The Brass Ring (10 page)

Jamie shrugged out of her jacket and took her place next to CC. "So, " she began slowly, trying to sound as normal as possible. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better," CC replied. "Although the doctor who tended to me did seem to enjoy giving me a hard time."

"Nasty wench," Jamie teased as she reached out and allowed Emma to capture one of her fingers in her chubby little hand. "And how are you feeling, little one?"

"She’s doing great." CC beamed as she tickled her niece. "I want to thank you for taking care of her that day. "

"You don’t have to thank me," Jamie said, brushing aside the compliment.

"Well, I think that I should," CC continued in gentle tone. "Given everything that was going on that day, it was very thoughtful of you to put everything aside and look after my little peanut."

"I’m just glad that she’s feeling better," Jamie said as she finally forced herself to look into CC’s eyes.

Time came to a halt as she fell into the electric blue gaze.
‘Will I ever stop wanting you?’
she asked herself in desperation. Even when she had convinced herself that she hated this woman, her heart and body still ached for her touch. Emma gurgled, breaking the trance the two women found themselves locked in. Jamie watched as CC turned her attention back to her niece. She couldn’t help noticing that CC’s breathing was erratic. Of course she was only aware of this since her gaze had drifted down to CC’s breasts.

"I should put her down," CC commented quickly as she stood, cradling the tired infant in her arms. Jamie simply nodded in response, thankful for the reprieve. She used the time alone to collect herself. Lusting after CC was understandable and very dangerous.
‘Well, dangerous might be a little extreme. It’s simply unwise. Although when she looks at me, I’m not certain why that is. What would be so wrong about rekindling what we once had?’
Jamie’s mind rationalized as CC reentered the room.

"Can I get you something to drink?" CC offered.

"No, thank you," Jamie answered as she tried to bury her lustful thoughts.

CC smiled as she sat down next to Jamie. Emma’s absence seemed to create an electrifying energy between them. CC reclined slightly and winced as her shoulder pressed into the sofa. "Still hurts?" Jamie inquired, thinking how lame the question sounded.
‘Of course it still hurts, you moron. She has a bruise the size of Nebraska on that shoulder,’
she mentally kicked herself.

"A little," CC lied as Jamie rolled her eyes in response.

"So, what happened today?" Jamie inquired, desperately seeking a topic of conversation that would lead her mind away from CC’s body. Internally, Jamie was fighting back the urge to reexamine the injury and kiss it to make it better.

"We were escorting a prisoner and he didn’t want to go to jail," CC explained flatly as she shifted her position. The movement caused their thighs to brush against one another slightly.

Jamie’s body trembled from the contact. "So why were you so upset with Max?" she asked as she pretended that she was unaffected by the touch.

"He was baiting the guy," CC explained, once again adopting a flat dry tone. "He turned his attention away briefly." Unaware of what she was doing, Jamie gripped CC’s thigh as her eyes widened in anger. "The thing is, I think he was pushing this kid’s buttons on purpose," CC concluded.

"Why would he put you in jeopardy like that?" Jamie growled as her grip tightened.

"I don’t think he wanted to put me in danger." CC explained quickly. "I think he was trying to push the guy into doing something stupid so he’d have an excuse to beat the crap out of him."

"What an asshole," Jamie blurted out.

"Not really," CC reassured her as she laid her hand on top of Jamie’s hand. It wasn’t until CC’s hand touched hers that Jamie realized she was holding on to her. Not only had she gripped the taller woman’s firm thigh tightly, she seemed to be hovering over the slightly reclined woman.

Jamie’s heart beat wildly as her breathing became erratic. She was so close to CC that she could feel her former lover’s breath on her skin. Jamie swallowed hard as CC reached up and cupped her face in her hand. Jamie fought back a moan as she leaned into the touch. CC’s legs parted slightly as Jamie unconsciously leaned her body closer. CC’s lips looked so inviting and they were so close. All she had to do was lean in a little closer.

From behind them came the sound of someone clearing her throat. The couple bolted up quickly. Stevie stood there looking very embarrassed. Jamie stood up quickly, weaving slightly.

"Sorry," Stevie apologized shyly. "I didn’t mean to interrupt."

"Oh no, you didn’t," Jamie lied as she blushed furiously. "I was just checking out . . . I mean, checking on your sister."

"I see." Stevie chuckled in amusement. "And how is my sister fairing this evening?" Stevie teased as CC glared at her.

"I’m fine," CC growled at her younger sibling.

"Well, it’s late and I should be going," Jamie stammered, feeling very disoriented by the entire situation. "Glad to see you’re feeling better," she offered to the smirking policewoman. Jamie snatched up her jacket and tripped as she made her way to the doorway.

"I’ll see you out," CC said from behind her.

Jamie’s stomach clenched as she realized that her escape had just been postponed. CC opened the front door for her and the two women stepped out into the cool night air. "You are far too amused by all this," Jamie chastised her as they lingered in the doorway.

"I’m sorry," CC replied softly. "You were so flustered. I shouldn’t have teased you."

"It was just so . . . " Jamie’s voice trailed off as she tried to organize her thoughts. Her mind was screaming for her to invite this woman back to her place. They stood there in an awkward silence as Jamie fought back the image of CC lying in her bed only a short distance away.

"It just old emotions," CC rationalized as Jamie tried to quiet her throbbing lower anatomy. "It would be a mistake," she stammered.

"Yes," Jamie confirmed, not truly believing what she was saying. "We’re just becoming friends again. Given our history, the whole thing would be so wrong."

"Right," CC agreed and Jamie felt her heart break just a little.

They found themselves staring at one another once again, cloaked in another cloud of silence. "Well . . . uhm . . ." Jamie finally said, hoping to relieve the tension. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," CC replied. Neither of them moved.

Jamie just stood there, losing herself in a sea of blue. Jamie’s mind and body were locked in an intense battle over what her next move should be. Before she could reach her decision, CC’s gaze dropped to the ground. Jamie suddenly felt a little foolish. "Goodnight," she repeated and quickly made her departure.

Once she was safely inside her own home, Jamie locked the door. Dropping her coat on the floor, she quickly unzipped her pants. Bracing her back against the living room wall, she slipped her hand into her pants. "Oh my God," she moaned as her hand was flooded by the river of passion that had pooled between her thighs. Her eyes fluttered shut as she began to touch herself.

Her mind filled quickly with images of CC kneeling before her. As her fingers plunged in and out of her center, she imagined that it was her former lover touching her. The young doctor’s body responded as her hips swayed in rhythm. She was so close to climaxing, but for some reason she couldn’t cross over the edge. Frustrated, she removed her hand from her body. "Damn it," she moaned as she banged her head against the wall lightly. "I need to get past this." She whimpered. "Don’t I?" she choked out as she slid down onto the floor. The confusion and doubt finally took their toll. The guilt returned in full force. "I left her all alone." She wept.

After she had cried herself out, Jamie dragged her tired body upstairs. After taking an extended shower, she climbed weakly into bed. Thoughts of CC quickly invaded her senses. She tried once again to pleasure herself and once again she failed. She tossed and turned for several hours as sleep evaded her grasp as well.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

C
C YAWNED EXHAUSTEDLY as she signed the last report on her desk. It had been a long day. Happily it consisted of nothing but paperwork. The good people of her fair community had managed not to kill one another for the past few days. It was nice to have calm looming over the city.

CC decided that life was going pretty well. Emma was feeling good. Stevie had landed a couple of new clients and was very busy. CC was proud of her little sister. She’d started her own web design company early on. She was doing well and could work out of the house. The little stinker had turned out all right. She ran her own business and still managed to be a full time mom.

Now if CC could just stop lusting after the pretty blonde doctor who lived next door, life would be perfect. It had been a couple of weeks since CC had been injured and the two almost kissed. During the days that followed, CC tried to convince herself that it hadn’t happen. That Jamie wasn’t going to kiss her. That it was just wishful thinking.

But CC knew the truth. What else could have been happening? Jamie was laying on top of her, their faces so close that she could feel the blonde’s breathe on her skin. CC smiled at the memory of how it felt to have Jamie’s body pressed against her own.
‘Oh, don’t be going down that road, Caitlin,’
she cautioned herself.

Thankfully Jamie never brought it up. They didn’t talk about it or the one drunken night they’d spent together. It seemed to be working. They had fallen into an easy sort of friendship. It was all very neighborly. They would say hello as they passed, or she would invite Jamie over for coffee in the morning.

Since they both worked the late shift they could spend time together. Not a lot of time, just simple friendly gestures. CC would be lying if she said things were completely comfortable between them. Jamie was still her ex-girlfriend and there would probably always be a slight awkwardness between them.

CC wrapped up her work and said goodnight to Max. On the drive home she thought it was odd that Jamie was, for all intents and purposes, the great love of her life yet the two had only been intimate twice. And the second time was more than a little hazy for both of them. Every once in awhile, CC would be chatting with Jamie and something would spark a memory from that night.

At that point, CC would suddenly grow uncomfortable. It wasn’t easy sitting next to someone while you were thinking about the hot sex the two of you had once shared. CC would usually come up with an excuse to end their conversation. Tiredness usually worked. They worked odd hours and neither seemed able to get enough sleep. There were times when Jamie would do the same. CC secretly wondered if the blonde was experiencing the same sense of déjà vu.

As CC pulled into the parking lot, she looked around for Jamie’s car. She was disappointed when she didn’t see it. It was fast becoming her routine to look for the little Honda. If she found it, she would look over at Jamie’s condo to see if any lights were on. Usually there were. CC would then knock and invite Jamie over.

She’d been nervous the first time she knocked on Jamie’s door, but the friendly response instantly relaxed her. A few times it had been Jamie who extended the invitation if she arrived back later than the policewoman.

CC hoped that would happen this evening. She enjoyed the time she spent with Jamie and Emma at the end of the day. Yet she still cautioned herself not to hope for anything more.

CC stepped into the home she shared with her sister and instantly flinched. The sight she saw in the kitchen gave her the creeps. "Ugh," she squeaked.

"Tsk," Stevie chided her as she continued using the breast pump. "Some big tough cop you are. You stand over dead bodies all day long, and then you freak watching someone express breast milk. You are such a big sissy."

"Am not," CC scoffed as she started to walk away, feeling a little queasy from the sight.

"Right," Stevie said as she rolled her eyes. "Remind me not to allow you to help my daughter with her homework."

"Whatever," CC blew her off as she retreated into her bedroom.

After she showered CC found Stevie working on her computer. "Don’t wake her," Stevie cautioned her.

"But . . ." CC started protest.

"Brad is picking her up in a few hours," Stevie explained patiently. "She’ll be very cranky if you wake her."

"Right, I forgot." CC sighed in disappointment. "So that’s why you were doing that thing."

"That thing?" Stevie chuckled. "Yes, Caitlin. That’s why I was expressing breast milk."

"Does he have to take her overnight?" CC pouted.

"He’s her father," Stevie explained in exasperation. "He would like to spend time with her."

"I know," CC grumbled.

Stevie looked up from her work and studied her sister for a moment. "No James tonight?" she inquired, slightly surprised.

"No," CC clipped.

"Sorry," Stevie apologized quickly. "I just thought that you two were . . . never mind."

"You thought what?" CC questioned her as she looked over Stevie’s shoulder. For the life of her, she couldn’t understand what she was looking at on the computer screen.

"Nothing," Stevie hedged.

"Uh huh." CC sighed in disbelief. "Stevie, I’m not getting back together with Jamie. So just drop it."

"Okay."

"I mean it," CC asserted.

"Okay," Stevie agreed.

"I’m serious," CC stated with conviction. "We’re just friends. Not even close friends, just neighbors."

"Oh, is that why you two were making out the other night?" Stevie questioned her absently as she continued to work.

"We weren’t making out," CC corrected her as she watch Stevie shut down her computer. Stevie stood and cast a look of disbelief at her before exiting her office.

Frustrated, CC followed Stevie into the living room. "We weren’t," she growled.

"Fine. You weren’t making out," Stevie conceded. "You were just wrapped up together like two snakes in heat. My mistake."