Page 15 of Heat of Justice (Duty #3)

Kim had a shower, changed, and went straight to her office after Cody left. There, she spent the rest of the day with her head buried in work. Voluntarily. Gratefully, as she did not want to be able to dwell on the morning’s events. The first part of the day had been dark and terrifying. The other part felt like a slice of sublime cut out of a real-life nightmare. Kim kept it close at the back of her mind as she worked, the memory of that incredible kiss never too far should she want to revisit. She did, frequently, without guilt. Such a wild thing to happen, in the best possible way. The fact that she was attracted to the handsome, bright-eyed detective was not lost on her. But Kim had never planned to kiss her. Didn’t even know she would do it until her lips were pressed against hers. She had felt Cody’s shock. Registered her hesitation. Both were quickly washed out by a rush of brilliant heat, replaced by need and desire to match her own. She would never forget Cody’s smile then, so open and alluring. And Cody had kissed her back. Such a soulful kiss.

“God, Kim…” She groaned and shook her head at her own self.

Soulful kiss? Whatever next? Slushy descriptions were really not her style. She would not call herself a romantic. At the same time, she would admit it had been absolutely that sort of kiss. She told herself to focus and concentrate on work. Just before seven, she went home. At seven-fifteen, her phone beeped.

‘On my way to you now.’

Kim shivered with a mix of relief and excitement. ‘Good,’ she quickly typed in reply. Then hesitated, deleted the word, and replaced it with ‘Great’. Instantly deleted that too, and went with ‘Perfect’ in the end . And once again, experienced a twinge of annoyance at her own self. How old are you, dammit?

“Don’t,” she muttered. “Don’t ruin it.”

She was old enough to want this and not feel guilty about it, she reflected. Whatever ’This’ may turn out to be with Cody. Fifteen minutes later, a polite knock on the door almost had her running to answer it. She forced herself to slow down and check the security cam first. Cody. Yes… And Kim had never felt safer.

“Hi.” She opened the door wide and watched the tired look on the detective’s face give way to a slow smile.

“Hi, Kim.”

Cody’s blue eyes drifted over her like a sensual caress. Kim had changed into a pair of white Indian dhotis and a linen shirt of the same color, open at the top to reveal a flash of bronze skin. She wore a trio of thin gold chains of different lengths around her neck and a gold bangle around her right ankle. Her hair was loose, and she was barefoot.

“Everything okay?” she murmured as Cody lingered, both silent and thoughtful.

“Uh, yeah.” The woman’s grin returned, as well as a line of color across her cheeks. “Just thinking you look like a princess from an Arabian tale or something.”

“Or something.” Kim laughed, but her heart swelled at the candid remark. “Make that a tired lawyer, eh? Come on in.”

“Thanks.”

Cody looked like a treat herself in a fresh pair of blue jeans, brown suede slip-on boots, and a grey V-neck t-shirt. She must have stopped home to change, but she still carried her badge and weapon.

“Are you off-duty?” Kim asked.

“Well, it’s after hours, so, kind of.”

“Meaning you never really switch off, right?”

Cody answered with a light, smiling shrug. “Being a cop is not just something I do for a living. It’s what I am. So yeah, I’m never really off.”

Kim thought herself immune to the selfless hero vibe, but apparently not with this particular woman. The remark struck her as beyond sexy and attractive, as was the intensity in Cody’s gaze as they stood facing each other in the hallway. Kim imagined it must reflect her own.

“Look,” she said. “About this morning. I need you to know this isn’t the norm for me. I don’t go out much. I don’t date. And I certainly don’t kiss women the way I kissed you on the beach.”

“Okay.” Cody nodded slowly, heated eyes still riveted onto hers. “I don’t want you to.”

“What?” Kim frowned.

“Kiss other women the way you kissed me on the beach,” Cody repeated. Then, she slayed her with her next words. “Only me, Kim.”

This time, she made the first move by sliding her hands under her hair and coming to rest on the sides of her neck. With both thumbs firmly supporting her jaw, she tilted her head up and took her mouth with a deep, commanding kiss. The gesture made Kim see sparks behind her closed eyelids. Instantly, she wrapped her arms around her shoulders, as much because she wanted to hold her as to steady herself. She was trembling. The second Cody touched her like this, so sure and confident, Kim’s legs turned to water. A shower of fiery tingles zipped from the top of her head to hit between her legs. She clung to Cody and returned the kiss in exactly the same manner. Jesus! In the blink of an eye, she was primed. Ready. And so damn close! Cody teased her with her tongue in a delicious swirl, then withdrew, prompting Kim to chase the kiss. She heard a sound, halfway between a moan and a sob, and realized that it was her. As Cody deepened the kiss, Kim slid her hands under her t-shirt to caress her naked back. What a thrill to feel that slender but strong body shiver in response! What a delight to feel Cody’s hot and smooth skin prickle under her fingertips. She moved her palms to her stomach and delighted in making the hard muscles tense and ripple.

“Kim,” Cody panted. “I won’t be able to stop if—”

“Good,” Kim answered sharply. “I don’t want you to.”

Using her own words... Cody almost ripped her shirt open in her haste to get to her bra and relieve her of it. As soon as it was off, she broke another searing kiss and lowered to catch a hard nipple between her lips.

“God!” Kim cried out and threw her head back. “Cody…”

She held her close, both hands fisted in her hair to keep her on the spot. She arched into her, demanding more. Cody sucked her harder, responding to her wordless plea. The ferocity of her own need surprised her, but Kim no longer questioned it. From the first moment she laid eyes on Cody, something in her knew the woman was special. Different, for sure. Mine. With a rush of feral desire, she pulled her up for a scorching kiss.

“I need you,” Cody grunted against her lips.

“I know, baby.” Kim unhooked the belt on her jeans, and she made short work of the buttons. “I need you too.”

She yanked her pants down and slid one hand between her legs. Cody was swollen, hot, and wet. Also, she almost collapsed when Kim pushed her fingers over her.

“Fuck! You’ll make me come.”

“Not yet. Bedroom. Over here,” Kim prompted.

They tossed remaining items of clothing along the way and dropped onto the bed in a breathless heap, arms locked around each other and their legs tightly entwined.

“Yes,” Cody gasped. “Like this.”

Kim went with her, rocking her hips to the languid rhythm she established. Staring into her eyes, catching waves of rolling emotions, was both surprisingly erotic and ruthlessly intimate. It occurred to Kim that it was a first for her. She had never allowed a partner to look so deep into her before.

“You make me feel so naked,” she murmured.

“You are naked,” Cody grinned, and her eyes sparkled.

“How did we end up like this?”

“I’m not sure. I love that we did.”

“Yes… Me too.”

Kim kissed her, loving the sweet, clean taste of her mouth. The way Cody fondled her breasts only inflamed the hunger she felt. She trailed her fingers over her stomach, her tight abdomen, to settle possessively on her swollen clitoris.

“Oh… Fuck! Kim…”

Cody’s pleading gasp almost catapulted Kim over the edge; she was that close. But she held back and started to stroke her. Rubbing the hard little nub between her two fingers, pressing gently. Cody shook and trembled from the touch, but she also endured marvelously. Her face was burning. She was breathing hard. Eyes closed, and with her eyelids fluttering violently, there was no doubt as to the intensity of her experience.

“I could come just from looking at you,” Kim exclaimed.

“I’m going to. Kim…”

“Look at me,” Kim said urgently. “Please, Cody.”

She was the one pleading for that connection now… And as Cody opened her eyes wide and locked that feverish gaze onto hers, Kim almost lost it again. No fantasy sexual encounter she ever had in the privacy of her own mind was as hot and loaded as this one was turning out to be. She grabbed a handful of her lover’s hair with her free hand and kissed her hard and rough as the shaking intensified. Cody managed to slide a hand between their slick bodies, and she found her, matching her caresses stroke for stroke. Within seconds, they fell together in the all-consuming fire.

◆◆◆

Later, much later, Cody lay in her arms, catching her breath as she recovered from yet another ripping orgasm. It was number three, as she recalled. As for what time of day or night it may be or what planet she was on, she had lost track of that a long time ago. Glancing up and catching Kim staring fixedly at the ceiling, she pressed a soft kiss under her jaw.

“Are you okay?”

The question earned her a blink and a dazed look, followed by a slow-spreading grin.

“I feel like I discovered sex for the first time,” Kim stated. “That’s how good it was. How are you doing?”

“Destroyed, in the best way. Loved. I—”

Cody’s voice broke on the last word. What the hell did I just say to her? Taken aback at her own words and the veracity of the statement, she stopped abruptly. Tears rose with another hard wave of emotion, too quick for her to contain or hide.

“Hey, hey…” Kim shifted on her side to better embrace her, and also to hold her gaze. “It’s alright. Any way you feel is okay with me.”

Cody swallowed, brushed at the tears, and managed a brief smile. “Thanks. I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Kim…”

“Mm?”

As her lover patiently waited, Cody took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“Look,” she murmured. “We’re past holding back on each other now, right?”

“Oh, I would say so.” Kim’s expressive dark eyes twinkled, and she flashed a tender smile. “So far beyond, in fact, that we may as well be in a different universe.”

“That’s right,” Cody repeated. She had to say this now, or it would kill her not to. “I would also tell you that this experience with you, both physical and emotional, is incredibly intense for me.”

“ Would say,” Kim prompted gently. “Is there a ‘but’ here? Or a problem?”

“No problem,” Cody answered quickly. ”But… it also isn’t the first time. I have felt this deep and connected before. This is how it was for me with Emma. Every single time. All the time.”

“Oh.” A touch of uncertainty flared in Kim’s gaze. Maybe a slice of reluctance too. “Of course. Cody, I didn’t mean… You know, I understand. I know I’m not your first.”

“Please, hear me out.” Cody held her back gently when she felt her start to withdraw. “Sorry, Kim, I’m really not very good at this.”

“It’s okay. Take your time.”

“It’s just unexpected for me to feel this way again. I never thought I would. And I know it’s very early between us. Our first time, and all that. I don’t want to make it heavy.”

“It’s alright.”

“It feels so familiar with you. So natural and… Really good. Right. I just…. I needed to tell you that.”

Kim settled against her. She cupped her cheek in a soothing gesture.

“I’m glad you did tell me. I feel the same way, you know? Intense and powerful, deeply connected. Not heavy at all. Did you think I would not want to hear you tell me how you feel?”

“No. I don’t know.” Cody sighed and chuckled at the same time. “Feels like a big admission. Hell, it’s hard to think straight right now.”

“I understand that too.”

She did... Cody watched her eyes glisten with emotion, her own tears probably not far off. She kissed her softly, tasted a hint of sex and passion on her lips, and chuckled again with a surge of joy and happiness.

“You know, you’re very hot for a lawyer.”

“Oh, thanks.” Kim smirked in reply, instantly matching the vibe. “You’re not bad yourself for a cop. How did you enjoy my dominant streak? Oops…” She grinned. “I felt you twitch on my leg.”

“I would and do have to say, I kinda love the way you grab my hair to keep me in place when you kiss me.”

“Mm…” Kim purred. “More than kinda.”

“And now I got you to twitch.” Laughing, charmed, Cody disentangled herself. “I need a break, though. Some food. What time is it?”

“Just after ten. And yes, good idea. I’d like a shower and a drink.”

“We can order in if you like. How about pizza? My shout.”

“Well...” Kim flashed her an amused look over her shoulder as she led the way into the bathroom. “I like pizza, yes. But I can do better.”

Though her beloved pizza would always remain at the top of her list of favorite foods, Cody was pleased to make room next to it for Kim’s offering. Wholesome, nutritious food, the kind that tasted even better due to the fact that it was home-cooked by her. On the menu tonight were tender strips of grilled chicken breast marinated in Cajun spices, served with wild rice and asparagus heads, also perfectly flavored, and a fresh green salad assembled on the spot. To go with the meal, Kim opened a bottle of chilled white wine. They sat outside on the balcony, with the sounds of the ocean in the distance.

“Cheers, babe.”

“Cheers.” Cody clinked her glass lightly against hers. “You know how you went into the water this morning? To cleanse and relax?”

“Yes,” Kim smiled in reply.

“This is exactly how I feel right now.”