Callie closed her eyes at the onslaught of arousal at the memory, and then had to laugh at herself. Taylor touched her face, causing her to open her eyes again.
“What?” she asked, a small smile touching her lips.
“Nothing,” Callie said and tried to get up, but Taylor had other ideas. She threw a leg over her so she couldn’t move.
“You aren’t going anywhere until you tell me why you were laughing.”
“I was just wondering how I could possibly be turned on again after spending the vast majority of the past…” she paused and lifted her head to look at the clock by the bed, “…wow, fourteen hours? Can that possibly be right?”
“Yep.” Taylor smiled. “You were saying?”
“We’ve spent the past fourteen hours getting to know each other a whole lot better, and yet I want you again. And no doubt again after that.” Callie pulled her over on top of her and kissed her. “How can that be possible?”
“I don’t know,” Taylor said with a shrug. “I guess twenty-seven orgasms aren’t enough to keep you sated.”
“Twenty-seven, huh?” Callie smirked. “You think quite a lot of yourself, don’t you?”
“Shouldn’t I?”
“Most definitely, but I highly doubt it was that many. Just on the off chance though, maybe we should try for twenty-eight.” She smiled when Taylor nodded enthusiastically. “Or fifty?”
“Don’t push your luck, tiger.”
“Don’t you need to get home and let Blaze out?”
“Trying to get rid of me so soon?”
“No, I’d be perfectly happy to have you right here in my bed for at least the rest of the year.” Callie nipped her chin playfully. “I just don’t want Blaze to start hating me.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about that happening,” Taylor said. “But I left him with my parents for a few days. They’re coming here on New Year’s Eve, so they’ll bring him back then. But I think it’s awfully sweet of you to worry about him.”
Callie’s phone started ringing then, and Taylor tensed. Callie knew she assumed it was work, so she decided to ignore it because it was obvious Taylor hadn’t worked out all the reservations about Callie’s job. If it was important, whoever it was would leave a message or call back. Callie was intent on showing Taylor she was more important than the job.
“You need to answer it?” Taylor asked as Callie put her arms around her and held her closer. She placed a few kisses on Taylor’s neck and moaned.
“No, all I need is you,” she said.
Taylor relaxed against her and Callie sighed in contentment as Taylor reached a hand between them and cupped her sex. When her fingers slipped inside, Callie forgot about everything but how incredibly good it felt to have Taylor’s naked body on top of her own.
* * *
The next night, after Callie finished her shift, she went right to the bar. She knew Quinn and Camille weren’t going to leave Taylor alone, but after the two nights they’d spent together, she felt an overpowering need to protect her. And she’d seriously hated the fact she had to leave her that morning in order to go into work. When she walked in, Quinn waved at her, and she went to sit at the bar.
“How’s it going?” Quinn asked as she set a beer in front of her.
“Not bad,” Callie grinned. They hadn’t seen or spoken to each other since dinner on Christmas Day. “Not bad at all.”
Quinn gave her an odd look, but didn’t say anything. She went to get a drink for another customer but kept looking over at Callie, no doubt trying to figure out why she was grinning like a fool. Callie knew the exact moment she’d figured it out. She watched in amusement as Quinn was forced to finish with her customer before she could come back to her.
“Holy shit,” Quinn said as she leaned on the bar and tried not to smile. “I’ve been wondering all night why Taylor seems different, and then you show up all smiles.”
“And?” Callie asked before taking a sip of her beer.
“You’re really going to make me say it?”
“You didn’t have a problem asking me before,” she said, referring to the day she’d brought Taylor to brunch at their mother’s.
“You aren’t going to let me live that down, are you?” Quinn grimaced, and Callie shook her head. “I said I was sorry.”
“It was rude and it was crude, Quinn. Although I really should just expect it from you by now.”
“You slept with her,” Quinn said. “Am I right?”
“Yes, but don’t say anything to her about it,” Callie answered. “I think she still has a problem with my job. And besides, I’m sure if she wants you to know, she’ll tell you.”
Quinn nodded, then her head turned to the front door and she frowned. Callie followed her gaze and tensed when she saw Sharon walk in.
“She’s been here every night for the past two weeks,” Callie said when she looked back at Quinn. “Does she ever say anything to you?”
“She always asks about Taylor.” Quinn shook her head. “I tell her Taylor isn’t her concern, and then she just stares at me the rest of the night, but doesn’t say anything else.”
“Send her a drink on me,” Callie said. Quinn looked at her like she’d lost her mind, but she made the drink and delivered it to her. Callie watched as Quinn glanced over her shoulder and pointed to her. Sharon just nodded once to acknowledge her.
“Please tell me you didn’t just buy her a drink,” Taylor said into her ear as Callie felt her arms come around her waist. She reached down and covered Taylor’s hands with her own against her abdomen.
“I wanted to make sure she knew I was here,” Callie said, turning her head to the side so she could see her.
“I wish she’d just stop coming here,” Taylor said. To Callie’s surprise, Taylor gave her a quick kiss on the lips before letting go of her and sitting on the stool next to her. “It’s really getting kind of creepy.”
“Has she said something to you? She hasn’t threatened you, has she?” Callie asked, unable to hide the concern she felt.
“No, she just stares at me whenever I come out here. Like I said, creepy.”
Callie watched Taylor as her gaze dropped to her lips, and her pulse rate jumped noticeably. She smiled and shook her head.
“All you have to do is look at me and I get turned on,” Callie said.
“Good to know,” Taylor said with a wink. She put a hand on Callie’s thigh and moved it higher before dipping between her legs. Callie closed her eyes at the onslaught of desire and tightened her legs to keep her hand there. “Come home with me tonight.”
“God, yes,” Callie said. “I’d do anything for you.”
“Also good to know.” Taylor laughed.
“Am I going to have to hose you two down?” Quinn asked with a good-natured smile.
“Maybe,” Taylor said as she pulled her hand away from Callie’s body. It surprised Callie to know Taylor wasn’t trying to deny what was happening between them.
“I need to change a keg,” Quinn said with a chuckle. “I assume you two will be able to keep your hands off each other for a few minutes?”
“I promise nothing of the kind, but go,” Taylor said. When Quinn was gone, Taylor kissed Callie on the cheek and stood up. “I have to get something from the office. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Callie watched her walking away, appreciating the view. When she looked back to her beer, she saw Sharon walking to the bathroom, which was down the same hallway as the office. Without thinking, she got up and followed her.
She watched as Sharon stopped outside the restroom door, but then looked toward the office. She turned and walked the few steps to the door before reaching out and grabbing the doorknob.
“Can I help you?” Callie asked, about ten feet behind her. Sharon jumped and turned to face her, and she was obviously not happy.
“I was looking for the restroom,” she said, pretending to be embarrassed. She looked pointedly at the sign which said Office, then at the doo
r that said Ladies, which she then went to. “Guess I overshot it a bit.”
Callie said nothing as she watched her go into the bathroom, but she stood there waiting until Taylor came out of the office.
“What are you doing?” Taylor asked as she approached her. Instead of answering, Callie took her by the hand and led her back to the bar.
“She followed you,” Callie said. She sat back down on her bar stool, and Taylor went behind the bar to get a customer a draft beer.
“What?”
“She was about to open the door to the office when I asked her if I could help her.”
“Where is she now?” Taylor asked when she came back around the bar to sit next to Callie.
“Bathroom. I think from now on, whenever you go to the office, you should lock the door behind you.” Callie could tell by the look on her face she wasn’t happy with the suggestion, but after a moment, she nodded her agreement.
“I hate this,” she said after Sharon walked past them and back to her seat at the far end of the bar.
“I know,” Callie said. She put a hand on Taylor’s back and smiled when she leaned into the touch. “I hate it too. She’s getting a little more brazen though, so hopefully she’ll do something to screw up and I can have the Brockport Police haul her ass in.”
“I just hope nobody gets hurt in the process.” Taylor turned and took Callie’s face between her hands and forced her to look at her. “Especially you.”
“I was thinking the same thing about you,” Callie said. “I don’t want to lose you now that I’ve found you.”
“How about we get out of here?” Taylor said with a smile. “I’m sure Quinn won’t mind closing.”
“Lead the way.”
Chapter Twenty-six
Callie woke up in the middle of the night and looked at the clock. Three thirty. She threw the covers off, intending to go to the bathroom, but an arm went around her torso and held her where she was.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Taylor asked before kissing her on the shoulder.
“Bathroom?” Callie said with a grin. But she didn’t have to go anymore. There were other things going on in her body that were more demanding at the moment. She turned on her side and pulled Taylor closer before kissing her. “It can wait.”
“Why is it I can’t seem to get enough of you?” Taylor whispered.
“I don’t know, but I’m having the same problem,” Callie said. “Not that it’s truly a problem, mind you.”
Taylor moaned when Callie reached between them and slid two fingers through her wetness. When she went inside, Taylor rolled onto her back and her legs fell open, and Callie moved on top of her.
“No,” Taylor said with a lazy smile. “Definitely not a problem.”
It only took a few moments before Callie felt Taylor tightening around her fingers, and she squeezed her ass, causing Callie’s hips to surge forward, and she came along with her.
They dozed again, and it was light out when Callie next opened her eyes. She turned to look at Taylor, but she was alone in the bed. She sat up, and that was when she noticed the smell of coffee in the air. She smiled as she put her clothes on and then headed toward the kitchen.
“Good morning,” she said, walking up behind Taylor at the sink and hugging her. Taylor let her head fall back against her shoulder and smiled.
“Good morning,” she answered. “You’re lucky you woke up when you did. I was actually thinking about making breakfast, and I promise you, it would not have turned out well.”
“You have food to make breakfast?” Callie asked, surprised.
“I do,” she answered. “When you left for work yesterday, I went to the store before coming home and I bought bacon and eggs. Real food, can you believe it?”
“Wow, I’m impressed.” Callie released her and went to look in the refrigerator to find a dozen eggs and a package of bacon. She grabbed them and set them on the counter before turning to her again, a smile on her face. “Pretty confident you were going to get me to come home with you last night, weren’t you?”
Taylor shrugged and gave her a smile of her own. “I guess if you’d turned me down I’d have had to learn how to cook. This,” she said, pointing at the eggs and bacon, “would have been practice for next time.”
“I don’t think I would ever turn you down,” Callie admitted. “You could probably get me to do pretty much anything.”
“Then how about we go back to bed and do breakfast later?”
“I wish I could,” Callie said reluctantly. “But I have to go to work.”
“Okay,” Taylor said, tensing slightly. She turned away and poured them each a cup of coffee. She took them both to the table and sat down. “Are you back on the streets yet, or are you still assigned to desk duty?”
“Still riding the desk for now,” Callie said as she joined her. She wished she could make Taylor feel better about her job, but didn’t have a clue how to go about it. “You know I’d rather stay here with you all day, right?”
Taylor nodded but wouldn’t meet her eyes. Callie sighed, not liking the distance between them at the mention of her work.
“I’m sorry,” Taylor said, shaking her head. “I’m still dealing with some reservations about the job, but I’m getting there, okay?”
“Okay,” Callie nodded. “I guess I should make breakfast.”
They ate quickly and then Callie rushed home to shower and get ready for work. Taylor washed the dishes after she’d gone and then went to make the bed, upset with herself for making things tense between them.
She sat on the edge of the bed and grabbed Callie’s pillow, holding it up to her face and inhaling the scent of her. She closed her eyes at the arousal the scent prompted. She put the pillow back and grabbed the picture of her and Andrea she’d laid face down on the nightstand the night before.
“What am I doing, baby?” she asked the smiling face of her late wife. “God, I just hope you understand I need to move on. I fought it for as long as I could, but Callie…” She sighed and wiped the tears from her face. “She’s a good person, but you knew that, didn’t you? You never would have been friends with her if she wasn’t. Please understand.”
She lost the fight to stop her tears as she carried the framed picture out to the living room and placed it on the bookshelf where she had other pictures of Andrea, as well as her parents. She shook her head but never took her eyes from the photograph.
“I will always love you,” she said quietly.
* * *
“Okay, spill, Burke,” Harry said when he walked up to her desk later that day.
“What the hell are you talking about?” she asked, looking up from the boring paperwork she was trying to concentrate on.
“You were different yesterday,” he said, sitting on the corner of the desk and looking down at her. She leaned back and crossed her arms. “You were smiling. As a matter of fact, you’re still smiling. So spill.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said innocently. Things had been tense between her and Taylor before she’d left for work, but it hadn’t stopped her mind from running a continuous loop of the two of them in bed. She couldn’t help but smile.
“You got laid,” he said.
“Jesus, Chambers. Crude much?”
“Oh, believe me, there are much cruder ways I could have phrased it.” He smiled, and Callie knew he finally figured it out. “Taylor Fletcher? The crazy lady who talks to herself?”
“She’s not crazy,” Callie said defensively.
“She is if she’s sleeping with you, Burke,” Harry said, laughing. She glared at him, which only succeeded in making him laugh more. “Oh, come on, admit it. You walked right into that one.”
“I did,” she said, unable to stop from laughing along with him. “But I assure you, there’s very little sleeping going on.”
He stopped laughing and she watched as his cheeks turned red. Really? Harry Chambers was embarrassed by a vague reference to
sex?
“And you, my friend, walked right into that one,” she said.
“Burke, Chambers, we’ve got a murder, and you’re up,” their lieutenant said as she walked up to the desk. She looked at Callie and smiled. “You ready to get back on the horse?”
“Yes, ma’am,” she said as she stood. “Absolutely.”
“Don’t go getting yourself shot again, you hear me?”
Harry laughed again, and Callie just glared at him. He was still laughing as he went to get his jacket. Amanda put a hand on Callie’s arm before she could grab her own jacket.
“I mean it, Burke,” she said, a stern look on her face. “You need to be more careful out there. I don’t want to lose anyone.”
“You won’t lose me,” Callie assured her. Besides, she knew Taylor would never forgive her if she got shot again. She planned to do everything by the book from now on because she was hoping to make a life with Taylor, if she could ever convince her she was playing it safe at work.
Chapter Twenty-seven
Callie walked into the bar that night full of trepidation over having to tell Taylor she was back on the streets. Not knowing how Taylor was going to react was wreaking all kinds of havoc on her gut. She breathed a sigh of relief at seeing Quinn behind the bar, and there was no sign of Taylor.
“I just want water,” she said when Quinn grabbed a glass and headed for the beer taps. Quinn looked at her strangely, and Callie shook her head. “My stomach is a mess.”
“What’s going on?” Quinn asked.
“I have to tell Taylor I’m back on full duty.”
“She had to know this was coming, right?” Quinn asked. She leaned on the bar and glanced quickly toward the office, presumably to make sure Taylor wasn’t going to sneak up behind her. “You guys have talked about it, right?”
“Not really.” Callie put her elbows on the bar and rested her head in her hands. The churning in her gut made her feel like she was going to be sick. “We’ve both kind of danced around it, thinking it might just go away, I guess.”
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