Suspect Passions (18 page)

“I—” Her voice cracked. She cleared her throat and started over. “I really don’t know what to say. ‘I’m sorry’ seems most appropriate, based on my past behavior. And ‘thank you’ seems so overused and inadequate for what you’ve done for me today. I’m not sure I deserve your help, but I am truly grateful each of you was willing to offer it.” Tears glistened in the corners of her eyes. She started to leave but turned back to the group. “Thank you, really. You’re all very special women.”

With that the entire table cleared as the women swarmed Syd and enveloped her in a sea of hugs and reassurances. Regan marveled at the outpouring of emotion. Most of these women were mere acquaintances, but they still apparently felt a strong enough connection to support her. A deepened sense of respect swelled inside Regan as she recognized the courage it must have taken for Syd to face this gathering, especially under these circumstances. None of the women had been called upon, and it would have been easy for Syd to simply leave without further acknowledgment or comment. This was a side of her Regan had never seen, the side that faced difficulty head-on and took responsibility for herself and her actions. Regan made her way around the room toward the door and slipped out quietly, leaving Syd to experience the moment in private.

Syd almost dropped the stainless martini shaker she was twirling around her head when the insistent rapping started on her loft door. She’d chosen a quiet night at home over the noisy crowd at the Cop Out, but that didn’t mean she’d abandoned civilization altogether. A cold dirty goose would help calm the frayed nerves caused by waiting for a verdict and seeing a roomful of her past flings. The stress would’ve sparked an all-night binge a few weeks ago, but she’d been content to come home and wait for the decision that could easily change the course of her life.

Placing the shaker on the counter, she glanced down in irritation at her crotch-length cut-off blue jeans and tank top with no bra. She’d intended to change while she waited for the phone call from Regan, then offer to meet her, either to celebrate or commiserate. Whoever was rude enough to try to tear her door off the hinges would have to accept being greeted by an underdressed woman. Syd wasn’t expecting anyone. An image of the redhead flashed into her mind. She’d been reluctant to say good-bye when everyone left. Had she followed Syd home?

Frowning, Syd stalked over to the door and swung it open. “I said I didn’t want company. I—”

She stopped mid-sentence. Regan stood rigid and startled, her hand poised. She was still dressed in her business slacks and blouse from court. The look on her face was fixed and unrevealing. Syd’s heart sank.

“I guess you better come in. I don’t want the whole complex to witness my meltdown when I hear your news.” She stepped aside to allow Regan entry. “I assume you
do
have news.”

When the door closed behind her, Regan grabbed Syd’s hands like an eager child with a juicy secret to share. Emotion flooded her face. “Oh, yes, I have news. Maybe you should sit down. No, don’t. Stand. Better yet, let’s dance.” Regan swung them around in small circles throughout the room until they collapsed on the sofa, Syd landing on top of her. Panting for breath, she finally screamed, “It’s over. We won!”

Syd’s heart stalled then galloped with another surge of adrenaline. She cupped Regan’s face between her hands and kissed her on the mouth, fully and completely, allowing herself to feel the ecstasy of the moment and to relay it. She couldn’t imagine that any kiss had ever been sweeter. When the euphoria over the news changed to aching physical arousal, Syd realized that the lips touching hers had suddenly stilled.

She opened her eyes and gazed into the deep swirling blue of Regan’s stare. Regan made no attempt to free herself from her pinned position on the sofa. It was almost as if she’d tacitly submitted to Syd’s will and was waiting for more. The situation was a reversal for Syd. While she usually controlled her seductions, she’d never actively taken charge. And Regan seemed a most unlikely candidate for topping. But their entire encounter so far was strange and unfamiliar. Syd wasn’t used to feeling…joyful with a woman. There was something incredibly compelling about the feel of Regan beneath her and the sense that they were also on the same emotional plane.

“I should probably thank you,” she whispered into Regan’s ear, and lightly nibbled her lobe. She wedged her bare thigh between Regan’s legs and felt her tremble.

“Don’t you think we should stop and…” Regan made a feeble attempt to get up.

“No, I don’t think we should start analyzing. You do way too much of that as it is. Just let me show my gratitude.”

“You’re doing an outstanding job so far.” Regan relaxed onto the sofa. “Feel free to keep thanking me.”

Syd ground her pelvis into Regan’s and was rewarded with a throaty moan. “What did the judge say, Counselor? Spill it.”

A stream of sexual current charged through her as Regan’s groan of appreciation reverberated down her spine. This woman had fought for her professionally and now she was surrendering herself personally. Syd felt woefully unworthy but totally rewarded. She wanted desperately to give something back. This time it wasn’t about her pleasure. It was about this gorgeous, intelligent, trusting woman beneath her.

Regan’s breathing increased as Syd’s rocking intensified between her legs. “All findings were in our favor. No negligence. No punitive damages. Payment of funeral costs.”

“That’s great.” Syd hesitated. How could she possibly show her appreciation in a way that expressed what she was really feeling? Already her body was humming with arousal, close to the point of no return. But she didn’t want Regan to misread her motives as purely sexual. Shifting to lessen the contact between their bodies, she said, “I should probably get up.”

“Please don’t. I need this and so do you.” Regan pulled her back down and stopped further protest with a deep, penetrating kiss.

The pressure building inside Syd caught her by surprise. It was upon her so swiftly that she had no defense against it. She was unsure if it was the welcome news or Regan that sparked the spontaneous orgasm, but she was in the throes of release before she could warn her partner. She simply buried her head between Regan’s breasts and sobbed as the climax rippled through her. She felt Regan shudder beneath her and wondered momentarily if she’d come as well, but dismissed the idea as too surreal.

After several minutes of silent crying, Syd regained her composure enough to say, “I’m sorry. I have no idea what that was about.” She was thoroughly embarrassed by her lack of emotional and sexual control. This had never happened to her before, and she felt helpless and inept.

“Don’t apologize. You’ve been emotionally shut down for months. Release was inevitable sooner or later.” Regan put her finger under Syd’s chin and raised her face so she could look into her eyes. “I’m just glad it happened with me. I’m bound by attorney-client privilege.”

Syd appreciated Regan’s attempt at humor, but she still felt she’d let her down. “So, what happens now?”

Regan’s body telegraphed suppressed passion: her eyes lusty, her breath coming in short, labored bursts, and her skin flushed with desire. “Life returns to normal for both of us, I guess. You go back to patrol work, tomorrow if you want, and I return to the mundane cases of a municipal bureaucracy. Ho-hum.”

“That’s not exactly what I meant. What about
this?
” Syd sucked Regan’s bottom lip and nuzzled a breast to emphasize her point.

Regan arched her back to meet the stimulation. “I see. We definitely have a situation. I find avoidance is not the best policy in cases like this.”

Syd started unbuttoning Regan’s blouse, teasing a trail between her breasts with her tongue. “I couldn’t agree more. It’s better to get it out of our system and move on.” When Regan tentatively nodded in agreement, Syd said, “Come with me.”

She pulled Regan from the sofa and led her toward the king-sized bed surrounded by uncovered windows overlooking the city. The uncustomary sensation of being in charge of a sexual interaction filled Syd with apprehension but also piqued her desire. Regan would allow her to do anything she wanted. And what a leap of faith that was, because Regan Desanto did not relinquish control easily.

Syd sat on the foot of the bed and motioned for Regan to come to her. When she reached for another of the covered buttons on Regan’s blouse, her fingers trembled in anticipation. It seemed to take an eternity to release one of the fasteners and expose a small expanse of blushing pink flesh. She moved to the next button and had begun working it free when Regan grabbed her blouse on both sides, ripped the fasteners apart, and tossed it on the floor. Without further preamble, she removed her bra and slacks and, wearing only a thin black thong, stepped between Syd’s legs.

The change from reluctance to commitment excited Syd even more. It was as if Regan had evaluated her situation in that instant between clothed and exposed and decided what she wanted. All hesitation vanished from her face as she offered her body for Syd’s pleasure. But her eyes told another story. The crystal blue irises deepened into a stormy navy and seemed to beg for gentleness and patience.

“I’ll take very good care of you.” Syd kissed her softly and let her eyes relay the promise her words implied.

When Syd started to remove her own clothes, Regan stopped her. “Don’t. I’d like you to take me with your clothes on. I want you to come in your jeans again.”

The pounding flesh between Syd’s legs responded to Regan’s words as if she’d been licked. “Whatever you want.”

She guided Regan backward onto the edge of the bed. Soft light from the streets below cast grayish shadows over the dips of Regan’s toned body and highlighted the swell of her breasts. Syd knelt between her legs on the floor, caressing and teasing her way upward with her fingers, teeth, and tongue. The scent of Regan’s arousal was heady and invigorating as she neared the join of her thighs. Her urge to satisfy her taste buds was powerful, but she knew it was too soon for Regan. Besides, she wasn’t sure she could control her own body if she allowed herself just one sample. After all, she’d come earlier with much less stimulation. She couldn’t risk that embarrassment again.

Reaching up to massage Regan’s breasts, she reveled in the powerful transformation of the soft nursing tissue into a firm puckered mound of desire in her hands. She rose to her knees, leaned over Regan, and sucked a breast into her hungry mouth. Regan’s body jerked in response and a slow moan escaped her tightly pressed lips. Syd humped against the side of the bed, trying to get closer. The seam of her jeans cut into her swollen lips. Without panties, the pleasure was too immediate and the pain too intense. She recoiled, clutched the crotch of her shorts, and jerked it away from her body. The early warning shards of orgasm threatened to overtake her again. She struggled to regulate her breathing and think of anything except the beautiful woman panting for release on her bed.

Syd was definitely in unfamiliar territory, her body shooting off with the slightest provocation. It was as if the wires connecting her emotional and sexual centers had been fused together and as one sparked, the other fired. Syd decided to enjoy the intensity of the sensation. It probably resulted from an overloaded stress level and this was her outlet. Tomorrow everything would return to normal; sex minus feelings equals fun.

“Are you okay?” Regan started to get up but Syd waved her off.

“I’m fine. I just need a minute.” She’d never been so turned on before. Her former sexual partners always had to work hard to satisfy her, but without touching her, Regan had already solicited one spontaneous orgasm and Syd was on her way to a second. Had the element of control, the woman herself, or something else entirely heightened the experience? Right now Syd couldn’t be sure of anything except that she wanted to please Regan.

She climbed beside her on the bed, needing the comfort and security of full contact. Regan’s body called to hers with the power of the elements, and Syd brought their bodies together lengthwise, something she seldom desired or allowed with casual lovers. She kissed Regan’s mouth, her face, and down the side of her neck, inhaling the flowery softness of her perfume and drinking it in like a drug.

Her eyes burned and she was surprised to taste the salty wetness of her own tears. When Regan seemed to notice her blinking, she said, “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me tonight. I guess I’m just so relieved and grateful.”

Regan finger combed Syd’s hair away from her face and kissed her forehead. “Nothing is wrong with you tonight. You’re absolutely perfect.”

The words sent a ripple of relief, appreciation, and passion through Syd. Regan knew how many women Syd had slept with, and still she reacted like they were each other’s first lover. Syd kissed her again, licking and sucking her lips and tongue and pouring her entire being into this amazing woman. As their kiss deepened so did Syd’s need. She nibbled her way down Regan’s body, memorizing every curve and nuance until she reached the single patch of fabric separating them. Cupping her hand over Regan’s sex, she squeezed the sheer thong material and found it soaked with the evidence of Regan’s arousal. Teasing the garment aside, Syd gently stroked her engorged clit and was rewarded with a low humming moan that increased in direct proportion to her touches.

She tried to remember the last time she’d actually made love to anyone, not just traded orgasms. It had been too long. She’d almost forgotten what a powerful aphrodisiac it was to orchestrate the satisfaction of another woman, to pluck the strings of her physical body and make it sing like a finely tuned instrument. Somehow she’d known that Regan’s body would be this responsive.