Safe Harbor

by Radclyffe

  "Yes," Reese agreed. "But you cant. You cannot afford to be defeated by words, or threats, or your own undisciplined emotions. You are being tested, Brianna. Its not fair, and its not just, but that is beside the point. Im going to need your help, but more importantly, Caroline needs you."

  Bri glanced over at her girlfriend, who was watching them anxiously. Just the sight of her made her heart catch, the joy almost like pain. She wanted so much to deserve Caroline's love. Bri straightened her shoulders, drew a deep breath, and crossed the deck to her.

  "Im sorry," Bri whispered, as she sat beside Caroline, slipping an arm about her waist. Caroline kissed her neck, murmuring reassurances against her skin.

  "Okay, lets have the rest of it," Reese directed.

  As Caroline was finishing her story, Tory reappeared from the house. She looked at the two young women, both of whom were looking scared. At first glance they looked tough enough in their leather pants, silver arm bracelets, ear cuffs, and punk hair cuts. She thought that Bri had a tattoo on her upper arm that hadnt been there before as well. But she could tell from the way Caroline pressed against Bris side and the cold set to Reeses features that something was wrong.

  "Whats going on?" Tory asked.

  Reese said a few more words that Tory couldnt hear as Bri and Caroline rose to leave. Tory waited until they were out of ear shot before she asked again, "Trouble?"

  Reese nodded as she joined Tory. "I think so. Ill tell you when were alone."

  Tory noted Reeses uncharacteristically slow approach. "Youre in pain, arent you?"

  "Some," Reese admitted reluctantly. "Is my mother still here?"

  "Theyre in the kitchen. I really think she just wanted to see that you were all right, but come have something to eat. Then youre going back to bed."

  Reese followed her, wondering how she was going to tell her that she needed to go to work. Just as they entered the dining area, Catherine turned to them with the phone in her outstretched hand.

  "Somebody wants to talk to Colonel Conlon --- wont take no for an answer," she announced with an edge to her voice.

  Reese took the phone. "This is Colonel Conlon." She straightened unconsciously as she listened, her face unreadable. "Yes, sir - thats correct sir. ... In my opinion it was the best course of action, yes sir.... Hes going to live, sir. ... Im fine, sir, just a scratch."

  She looked over at her mother, who was watching her intently. "Shes here, yes sir. ... No sir, Im staying at the doctors.... Victoria King, yes sir."

  Her fingers tightened on the phone, her blue eyes darkening. "Are you sure you want me to answer that, General? It seems to me its specifically against regulations to ask questions of that nature." Her eyes met Torys, and held them fiercely. "I wont deny it. I wont deny her , sir."

  After a moment, she slowly replaced the receiver. Every face looked at her questionly. She spoke into the silent room.

  "That was my father. Apparently he has very good intelligence sources." She looked at her mother sympathetically. "I appreciate what you must have gone through. He just threatened to have me court-martialled if I admitted to a relationship with Victoria."

  "Can he do that?" Catherine exclaimed, clearly shocked.

  Reese shrugged. "If he wants a very messy, very public trial. Im an attorney, and he knows me well enough to know I would never give up my commission without a fight. I think he was just testing."

  Despite her calm tone, Tory could see the conversation had taken a toll. Reese was pale and her forehead was dotted with perspiration. There was a fine tremor visible in her hands. Tory went to her, taking Reese's hand. "You need to be in bed. I never should have let you up as it is. Come upstairs."

  "Im afraid Tory is going to have her work cut out for her," Kate observed as she watched her daughter reluctantly follow Tory upstairs. "Reese has very few of her fathers bad qualities, but she does get her stubbornness from him." She pointedly ignored the snort of disbelief from her lover.

  "My sister can handle her, Im sure," Catherine stated as she accompanied Reeses mother and her lover out to their car. "Im glad Im going to be here to see it. My kids will be with their grandparents until school starts, and my husband is on retreat at Kripalu."

  "It should help that Reese appears to be in love with her. Is Tory aware of that?" Kate asked.

  Catherine hesitated, not sure just how to discuss this with Reeses mother.

  "Oh, I dont want you to betray any confidences," Kate assured her. "I couldnt be happier."

  "I think cautious would be the word to describe my sister at the moment," Catherine responded, hoping fervently that Kate was right about Reeses feelings. Because it was painfully clear that Tory was hopelessly in love with the handsome, hardheaded cop, regardless of how she tried to deny it.

  "I have no doubt that given time Reese will prove herself to her."

  "Will her father really make trouble for Reese?" Catherine asked in concern.

  "I doubt it, not after Reese made it clear she would fight it. Roger was always too ready to use his power for personal gain, unlike Reese, who is inherently valiant. She does what she does because she believes service is the highest form of honor. He would not want his own reputation tarnished. He could pass off a lesbian wife as some acquired perversion on my part, but a daughter?" She laughed, "How fate has conspired against the man!"

  "Obviously, Reese got her good parts from you."

  For a moment Kate looked pained. "I wish I could take the credit, but I believe Reese has simply taken what was once commendable about the military to heart. She is proud to be a soldier." She looked away for a moment, then smiled faintly. "And Im proud she is, too."

  "Call me if you need us for anything," Kate called as she pulled away.

  Catherine hoped that they had had all the excitement they were going to see for one summer, but a nagging voice told her that August was going to be a long month.

  Chapter Eighteen

  "Are they all gone?" Tory asked cautiously as she ventured out onto the deck. She found Catherine stirring a pitcher of margaritas and nearly wept at the sight. "God, am I ready for one of those!"

  "We are alone at last," Cath informed her, handing her a drink. "And how is the famous patient?"

  Tory blushed. "Out like a light. I cant get her to take any narcotics, and I think the pain is wearing her out." She sank into the canvas deck chair with a sigh. "Im wondering if I shouldnt send her to Boston for follow-up."

  Catherine looked at her in surprise. "I thought you said she was going to be fine?"

  "She is - but Im sleeping with her for Gods sake!"

  "I was meaning to ask you about that," Catherine said teasingly. "Just how did that come about? I got the sense this morning - or was it last night - that you werent quite ready for that."

  "Who says Im ready? It just happened. Well, actually she seduced me. Oh, hell. Ive been wanting her for weeks."

  "Is she as good as she looks like shed be?"

  "Jesus, Cath!"

  "Well, you said shed never been with a woman. Naturally Im curious!"

  " Naturally. " Tory remarked sarcastically. "She is far better than she looks, if you can imagine that! Its got nothing to do with how she makes love-" She stopped, blushing as she remembered their brief interlude just an hour before. "Well, of course, theres that-"

  "Of course."

  "I just meant theres so much more to it than that. Oh, I cant explain it! She just has to look at me and Im ready. So you can obviously see my judgement is impaired. Now you can see why I shouldnt be treating her."

  Catherine laughed. "Tor, your brain is still functioning, even if the rest of your circuitry is shorted out. Dont worry about it - youre not doing anything wrong. If you two had been together for years and this had happened, youd feel perfectly comfortable looking after her."

  "Its not the medical issue Im worried about," Tory confessed. "Im afraid to send her back to work. Im afraid of her work. Last night I saw her get shot. I thought I had seen her killed
. I didnt realize until that moment how much she means to me. Now weve made love, Cath. Shes opened the door to places Im not even sure I wanted to know about. God, I dont even know if she loves me, and Im terrified of losing her!"

  "Tor," Catherine said gently, "I cant imagine how horrible last night was for you. The woman youre crazy over almost got herself killed. Everything must seem shaky right now. Youre exhausted. Go upstairs, lie down beside her, and try to sleep. I just want to remind you of one thing. Ten years ago when you were lying in a hospital bed, none of us ever wanted to see you in a scull again - because we had almost lost you. Now every day I pray that you will someday row again, because you love it and you need it. If Reese werent the woman she is- the cop, the soldier - you wouldnt love her. I dont imagine loving her will be easy, but I can see that you do. You cant change that, any more than you can change her."

  Tory brushed tears of fatigue and fear from her face, offering her sister a tremulous smile. "Ill admit shes captivated my attention, but Im going to try to look at this as a momentary loss of reason. Im not ready for love, especially with someone as dangerous as Reese Conlon! If she doesnt get herself killed, shes bound to have every woman on the Cape chasing her after this!" she proclaimed.

  "Go!" Catherine ordered, thinking that the woman upstairs was just what her sister needed. She knew instinctively what her sister fought to accept. They were already inextricably involved.

  **********

  "Im awake," Reese said as she lay watching Tory undress in the late afternoon sunlight. A cool ocean breeze wafted through the thin blinds on the open window, streaming across her own nakedness.

  "Youre not supposed to be," Tory commented as she reached for a tee shirt, her back to the bed.

  "You dont need that," Reese called softly. Her voice was husky, and unmistakably seductive.

  Tory hesitated for a second as heat rushed into her belly, making her legs weak. Then, resolutely, she pulled the thin cotton over her head as she crossed to the bed. This was ridiculous! Reese needed to rest, not get twenty years of sexual experience in a single day!

  "Im beat, and I have no idea why youre still able to form sentences. So, please, just - meditate or something, but for Gods sake get some sleep."

  She lay down and purposefully faced away from Reese.

  "I will," Reese assured her, turning so the length of her body pressed against Torys back. She slipped her hand under the tee shirt to clasp the soft swell of breast. She slowly pressed her lips along the bare skin from Torys shoulder up the side of her neck. "In just a minute," she whispered into Torys ear. With one hand she raised Torys head enough to catch the corner of her mouth with an exploring tongue. Tory hadnt moved but she couldnt resist opening her lips to admit Reeses tongue. Reese groaned, cleaving harder to Tory as she tried to get even deeper into the woman whose very presence kindled a twisting fire in her.

  Tory felt Reese surge against her, even as her own body began to pound in response. She didnt have the strength to resist her, but this time she would set the tempo. Reese was already moving on the razors edge of excitement. Oh, no - you're not coming yet. You need to learn a little patience. She pushed away, turning until she was facing Reese, who stared at her in innocent confusion.

  "Whats wrong?" Reese managed. She had been soaring, her entire body sensitized by Tory's nearness.

  "Dont think youre getting off that easy this time, Conlon," Tory warned. She pushed Reese gently but commandingly onto her back. "Dont move, dont talk, dont do anything. This time Im in charge."

  As she spoke she rose to her knees, pulling the tee shirt over her head, tossing it into the corner. Reeses eyes widened as she surveyed the woman above her, following the soft curves fusing into firm muscle, the sweeping planes and angles, the interplay of strength and grace that she had sensed these many weeks. Seeing Tory now, Reese could not have imagined the beauty.

  "Oh, god, Tory- let me touch you," she whispered, her throat dry.

  "Quiet," Tory said softly, smiling at Reeses response. She had never felt so powerful, or quite so sensual. Reeses obvious desire fueled her own. She wanted to take her time, she wanted to explore every fiber of Reeses being. She wanted Reese to feel her in every inch of her body. Tory leaned to touch her, her breasts just out of reach of Reeses lips. Her fingers lingered on the full brows, tracing each bold arch. She followed the sharp ridge of cheekbone and strong angle of jaw with her hands. She lowered herself until her hardened nipples, achingly taut, brushed across Reeses lips, then pulled back just as Reese touched them with her tongue. She gasped at the swift shiver of arousal, smiling as Reese groaned in frustration at her withdrawal.

  "Youre killing me," Reese pleaded.

  "Youll live," she answered throatily.

  Bending once again, Tory licked the sweet sheen of sweat in the hollow of Reeses throat, and tasted the mist of moisture that ran down the center of her elegantly muscled chest. With the flat of her hand she stroked the hard planes of Reeses abdomen, exulting in the quivering response to her touch. She brought her face close to the damp hair between Reese's thighs, breathing her scent, feeling the heat rising from her. As Tory indulged her senses, Reese moaned, lifting her pelvis, her leg muscles straining, urging Tory wordlessly to touch her. Tory held her there, feeling her tremble with urgency, as she breathed a kiss across her clitoris, barely touching the reddened tip. Reese whimpered at the fleeting contact. Tory kissed it again - then drew away.

  "Oh, lick me, please - oh god, please Tory," Reese begged.

  Her own answering surge of excitement nearly pushed her to orgasm. She had to fight to keep from pressing her aching clit against Reeses tight thigh. "Not yet, baby, not yet," she whispered, ignoring the warning twitches from her distended clit, running her tongue over the soft skin of Reeses inner thigh.

  Only when Reese sobbed her name again, almost incoherent, did she take Reese into her mouth. She sucked her lips, her stiff clit. Tory expected it to be fast, but she wasnt prepared for the force of the contractions that exploded under her tongue. She grasped Reeses hips, clinging to her as she accepted each forceful thrust like a gift, absorbing the essence of Reese's passion with all of her senses. For long moments she knew nothing but the strangled cries, the taste of love, the quivering flesh. Only when she felt the tension ebb did the awareness of anything other than the pounding of her own heart penetrate her consciousness. She hadn't even been aware of her own orgasm until she felt the lingering spasms in her clit.

  "Reese?" she questioned gently as she moved along side her. Reese was so still, one arm flung over her face, that Tory was frightened. "What is it?"

  The breath caught in her throat when Reese turned to her, her expression so wounded Tory thought she had hurt her. She gathered her into her arms, cradling Reese's face against her breasts. "Oh god, sweetheart, whats wrong?"

  "I never imagined this," Reese murmured, her voice breaking. "I never imagined anyone touching me this way. Now I cant imagine you not touching me." She turned away, afraid of what need might show in her face. For the first time in her life, she felt exposed and uncertain.

  Tory pressed her face against Reeses hair, holding her firmly. She could feel her tremble and it nearly broke her heart. This warrior woman who would face death without a qualm was suddenly so vulnerable that Tory was overwhelmed with the terrible power of their passion. It frightened her more than anything she had ever known. "Its all right, Reese," she whispered, stroking her softly. "I wont hurt you."

  Reese lay silent, knowing that Tory was the one person on earth with the power to destroy her. All she need do was send Reese away, and she would be lost. Tory had given life to needs that could never be met by another. As clearly as she knew this, Reese knew that she wanted her, regardless of the cost. Placing her fate in Torys hands, she slept.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Two nights later, Tory returned from the clinic close to eleven p.m. Reeses Bronco was parked in the drive. Tory stared at it, a mixture of fury and fear warring in her min
d. She knew Reese had been fretting with boredom for days, but she still had sutures in, and Tory had told her specifically that she was not ready to drive.

  Cath heard the front door slam and steeled herself.

  "Wheres Reese?" Tory asked by way of greeting, her voice like flint.

  "Uh, upstairs I think," Cath uttered. This is going to be worse than I thought

  "Did you get her truck for her?"

  "No, Marge did," Reese replied as she walked into the kitchen. She had her badge pinned to the pocket of her denim workshirt, and wore a pair of blue jeans. She was easing into the shoulder strap of her holster as she spoke. She smiled softly at Tory in welcome. "Hi."

  Tory ignored the greeting, too angry to acknowledge how much she had missed Reese during the day. "Are you seeing a physician I dont know about?"

  "Of course not!" Reese responded in surprise.

  "Then who cleared you to work?"

  "Im not working. Im just going to drive around the dunes for a few hours, unofficially."

  "With a gun, in the middle of the night?" Torys hands were clenched, and she fought down the urge to throw things. Reese just stared at her, clearly astounded by her reaction.

  "Did Nelson approve this?" Tory asked harshly.

  "No, Im doing it on my time."

  "The hell you are," Tory responded curtly, walking toward the phone. "If you wont follow my orders as your physician, Ill have Nelson suspend you. You can see another doctor tomorrow."

  "Tory," Reese said gently, halting her with a hand on her arm. "Just hear me out, and then if you dont want me to, I wont go out."

  Tory turned from the phone reluctantly, her jaw clenched. She nodded her head sharply for Reese to go ahead.

  "Someone is after kids, Tory - our kids. Bri told me there have been other incidents of gay boys and lesbians being verbally hassled on their way to or from the dunes. Caroline has seen a black pick-up cruising out there, and she thinks once or twice its followed her home after shes been with Bri. The kids are in danger, Tory. I just want to be seen out there, and let whoevers doing this know that I know. Maybe that will be enough to put an end to this before someone gets hurt."