WATCHING YOU

Sheri Livingston

®

www.loose-id.com

Warning

This e-book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. Loose Id® e-books are for sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

* * * * *

This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable.

Watching You

Sheri Livingston

This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Published by

Loose Id LLC

1802 N Carson Street, Suite 212-2924

Carson City NV 89701-1215

www.loose-id.com

Copyright © June 2007 by Sheri Livingston

All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared in any form, including, but not limited to printing, photocopying, faxing, or emailing without prior written permission from Loose Id LLC.

ISBN 978-1-59632-481-7

Available in Adobe PDF, HTML, MobiPocket, and MS Reader Printed in the United States of America

Editor: Sherri Lynne

Cover Artist: Scott Carpenter

www.loose-id.com

Chapter One

“Nine-one-one. What is your emergency?” Paige Waddell bit her bottom lip while the information she needed scrolled up the computer screen: Elizabeth Michelle Harrell, along with her address.

“I’ve been mugged.” The woman’s voice was soft, but terror-filled. “Oh, God, please help me. He did this right in front of my own fucking house! Every dime I owned was in that purse.” She gave a loud sigh. “The prick! That sucker cost me fifty bucks.”

Paige punched in the information for the dispatcher to send out an officer. In spite of her irritation from the current day’s calls, she smiled.

“Did he assault you? Do you need an ambulance?”

“No. I’m fine, just pissed and could use a stiff drink. Jeez. The realtor told me this was a great location to buy. What a liar he was, huh? I should have investigated before I granted him a big fat commission.”

Paige typed more information to the dispatcher that the victim would not need an ambulance.

“I have an officer already on the way, ma’am. Stay on the line with me. Are you at 121

Martin Lane?”

2 Sheri Livingston

“Yes.”

“Are you Elizabeth Harrell?”

“Yeah…I’m Beth.” A pause was followed by a sniffle. “Right now, I wish I was Samantha. She got mugged outside the mall a few weeks ago…batted his ass over the head with the very purse he was trying steal.”

“Beth, were there any weapons involved?”

“No, just…well, he had a mask on. I won’t be able to give a description to the cops.”

“Just be thankful you’re not hurt. You can replace the purse and money…can’t replace your life.”

“Yeah, yeah. Tell that to the bill collectors when they come knocking on my door.

Damnit! I feel so stupid. We had this class at work about defending against predators. I didn’t even look around before I got out of the car. I just tossed my purse over my shoulder and ambled up the driveway like I was invincible or something. The asshole should have whacked me over the head for being such a moron.”

Paige glanced over at Gail. Stress was evident in her coworker’s dark eyes, her expression forlorn. Most of the operators wore that same face on a daily basis. It was the look of always being on the brink of burnout. Even the strong people didn’t last too long in this job. The burden of having someone’s life in the palm of your hand was mentally exhausting.

Not to mention the after effects of not getting help to a caller in time.

“Oh, my God!” The woman shrieked. “He’s back…” There was commotion on the line.

Paige feared she’d dropped the phone in her haste to flee.

“Ma’am…ma’am!” Paige tried to control her panic, fearing the mugger had returned. If the operator lost it, so would the caller.

“I’m here.” Beth’s voice dropped to a rushed whisper. “The police are here, scared the shit out of me. I need a drink for sure now. My hands are trembling like crazy.”

“Stay on the line with me until they’re inside, okay?”

Watching You

3

“Okay.” There was a faint click, and then the woman burst into loud sobs.

A man’s voice came on the line. “I’m Officer Jamison, badge number 2314. We’re here and inside.”

“Thank you, sir.” Paige huffed a loose strand of hair from her face, disconnected the call, and tossed her headset on the desk. She leaned back in the blue swivel chair, glanced at the clock on the too-bright white walls, and took a long, cleansing breath. A cold sweat trickled down the back of her neck.

She concentrated on the ticking of the clock’s hands, willing it to spin faster. She wanted to get the hell out of this room. “Ten more minutes.”

If she had to take one more phone call, she just might lose her grip on reality and go postal on her coworkers. Lord knew they had to endure as much as she did being a 911

operator. Her spazzing out wouldn’t do anyone any good.

“Chill out, girl.” Gail playfully poked Paige’s leg, then rose to stretch her long arms toward the ceiling. “That was an easy call compared to most we’ve gotten today. At least you weren’t the lucky one to get the man whose wife was having a heart attack.”

Paige nodded, very thankful she wasn’t the one having to listen to the man’s pitiful screams for help. Aside from the time the little boy had choked to death while Gail walked his mother through the steps to try and save his life, today was the only other time she’d seen Gail get so torn up.

She prayed she never had to see it again.

Seeing a grown woman as tough as Gail cry was terrifying, and it added to Paige’s anxiety about her job. Though she did love her work, it was days like today, when the calls came in nonstop, that she wondered why the hell she was still here. The fear of losing a victim without there being a damn thing she could do about it was pushing her to the brink of just walking away.

4 Sheri Livingston

What in the world had ever made her want to do this for a living? To help people? To save lives? Hadn’t that been the reason? Sometimes she wondered if saving fifty was worth the one she lost, the one single victim she could never erase from her mind, wondering if there was something more she could have done. She knew there wasn’t, but it never hurt any less.

“I need to join a gym or karate class, or something. I’m so stressed lately.” Paige swiveled the chair around to look out over the other operators.

Becca leaned toward the computer screen, her plump stomach pressed against the edge of the desk, eyes intent on the screen and talking into her mouthpiece. Tammy, with her dark hair pinned tight to her scalp, was pecking information on the keyboard.

Their voices mingled, making all words and sentences join together to form only one constructive meaning for Paige…someone was in pain, someone was hurt, someone needed help…and their voices were the only soothing comfort at this exact moment in time to the person on the other end.

No one in the world could ever fathom the stress the operators endured on a daily basis, to be the only link between life and death to a stranger. The victims were nothing more than a shrilling voice and a name across a computer screen, yet their lives were in the operator’s hands. Paige’s quick action and words could mean the difference between a frantic trip to the hospital or a slow drive to the morgue.

Having that responsibility could be overwhelming, making Paige want to scream out her fury or sometimes just curl into a ball and cry out her sorrow.

“That’s odd you say that.” Gail walked between their desks to lean against the wall. It was her normal hiding spot when she didn’t want any other ears to listen. “I joined an online group.”

Paige narrowed her eyes, wondering how in the hell some Yahoo group could relieve stress. “And?”

Watching You

5

Gail’s brown eyes twinkled and a smile jerked the corner of her lips. “A BDSM group.

You wouldn’t believe how at ease I am after…well, after.” She grinned and straightened.

“A what!” Paige briefly looked around to make sure prying eyes hadn’t zoned in on a private conversation without their knowledge. “BDSM?” she whispered.

Gail nodded. “Yep. It’s the greatest thing in the world, awesome stress reliever.”

Paige smiled sarcastically. “Do you get to use cyber whips and chains, pretend floggers and butt plugs? Ooh. That must be so much fun for you.” She rolled her eyes. “How in hell can that possibly ease stress?”

“It just does, smartass. Here.” Gail snatched a sticky note from the top of the cube, picked up a pen, and scribbled a few words. She tossed the pen down and stuffed the paper in Paige’s hand. “Go see for yourself. I know how much you want my body, cause it’s so sexy and all, but you can’t have me. So don’t try any funny stuff, or I’ll have to block you.” She winked.

Paige gave her a mocking grin before she glanced at the paper.

Bondageplay.com.

“Ooh. Gail’s got a kink.” Paige batted her lashes.

Someone cleared her throat.

They both turned to see their boss, Veronica, watching them with her normal scowl, her piercing eyes nothing more than slits of jade. “You ladies should clear your desks before you leave for lunch.” She ran her gaze down Gail’s tall frame before leaving.

Paige watched her walk away. “Bitch. She needs the corncob removed from her ass.”

“Nah. She just needs a good woman to show her what she’s missing in her boring sex life.” Gail turned back to Paige. “From the look she just gave me, I might have to invite her to dinner one night very soon.” She wiggled her brow.

“She’s married, nimrod. To a man!”

A smile stretched Gail’s lush mouth. “My point exactly.”

6 Sheri Livingston

Paige shook her head and pushed out of the chair. “You’re a freak. A sick freak on top of that.” She removed her sweatshirt from the back of her chair, checked to make sure the only sheet of paper on her desk was snug in the corner so tightassed Veronica wouldn’t have anything to scold her for, then rolled her shoulders in a useless attempt to help ease the stiff knots in her back and neck.

“Don’t be jealous. There’s enough of me to go around.” The dimple in Gail’s cheek deepened with a joker smile. She pushed off the wall and grabbed her jacket. “Time to get the hell out of here. Where we going today?”

Paige followed her out of the office and down the long, echoing corridor that led to the north tower where the police headquarters were housed. The wide halls always made her feel like she was back in high school, minus the crowd of students. “I dunno. Franks? As long as I’m out of that office, I don’t give a shit what we eat.”

“I saw a bunch of cops going across the street to the pizzeria. Shall we go bust up their party?” Gail scooted next to Paige and lowered her voice. “Maybe you could squeeze into a booth with her, play footsy under the table.”

Paige snorted and gave her a glare. She stalled outside the precinct office, wishing she was a teen again back in those crowded halls and not thirty-three, so she could flirt to get attention. However, it was boys who returned the affection back then, long before she realized it was women who made her heart go pitty-pat.

She quickly let her gaze travel over the officers walking around the room, sitting at their desks, some writing, some with phones pressed to their ears. She was looking for one in particular.

Her…Kellie Hamrick. The mental sound of her name alone awoke the sleeping butterflies in her gut. And why, Paige didn’t know. Kellie was the Sarge’s favorite niece, who basically kept to herself and hardly ever spoke a word. She didn’t know Paige existed, walked right past her with barely a glance, sometimes with a curt nod, as if that’s all Paige deserved.

Watching You

7

The woman came across as a snotty bitch, yet for some unknown reason, Paige couldn’t rattle her from her brain, or stop thinking about her.

Recently, Kellie had been hanging around the precinct. The grapevine usually spread fast through the halls, but no one was talking about why Kellie was always in her office instead of on the beat with her asshole partner. The gossip was she’d been given a cushy job because of her uncle. Whether that was true or not, Paige didn’t know. What she did know was Kellie’s presence caused her insides to short circuit every time she passed their office door.

She’d stepped in behind Kellie on several occasions to absorb her musky scent and watch her tight ass shift in her army-green uniform slacks, imagining what Kellie could do with the baton attached to her hip, or the shiny handcuffs dangling from her side.

Paige blinked back the images. Kellie wasn’t in the office, so she might as well leave before one of the guys came over and tried to chat with her. She quickened her steps to catch up with Gail, slowly stepped through the security scanner, then followed her out the front doors. The afternoon sunshine did little to warm the cold, brisk air of the city.

Paige donned her sweatshirt to fight off the chill, checked for traffic, and raced across the intersection with Gail.

As they entered through the double doors of the pizza shop, Paige spotted a group of three police officers, their voices loud in playful chatter, and one in particular stole her breath on eye contact.

“Come on, let’s go sit with them.” Gail started down the aisle between the booths, smiling from ear to ear.

Paige took a deep breath and followed, having to drag her gaze from Kellie’s brown, silky straight hair, cut just below her ears. She’d never seen hair so unkempt be so damn sexy, and wondered what the strands would feel like while she tugged on them, pulling her face closer to Paige’s crotch.

8 Sheri Livingston

“Well, look what the cat dragged in.” Randy, Kellie’s partner, sneered at them. He was the one officer Paige would love to see held hostage for about a year, maybe two. Hell, ten would be awesome.

The asshole reminded Paige of her father, who thought all women should be at home cleaning, cooking, taking care of their man’s offspring, as if those were the only reasons women were on Earth. Both men were hardcore chauvinist pigs.

Her mother had found a way to endure his control.

Paige had learned through watching her mother, watching her rush about to satisfy her man. Paige would never succumb or turn into a cowering slave like her mother.

“Hi, Randy. Did they run you out of the ‘all you can eat’ buffet around the corner? Not enough food to feed your appetite?” Gail leaned over and tapped his bulging belly, then snickered.

Gail and Randy had an ongoing duel of machismo. Gail normally won after she drove Randy to a state of stuttering. Sometimes their battles were hilarious, even though his words made Paige grind her teeth in irritation. Lucky for them, the cops rarely lunched where Gail and Paige went.

“Did they let you two away from your playroom for recess?”

Paige chewed her bottom lip to control her temper. She shot a glare at him, then sat in the booth across the aisle.

She wanted to tell him off, to let the words locked in her mind roll from her tongue and put his ass right in its place. As much as she longed to do just that, men like him, men just like her father, never saw the other side of any coin. The flip side never existed, blank as a white page. Saying anything was a waste of breath, so why bother, even though her mind raged with responses, ones she forced back every time he opened his mouth.

“Yep. Teacher let us come out to play because we were good wittle girls today. We taught we’d come pway with da udder toddlers, maybe kick up some sand, have a fart Watching You

9

contest.” Gail continued her battle, never tiring of the arguments. She grinned, then dropped into the booth across from Paige.

Randy stretched in his seat to stare over at Gail, focusing on her hands. “I don’t see any polish on those fingers. Did Teach not let you guys do your hair and nails today?” He settled back against his seat, grinning at Kellie like he’d one-upped Gail. “You women should be at home preparing dinner, tidying up the house, shopping for groceries. Ain’t that what your women do, Kellie, wait on you hand and foot?”

Kellie snorted and nodded.

The bitch! Not her, too. The thought of Kellie being a Randy clone was too much to handle, shattering Paige’s sexy images. Just the soft crack of a smile on her gorgeous face enraged Paige. No wonder she got along so great with her partner…she’d made herself a man in a man’s world.

Gail made a clicking sound. “Oh no, baby. I never do my nails in class. I save them for my women. Right after making them scream in pleasure, I have a bit of shine to them, and my fingers, and my tongue, usually my mouth.” She licked her lips and briefly closed her eyes.

Paige had to bite her tongue to keep from busting a gut laughing. Gail sure knew how to shut his mouth.

“But I’m sure, being the big, macho man you are, you know all about pleasing a woman, right?” Gail huffed breath across her fingers, then rubbed them against her shirt.

Usually, this would be the point where Randy would give a low grumble of defeat and dismiss any further conversation with them, but not today.

“Why do you two follow us around everywhere? Are you cop wannabes? Man wannabes? Tired of playing on the phone all day, pretending to do a job? Neither one of you would stand a day out on the beat, let alone every day, risking your lives to protect others.

Why don’t you quit playing phone tag and go home where you belong?”

10 Sheri Livingston

Paige almost gagged on the fury bubbling within her, thick and suffocating. How dare he make their job sound worthless, like it meant nothing? Cutting them down to size with his bullshit about where women belonged was one thing, but she’d be damned if he was going to compare their jobs, both equally stressful.

Before she could stop herself, she turned completely in her seat and gave him a stare that would melt steel. “If I weren’t a lady, I’d invite you to the alley to kick your fat ass. How dare you put down what we do all day? When a victim’s life hangs in the balance, our words mean life or death for them, you pompous cow!”

Paige shoved out of the seat, unable to miss Kellie’s warm green eyes settling on her.

“And you, sitting there like some damn cave woman. You’re pathetic. How can you let him down women the way he does?”

Kellie’s gaze slid over her from head to toe, suddenly making Paige tingly and fuzzy.

She cocked her brow. “I don’t recall being in this conversation. Besides, I didn’t see anything wrong with what he said.”

Randy slapped the table and let out a thunderous roar of laughter, then held his other hand in the air toward her.

Kellie high-fived him without breaking eye contact with Paige.

Paige wanted to scream and then lunge at her, first in rage, then in desire. Those damn eyes, bearing down on her, kneading her flesh right through her sweatshirt, made her want to slip her hands between her own legs and extinguish the burn.

She bit back her temper and smiled, then took a deep breath, hating the words about to escape her mouth, knowing she’d never look at this woman the same way after today, knowing not only was she the favored person because of her family ties, but she was a replica of two men Paige couldn’t stand. “I didn’t realize ‘man wannabes’ were excluded from his trash talk about women. I’m so sorry. I thought you were a female as well.” Paige tried to put her feet in motion, to just stomp out of sight, but her brain overrode her common sense.

Watching You

11

“Kellie, you might want to ask Randy if you can borrow some of his little dick. It seems he took all your balls.”

Paige spun on her heels and stomped down the aisle. Guffaws erupted behind her, hands slapped against the tables.

She shoved through the doors, taking deep, gulping breaths. Gail barged through behind her. “Holy shit, woman. Will you take me home and dominate me?” Gail laughed while Paige fumed and paced in a ten-foot square of the concrete sidewalk.

“They’ve got some nerve…and that bitch! How dare she, sitting there like some fucking man…just one of the boys.” Paige checked for traffic and crossed the street, still mumbling under her breath.

“You’re just upset ’cause she didn’t defend you. And now you know what a tough ass she is, and you’ll have to submit to get a taste of that body.”

Paige stopped on the opposite sidewalk and planted her hands on her hips. “I wouldn’t submit to that egotistical, man-clone bitch if my life depended on it!”

Gail held up her hands defensively. “Whoa, baby. Don’t hate me ’cause I’m right.”

Paige jammed her finger toward the café. “You’re not right. I don’t need that cunt defending me. Besides, I like a woman in a brass bra. Bold…willing to treat me like an equal instead of taking out her inadequacies on me.”

But as much as Paige denied it, Gail was right. That’s exactly what she wanted, a woman to defend her honor, to take a stand for what was right, to not bow to a lowlife the likes of Randy. Gail had smashed the nail on the head…to have a woman like Kellie, she’d have to give away the control she’d fought so hard to gain. That would never happen.

With a growl, Paige strode back to their building and back down the echoing halls. By the time she dropped into her chair, still hungry and fuming, her emotions were flying to pieces. Without any willpower to stop them, crystal clear images of Kellie, gagged and 12 Sheri Livingston

bound, helpless and out of control, her very own nightstick plunging into her depths, crashed through Paige’s mind.

She pulled Gail’s slip of paper from her jean pocket.

“Kellie is in that group,” Gail said matter-of-factly, pulling her headset on, scribbling on paperwork in front of her.

Paige smiled. Maybe she wouldn’t have to submit after all.

Watching You

13

Chapter Two

Paige slammed the front door, dropped her duffle bag on the floor and kicked off her tennis shoes. A heavy thump sounded from the kitchen, then nails clattered on the tiles.

Oh, no. Here she comes. She braced herself.

The kitchen door flew open and banged against the wall. A pony-sized mound of shaggy white fur bounded around the corner. A huge pink tongue dangled from the corner of its mouth. Eyes wide with delight, Maxi leapt over the couch and practically pinned Paige against the door with her size and weight.

Paige hugged and kissed the dog in between the slaps of long, wet tongue washing across her face. “Was you the good girl today?” She gave a final squeeze, then went to retrieve the dog’s leash before they headed outside for a late afternoon sniff around the grounds.

As Maxi walked through the grass between the apartments, Paige thought of Kellie.

Never had a woman been able to pull so many emotions from her. First lust and desire, anger that escalated to rage, then right back to lust.

14 Sheri Livingston

The feelings swarming in her gut were just as strong now as they had been at lunch. As if it wasn’t enough stress having to deal with victims all day, she was further cursed to have to deal with jackasses like Kellie and Randy.

Was Kellie really a woman hater…a woman who wished she were a man? What other reason would she have to take that kind of bullshit from her partner, listen while he trashed other females -- Paige included -- and have the nerve to say she agreed with his beliefs?

With a grunt, she led Maxi back inside, refilled the dog’s food and water bowls, then turned on the computer.

While it hummed to life, she yanked the band from her hair, let her long, black curls tumble down her back, and walked into her bedroom. She peeled off her jeans, then sweatshirt and blouse. Next went her bra and thong. She finally settled into a pair of shorts and a comfy T-shirt to spend the rest of the evening in.

By the time she curled up in the computer chair, a smidgen of tension had drained, but the brunt of her anger remained focused on Kellie.

With spam emails deleted and a few friends’ emails saved as new, she typed the name of the Dom/sub group into the browser.

Intrigued, Paige watched a solid black page appear. Slowly, woman after woman, man after man dotted the page, some with mouths gagged, some with dicks shoved between their submissive’s lips, others with their hands bound behind their backs, lips parted in pleasure.

A row of links lined the left-hand side in bright neon colors, all in shapes of vibrators and dildos. Paige clicked the “Sign in as a guest” button that happened to be her favorite color, neon green, as well as her favorite toy, a dildo.

Another page appeared where she had to pick a guest name. She typed in the word

“Stressed” and clicked to continue.

The page went jet black for a few seconds, making Paige think her computer had frozen. Suddenly red, orange, and yellow flames shot across the screen, followed by more Watching You

15

brightly colored vibrators and dildos. An hourglass shape flipped over and over in the center, and the loading bar started rising. Words slowly grew into view.

Welcome to Bondage Play, where your fantasies become reality and reality is only a breath away. You have a one-hour trial period as a guest. To continue, you must register.

“Pfft. Like you people will ever get a dime of my hard-earned money to stick an imaginary gag in my mouth.”

As soon as the last word was out of her mouth, the entire page sucked into the center of the screen, leaving a chat room visible and sentences in different shades of color scrolling up.

Paige tried to read, but the words rose higher and higher as new people added their own conversation.

Several links lined the left side of the page.

Women seeking women, Men seeking men, Women seeking men…the list continued.

There was even a link for a group of men seeking several women for dominating orgies.

Paige clicked “Women seeking women.”

Another page appeared, a replica of the first page except for the rainbow swirls lining the edges.

A small box jumped onto the screen.

Wildcat: Would you like to play?

Paige stared at the little black ball gag tucked in the corner of the instant message, then placed her fingers over the keyboard.

Guest Stressed: No, ty. Just visiting.

Wildcat: That’s too bad.

Before Paige could close the IM, another jumped onto the page, this one with a yin yang as the icon.

16 Sheri Livingston

Pussy Licker: I have just what you need to relieve stress.

Paige rolled her eyes. “Couldn’t she come up with anything more mature?”

Guest Stressed: Not interested.

Pussy Licker: Come on, baby. Slap a flogger against my as and ram a dildo betwe s

en my

legs. You know you want to.

Paige stared at the blinking cursor positioned in the blank box of the IM.

Damn, if she didn’t want just that…to be in control, inflicting pleasure mingled with pain on a willing participant. Was that sick? Did that make her demented? Images of a certain cop fluttered through her mind…one who was a member of this group, the purpose for this visit. Light tingles caressed her crotch.

Guest Stressed: Just checking out the place. Thanks.

She closed the IM, and starting with the name at the top of the “Members” page, clicked the profiles, looking for a woman she wanted to tie up and gag, fuck her brains right out of her body, show her how another woman could rule her. I’ll show her where a woman belongs in this world.

Because she wasn’t a member, only a partial bio was displayed.

The first member, All Yours, claimed to be a psychologist and wanted to be led around by a leather leash with her hands bound and mouth gagged.

Paige gave a snort and clicked another member.

This one, Gone-a-Cunting, claimed to be a taxi driver in New York City who dominated her single female passengers, giving them the ride of their lives.

Paige quickly clicked the next member, Tangled Mess, knowing she’d never look at a female cabbie the same again, even if she never stepped foot inside the Big Apple.

I’m a female cop who wants someone willing to submit herself to me in every way. I have a st

s

res ful job and want only to come home to a home-cooked meal prepared by my totally nude partner, awaiting my every command.

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17

Paige gawked at the page, heart thudding like mad against her chest. She’d found Kellie’s profile.

“Are you freaking serious? Come on, stupid. Couldn’t you come up with something any better than this bullshit?”

Before she could click over the IM button, a box jumped onto the screen.

You have used 16 minutes of your 60 minute session. Like what you’ve seen so far?

Then click to register.

Paige closed the pop-up and immediately another appeared.

Tangled Mess: Hi, Stressed. How are you tonight?

Paige couldn’t help but smile. “I’m just fine, bitch. Ready to rumble?”

Guest Stressed: Fine. Surfing.

Tangled Mess: Did yo

r

u find you wave or still looking?

Guest Stressed: If I’m still surfing, I’m still looking, right?

Paige grinned and envisioned Kellie on the other end of the computer, grinding her teeth in irritation, not liking Paige’s sassy tone.

Tangled Mess: Ah, a tiger. Do you need to be tamed?

Guest Stressed: Not by you.

Tangled Mess: Sure you do…I bet you would like being controlled, completely at my mercy.

Guest Stressed: No

a

t a baby f ctory, don’t walk in the nude, and don’t ever wa it on

anyone…ever.

Tangled Mess: LOL, I see you read my profile. Cute, huh?

Guest Stressed: Not really. I think you’re pretty callous…no, downright fucking crude.

If I wanted to be someone’s sexual maid, I’d have married a man. It’s freaky women like you who make me second-guess that decision.

18 Sheri Livingston

Tangled Mess: Does that mean you’re bi?

“What the fuck?”

Paige jammed her fingers on the keys.

Guest Stressed: No! I’m not bi.

Tangled Mess: Oh, but you’d rather be married to a man than wait on a woman?

Paige shook her head, fingers flying across the keyboard, not happy with being stumped.

Guest Stressed: I wouldn’t wait on a man or a woman. You’d be waiting on me, butt-ass naked, holding your breath for my every order.

Tangled Mess: Ooh. Yummy. Shall we begin?

Paige chuckled, unable to stop the rush of pleasure at the thought. “Hold up! I’m supposed to be in control here!”

Guest Stressed: You can s ar

t

wh

t

ateve y

r ou wan .

t I’m sure if you dream hard enough

you’ll come up with your fantasy woman. Good luck and goodbye.

Paige clicked the close button and waited…and stared, hoping Kellie would bug her one more time, not knowing why she wanted her to in all honesty. What did she really expect to accomplish through a computer?

“Chase me, baby.”

Tangled Mess: Waiting for your first command.

Guest Stressed: Mmmm *licking lips*…how will I know you are doing my commands?

Tangled Mess: Yo

t

u don’ …you trust…you believe. I’m ready.

Paige stared at the screen, a bit guilty and a lot aroused. How in the living hell could she let Kellie turn her into a slushy?

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19

Before she could change her mind, she let her fingers fly across the keyboard and sent the message, positive that would end any further conversation. She had no business being here, would only make her more furious to be so near a control freak.

Guest Stressed: Okay. I believe and trust you’ll…get naked, then go fuck yourself!

She quickly x’d out the box, moving the cursor across the page to exit from the site.

Having the final word gave her a thrilled rush, pooling liquid between her legs. It might not be much, but for now, it would have to do.

A pop-up appeared in the center of the page.

Tangled Mess has approved your one-hour trial membership in the Dom room. Would you like to accept or reject this request? To learn more, click the bundle of butt beads.

Curiosity getting the better of her, Paige clicked the beads and was promptly diverted to another page giving a detailed description of what the Dom and Sub rooms were.

A blurb explained if you were invited to the Dom room, it was to dominate the one who invited you.

Paige stared intently at the screen, wondering why Kellie would willingly submit herself after her profile, as well as her words at the pizzeria, clearly stated she would bow to no one?

Shiny metal handcuffs dotted the page. One pair dangled from a fingertip, making Paige’s mind reel with images of them binding Kellie.

“Man, oh, man, have I ever just stepped through a door I should have never opened.”

Her breath rushed past her parted lips. Her heart catapulted in her chest. A need Paige never knew existed rose, leaving her with vivid images of having complete control of a cop, her cop, the cop who didn’t even know until today Paige was alive.

She clicked the accept button with an evil smile.

20 Sheri Livingston

Chapter Three

Guest Stres e

s d has accepted your invitation. You will now be routed to the Dom room.

The screen folded in on itself. The background changed from black to misty gray, then to bright pink. Kellie’s gut twisted into a strangled knot. It wasn’t like she hadn’t been here before, even if she’d vowed to never come back. She wasn’t good at surrendering power, never finding ease at taking orders, but for some reason, her subconscious told her to give in to this new woman, this wildcat.

The women she’d had the pleasure of being with, were calm, willing to let Kellie lead.

This woman was the exact opposite of who she looked for, who she needed.

Too bad Stressed wasn’t the woman she craved, the one she couldn’t rip from her mind, the one she’d wanted to make a five-course meal out of today at the pizzeria…Paige Waddell.

Even the sound of her name sent an intoxicating shiver through Kellie, just like her scent. Paige smelled of fresh flowers, newly picked from a wide-open field, feral and exotic.

Kellie wanted to lose herself in her aroma, never to return to the sane side of life. She’d always appeared sweet and quiet…until today, when a tiger had been unleashed, a side of her Kellie had never seen before. But she’d blown her chance at ever getting to know Paige, Watching You

21

ever knowing how she’d feel squirming under her weight while she plunged a rapturous orgasm from her petite body.

Kellie dragged her hands through her hair, angry with herself for not saying “the hell with it” and telling off that fat-ass motherfucker. Randy was determined to make her life a living hell for the remainder of her probation with the precinct. Damnit. He was the main reason she couldn’t defend herself.

One outburst from Kellie, however, and she’d be out on her ass, no matter who her uncle was. Then Randy would be off scot-free with his dirty little secret, the one Kellie kept in return for his silence.

“You’re a hothead!” Sarge had screamed when she arrived back at the precinct three weeks earlier, after her final run in with that little jerk from the Arcade, the one who somehow wiggled under her skin with his blatant name-calling and mockery. “We can’t have you out on the streets popping every punk kid who calls you a dyke. That’s what you are, right? You’re proud of who you are, right? So why should it bother you?”

“It doesn’t bother me, Sarge…”

“Then why in the hell do I have some sixteen-year-old kid’s parents breathing down my neck already screaming lawsuit, if it doesn’t bother you?” He turned a scary shade of red, and the veins bulged against his neck.

Shit. He’s gonna blow.

Kellie suppressed a wince. “Because he’s…”

“What? A punk, asswipe kid? A teenage boy who gets a thrill out of calling you what he sees? What? Please explain to me why you decked a kid in front of witnesses. I thought you were more level-headed than that.”

Kellie cocked her head, wanting to ask if he was done badgering her, and if he was even going to let her have her say, but bit her tongue instead. “He’d been mocking me, been pushing me to my limits, and well, I snapped this morning when he put his hands on 22 Sheri Livingston

me…again.” Even hearing the words come out of her mouth made Kellie want to drive right back to the Arcade and pop his filthy mouth again.

The jerk had some nerve and a lot of balls, to keep pushing her the way he had.

Starting a few months ago with a little “lesbo” name calling here and there, gradually surfacing with dyke and pussy licker, to finally grabbing her ass and asking if she’d like him to set her “straight.” The first time he’d touched her, she’d just about broken his wrist, leaving his buddies guffawing hysterically. The second time, well, she was now dealing with the second. She didn’t believe in the “three strikes and you’re out” rule. One warning was all she gave.

“So, the sticks and stones theory doesn’t work with you? Words hurt you.”

Kellie vigorously shook her head. “No, Donald…Sarge. It’s not like that, it’s…damnit, he was egging me on, has been for a while, and he’s evil. He laid his filthy hands on me. And it’s not the first time.”

“Well, unless you have some proof to back up your accusation, I’m left with no choice but to put you on probation with desk duty until we can either calm down his parents, or it goes to trial.”

Kellie slumped in the chair with a groan.

Sarge cocked his head and tented his fingers under his chin. “Is there something you’d like to talk to me about?”

His calm, fatherly voice made Kellie want to start blubbering like a child and confess everything…how she’d had an affair with the Captain’s wife. That Randy knew and was blackmailing her into protecting his secret…his drug-dealing secret. If the Captain ever found out, he’d strip Donald from his job, with Kellie to blame. She couldn’t let that happen, couldn’t let the Captain find out, and would do whatever it took to protect her uncle.

“This is bullshit, Sarge. That kid is bad news. He’s Mommy and Daddy’s little rich boy, and he’s a freaking devil. He deserved more than the fat lip I gave him.”

Watching You

23

“You broke his nose, Kellie.”

Kellie looked away from his glare, biting back the smile she wanted him to see. When she heard his chuckle, she looked up. The grin stretched across his face made her relax and match it with one of her own.

“You’re so much like your daddy, it’s scary.” When Kellie snorted, Donald chuckled louder, then continued, knowing everyone in her family had disowned her except for her sister. She hadn’t spoken to her parents in almost two years. She was the black sheep of the family, the one who had to be bailed out of more trouble than she could remember, and they never let her forget her desire to be with women was a sin in God’s eyes.

“I’ve been in your shoes. It’s not easy to keep your tongue when an asshole’s bashing you with words. I believe you when you say he put his hands on you. Shit, I might have taken a swing myself at the little prick, but the witnesses interviewed say they never saw him touch you. However, they did see you knock the hell out of him.” He sat back with resignation written on his face. “The video cameras weren’t running. No one saw it. Not even Randy.”

Kellie rolled her eyes, but didn’t offer any information. The punk’s friends wouldn’t rat him out. And Randy wouldn’t have seen it. He was too busy counting blood money in the storage room. He would have already taken care of any video evidence to their morning at the arcade, as he did every Thursday they made their stop, with Kellie standing guard. It was all part of their deal to keep his mouth shut. Any tapes that could’ve shown what happened in the arcade were destroyed on a weekly basis. He couldn’t testify for her, or he’d blow his own cover, and everything would come crashing around their ears.

No matter how much she disliked him or wanted to shove her fist down his throat when he started bashing women, she couldn’t. He held her career and her uncle’s career in the palm of his hand. Kellie was trapped. He knew it and found his own sick and perverted pleasure in her shame.

24 Sheri Livingston

“But at some point, you have to decide which is more important. Your ego, or your job,” Sarge continued.

As sure as Kellie could see the black specks in Sarge’s light-brown eyes, she knew her ego and her pride had been far more important when she’d cocked her fist back to swing at the little dirtbag. On impact, all tension and anger drained. With the sight of blood, she couldn’t have felt more jubilant.

And here she sat behind a computer screen, wishing she could take everything back…her affair with Lydia, standing guard for Randy…everything, just so she wouldn’t look like the biggest jerk on the force for not defending Paige, for not defending herself.

Why did she have to pretend to be like him, even though a tiny part of her was? She liked being the dominant, but that didn’t mean she wanted total control. Or did she? Was she more like Randy than she wanted to admit?

Guest Stressed: Did we come here to stare at a blank screen?

Maybe I could talk to Paige tomorrow, explain I couldn’t defend her for fear of losing my job, of never being a cop again, the only thing I’ve ever wanted in this life? Should I tell her about the affair, that my uncle would lose everything he’s worked his ass for? Would she listen to me? Would she believe me?

Guest Stressed: Hellooooooo!!!!

Kellie blinked hard at the blink of the computer, dragging her thoughts away from her cruel predicament. No use lusting over a woman who probably hated her right now, either.

She leaned over the keyboard.

Tangled Mess: I’m here…sorry!

Guest Stressed: You no longer have permission to speak. The only words you will say to me are “Yes, ma’am” and “No, ma’am.” Do you understand?

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“Damn!” Kellie wiggled in her chair trying to ease the sharp ache thumping like a heartbeat between her legs. She gulped down the tightness in her throat, squeezed her legs together and started typing.

Tangled Mess: Yes ma’am.

As much as she thought the submitting words would sour on her tongue, they felt rather good. Maybe she should have tried this role reversal long before now, or finished the one she thought she could accomplish a few weeks ago with Mistress Diva. At first command, Kellie had bolted and had since avoided every IM from her.

Guest Stressed: Are you still in your work clothes?

Kellie found the question rather odd and hesitated over the keyboard. She shook it off, not giving a shit why this woman wanted to know. She was ready to obey every command, to be on the flip side of control, to hand it freely to another woman, and trust.

Tangled Mess: Yes ma’am.

Guest Stressed: Start unbuttoning your shirt. One button at a time. Say yes ma’am when you’re done.

Kellie licked her suddenly parched lips and started with the button just below her neck. By the time she reached the last button, her breathing was ragged, and her hands shook in complete anticipation of her Domme’s next command.

Tangled Mess: Yes ma’am.

Guest Stressed: A tuff woman like you would surely wear a sport r

s bra. Dip you hand

inside and pull out a luscious breast over the top, and pinch your nipple until it’s bright pink and swollen and screaming for my tongue.

Fluid settled between Kellie’s thighs. Her pussy burned from the inside out, begging and pleading for her to reach between her legs for some relief.

She did as she was told, pinching her nipple into a tight, rosy bud, watching as she worked, getting turned on more than she ever believed she could.

26 Sheri Livingston

Reluctantly, she pulled her fingers away to type.

Tangled Mess: Yes ma’am.

Guest Stressed: Do the same to the other nipple, but this time, pull while you pinch…feel that ache, that burn between your legs.

“I’m going be on fire before you’re done with me,” Kellie muttered, but did as instructed.

The burning between her legs skyrocketed to unbearable temperatures while she tugged slightly on her nipple, rolling it between her index and forefinger.

When she didn’t think she could stand another second listening to her own needy pants and gasps of air, she let go.

Tangled Mess: Yes ma’am.

Guest Stressed: Mmmm. *licking lips* I wonder how wet your pussy is…do you want a little touch, you messy thing?

Tangled Mess: Yes ma’am.

Guest Stressed: Tuff! It’s not time for relief…take off your slacks and undies.

Kellie shoved out of the chair, kicked out of her shoes, unclasped her belt and practically ripped the button off her pants before shoving them down her thighs. She kicked them to the side and promptly removed her briefs before sitting back down, anxiously awaiting the next drill.

Tangled Mess: Yes ma’am.

Guest Stressed: I bet you wear briefs, like a fucking man, don’t you?

A flash of confusion raced through her head, but before she could answer the unusual question, another appeared.

Guest Stressed: You have permission to tell me the computer you’re using and where…laptop n bed or desktop at computer desk.

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Tangled Mess: Desktop at desk.

Kellie couldn’t help but look down at the bright white briefs lying in the floor, wondering what would make the woman ask such a question. Wasn’t it a fact that most dykes wore them? Right? Was she trying to be a man by wearing them?

With fire smoldering between her legs, she looked back up to see her new command.

The fire erupted into an inferno.

Guest Stressed: Open your legs…wide…and lay them over the arms of your chair. Bare that pussy for me.

Kellie wanted to laugh in astonishment. She lifted her feet off the floor, slowly hooking her legs over the chair arms. She’d never felt so vulnerable in her life. Here she sat in the privacy of her own house, blinds and curtains pulled tight over the windows, yet she felt like all eyes were on her, watching her, mocking her obedience.

Now in an awkward position in the chair, she leaned forward and pulled the keyboard to the edge of the desk.

Tangled Mess: Yes ma’am.

Guest Stressed: If I were there, I’d be kneeling between your thighs, slurping at your clit, listening to you scream. You’d like me that way, wouldn’t you?

Kellie’s insides clinched, but she didn’t bother to answer. Admitting she was burning like a witch on a stake would give this woman every ounce of control, something she’d gained since dumping the jealous and immature Lydia, even though Randy had jumped right in and yanked most of it away.

Guest Stressed: You didn’t get wet with that thought, did you? I’d never be on my knees for you. By you hands, I’

r

d cum over and over and over…you would wait, with juice running down your inner thighs, begging for me to take you over the edge, to let you cum and cum and cum.

28 Sheri Livingston

“Hot damn! Ouch!” Kellie wanted to pull her legs together to simmer the sizzle, to just slip her finger against her clit and flick it to satisfaction.

However, the one in charge hadn’t given her permission, and damnit, for the first time, she was determined to follow every command, to be on the opposite spectrum of the playing field.

Suddenly, Kellie envisioned a four-hundred pound woman with fat rolls lying in her lap, chewing on a Ding Dong, and slurping down a glass of, no doubt, diet Coke…not her idea of sexy at all. Through a computer, there wasn’t any way to know who you were talking to.

Kellie groaned. She wanted to know…wanted to see the woman’s face, her body, the color of her eyes.

Tangled Mess: Yes ma’am. Requesting permission to speak.

Guest Stressed: NO! You will say those words only. Unless, however, you’re ready to end the game. If so, your stop word is… Pigs.

Kellie couldn’t help but smile. First, the woman was smart enough to realize she might still be in her work clothes, next that she could be wearing briefs like a damn man, even though her briefs were, in her opinion, the sexy, long ones. Now her stop word was pigs…just like that male chauvinist, Randy; just like Paige thought Kellie was right now.

With heat still nudging at her crotch, Kellie wanted to talk to this woman, not dominate, not submit, but to talk. What a tension drainer it would be to just spill her guts, to let another woman tell her everything was going to be fine. Lord knew she couldn’t rely on anyone else but her sweet sister to pat her on the back and tell her what a great job she was doing and that she was proud of her accomplishments.

Kellie put her feet back on the floor, pushed the keyboard away from the edge, and typed.

Tangled Mess: Please…permission to speak.

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Guest Stressed: You have 1 sentence…make it quick!

Kellie stared at her response, letting the most important things flutter through her mind, the main things she wanted to say.

With a smug smile, she started.

Tangled Mess: I don’t want to say the stop word because I don’t want to end the game, but want to speak with you when our time is through, which means I’m asking for your email addy because I want to know what you look like, what you smell like, how you sound when I plunge my fingers in your cunt.

Kellie leaned back, waiting for the Guest Stressed typing to show up at the bottom of the box. When it didn’t, panic quickened her heart. Had she gone too far? Was this woman a total dominatrix who didn’t take kindly to her long, streaming sentence? Without a doubt, Kellie knew this woman was not experienced. Her words, her commands, were not those of an experienced Domme. This woman was an amateur and a damn good one at that.

For fear the woman would bolt, Kellie started typing, but was stopped short by Stressed’s message.

Guest Stressed: No! That’s not possible, ever. Now, do you want to continue, or is our time up?

Kellie glanced at the remaining time in the corner and erased her message. Thirty-nine minutes. A lot could happen in that time…maybe even an email addy, or a simple phone number.

Tangled Mess: Ready to continue.

Guest Stressed: That’s more like it. Now, where were we before you rudely interrupted? Which, by the way, you’ll be punished for. You no longer have permission to speak…read only!

Guest Stressed: Knead your inner thighs, working toward your pussy…

Guest Stressed: Massage and squeeze…spread your wet pussy lips…

30 Sheri Livingston

Kellie did, feeling the burn ripping at her insides. Her clit throbbed, desperate for relief.

Guest Stressed: Run your fingers between the cheeks of your ass, press a finger to your asshole…ummm…can you feel my finger dipping in your tight hole?

“Oh, my God.” Kellie let her head fall back to the chair, pushing her finger against the tight wall, wanting to ram her fingers to their full length inside herself and thrust until the tension drained.

The computer blinged, and she slowly lifted her head to peer at the screen.

Guest Stressed: Enough!!!

Guest Stressed: Get ready for more. I want to make you burn, baby.

Kellie pulled her fingers away with a moan, mind reeling with thoughts of Paige, of Paige smiling and giving her these commands, of Paige kneeling between her legs.

Guest Stressed: I want you to roll your fingers together, stick them to the edge of your pussy…God, you’re wet, soaked, I can almost smell you…

Kellie did, praying this woman would tell her to plunge them inside. Her pussy was so hot, trembling gripped her insides.

The need to know this woman grew stronger. The want to have her, to fuck her, make love to her, to just be near her, was almost unbearable. She knew before this session was over, she’d be begging to know more.

Guest Stressed: Now, I want you to…

Kellie held her breath, anxiously waiting what her mistress would allow her to do.

Guest Stressed: Go FUCK YOURSELF…you complete asshole, jerk, chauvinist pig creep who probably wishes she were a fucking man…grow some balls, bitch!

“Noooo!” Kellie slammed her fingers against the keys, but not quick enough.

s

Guest Stres ed has ended the session and is currently offline.

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“Fuck!” Kellie punched her fists against the desk, making the keyboard jump. She tugged her fingers through her hair and stood, taking a better look at the shape this woman, this hot fireball, had left her in.

Her tits were hanging over the edge of her sports bra, her cunt was sopping wet and pulsing.

She pulled the material back over her breasts and tugged her briefs back on, still staring dumbfounded at the screen. “What the hell was that all about?”

32 Sheri Livingston

Chapter Four

Paige paced in front of the computer.

At first, she’d been giddy with excitement to have had the last word, to tell Kellie off.

Then her gut twisted like a pretzel to have been that close to her, even if only through a bundled line of fiber-optic cable.

The power Paige had exerted over Kellie made her nipples tingle. She recalled the commands she’d given the bull-headed cop, making sensations spread to her pussy. Kellie was sitting somewhere in this town right now, her own crotch soaked and throbbing in burning discomfort. Paige wanted to find her, to make good on her instructions, and give them both the release they craved.

She stopped in mid-pace and stomped her foot against the carpet. “What the hell is wrong with me? She’s a bitch and deserves to sit by herself in pain, in agonizing wetness.

Screw her!”

Godamnit, did she ever want to do just that. Even with Kellie’s lack of machisma, her lack of respect, Paige wanted to be lying between her legs and making her tremble with desire.

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Paige sighed in frustration, then turned off the computer, silencing the soft hum and severing the window to her first intimate moment with the object of her fantasies. She ran her fingers through her hair while she walked into her bedroom, shedding layers as she went.

After slipping naked under the covers, Kellie invaded her mind again. Her tight back and slim waist shifted down the hall as Paige stepped in behind her to catch her musky scent.

However, unlike in reality, Kellie stopped, turned around, and smiled, green eyes drinking in the sight of her, as if she really wanted Paige.

Uncontrollably, Paige let her eyes flutter shut, brightening the images in her mind. She shifted her hand down her stomach and then between her legs, massaging the slippery folds created by her earlier demands of Kellie.

In her mind, Kellie started towards her, her expression dark and determined, curious with need. Each bounce of her step sent her cropped hair shifting on her head, a few strands falling over her forehead just above her eyes.

Without a word, without so much as a blink, Kellie reached her.

Paige held her breath, right before Kellie dipped and claimed her lips, soft and gentle, tongue probing at the seam of her mouth. She not only asked for permission with that kiss, she demanded it, expected it, and Paige willingly allowed it.

A soft moan escaped her mouth. In reality, her finger flicked faster against her clit. She arched against her own hand when Kellie grabbed her wrists in her visions, pinning them against the wall, grinding her body against Paige’s.

Working faster against her clit, she released a passionate cry, wishing beyond her wildest dreams it really were Kellie’s hand between her thighs, her fingers massaging that most delicate target of pleasure.

But it wasn’t Kellie, nor would it ever be. In reality, Kellie never gave her a second look. On top of that, Kellie wanted what Paige would never be able to give…control.

34 Sheri Livingston

More images filled her mind. Images of Kellie’s hand dipping into her slacks, her long, expert fingers shoving into the plump folds of Paige’s wet lips.

Paige cried out in her illusion as well as in reality. She shoved her fingers deep inside herself and pumped her hips, never letting go of her fantasy woman.

Kellie thrust her fingers inside. She released a groan. “You’re so wet. I can smell you…hot with desire.” She sucked at the flesh just under Paige’s ear, her whispered order hot against her skin, “Come for me, Paige.”

And Paige did. With a scream, her orgasm bolted over the edge, squeezing and pulsing around her fingers.

In her mind, Kellie vanished.

* * * * *

Kellie pushed away from her desk when Randy walked into the office the following morning, going about his normal morning routine of reading messages and returning phone calls.

Usually, it took him about twenty minutes of dragging his ass before he hit the beat. So Kellie had already taken care of agonizing paperwork before he arrived for work, giving her a few moments of spare time. This was the perfect chance to hunt for Paige and attempt to apologize, even though her mind was still on the woman from the Internet group. Her thoughts reeled with conflicting impressions of two sexy women: one who made her sticky-wet with dominating words, another who, no doubt, thought she was the biggest jerk ever.

Even if Paige gave her a fuck-you glare, or worse, slapped the shit out of her, she’d still be close enough to inhale her sweet, intoxicating scent, enough to keep her drugged with the aroma for the rest of the day.

Watching You

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She slipped through the office door and started down the hall, checking over her shoulder to make sure the asshole hadn’t followed her. By the time she made it to the opposite side of the building, her nerves were jumping.

Before yesterday, she’d never spoken a single word to Paige. Instead, she’d opted to pretend Paige didn’t exist, for fear she would see the want in Kellie’s eyes, desire on her face…that she’d take a stupid chance and sleep with her, just like Lydia.

Furthermore, what in the hell would a sexy, self-assured number like Paige want with a deadbeat like Kellie, a woman with a shameful secret? She couldn’t keep her temper in check no matter what the consequences, no matter the punishment. A woman like Paige, straight and narrow, calm and collected, could never want an outcast like Kellie. Even her own parents didn’t want anything to do with her.

With her last thought, she stalled outside the door to the 911 operator’s section. The soft-voiced murmur of their job was already under way. Frightened victims on the other end of the line kept faith that the voice of the operator could offer support, or better, could fix all of their problems.

With a quick intake of breath and determined to offer her apology, Kellie stepped through the door.

She took in the sight around her, sifting through the many intent faces and work stations of the men and women who would help decide the fate of so many in the city. The voices were like a hum in her ears, building together with only momentary snippets of calmly delivered questions or advice standing out. It all faded into background noise when her gaze finally settled on Paige. Her heart hopped like a Mexican jumping bean. Paige had her silky, black hair piled into a messy bun on her head, the same as it was every day. What she wouldn’t give to tug the band from the strands and slip her face against her hair to inhale the womanly scent until she passed out.

36 Sheri Livingston

Green, hypnotic eyes rose to meet hers. Paige stared for a few minutes, then looked away with a flush on her cheeks. Almost as if she felt guilty. Why in the world would Paige feel guilty? Kellie could only dream of having the guts Paige had, to not have to carry around the burdens life had dealt her, the mistakes she’d made and had to live with.

When Paige’s gaze fell back on Kellie, she motioned for her to come to the door, letting loose the breath trapped in her chest.

Paige looked around the room first as if she thought there might be a mistake.

Kellie motioned again.

Paige slowly pushed away from her desk.

Gail looked up from the chair beside Paige. She followed Paige’s stare, then gave a curt nod and huge grin.

Christ on a stick. Was it that obvious to anyone she wanted to slam Paige against the wall and slurp on her skin until she’d sampled every ounce of flesh?

Paige pulled her headset off, dropped it on her desk and ambled past the rest of the operators until she stopped a few inches away from Kellie. “Is there something I can help you with?”

Oh, hell yes. I have a few things I’d like you to fix…starting with this uncontrollable pulse between my legs left by a stranger.

“Can I talk to you for a second?”

Paige looked over her shoulder. Gail waved her hands in a pushing motion. She nodded and stepped around Kellie and into the hall.

Kellie controlled the urge to grab her tiny waist, spin her around, and capture those full lips in a breathtaking kiss.

Paige stopped and turned.

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Kellie almost collided with her, almost drowned in the jade waves of her eyes. She cleared her throat and studied the worn burgundy carpet instead. “I’m sorry about yesterday.

Randy’s an asshole, and well, it’s kind of complicated. I shouldn’t have said what I said.”

She looked up. Was that a flicker of smoldering desire nestled in Paige’s eyes?

Whatever it was, it vanished in a split second, making Kellie think she’d imagined it, or rather, wished it.

Paige leaned her hip against the wall. “It’s okay. You can let him treat you any way he wants, but he’s not going to treat me that way.” She shifted and crossed her arms over her chest, squeezing her breasts into a mound. “Don’t sweat it.”

Without a lick of control, Kellie let her gaze drift down Paige’s neck, to the hollow of her throat, to the swell above her folded arms.

“Hiya, partner. Did you put the toddler in her place?”

Kellie stiffened and jerked around to face Randy. “I was just, um, telling Paige…”

“Give me the yummy details later. It’ll give me something to snicker at the rest of the day.”

Kellie inwardly cringed. How much longer could she continue this, continue to betray her badge, herself, and Sarge because she was terrified her secret would leak out? Was it worth this hassle? As much as she hated it, yes, it was. She loved Sarge more than anything in the world. He’d been there when everyone else turned their backs. Donald losing his job would shatter her heart.

Randy looked over Paige with complete distaste. The corner of his lip tweaked into a snare. “Isn’t it time for you to get back to the schoolroom, honey? The teacher might find you missing and put your nose in the corner, or worse, paddle your backside.”

Kellie ground her teeth. Sarge’s voice fluttered through her mind, warning her to control herself. Her temper rolled up her spine, jabbing at her to just coldcock the son-of-a-bitch and reveal the entire truth, no matter if she lost everything that meant anything to her.

38 Sheri Livingston

She curled her hands into fists and glared at him. The bastard wasn’t worth it. She blinked hard at her thoughts and turned to Paige instead.

Paige smiled. That beautiful, sarcastic smile smothered some of the anger filling Kellie’s gut. “As a matter of fact, Randy, Kellie here was just telling me how I’d been a bad girl yesterday.”

Her eyes never left Kellie’s, Kellie’s glued just as tight to hers. “She said I deserved a spanking. Maybe I’ll let her lay me over her lap and give me a few lashes.”

Kellie’s heart catapulted with that very image. Did Paige know the fire she was playing with?

Paige shoved away from the wall and focused all her attention on Randy. She let her gaze rake over his large frame, stalling to stare at his crotch before snatching her sights back to his face. “You can’t come, however. Your package is too fucking small. The one in my nightstand drawer would put your pencil dick to shame.”

She shoved around Kellie and disappeared through the door.

Kellie swallowed the bout of laughter ready to spill from her and watched Randy’s face flare from a five-day shadow to a bright crimson. It was the first time she’d ever seen him speechless.

He opened his mouth to speak, then slowly turned and stomped down the hall, his black leather work shoes sounding like mini bombs exploding in the quiet hall. “My paperwork is on your desk! Make sure it gets done.”

Kellie allowed a smile to creep across her lips before following him, wanting to rush back to Paige and hug her, then ask her if she could borrow some of her balls since Randy and Sarge had castrated her own.

* * * * *

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Paige slammed herself into her computer chair. Gail dropped into the chair next to her.

She knew Gail was just waiting for Paige to start ranting about what transpired in the hall.

Well, she’d have to wait. Even Paige wasn’t too sure what had just happened.

She never dreamed she’d get an apology, let alone the one Kellie had given her. She’d wanted to say more. It was written all over her face she was genuinely sorry for not defending Paige or women in general, yet she still hadn’t found the brass to stand up to Randy’s sorry ass again. Why?

After looking around the room to confirm no one had heard her outburst, she arched a sardonic eyebrow at Gail, who’d been standing inside the doorjamb when she stormed back inside the room, listening to everything. The joker smile on her face made Paige’s mouth twitch into a matching grin.

“I heard everything. Man, I think you just made me wet.” Gail pursed her lips into a tight kiss. “Will you marry me?”

“Shut up.” Paige pulled the headset back on and dared a glance at Veronica’s office. “He deserved it. Thank the Lord the witch didn’t hear any of that.”

“How did you like the group, Guest Stressed?” Gail tapped her fingers on the desk and wiggled her brow.

A flush heated Paige’s cheeks. “How did you know?”

Gail rolled her eyes and angled her head. “I got bored last night so took a peek to see if there were any new guests. Duh. You were mad as hell when you left here yesterday; the name was obvious.” She leaned over close to Paige. “Never dominate when mad.”

Paige whispered, “First off, I don’t know how to dominate anyone. Second, it’s a freaking online group. How in the living hell could I dominate to cause pain over a damn computer?”

Gail shook her head and slumped back. “In real life…no domination when furious.”

40 Sheri Livingston

“Yeah. Okay. I’ll keep that in mind.” Paige rolled her eyes. As if she’d ever get to use the advice.

“It wasn’t surprising to see Guest Stressed and Tangled Mess in Dom room number fourteen. Did you enjoy your time?” Her evil smile was contagious.

Paige nodded, unable to control the blush crawling to her cheeks. “She asked for my addy…wanted to meet. I about pissed my pants. Then I told her to go fuck herself and left her horny as hell.”

Gail clicked her tongue. “I knew you’d try to torture her ass.”

“Uh! I did not…” Paige knew her words were a lie. “Okay, so I was a little mean, but she deserved it.”

Gail shrugged. “Does she know it’s you?”

Paige looked away. She was almost, but not completely, ashamed of how she’d left Kellie hanging last night, of how she’d wanted to finish what she started. “No. I’m not that stupid.”

She looked back up to find Gail’s dark eyes on her. “Want to take it to another level?”

Paige shook her head and let her voice trickle back to a whisper. “I’m not into this Domsub stuff. As much as I thought I wanted to, I don’t. I’m not good at taking orders, either, as you can see.” She gave Gail a grin.

“Then go to play…or to learn. Better yet, go to be dominated. I promise, there won’t be an ounce of stress when you’re done.”

Paige considered her statement, then remembered Kellie’s profile. What would it be like to be dominated by her, spanked until her flesh was rosy pink? Yet, in real life, she couldn’t do it, and she knew it. But she’d sure be willing to practice on Kellie.

“Tell me more.”

* * * * *

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As soon as Guest Stressed signed in, Kellie breathed a sigh of relief. Her whole day had been spent thinking about what she would say, what she wanted to do, and how desperate she was to meet her.

Not wanting to appear too anxious to chat with a woman who left her a sopping wet mess, she pushed away from the computer and went to the kitchen to snag a cold drink to smother the fever already rising in her body.

When she sat back down, a surge of disappointment rolled through her. There wasn’t any message in her inbox. The woman hadn’t tried to speak to her.

She double-clicked Stressed’s name for a private chat and slowly typed in her message.

Tangled Mess: Do you like leaving women hot and dripping wet?

Guest Stressed: No. You’re an excep ion to the rule.

t

Tangled Mess: Is it ’cause of my good looks?

Guest Stressed: Yep. That’s it. LOL

Tangled Mess: You seem nice today…something good happen?

Guest Stressed: You could say that.

Kellie fidgeted in her seat, feeling like a kindergartener needing a quick trip to the restroom. She couldn’t stop her need to see this woman, to know her.

She typed her question, but stalled at sending it. Was it too fast? Too sudden? Would this woman think of her as a stalker and flee? With a quick intake of breath, Kellie sent it.

Tangled Mess: Can I call you?

She impatiently tapped her fingers against the wooden desktop while she waited for the woman’s answer. Rereading the message, she felt like a dork, needy and clingy.

Guest Stressed: No.

Tangled Mess: Why?

Guest Stressed: Would you rather meet?

42 Sheri Livingston

Kellie’s fingers couldn’t have flown across the keys fast enough to answer. Excitement choked her while her breath quickened.

Tangled Mess: Yes.

It was the calmest response she could give when she really wanted to ask when, where, what time, right now, okay, name the place. That would sure make her seem like a cool, collected person. Not.

This woman had her emotions running amok, twisting them into a train wreck.

Guest Stressed: A friend is having a D&S party this Friday. Would you like to go?

Kellie studied the words. Was she ready to willingly allow another person to take away the tiny bit of control she still had left of herself? Was she ready to give it to this stranger, this woman who made her do things she knew she couldn’t do, no matter how much her mind rebelled?

Tangled Mess: Yes.

Guest Stressed: Call this # when you get off work, ask for directions to The Wicked Darkness…party’s in the basement.

A phone number appeared inside the IM box.

Kellie quickly jotted it down, suddenly apprehensive about meeting a stranger she’d thought about all day. Could she wait three more days to be near her, to finally see the woman behind the screen?

Tangled Mess: Until then, we have some unfinished business, don’t you agree?

Guest Stressed: I’ll save your punishment until Friday…that’ll give you the rest of the week to want and need me.

“I do now.” Kellie wanted to type the words, but knew they would be a mistake.

Guest Stressed: I have a list for you. Find and bring these things with you. You have 3

days…a different item every day.

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Kellie smiled in anticipation.

Tangled Mess: I’m listening.

Guest Stressed: First…a neon-green strap-on. Second…you’re a cop, bring 2 sets of cuffs. Third…blindfold, for you to wear.

Kellie moaned. Naughty images barreled through her mind.

Tangled Mess: Will I have the pleasure of cuffing, blindfolding, and using this toy on you?

Guest Stressed: Not even a tiny chance. *grin* See ya Friday.

s

Guest Stres ed has signed off.

“Damnit!” Kellie roughly leaned back in the chair and raked both hands through her hair. “Why does she keep doing that to me?”

44 Sheri Livingston

Chapter Five

Kellie pulled her aging Acura down a long drive and parked behind a mansion built of white brick. It was clearly the biggest house she’d ever seen. English ivy climbed a lattice archway overlooking a long sidewalk made of red brick pavers.

With her gut cramped with mixed emotions ever since Stressed had told her to meet her here and signed off, she stepped out of the car and double checked the directions.

Three, long, agonizing days, she’d waited for just this moment…visualizing what would transpire between herself and her mystery lady. And here she was, finally, with that certain woman inside this house, waiting for her.

Kellie grabbed the bag of goodies from behind her seat. Putting the canvas bag on the front seat, she made a final check and then zippered it shut. She’d brought everything her dominatrix ordered her to, wanting to make the woman on the other end of their conversation howl with their uniform pleasure. Heat spiraled down her spine at that thought. Yet the mystery lady had confirmed Kellie would not be the Domme tonight.

She gathered her wits, still so damn unsure about what she was doing, tormented over the risks she was taking yet again. Would the bad girl in her never cease or would her rebelliousness always lead her to trouble?

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She knew no matter what, she was would see this to the end, to whatever glorious rainbow awaited, to whatever hell might be waiting for her. Everything inside her screamed to move, to get out of the car.

With a deep sigh, she exited the car, then walked to the large glass French doors. The quiet stillness of suburbia at night enveloped her, while the scent of jasmine on a soft breeze caressed her nose. Before she could ring the bell, a stiff and tall Caucasian male butler appeared on the other side of the glass. He had icy-blue eyes and a bald-shaved head, and wore an old-fashioned black butler suit, complete with white shirt and gloves.

Without cracking a smile, he opened the door. “You’re expected. Follow me.”

A cold sweat soaked Kellie’s skin. She took a deep breath.

He strolled down a short hall filled with gothic paintings, and she hurried to keep up.

Golden candelabras sat on tiny tables under each painting, giving a mystic flicker against the darkened hall. Eerie Celtic harp music grew louder. They went through a door at the end of the hall, down a carpeted flight of dimly lit steps and a second hallway paneled in dark wood.

By the time the butler stopped outside a huge, deep-brown paneled door, the music thumped through the shiny hardwood floor and sent vibrations through her feet. “Wait here.

The Mistress will be here momentarily.” He turned and left.

Apprehension nearly choked her. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. For all she knew, she’d just agreed to offer her body for a sacrifice to some sadistic group against dykes, or worse, lesbian cops.

Kellie turned around. The butler’s posture-perfect frame disappeared down the hall.

She turned to the door again, wondering how fast she could haul ass back to her car, back to her safe home. She was a cop, damnit. As if she wasn’t in enough shit, cops didn’t visit private dungeons, invited or not.

“Welcome, Tangled.”

46 Sheri Livingston

Kellie jerked around at the deep voice to find the tiny space behind her vacant. Her cop instincts took over. She flicked her sight over the floor, walls, and ceiling. As she suspected, she found a speaker set in the corner against the ceiling with a tiny camera attached to the side.

Whoever ran the private basement spared no expense to protect whatever lay behind this door. Was it her Stressed? The woman who made her wet with need, then left her sinking in desire?

With a deep, unsteady sigh, Kellie stared straight at the camera. “Hello.”

“You were instructed to bring a blindfold. Put it on, and your fun shall begin.” Kellie pulled the blindfold out of the bag and placed it over her eyes, then turned back to the door.

She first heard a light click followed shortly by the loud sound of a lock disengaging.

The dark, pounding music roared to a deafening level. A light breeze sucked at the bare skin of her arms.

“Hi, Tangled. I’m Monica, the Mistress of the house.” The woman’s voice was raspy and deep, oozing with authority.

Kellie almost jerked back when cold fingers touched her hand. Without her sight, her remaining senses went into high alert. She allowed the woman to twine their fingers together and lead her down three steps to the lower floor. Intimidating moans of passion grew louder from every direction, curling her nerves into a tight ball…in front, behind, beside…the sound was everywhere. Tension coiled in her gut.

Faint voices mingled together as the woman led Kellie further. “To your left is the room you’ll be using.” The woman led her into a space that shut out the thrum of music, leaving a steady muffled beat. “Give me your bag. Straight ahead, two steps, is a bed. Lie flat on your back.”

Kellie handed her the duffle, took two timid paces, then felt for the bed. Her fingertips glided over smooth, cool fabric of the coverlet, the sound nothing more than a whisper while Watching You

47

her body thrummed with the bass through the floor. She slowly turned around and sat, scooted to the center, and lay down. Her heart nearly exploded as her wrist was grabbed by cold fingers on one side of the bed. She struggled to remain calm when the cold metal snapped and clicked around one wrist. Control, slowly vanishing.

The woman’s heels ticked against the floor. She rounded to the other side. Kellie flexed her arm muscle and clenched her fist, willing her nerves to settle.

I can do this. I can do this. I can do this!

Kellie inhaled sharply as the woman’s cold fingers closed around her other wrist. She loosened her fist and allowed the woman to pull her wrist to the edge. The cuff clamped into place with a metallic ratchet.

Kellie followed the sound of the woman’s heels as they started their staccato stride and didn’t struggle when she tied Kellie’s ankles to the footboard.

I’m fine. This is what I wanted. I came here of my own free will. Breathe. Relax.

Totally and completely, she’d lost her control.

Kellie took a deep intake of breath. Trepidation nipped at her mind. She wanted to remain calm long enough to get to know this woman, the woman who’d set her soul on fire only days ago.

“Tangled, you’re not here to be dominated. There will be no pain. Your safe word is

‘Pigs’. Only use it when you can’t go further. Do you understand?”

Kellie nodded and expelled a grateful sigh. Surrendering control was one thing, but she wasn’t sure just how far she could allow her mystery lady to go before she buckled under pressure or in pain.

“Where is Stressed?” Her voice sounded strangled and breathy, not what she wanted this woman to hear.

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“Your Mistress will be here momentarily.” The woman sounded so cold, so robotic, and so uncaring. As much as Kellie wanted to experience this, to yield, give up all power, she prayed it would be to a warm and understanding woman, not a heartless, uncaring bitch.

The door opened and closed. Kellie listened for noise, unable hear anything but the mumbled thump of music. Fear gripped her gut. Had Stressed meant to leave her shackled to this bed, just like she left her burning alive behind the computer screen? Was this all just some sick joke she’d willingly begged to be involved in?

The end of the bed dented with weight. Kellie stilled from gasping. Suddenly, warm hands clasped her ankles, stroked the rough denim encasing her legs, and stalled on either side of her inner thighs. Small, delicate hands pushed her knees further apart.

Just the tiny gesture had liquid pooling between Kellie’s thighs. She’d never been in a situation where she couldn’t touch her partner, couldn’t feel her flesh, or give her pleasure.

This was going to be harder than she thought, definitely harder than she imagined.

As the hands eased higher, over her hips, further still to touch her shirt, Kellie felt the warm fingers…caring and exploring. The owner of those hands seemed to memorize the feel of her flesh through the material.

Kellie smiled and licked her lips. “Hello, Stressed.”

Paige almost gasped with Kellie’s words. It was all she could do to stand in the corner when Kellie had fumbled for the bed. Not speaking, waiting while Monica tightened the cuffs around her wrists and ankles, then understanding the fear that tightened Kellie’s lips into a grim line, had been the hardest thing she ever did. She wanted to be the one to restrain her, help her lose control.

Stripping naked while she waited helped keep her focused.

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She lowered her voice into a low, raspy whisper. “Hello, Tangled.” Paige slipped her hand between Kellie’s legs, felt the heat penetrating through her soft jeans. “I bet you’re all wet under here,” she whispered close to her ear.

She took in a deep breath, luxuriating in the musky scent of Kellie’s body as it filled her nostrils.

Kellie nodded and bit down on her bottom lip. “Why didn’t you take them off?” Her voice strained through her ripe lips.

Paige snickered and rubbed harder, wanting to tear the denim away with her teeth, and slurp at Kellie’s flesh like a melting ice cream cone. How far could she push Kellie before she screamed out her need? How far could she really take this game of seduction without an ounce of knowledge about dominance and submission, no matter how many tips Monica and Gail had given her? This wasn’t her, not her style, yet she wanted to continue, to make Kellie beg.

Kellie’s hips arched. Her hands tightened into fist.

Paige licked her parched lips, wanting to slip her fingers deep inside her chosen captive’s warm, slick folds and thrust until her scream sounded above the music.

Instead, she crawled over Kellie’s body and straddled her hips. Her heart hammered like a Hawaiian drum. Everything she’d envisioned or imagined was now all too real, lying in the flesh beneath her. She wanted to rip the blindfold off, just like Gail had instructed her to do, to catch Kellie’s reaction at first sight.

Sitting there, wanting to do all the things she’d dreamt of, she knew she couldn’t take that leap. What if Kellie rejected her? What if she went into a fit of rage, screaming to be set free? Nope. She didn’t have the courage to risk her pride like that.

Kellie chuckled. “Well, at least you’re not the four-hundred-pound woman I feared you might be. You’re a tiny little thing.”

50 Sheri Livingston

Paige shook her head, brushed a finger across Kellie’s sensual lips, then slowly lifted the tight T-shirt to reveal a thin white sports bra. Swollen nipples pressed against the material, daring Paige to nip and suck on them. With unsteady fingers, she pushed the bra up, exposing dark discs around a hardened, pink tip.

Paige leaned down, ran her tongue around the outer edge, listening to Kellie’s steady breath grow staggered. She nipped at the right nipple. Kellie thrust her hips in the air as if the connection to her crotch was enough to cause her immediate pleasure. Paige sucked the jeweled tip between her lips, gently gnawing the sweet flesh between her teeth.

Kellie parted her lips and released a soft cry. “Please, take off the handcuffs.”

Breathless, she jerked against the restraints. “I need to touch you. I want to see you.”

Paige sucked harder, pulling at her nipple.

Kellie squirmed, pumping her hips against thin air. “Please! I can’t stand this,” she begged.

Paige shimmied up Kellie’s torso and offered her a nipple, pressing the tip against her parted lips.

Kellie jolted for a second before her tongue jutted out and began to lick and suck at the edge.

Heat traveled down Paige’s body, rebounded through her crotch, and then reversed fire straight to her nipple. The sizzling heat stole her breath. She released a passionate cry and pulled away, almost afraid of the sensations taking over her body. This night was meant for Kellie, meant to turn the “I’m not going to submit” into a submissive.

Now all she wanted was to unbind her wrists so Kellie’s hands could roam over her flesh, consume Paige with sensual touches.

As much as the hunger ripped through her mind, she knew better. Kellie had made herself clear by ignoring Paige…making Paige the invisible woman. Until Paige barked her objections in the pizzeria, Kellie might never have noticed she was alive.

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Nope. Letting Kellie know who she was would be the biggest mistake she ever made.

Best to continue the charade. She’d have her memories of this night, would hear Kellie’s moans over and over in her mind. All Kellie would have is the woman she’d never know.

That would be satisfaction enough for Paige.

Paige rolled off the bed and grabbed the bag. A brand new, shiny, lime-green strap-on lay inside. She scooped the dildo out, removed her new toy from the box, and went back to the bed.

She nudged Kellie’s hips until she lifted her ass off the mattress.

“Why won’t you talk to me?” Kellie asked.

Paige strapped the device around Kellie’s lean thighs.

“What are you doing? Oh, Jesus. You can’t…just untie one hand. I swear I won’t take off the blindfold. Please!”

Heat ignited in Paige’s body at the sound of Kellie’s pleas for freedom, the fire tearing through her veins and nestling in her crotch. She reached for the light of sanity to stop herself from ripping the clothes off the nubile body restrained on the bed and fucking her until only the sound of her ecstatic screams of rapture filled her ears.

She strolled around the bed and ran a finger down Kellie’s left leg, then dragged it up the side of the other leg. She stopped and dipped her finger into the soft space between her captive’s legs to tease her crotch.

Kellie relaxed against the satin sheets, but arched her hips in anticipation. Her chest rose and fell with staggered breaths when Paige straddled her hips again, leaning over to rub their breasts together.

“Unlock the cuffs.”

Kellie’s soft whisper erupted a volcano inside Paige, pouring hot lava through her veins. “No.”

Kellie jerked against the restraints.

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Paige knelt over the top of Kellie, her legs on either side of her spread thighs, then grabbed the head of the dildo, guiding it to her wet opening and slowly slid down over it, letting a cry of pleasure slip from her throat.

Slowly, she rose and fell, stroking her pussy walls with the dick, wishing it was Kellie’s fingers gliding inside her. She let more throaty moans free while Kellie tugged at the handcuffs.

“Take these fucking things off me.”

Paige reached between her own legs and pressed a single finger against her clit, then whispered. “I’m going to do to myself what I want you to do to me.” She flicked faster, releasing more moans, kicking up the guttural groans for Kellie to hear.

“Damnit, I’ll scream the safe word and put an end to this whole thing.”

“No, you won’t. You want to hear, to remember. You’ll remember my pleasure every day of your life.” As much as Paige didn’t want to talk, the need to set Kellie on fire with words was overcoming her, controlling her common sense.

Paige continued riding the dildo, flicking faster against her clit. “I’m going to come…for you. I want you to hear every…gasp of…breath.”

Kellie’s face turned bright red. She chewed her bottom lip.

A hard yank against the restraint let Paige know how desperate Kellie was to be freed.

Not out of fear or lack of control, rather out of desire and a genuine need to touch Paige.

“I want to taste you.”

Paige almost lost her breath with Kellie’s plea. She stopped flicking, leaned closer to Kellie’s face, and pressed her fingers against her lips.

Kellie clamped her teeth around Paige’s fingers and sucked like a vampire receiving an overdue taste of blood.

With every suck, molten heat coursed through Paige. She rode the dildo harder.

“Put your pussy in my face.”

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Paige pulled her finger from Kellie’s mouth with a groan. As much as she wanted to deny Kellie’s request, she needed to continue the show of dominance to prove Kellie could submit herself to another. She wanted Kellie to have pleasure by the hands of a woman who she would never see, only hear and feel. Paige had never ached so badly in her life, never wanted to be with someone so bad. Yet, this someone didn’t want her. To Kellie, Paige never existed.

With her pussy burning like an inferno, forehead damp with sweat, and an inner need ripping through her gut, Paige slid off the dick.

“Please, I’m begging you, take off the restraints. Domination is trust…submission is trust. I trusted you to handcuff me. Now, trust me. I won’t take off the blindfold.”

“You’re not in control here, Tangled. There are no little wifies rushing around naked to do your bidding. Just me…just you, with me in control.” Paige climbed further, keeping her voice low and exotic, then pressed her crotch near Kellie’s face. “Smell how aroused I am…for you.”

Kellie inhaled deeply and gave a final tug against the cuffs, her fist tight against the headboard. “Closer!”

Paige pushed her crotch into Kellie’s mouth, and immediately her clit was sucked between Kellie’s lips.

Paige pressed her cheek flat against the wall behind the headboard and reached for Kellie’s hands, needing to touch her, to hold even a small part of her.

Kellie entwined their fingers and sucked harder, almost pulling and holding her pussy with the suction. Her tongue flickered against Paige’s clit and rubbed the swollen bud, sending electric volts of energy through her.

She rocked over Kellie’s face, willed her orgasm to hold on, to not lose control so fast, so sudden.

54 Sheri Livingston

As if Kellie knew Paige was on the brink of losing the restraint, she released her clit and jammed her tongue inside her cunt.

Paige screamed out in shock, gripping tight to Kellie’s hands, and rocked her hips in lazy circles over the tongue plunging inside her.

Suddenly, there was no music beating against the floor and walls, just her harsh moans and Kellie’s guttural hums, as if Paige was feeding her famished appetite.

Kellie’s hands tightened, holding Paige’s weight even while the cuffs cut against her skin, and with one final thrust of her tongue, Paige’s orgasm recoiled and then was hurled over the edge.

She sucked in her breath and dug her forehead against the cold-paneled wall, gripping Kellie’s hands like a life support, while convulsing pulses coursed through her body.

Kellie continued tongue-fucking her, lapping at her, flicking at her clit, until Paige’s insides tightened a final time.

“Breathe, baby.” Kellie’s words, so soft and seductive, so warm and caring, floated above the quietness, bringing back the muffled music in a rush.

Paige inhaled sharply, lungs burning with needed air.

“Now, kiss me.”

Confused and out of her mind with satisfaction, Paige moved down Kellie’s body to stare at her, wondering what she would taste like on the lips of her captive. With her knees quivering and insides still pulsing, she slid back and lay flat over Kellie, inhaling her musky scent.

She hesitantly pressed her lips against Kellie’s, smelling, tasting her own arousal.

Kellie’s soft lips parted, inviting Paige inside.

Paige closed her eyes. Kellie’s tongue slid against the seam of her mouth, caressing her lips with a tease before pushing further, invading Paige’s mouth with the same vengeance she’d invaded her cunt.

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Their tongues met in a quick duel, almost lapping against each other before slowing to an exploration, soft and gentle.

Paige moaned. Her insides tightened with renewed want. Her hair drifted around Kellie’s face. Her mind reeled with images of Kellie in her uniform, athletic body filling the material as if it was tailored to only her.

Suddenly, her heart jolted in her chest, making her ashamed of what she was doing, of what she’d already done, of how much more she wanted to do.

She broke the kiss and pulled away. Her gaze flicked over Kellie’s face, to her disarrayed hair, her sensual, kissable lips glazed with their kiss, and knew she couldn’t take this charade another step. With a deep sigh, she memorized every feature, knowing it would be the last and only time she ever saw her like this, this vulnerable, this submissive.

Kellie’s hot breath feathered across her cheek, disturbing the strands of her hair. “Oh, sweet Jesus.” She took a deliberate, deep inhalation. “It’s…”

Paige lightly touched Kellie’s lips with her fingertip, caressing their outline, then slowly pressed a kiss against them. Kellie’s hesitantly pushed against hers.

With gritted teeth, tears stinging her lids, Paige whispered, “Pigs.”

She rolled off the bed, grabbed the terrycloth robe, and fled from the room.

56 Sheri Livingston

Chapter Six

Kellie yanked and tugged against the handcuffs, fury took control, Paige’s scent still permeating the air, the wild aroma she’d know anywhere. How could she have been so stupid to walk right into Paige’s trap? She prayed the bitch found humor in Kellie’s submission, in her own revenge.

Suddenly, the music blared, and then the door closed again. “Hold on, sweet cheeks.”

Kellie recognized Monica’s voice.

Cool fingers wrapped around her hand. “I’m going to uncuff you. Don’t start swinging.”

The woman had the nerve to giggle as she inserted the key. The cuff was released.

Kellie yanked the blindfold off. A very curvy six-foot-tall woman clad in black leather corset and thigh-high boots stood hipshot by the bed. Her dark chocolate eyes looked almost black. She twirled a pair of handcuffs around her long, slender fingers.

“Where the fuck is she?”

Monica’s long, straight, black hair fell around her face as she concentrated on the restraints around Kellie’s ankles. “I know you’re a cop, and I trust you’ll forget this address for obvious reasons. Your identity is safe here as well.” She released Kellie’s other ankle, made her way up to the last handcuff around her wrist, and unlocked it.

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“Where is she?” Kellie sat up and rubbed the sore skin around her wrists, not caring she had a strap-on wrapped around her hips in front of a genuine dominatrix. The woman oozed control while her breasts squeezed over the top of her shiny-black bustier. Her long legs were encased in a pair of matching shorts while a braided flogger adorned her hip, threatening leather strips hung by her side.

Kellie leaned forward and tore the straps from around her hips, then tossed the dildo to the floor.

“She left.” Monica backed up to the wall and crossed her arms.

Kellie pushed off the bed and adjusted her sports bra and shirt back into place. As much as she should be embarrassed she’d been left handcuffed to a damn twin-size bed, she was too damn pissed and horny to let another emotion creep in.

Her temper flared as she yanked open the door and turned back to the woman.

Monica’s eyes were black with liner, lashes thick and sultry. “Your address is already forgotten.”

Monica nodded, compassion spreading over her face. “Honey, I’ve seen a lot of women come and go around here. I must say, I’ve never seen one leave quite as flushed as that one did. Whatever you did to her…well, let’s just say, I don’t think she expected it.” Her gaze drifted away from Kellie for a second. “You’re both in the wrong place.”

Kellie considered her words.

Had Paige found what she was looking for, been terrified of the results, or happy with herself for thinking she’d gotten even?

Kellie left the room. Closed doors lined both sides of the narrow hallway and cries of pleasurable pain spilled from behind each one. She gritted her teeth and kept walking until she found the stairs she was sure led her into this subterranean hideaway. With one last glance around, she made her way out of the basement, still furious. Her “mystery lady,”

58 Sheri Livingston

Paige, the wild-smelling, exotic bitch, had left her still wanting more, needing more than she’d been given tonight.

There was a slim chance Paige would ever admit it was she who had turned her into a boneless mass of quivering need, even if it was out of hatred. How could she still want the betraying vixen?

As she stomped to her car, she yanked open her cell and dialed the direct line to the 911 operator office. The line was picked up after two rings.

“911 headquarters. This is Heidi.”

“Hi, sweetie. This is Kellie. I need a huge favor.”

“Anything for you, doll. Whatcha need?”

“Gail’s cell number.”

* * * * *

“You did what?” Gail bellowed over the thundering music in the bar two hours after Paige fled from the basement. The thundering rap music made their voices almost impossible to hear. It was giving her a headache. Then again, it could be from the amount of crying she’d done on her mad dash back home.

“That was not what we planned.”

Paige tossed down her second kamikaze, thankful Gail had called and invited her out for a drink. Vodka and Triple Sec burned a path to her stomach. She needed to spill her guts.

She didn’t think she could sit at home alone another second or allow another image of Kellie to flutter through her mind without going into a fit of self-loathing.

Even the icy-cold shower she took didn’t sedate the hot flashes rushing through her veins every time she recalled Kellie’s tongue sliding inside her.

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What the hell possessed her to do that after Kellie apologized? She couldn’t be more ashamed of herself right now if she’d ripped a bottle out of a baby’s hand. Gail sure didn’t help with her hard glares.

“I couldn’t help it. I was going to tell her, and then things just went, well, too far.”

“No fucking kidding.” Gail took a long swig of her long-neck Budweiser and shook her head. “I can’t believe you. Yet, it doesn’t surprise me. What a freaky woman you are.” She wiggled her brow playfully. “I wonder if I could do the same to Veronica.”

Paige grinned and shuddered to think of her boss in a sexual way. Feeling the effects of the shots, she hoped Gail would offer her a ride when she got too drunk to remember she was a complete and total asshole. “You’re a sick woman.”

“Me? I didn’t tie a woman up, strap a cock to her, ride that to a climax before I climb over her face, then race from the room. Hello!” She leaned back and slung her foot onto the empty chair between them. “But damn, you’ve given me some great ideas.”

Paige rolled her eyes, gut still knotted remembering what she’d done, how much more she’d wanted to do, how desperate she was to let Kellie know it was her. How embarrassed she would have been to have Kellie toss her aside like garbage.

She’d never had a woman slip her tongue inside her before. Just the thought had liquid settling against her thong, bursting her nerves into flames.

Gail tapped her fingers on top of Paige’s hand. “Are you going to tell her?”

Paige nodded and reached for her last shot. “I’ll look her number up tomorrow and call her.” With Gail’s disbelieving stare, Paige added. “I swear, I’ll tell her, no matter how much she hates me.” A thought occurred to Paige, and she leaned over the table. “Can she arrest me for that? Oh, my God! Could I go to jail?”

Gail diverted her eyes across the room, grinned and lifted her beer. “Why don’t you ask her yourself? She just walked in.”

Paige spun around and found Kellie crossing the floor, heading to the counter.

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Kellie’s gaze drifted around the room and settled on Paige. This time, she didn’t look away like at work, this time she didn’t give her a stupid curt nod as if she were a tight ass and couldn’t manage more. This time, she stared. Paige wanted to pool into the floor like the cream pooling against her crotch at the sight of those beautiful eyes.

When the bartender approached, Kellie looked away.

Paige released her breath and turned back to Gail, vigorously shaking her head. “Oh, shit! I can’t tell her.”

“Can I?” She smiled sarcastically as Paige’s eyes widened. “She’s not wearing her gun, so she can’t shoot you. However, she does combat training. I think she could kick your ass.

Hmm. That might be fun to watch. Think they’d let us form a ring of Jello?”

Even though Paige knew Gail was kidding, a cold sweat broke out along her spine.

Would Kellie really be that pissed? She might very well. Could Paige blame her if she was? It wasn’t every day someone left you horny on a computer, only to leave you saturated with want days later, and on top of that, tied defenseless to a bed. To add insult to injury, it had been in a strange place, with a woman Kellie hadn’t even known.

As much as she wanted to gather enough courage to confess, to take whatever ranting Kellie might do, tonight wouldn’t be the time…not while endorphins were still running amok through her body.

“You brought me here on purpose, didn’t you?” Realization hit Paige hard.

Before Gail could answer, even though the grin spreading across her face was answer enough, another shot glass slammed down in front of her. She gulped, then looked up to find Kellie’s deep, green eyes looking down at her.

“The bartender said you were drinking shots. I thought you might need a refill.” Kellie actually grinned, a genuine smile, and then handed a beer to Gail. “How’s it going? Mind if I sit with you guys?”

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Gail removed her foot from the chair while Paige stared stupidly. “Sure, thanks. The more the merrier. Don’t you think, Paige?”

Paige could only nod, still sitting there with her mouth open like a fish out of water while Kellie turned the chair around and straddled it.

“I never got a chance to finish my conversation.” Kellie tipped her beer up, parted her lips, and let the liquid flow inside her mouth.

The gesture was mesmerizing. Paige’s clit had been between those lips only hours ago.

That tongue had dipped inside her body, making her come harder than she’d ever come in her life.

I’ll just write her a letter, have it delivered to her office, and then lay out of work for a week. That should be enough time to let her simmer down. Right?

“Hey, drunk ass.” Gail slapped the table, jolting Paige from her thoughts.

“Um, oh, no problem. Randy is a jerk, yeah, and hey, don’t worry about it.” Paige inwardly cussed herself for those spewed out words, then tossed back the shot. “Thanks.” She indicated the glass with a nod, then sat it back on the table.

The music halted for a brief second before a slow song started.

Couples filed onto the dance floor. They entwined fingers and swayed to the beat. Too bad she didn’t have a partner, a lover to cuddle with and share sweet nothings with.

“Would you like to dance?”

Paige slowly turned to look at Kellie, not sure she’d heard her right.

Kellie smiled. “I can explain about Randy.”

Paige numbly nodded and rose, insides quivering like a vibrator. Her knees trembled.

She took a step, praying Kellie hadn’t seen the slightly off-balance, tipsy wobble.

As she neared the center of the stage, letting the crowd surround her, she was aware of Kellie at her back, close enough to touch, close enough to feel the heat from her body.

62 Sheri Livingston

Before Paige could turn around, Kellie gently grabbed her hips, stopping her, and then pressed against her back.

Heat snapped down Paige’s spine, making her head buzz and warmth nestle in her crotch, making the sleeping embers of carnal hunger spark into a roaring fire.

Kellie wrapped her arms around her stomach, and their bodies swayed. Kellie led, Paige eagerly followed.

“I can talk better this way.” Kellie’s breathe feathered across her neck and cheek, making tingles coil down her spine. “What I’m going to tell you…” She took a hefty sniff against Paige’s hair, then stiffened against Paige’s back, before calmly, yet dryly, continuing.

“This can’t go further than you. Okay?”

Paige nodded and wondered what made her stall. With Kellie’s body pressed so tightly against her back, she would have agreed to sell her soul to the devil without so much as a second thought.

“I punched a sixteen-year-old kid three weeks ago at the arcade. His parents are suing the precinct. I could lose my job if they win. I’m on probation until the case is over. If I so much as blink hard or say a cross word, I’ll be fired. I could be fired anyway, and I’m going out of my mind. Arresting criminals is my job, my world, and what makes me tick. I became a cop to do justice to the world. If I lose that, I’ve lost everything.”

Tears rushed behind Paige’s lids. Now, more than ever, she felt completely ashamed of herself, wanted desperately to turn in Kellie’s arms and confess everything. The tone of Kellie’s voice, the sorrow in her words, the meaning behind her sentences, kept Paige from doing just that.

She closed her eyes, shutting out the pattern of strobe lights twirling against her face, and let the weight of her head rest against Kellie’s shoulder, completely comfortable. “Were there witnesses?”

“Yes.”

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“Then you shouldn’t have anything…to worry about.” Paige wished she knew cop lingo so she could keep up with Kellie’s confession…anything to keep her mind off the guilt flooding her mind.

“It’s more complicated than that.”

Paige bit her lip. Her stomach went queasy with fear. There was more to the story, something Kellie was hiding.

“As much as I wanted to defend you, defend women, and defend myself the other day, I can’t. It was stupid of me to pretend I agreed with him or that I was anything like him. I’d give anything in the world to knock out his fat ass, but it would cost me everything that means anything to me. I’m very sorry.”

Kellie pressed their bodies closer. “I sound like a pathetic wimp, pouring out everything. I’ve just had a horrible, fucked-up night and only wanted a drink to help make it all go away. Now here I am spilling my guts to you, as if you could give a shit after the way I treated you.”

Paige stiffened, but didn’t break stride in their sway. She was the reason for Kellie’s awful night, the reason behind her need to drink away her thoughts.

“It’s okay. I told you not to worry about it. I can defend myself to Randy.” As much as she wanted Kellie to defend her, the reason why she couldn’t overrode everything else. She couldn’t blame Kellie for not wanting to risk her career to shut up a male chauvinist pig.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to her. Kellie’s profile, the one that said she wanted her women naked, waiting on her hand and foot…wasn’t that the real Kellie? Randy didn’t force her to say those words. Yet, Paige couldn’t ask her. A question like that would give her away.

Kellie’s arms tightened around her, and she deeply inhaled with her face pressed into Paige’s hair. Then she gave an odd chuckle. “You smell good…like wildflowers.”

Before Paige could react to the pressure of her arms, or the meaning to her laughter or sexual words, Kellie’s warm lips were against her neck. She kissed the flesh, hesitantly at 64 Sheri Livingston

first, as if waiting for Paige’s reaction. When she didn’t object, Kellie sucked and then nipped.

Paige angled her head and offered more skin to torment with her hot breath.

Slowly, Kellie’s mouth rose to her ear and sucked the lobe into her mouth. “I’m a cop. I shouldn’t be doing this. But you look so edible tonight, such a tiny, little thing.”

Paige wanted to beg her to take her right here in the middle of other swaying bodies, wanted to hike the loose skirt she’d changed into and invite Kellie back for an encore.

Instead, she swayed, completely in awe of the whispered words, hoping her gestures would give all the permission Kellie needed.

“Thank you.” Paige slowly rubbed Kellie’s arms, wanting to drop to her knees and yank Kellie’s pants down her thighs and lick her clit until she screamed above the acoustic.

“Why…are you doing this?”

“Hours ago, I was with a woman, a woman I couldn’t see, only feel…and smell.” Kellie actually moaned, a sound that sparked the fire licking Paige’s inner thighs into a rupture of lava, burning her alive from the inside out. “Do you like to be dominated, Paige?”

Paige stared around her, suddenly scared. Did Kellie know? Had she known the whole time? “Why?”

“Answer the question.” Kellie licked a wet path from behind her ear, down her neck, and nipped sharply on Paige’s shoulder.

Paige almost screamed, feeling her tension ready to unravel and leave her a blubbering and begging disaster. What the hell was Kellie up to?

“Sometimes.” It was the only thing that came to mind, knowing she never wanted to be dominated, never taking orders from anyone, ever, never. Yet, wasn’t that exactly what she was doing?

Kellie pressed her mouth against Paige’s ear. “Are you wearing panties?”

Paige nodded.

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With sure and steady hands, Kellie slipped her fingers under the sides of Paige’s skirt, and with nothing more than a flex of her fists, snapped Paige’s thong in half. “Not anymore.”

Paige released the pent-up moan trapped in her throat. The slow grind of guitars gobbled up the sound.

Kellie removed her hands and shoved the tattered strings into her pants pocket.

“Something to remember you.”

“What the hell…are you doing?” Paige managed, wondering why she was questioning something she wanted to happen so bad it was making her head spin.

Kellie’s hand slithered back under the short skirt and squeezed her inner thigh, kneading the flesh. She released a guttural groan, the sound resembling a mating call. Paige nearly passed out cold to hear such lust in someone’s voice. Would that exact sound have escaped her throat hours ago had she known it was Paige straddling her, teasing and binding her?

Paige held her breath and lifted her head away from Kellie’s shoulder.

Kellie tightened her grip, trapping Paige in her tight arms. “Worse than being blindfolded, worse than not being able to lay my hands on her, I imagined she was someone else.”

“Wh…what do you mean?” Suddenly, Paige felt cheap, the lowest of the low, to have been with a woman she couldn’t get out of her mind, while Kellie’s mind was on someone else. She controlled the urge to scratch at her skin.

“I can’t get her out of my mind. I hear her sharp breaths, and I pretend she’s inhaling my scent. I catch her watching, and pray it’s lust I see swarming in her beautiful eyes.” Her fingers slipped between Paige’s legs and pulled them further apart. “Every day, I want to press her petite body against a wall, make love to her. Sometimes I even want to fuck her, hard, dominate her in every way. Yet, I can’t have her, don’t deserve her.”

66 Sheri Livingston

Paige swallowed, suddenly envious of the mystery woman in Kellie’s mind, wanting to know the place she frequented so much so she could claw her eyes out, pull her hair out by thick handfuls, leave her ugly and grotesque so Kellie wouldn’t want her so bad.

“She drives me insane with want. No matter where I go, no matter what I do, no matter where I hide, I can’t escape her scent. She pushes me to my breaking point of jagged lust.”

Paige almost choked on her gasp when Kellie’s fingers tugged her clit. She wanted to vigorously shake her head to clear the jealousy ripping her common sense apart.

She resisted the urge to twist around and kiss Kellie square on the mouth, to claim her right then and there, no matter who Kellie wanted, no matter who Kellie desired, but knew the act would be fatal.

“I shouldn’t be doing this, with you, with a certain woman still fresh on my mind, on my lips.” Kellie moved her mouth against Paige’s cheek and whispered, “I should stop.”

Paige shook her head, too far gone in wet need to stop now. She was a sick person to still be standing here while Kellie talked so seductively about another woman. “Don’t.”

Kellie’s smile formed against her jaw. “Have you ever come in public, Paige?”

Paige let her gaze roam around them, to the faces not paying them any attention. “No.”

“I think it’s sexy.” Kellie licked the edge of her jaw. “I’ve always wanted to bring her here, to do this very thing to her, to make her howl over the speakers.”

Before Paige could respond, Kellie slid her fingers between her swollen lips and plunged them to the palm inside.

Intense tingles shot up her spine. She gasped for breath and clutched at Kellie’s arms, knees weakening.

“Mmmm. You’re soaked. Did my words about another woman turn you on?” Her strokes deepened.

“No!”

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Kellie’s fingers froze, taking away the heavenly thrusts inside her body.

“You’re lying to me. It’s not nice to lie, Paige.” Kellie nipped her ear, not hard enough to cause pain, but enough to leave a sting.

“Yes…yes, they did.” Paige rushed the words through her parted lips, rolling her hips, resisting the need to shove Kellie’s fingers further inside her.

Slowly, they pushed deeper, then deeper still.

Her fingers pressed against the front of Paige’s cunt, rubbing something that made Paige jolt in surprise as unimaginable pleasure sparked through her crotch.

“Your g-spot.” Kellie’s finger paused over the target. “Will you let me do to you what I wanted to do to her?”

Pathetically, Paige felt herself nod, not giving a shit she was being used, just wanting Kellie to keep pressing that target until she came all over her fingers.

“Good, girl. Our secret will be safe, right?”

Another nod and Paige was done, completely at the mercy of a woman she wanted, who wanted another.

From underneath the other side of her skirt, Kellie pressed something rubbery against her hip.

The music stopped. Couples moved off the dance floor, leaving them alone except for a few stragglers, while a fast song replaced the slow. More people moved back to the floor, jumping and laughing as they began to dance.

Paige felt completely naked, vulnerable to prying eyes.

“Don’t look at them. Close your eyes. Just me…just you, with me in control.”

Paige cringed inwardly. Was Kellie taunting her with her own words? Was it pure coincidence?

“Can’t we just get…?”

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Kellie squeezed, sending more pleasurable pain through her cunt, putting an endless ache in her crotch.

“Do as I say, Paige.”

As much as she wanted to tear herself away, she was putty in Kellie’s hand. Worse, Kellie now knew it, knew she had complete control over Paige’s body as her knees trembled to keep her upright.

More couples formed around them, until finally, bodies were pressing against them from all sides. Paige closed her eyes, shutting out any visions other than the ones conjured in her mind, matching the ones she’d witnessed tonight.

“I bought a few toys for her tonight, regretfully never got to use them.” The rubbery tip tapped against Paige’s thigh again. “Stick this in your wet pussy.”

Paige reached under her skirt, careful to keep the front down so no one would see their playing hands. Kellie removed her fingers, leaving Paige’s cunt cold and empty, yet giving her freedom to shove what felt like a tiny dildo inside.

“There you go. Get it wet for me.”

Paige gripped the smooth end and pushed it inside. Kellie’s hands followed, driving the device deeper. She slowly pulled it out. Paige opened her eyes to watch the people around her. Did they know what she was doing? Could they tell the hands under her skirt were working magic while the orbs of bright lights danced against their faces?

Kellie’s fingers filled her again, finding that bull’s-eye immediately.

Paige let loose a soft cry.

“Bring it around to your ass…push it inside.”

Kellie pulled away, leaving room between them for Paige’s arm.

Paige widened her eyes and attempted to turn in Kellie’s grasp.

Kellie’s arms tightened, making the muscles ripple under Paige’s hand.

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Her fingers continued pressing and rubbing that damn spot, intensifying the heat.

“Do it, Paige.” Kellie pressed harder against her g-spot. “Close your eyes and don’t open them until I say so.”

Paige closed her eyes. She was so close, so near what she knew was going to be a hard, pumping orgasm, her second for the night. Slowly, she moved the tip between the cheeks of her ass, moved it down until she felt it dip against her anus, and then pushed.

Kellie’s free hand formed against the back of hers, pushing, forcing the butt plug against the tight walls.

Paige shook her head while her asshole burned…not in pleasure, but in pain. “I can’t. I can’t do it.”

“Yes, you can, and you will.” Kellie wrapped her fingers around Paige’s, adding pressure to the plug. “Relax. Feel my fingers inside you…nothing else. The pain will only last a second. Trust me. A part of surrendering is trust. Do you know how to trust?”

No. I don’t, as a matter of fact. I have an asshole for a fa h t er who agrees with Randy

h

t a I

t shou d

l be at home w t

i h a bun in the oven and dinner steaming on the table. I don’t want to trust you…you didn’t defend my independence, your independence.

But she’d made up for that, right? Said she was sorry and explained.

Paige wanted to trust so bad, even while they stood in the center of the crowded dance floor with people oblivious to them, she wanted to trust with all of her heart, wanted to follow every command, no matter how much it made her sick that she was taking orders from a woman who wanted to give them to another.

As Kellie’s fingers worked more enchantment, Paige tried to relax her butt muscles.

She arched her back, pressing against the plug.

The burn started again, intensifying, sending sparks of fire down her legs.

With a slow shove, the tip entered her. Paige cried out and gripped at Kellie’s arm.

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Kellie’s fingers inside her quickened, rubbing with rhythmic speed in her cunt, pushing Paige closer to an orgasm. Sweat rolled between her breasts. Kellie pushed harder.

The pleasure in her crotch gathered, bunching and tightening, gripping and pulsing around Kellie’s fingers. Kellie pushed again, and with a sharp cry of desire from Paige, the plug slipped completely inside her.

The burn subsided, leaving only a full, satisfied feeling. She ground her hips against Kellie, pushing the plug deeper inside her ass, then moved away to slowly release the pressure and start all over again.

“Come for me, Paige. I want to hear you roar above this music.”

With her last words, she jammed her fingers against Paige’s g-spot, wiggling them fast and hard.

Paige gasped one final breath as her orgasm jolted over the edge. She screamed, praying the sound was lost in the slow, pounding drums, and shoved her ass against Kellie.

Kellie’s arms tightened around her, keeping Paige from spilling to the dance floor, and thrust her fingers in and out, over and over, squeezing her crotch.

Her anus walls gripped the plug with every pump, every heavenly pulse, nothing like she’d ever felt before.

When Paige thought the end was in sight, when her quim would finally stop convulsing, her orgasm would catapult into fresh bouts of seizures. Kellie’s fingers never stopped fucking her, spreading and teasing her insides.

“Oh…my…God!” Paige howled and ground her head against Kellie, not able to hold her tongue a moment longer.

Finally, the tremors simmered. Kellie still held her tight, supporting all of her weight against her body, fingers still buried deep inside.

“Wow, what a show.” Kellie said, her mouth pressed firmly against Paige’s ear. “You just gave these people their money’s worth tonight, Paige.”

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Paige dragged her lids open and found several people smiling back at her, witnesses to her screams of pleasure. She stiffened into a straight line.

“Why are you doing this?” Paige wanted to shove away, to flee to the nearest exit to escape the mocking grins, now knowing deep down she’d been played.

A woman only two feet from her had the audacity to applaud, joker smile stretched across her mouth.

“Sweet revenge. Isn’t that the game you were playing when you crawled over my face tonight?”

Paige gasped, reached down and yanked Kellie’s hand from between her legs, then turned around to face her. As she moved, the plug reminded her it was still present.

“You knew!”

“Fruit…wild, intoxicating fruit.” Kellie’s gaze dipped to Paige’s lips.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Paige squirmed under her scrutinizing stare.

“You, your skin, your hair…I could never figure out what it was about you that had me so enthralled. It was your scent…the one that drives me insane everyday at work.”

Kellie leaned forward. Instinctively, Paige stepped back, suddenly terrified, even though her mind was reverberating Kellie’s words, that she’d wanted Paige. “You’re sick!

And to think I envisioned the woman crawling over me tonight was you…prayed it was you.

You were the one I wanted, the one I couldn’t rip from my mind if an atomic bomb exploded it. I’d know your smell anywhere. It’s the same one that fills the halls everyday, eats away at me every second of every day.”

Her gaze danced over Paige’s face with pure disgust, then slowly down her body. Her lips curled into a snarl. “After I apologized…you’re pathetic. I see you’ll stop at nothing to get even. You’re worse than Randy ever dreamed of being.”

Kellie dug in her pocket, then held her closed fist out to Paige. “Here.”

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Paige hesitantly held out her hand, knowing she should turn and flee. The want to have whatever was in Kellie’s hand overrode her better judgment.

Kellie dropped the torn thong in her hand. “Something to remember me.” She turned and stomped away, leaving Paige among the watching, smiling crowd, with a butt plug wedged inside her.

She’d just had the best orgasm in her entire life, in front of God and everyone in this nightclub, at the hands of a woman who now hated her, who was so right. She was worse than Randy. At least he let the world know he was a loser trapped in the dark ages. Paige had deceived and played a wicked game with absolutely no reason why, except her own personal conflicts.

She fled from the dance floor, each step making the plug wedge hard against her walls.

Too late to deny what had happened. So, she did the only thing an embarrassed, saturated woman could do…she saluted the onlookers with the finger and smiled like she’d just won the grand prize…even though tears welled against her lids, and her heart crumpled in her chest.

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Chapter Seven

Paige rocked lightly in her chair. A blank computer screen awaited her. The morning had been rather quiet, only a few phone calls came in, thankfully with minor problems, easily manageable.

She never dreamed there’d come a day when she wanted or would beg for the phone calls, the disasters on the other end of the line, to come at her nonstop. Right now, she’d be willing to take on a raging bull charging at a candy-apple-red target painted over her ass if it would distract her from constant thoughts of Kellie, those biting images determined to invade her mind no matter what she did.

Two weeks had crept by, days melting away like candle wax. She dragged through each one, using every effort to avoid the north wing, terrified she’d bump into Kellie and punch her out or worse, drop to her knees and beg to be forgiven. Or worse yet, cry like a lovesick school girl and agree to be her slave for the rest of her life.

Paige shook her head, dismissing the uncharacteristic thoughts. She’d never beg a soul.

But damn, if she couldn’t find a way. Kellie had not only left Paige with her insides quivering like a teasing earthquake, but left her needing and wanting more.

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And to top it all off, she’d actually picked up the phone and called her father. Thinking she would get her normal lecture about finding a good man, having babies, and buying a cute little yellow house with white shutters and a picket fence, she got floored when he told her he was proud of her, how he’d like to help her buy the coffee shop she’d always dreamed about.

Tears welled in her eyes remembering his voice, so caring for the first time in her life.

What had turned him around? When had he come to the understanding her life wasn’t going as he planned, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it?

He even invited her to Sunday dinner. As hard as she knew it must have been for him, he told her to bring the special woman in her life.

Paige rocked harder in her chair, arms folded across her chest. She didn’t have anyone like that in her life, maybe never would. And as much as she wanted that, a family dinner spent with a father who finally saw the flip side of her coin would definitely do. She’d be more than happy to spend her life alone, totally void of love, to know her father accepted her as she was. They’d discussed the shop, the perfect location, and she hung up the phone feeling like the sun might actually shine again…maybe in a few more weeks.

“You going to sit there like a bump on a log, or are you going home?” Gail pushed away from her desk and dropped her headset in the chair.

“In a minute.” Paige didn’t bother to look up, knew she’d see the “I’m sorry you’re heartbroken” expression on Gail’s face. Besides, she was still a little pissed at her for interfering.

After Kellie raced from the bar that night, Gail admitted Kellie had called her, even told Gail she knew it was Paige at the mansion and wanted to confront her, to see where they could take things from their current stage. Little did Gail know, excited her playing Cupid might have a happy ending, Kellie’s confronting had been for embarrassment and revenge. In a way, Paige guessed it wasn’t really Gail’s fault, yet she could have told her, Watching You

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simple as that. At least she would have seen the train coming instead of getting barreled over.

And damn, what a train it was, one that left her a complete wreck.

Gail gave a friendly squeeze to her shoulders. “You know, sitting around here brooding is not going to help matters. Get your ass up and go do something about it.”

Paige shook her head, not wanting to get near this conversation, not wanting to speak about Kellie. Speaking led to thoughts, thoughts led to cramps in her gut, which led her right back to anger. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

“Well, then, I guess I shouldn’t tell you her trial is in a week, huh?”

“You just did. I don’t care.” Paige tried to keep her voice uncaring, unconcerned to know Kellie could lose everything she loved, even though images battled in her mind at what they’d done together. Then her insides plummeted as she recalled Kellie’s cold, heartless stare.

“Then I guess you sure won’t care to know I’ve been doing a little snooping into her investigation.”

Paige perked at the information and prayed Gail hadn’t noticed her shoulder stiffen.

“Really? Why?”

“I felt a little guilty. After all, it was me who got the ball rolling.”

Paige shot her an exasperated glare. “Oh, you feel sorry for her. What about me? No, don’t answer that. You’re meddling in police affairs. Don’t mess it up for her.”

Gail cocked her head and studied Paige’s face for a few long, agonizing moments, then sat back down. “Why don’t you help me? This could be a way to help fix everything.”

Paige shook her head in disbelief. “It’s not my place to fix it.” If she’s not here, I’ll be able to walk the halls in peace again, not be scared I’ll see her, slap the shit out of her, and then beg to be taken in the same manner she took me on that damn dance floor. Damn, talk about split personalities. When it comes to Kellie, that’s me.

“I think Kellie was set up.”

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“Set up? Did you forget she punched a minor, with witnesses?”

Gail gave her a smirk. “You owe her.”

Shocked, Paige widened her eyes and struggled to keep from lunging. “Me? How the hell do I owe her anything? What she did was awful.” Paige stuck her finger up to halt whatever was ready to spill from Gail. “At least what I did, I did in private.”

“It was deceitful. You were supposed to tell her it was you.” Gail’s gaze was hard and determined. “Have you even noticed she hasn’t been at work in a week?”

Before Paige could answer that she’d been too busy avoiding that area, Gail cut in. “Of course, you haven’t. You’ve been too busy brooding, moping around here like a gangbanger casing out the joint. How do you think she feels? Did you ever stop to think about that?”

Paige leaned forward, careful to keep her voice calm and steady. “If you’d kept your nose out of this to begin with, I wouldn’t be…” Paige bit off her last words. I wouldn’t be what? An asshole? A lovesick fool? Wouldn’t have fallen in love with her?

“Exactly. So instead of sitting here all gloomy like the world has crashed around your pathetic ears, why don’t you come help me, help her? Wouldn’t it be a start?” Gail shoved out of the chair. “Oh, just sit here. Whatever tickles your fancy. I’m outta here.”

“Leave it alone, Gail. I think you’ve done enough.” Paige stabbed with her words. “I don’t have anything to say to her, nor do I want to help her.”

Gail took a deep exasperated breath from behind Paige. “You’re right, I have done enough. I sent you to the group because I knew she was there, I sent you to Monica so you could stop drooling and get down to business. I’ve done all I can do. If you two are going to act like babies, well, I give up. What more can I do to get two people together? Be miserable.

I don’t give a shit.”

Gail stalked away.

Paige snorted, even though her heart raced at the prospect of helping, of finding a way to make up for what she’d done. To find out Kellie had been attracted to Paige all along had Watching You

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been breathtaking, as much as it had been agonizing to know Paige had fucked it all up with betrayal and backstabbing. On the other hand, Kellie had fucked her over, too. So technically speaking, they were even now.

Paige turned around. The next shift of operators drifted into the room. Maybe Gail was right. If she helped clear Kellie’s name, or at least helped her prove this little punk got what he deserved, would that be enough to show Kellie that Paige was sorry? That she hadn’t meant to take things so far, that she feared Kellie wouldn’t want the woman she would find behind the blindfold? Paige would gladly do it all over again, maybe a hundred more times just to be near her.

Sheesh. Did that mean she was a true submissive? What if Kellie wanted to beat the crap out of her every night? Would she roll over like a puppy and let her do that, too? Grrrr.

She hated the way her heart and mind kept flip-flopping back and forth like this.

Even though she didn’t want to interfere in police business, did she really have a choice? Was there any other way?

Well, sitting here and moping hadn’t made her feel any better. If she went out and took action to help Kellie, maybe that would let her wipe the slate clean between them and give them a chance to start all over again and see if they could be lovers instead of backstabbing bitches.

With a grunt of defeat, and renewed hope, Paige grabbed her sweatshirt and raced to catch up with Gail.

* * * * *

Kellie pulled the blanket over her shoulders and cuddled deeper on her side into the couch in front of a black TV screen.

Two agonizing weeks had passed with the pace of a snail, creeping up to the trial date.

No one even offered to let her know how the investigation was going. It was driving her insane. Sarge would never forgive her if the truth about her affair came out. He’d done so 78 Sheri Livingston

much to help her when she decided to become a police officer. Hell, she already couldn’t forgive herself. She could lose it all, and it would be all over Lydia.

Kellie shook her head, they weren’t even seeing each other anymore, and she was still being brought to her knees by the stupid bitch.

We’re working on it, Kellie. Chill out, Kellie. Find something to keep your mind off of it, Kellie. We’ve got it under control, Kellie.

Damn! She was glad they had it under control, ‘cause she sure as shit didn’t. Little did they know, talking to them about the case was keeping her mind off what was really nagging at her, eating her alive from the inside out…Paige.

Unable to take another day in that office, another second knowing Paige was on the other end of the building, Kellie opted to take a week of sick leave to sit at home and brood until it was time to enter the courtroom.

Paige’s scent had filled the halls with erotic inducements, like invisible fingers kneading her body, keeping Kellie on edge, on the verge of self-destruction. She had no other option but to get the hell away.

Her life was in a total shambles, and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it, without even a tiny hint how to fix it. The free time only made things worse, gave her more minutes and hours to think…about Paige. Fitful dreams stole her nights, and vivid images robbed her days.

Kellie prayed that after the trial, given she wasn’t fired on the spot, she’d find the strength to walk those halls again, to inhale Paige’s scent every day, and not commit sexual suicide. For some reason, she looked forward to a damn trial where she could very well lose her job, or worse, be arrested for punching a minor. However, time in jail, where inmates licked their lips at the prospect of an officer in their territory, was a better option than returning to a place where Paige’s hypnotizing aroma was the greatest threat to her sanity.

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The more she tried not thinking about Paige, the more her mind rebelled and flipped the mental pictures across her mind’s eye like a carousel.

She hadn’t lifted a finger to clean or even cook for herself. Remnants of take-out boxes littered the living room floor, empty soda cans lay stacked in a pyramid across her wooden coffee table, and discarded clothing draped over every piece of furniture made the room look like a yard sale.

The bitch deserved being embarrassed, deserved far more than what Kellie had given her. However, Kellie’s sweet revenge only tormented her now. She couldn’t tear Paige from her mind, couldn’t stop her memory from playing the scene in her mind, how Paige had trembled in her arms, her screams shattering the sound of cymbals.

God, no other woman had ever sounded so damn erotic, so pleasured by Kellie’s own hands, or so fucking satisfied.

Kellie huffed and rolled onto her back, staring at the swirls of white paint on the ceiling. If only she hadn’t felt something for Paige, if only she’d gotten even and walked away from the bar with a smile, she wouldn’t be miserable right now, going out of her mind with want.

Her nights with Lydia seemed so far away now. The wildness to them, the rushed time they had together, seemed to pale in comparison to her few hours with Paige. To this day, she still didn’t understand what it was about Lydia she’d wanted. Was it Lydia’s immature behavior, pouting to get Kellie to yield to her, rolling out that bottom lip and begging Kellie down for a snack? What? Nothing came to mind now except the rush of adrenaline of fucking the Captain’s wife. She loved every second of it. Yet, screwing that silly cunt had never been worth jeopardizing Sarge’s hard-earned career. So why had she?

Did Paige feel any remorse, any guilt, or even a tiny bit ashamed? Kellie would never forget the look on her face, lined with fear. There’d been something else as well.

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Kellie wanted to believe Paige had felt the same powerful force she’d encountered.

That gripping feeling that hadn’t lost its potent hold over Kellie yet, determined to keep her drowning in the emotions. Was Paige happy to know Kellie could be controlled? Or was it all just some sick joke to show Kellie she could be dominated?

Furthermore, how did she really feel about letting another woman, letting Paige, dominate her? She never dreamed she’d yield to anyone, and yet this tiny little fraction of a woman had controlled her every move, her every thought.

With a grunt, Kellie slung the blanket away and rose, raking her fingers through her hair. Wasn’t she allowing Paige to have the upper hand here? Just sitting around in a fog of gloom like this meant Paige had won, and Kellie had lost the control she’d fought so hard to maintain after Lydia. No drugs would control her, no person would control her, and here the curviest woman she’d ever had the pleasure of putting her hands on had dominated her world.

She slowly made her way around the house, picking up dirty laundry and tossing it in the hamper, rinsing dishes and starting the dishwasher, then finally dragged out the vacuum cleaner. It wasn’t like her to live in a pigsty, and she’d be damned if Paige’s images would make her succumb to their erotic inducements a second longer. Yet, her mind filled with thoughts of Paige’s lips parting with rushed breaths as the lights flashed around their faces, of her orgasm squeezing Kellie’s fingers, and her raspy scream filtering over the acoustic.

What would Paige think if she knew she’d warped Kellie’s mind for the past two weeks, or that Kellie had thought about nothing else?

Did Paige have any idea Kellie had left the remnants of her heart in her hands when she raced from the dance floor?

* * * * *

Gail pulled the DVD from the case and shoved it into the player.

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“Oh, Jesus. Where the hell did you get these?” Paige looked down the small stack of DVDs.

Gail wiggled her eyebrows and punched the play button. “A nerd who works at the arcade. I asked him one question about Kellie and the punk she smacked, and Lord have mercy, he squealed like a gutted pig.” She snickered while she backed away from the TV.

“He got tired of being picked on, knew something bad was going on, hated what happened to Kellie, so he coughed up his own evidence he’s been secretly recording. Rich kids always gain the secret wrath of nerds, ya know?” Gail winked and plopped onto the couch. “He was just waiting for the perfect opportunity to hand them over to someone.”

Three boys filled the screen, going from game to game, inserting tokens into the machines, playing each one with a vengeance. The rest of the arcade was practically empty.

“Gail, you could go to jail. I don’t think I want to get involved in this.”

“Oh, chill out. I’m not going to jail and neither are you. He gave them to me. That’s not a crime. Besides, as long as we turn them in, it’s no harm, right? I just wanted to see them before I made a trip to Sarge.”

Paige dropped onto the couch beside her.

Gail tossed popcorn into her mouth. “I have to warn you, you’re not going to like what you see. I’ve been hesitating on giving them up.”

Paige leaned back against the cushions, now curious what might be on the tapes, staring intently for anything obvious.

“Kellie and Randy would have already been fired had someone seen these.” Gail kicked her feet up on the coffee table.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Paige cringed to think of Kellie doing something bad.

She’d be devastated if she lost her job, the one thing she said that kept her sane, made her tick.

“Yeah. It’s pretty bad.”

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“Well, damn, tell me.” Paige bit her lip, terrified she was going to witness incriminating evidence against Kellie, something that would end the career she’d fought very hard for.

“See for yourself.”

The images rolled. The same kids laughed and moved around the empty room, shouting and nudging each other on. Randy came into view wearing his uniform and approached a tall boy of about fifteen. He slapped the kid on the back, poked money into his hand, then nodded over his shoulder.

While Paige pondered this exchange, the boy moved out of camera view. His buddies grouped together, pointing at something Paige couldn’t see. Suddenly, they all busted out laughing and high-fived each other.

“What’s that all about?” Paige scooped popcorn out of the bowl.

“You’ll see.”

Paige let out an impatient breath.

The view of the camera slowly made its way toward the front of room, angling on Kellie and the kid who’d accepted money from Randy.

The boy walked around her as if she were a statue that needed his approval. Kellie’s impatience was evident on her face as her jaw tightened. As the boy made another circle around her, he grabbed Kellie’s ass.

Paige gasped and clenched her hands into fists. That rotten little sneak.

Kellie spun around and punched him square in the face. He fell like a sack of potato spuds to the floor, his hands covering his mouth and nose. Blood oozed between his fingers as his friends raced into view, screaming inaudible words at Kellie.

“Holy shit! Randy paid him to do that to Kellie?”

“Yeah, but that ain’t all.”

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The tape turned to snow. When the image started again, the view was shaky. Every now and then a booted foot came into view.

“He had the camera on him?” Paige was fascinated at how he’d taped things without the knowledge of everyone.

“Neat, huh? You can buy them anywhere now days. From button cameras, to pen cameras, to…hell, you name it. This guy’s a nerd. Shit, he probably made his own.”

A hand reached out for a knob. The engraved plate on the door said, “Strike Zone Arcade, employees only. Please knock before entering.” The hand turned the knob, and then the door opened.

Randy and a woman stood over a table full of money. Large bundles of white powder lay across a shelf behind them.

The woman jumped up from the chair and marched toward the camera. Randy practically laid over the money, trying to hide the evidence. The woman pointed, her face distorting into a mask of anger, and then the door slammed shut.

“Holy shit!” Paige slumped back against the cushions.

“Yeah, tell me about it.”

“Kellie knew. That’s why she couldn’t defend herself…she’d have to blow his operation to prove her innocence.”

“I’m afraid so. Question is, what do we do now? She was set up…that was clear.

However, they’ll both be fired, for sure.”

A steady stream of anger rolled over Paige.

Kellie was protecting a damn drug dealer, yet she had the nerve to be ticked at Paige for playing a dirty, breathtaking game. She deserved to be taken down along with Randy.

Kellie had balls after all…huge, brass balls.

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Chapter Eight

A rap sounded against the front door.

Kellie jerked from a fitful sleep in her pitch-dark bedroom.

She slung the covers off and eased out of bed. The digital clock on the nightstand displayed 12:03 a.m. in red numbers.

She grabbed her loaded gun from under the pillow, slipped into the living room, and approached the front door with the barrel pointed toward the ceiling. The next rap was louder, more insistent.

“Who is it?”

“Paige.”

Kellie froze, hand poised over the knob, gut cramping like an overworked muscle, causing almost physical pain.

To open the door would be sexual suicide…to not open it would leave her more baffled than she already was, wondering what nerve prompted Paige to come here.

“Open the door. I need to talk to you.” Paige’s persuasive voice filtered through to Kellie’s ears.

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She willed herself to get pissed, to fling open the door and shove Paige off the porch, to scream at her to never come back.

Instead, she unlocked the door, eased it open, and lost her breath.

Molten lava poured through her veins and her breath quickened at the long, loose curls hanging around her tormentor’s face. Paige’s eyes looked like gems.

She glanced at the gun in Kellie’s hand. “Were you gonna shoot me?”

Kellie shook her head. “What’d you expect? I don’t normally get callers this time of night.” Kellie set the safety and lowered the gun.

Paige swayed on a pair of spiked heels. Her short black skirt was tight against her thighs, fitting her curves like a second skin.

Kellie snorted. If she didn’t know any better, she’d swear Paige wore that outfit just to tease her. Her normal attire wasn’t much better, however. Hip-hugger jeans and T-shirts that fit her curves like cling wrap were just as tempting.

As much as she wanted to yank her inside, trap her against the wall, and lick that damn scent from her neck and chest, her pride stood at attention, pinning her to her spot on the floor. “How can I help you.”

She wanted to retract her words as soon as they reverberated through her ears, hearing it as a statement rather than a question. Paige’s aroma was already ripping away her rational thoughts.

Paige blinked hard and focused on Kellie. “Gail acquired DVDs from the arcade. I want you to watch one and explain a few things.” She took an uninvited step inside, looking around the room, then focusing on the pyramid of beer cans on the coffee table. Would Paige know she’d drank each and every one while trying to wash away the aroused screams as Paige came around her fingers?

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Kellie swallowed. A cold sweat threatened to break out on her forehead as Paige’s words registered in her mind. Why hadn’t Randy taken care of the tapes, as promised? Kellie cringed to think Paige had witnessed her betrayal to her badge and to herself.

She closed the door, locked it, and laid the pistol on top of the entertainment center.

She crossed her arms over her chest, everything inside her soul on guard. A silent prayer skirted through her mind that she wouldn’t do anything stupid, like drop to her knees to beg for another chance at a new beginning, no matter how pathetic an excuse of a cop or a person she was.

Paige turned around. Her black curls fanned out around her shoulders. “Can I sit?”

Kellie shrugged. “Why don’t you just tell me what it is you came here for?”

Instead of answering, Paige walked to the couch and plopped down as if she owned the damn place.

With a grunt, Kellie flipped the switch and lights spilled around the room.

“How did Gail get these tapes?” Kellie snooped for answers, wanting the name of the person who was going to rip her world apart, the world that was already shattered.

Paige shrugged, pushing her cleavage further over the top of her low-cut blouse. “Why is it you can condemn me for what I did, while you, of all damn people, are helping your partner deal drugs?” She pulled a DVD out of her waistband and tossed the slim disc onto the coffee table.

Damnit! Stop thinking, stop remembering, and stop wanting!

“I’m not helping my partner deal drugs.” Kellie grabbed the DVD and walked to the TV. She shoved it into the player, then picked up the remote and hit play. With a heavy sigh, she angled her hip onto the couch arm as far away from Paige as she could -- still too close.

The images began, displaying the three rich punks who only left the arcade when the doors were locked. The time of day Randy did his “exchange” was always when the place was Watching You

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as empty as it could be, with the exception of these boys who were more trouble than they were worth, but who never asked questions.

The boys grouped together, pointing at something Kellie couldn’t see. Suddenly, Randy came into view. Kellie cringed when he walked toward the back, the same way he did week after week.

Kellie hung her head when the door opened to the backroom, a place she’d never dare go inside, proving what they were doing back there.

She felt the lowest of low to know Paige had witnessed her betrayal to her oath to uphold the law at all costs. She’d allowed the piece of shit to get away with it because she didn’t have a choice, while she never uttered a word. She could only imagine what Paige thought of her right now.

She stopped the recording. “I don’t need to watch anymore.”

“I think you do.” Paige scooted down the couch, but left space between them. “How could you do that? How could you protect him like that? He’s a sick man, and you’re…”

“You don’t have to tell me what I already know I am.” Kellie looked up, hating herself.

“I did what I had to do…things you don’t know.”

“Please, God, tell me so I’ll understand. Or are you nothing more than a dirty cop?”

Paige’s lips straightened into a thin line.

“Stop! You don’t know what you’re talking about. You need to go.” Kellie wanted to push away from the couch, but some unseen force pinned her down.

Paige could never understand, never comprehend why she did what she did, not that Kellie understood herself most days.

“I have no choice but to turn in this evidence.”

Kellie shrugged, feeling the finality engulfing her. Those images would destroy her career, her future, and her uncle’s as well. Randy was the least of her worries. She could care less if the system burned him at the stake or bludgeoned him to death.

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“Please…I don’t care if I’m destroyed.” She snuck a quick glance at Paige’s legs. “The person I protect is more important than myself. I’ll get my day in court, and I’m more than sure they’ll strip my badge for cold-cocking that little jerk, but…” She trailed off, already saying too much.

“Tell me, damnit!” Paige shifted on the couch, turning completely to face Kellie. Her legs parted, leaving a blackened tunnel under her skirt, inviting Kellie to slip her hand into the trap.

She shook her head. Her secret had never gone past three people. If it got out, Donald was done. “I can’t.”

Paige stared at her for a few seconds, then her features softened. “For some reason, I believe you. I have a feeling you’re protecting something far more important than Randy being a slimy, double-dealing asshole.”

Kellie nodded and controlled the impulse to reach over and hug her, to thank her for not destroying her uncle. “Thank you.”

Tears glittered in Paige’s eyes, so full of care and understanding. “I’m sorry.”

“What for?” Kellie looked away, feeling herself being sucked into those deep-jade ravines.

“You know what for. It was tacky of me.”

“No harm. Don’t sweat it.” Kellie fought the urge to rush to the door and escape, not trusting herself alone, all fucking alone, locked inside her own home with a woman she wanted crawling all over her body, devouring her flesh.

She slowly inhaled, stilling the butterflies going wild in her gut. “There’s no need to apologize or feel embarrassed. We both played the game.” u J st hurry and leave before…

“Who said I was embarrassed?”

Kellie smothered a chuckle, but couldn’t stop her mouth from curving into a smile. The memories made her want to pounce. The way she’d left Paige in front of all of those Watching You

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witnesses with a plug wedged inside her ass, any woman in her right mind would have been irate, red with shame.

“At the bar…” She refused to look toward the valley between Paige’s thighs, staying focused on the fabric of the couch between them, only a foot…only inches.

“Oh. With the butt plug and trembling knees? Yeah, that was mean. But hey, if giving an awesome orgasm is what you call revenge, then give me sweet revenge any day of the week.”

Kellie looked up, caught Paige’s gorgeous smile, and melted. Right then, right there, into a puddle of complete nonsense. Hadn’t this woman tricked her into submission? Hadn’t she played her for a fool?

Hadn’t she?

Kellie studied her face and saw the answers all too clearly. How could Paige trick her when she went willingly to be dominated, with no one but Paige on her mind? Praying it would be Paige. How could she be upset when she herself couldn’t reveal a truth for fear it would rock another’s world? She was no different than Paige…stuck in her own secrets.

Suddenly, she loathed being a cop. She didn’t deserve to wear a badge of honor when she herself had done something so rotten, then protected another’s dirty deeds in order to protect herself…to protect her uncle.

“You don’t know me…what I’ve done.”

“What I saw isn’t you…I don’t know what your reasons were, and I don’t care.”

Shamefaced, she looked away, unable to watch pity crawl across Paige’s face. “You shouldn’t be here. Neither you nor Gail has a clue what you’re getting involved in. Please, stay away from this.”

“But…”

“No!” At Paige’s shocked expression, Kellie lowered her voice. “Those images not only slam the nail in my coffin…someone else dear to me will be hurt.”

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Kellie knew she should make her leave, scream mean things at her to make her run in fear, but her mind wouldn’t allow it. She wanted Paige more than she’d wanted anything in the world. Paige could be her lifeline back to sanity.

“No, you’re wr --”

“Stop! Just stop.” Images of Lydia rocking beneath her, flooded Kellie’s mind, how she liked the fact she was doing something so immoral and getting away with it…that a woman like Lydia would even want her. Then Paige’s sweet smile protruded through the fog.

“Look, I don’t need to know whatever it is you’re hiding for Randy, and I don’t care. I know what I saw could very well free you.”

Kellie snickered sarcastically. “There ain’t nothing, no tape, no images, proving my innocence or not, that can free me.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Tell you what?”

“That you wanted me?”

Oh, God, Paige couldn’t begin to fathom the want nestling inside her right now, every day at work, every night in her dreams.

Kellie stared at the floor, at her discarded police belt, the shiny cuffs daring with a glint of light to use them, to restrain Paige against the headboard and torture her in the same fashion she’d teased Kellie.

She let the remote drop from her hands, slid off the arm onto the couch, and faced Paige.

Paige didn’t even have the audacity to flinch, not even a little gasp of breath. The wench knew she’d yield to her.

Kellie scooted down the couch. “Because I didn’t deserve you, because I couldn’t have you…” A breath escaped, coming out as uncontrolled moan. “I wanted you so fucking bad.”

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She slipped her hand around the back of Paige’s neck and drew her forward, crushing their mouths together.

Paige let loose a sharp cry and melded against her. Their tongues dueled together, lashing and exploring, hungry with need.

Kellie lay back, pulling Paige down on top of her, roaming her hands down her spine, squeezing and pressing their hips together.

Through parted lips, Paige whispered, “Please, tell me what you did.”

Kellie tugged her ass, groping their hips together, licking Paige’s neck, wanting to chew her flesh. “I fucked the Captain’s wife.”

Paige opened her legs to straddle Kellie, her hips grinding hard and demanding. “Oh, shit. Lydia?”

“Yeah.” She sharply nipped Paige’s lobe, rewarded with a soft cry. “If he finds out, he’ll find the quickest way to fire my uncle, the Sarge. I can’t let that happen.”

“Randy knows?” Paige’s lips scored across her jaw.

“Of course. It’s his blackmail.”

“You could go to jail.” Paige licked Kellie’s bottom lip.

“I didn’t care…as long as Donald was safe, until you.”

“I wanted…to tell you it was me.” She rushed her words through parted lips, panting while Kellie tugged at her skirt, bunching it in her grasp. “I was so afraid…you’d reject me.”

Kellie sucked and licked her neck. “I wanted it to be you.” She slid her hands around Paige’s ribcage, dipped one under her shirt, and pushed the fabric up. Paige leaned backwards while Kellie tugged the shirt over her head. She controlled the urge to bite the sexy, white lace of her bra, but instead, grabbed the edge and pulled down, exposing an erect nipple.

Kellie latched onto the hardened tip, teasing and nibbling.

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Paige hissed like a kitten.

Kellie closed her eyes as the flesh pebbled harder against her tongue. Her crotch sizzled with ferocity while Paige let loose soft, mewling cries, grinding her body against Kellie.

“I’ve wanted you for so long.” She uncovered Paige’s other breast, running her thumb around the darkened disc. “I think I’m addicted to you, your scent. I wondered and wished…dreamed and imagined.” She licked one time before she sucked the tip into her mouth, lashing it with her tongue.

Paige arched, then pulled back, breaking the suction. She hoisted her leg from Kellie’s hips, leaned over the coffee table, and with one quick swipe, raked the pyramid of cans from the top. Aluminum tinged and rattled against each other, bouncing as they scattered across the floor.

Fire erupted in Kellie’s veins as she rolled off the couch, grabbed Paige around the waist, and flipped her to the top of the wooden table. Every nerve in her body was hot with lust, tingling with need.

“I’ve always wanted to do that.” Paige’s lips curled into a seductive smile.

She wiggled her eyebrow and ran her tongue along the flesh of Paige’s lean stomach.

“I’d build a hundred more if I can watch you rake them off. Damn, that was hot.”

Paige leaned forward.

Kellie rolled her off the table and onto the carpet. She lay beside Paige, staring over her body, watching lust thicken in her eyes, then pushed the skirt up over her hips, exposing Paige’s white lace thong.

Paige grabbed her wrist, halting her. She pushed against Kellie, rolling her onto her back.

Instead of straddling her, Paige rose.

Kellie started to lean forward, to grab her legs, afraid she was trying to leave when the heat was thick as syrup between them, emotions she hadn’t felt in so long.

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Paige shoved the toe of her high heel against Kellie’s chest and pinned her flat against the carpet, standing over her like a tribal goddess. “I don’t surrender very willfully, I don’t take orders in the nude or fully dressed, and I sure as hell don’t wait on anyone’s beck and call.” Her bright eyes flared with desire. She removed her luscious leg and softly placed her foot on the other side of Kellie’s hips, giving her a clear view of a black shadow behind the white lace. “However, if you have more to offer like the other night…” She licked her lips and rubbed her fingers over her crotch, pushing Kellie past her point of no return. “I think I can manage to let you have control…every now and then.”

Kellie could only stare as Paige continued her smooth, easy caresses over her own crotch, hard nipples peeking over the edge of her bra. Just the sight alone was enough to make her drown in carnal anticipation.

“Kellie?”

The soft sound of her name yanked Kellie from the show. She diverted her gaze to Paige’s watching eyes. “Hmm?”

“You will take this evidence to Sarge…you will reap whatever punishment comes your way. You can’t let Randy do what he’s doing…I think your uncle would hate you more for that.”

Kellie didn’t give a shit about anything at this moment. All she wanted was Paige’s naked flesh bared before her. Could she do what Paige demanded, now that the consequences could be devastating? To be with Paige, could she face the firing squad?

“Kellie?”

Kellie blinked back her questions and fears.

“Finish me.”

With a moan, Kellie leaned forward, slipped her fingers under and around the string on Paige’s hips, and squeezed, snapping the thin fabric in half.

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She tossed the tattered material away, and pressed her face into Paige’s crotch. Her scent was an aphrodisiac, hauling Kellie into her control. She’d willingly be controlled by this tiger, this beauty she wanted to claim, forever, no matter the cost.

Kellie gently tugged, and Paige willingly submitted. She dipped to her knees to straddle Kellie’s face. She slid her fingers up Paige’s lean stomach until she reached white lace. She kneaded the pebbled tips of soft breasts between her fingers. Paige cried out and arched her back, pushing her crotch closer to Kellie’s mouth.

She softly licked between Paige’s slick folds, flicking her tongue across her clit.

Paige gasped and slung her head back, splaying black strands through the air, covering her hands over Kellie’s. “I couldn’t stop thinking…about you.”

Kellie licked faster, lapping at the swollen button until it was firm against her tongue.

Then she latched her lips around the hard tip and nursed like an infant.

Paige moaned and squeezed her hands around Kellie’s, rocking her hips with steady rhythm.

Kellie sucked faster, harder, wanting so bad to flip her over, hold her body against her own while Paige thrashed and screamed in pleasure.

Paige panted and rocked over her face. Kellie eased her hand under her ass, between her legs, and drove her fingers inside her slick opening.

“Oh, God. Make me…come, please.” Paige ground her hips harder, insides gripping and restraining Kellie’s fingers.

Hearing the plea roll off Paige’s tongue with so much passion and want had Kellie’s gut tangling into a knot of love.

Paige squeezed tighter against her hands and arched further. Kellie feared she’d scream loud enough to alarm the whole neighborhood.

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“Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod…” Paige chanted, rolling her hips as her orgasm spasmed around Kellie’s fingers. Her body quivered and shook, leg muscles bunching while she held herself upright.

When Paige’s insides slowed, she slumped against the couch, hands falling down to her sides.

Kellie gently grabbed Paige’s hips and pulled her down to lie beside her, caressing long locks of hair, wanting to bury her face in the strands and inhale until she suffocated. She ducked to Paige’s neck and kissed a trail down to her shoulder, feeling the effects of love taking control, of her past fading.

“It seems I’m always on the receiving end of this…whatever the hell this is.” Paige nuzzled against her. “Not that I’m complaining.”

“You’re my addiction…my drug.” Kellie kissed her jaw. She never knew she could feel so free, with everything bottled up now revealed. There was so much she still wanted to say.

She pulled the most important to the front of her mind. “I could only watch you, for weeks, for months…always watching you. Tonight, I want all of you, every inch of your flesh all over my body.” She blocked Paige’s view with her head, trailing kisses along her lips, then reached behind her and fumbled for her discarded belt and found the cuffs.

Paige cuddled closer, pressing their heat together, and wrapped her arms around Kellie’s neck. “Is that a command?”

“Yes, ma’am.” With trained skills, she grabbed Paige’s wrists in one hand and pinned them above her head against the floor. “I thought you liked it when I commanded you to do things.”

Paige’s chest rose and fell with staggered breaths. “I do.”

“Good. Then you’ll really love this one.” She straddled Paige’s hips, brought the cuffs around, and before Paige knew danger lurked, she’d cuffed her to the leg of the couch. “Let’s see how you like feeling with no touching.”

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While she yanked against the restraints, Kellie lay down beside her and softly circled the dark disc around her nipples. “Love is giving and receiving, submitting and dominating, meeting in the middle when all is said and done, both happy and satisfied.”

Paige’s eyes widened. “Did you say…?”

Kellie pushed her finger against Paige’s lips, halting her words. She needed total silence to tell Paige how she felt, something she’d never said to any other person. “Shh. Listen. Don’t speak.”

Paige parted her lips and sucked Kellie’s finger into her mouth, flicking her tongue across the tip.

The gesture shot tingles through Kellie’s pussy. She slowly withdrew her finger to avoid taking Paige again. There was so much she needed to say, was going to say right now.

She stared down into Paige’s eyes, feeling her heart lift with so much emotion. “Paige, I’m…I’m in love with you.”

Paige smiled, bright teeth glowing under her kiss-red lips. “Thank God. I was afraid I was going to be in this boat all alone.” She leaned forward and pressed her mouth to Kellie’s.

“I love you, too, Kellie. Now, take off these damn cuffs so I can show you, touch you.”

“No.”

Paige’s brow knitted, lips scrunching into a puckered line.

Kellie pulled away, stood, and slowly pushed her shorts over her hips while holding Paige’s seductive gaze. “I can’t turn in that evidence. I’m sorry, but I can’t. I don’t want your pity. My justice is near. Tonight, I want to forget…and I want you.”

Tears welled in Paige’s eyes, but she couldn’t concentrate on them. Tonight, she needed freedom from fears and worries, from things that might never give her peace.

“It’s my turn to restrain you, repay you for your evil torture.” Kellie let the shorts fall to the floor and stepped out of them, leaving the prowling eyes to see her white briefs.

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Paige’s intent, fixed stare slipped over her hips. Like a fucking man’s briefs, Paige had said. Fiery lust escaped in her passionate moan, making Kellie want to double over with the burning sensation coursing through her crotch.

“Michael Jordan ain’t got shit on you, baby.” Paige grinned and bit her bottom lip between her teeth.

With a deep smile, she shoved off the underwear and placed her foot on the other side of Paige’s body, displaying her crotch for her view. “At least you’ll have the pleasure of knowing who’s sitting on your face, who you’re touching, who you’re feeling.”

“Closer.” Paige licked her lips and flashed a greedy smile.

Kellie knelt over her face, covering Paige’s mouth with her crotch.

Paige didn’t waste a second, licking and sucking, flicking a hot tongue against her clit.

She pulled away and slurped a long drawl across Kellie’s swollen button, then nursed again.

Kellie ground her hips, gripping the edge of the couch with tight fists, moaning and deeply inhaling air.

Paige let loose her suction and dipped her tongue inside Kellie’s cunt.

Kellie moaned in surprise, and her head fell back, as she ground her hips over Paige’s face. “Oh, my God. Don’t stop…oh!”

Pulses tightened her pussy, and then her orgasm was bolted over the edge, thundering spasms through her crotch. With a last gasp and spent of energy, Kellie’s head fell to the couch.

When she finally caught her breath and stilled her thrashing heart, she looked down at Paige. “Wow.”

“Yeah, wow, I agree. Now, it’s my turn…again.” Her eyes danced with humor.

“It is, is it?” Kellie pushed away from the couch and kneeled beside her. She teased Paige’s nipples, then rounded each breast before raking her fingertip down her stomach to 98 Sheri Livingston

tease her crotch. As Paige lifted her hips, Kellie nipped a sweet nipple between her teeth and slowly pulled.

Paige arched and released a guttural cry, sending renewed electric waves of desire coiling through Kellie. “Please, Kellie, don’t tease me.”

“We have all night. Do you have any idea what I can do with this body?”

“I know very well what you’re capable of doing to me.”

Kellie slithered down her body to lie between her legs. She grabbed Paige’s ankles and thrust her knees toward her chest. She pinned her legs against her stomach and then barely licked the top of her clit.

Paige jolted and cried out, pumping her hips with what little room she had with Kellie’s strong arms holding her in place.

“You like my tongue, Paige?”

“Yes! Finish me, damn you.”

“Oh, I plan to, right after I toy with you, make you so wet and horny you beg for mercy.”

Without warning, Kellie shoved her tongue inside Paige’s cunt, fucking her.

Paige tightened her hands into fists and yanked hard against the cuffs. Kellie wondered if she wanted her hands in Kellie’s hair as bad as Kellie had that night while she was tied to the bed.

Just when Paige was on the brink of losing grip on her orgasm, when her pussy was tightening around Kellie’s tongue, she stopped her plunges, licked her clit with a long, slow slurp, then pulled Paige’s legs back to the floor and spread them.

“Unlock the cuffs. Please,” Paige pleaded with a soft whisper.

Kellie couldn’t resist the need in her voice, the sweet sound making her ache to the core. She grabbed the key from the belt and unlocked them.

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Paige’s arms flew around her neck and crushed their mouths together.

Kellie dropped the cuffs and wrapped her arms around her body. Together, they rolled against the floor, devouring each other’s mouths and tongues, grinding their bodies against each other, skin against skin, and breath against breath.

Paige broke the kiss with a soft cry, arching her body, steadily pumping her hips over Kellie’s leg. “I never want to leave your side again.”

Kellie knew just how she felt. Life was never going to be the same again. She was in love…that breathless, controlling love, and her fate still awaited her. Holding Paige against her body, her hot flesh burning with need, was overwhelming Kellie with affection, and she prayed their love would be happily-ever-after as well, the kind she’d never wanted with anyone else.

With hands roaming over flesh, groping at each other, their legs grinding against crotches, they panted and clung to each other.

Paige sharply inhaled.

Kellie wedged her hand between their bodies, probed her fingers at Paige’s wet opening, and then drove inside. Her insides convulsed and trembled, wrapping around Kellie’s fingers like a firm handshake.

“Jesus…Christ…” Paige’s haggard words broke in between her deep, raspy gasps of air.

Kellie drove deeper and faster, losing herself in the erotic sound, and suddenly, her own orgasm bolted over the edge.

She arched and rode her crotch over Paige’s leg trapped between her own and cried out, holding her lover tighter, hanging onto this new love she’d found like a life preserver.

Finally, Paige relaxed against the carpet. Kellie lay boneless beside her and removed her fingers. She released her death grip around Paige’s leg and relaxed.

“I want you in my bed, all night long,” Kellie whispered against her ear, inhaling the wild aroma of Paige’s hair. “You smell so fucking good.”

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Paige delicately wrapped her fingers in Kellie’s hair. “Promise you’ll take that DVD to Sarge.”

Kellie shook her head, not wanting anything to shatter this newfound life. “Please. I don’t want to talk about this.”

Reluctantly, she pushed away from the floor, grabbed her clothes, and slowly put them on.

Paige stood and smoothed her skirt down around her hips, adjusted her bra back into place, and put her shirt back on. “What you did, what you protected, isn’t a death sentence.”

Kellie looked up, shocked at her meaning. “How could allowing my partner to break an oath to his badge free me?” She took a step toward Paige, controlling the urge to drag her to the bed, fuck and make love to her all night, while controlling the same urge to shove her back through the door and lock herself in this house forever. She couldn’t stand the thought of Paige or her uncle hating her. “Don’t you get it? I’m going to lose my job either way. I’ll probably go to jail. I’m done. It’s all gone.”

Paige adamantly shook her head. “Not when your partner set you up! You didn’t finish watching.”

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Chapter Nine

The screen filled with the arcade, of the same punk kids rushing about the room, slapping their hands against the games.

When Randy came into view, Paige went right up to the TV and tapped her finger on the screen. “Look.”

Kellie shrugged and managed not to start babbling explanations. Randy approached the boys.

“This boy here…” Paige pointed to the exact jerk Kellie had punched. “…is the one you hit.”

Kellie nodded. “Yes, but…”

“Watch.”

Randy clapped the punk on his back and slipped an obvious wad of money into his hand, though the denomination wasn’t clear. Narrowing her eyes, she studied the exchange, the nods, then the handshake confirming the agreement they’d just made.

How had she missed this? When had this taken place?

The next segment confirmed her fears. Her own image stepped into view, the kids pointed and nodded, and then the little asshole approached her.

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She closed her eyes and replayed every ugly detail of that day, the little freak’s taunting words, his aggravating name-calling, then his hands grabbing at her. After being pushed past the point of common sense, she’d punched him.

Kellie opened her eyes. Tears stung her lids. Randy had set her up, the proof clearly there for anyone to see, without a damn thing she could do about it. There was no one to tell, no one to help, and no way out of this disastrous mess.

Randy held all the cards in his hand. Paige was a fool to believe Kellie could turn herself in, not when a new life could be found, not when she had what she finally wanted, and surely not when her uncle would pay the price.

She reached for the remote and yanked it from Paige’s grasp. After punching the stop and eject button, she jerked the DVD from the player, threw it on the floor, stepped on it, smashing into tiny pieces of silver chunks, tears blinding her view.

The asshole had her right where he wanted her, controlling her every step, her every move. He held her wicked sins in the palm of his hand, could have used it against her at any point in time. Instead, he’d chosen to torture her, to play his games, to cover his dirty deeds.

How could she be so stupid to not suspect he had something to do with this?

No matter. She was a disgrace to the uniform, a disgrace to her uncle who gave her a chance to be all she wanted to be… She didn’t deserve to be a police officer.

Paige grabbed at her. “Stop it! What the fuck are you doing?”

“I can’t do this anymore.” Kellie faced Paige. “I’ll take the blame for what I did to that punk, but I’ll be damned if Donald pays for my sexual pleasures…”

Paige’s eyes were full of fear, of wonderment and confusion. “You don’t give him credit. Do you honestly think Sarge would want his niece protecting this?”

“Paige, you need to leave. Tell Gail to stay out of this, to keep her nose out of this. You too…stay out of this. I’m begging you.”

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Paige took a step toward her. Kellie backed up and shook her head, knowing she’d drown in desire if Paige laid a single finger on her, already sinking fast just staring into those caring eyes. “Kellie…”

“Leave. Please, Paige.”

“But…we… I thought…” Her gaze went to the floor before slowly rising back to Kellie’s. “Okay.”

Kellie swallowed the lump rising in her throat and looked away, not wanting to see the hurt, especially pity, filling her beautiful face. She didn’t deserve compassion.

Paige turned and left. The button clicked into the plate with finality, leaving Kellie alone and empty, cold and confused.

She walked to the door and quietly put her hands on the wood, trying to calm her bleeding heart. She dropped to her knees and rested her forehead against the solid structure.

She hit the door with her fist and fought the urge to scream with the departure of Paige’s car, the hum of her motor fading quickly, taking her reason for sanity along with it.

* * * * *

Three days later, after a long, lonely weekend of standing over the phone, willing it to ring and bring forth Kellie’s seductive voice, Paige rapped on the Sarge’s door. With his command, she entered. She took a deep breath, torn in half over what she was doing, praying it was the right decision.

“Sir, I’m Paige Waddell. I work for…”

The dark-haired man held up his hand and halted her words, then motioned for her to sit across the desk from him. “I know where you work. What can I help you with?” He scribbled a few words on a paper, tossed it into a folder, then closed it and tapped his pen against his fingers. With dark brown eyes, he studied her and leaned back in his chair.

“I’m here about Kellie.”

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He narrowed his eyes into slits. “And?”

“I’m afraid what I’ve brought you today could very well get her, and surely her partner, fired, but I think it’s important.” She shoved the duplicate DVD Gail’s geek friend had made across the table. Gail had been smart to ask him to do that, worried Kellie might have just the reaction she had, seeing herself a shame to the precinct instead of duped by her own partner.

Little did they know Kellie’s reaction would be to protect the very man Paige now faced, the Sergeant. “I think you need to see what’s on this tape.”

“Are you here in defense of my officer, or against her?”

Paige hung her head, unable to tell this man she was sunk in love with his niece, that for some reason, it was over before it could really begin. “Both. I find it rather sick to know her very own partner could mean her harm.”

“There better be proof of that. I don’t take kindly to accusations of criminal activities against any of my officers.”

“You can see for yourself.” She nodded toward the video.

With slow, casual ease, he removed the DVD from the case, swiveled his chair around to face his computer, and slipped the metal disc into the drive. He rose and walked behind her, closing the blinds as he rounded the large office.

“Do you know Kellie very well, Ms. Waddell?”

“Um, well, no, sir, just casually.”

He paused and looked around the room. “My niece hasn’t led a grand life…when she wasn’t sniffing for trouble, it found her. When my superiors doubted her, I gave her a chance. She hasn’t let me down or made me regret that decision.” He turned back to the computer. “If this recording is going to take that away, I’m not sure I want to see it. As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t exist, and you can stop me now.”

Paige sat stock still, not knowing how to comment, what she should and shouldn’t say.

He helped her escape the answers by continuing.

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“She changed recently, calmed down, doesn’t seem to be fitful and bored. I think that has to do with you.”

Paige looked down into her lap, heat spreading across her cheeks.

“Kellie is devoted to this force. However, if she’s protecting a dirty cop, I would rather know the reason why. Do you still want me to see this? Are those reasons going to be on here?”

Paige nodded. What she really wanted to do was shake her head. The truth, Kellie’s affair, wasn’t on that DVD. No matter the outcome, the whole truth needed to be revealed, but she’d be damned if she would tell that part. Kellie would hate her for what she was doing now, and whether she knew it or not, it would be the only way to free her from her guilt, from the chains that bound her.

With a click of a button, the images started, and her future with Kellie vanished.

Paige hated herself for being here now. If Kellie lost her job, and surely she would, it would be because of her, because she stuck her nose where it shouldn’t have been because she was in love with her and wanted to help her. Now, to hear the Sarge noticed a change in his niece since Paige was around made her want to fly across the desk to crush the evidence so no one could ever witness Kellie’s betrayal again.

She sighed, tears piercing her lids. Movement caught her eye, and she turned back to Sarge.

He rubbed his palm across his five-o’clock shadow, eyes intent on the screen. “Where did you get this?”

As instructed by Gail, Paige straightened her shoulders and prepared her mind for the lie. “A friend gave it to me.”

“Why would anyone help her when she was covering for Randy?” He shoved out of his chair and paced behind the desk, stopping every few paces to stare at the stilled screen. The 106

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segment where he’d paused it showed Randy’s face as his fingers slipped money into the punk’s hand.

“You do understand what this means, don’t you, Ms. Waddell?” He tapped his finger against the edge of the desk.

Paige hung her head, ready to hear she would be the reason Kellie lost her job, everything that meant anything to her. “Yes, sir, but I couldn’t keep this to myself. Her partner is dirty, and what he did to her is disgusting.”

He plopped back into his chair. “Why would she protect him?” He asked the question to himself, to the room, not really expecting an answer, maybe hoping the air would spit out everything he needed to clear his confusion.

Paige eased out of the chair, not willing to reveal that answer, and slowly left the room.

There was nothing more she could do, no more answers she could give him. She’d already done too much, already sealed Kellie’s fate.

Was it worth it to help her? Worth it to see Randy kicked out on his ass when it was all over? Had she subconsciously wanted revenge on him, instead of trying to protect Kellie?

The answers would eat her alive, for Kellie would never believe she had her best interest at heart. Their future was gone like the wind.

* * * * *

Kellie quietly laid her badge, gun, and handcuffs on Sarge’s desk, fighting back her tears while keeping a tight rein on her anger. He still held the resignation she’d written after Paige left her house, in his hand. The truth in all its pained glory was right there in black-and-white, poured out on computer paper. Nothing mattered now. Sarge had already seen the duplicate recording. There was no turning back now.

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His eyes widened as he neared the end of the letter, over the part she was sure was about Lydia, how she’d fucked the Captain’s wife without a care in the world, without a single thought to his career.

He laid the paper down and then leaned back. A slow chuckle started, confusing Kellie.

“That’s why you protected Randy…because of Lydia?”

Baffled, Kellie nodded. “I betrayed you the most, and I’m so fucking sorry. I couldn’t let you suffer for what I did…what I would have continued to do had Randy not found out.”

His chuckle turned into a bout of laughter. “Kellie, Kellie, Kellie. Honey, do you know how much I adore you? This…” He nodded toward the paper now lying like a dead rat on the desk. “…only proves putting that badge on you was the smartest thing I could have ever done.”

Kellie furrowed her brow. “What the hell do you mean by that? I screwed the big man’s wife, let Randy blackmail me into hiding his drug deals. I don’t deserve to be a woman of the law.”

“Do you think…?” He chuckled again, making Kellie completely uncomfortable. He pushed the letter toward her. “Tear that crap up.”

“I don’t understand.” Kellie resisted the urge to grab the sheaf of paper and rip it to shreds. However, her mind was made up. Being a cop, being a woman in a man’s world, wasn’t what she signed up for. To be honest, she wasn’t so sure what she expected when she vowed to uphold the law at all costs, but she knew for sure she didn’t want any part of it any longer.

There was life out there, a life she wanted to restart to see if she could make any sense of the jumbled mess in her mind.

“First off, let me say thank you. It’s an honor to see you put me on such a high pedestal.

Second, do you honestly think you’re the only person, male or female, on this force that Lydia hasn’t sunk her claws into?”

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Heat crawled along Kellie’s neck. “You’re kidding me?”

Sarge shook his head. “Nope. You’re not the first, you won’t be the last, and the Captain knows it…actually, I wouldn’t doubt for a second he hasn’t jumped into the mix every now and then. He’s well-known for his, um, shall we say, extracurricular fun?”

Kellie suddenly felt sick…and duped. She wanted to bust a gut laughing, but the sound would surely resemble that of a lunatic finally losing her hold on sanity.

She’d betrayed everything, everyone, for a fucking lay with a loose bitch. How completely sick, and how fucking ironic. Randy had blackmailed her into thinking the Captain would fire Donald on the spot, a man she treasured, and he must have known all along the slut was giving it away to anyone who paid her any attention.

Lydia’s pouty mouth slid into the vision in her mind. Was that her normal hook to lure in her new fucks? Kellie had walked willingly into her trap.

“I have no proof Randy blackmailed me. I’m still gonna roast. I don’t care what happens to me, but I want him stopped.”

Plans flooded her mind. Her pride was far more important than her career could ever be, a career she no longer wanted.

“Kellie, you have two days before your trial. Go get your proof.”

Without a word, Kellie grabbed her gun, badge, and cuffs. One last glance back proved Sarge was giving her permission to get that proof any way she had to and trusted it would be within the law, something she hadn’t done from the second Randy told her he knew about Lydia.

“Sarge, keep the resignation. That comes from the heart. I don’t deserve to wear a badge. Honestly, I’m not sure I want to wear one any longer.”

“I don’t agree. You’re a hell of a cop, Kellie. Don’t let his blackmail make you think different. We all make mistakes…and we all have to learn by them.” He gave her an Watching You

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affirmative nod. “Go get what you need. When it’s all said and done, and you still want to leave the precinct, I won’t stop you.”

She smiled, left the room and pounced down the hall, cursing the way memories of Paige’s scent invaded her mind.

* * * * *

Twenty-four hours later, Kellie walked into the café she and Randy frequented when they needed to talk “business.” She hated this part, hated hearing anything about his dealings in the back room, but today would be different, for today she’d nail his ass and free herself.

“Hey, sweet cheeks. Having a blast fucking that little fireball?” Randy’s grin sickened her.

Kellie managed a smile and adjusted her back against the booth. The recording device strapped to her body made her self-conscious, fearing Randy may see something different about her posture.

“I don’t kiss and tell.”

His grin widened. “But you do kiss and get caught, huh? And speaking of Lydia, she asked me to send her love…and a kiss. I’ll opt to omit the kiss.”

Kellie tried with all her might not to let her face waver or prove he’d angered her.

“Yeah, whatever. I’m really glad you brought that up.” She crossed her arms over her chest and tried to look as serious and worried as she could. “I’m tired of protecting you. What do I have to do to walk out of this shit?”

“You can’t. That was the deal. Besides, it’s not like I’ve ever asked you to do anything except watch for trouble.”

“Yeah, well, you’re making me an accomplice to something I don’t want any part of, never had any part in. What would I have to do to keep your mouth shut about Lydia?”

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Randy studied her face for a second, making Kellie fear she’d said too much. “You’d hate for Sarge to find out his little niece was screwing his boss’s wife, right? Or lose his job?”

His threat was crystal clear.

Kellie squared her jaw. “He doesn’t have to know, and no one will lose their jobs. Just tell me what I have to do. It makes me sick protecting your sorry ass.”

His eyes rounded. “My, my, aren’t we bitchy this morning? Worried about the trial?”

“Worried I might fold under pressure and reveal your drug operation? I could, you know.”

Randy slung his head back and released a roar of laughter. “With what proof? It’s gone.

I made sure of that when I destroyed the video from the arcade’s security cams.” He threateningly leaned over the table. “You just keep doing your job, and your precious uncle will keep his job, got it?”

Kellie smirked, knowing she had more than enough on the hidden recording device to bust his ass. But she wanted more, lots more. “You know, I often wonder how much money you make. Just a ballpark figure. Must be wads to keep doing what you’re doing, you piece of shit.”

“Hey, you better watch that tongue of yours. If I didn’t kinda like you, I would’ve already had your ass off the force.”

Just like you might have done tomorrow? Just like you think is going to happen in court? Setting me up wasn’t a smart thing, you pig. I can’t wait for it to backfire in your fucking face.

“Did you pay that punk?”

Randy looked genuinely shocked. If Kellie hadn’t seen the proof with her own eyes, she’d swear the look on his face was total shock. Or was he surprised she might suspect the truth?

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As fast as it formed, the look vanished. “You know, I wasn’t going to answer that question. But I think I will. Hell, yes, I paid his ass. He keeps my trail of drugs going, and I want you off the force. I’m sick of dyke women thinking they can waltz in here and take control. All of you, every lesbo cunt in the world, make me sick. You don’t belong in law enforcement.”

Kellie looked away, trapping the smile she could feel forming on her lips. “How sad.

You’ve blackmailed me over Donald, used Lydia and Sarge’s job as bait, and now you tell me you hate lesbians. You’re a sick motherfucker.” When she turned back, his smug grin made her lose control. “Did you forget it was me who saved your sorry ass from getting shot with the domestic case, me who man handled a giant of a man when he was kicking your fat ass?”

His face turned pale pink with remembrance. She’d saved his ass several times, something a big macho man like himself couldn’t stand to admit.

Voices rose from the front door, a familiar laugh.

Kellie turned to find the source of the feminine giggle. Paige and Gail strolled down the aisle.

Every muscle in her body bunched with tension. All she needed was Paige to reveal she knew anything about Randy, and this whole thing would turn into a shit fight.

Panic gripped her gut. She looked back at Randy, who was watching them intently.

“Well, I’ll be. If it ain’t our good friend, Randy, and his sidekick, Kellie.” Gail stopped beside their table, her normal, sarcastic words spilling.

Paige wouldn’t even look at the table, kept her sights out over the other customers.

Kellie wanted to pull her down in her lap, to tell her everything was going to be okay, that she was freeing herself and didn’t blame her for going to Sarge.

“Well, if it ain’t loudmouthed, Gail, with Kellie’s new fuck toy.”

Paige gasped and spun to face him.

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Kellie surged to her feet, all common sense vanishing with every struggling breath.

“Watch your fucking mouth, Randy!” Never again would she remain quiet, nor would she sit back while he bashed the woman she loved.

“What? It’s true, ain’t it?” He tapped his finger against the table, smug grin dominating his mouth. “Two obnoxious cunts, you belong together.”

“You piece of shit!” Before she could stop herself, she lunged over the table, left hand tightly tangled in his uniform, her right fist pounding into his face.

Randy bellowed and threw up his hands to ward off her next punches, to no avail.

Kellie kept punching, a jab landing squarely on his nose before another landed against his mouth.

Squeals and shouts erupted from behind her. Strong arms yanked at her, pulling her away. She landed one more punch against his ugly mouth before she was dragged off of him.

Exasperated, hand cut and bleeding from his teeth, she twisted around to glare at Gail.

“Hot damn, woman. Let’s leave some of him for his pitiful wife.” Gail winked and smiled brightly.

Waitresses and waiters filed around them, one man with a red apron smeared with grease went to Randy.

Paige stood a few feet away, a shocked expression on her face, hands covering her mouth.

Not knowing what to say and surely not knowing what to do, Kellie wiggled out of Gail’s grasp, turned, and stomped down the aisle.

At least now she had the option of fleeing with her head held high. She’d defended Paige, defended herself, and obtained her freedom with the hidden recording. Maybe later, after events ground out to their brutal conclusion, she’d have a chance to seek out Paige.

Who knew, maybe her new beginning would include Paige, that is, if Paige would have her.

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Chapter Ten

Paige plastered a fake smile on her face and carried a tray of finger foods back to the long picnic table covered in white cloth. The day was bright, the sun beaming its heat over them, the sky pale blue with occasional puffy clouds floating past…the perfect day for her going-away party. The area outside their wing of the precinct was secluded with a privacy fence, the perfect location so all of the operators could join in the lunch, each taking turns.

She should be excited, at least happy, especially since she was the guest of honor.

Turning in her resignation hadn’t been as hard as she thought it might have been. She’d given them two weeks’ notice, and now, her time had run out. Today would be the last day she would work for the precinct, or ever work as a 911 operator.

Knowing she was at fault for Kellie’s broken heart and lack of a career clawed at her soul, day in and day out. What was done was done. There was no way to undo the harm she’d created.

It didn’t matter that the court case had had a favorable outcome for the woman she’d come to love. She had betrayed her, gone against her wishes and her orders. Kellie wouldn’t forgive her, and as much as it pained her, Paige had to bundle her grief deep down within her to move on.

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Kellie’s sentence was six months’ community service, as well as having her badge stripped. Mandated anger management counseling had been ordered as well. Her time was almost up, soon to return to whatever new life she’d made for herself, a life Paige would never be privy to.

The incident with Randy, Kellie pummeling his face, vanished into thin air. Paige was sure he was too embarrassed to admit a woman had beaten his ass down.

As for Kellie’s brief fling with Lydia, she admitted everything in a court of law. Gail had taken the day off to be at the trial and mentioned how Kellie had held her head high with every sentence, with every confession. Paige wished she could have been there to watch her shed her guilt, to finally have the upper hand in a rotten situation. She’d have told Kellie how proud of her she was.

They fired Randy after his conviction for distribution to minors and trafficking illegal drugs. The judge gave him a five- to ten-year sentence in the state penitentiary.

Paige enjoyed fond thoughts of him as some barbarian’s bitch now.

The arcade employee who’d taken the video with his handmade camera was named a hero. He got a new job working for the precinct as their electronics guru.

The arcade owner went bankrupt. She was sentenced to the same time as Randy.

The kid’s parents dropped the assault charges against Kellie and turned their sights on Randy. He’d have another trial to look forward to, possibly more time in jail, for bribing their son into drugs, as well corrupting the morals of a minor into harassing a police officer.

The boy pleaded guilty to assisting a police officer in the distribution of drugs, admitted he was paid to harass Kellie. He told the jury Randy wanted Kellie fired because she was a dyke. He cried alligator tears on the stand and said he was scared, felt like he had no choice.

Gail said you could hear the hushed quiet fall over the room with his words.

For Paige, the weeks had crept by as slow as a drip of sap from a maple tree. Kellie consumed every thought in her mind, every dream, and every flash of heat from memories.

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She’d never forget what they could have had, what they should have had. Time wouldn’t lessen her gut reaction to Kellie’s touch.

And now, Paige would be starting her new career, with her father as a partner in her new coffee shop. Life should be grand, yet it wasn’t.

“Hey, perk up. Today’s your last day in this hellhole.” Gail plopped in the chair beside her and set down a plate piled high with food. “Did you get everything set up at the shop…ready to accept your first customer?”

Paige grinned, heart swelling with love for her father for helping her find an empty building in the strip mall downtown. He’d even helped her do the necessary paperwork and renovations as her willing sidekick, even though he wouldn’t be an active participant, opting to let Paige handle everything from the point of opening.

“Yep, I’m ready. Are you going to be my first customer?”

Gail smirked at her. “You open at five a.m. Do you honestly think I’m going to roll out of bed to get a cup of coffee?” She nudged Paige. “Of course, I’ll be your first damn customer.

Do you think I would let anyone else bust up in there for your grand opening before me?”

Paige smiled and picked at her ham sandwich. Would Kellie accidentally step into her shop one day? How would Paige react to being so close to her if she did? Would she spill hot cappuccino all over herself with shaky hands at the sight of her?

No need to worry about that. Kellie would probably turn and race away on eye contact and rightly so. Paige deserved to be shunned by her, deserved to be given the cold shoulder.

She’d stuck her nose into events she knew nothing about, had opened Kellie’s insecurities and heartaches. She had no right to do that.

The day at the restaurant, when Kellie had lunged across the table and pummeled her fists into Randy’s face, Paige prayed when she turned to look at her, there’d be love settling in her eyes. And she’d seen that love glowing, hot and pure.

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After that, Paige had waited every day, breathlessly willing the phone to ring, but nothing. The lack of a chirping phone, the void of never hearing from her, spoke volumes.

She’d been given her answers. No matter if Kellie loved her, she was more angered that Paige had acted against her wishes.

“Are we still on for Monday night? We have to go celebrate your new career.” Gail popped a ranch dressing-covered baby carrot into her mouth and looked out over the operators sitting in the chairs.

“You bet. Thanks for inviting my dad.”

“Hey, any man who calls himself a lesbian because he loves women, too, has to be included on a girl’s night out.” Gail chuckled. “I about pissed my pants when he said that.”

Paige smiled, remembering the dead serious look on his face with his joke. She was so proud of him, at the turnabout he’d done.

Gail finished her food in silence, Paige scooting her sandwich from one side of the Styrofoam to the other.

Gail rose and picked up her plate. “I’m heading back in. I’m sure the rest would like some of this delicious food. I’ll go relieve someone.”

Paige dumped her uneaten food in the trash and followed her inside, ready to get her last day over with, ready to move on with life, no matter how empty it felt without Kellie in it.

* * * * *

Kellie walked down the aisle between the officer’s desks, stopping occasionally to get a handshake or a pat on the back, and headed toward Sarge’s office.

She was overwhelmed with pride and relief to see faces of those she thought would hate her for being a snitch. Instead, they didn’t hate her at all, but rather congratulated her as if she’d busted the biggest drug dealer in the world. A few officers stayed in their chairs, Watching You

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not offering a handshake or a pat, watching her with a scowl on their faces. She ignored them and concentrated on the ones rushing to greet her.

In all honesty, she owed the biggest thanks to Gail. She was the one who snooped and prodded the employee to help. Thankfully, the nerd was paranoid enough to know one day Randy would turn on him. He’d taken the precaution of making a second video documentation of what the corruptible bastard had been up to, in order to protect himself or blackmail Randy into not laying a finger on him. The footage of her ex-partner kicking the ever-loving crap out of the boy was proof that while his secret tapings had been fortuitous for Kellie, it wasn’t necessarily going to work for a geeky boy in fear.

Had Paige not taken that step to go to the Sarge, Kellie might have drowned in her own guilt for the rest of her life, would’ve continued to allow Randy to break the law. How could she have allowed that to go on so long?

After six months of picking up trash from the local highway’s litterbugs, spending time with a counselor, she felt free. For the first time in her life, she felt completely shed of rage over men just like Randy and ready to conquer a new life.

She rapped on Sarge’s door, then entered.

His smile was bright enough to light up the darkest of nights. “Well, lookey what we have here.” He rose, walked around the table, and gave her a tight squeeze while clapping her on the back. “This place hasn’t been the same without you. Everyone misses you.”

Pride swelled her heart. “I just stopped by to see if you wanted to have lunch with me?”

“Of course. I’d be proud to have lunch with the new owner of a self-defense studio.”

He clapped Kellie on the back. “I’m proud of you. Protecting the less fortunate. Who would have ever thought?”

Kellie smiled, jubilant with her new life. Of course, there wasn’t much glamour to it, but teaching people how to protect themselves, something the arcade nerd didn’t know, was 118

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all she was after. If anything, this job was far more important than patrolling the beat. She’d be teaching people one-on-one how to stand up to bullies, to anyone who would cause them harm. Wasn’t that the real reason she’d wanted to be a cop? To help those who could not help themselves?

He walked with her to the office door and pushed it open to allow Kellie to walk through before him.

She caught Paige’s scent and willed her body not to freeze. Would Paige find it in her heart to forgive her for staying away for so long, needing time to get past the things she’d done? Would she want to start a relationship?

When they pushed through the double glass doors at the front of the precinct, Sarge removed his arm. “Today’s her last day.” He pulled his sleeve away from his watch, then looked back at her. “In thirty minutes, she’ll no longer be a 911 operator.”

Kellie looked away from his knowing eyes. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Me, too. She’s a great asset around here. She’s opening a coffee shop. The grand opening’s on Monday, just in case you’d like to know.”

She did.

“Thanks. It’s always hard to find a good cup of coffee. Maybe I’ll stop by one day.”

He slowly nodded. “That sounds like a great idea.”

Sarge stalled and caught Kellie’s arm, stopping her on the sidewalk. “She did the right thing. She was only trying to help you.”

“I know.” She continued down the path with him beside her.

How badly she wanted to rush down the hall to find Paige, claim her whether she was claimable or not. She couldn’t rip Paige from her mind no matter how hard she’d tried over the last month. Every minute of her thoughts had been pinned on Paige…and the life they could have had.

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* * * * *

Paige stared at the clock, willing the hand to tick faster so she could get the hell out of this room, this building, out of this life, and into a new one.

If she could just hold back her tears long enough to get to the car, maybe she could shed the last of her guilt and get over this, over the fact she’d blown her chance with Kellie.

“Staring at it won’t make it go any faster,” Gail said beside her.

She looked over, and there it was, the “I’m so sorry you’re heartbroken” look.

Her headset chirped. She looked around hoping someone else would pick it up. She didn’t want to spend her last few minutes with a disaster she might not be able to handle.

The other operators were steadily talking into their mouthpieces. She turned back to Gail who raised her brow…the definite refusal to take Paige’s last call. With a grunt, Paige hit the on button. After all, this would be the very last one she ever took.

She said a silent prayer it wouldn’t be anything drastic, a heart-wrenching crisis that would bring her to uncontrollable tears. “Nine-one-one. What is your emergency?”

The computer started spilling information across the black screen, that the caller was using a cell device.

“Nine-one-one. What is your emergency?”

“I need help.” The woman’s voice was distraught and distorted.

Paige studied the screen, quickly looking over the map filling the blackness. It slowly blinked a red star indicating the closest cell tower was within two blocks of the precinct.

“Can you please give me your location?”

Paige hated the cell calls more than anything, terrified she was going to answer a call from a child locked in a trunk, or worse, someone hurt and alone.

She said a quick thank you to God that the caller seemed not to be in immediate danger.

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“Ma’am, can you please tell me your location?” The map froze over the cell tower on the map and blinked brightly.

“Can you fix a broken heart?”

Paige narrowed her eyes and looked over at Gail, who studied her black screen intently, completely ignoring Paige.

“Ma’am, can you repeat that?”

“My broken heart…you’re the only one who can fix it.”

“Do you know you can go to jail for making prank calls to 911? I’m going to dispatch an officer to your area.”

Paige knew it would be useless. The caller would already be gone by the time an officer arrived. Hell, she could already be two blocks away from the tower, and the next roaming device hadn’t picked her up yet. Well, at least it wasn’t going to be a drastic last call.

Paige pressed her hand over the earpiece, wishing she could hear the voice more clearly. Instead, she heard what sounded like a gust of wind interfering with the connection, possibly just a bad receiver.

“They can’t fix my heart…but you can.”

Gail turned to look at her, gave her a puzzled expression.

“Paige, help me.”

The connection went dead.

Paige gasped, yanked the headset off, and tossed it onto the empty desk.

“What was that all about?” Gail stared at her as if Paige had lost it.

“A prank call, but she knew my name.”

“You didn’t recognize the voice?”

“No. It sounded like the wind was blowing.”

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“Well, aren’t you glad your last call wasn’t a bad one?” Gail winked and pushed away from the desk. “You want me to escort you out of the building, in case your prank caller is waiting for you.”

Paige slowly rose and gave her a smirk. “No. I don’t need a damn escort. It was just weird.”

“Probably one of the guys goofing off.”

Paige nodded. It had happened before. However, they sure didn’t ask her to fix a broken heart. Their norm was retelling the never-dying joke of chasing a running refrigerator. Would she miss this? Was there some tiny part of her that would die without the glimpse of Kellie every day, even if it was a glare with hate-filled eyes?

She gathered her jacket, pushed the chair under her desk, then made her way through the hugging crowd of women, telling her goodbyes, with promises to visit with lots of coffee very soon, knowing she’d never deliver on the promise. Some walked with her as they also left for the day.

When she pushed through the double doors, a gust of wind whipped strands half out of her hair band. Pushing her hair away from her face, she couldn’t resist turning back to stare at the brick building.

For years, she’d came to this place every single morning, no matter what disaster she might have to live through to help someone. She’d loved her job, no matter how stressful, and now she’d have a calm one, serving coffee for a living, nothing near as wild and wooly as this place could get sometimes.

She turned back to the parking lot, willing herself not to cry until she was safe in the confined interior of her own car, and took in a deep, cleansing breath.

Monday would begin a new life, her new life. Why was that so hard to face?

What would Kellie be doing now that she was no longer an officer, now that the life she knew had been stripped from her?

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Paige shook the thoughts from her mind. As much as she hated Kellie’s fate, she couldn’t hate herself for putting a stop to illegal activities. She’d done the right thing…no matter who paid the price.

Her mind went to the woman on the phone asking that her heart be fixed.

Could it have been Kellie? Was it just her wishful thinking?

She glanced around the parking lot, her own heart drooping to see it vacant of all but co-workers exiting the parking lot.

She giggled despite the need to cry.

Who was going to fix her own broken heart?

“Time. Time heals all wounds.” Paige mumbled.

* * * * *

Paige stared around the front room of her coffee shop, looking over each round, black table. She smiled as she took in her surroundings. The whole place seemed like a dream as she looked at the oversized menu hanging on the wall behind the counter. Designer mugs hung from a rack over the pots, awaiting the first hands to clasp it and sip her brew.

After a long weekend of tying up loose ends and basically doing the same thing she was doing right now, just staring around at what was now all hers, she’d finally concluded that life should go on. Brooding over things that couldn’t be changed, things she wouldn’t change, wasn’t going to help her get on with life.

She checked her watch. Only thirty more minutes before she opened the door to her very first customer. Her heart jolted at the thought. She’d wanted this for so long, never dreamed it would be her dad who helped get the ball rolling. Only one piece to the puzzle was missing, and she’d be damned if she let it shake her for another second. Kellie had dug her own hole, and only she could lie in it.

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“Damnit! Why am I still thinking about her?” Paige went to the front door with a determined mind and unlocked it. After propping the heavy wood open with an iron doorstop, hoping the delicious aromas of coffee would pull in her first customers, she went about rechecking the napkin holders on each table.

The wind kicked up a notch, whirling a light breeze around the room.

“Ahem. Do I smell delicious coffee?”

Paige spun around to face the door.

Kellie leaned against the doorjamb, arms crossed over her chest. The wind whipped her hair into complete disarray.

Vivid images flooded her mind. Paige’s knees almost buckled with the force.

A smile dented the corners of Kellie’s mouth. “Am I your first customer?”

Paige stilled her heart and shoved the last of the napkins in the holder, then placed it in the center of the table. “Yes, ma’am. You sure are.”

“Maybe your coffee can heal a broken heart?”

It suddenly occurred to her that Kellie had made that last call. Did she need her broken heart mended? Was Paige her stitching? Was it futile to wish for such nonsense?

Just the thought made the tears gush behind her lids. “You made a prank call to 911?”

“That was no prank.” Kellie uncrossed her arms and stood to full height. “Only you can help me.” She closed the gap between them in only one step, her long legs reaching Paige in an easy glide. “Will you fix my broken heart?”

Paige chuckled, the sound a half sob.

Kellie reached for her hand, gently squeezed the tips of her fingers. “Thank you…for what you did. You took a chance giving Sarge that recording, but you did it to help me.” She eased against Paige, draping her arm around her neck like a warm scarf, uncaring if anyone witnessed their display of emotion. “Because of you, I am ready to start fresh, no skeletons in my closet.”

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She hooked her finger under Paige’s chin and tilted her face up. “I want my new beginning to be with you.”

When Kellie lowered her face, Paige closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around her neck.

Their lips met in a delicate swish of velvet, slowly caressing before Kellie’s tongue parted her lips, commanding Paige to let her inside.

While Paige’s heart swelled, tears slowly rolled down her cheeks, and Kellie pulled her tight against her chest, holding onto her like she might never get a chance to feel the curve of her body or the rap of their hearts beating together again.

By the time Kellie pulled back and placed her forehead against Paige’s, she was already lost in love, completely at its mercy.

“Woohoo. I get porn with my morning coffee. Hot damn!” Gail bellowed behind them.

Kellie and Paige looked around and snickered as they found Gail’s face pressed against the door’s glass, all teeth and smiles.

Kellie’s warm breath feathered across her face. “Will you have dinner with me tonight?”

Paige shook her head. “I’m supposed to go with Gail for my grand opening celebration.”

“Then we can have dessert at my place afterwards?”

Paige nodded, heart swelled to its max with love.

Kellie tightened her grip around her waist. “Good. I want you to serve mine in the nude.”

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Paige laughed and bit her bottom lip, tightening her grasp around Kellie’s neck, then whispered against her ear, “Only if you bring the cuffs.”

Sheri Livingston

Sheri lives in the beautiful state of South Carolina with her partner and their beautiful and bratty children.

She writes lesbian erotic romance…where sex is not behind closed doors and hot, steamy passion is at its finest. Love and seduction colliding is what she aimed for…and succeeded.

Even though fantasies and dreams roamed her mind, she never realized it was stories screaming to be told until finally giving into temptation, and writing the damn thing.

Soon, In the Eyes of Love was born. Following close behind was I Dare You, published with Cobblestone Press.

The stories continue to come to life with the pecking of a keyboard, and seem to get hotter and more enticing, with every new idea.

Visit Sheri on the Web at www.sherilivingston.com.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten