The Brass Ring (13 page)

"Brat!" CC called after the blonde as she chased after her. CC caught Jamie around her waist just before she reached the building. "Gotcha!" she cried triumphantly as she pressed Jamie up against the wall of the ice cream shack.

"You cheated," Jamie protested as she panted heavily.

"Liar," CC grunted as she pressed Jamie's back against the wall. "Admit it," CC demanded as Jamie struggled playfully against her.

"Never." Jamie laughed as she struggled.

CC decided that she was being challenged and pinned Jamie's arms to her side. "Bully," Jamie choked out as she continued to try to free herself. CC could feel the breath escape her as she realized how closely she was pressed against Jamie's body. Jamie's face was flushed from the cold and her green eyes twinkled merrily up at CC. The tall woman could feel Jamie's breath whispering gently across her cheek. Jamie seemed to loosen her grip.

Their eyes locked and CC felt her mouth suddenly go dry. For the second time in the past few hours, CC felt herself being drawn in. She released her hold on Jamie's arms and felt them wrapping around her body. CC blinked for a moment before stepping away. '
It would have been so easy to just kiss her.'

She felt Jamie's hand resting on her stomach. Jamie turned into her body and rested her head on CC's shoulder. The taller woman relaxed into the touch, knowing that her ex-lover was fighting the same battle. CC held her for a moment. Jamie sighed deeply before taking a step away. "Come on, tough stuff. Buy me an ice cream." Jamie jerked her head indicating that they should move.

"Why exactly am I buying the ice cream?" CC groused as they walked around the building.

"Because I said so." Jamie snorted defiantly. "It's closed," Jamie pouted as CC yawned.

"I can't imagine they get much business on a day like this," CC noted with another yawn.

"Still exhausted?" Jamie asked sympathetically as she stroked CC's arm. The taller woman simply nodded in response. "Me too," Jamie concurred. "We should head back. Maybe the contractor's done for the day and you can get some sleep," she added hopefully. "Why have you really been banished?" Jamie inquired as they headed back up to her car.

"I have no idea," CC explained quickly. Jamie just cast a doubtful look in her direction. "Well, they say that I keep interfering," CC explained. "I don't," she concluded firmly.

Jamie laughed as she unlocked the car. "I don't," CC repeated as they got into the car.

"Oh poor baby," Jamie mocked her. "Wrongfully accused. How do you endure such a burden?"

"Laugh it up, blondie," CC growled as her mind wandered back to the playfulness they had shared a few moments ago.

Jamie drove them home. CC's hopes of being able to go home and crawl into bed were dashed the moment they pulled into the parking lot. "The contractors are still here," CC noted grimly.

"Still in exile," Jamie said softly. "Why don't you come in and watch some television with me?" Jamie suggested.

"You don't mind?" CC asked, fearful that she was intruding. "I mean if you had plans for your day off, I understand. Stevie can be a little stubborn, but I'm almost certain she wouldn't let me freeze to death."

"Caitlin, the only thing you're keeping me from doing is my laundry," Jamie explained as they stepped out of the car.

CC cringed slightly at the use of her first name. "Okay," CC agreed, not really wanting to end her time with Jamie. After they entered Jamie's townhouse, they kicked off their shoes and jackets. They relaxed on the sofa and instantly began to fight over the remote control. Eventually they settled on watching a Law and Order rerun on A&E. CC noticed that they had each chosen to sit in a manner that put a little distance between them. As they watched the program, CC fought to keep her weary eyes open. It wasn't long before she lost the battle and drifted off to sleep.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

J
AMIE STIRRED SLIGHTLY, feeling very comfortable. She blinked her eyes open to find herself resting in CC’s arms. Somehow the pair had fallen asleep and wrapped themselves up in one another. She was feeling the same sense of warmth and belonging that she’d had that morning when she went over to CC’s and apologized. The two women had fallen asleep together that morning as well. Of course she had to admit it always felt good when CC held her. There was something so comforting about the being in her arms.

She inhaled lightly, taking in the soft delicate scent that was CC. Her own lips curled in a smile of recognition. It was the same. After all these years she still smelled the same. It had always amazed Jamie that CC seemed so strong, casting a look of stoic indifference on everyone she encountered. But she smelled soft and delicate. It was her true self, the one she kept hidden.

Jamie shifted slightly, hoping that she wouldn’t awaken the slumbering policewoman. CC continued exhaling slowly in a steady rhythm. Jamie just wanted a few uninterrupted moments to enjoy the feel of CC’s body lying beneath her own. She lifted her hand slowly and placed two fingers against CC’s full lips.

Jamie’s pulse beat in a calming rhythm as CC’s breath caressed her fingertips. She guiltily indulged in the simple pleasure for a few more moments, knowing that it was probably the last time in her life she would have the opportunity to experience the sweet sensation. Fearful that CC would awaken and find her fingers pressed against her mouth, Jamie regretfully removed them. She began to lift her smaller body off of CC’s larger inviting frame. Her green eyes were still gazing dreamily at CC’s lips.

Before she could stop and think she did the one thing she had desired all day; she lightly brushed her lips against CC’s. She had only intended on placing a sweet gentle kiss on those lips that had been beckoning her all day long. She hadn’t expected the sleeping woman to respond. Jamie was certain that CC was awake when she felt her lips kissing her back.

The feel of CC tugging on her bottom lip overrode her senses. Jamie instinctively parted her lips. CC drew her tongue into her mouth and suckled it slowly. Jamie heard a deep moan and was uncertain who had released it. CC’s hands clasped her body and drew her in, pulling her body closer. Jamie parted CC’s legs with her thigh as her hips began to dance sensually against CC’s body. A desperate need to breathe forced Jamie to break free of the passionate kiss.

As her body rocked against CC’s, she peered down through half-opened eyes to see that CC was in fact still asleep. Anxiety flooded Jamie’s senses as she pulled away from CC’s touch carefully. "This is so bad," she groaned quietly as she felt her knees start to buckle as she stood. She braced herself as she moved over to the edge of the sofa.

"I’m cursed," she reasoned as she looked down on the sleeping woman who seemed unfazed by their intimate encounter. "Jamie," CC murmured as she turned onto her side and then curled up in an adorable manner. Jamie whimpered at the sight. ‘
She is so cute,’
Jamie thought as she fought to control her breathing. Jamie found herself reaching out towards CC’s slumbering form. Quickly she snatched her hand back. ‘
Bad blonde,’
she chastised herself as she headed up the staircase.

She stared at her rumpled appearance in the mirror above her dresser. She took in her flushed features and snorted in amusement. Jamie blinked as she looked down at the top of the dresser. Sitting there was a small wooden box. She ran her fingers over the intricate carvings. Small simple ankhs covered the top. She tried to remember what CC had said when she gave it to her. It had been so long ago; she couldn’t really recall the exact words. It was something about eternity. She lifted the lid of the medium-sized box. The scent of cedar greeted her. The only item inside was the now tarnished brass ring she had grabbed from the carousel that last day she had spent with CC.

Jamie rarely opened the box; yet she often questioned why she had kept it along with the silly brass ring. Whenever she wondered why she still held onto both items, she would toss them into a drawer so she wouldn’t be forced to look at them and be reminded of the painful memory. Eventually the box would always reappear. For the first time, she didn’t feel anger when she looked at them. This time she only felt regret.

She ran her fingers through her short blonde hair in a tense manner. She snapped the box closed and began to look for the blanket she had come upstairs to retrieve. She gathered the old blanket and a couple of pillows and headed back downstairs. Jamie glanced out the picture window, noting that the contractor’s truck was still there. She smiled slightly, feeling happy that CC would have to remain in her company for a little while longer.

Jamie placed the blanket over the sleeping woman and then carefully tucked the pillows under her head. She fought against the overwhelming desire to kiss CC once again. She stood slowly and looked down at CC who was sleeping so peacefully.

Jamie rubbed her tired eyes before heading back up the staircase. Once in her bedroom she shed her clothing and climbed under the covers. It wasn’t until her head hit the pillow that she realized that it had been over twenty-four hours since she had gotten any sleep. She didn’t count the warm catnap she’d shared with CC. Looking over at the open door, she debated for a moment on whether or not she should get up from the warm cocoon and close it.

"Screw it." She sighed wearily. "If she does come up here, she won’t see anything she hasn’t seen before," she reasoned, closing her eyes as her weariness washed over her body.

It was difficult being around CC and yet it was wonderful at the same time. She knew without a doubt that the sexual tension flowed both ways. Still they needed to be careful. What if that was all there was? Also there was a part of her that was still angry at CC. Twelve years! In all that time CC had never made an attempt to explain what had happened. If Stevie hadn’t pushed her, CC probably never would have told her the truth.

Jamie understood what had happened. But what about later when some time had passed? CC could have tracked her down and sent her a letter. Granted, Jamie probably wouldn’t have read it but that would have been her choice. That’s what made her angry; CC never gave her an option to discover the truth. "Big jerk," Jamie muttered bitterly as she yawned. "Big gorgeous jerk." Jamie sighed as her mind conjured up images of the woman sleeping on her sofa.

Jamie started drifting off to sleep. She was torn between needing to talk to CC about the things that were bothering her and wanting to go downstairs to continue what she had started earlier.

Jamie turned in the darkness to find a pair of crystal blue eyes staring down at her. She didn’t hesitate as she drew CC down to her. She kissed her deeply, their tongues dancing together sensually. "Please, I need you," Jamie gasped as the kiss ended. Pulling back the blankets, she drew her lover to her. "Take me," Jamie pleaded as she kissed CC’s neck. She could feel the weight of her lover’s body pressing against her as she opened herself to her. CC entered her center as they kissed. She could feel her lover plunging in and out of her as her thumb stroked her clit. "Don’t . . . stop!" Jamie cried out.

The intensity of their passion sent a jolt through Jamie. Her eyes snapped open as she looked around her darkened bedroom. She groaned, realizing that she’d been dreaming. "Weenie," she scolded herself. If she was going to have a dream that good, the least she could do was sleep long enough to finish. The sound of feet running up the staircase startled her. "Oh no." She grimaced as she realized what was happening.

CC appeared in her doorway, panting and looking around in a frantic manner.
"Great! She can sleep through us making out but my dream wakes her up!"
Jamie blushed, wishing she could just disappear at that moment. "Are you all right?" CC gasped as she scanned the room.

"I’m fine," Jamie snapped as CC stared at her in surprise.

The taller woman approached her bed. "I heard you screaming," CC explained as she neared Jamie. The blonde just wanted her to go away so she could finish playing out the fantasy that had emerged in her dreams.

"I was having a bad dream," Jamie lied.

"But you were calling out ‘don’t stop’," CC said as she knelt beside the bed. Jamie watched as CC’s eyes widened in sudden understanding. Jamie blushed to her roots as she pulled the blankets over her head. She could feel CC tugging on them. She knew that it was impossible to die of embarrassment but at that moment she wanted to. "Jamie?" CC pleaded with her as she continued to tug on the blankets.

"Go away," Jamie whined as she continued to hold the blankets in place.

"Come on. You’re being silly," CC coaxed her as she started to laugh.

"I don’t care." Jamie fumed at the sound of CC’s laughter.

CC continued to tug on the blankets as her laughter increased heartily. Furious that the tall woman was enjoying her discomfort, Jamie released her hold on the blankets while CC was still pulling. Jamie’s sudden release caused the tall policewoman to crash down on the floor. Jamie looked over the side of the bed to find a pile of blankets shaking with laughter. "This is not funny," Jamie scolded the pile.

"Yes it is." CC laughed as she emerged from the blankets.

Jamie couldn’t help but smile at CC’s unruly appearance. Her hair was mussed up and tears were running down her chiseled features. CC’s laughter suddenly ceased as her eyes grew wide and her mouth hung open. Jamie watched as CC’s breathing became ragged. The blonde stared at the woman sitting on the floor curiously. The coolness of the night air suddenly alerted her to what CC was staring at. She was sitting before the taller woman completely naked.

Jamie reached out for the blankets, stopping suddenly as she realized that all of the bedding was on the floor wrapped around CC. The tall raven-haired beauty slowly rose to her feet. Jamie’s mouth was suddenly parched. CC placed the blankets back on the bed, covering Jamie slightly. Leaning over to tuck the blonde in, her breath whispered across Jamie’s exposed skin.

CC’s long hair brushed against her skin as the taller woman adjusted the sheets on the bed. "What were you dreaming about?" CC inquired in a husky tone that sent a delightful shiver down Jamie’s spine. CC tilted her head slightly. Jamie found herself lost in a smoky blue haze. "What were you dreaming about?" CC repeated in the same rich tone.