by B. D. Gates
Hatch was struggling with that, trying to pay attention to what Tess was saying, looking into her eyes and thinking of the pain she had suffered, was still suffering.
Miranda was right. Tess was not a criminal, but she was a fugitive of sorts. And now Hatch understood why Tess would keep her past to herself. Who could tell such a heart-wrenching personal history to anyone who asked, to repeat it over and over? Why wouldn't she hold back, sidestep the question, change the subject?
What the hell else could she do to protect herself, short of changing her name, moving to a new city?
Hatch swallowed hard when that reality hit her.
Short of actually changing her name, Tess had done exactly that.
"Are you okay?" Tess had reached out, was holding her arm.
"What? Yeah, I'm fine, I...just. I just realized I haven't had breakfast and it's late. Have you eaten? Would you like to go with me?"
"Sorry, I think Miranda's got some things we need to follow up on an assault from earlier this week."
"Well, next time, then, okay? I'm meeting Kane later this morning and we're going to be out all day, so I'll...be in touch."
"Sure. See you later, then."
Hatch smiled at her then turned and started gathering up the loose papers from the open file on the table. When she heard Tess walk away, she stopped and leaned against it as she let out a long breath.
"Damn, Tess, I'm so sorry," she thought, the pain she felt for her stabbing with every beat of her heart. "I'm so sorry for all of it."
22
One night, after spending another evening in Hatch's suite, Hatch walked Tess to the door. Tess put her hand on the knob, then stopped and turned to her.
"Hatch, I've been having a really nice time with you. Thank you." She smiled as she looked up at the woman.
Hatch was surprised, and she looked down and smiled. "You're welcome, ma'am, it's been a pleasure for me, too."
Tess was still smiling but, briefly, her eyes seemed to be searching Hatch's. Then she said "G'night, Hatch," and was out the door and gone.
Hatch stood there, transfixed, wondering just what Tess was looking for.
The next dinner they shared was again at Hatch's and, on her way out, Tess had stopped and kissed Hatch on the cheek before wishing her a good night and slipping out the door.
The third time, Tess stopped at the door, and when she turned to say goodnight, she found Hatch with a bit of a smile as she gazed down at Tess.
"Just what is it with southern girls." It wasn't a question, not really.
"What do you mean?" Tess asked, a smiling but quizzical look on her upturned face as she leaned against the door jamb.
Hatch slowly but deliberately pushed the boundaries of Tess's personal space, leaning against the wall next to her, her smile now more a playful smirk, her hands in the pockets of her jeans.
"What is it about southern girls that they won't ask for what they want? They hem and haw all around the subject, but I'm going to come straight at you--what do you want, Tess? I mean, I kind of feel like we're skating on the edge of something and every time we're together I think you want to skate closer, or you want me to skate closer, but you're not quite sure how to tell me that it'd be okay."
"Skating?"
"Or dancing. Call it what you want, Tess, I'm not one to beat about the bush here. I'll tell you what I want. You should do the same."
Tess nodded.
Hatch leaned closer, inches from Tess, and serious now, looking at her with half-lidded eyes, bright and shining, as she gazed into Tess's beautiful green ones. "Have you ever kissed a girl, Tess?" she asked, her voice low, quiet.
Tess blushed as she looked into Hatch's light brown eyes, but she nodded, answered with a soft "yes."
"Did you like it?" In that same quiet voice.
"Yes," now in a near-whisper.
Both of them, eyes locked now--so close, so close.
"I think you want to kiss me, Tess. I'd know I'd like to kiss you." Hatch paused, then "Would that be okay?"
Her whispered "yes"--breathless, light as a feather, floated between them.
Hatch bent forward, touched Tess's lips lightly with her own, slowly breathing her in, expecting Tess to meet her halfway and not waiting at all long before Tess pressed her lips against hers. The kiss was soft, slow, lingering, telling in the way they broke apart and came together again, as if once was not enough, Hatch leaning closer, Tess reaching up, her fingers stroking the side of Hatch's face and down her neck, coming to rest on her shoulder.
There was heat, just that quick, they both felt it coming off their bodies in waves, hearts hammering, as the kiss ended and they were left staring at each other. No words--just pure, raw want.
Hatch leaned down and this time Tess met her with the same urgency, Hatch slipping her tongue gently against Tess's lips as Tess opened up to her and gently sucked against her, pulling her deeper into her mouth. Hatch pressed her body against Tess, pushing her against the wall and holding her there as she tongued her mouth, stroking her hands over Tess's thighs and pulling her against her leg, pressing and moving Tess's center against her knee.
Tess had her hands under Hatch's shirt, stroking her nails against Hatch's back, running the palms of her hands over her flanks, alternating the softness with the sharpness and causing Hatch to groan aloud, her mouth still on Tess's.
Tess slipped her hands down the back of Hatch's jeans and pulled her tighter against her, squeezing and stroking her buttocks as she ground against Hatch.
This was...this was...oh gawd, there were no words...it was all sensation and heat and tongue and hands as they let loose on each other.
Hatch pressed Tess harder against the wall and pulled her hips against her, could feel Tess's heat through her jeans, and went full-bore on her, lifting her up and spreading her legs with her knee in such a way that she had full access to her. Tess was thrusting against her, her breath coming in short huffs and gasps, Hatch's mouth on hers when she came.
They leaned against each other to steady themselves, still holding tight as they worked to catch their breath.
"Tess. Stay," Hatch hoarsely whispered in her ear.
23
Tess answered, giving Hatch a long, slow kiss. As they broke apart, Hatch led her with more deep kisses to her bedroom, slowly unbuttoning Tess's blouse as they made their way, slipping it off her as they stood at the bedside. Hatch lowered her down across it, stretched out against her, delivering gentle kisses against her neck and shoulders. She released the front clasp Tess's bra and slipped the material aside, welcoming the sight of Tess's bare breasts by tonguing her nipple, then engulfing the full roundness with her mouth.
Tess arched upwards, pushing herself deeper into Hatch's mouth, moaning as she felt her nipple tighten in the warmth, Hatch grazing it gently with her tongue, sucking lightly and pulling Tess to her, her arms firmly wrapped around her, holding her close.
Tess, her fingers in Hatch's hair, then raking her fingertips over her scalp and down her neck, grasped at Hatch's shirt, pulling it up to Hatch's shoulders.
"Take it off," Tess whispered.
Hatch broke away from her long enough to pull off the shirt, Tess discarding her unclasped bra, both sending their clothing to the floor next to the bed. Tess stopped Hatch from lying back down, holding her up with her hands against Hatch's shoulders. Hatch's brow furrowed, puzzled.
"I just want to look at you," Tess assured her.
Hatch blushed at that, shyly smiling and ducking her head.
Tess slowly lowered Hatch onto her elbows then allowed Hatch to take her in her arms again.
"You're amazing," Hatch whispered just as her lips met Tess's.
Hatch's hands roamed over Tess, stroking and kneading her breasts, brushing across her thumb across her taut nipples until Tess was gasping, then reached down and unbuttoned and unzipped her slacks, expertly sliding the material down past her hips, removing them and dropping them off the side of the bed, following wi
th Tess's panties joining the growing pile.
Tess unsnapped Hatch's jeans and pushed them down, marvelling at the hard muscles of Hatch's abdomen, their definition, the smoothness over her hips as Hatch shucked off the jeans and her briefs, casting them over the edge to add to the now-complete mix of their clothes.
They settled into kissing, both now free to explore. Tess was taken with Hatch's gentleness as her hands moved over her, never too much or too rough, and she relaxed under her, stroking and brushing her hands over Hatch's breasts and down her flanks, kneading the firm muscles of her buttocks, pulling her against her as Hatch laid kisses against her skin.
They petted and probed, the heat of their bodies rising with their passion. Hatch caressed the inside of Tess's thigh, Tess wordlessly giving her permission to touch when she repositioned her leg in response. Hatch gently parted the lips, her breath escaping loudly when she touched the hot wetness, Tess answering with a moan when Hatch, lightly sliding over her center, pressed against her swollen clit.
There was no thought, there was only action and reaction from then on, Hatch had Tess gasping and moving under her mouth and hands, holding her tight as she climaxed, shivering and shuddering as the surge receded.
Hatch held Tess close while she caught her breath and regained her composure.
"Omigod, Hatch."
"Are you okay?"
"Yes. Oh, god, that was...I don't have the words."
Hatch smiled at her. "My pleasure, ma'am."
"Oh, no, that was all my pleasure."
"Can I get you anything? Are you thirsty?"
"Water would be good. Yes, please."
Hatch left Tess after pulling the bedclothes over her. Tess snuggled down under the covers, shivering a bit in the initial coolness of the sheets.
It had been nearly a year since she and Bishop had made love. Before Bishop, she hadn't been lonely, well, not terribly lonely, but when she settled in Richmond, she recognized an emptiness that had not been there before, or maybe it'd been there all along and she'd buried it deep with so many of her other feelings.
Being with Bishop had left her with a real need, a 'skin hunger,' as it were.
Hatch had quieted something inside her, had calmed and grounded her. She had come along at a time Tess had needed her most.
As if she was an answer to a prayer.
*****
She awakened, the hotel bedroom dark as night with the curtains drawn, and she was briefly confused, disoriented, the warm body resting against her not the one she'd been dreaming of in those last hazy visions before opening her eyes.
Hatch pulled her close, began lazily kissing her neck and shoulders. Tess welcomed her, gave herself over to Hatch once again, let her take her slowly, sleepily, the lovemaking a salve for her aching heart.
24
Carole had decided that she would wear a simple white dress, and that Biggs and I would be in jeans, white shirts and dark vests. She knew that keeping Biggs comfortable would help her stay calm, would keep her from bolting, she'd joked with a smile. The Friday before the ceremony, she and Penny had us meet them after work at Tenley Mens Shop to pick out the appropriate neckware to complete our look.
They were sorting through the tie racks when Biggs and I got there.
"What do you think, Sharon?" Carole had picked out several choices, including a few bow ties. One bow tie was black with red hearts.
"Hearts?" I said, somewhat dismayed.
Biggs looked at me.
"Okay, okay, I get it, but, really?"
Biggs didn't say a word, just continued to look at me. I pressed my lips together.
"C'mere, Baxter, I want to see what you think of this one," said Penny, leading me by the arm to the other side of the display case. She held a bow tie with baseballs and bats up to my neck.
"Now, that's more like it," I said. "I could get married in this one."
Penny whispered "I don't care if you end up dressed in a shirt covered in red hearts, this is not about you." She took on a normal tone. "The wedding is in two days, we've got to decide on this now, so behave."
I hung my head, properly chastised. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a woman watching the four of us. She looked familiar. The tailor brought several pairs of slacks out of his back room and carried them to her, then they made their way to the cash register.
I took side-long glances at her, trying to place her. She was intently watching us as the tailor rung up her transaction, and it made me a little suspicious. I didn't know why we interested her so, and I finally just looked directly at her, almost daring her to keep watching.
She held my gaze as she looked into my eyes, and I once again felt that I knew her as she gave me a small smile. I politely nodded, smiled back, before she turned and finished her transaction. With her package under her arm, she moved to the door, looking back at our little group one more time before she left.
"I just really like the way this one will look on the white shirts with the black vests," said Carole. Penny nodded her head in agreement.
Hearts it was.
As we left the shop, I turned to Penny.
"Not a word, Baxter, not one word," she whispered.
"No, Penny, I wasn't going to say anything. I was just wondering if we could stop at the Pharmacy. I am really craving a vanilla milkshake."
25
Thursday evening, Hatch and Tess managed to plan a dinner together at Tess's apartment, Hatch bringing the groceries and her laptop so that she could cook for her. It was the first time she and Tess had spent any time there.
Tess opened the door just as Hatch reached it. "Hi! C'mon in, sorry, we had an impromptu department meeting at four and it dragged on forever."
Hatch smiled down at her. Tess seemed a little nervous as they moved through the apartment. "So, this is the kitchen," she said over her shoulder as she led the way. Hatch put her backpack on the counter and unzipped the bag.
"If you'll just give me a minute, I'm going to go change, make yourself at home," Tess instructed Hatch, leaving her there as she unpacked.
When Hatch was finished, she walked out to the living room. Her investigator mode kicked in as she took in Tess's living space. It was a blank slate, there were no personal effects, no candles, no plants, nothing to indicate that anyone actually lived there.
It reminded Hatch of her hotel suite.
Tess emerged from her bedroom after changing into sweats and a t-shirt.
"Ah, one minute, if you don't mind, I'm just gonna..." Hatch indicated the bathroom.
"Oh, sure, yeah, help yourself," Tess replied.
"A bike will rattle your kidneys," Hatch explained over her shoulder.
Entering the bathroom, Hatch saw an adjoining door to the bedroom and took a peek in as she went to close it. Same lack of personal effects as in the living room, except for a small stuffed bear on the bedside table next to a framed picture of Tess and an unquestionably butch woman, the same stuffed bear seated between them. The woman had her arm casually draped around Tess, with Tess leaning into her, their heads close together. There was a shine of pure happiness on Tess's face.
And it was at that moment that Hatch knew exactly who Tess Hayes was looking for when she looked into her eyes.
26
"Are you sure you want to cook? I mean, you've been working so much lately..."
"Should I think that you believe Miranda when she says I can't cook and you're afraid it might be the truth?"
Tess laughed. "No..."
"That's a 'yes' in disguise."
Still smiling, Tess shook her head. Hatch laughed. "Tess, I promise you, I've made this a few times, it just gets better each time I make it."
Tess laughed again. "Okay, I'll take your word for it. What can I do to help?"
"You can open this wine so that it can breathe while I cook," said Hatch, handing her a bottle of red.
Tess took the bottle and, as she always did--it was a habit now--she half-hopingly noted the name on th
e label. A soft, sad smile followed.
There was only one bottle of 'Dragon's Tail' in the whole world, she thought to herself. And we drank it. She set about uncorking the bottle.
Once done, she took a seat at the small island bar, watching Hatch as she worked her way through the recipe.
"How's the surveillance going?"
"Pretty good, actually. The players we've been tracking are all present and accounted for, plus a few we weren't expecting. We're running backgrounds on them, trying to see where they fit in. I have a bet with Kane that they're 'regional distributors,' they move product to the local dealers in their areas."
Tess nodded. She knew that the people she'd busted in and around Tenley were at the end of a very long line of bigger and bigger suppliers.
"So, how's work?" Hatch asked in turn.
"Well, my biggest problem is that I don't have contacts in the different areas, like knowing someone who'd help expedite the medical examiner's findings, someone in the lab to corroborate evidence, that sort of thing. I mean, I was on a first-name basis with everyone I worked with before, but when I got here I didn't have those kinds of connections. Miranda, now, she nows everybody and they know her, so she told me to use her name if anyone gives me a hard time."
"I love Miranda." Hatch smiled at Tess.
"Me, too."
"Everybody knows you do not fuck with her if you know what's good for you," Hatch added as they were both smiling and nodding at each other.