Beyond the Breakwater

by Radclyffe

  “Are you gonna tell me what happened?”

  “Later.” Bri palmed Caroline’s hips and pulled her tighter. The sweet rush of arousal chased the horror from her consciousness. “I can’t think right now.”

  “Are you sure you want a shower?” Caroline’s voice was husky, and her hips had begun a subtle undulation that was totally involuntary. Her nipples tightened as she brushed her breasts lightly against Bri’s.

  “Oh man,” Bri groaned, twitching with urgency. “Let’s jump in fast, because I can’t wait very long.”

  Trying to stay joined, they scrambled into the shower and soaped each other quickly in a tangle of arms and legs. They stopped frequently to kiss, their hands hungry—touching, teasing, tormenting. Then, they hurriedly stepped out and grabbed blindly for towels, still exploring one another with their mouths. In another minute, they were in bed.

  “I don’t want to hurry,” Bri gasped. She caught Caroline’s hand as it slid down her belly, stopping her. “It’s been so long. I want to show you how much I love you.”

  “I can’t do slow right now,” Caroline muttered, opening her legs as Bri fit her thigh between them. “I’m already too excited.”

  “So am I.” Bri’s lips moved over Caroline’s neck, and she braced herself on one arm as she squeezed a stone-hard nipple with her other hand. “I’m so ready it hurts.”

  “I wanna come.” Caroline arched her hips, pressing hard against Bri’s thigh.

  “Me too.” But Bri rolled off her lover, breaking the exquisite contact. She ignored the warning pulsations between her legs, fighting back the urge to orgasm.

  Caroline cried out in protest and turned on her side to face Bri. Her pupils were huge, unfocused, hazy with need. “Please, baby.”

  Bri stroked a finger down Caroline’s cheek. “Let’s hold on…as long as we can.”

  “I can’t,” Caroline pleaded, her lids flickering as her breasts heaved with each erratic breath.

  “Kiss me for a while,” Bri urged as she brought her mouth to Caroline’s. The heat sent a jolt of pleasure down Bri’s spine, and her hips jerked in response. She grunted in surprise as her clitoris stiffened further, aching for release. She was in danger of climaxing without being touched, and she struggled to hold back.

  Caroline was whimpering steadily, writhing against Bri frantically as they drank one another’s passion. Abruptly, Caroline pulled her head away and grabbed Bri’s hand, forcing it between her legs. “I have to. Oh, I have to.”

  “I love you, babe,” Bri cried as Caroline thrust against her palm, hot and hard and wet. Bri kept her eyes open through sheer force of will, watching in wonder as Caroline’s face dissolved into orgasm. Her own head was spinning, the muscles in her stomach and thighs clenched tight, her clitoris pounding.

  “Oh, I’m coming,” Caroline cried.

  “Yes, yes,” Bri whispered urgently, pressing hard with the heel of her hand as she slid her fingers into Caroline’s depths.

  Caroline cried out again, and her head snapped back, her body jerking. Bri stroked her lover through her climax, then stayed inside her, thrusting gently as the internal spasms gradually abated. Eventually, Caroline quieted in Bri’s embrace, her head tucked into the crook of Bri’s neck.

  “Oh my God,” Caroline murmured. “You’re so good.”

  “I love you so much.” Bri’s voice was choked and rough.

  “Good.” Caroline was barely moving, almost stuporous in the aftermath of her orgasm. “Did you come?”

  “No.”

  Caroline tilted her head back, her eyes cloudy and her lips smiling softly. “Playing hard to get?”

  “I wanted to watch you.”

  “Wanna now?”

  “Oh man, yeah.” Bri moaned, shivering as Caroline licked her neck.

  Laughing softly, Caroline slid her fingers between Bri’s thighs, gliding under and around and over the blood-engorged tissues. “You’re so hard.”

  Bri couldn’t speak. She couldn’t even breathe. Every sinew and cell was poised to explode. When Caroline touched her in just the right place, with just the right pressure, as only she could do, Bri gave one hoarse shout and came. The near-crippling waves of pleasure seemed endless, and by the time she could think again, her body was slick with sweat and her face wet with tears.

  “Oh baby,” Caroline crooned, pressing Bri’s face to her breasts. “It’s okay. It’s okay.”

  “I was so scared,” Bri whispered. “I was so scared.”

  Caroline wasn’t sure what she was talking about, but she could feel Bri tremble, and that was enough to scare her. She held her lover as tightly as she could. “Everything is going to be okay.”

  Bri was lost. The orgasm had stripped her defenses bare. The long weeks of loneliness when she’d feared she’d lost Caroline, and the terror of seeing Reese on the ground with a hole in the center of her chest, came crashing in on her. She sobbed helplessly.

  With no idea what to do, Caroline did the only thing she could. She stroked Bri’s hair and face, kissed her forehead, wrapped her arms and legs around her so that every inch of their bodies touched. If she could have taken Bri inside her and sheltered her from the pain, she would have. Her own heart ached to the point of breaking, and her tears fell on Bri’s tightly closed eyelids. “I love you, I love you,” she said over and over and over.

  Eventually, Bri quieted and managed a long shaky breath. “Sorry.”

  “S’okay.”

  “The fucker had the whole place rigged,” Bri said, keeping her cheek pressed to Caroline’s breast. The steady thud of her lover’s heart was comforting. “Motion detectors, light sensors, infrared cameras—the whole works. Fucking paranoid nut case.”

  “What happened?” Caroline asked gently as Bri faltered.

  “It happened so fast. So fast.” Bri shuddered. “One second I was running, and the next thing I knew, there was a shot—Christ, it sounded like a cannon—and Reese came flying back through the doorway. Her body hit me and knocked me down.”

  Caroline bit her lip to stop her cry of horror. Bri needed to talk, and she didn’t want to do anything to stop her.

  “I thought she was dead, Carre,” Bri whispered, the anguish raw in her voice. “She wasn’t moving, and there was a hole right in the middle of her shirt. I thought for a second she was dead.”

  “I’m so sorry, baby.” Caroline ran her fingers through Bri’s hair, petting her.

  “I couldn’t think. I froze. I fucked up.”

  “No,” Caroline said with certainty. “Just tell me what happened.”

  Bri pulled far enough away to be able to meet Caroline’s eyes. “I forgot all about the guy still inside the building. All I could think about was Reese. Ashley shot Morris as he was coming through the door with a fucking automatic in his hands. If she hadn’t been there, he would’ve killed me and Reese.”

  Caroline’s heart almost stopped beating then, and everything inside her turned to ice. It was too much for her to let in—the terror Bri must’ve felt, the chaos and confusion, the single second that could have changed her future had it turned out differently. “Oh Jesus.”

  “I blew it, babe,” Bri said miserably.

  “Oh, baby, you don’t know that.” Caroline forced herself to concentrate on Bri. “If Ashley had been the one right behind Reese, she might have been the one caught off guard. And you might have been the one to shoot him.”

  “Maybe,” Bri said dubiously.

  “Is he dead?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And Ashley and your dad are all right?”

  Bri nodded again.

  “Reese will be okay, too, right?”

  “She’ll be hurting for a few days, but she says it’s not serious.”

  “Then everything turned out fine.” Caroline felt Bri stiffen and try to move away, but she pulled her close again. “What did Reese say?”

  “She said I did good,” Bri acknowledged reluctantly.

  “Then believe her, because
I know she wouldn’t lie to you. No matter what.”

  Bri sighed and closed her eyes. “I’m so tired, babe.”

  Caroline shifted a little and settled Bri against her side, cradling Bri’s head against her breast. Most of the time Bri held her while they slept, and it felt so special to hold her protectively now. “I love you, baby. Go to sleep now.”

  *

  When Reese awoke, it was night. Tory lay close to her, her hand resting on Reese’s hip. Slowly, Reese drew a deep breath. It hurt, but she could manage it.

  “How do you feel?” Tory asked from out of the dark.

  “Sore, but nothing feels broken.”

  “I’ve been lying here listening to you breathe. You sound okay.”

  “I can’t believe I slept more than twelve hours.”

  “You needed it.” Tory softly stroked the length of Reese’s thigh. The silence stretched between them. “I know you were trying to protect me.”

  “Yes.” Reese found Tory’s hand and linked their fingers. “Are you still angry?”

  “Mostly still scared.”

  With effort, Reese rolled onto her side, ignoring the shaft of pain that started in her breastbone and penetrated through to her back. In the pale moonlight, she could just make out Tory’s face, luminous in the silvery shadows. “I told you I wouldn’t take any chances, and I didn’t. I wore the vest.”

  “I know,” Tory whispered. “And we both know if it had been a few inches higher, it could’ve been your throat.”

  “Tor—”

  “It’s okay, sweetheart. It didn’t happen, and I know you’ll be careful.” Tory raised their joined hands and kissed the top of Reese’s. “It’s just that sometimes, especially when you’re hurt, I get scared.”

  “Oh, love.” Reese sighed, moving closer until she could put her arm around Tory. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s just that I love you so much,” Tory murmured. She kissed her with the gentle, tentative touch of a first kiss, amazed at how precious their love still felt.

  When they drew apart, Reese sighed again, this time with pleasure. “You do the most amazing things to me.”

  Softly, Tory laughed. “I can’t believe you’re still saying that. I’m so big I can barely reach you.”

  “You don’t have to touch me.” Reese was absolutely serious. “All I have to do is look at you.”

  Tory gasped, taken aback as always by the depth of Reese’s devotion. “You, Reese Conlon, are a heart-stopper.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah. And the sexiest woman I’ve ever met.”

  “Glad to hear it,” Reese murmured. “Because I’m afraid your future opportunities in that area will be severely limited.”

  “I’m quite sure you’ll be able to keep me occupied indefinitely.” After a second, Tory was more serious. “Can you tell me about it now?”

  “Tor,” Reese said tenderly. “You might not want—”

  “I want, sweetheart. Knowing is always better than wondering.”

  After another kiss, Reese outlined the morning’s events. She spoke concisely, as if she was giving a report, until she reached the point where she went through the door. Then her tone grew guarded.

  “When I was first hit, I wasn’t entirely certain what had happened…” Reese’s voice trailed off, and for the first time, she considered her words before speaking.

  “Go ahead, sweetheart,” Tory said gently. “I’m okay.”

  “I couldn’t move, and I couldn’t get a breath, and I wasn’t sure how badly I was hit.”

  Tory struggled to keep her voice even. “Were you frightened?”

  “Not for me, so much. I was worried about Bri, because I couldn’t see her. I was worried about you, because…”

  “Because?”

  “I didn’t want to leave you alone.” Reese sensed Tory tremble and moved closer to her. “You know I never would, right?”

  “I know that,” Tory whispered, blinking back tears that she didn’t want Reese to see.

  Reese drew a breath and winced at another surge of pain.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Yeah,” Reese grunted. “I just have to breathe easy. When I finally realized I was pretty much okay, the only thing I could think of was that I didn’t want an officer showing up at our door, because I knew what you would think.”

  “If you’re hurt,” Tory said firmly, “I want to know about it.”

  “I don’t want anything to upset you. Not now.” Reese was adamant. “I just want us to get through the next few months, and for you and the baby to be all right.”

  “We will be,” Tory assured her, then kissed Reese again. “I promise, sweetheart.”

  As Reese sighed and closed her eyes, Tory desperately hoped that she could keep her promise.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  July, Provincetown, MA

  “I don’t think spending the evening in town is exactly what Wendy meant by bed rest.” Reese was in uniform, having stopped home in the middle of a Saturday, ostensibly for lunch. Mostly, she’d wanted to see how Tory was doing with her new routine.

  “She didn’t say strict bed rest,” Tory pointed out irritably. She got up from the couch with some difficulty and started to pace. “She didn’t even say bed rest. What she said was ‘rest at home.’”

  “I know what she said.” Reese leaned against the counter and tried not to raise her voice. “She said your blood pressure had edged up another five points, and it was time for you to cut back on everything.”

  “I stopped training last month. Now I’ve agreed not to work for the rest of my term. I can’t be any more sedentary without risking a psychotic break.” Tory ran her hands through her hair and strode to the glass doors overlooking the deck, her back to Reese. “You should know I wouldn’t do anything dangerous.”

  Reese considered how far she could push. The visit to the obstetrician two days before had scared the hell out of her. Wendy had as much as said that as soon as there were clear signs of fetal maturity, Tory would need to be sectioned. There were traces of protein in her urine now. The preeclampsia was worsening, and they couldn’t wait for the full term.

  Reese felt as if she was living with a ticking bomb. And she knew that her anxiety was probably making Tory crazier than the forced inactivity. Sighing, she crossed the room and rested her hands lightly on Tory’s shoulders.

  “I know you won’t take chances. I’m sorry.” Reese rubbed her cheek against Tory’s hair, then kissed her temple. “It’s going to be a madhouse with the fireworks at the monument tonight.”

  Tory reached up and covered Reese’s hands with her own. With a sigh, she leaned back into her lover’s solid presence. “I know this waiting is as hard on you as it is on me. I’m sorry I get difficult sometimes.”

  “No,” Reese whispered, closing her eyes and breathing in the scent of Tory’s hair. For a minute, she forgot everything. “You’re not difficult. You’re beautiful.”

  “I feel fine, sweetheart.” Tory went on quietly, watching the sailboats in the harbor glide by, thinking how much she missed being out on the water. “Since I haven’t been going to work this past week, my pressure is steady. I don’t have any progression of my symptoms. Let’s just go out tonight, okay? I promise just for a little while.”

  “Sure.” Reese wrapped her arms around her lover from behind.

  “Cath and crew will be here tomorrow. I promise I’ll let you do all the shopping and the barbequing.”

  “Now there’s a deal.” Reese laughed.

  Tory turned and put her arms around Reese’s neck. Heavy now with child, she found it difficult to get as close as she wanted. “It’s Saturday night—date night. I want to do something fun with you.”

  “I know it’s been tough lately,” Reese said softly. The bruise on her chest had finally faded. She had hoped that the last of Tory’s fears had disappeared along with it, but she wasn’t sure if it was the awkwardness of pregnancy or the lingering worry for Reese’s safety
that was keeping Tory up at night. But she knew that her lover wasn’t sleeping well. “I’m really happy about the baby, Tory. And I love you so much.”

  “You always know what to say, don’t you, Sheriff?” Tory’s eyes darkened, and she pressed closer. Voice husky, she murmured, “Do you think sex counts as bed rest?”

  “I think it might fall under the vigorous exercise category,” Reese answered, her lips against Tory’s neck. “But let’s try it at bedtime, nice and easy. Okay?”

  “I was thinking now, and a little more along the lines of wild and crazy.”

  Reese kissed her, lingering on her mouth, softly caressing her breasts and belly. Tory’s heart beat hard against her palm, and then the baby kicked beneath her fingers. The love was so precious, so profound, that when she drew away, her heart actually ached.

  “I’m going into work for a little while more, because I can’t trust myself around you. Will you promise to take a nap?”

  “Yes,” Tory whispered, and then she raised her head for another kiss. She didn’t let Reese go until she’d drawn a groan from her. “That’s better.”

  “For you maybe,” Reese gasped. “But I’m going to suffer all afternoon.”

  Tory smiled and ran her hand down the center of Reese’s chest. “Just remember, sweetheart, I’ve got the cure.”

  Laughing, Reese stepped away, collected her keys, settled her hat low over her eyes, and headed for the door.

  Once Reese had departed, Tory stretched out on the couch with a sigh and put her feet up. She hated to admit how tired she was, even to herself. Within minutes, she was asleep.

  *

  Reese slid in behind the wheel, started the engine, and pulled out of the department parking lot. Glancing at Bri, she asked, “Are you and Caroline pretty much settled in the new place?”

  Bri grinned. “Other than the fact that we don’t have any furniture, we’re doing fine.”

  “You two need anything? Because, you know, Tory and I can help out with—”

  “No, we’re okay, but thanks. My dad has a bunch of extra stuff he said we could take.”

  Reese nodded as she turned left onto Bradford and headed toward the east end of town for the first part of the tour. “Good.” She hesitated just a second. “I’m glad to see that you two are doing okay.”