Broken Faith

by Lois Cloarec Hart

  Considering that for a long moment, Marika finally shrugged. "Hard to say, Rhi. I mean, who we are now has been shaped by everything that happened since you lost your folks and I was tossed out of my family. It's impossible to say what would have happened if we'd gotten to stay with our families."

  Stopping in the sheltered lee of a prominent boulder, she took Rhi's hands and looked at her seriously. "Sweetheart, I can't change what's gone before for either of us, but I do know what we're responsible for what happens from now on. We have some wonderful friends that have stuck their necks out a mile for us this last week. It's up to us to cherish and appreciate them...and each other."

  The younger woman stared at her, eyes sparkling with emotion and unshed tears. Marika gently tugged her forward, and Rhi slid into her arms and against her body as naturally as if she'd done it all her life. They clung to each other, rocking slightly as they banished the pain of their pasts in the joy of their embrace and the hope of their future.

  This time it was Rhi who initiated the slow, smouldering kiss that weakened Marika's knees and left her gasping for breath. Their bodies pressed so fiercely against each other that the lawyer swore she could feel her young lover's heart pounding against hers. Lost in the sensual thrill of mutually exploring tongues and hands, Marika had barely enough self-control to stop Rhi from undoing her shorts.

  "Not here, sweetheart. Let's go back," Marika croaked, though all she wanted to do was ease Rhi down on the beach and take her right here...the world be damned. The roar of a motorboat racing by a short way off shore restored some of her common sense, and she enfolded the younger woman's exploring fingers in her own. "Behave," she warned, but she knew by the ardent look in Rhi's eyes that they'd better get back to the cabin soon.

  They made much quicker time returning to the cabin, and this time Rhi didn't hesitate. Her earlier shyness had vanished, and Marika almost grinned as the small woman tugged her urgently up the beach to the A-frame's front door.

  They were barely inside, when Rhi pressed her back against the door and started working at undoing Marika's fly while trying to tug the lawyer's t-shirt up over her head.

  "Off," she muttered, her voice muffled as her lips traveled over every bit of exposed flesh, nipping and kissing Marika's face and neck until the lawyer was frantic for more.

  Marika paused just long enough to pull back and rip the t-shirt off before her eager hands were at Rhi's buttons, even as the younger woman was fumbling to push the unzipped shorts down long, slender legs.

  Slightly exasperated to find herself pressed against the door clad only in her bra and lacy underpants while Rhi was still fully clothed, Marika renewed her attack on those stubborn buttons and soon had her lover's blouse off. With the benefit of the lawyer's long experience, the younger woman's bra quickly followed.

  Marika wanted to slow down and appreciate the newly revealed flesh, but Rhi would have none of it, murmuring with pleasure as she slid her hands inside the lawyer's panties and eased them over her hips.

  "Oh Jesus!" Marika moaned as eager fingers slid between her legs, avidly exploring the wet heat.

  With every bit of remaining willpower, Marika pleaded, "Upstairs! Now!"

  For a split second, she thought Rhi would ignore her, but the younger woman pulled away, her small, firm breasts heaving with emotion and her breath coming in short gasps.

  Somehow they made it up the open flight of stairs, Marika discarding her bra and sandals along the way. When they reached the large bedroom, it was her turn to awkwardly divest Rhi of her remaining clothes as they stumbled towards the bed, unable to bear being parted for even a second.

  They fell back on the soft mattress, Marika's longer body covering Rhi's, as she reveled in the feeling of the slight but sturdy frame pressing urgently up against hers. She couldn't have slowed down now if Gao himself had appeared at their bedroom door. Rhi's frenzied pleading drove her on, and she slid one thigh between legs that willingly parted for her.

  Rocking slowly against the smaller woman, Marika lowered her head to capture one pert breast, its nipple already hard. She had intended to go slowly, gradually introducing her inexperienced lover to the new sensations, but an urgent hand at the back of her head held her firmly as Rhi tried to push up, forcing more of the soft, smooth flesh into the lawyer's mouth.

  Almost dizzy with joy, desire and amazement, Marika abandoned any hesitation and threw herself into loving Rhi, whose vocalizations increased in volume and intensity when the lawyer's long fingers traveled down her belly and between her legs.

  It was only a matter of moments before Rhi began thrashing feverishly, thrusting against Marika's hand and thigh. The lawyer was startled, but deeply gratified when her lover erupted in a throaty growl, straining against the hand that possessed her so deliciously before slumping back to the bed, sucking in air.

  Marika gentled her touch and wrapped Rhi in her long arms. "I love you, sweetheart."

  Marika had never meant the words more than right at this moment, with this woman. Her heart soared as she heard the simple response in barely audible tones.

  "Love you, too."

  Ignoring the persistent need in her own body, she concentrating on making Rhi feel loved, safe and cherished. Marika whispered to her love, telling her how very, very glad she was that the young woman had come into her life. Murmuring her appreciation of Rhi's responsiveness, of her beauty and eagerness, she enfolded her beloved with her own body, feeling the smaller woman's breathing slow as her limbs relaxed.

  "Oh...wow!"

  Marika laughed at Rhi's breathless exclamation. Hugging her even tighter, she whispered, "I take it that you liked that?"

  "Oh...wow!"

  Unable to stop the giggles at her lover's inarticulate eloquence, Marika buried her face in Rhi's thick hair, enjoying the younger woman's answering chuckles.

  She was startled when moments later she was abruptly rolled on her back, and sparkling, mischievous, blue eyes regarded her.

  "I think I've only had half the experience here, Rika." Rhi trailed her hand up the lawyer's belly and curled around one breast. "Could I interest you in going a little farther?"

  Acutely conscious that Rhi's finger had settled on her nipple and was rubbing gently, Marika gasped, "I wouldn't say no."

  "No?" Rhi slid down, replacing her finger with her tongue for a few moments, before raising her head and teasing, "Then what would you say?"

  "I'd say...oh my!" Marika bucked against the sensation of one very agile hand sliding between her legs.

  "Hmmm, oh my? That's interesting. What else would you say?" Rhi moved to half cover Marika as she transferred her attentions to the other breast.

  "Uh...God!" The lawyer's legs spread as her hips thrust up, accepting her lover inside. Through a fog of pure sensation, she felt Rhi laughing against her breast.

  "Commendably spiritual, my darling," Rhi purred, instinctively finding her lover's most sensitive spots.

  "Oh, Jesus! Please, Rhi...harder...please!" Marika felt her body soar as her lover possessed her, driving her higher and higher until the cabin echoed with the sounds of her pleasure.

  Finally Marika slumped back, her body drained of every bit of tension, but her heart overflowing with feeling for the woman who curled around her, holding her tightly.

  They fell asleep like that, and when they woke, the sun had started to sink, illuminating the lake with a rosy light. Marika piled the pillows behind herself and sat up with her back comfortably cushioned. Rhi slid into position between her legs and leaned back as the lawyer wrapped her arms around the smaller woman who sighed in contentment.

  "Happy?" Marika asked softly, nuzzling at one pink ear.

  "I can't remember ever being happier," Rhi confirmed, squirming a little and sending familiar sensations through Marika's body. She chuckled and shook her head at herself. She suspected she was going to live in a near permanent state of arousal for the foreseeable future. God, what she does to me!

  In utter con
tentment, they watched the lake, quietly reveling in the beauty-of the lake, of each other, and of the feelings that were overwhelming them. They saw an osprey land on the old deadfall briefly before flying off again, and watched a boat, its white sails catching the fading rays, tack by them and disappear from view. Finally, Marika asked, "Are you hungry? We could go start a bonfire."

  "Hmmm, we could," Rhi agreed, but she made no move to extricate herself from her lover's arms.

  Marika chuckled and lifted one hand to lovingly stroke Rhi's hair. "It's been a long time since we ate. You must be getting hungry."

  "Oh, I'm hungry all right."

  The lawyer shivered at the undisguised passion in the young woman's voice. She felt her own desire begin to rapidly escalate, and she pressed harder against the lithe body in her arms. Rhi leaned back and lifted her legs over Marika's longer ones, eliciting a small groan from the older woman.

  "You know, it occurs to me that...technically...I'm still a virgin," Rhi murmured, capturing the hand that had been making small circles on her belly. Sliding it down to where she wanted it, she asked throatily, "Think you could do something about that?"

  "Something like...this?"

  "Oh yeah! Oh God, I love you..."

  * * *

  Lee frowned at the clock. It was quarter past ten, fifteen minutes beyond Marika's deadline to call. "Damn it! Why hasn't she called?"

  Unwilling to leave it any longer, Lee picked up the phone and punched in Marika's cell phone number. By the tenth ring she was starting to get seriously worried, when she finally heard her friend answer.

  "Hello?" Marika sounded breathless, as if she'd run a long distance.

  "It's past ten," Lee said gruffly, her worries slow to fade. "Everything okay?"

  "Oh shit! I'm sorry, Lee. I forgot. Yeah, everything's okay. Cabin's great. Lake is great."

  Lee raised an eyebrow as she heard a distinct giggle in the background. She started to smile as the picture came into focus. Before she could say anything more, Marika gasped and blurted, "Uh, Lee, can I call you tomorrow? I promise...first thing in the morning."

  Torn between teasing her friend and not wanting to interrupt the...festivities, Lee chose mercy. "Okay, no problem. Just make sure you plug your cell in overnight."

  She grinned as she heard a muffled moan and then, "Rhi!" When Marika's voice came back on the line, it had gone up an octave. "Plug in...oh right. Hell, I forgot to bring the charger!"

  "No you didn't. Dana packed in the side pocket of your suitcase."

  "'Kay."

  Shaking her head in amusement, Lee said with mock sternness, "Do NOT do anything else before you plug the phone in, Rika!"

  "Right...phone...plug in." There was a muted yelp, and then Marika gasped, "Gotta go. Talk to you later."

  The connection abruptly terminated, and Lee broke out laughing as she stared at the receiver in her hand. Dana poked her head around the door, staring at her partner.

  "What's up, hon?"

  Lee hung up the phone and grinned at her mate. "Let's just say that I think Rika and Rhi are enjoying their holiday."

  Dana looked at her in puzzlement and then comprehension dawned. "No! Really?"

  "Oh yeah...really," Lee confirmed with a chuckle, walking over to Dana. "Told you that you didn't need to pack jammies for them. I'd say they're having a lot of fun on their little holiday." She wrapped her arms around her partner and kissed her soundly. "Mmmm, what say we have a little fun too?"

  Dana answered her with a kiss, before turning and leading a very willing Lee down the hall to their bedroom.

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  GAO STARED ANGRILY at the papers he'd combed through a hundred times over the past couple of hours, seething with frustration that nothing in their contents told him where his prey had gone.

  Perry wandered in from the kitchen, slurping soup from a stained mug. "Want some?"

  The Asian man glared at his reluctant host. "No!" He took a slight measure of satisfaction from the way Perry cringed and edged away. Ignoring the other man, Gao turned his attention back to the uncooperative printouts, irritated by the way his left eye kept blurring on him.

  "Um, did you get any ideas?"

  Gao almost ignored the tentative question, but then he shook his head. "It is obvious that Glenn has hidden them, but there is nothing in here to indicate where they might be. It's doubtful that she would keep them in her home any longer, so I suspect she either has them staying with friends or in a hotel somewhere."

  "Maybe they went with that skinny guy who was there yesterday," Perry suggested as he drained his soup with a noisy swallow.

  The Asian turned his cold black eyes on Perry. "What skinny guy?"

  The electronics expert quailed under the icy stare. "Uh, when I was watching the Glenn place, there was some tall, skinny guy came in through the backyard. He was there for a long time, and when he went to go, that smaller woman walked him out. They talked for quite a while before he left."

  "You're sure?" For the first time Gao felt a stirring of optimism.

  "Well, yeah. I could see the back and the front yards from the garage I was hiding in, and I had my binoculars."

  Gao closed his eyes, picturing the previous evening when he'd driven by the church and witnessed a tall, thin man greeting the women he was tracking. "Yes!" He hissed his triumph. He will know where they went!

  Gao wasn't at all squeamish about going after a priest. As far as the slender Asian was concerned, his newest target signified nothing more than a chess piece to be removed before he could get to his real objective. Nor was he worried that the priest might successfully conceal the women's whereabouts. His experience had shown him that courage and resolve were hollow philosophies when a man was confronted with an agonizing end to his own mortality.

  If the priest gave him the information he wanted without too much trouble, then he would reward the man with a clean, swift execution. If he didn't...

  Gao shrugged and stood up, awkwardly tucking his gun in the back of his trousers with his left hand. Having a concrete plan, he already felt better.

  "You're driving me," he informed Perry coldly. The electronics expert opened his mouth to protest, but snapped it shut as Gao slid his hand around to his gun. Meekly, he set the soup mug aside, wiped his hands on his pants, and went to get his keys.

  The Asian shook his head in disgust. He would have vastly preferred to keep Perry entirely out of this, but his head still pounded and his left eye was unreliable, so he needed the man for the moment.

  As Perry drove him across the city towards St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Gao formulated the most effective approach. He concocted a cover story in case the priest didn't realize who he was; but if the priest did make the connection that he was the man who had abducted his friends the previous night, Gao was prepared to use immediate force if necessary.

  He had Perry slow down as they turned down the street that ran along the side of the church. Frowning, he realized that the driveway was empty, the windows of the rectory were dark, and the only one apparently around was an old man working in the flower gardens that fronted the building.

  Thinking on his feet had always been one of Gao's trademarks, and was largely responsible for his rapid climb in the Chameleon's organization. Even now-with his mind still mildly scrambled from the blow he'd taken the previous night-he quickly shifted gears and adjusted his plan.

  "Pull over up the street and wait for me."

  Perry did as ordered, and within moments Gao was once again walking down the street leading to the church, carefully looking around for any sign of unusual activity. There was nothing out of the ordinary, so he crossed the neatly mown lawn to where the plaid-shirted man was planting brightly coloured petunias.

  Letting his shoulders droop and hunch a little, Gao called out softly as he approached. "Sir? Excuse me, sir?"

  The man pushed himself up from the garden and turned, resting on his haunches as he tipped an old cowboy hat back over his
gray hair. He gave a little whistle as Gao approached.

  "Good lord, boy! Didya get the number of the truck that hit ya?"

  Gao forced a rueful smile, as he halted and squatted on the grass a short distance away from the old cowboy. Touching the bandage on his forehead, he said, "It was five teenagers. They mugged me last night. I tried to give them my wallet, but they beat me anyway."

  "Damnation!" The cowboy shook his head sympathetically. "Makes ya wonder what the world is comin' to, don' it?"

  "Yes, sir, it does," Gao agreed.

  "Eh, don't be callin' me sir now, boy. Name's Tupper." The cowboy held out his hand, then pulled it back when Gao raised the cast on his right hand. "Sorry, lad." He jerked a thumb at the flowerbeds he'd been labouring in. "T'were a buncha kids done this too, just for the helluvit. Taken me two days to clean up the mess, and now I'm tryin' to get the flowers all in before services t'morra."

  "My name is Charlie Liu. I live not too far from here, and I was wondering if I might speak to the minister. I've never gone to church, but the mugging has made me think..." Gao almost smiled at the understanding on the old cowboy's face.

  "Yep, I know what ya mean, Charlie. Sometimes things come along makes a man think twice about his life...Makes ya think there might be more 'n puttin' yor next meal on the table. Why I remember..."

  Before the old man could continue his train of thought, Gao cut in smoothly. "I thought perhaps if I might speak to the minister tonight, I would know whether this would be a good church to attend in the morning."

  Tupper bristled with pride. "Ain't none better, boy. And we got the finest priest in the city here. They jus' don' make better men than David Ross, let me tell ya!" He laughed. "Min' you, I mighta had a diff'rent opinion if ya'd asked me this mornin'. That man had me going through a hundred boxes looking for a blessed key. Then he finds it in the very firs' one he checked!"

  The old cowboy rubbed his jaw with affectionate exasperation, as Gao felt an instinctive fluttering in his belly. Careful to keep only the mildest interest in his voice, he asked politely, "Had he misplaced his house keys?"