Radclyffe - Sheltering Dunes

Flynn grasped the mug, raised it up, and breathed deeply. “You are so right. Thanks.”

“Well,” Mica said, remembering how they’d sat over sandwiches the night Flynn walked her home, not talking much, just watching foot traffic on Commercial and occasionally commenting on the sports channel. She’d almost forgotten La Mara, and right now, she wished she could pull out the chair opposite Flynn and sit down. Maybe ask her what her day would be like. How she’d ended up in this town. Why she wasn’t wearing a collar. She couldn’t remember the last time she wanted to know anything about anyone in her life. What was even scarier, she almost…almost…wanted to tell Flynn about hers. She backed away from the table. “Enjoy it.”

“I will.” Flynn turned in her chair. “Mica?”

Mica hesitated. “Yeah?”

“You working tonight?”

“Every night, remember?”

“So maybe I’ll see you.”

Mica shrugged, ignoring the quick jump of her pulse. “Whatever.”

Flynn smiled. “Yeah, whatever sounds good.”

Shaking her head, Mica beat a retreat. She didn’t understand Flynn at all, and that couldn’t be a good thing. Could it?

*

Philadelphia

Detective Dellon Mitchell leaned down and kissed her girlfriend on the mouth. “See you later, babe.”

Sandy Sullivan rolled over and grabbed Dell’s wrist, yanking her down. She shoved the covers aside, exposing her warm nude body, and kept pulling until Dell tumbled on top of her.

“Hey,” Dell said, laughing. “I’m geared up here, babe.”

“Yeah?” Sandy slid her hand up the inside of Dell’s thigh and cupped her crotch. “I’m not feeling the love, baby.”

Dell reached under her black T-shirt, pulled her holster from the waistband of her jeans, and dropped it onto the bedside table by feel. Sliding her thigh between Sandy’s, she covered Sandy’s smaller body easily and kissed her hard, slipping her tongue into Sandy’s mouth, tasting her heat and the leftover remnants of the peppermint toothpaste she’d used at bedtime. “Not that kind of gear.”

“No problem.” Sandy wrapped her legs around Dell’s hips and squirmed underneath her. “You always feel good, no matter what kind of gear you’re packing.”

“Well, I’m glad you think so.” Dell nibbled on Sandy’s lower lip, thinking if Sandy kept it up she’d have to change her pants, because one of them was gonna leave a wet spot somewhere. But what the hell, she had plenty of jeans. Sandy arched her back and stretched under her like a cat. A big, tempting cat.

“Mmm,” Sandy murmured, “isn’t it too early to be going to work?”

Dell kissed Sandy’s nose. “For rookie patrol officers, maybe, but not for us big bad detectives.”

“Oh, kiss my ass too.” Sandy shoved at Dell’s chest, but Dell didn’t budge. Instead, she nuzzled Sandy’s neck and bit lightly at the soft, fragrant skin above her collarbone. Sandy was still soft in all the right places, but the police academy training had given her muscles where she didn’t used to have them. Dell had always loved how girly Sandy could be while she was smiling sweetly and busting your balls. She was still girly, still as sexy as she had been the first time Dell had seen her in a micro miniskirt and a skimpy top that barely covered her breasts, and what was even better now—Sandy was all hers. Dell sucked at the spot she’d just bitten.

Sandy slapped Dell on the shoulder. “Cut that out. I can’t go to work with a hickey. I’ll never hear the end of it.”

“Hey, babe, everyone knows you’re mine. So they all know what a stud you’re married t—” Dell laughed harder when Sandy punched her in the arm. Damn it, that was going to leave a bruise. “Ow. Hey!”

Sandy grabbed a handful of Dell’s hair and tugged her head back. Sandy’s eyes were a brilliant blazing blue, her blond hair still short and spiky. Everything about her was hot, hot, hot. “You better not be talking about your studly activities around the squad. It’s enough I have to live down the fact I’m a hooker—”

“ Were a hooker.” Dell kissed Sandy again, slower and softer. “Were, baby, and you’ve always been a lot more than that.”

Sandy had just finished the police academy, and though she never complained, she’d had a hard time with some of her classmates who didn’t think she belonged there. Dell would’ve kicked some ass over the subtle harassment, but she knew that wouldn’t help Sandy’s case. Sandy wouldn’t want her to get in the middle, either, but Sandy never wanted anyone to stand up for her. Sandy was too used to going it alone after years on the street, and as much as Dell wanted to protect her, she respected Sandy too much to smother her. But she wouldn’t stand by and let anyone hurt her either. So maybe she had mentioned here or there that Sandy had a rabbi. That just maybe that rabbi was Detective Lieutenant Rebecca Frye. Everyone knew, from a wet-behind-the-ears rookie to a seasoned detective, that if you had Frye behind you, you’d earned it, and then some. Because Rebecca Frye didn’t give an inch for anyone. So when word had gotten around that Frye had sponsored Sandy’s admission to the academy, the grumbling stopped. And then Sandy had taken care of the rest. She’d proven herself in the field and in the classroom.

“You finished at the top of your class, babe,” Dell said. “You earned respect.”

“I know.” Sandy eased out from under Dell until they were lying face-to-face on the pillow, arms and legs entwined. She stroked Dell’s cheek. “Most of the time it doesn’t bother me. But I don’t want people thinking less of you because of me.”

Dell sucked in a breath and leaned her forehead against Sandy’s. Could her girlfriend be any crazier? Didn’t Sandy know by now she was the best thing to ever come into her life? “You know that’s a load of crap, right? Because I get so many points for having a blazing girlfriend like you, my rep is untouchable. Believe me, I want everyone to know you’re my girl.”

“Yeah, yeah, Rookie,” Sandy said, still calling Dell by the nickname she’d used since the first time she’d seen her. “You’ll say anything to get in my pants.”

“True.” Dell kissed the tip of Sandy’s chin and pulled her closer until their breasts and bellies and thighs melded. “But I love you like crazy too. I’d be so screwed without you.”

“Not happening,” Sandy whispered.

There’d been a time when Sandy would’ve looked away, disbelieving her. Or worse, walked away. A time when Sandy hadn’t believed anyone could love her. Hadn’t believed anyone could want her for more than a quick fuck in a dark alley. Even now, sometimes, Dell could see the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, when the memories came back too hard. But most of the time, Dell succeeded in making Sandy believe how special she was, and how much she needed her. If it took her a hundred years, she was going to make sure Sandy believed all the way through how special she was. Besides, telling Sandy she loved her made her feel good too.

“You’re it for me, babe.”

“You’re awfully smooth, you know.” Sandy tucked her head in the bend of Dell’s shoulder and rubbed her bare breasts over Dell’s chest. “I don’t suppose you have time to fuck me, do you?”

Sandy’s breath was fire against Dell’s throat, and her clit shot up hard. “Oh man, that’s it. I wish I could, babe, but the Loo called for an early briefing this morning, and you know I can’t be late.”

“Sometimes I wish you were just a regular detective and not on Frye’s super-duper elite HPC squad. Then you could blow off the schedule once in a while like everybody else I see is doing down at Police Plaza.”