeks. Before that, nothing felt right, so I can’t even remember if it was happening then.” She
gripped Tory’s hand. “Look, I’m okay. It was just a second. Let’s talk about you and us and another baby.”

  “Has it happened on the job?”

  “No,” Reese said quickly.

  “I want you to come in for a physical. Today.”

  Reese grimaced. “Tory, I don’t have time—”

  “Do it today, Reese, or I’ll rescind your medical release to return to active duty.”

  “Jesus, Tory.” Reese rubbed her forehead. “You wouldn’t—”

  “I would. I’d do anything to protect you.” Tory turned abruptly, but Reese still held her hand and she couldn’t escape. She didn’t want Reese to see her fear. Or her anger.

  “I wasn’t intentionally keeping anything from you. I just didn’t think it was important.”

  “No, when it’s about you, you never do.”

  “That’s not fair, Tor,” Reese said quietly. She stood and gently gripped Tory’s shoulders. “I’m trying.”

  Tory spun back around and slid her arms behind Reese’s neck. “I know, darling. I know you are. I’m sorry. Sometimes, I just get scared.”

  “I’m sorry too. For ever making you frightened.”

  “Shh.” Tory kissed the base of Reese’s throat, then her neck, then the corner of her mouth. “It’s not your fault. I love you. You can’t possibly know how much.”

  “I do, love. I do know.” Reese kissed Tory, a deep lingering kiss. “I’ll come by the clinic as soon as I can get away today, okay?”

  “Thank you,” Tory murmured against Reese’s mouth, the kiss filling her with warmth and calm.

  “About the other thing—”

  Tory pressed her fingers to Reese’s lips. “We’ll talk about it later.”

  Reese frowned. “No, Tor, this is important. If you—”

  “Later.” Tory leaned against Reese. “I think I need to get off my leg. Will you help me up the stairs?”

  “I’ll do more than that. Put your arms around my neck.”

  “I think carrying me up the stairs once this week is enough.”

  Reese laughed. “I don’t get enough exercise behind the desk. Hold on to me.”

  And because she needed her, because she needed to feel surrounded by Reese’s solid strength and unwavering love, Tory let herself be carried. Talk of another child would need to wait. Right now, all she cared about was finding the cause of Reese’s symptoms.

  *

  Carter cruised through her neighborhood a little after seven thirty, noting that many of the early-morning joggers were absent. She didn’t recognize half of the cars and vans parked on her own street. Most of the unfamiliar vehicles were probably those of workmen who had come from up Cape or inland to start repairs on damaged homes. Determining who belonged and who didn’t was impossible. Still, she took her time, working street by street, looking for anything or anyone out of place. At eight o’clock, she pulled into the driveway in front of Rica’s hilltop home, their home now. Surrounded on three sides by pine and beech trees, the house commanded a sweeping view across protected wetlands and dunes to Herring Cove. Rica’s Lexus was in the garage, and when Carter walked through to the spacious eat-in kitchen, she heard Rica talking on the phone outside on the deck.

  “I need you to tell me the truth, Papa,” Rica said, leaning against the railing. Her hair was loose, still damp from the shower, and she wore only the short black silk robe that Carter loved to slowly take off her. “No one?”

  Carter halted, not wanting to eavesdrop. Rica had spent her whole life struggling to reconcile her love for her father with her repulsion for his “business.” She and her father rarely spoke of it directly, but their relationship had been even more strained since Rica became involved with Carter. Alfonse Pareto tolerated Carter, a cop, so close to the seat of his empire for only two reasons—he believed that Carter loved Rica and would protect her, and he knew that Rica would cut off all ties to her family if he attempted to keep them apart. Carter did not want to make Rica’s life any more difficult. She started to back out of the room just as Rica turned and saw her.

  Rica waved Carter out onto the deck while listening to her father interrogate her as to why she wanted to know if he had assigned any of his men to shadow her. She wasn’t used to seeing Carter in a uniform. The night before, Rica had been working late at the gallery and Carter had dropped by in her regulation khaki pants, tab-collar shirt, and dark tie before her shift. Rica had been sorely tempted to drag her into the back room and divest her of said uniform. Now she could, since she didn’t have to worry about making Carter late for work.

  “I know you said you wouldn’t, Papa.” Rica slipped her arm around Carter’s waist and pulled her close. “But sometimes you change your mind and forget to tell me.”

  At Carter’s raised eyebrows, Rica shook her head, rolled her eyes, and gave her a kiss. When Carter tugged her a little closer and nipped at her lower lip, Rica stifled a moan.

  “I need to go, Papa. I have another call.”

  “When will you be home for a visit, cara?”

  “I don’t know. Soon.”

  “I miss you,” Pareto said. “Ti amo.”

  “I love you too, Papa.” Rica fumbled for the Off button, wrapped her free arm around Carter’s neck, and blindly set the phone down on the top of the railing. “Mmm, I missed you in bed last night.”

  “Sorry,” Carter muttered, kissing her way up Rica’s neck to her ear. “I won’t have the night shift forever.”

  “I think I might like you coming home in the morning when I’m all rested and you’re a little rumpled and tired. It’ll make it easy for me to have my way with you.”

  “Like you don’t always.” Carter laughed and pulled Rica over to one of the cushioned lounge chairs. She tugged her down and wrapped her in her arms. “How’s your father?”

  “The same.” Rica unbuckled Carter’s belt, pulled her shirt up, and caressed her abdomen. “How tired are you?”

  “Not tired at all.” Carter opened Rica’s robe and cupped Rica’s breast.

  Rica murmured her approval and pressed closer, nibbling Carter’s ear. “I think I’d like it if you made love to me out here. I’ve been thinking about it since I woke up. I’m already wet.”

  Carter groaned. “Are you?”

  “Why don’t you see for yourself?” Rica flicked her tongue along the edge of Carter’s jaw, then kissed her. Carter smoothed her palm down Rica’s abdomen and caressed between her legs. Rica’s hips flexed and she whimpered softly against Carter’s mouth.

  “Jesus,” Carter muttered. “Baby, you’re so ready.”

  “Then don’t make me wait,” Rica said, breathing quickly, her dark eyes turning glassy as Carter stroked and stroked. “I think if you just go inside me, I’ll…”

  Carter pushed deeper and filled her.

  “…come,” Rica gasped, closing her eyes and burying her face against Carter’s neck. She quivered, her fingers trembling against Carter’s face as she came in long, undulating waves of exquisite pleasure.

  “I love you, baby,” Carter whispered.

  “I love you.” Rica sighed, melting bonelessly into the lean, hard planes of Carter’s body. “And I really love this uniform.”

  Carter chuckled and ran her fingers through Rica’s silky hair. The midnight waves sparkled in the early morning sunlight. “You’re so beautiful, Rica. So beautiful.”

  “I never thought I could be this happy.”

  “Neither did I.” Carter closed her eyes and luxuriated in the unbelievable pleasure of having everything in her life she’d ever wanted. This woman, this one woman, was everything that mattered.

  “In a few minutes I’ll be able to move again,” Rica murmured lazily. “So be patient. The other thing I’ve been thinking about since I woke up was you coming in my mouth.”

  Carter jerked, the muscles in her stomach dancing. “Rica, baby. You’re killing me.”

  Rica smiled and ran her fingertips over Carter’s lips. “Good.”

  �
��So are you going to tell me why you called your father first thing this morning?”

  “I wondered when you’d ask me that.”

  “Did something happen?” Carter knew Rica would try to shield her from anything that might have to do with her father’s business. “I don’t need you to protect me.”

  “No? But it’s all right for you to protect me?”

  Carter sighed. “I didn’t mean it that way.”

  “How did you mean it?”

  “I’m not investigating your family—it’s not like it was when I was undercover before. Plus, Reese knows about your father. My job is not in danger because of your father’s business dealings, so you don’t have to keep things from me. That’s all I meant.”

  Rica tucked her head under Carter’s chin and slid her hand under Carter’s shirt again. “I’m sorry. I know. It’s just, they hurt you the last time. I couldn’t stand it if—”

  “Nothing is going to happen to me.” Carter caressed Rica’s face. “If you called your father, you’re worried about something. What is it?”

  “I got to thinking about the car last night. I know it was probably just some kids or something, but—on my way to the parking lot, I had this weird feeling. I forgot all about it until I got home.”

  Carter tensed, then forced herself to relax. She didn’t want her worry to influence Rica. “What kind of weird feeling?”

  “Like someone was…I don’t know…watching me, maybe.”

  “Did you see anyone?”

  “No, which is why I’m sure it’s just my imagination, but I thought maybe Papa had sent another one of his men to keep an eye on me. You know how he is.”

  “What did he say?”

  “He said he didn’t.”

  “You believe him?” Carter didn’t trust Rica’s father, for many reasons. The don was not above lying to his daughter if he thought it was for her own good.

  “I do. If I really thought he had men watching me, I wouldn’t have let you ravish me out here—even if only the seagulls could possibly see onto this deck.”

  “What about the shop? Has anyone been in who seemed out of place? Someone who might have been inappropriate, pushed you to go out with them?”