No Boundaries (21 page)

Jimmy’s voice was hoarse when she spoke, her own pain and fear thick on her tongue. “Come on, you guys, what do you say we get out of here?”

Gwen pulled the SUV into the drive and killed the engine. Andi had slept most of the drive home. She studied the faint lines creasing Andi’s forehead, the weight of the day’s events still evident on her face. Gwen knew it would take a long time to quiet the fear and unrest seeing Kevin James again had created. She swore to herself she would do whatever it would take to see Andi smile and be happy again.

Gwen brushed her fingers lightly along the curve of Andi’s jaw and spoke softly. “Andi.”

Andi’s eyes fluttered open.

“We’re here.”

Andi smiled sleepily and pushed her cheek into Gwen’s touch. “Is this real?”

“What?”

“I started out this day feeling like my life was over. Everything that happened in that hearing made me relive the most horrific moments of my life. My emotions were put in a blender. Then it was over and you were there. And you’re here now. So much has happened that I don’t know what’s real.”

Gwen stroked Andi’s hair, leaned across the seat, and kissed her lightly on the lips. After a moment she stroked her tongue along Andi’s lower lip and pressed more firmly into the kiss. When Andi moaned, Gwen pulled away.

“Feel real yet?”

“Oh yeah. That feels very real.”

“Come on, let’s get you inside. You must be exhausted.”

Andi closed and locked the door behind her after they entered the house. Although the immediate threat had passed, the fear and unease still made her feel edgy and guarded.

“Would you like to lie down and rest for a while? I can go if you need some time.”

Andi shook her head. The last thing she wanted was for Gwen to leave. “No, I just want to sit for a while. Some wine would be nice, though. Would you like some?”

“Sure.”

“Do you need to go check on Zeek?”

Gwen smiled. “No. She’s staying with Morgan for the night. I didn’t know what to expect today, and I wanted to make sure I could be here for whatever you needed.”

“Thank you,” Andi said, then popped the cork on a bottle of Shiraz. She handed Gwen a glass. She settled down onto the couch in her familiar defensive pose, with her back to the corner and her knees pulled up. She sipped the wine and allowed the rich woody palate to bathe her tongue with a soothing blend of flavor and warmth.

Gwen sat down next to Andi. She sipped her wine and brushed her fingers along the smooth skin along Andi’s ankle. Andi took Gwen’s hand and drew it into her lap. She craved the slightest contact after the long weeks when she had struggled to understand how she would ever be able to have a normal life with Gwen, wanting more than anything to give her all her heart. The fear that had consumed her had threatened to destroy them both.

Gwen was quiet and the look in her eyes was pensive. When she had suggested she leave, Andi had felt the insecurity vibrating from Gwen like a current through the air.

“I’m sorry, Gwen,” Andi said. “I know this has been hard for you.”

Gwen’s clouded gaze met Andi’s, and Andi ached with the knowledge that Gwen’s doubt was her fault. Gwen placed her wine glass on the table and moved closer to Andi, pulling her into her arms. Andi slipped easily into her arms, curling against her, reveling in the way their bodies molded together as if they were meant to be together. But she needed to be totally honest.

“What happened today doesn’t really change my situation, not forever. It just prolongs the waiting. I didn’t mean to hurt you, Gwen. I wanted to protect you.”

“I know. I know you were trying to do the right thing, Andi, but being without you was killing me. I had to be there.”

Andi lowered her head. “I am so glad you were. I felt like I was losing my mind. I wasn’t sure I could hold on to reality any longer. But when I felt you, heard your voice…When I looked into your eyes, I knew I would be okay. I knew you would make it all okay.”

Gwen tightened her hold around Andi.

Andi shivered. “There was a moment in that room, when I read that letter and I could hear his cold laughter as he enjoyed imagining the terrible things he had threatened to do to me—it was a moment when I wished I had pulled the trigger that night. If I would have killed him then, he wouldn’t be able to hurt us anymore.”

“I know, baby.”

Andi brushed a strand of hair off her cheek with a trembling hand. “Seeing you in that room was the most wonderful feeling I could have imagined. I felt as if I had been sent an angel. As much as I wanted you far away from that evil place, I was so happy when I saw you. Part of me always wanted you there, even if it was wrong.”

Gwen was relieved by Andi’s admission. She had been desperate to be with her at the hearing. She knew Andi was trying to protect her but it had hurt to have Andi ask her not to come. “Please don’t send me away again, Andi. I can’t bear it,” Gwen whispered.

Andi lifted her face to meet Gwen’s eyes. “No. I couldn’t. I don’t have the strength.” She pressed her lips over Gwen’s mouth and pulled her into her. She flooded Gwen’s mouth with her tongue, and in each stroke Gwen knew the desire, longing, and love that Andi had tried so hard to deny, to keep her safe.

Andi’s lips were heaven against her skin. Gwen felt the barriers that had always stood between them crumble. Andi now opened herself to Gwen without reservation, no longer resisting or running from what they both wanted.

“Oh God, Andi, I love you so much. You are everything to me.” Gwen’s voice trembled as the words spilled out. “I can’t lose you again.”

“No, I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here, baby.” Andi pulled Gwen’s head against her chest and stroked her hair. “I love you, Gwen. I love you and I’m so sorry I didn’t trust that. God, I need you so much. I love you.”

Gwen surged with relief as all the pain of her past melted away to be replaced with a lightness that made her dizzy. Andi loved her. She had waited forever to hear those words. She had felt love in Andi’s touch, seen it glowing in Andi’s eyes when she looked at her. But hearing the words was euphoric.

Andi lifted her face to hers and kissed her again. This time desire flared like a burst of flame deep in Gwen’s belly as Andi pushed her back against the cushions and climbed on top of her, straddling her thighs.

Gwen snaked her hands around Andi’s waist, tightening against her hips, pulling her snug against her body. The air melted between them and Gwen gasped at the heat pouring from Andi. She desperately wanted to feel her, skin to skin. She wanted to feel that love as Andi filled her.

Andi played her lips along Gwen’s neck and took an earlobe between her teeth with gentle teasing nips. “Take me to bed. I need you against me. I need to taste you. I need you inside me. I need…you.”

Gwen groaned. “Oh yes.”

Andi took both Gwen’s hands as she slid from her lap. “Oh, Gwen, Gwen.” Andi pulled her closer, as if her body was drawn by the current of energy flowing between them.

Once they reached the bed, Gwen undressed Andi with slow, tender touches, her fingers barely brushing Andi’s skin. Each opened button of her shirt symbolically released Andi from the emotional bonds that had held her prisoner for so long. The smooth silk slid down Andi’s arms to pool at the floor. Gwen’s hands moved over her skin reverently as if she were a fragile piece of porcelain.

“You are my world. I want this, I want you for the rest of my life.”

Andi whimpered. “Mmm. That sounds like a good start.”

Gwen studied every inch of Andi’s body as if seeing it for the first time. She drew light kisses across Andi’s shoulders as her hands played along the smooth planes of her stomach and up her back to release the clasp of her bra. The muscles of Andi’s stomach quivered beneath her touch, and it made her ache to have all of Andi against her, inside her.

She undid the slim belt at Andi’s waist and opened her slacks. With the slightest dip of her head she brushed a kiss against Andi’s breast and felt the nipple harden against her lips. With a flick of her tongue she pulled the erect nipple into her mouth, tracing circles around the tight flesh.

Andi moaned. Gwen feathered her fingers against Andi’s hip, pulling her free of her slacks and panties.

Andi’s hands raked through Gwen’s hair, then fisted her shirt, pulling at the fabric until Gwen stood and pulled the shirt over her head. Her bra quickly followed.

“Sit down,” Gwen said. She wanted to go slow. She wanted to explore every inch of Andi’s body, to show Andi her love. “You are so beautiful.”

Andi wrapped her arms around Gwen and pulled their bodies together. Gwen could feel Andi melting into her as their bodies and hearts joined. When Gwen’s leg slid between Andi’s thighs she felt her wetness, slick and hot against her skin. Gwen reveled in the feel of Andi. Her softness was heartbreaking, and Gwen’s heart swelled with love.

Andi arched her back and pushed against Gwen’s thigh increasing the pressure with a thrust of her hips and drew her nails down Gwen’s back. Gwen arched her back as searing lines of fire erupted beneath the path of Andi’s fingertips. Another eruption of pleasure surprised her when Andi took her nipple into her mouth, sucking hard against the already rock-hard point of flesh. Gwen was quickly losing control and she wanted to slow things down.

“Oh God, Andi. You feel amazing.”

Andi released Gwen’s breast and shifted. She loosened her grip on Gwen’s thigh, gasping when Gwen’s hand cupped her sex, parting her with two fingers and sliding along the slick folds to stroke her engorged clitoris. Andi lost herself in the pleasure of Gwen’s hand stroking her, her hot lips pressing kisses along her neck to her breasts. Andi claimed Gwen’s mouth, stroking her tongue deep inside until she felt pressure building somewhere within, growing outward until it flowed through her arms, down her legs, and through her fingers. Gwen was everywhere. Her breasts brushed against Andi’s stomach with each stroke of her hand. Her mouth was hot on her nipple, her teeth scraping lightly across her flesh. It was wonderful, and Andi knew she wanted to have Gwen beside her always. Gwen was all that mattered now.

Andi opened herself to Gwen, wanting to feel more. “I need you inside me. I want to feel you deep inside—” She was silenced as Gwen entered her. Andi wrapped her legs around Gwen’s thighs and bore down on each thrust of Gwen’s hand. She clutched at Gwen’s back, feeling the slick sheen of sweat coating her skin.

“Oh God, Gwen. Oh yes.”

Gwen shifted her hand and pressed her thumb against the swollen shaft of Andi’s clitoris, and tremors pulsed through Andi’s body in rhythmic waves. She slowed, as if wanting to draw out Andi’s pleasure.

“Please,” Andi whispered.

Gwen obeyed, increasing the pressure to Andi’s clit, filling her with each stroke of her hand. She opened her eyes and watched Andi’s face as the orgasm claimed her. In that moment they were one. Andi’s heart filled and her body surged. Gwen was everything she needed. She was consumed with peace, joy, pleasure. Her body was completely open to Gwen, and she gave herself over to her in a shattering of emotions, culminating in ecstasy. Her body went rigid as her muscles clamped down on Gwen’s fingers. “Oh God, yes…”

Every cell in Andi’s body was singing. She thought she could hear the hum of the blood in her veins. Her body was acutely aware of each point where her body connected to Gwen’s. She pulled Gwen to her, Gwen’s head resting against her chest. Andi’s breath came in heavy gasps as she tried to recover, and her heart pounded so hard she was sure Gwen could feel the vibration against her cheek. After some moments, Andi finally released her grip on Gwen’s fingers.

Gwen trailed her hand up Andi’s thigh along her stomach until she cupped Andi’s breast. Andi pushed up onto her elbow, rolling to her side to gaze down at Gwen. Andi’s eyes were wet. Gwen leaned forward and kissed the tears from Andi’s face.

“I’m not crying. Not really. I’ve just never felt anything like this before.”

Gwen continued to kiss along Andi’s cheeks, then her eyelids, down her nose, and finally her lips. She could taste the salt of Andi’s tears as she swept her tongue into her mouth. She stroked Andi’s hair and peered into her eyes. “You are the most amazing, most beautiful woman in the world. I love you.”

Andi took Gwen’s face in her hands and kissed her again. “You are going to love me even more in a minute,” she purred, sliding down, pressing kisses along Gwen’s body.

Gwen woke with both arms wrapped around Andi and Andi’s head cradled against her breast. Their bodies were molded together so that every possible inch of flesh was joined. Gwen smiled and gave silent thanks for the woman in her arms. Warm breath kissed her skin as she watched the rise and fall of Andi’s breathing, and Gwen reveled in the perfectness of the moment. This was the most peaceful feeling she could have imagined, and having Andi in her arms was like touching heaven.

At the shrill sound of the telephone, Andi’s head jerked up. Gwen moaned in protest and Andi pressed a kiss against Gwen’s chest before reaching over her to retrieve the phone. An instant later Andi’s body tensed, and she bolted upright and sat naked in the middle of the bed, gripping the phone so hard her knuckles were white.

Gwen sat up, reaching for Andi. She could tell by Andi’s reaction that something was terribly wrong. The tiny hairs along her arms and at the back of her neck rose in anticipation of a threat. Gwen wrapped an arm protectively around Andi’s waist. Andi’s words were clipped and it was impossible to decipher her side of the conversation.

“What? Oh God, no. When?…How could this happen?…I know, I will…No…She’s here…Okay.”

Andi hung up the phone and let it fall from her hands. Her body was shaking and she looked like she was about to run.

Gwen was on her knees in front of Andi on the bed, clasping tightly to her hips. “What’s wrong?”

Andi’s face had gone so white her lips looked blue and her eyes were unfocused.

“Andi, tell me what the hell is going on!”

This seemed to get Andi’s attention, and she looked down at Gwen with sorrow-filled eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Kevin James has escaped.”

Gwen stiffened. Too many thoughts raced through her mind at once, making it difficult for her to focus. After a moment of shock she managed to speak. “How the hell did that happen?”

Andi stepped off the bed and pulled on a pair of jeans. She dressed quickly and moved methodically around the room, betraying no emotion.

Gwen was still trying to figure out what was happening when Andi pulled the 9 mm handgun out of the closet and chambered a round.

“Whoa!” The sight of Andi holding a gun was incongruent with everything Gwen knew about her. “Who was that on the phone? What did they say?” Gwen was up and pulling on her own clothes now as she followed Andi’s every move with her eyes.

“That was Mel. She and Jimmy are on their way here now. They’ve already notified the Norris police. I don’t know how he did it, but he’s loose and we have to be ready.”

Gwen was shocked by the calm in Andi’s voice. It was as if she had been preparing for this moment for years, and now that the time had come she knew exactly what needed to be done.

“You should go somewhere safe, Gwen. James doesn’t know about you, and you’ll be safe if you’re not with me. I don’t think he saw you in the courtroom, and if he did he won’t realize who you are to me. He won’t know your name, he won’t be after you.”

Gwen froze at the words. “No. That’s not what we agreed to last night. I’m not leaving you. Not now, not ever.”

Gwen saw Andi’s resolve break, and tears flooded her lover’s eyes.

Andi nodded. “I can’t ask you to stay, but I promise I won’t ask you to leave.”

Gwen crossed the room and took Andi in her arms. “We’re going to get through this, Andi. We’re going to get through this together.”

*

“It’s been three days. Why haven’t we heard anything?” Gwen asked, directing her question to no one in particular as she paced the floor.

They had been at Andi’s house since the call about the escape, and there had been no news despite Mel’s law-enforcement contacts. There had been no sign of Kevin James since he had escaped a medical transport to the psychiatric facility where he was to undergo more extensive treatment after reportedly attempting suicide following the hearing, and experiencing apparent hallucinations. The only information they had was that there had been some sort of accident. An officer involved in the transport said they’d crashed when a truck had crossed in front of the transport van, pushing them off the road, causing the van to flip. Someone had pulled everyone from the vehicle and put James in the truck and called an ambulance for the officers before leaving with James. The truck the officer identified had been ditched a few miles farther down the road, and there had been no sightings since.

Melissa’s hands were clenched into fists and a muscle jumped in her jaw. Her anger was almost palpable and the tension was beginning to wear on everyone. “I don’t know. This is driving me crazy. We don’t even know what to expect. I mean, if James has someone working with him, why did they wait so long? They could have come after us anytime they wanted and we wouldn’t have seen it coming.”

Andi sat staring out the window at a cardinal that had perched on the telephone wire outside and was trilling its song with confident pride. The contrast of the peaceful melody and the conversation in the room was like mixing oil and water. She turned to Jimmy. “Something doesn’t fit,” Andi said quietly.

Everyone’s attention was instantly fixed on her.

Jimmy lowered the paper she had been reading. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t think this person was working with James.”

“What? Of course they are. How else do you explain it? Even the staged car accident was the same as last time,” Melissa said harshly.

“Think about it, Mel. There is no way James would alert authorities to his escape by calling an ambulance. He would want to get as far away as possible as fast as possible. It doesn’t fit. James wouldn’t care what happened to those officers. He would only be looking out for himself.”

Melissa rubbed her face with both hands. “We didn’t think Curtis Boyd had help either. Come on, Andi, we knew there had to be more people involved in the child porn ring. We didn’t know about James back then, and we don’t know who his contacts are now. This is just one more sick bastard who’s been hiding in the wind, waiting for his chance to get James out.”

“Maybe,” Andi sighed and went back to staring out the window. The cardinal was gone now and she was saddened by its absence. She returned her focus to the room.

Jimmy leaned forward in her chair. “According to the prison records, James hasn’t had a single phone call or visitor since his imprisonment, aside from his attorney of course. We know he smuggled out letters to Andi since being there, so maybe he was communicating with someone else the same way.”

Something seemed to click in Melissa’s thoughts and her expression grew pensive. “But James didn’t know he would be transferred to a psych unit, and even if he did, there wasn’t enough time for him to set this up by sneaking letters out.” She turned to the group, her eyes wide with understanding. “James was a cop. He might have someone on the inside. Someone working for the prison must be involved.”

“Or,” Jimmy added calmly, “James orchestrated the suicide attempt and the hallucinations to make sure he was transferred.”

Andi didn’t respond to the new theories.

Gwen crossed the room and placed her hand on Andi’s shoulder. “Andi, you okay?”

Andi covered Gwen’s hand with her own. Pain settled deeper in her heart. How had she allowed this evil to come into Gwen’s world? She had promised not to send Gwen away, but now she didn’t see any other way.

As if reading Andi’s mind, Gwen leaned down and kissed her cheek. Gwen brushed her lips against Andi’s ear and whispered so low no one else could hear, “I’m not leaving, so you can just get that thought right out of your head.”

Andi shifted so she could look into Gwen’s eyes, preparing her argument, but her words fell short when she saw the set of Gwen’s jaw and her determined gaze. The corners of her mouth lifted in a faint grin. She knew it wouldn’t do her any good to try to send Gwen away. They were a part of each other now. She would just have to make sure nothing went wrong this time. She knew that this time, she wouldn’t hold back when faced with the choice to pull the trigger. She would do whatever it took to keep Gwen safe.

*

Gwen bustled through the door, her arms full of groceries and a stack of mail. One of the Norris deputies had escorted her around town so she could check on Andi’s store, do some shopping, check the mail, and make a quick stop by her house for her laptop, so she could work while at Andi’s.

She found the rest of the group in the kitchen, helping Andi bake dog treats. The house smelled like peanut-butter cookies. In that moment no one would have guessed they were basically prisoners in the house, waiting for a storm to hit.

“Mission accomplished,” she said, piling the bags on the kitchen counter.

She saw Andi sigh as she stepped into the room. Her eyes looked strained with worry. She knew it had been hard for Andi to let her go out, not knowing if Kevin James was just waiting for an opportunity to strike. She brushed a kiss across Andi’s lips.

“I see you three have been busy while I was out.” Andi had flour on her cheek and Melissa was up to her elbows in dough. Jimmy’s job seemed to be decorator, since she was methodically using a small stamp to press hearts into each cookie before Andi placed them into the oven.

Gwen quirked a smile at Jimmy. “Nice.”

“Shut up.”

Gwen laughed. “I don’t know, Jimmy, maybe you should think of giving up the courtroom for a kitchen. You look good in that apron.” She ducked as Jimmy chucked a misshapen ball of excess dough at her.

“All right you two, cut it out. Gwen, you can take over with the cookie cutter.” Andi pointed to a sheet of freshly pressed dough.

“Uh…I have some work to catch up on. I think I’ll leave the baking to the pros. Keep up the good work there, Jimmy.”

Over the last few days, she and Jimmy had developed a unique bond and had turned to playful jokes and pranks to ease some of the tension. They understood each other. They were both trying to protect the women they loved and were trying to keep their own fear and worry from showing.

“How were things at the shop? Was Morgan doing okay?” Andi asked.

Gwen shuffled through the stack of mail that had accumulated over the week. “No problem. I got to see Zeek while I was there too. Morgan has been bringing her to work, and she seemed to be settled into her new job as shop dog.” Gwen slid a pile of mail to Andi. “I already tossed the sales ads and other junk. This is your pile.”

Andi groaned, digging into the stack of bills, notices, and pet-supply catalogs. A small white envelope caught her eye, and she decided to open it first. She didn’t usually receive personal cards or letters, and this was obviously not a bill or business correspondence. The address had been typed and there was no return address. The postmark indicated the letter had been mailed here in town, and Andi thought it was probably from one of her clients.

She slid a finger beneath the flap, tearing the envelope along its edge. Inside she found a small folded piece of paper. Her skin tingled as the faint scent of sandalwood brushed across her memory. Perplexed, Andi drew the paper to her face and sniffed. The scent was unmistakable, but what did it mean? She opened the paper and read the words printed inside, and her breath caught.

“What is it?”

“Nothing,” Andi said stuffing the note back into the envelope. “Just a paper cut.”

When everyone returned to what they were doing, Andi went back to the note. In small, typed letters it said,
I made it right. Forgive me.
There was no signature. Andi swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. What could this mean? There was only one person that she associated with that scent, and she couldn’t think of any reason she would be in touch now, or what the words could possibly mean.

Andi felt the blood drain from her face, but a small thrill of hope blossomed in her stomach and she flinched, shocked by her callousness. If her theory was right, Kevin James wouldn’t be coming for her. But how was this possible? Why now?

Andi folded the piece of paper and stuffed it back into the envelope and put it into her back pocket. She went through the remaining mail as if nothing was bothering her and hoped no one had noticed her sudden change in mood. She couldn’t stop thinking about the note and what it might mean. She thought she knew who had sent it, and if she was right, everything she thought she knew about her past was wrong.