To Protect And Serve Part 25

The team waited with practiced patience, except Beth. "Let's have it, Lieu. What's in there, a nice fat, juicy bonus for everybody?" Cheers sounded as the of cers expressed their agreement.

"You wish." Alex unfolded the papers as she spoke. "These are the lab results from the homicide investigations of Tiffany Brown and the other college students. I haven't even seen them myself."

The room grew suddenly quiet as Alex relayed the information to her team. "The weapon used by Freddy Capanelli to shoot his girlfriend two years ago is the same weapon used to kill Tiffany." Applause, st pumping, and high ves accompanied the announcement. "There's more. The blood found on the sofa in Davis's warehouse, the same warehouse where we made our drug buy, matches the victim's."

Steve Alston stood and held his drink in the air. "I propose a toast. Now that is what I'd call a kick-a.s.s investigation. We went after a doper and came up with a murderer." Gla.s.ses clanked together in celebration.

Alex added the nal details. "When the homicide guys picked up Fletch and threatened him with murder charges, he sang like the * 218 *

proverbial bird. He admitted that he told Cappy and Hunk to take Tiffany to the warehouse. The three of them went back later and worked her over to see if she'd told us anything. She didn't tell them about her statement, guys. Then Cappy went back later to nish the job. The 'brains' of the out t, Dolph, was the one who paid a street dealer to poison Tiffany at the community watch meeting where Stacey Chambers died, and the dope we recovered has the same characteristics as the drugs the college students overdosed on. The DA's of ce has agreed to bring multiple murder charges against all of them. Our boy Sonny and his whole gang are goners. Big-time."

Alex had one last comment before she could relax and enjoy the evening. She stood and tapped a fork against her water gla.s.s. "Guys, just one more thing, if I may." The room once again quieted. "I want to thank each of you for the outstanding job you did on this case. You have proven that of cers from different agencies can work together. It took all of you to make this investigation so successful. If the opportunity presented itself, I'd choose each of you again. I'm proud of you and wish you all the best as you go to your next a.s.signments." Alex felt pride start to swell in her throat and nished quickly. "That's all I have.

Thank you."

The of cers applauded and cheered as Alex sat down. Then Beth rose at the head of the table. "Wait just a minute. That's not all." She held her gla.s.s in the air. "I propose a toast to the next captain of the Granville Police Department, Alex Troy."

Each of cer toasted her promotion and led by to shake Alex's hand. Keri was the last in line. When their hands came together, Alex held rmly and lowered her voice. "This would not have been possible without you. What you did, all of it from day one. Bringing Chad into play, your creativity and fast thinking. You made it happen. I'm very proud of you, Of cer Morgan."

Keri blushed and joked, "And what about my dancing skills?

Admit it. I made you look good."

Alex was grateful for the levity. "That you did, Of cer Morgan.

That you did."

When she took her seat, she did so with a huge sigh of relief. The a.s.signment was nally over. At least for now, Keri no longer worked for her.

Keri's pulse quickened as Alex smiled across the table at her. It * 219 *

was that same magnetic smile with something extra. Alex's eyes were soft and hungry and swept over Keri like a lover's touch. She felt it in her depths. When the tip of Alex's tongue slowly rimmed her lips, Keri gripped the napkin in her lap and pressed it into her tightening pelvis.

She was oblivious to the other of cers eating and talking around her.

Alex's meal sat before her untouched. The hunger clawing inside her could not be satis ed with food. She slipped her foot out of her right shoe and raised her bare foot to the seat across from her. I can't believe I'm doing this-in public, no less. Keri's eyes widened as Alex's toes teased their way up. She felt the heat between Keri's legs and pressed the sole of her foot into her crotch. A bullet of raw sensation shot up Alex's thigh and into her already pounding c.l.i.t. The blue of Keri's eyes grew hazy with need. G.o.d, I want to see those eyes when you come for me again.

"You haven't touched your food. Is something wrong?" Alex asked.

"I guess I'm too excited," Keri answered truthfully. Alex's foot against her already swollen c.l.i.toris was more than she could bear. Food was de nitely the last thing on her mind. How does she so completely unravel me with just one touch?

"I know the feeling." Mischief played across Alex's face. She looked up as Beth tapped her shoulder.

"Get a room," came a soft suggestion meant for Alex's ears only, but Keri heard as well.

"That's an excellent idea." Alex glanced around, hoping no one was paying attention. To her relief, the other of cers seemed oblivious to the conversation at her end of the table.

While the of cers nished their dessert and talked among themselves, she went to each and thanked them for their work and dedication during the investigation. She vowed to send letters of commendation to their agencies, along with a summary of the operation.

When she got to Keri, she knelt on one knee, as she'd done with the other of cers, and leaned into her body s.p.a.ce. Her arm slid along the back of Keri's chair and she could feel her lover's heat rising.

"You, my lead detective, were amazing. Have no doubt that you will receive the highest commendation I can substantiate. You have every reason to be proud of yourself."

Keri's generous mouth blossomed into a wide smile. "Thank you."

* 220 *

Her thoughts weren't on the case. Alex was too close, her fragrance too strong, her presence too compelling. The hard pain between her legs grew with every breath. She thought her insides would explode from want.

Alex leaned in closer and whispered, "Follow me home."

Keri's eyes sparkled as she struggled to swallow. When words would not come, she simply nodded.

Alex felt her body might betray her right there, on one knee in front of Keri. She wanted so desperately to claim her mouth, to announce her feelings. Instead she said, "Good. Give me a few minutes to wrap up and I'll meet you outside."

She talked with Beth a few more minutes, then addressed the group for the nal time. "Folks, I hate to leave, but I've got lots of paperwork to nish if you're all to get your commendations. Please stay as long as you like. You have an open tab at the bar." With that, she headed toward the exit.

Keri watched Alex go and wanted to run after her. How long would she wait? Trying to appear nonchalant, she walked around the table talking and joking with the of cers for what seemed an eternity. I can't bear this any longer. "Guys, I'm afraid I have to go."

It took every ounce of her patience not to bolt for the door as she accepted handshakes and pats on the back. The ache between her legs grew with each step toward the parking lot until a full-blown hunger gripped her.

Alex stood near their vehicles. She started toward Keri, then stopped just out of reach.

"I want you so much." Keri reached for her.

"Don't." Alex held up her hand. "If you touch me right now, I'll take you where you stand. Let's get out of here."

They practically ran to their respective vehicles and began what seemed an interminable drive to Alex's house, only two miles away.

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CHAPTER TWENTY.

Alex unlocked her front door, pushed it open with her foot, and pulled Keri into her arms, surrounding her in a full-body hug.

"I thought we'd never get here."

"Is this really happening?" Keri pressed her tender pelvis against Alex's and felt her respond in kind. The contact created such excruciating pleasure it forced a long, gus.h.i.+ng breath from Keri's body.

"Please make love to me. I can't wait anymore."

Alex cupped Keri's chin and brought their lips together in a delicate kiss. As the softness turned demanding and grew like a fever between them, she led Keri into the bedroom and lowered her onto the down comforter.

Moonlight ltered through the trees outside and cast a ickering, candlelike glow across Keri's body. Alex stood over her and admired the devastating natural beauty of this woman, who lay ready to give herself over to desire. She prayed for the ability to give Keri what she needed. This time Alex wanted to show her how she felt, not just feast like a hungry animal.

Stretching her body along Keri's side, she stroked her face as she looked into her l.u.s.t-hooded eyes. She understood that look, the consuming pa.s.sion to move beyond the antic.i.p.ation of love to its physical consummation. "You are so beautiful." Her lips met Keri's with the hunger of a woman starved. As her hands slid under the thin red top and teased a puckered nipple, her own b.r.e.a.s.t.s and pelvis throbbed.

Keri arched her body. "Please touch me. I ache for you."

Alex peeled Keri's top over her head and slowly unzipped the form- * 223 *

tting silk pants, pus.h.i.+ng them aside to allow her trembling ngers to enter. Her mouth captured a breast and tongued it as her hand slid down Keri's taut stomach into the slick moisture between her legs.

"Oh, my G.o.d," Keri breathed. Alex's ngers felt laced with re as they separated the wet folds of esh and ma.s.saged her engorged c.l.i.t.

"Oh, yes...that's it..." Her entire body shook with sensations beyond all she'd experienced before.

Her appreciative moans in amed Alex even more. They were the sounds of uncensored vulnerability, totally raw and primal. Alex absorbed them like the elixir of life itself. You are so perfect. She draped her leg over Keri's and allowed her painful, soaked crotch only the lightest contact. Sparks released another ood and she tilted her pelvis backward. She was so hot. One easy stroke would send her over the edge and she didn't want to come that way, not this time.

Alex kissed her way down Keri's body to her navel, circling the rim with her tongue. At the same time, she dipped her middle nger into the warmth of Keri's body while milking her c.l.i.t between thumb and fore nger.

"Ahh..." Keri's hips rose off the bed to deepen Alex's thrusts, her moans lling the air. "Yes, yes. Oh, it's so good. Don't stop."

She was getting close to the edge. Alex withdrew her ngers.

"Oh, no! Don't stop...please."

Disbelieving eyes met hers. Alex just smiled and licked her pa.s.sion-covered ngers. "I want to feel you come against my lips. I have to see your eyes when it happens." She worked Keri's pants down her legs and off the side of the bed.

"Hurry," Keri pleaded. She'd never imagined wanting anything so much. Alex kissed her slowly, then more deeply before licking a ery trail down her abdomen into the burning between her legs. When Alex's tongue icked against her swollen esh, every sensory nerve defaulted to that point. Each stroke magni ed the current inside her body. It felt as if her insides were melting even as the pressure in her pelvis increased.

"Look at me," Alex commanded. "I want to watch you come."

"Now, baby. I'm coming now..." Keri entangled her ngers in Alex's hair and pulled her closer as the first tremor of o.r.g.a.s.m gripped.

Gazing into Alex's eyes, she let her body have its way and just released.

"Oh...yes, that's it. Don't stop."

* 224 *

Pleasure consumed her as the series of spasms started low in her belly and continued over and over. She'd never felt like this and never wanted it to end. She felt herself being drained and simultaneously re lled as she watched Alex stroke her spent body.

Alex almost came watching Keri at the moment of release. Her brilliant blue eyes were hooded and cloudy with emotion. Her pleading moans pierced the hot air around them and settled in Alex's core. She'd been so beautiful in her surrender.

Alex kissed the insides of Keri's thighs and slid slowly up the length of her body. The fabric of her slacks rubbed painfully against her sensitive esh, which begged for release. She squirmed to reposition her pulsing c.l.i.t and minimize contact as she settled next to her lover.

Their ragged breaths lled the silence of the room.

After several minutes, Keri tilted her face to Alex's and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Thank you for that." She stared, noticing for the first time that Alex wasn't naked. "You still have clothes on?"

"Guess I got a little carried away." Alex smiled.

"I'm sorry. I should've... It's just so hard to think when you're touching me."

Alex pushed slightly back to look into Keri's eyes. "G.o.d, I love it when you say exactly what's on your mind. It's probably one of the biggest turn-ons for me." She felt a surge of heat between them. "I'm sorry. I've embarra.s.sed you."

"It's okay, but I need to tell you-"

"Must we talk now? I mean just now?" The pain in Alex's groin seemed to rise with each word.

"Oh, my G.o.d. You feel so good." Keri slid her hand up Alex's back and into her hair, almost embarra.s.sed by the level of her need.

"I never knew holding anyone could feel this way. My whole body's aching for you again. Does that sound crazy?"

Each honest declaration was like an aphrodisiac, each touch like liquid re. Alex felt herself tumbling further under Keri's spell. She'd never had such an overwhelming desire to s.e.xually devour another woman. Had Keri tapped some base instinct or were her desires too seldom satis ed and her emotions too closely guarded?

"It's not crazy at all. Now please stop talking." She brushed her lips over Keri's, broadcasting her pa.s.sion. Her legs trembled and she hesitated. She needed to do one more thing before she allowed herself * 225 *

to let go completely. The words swelled in her throat, words she'd chained to her fear of intimacy and trust, words that she had to say and Keri had to hear.

"Keri, I-"

"Please, let me go first," Keri insisted. "If I don't say this now, I'm going to explode." At Alex's nod, Keri took a deep breath. "I'm in love with you and I want us to be together." There it was. Short, simple, and so true that her entire body felt lighter.

Alex tried to speak but her words had no sound. Emotion rushed at her like a blast of humid, summer heat. She burned with its intensity while simultaneous moisture seeped from her pores. Halting gasps racked her chest and tears slid down her face.

Keri took Alex's hands gently in hers. "Does this mean you love me, too?" She didn't really need a verbal reply. Alex's physical responses were enough.

"More than my next breath. I've never felt these things before.

Without you, it's like going through the motions of life. I think about you all the time and want you to be safe and happy. And my body craves you."

Keri touched the silky smoothness of Alex's face and a surge of excitement charged through her. How deep were these newfound s.e.xual and emotional hungers that suddenly consumed her? She trailed her thumb across Alex's invitingly full lips and felt a spasmodic jerk deep in her core.

"I love you so much, Keri, but..." A heavy sigh signaled that Alex was about to disturb the serenity of their perfect haven.

"Don't," Keri begged.

"Don't what?"

"Don't start with that d.a.m.n list. It's professionally unethical. I live with my parents. You're a captain now. Have I left anything out?"

"Actually, you've covered it pretty well, but I prefer to call them legitimate reasons."

"Well, I've heard your reasons," Keri said tenderly. "And they just sound like excuses not to get close. We can work through anything, if we really love each other."

Her body burned with a painful, all-consuming need for this woman. Thunder and lightning clashed inside her, frightening with its rumbling announcement but illuminating with a piercing display * 226 *