by Lois Kay
“Don’t remind me,” Peter groaned. “Yes, we had them, and I’m still traumatized. They made me a lamppost one year. But my best performance was when I had to be baby Jesus. I didn’t have to talk, so that was easy.”
“So, the lamppost did talk?” Trishia asked with a grin.
“No, it didn’t,” Peter chuckled. “But I was eight, and I really had to pee, so standing still was hard.”
Trishia laughed out loud and playfully slapped her partner’s back, making him cough in exaggeration. “I can’t wait to tell your kids this story,” she smirked.
“Yes, please do,” Peter mumbled, but his eyes were laughing. “It will make me lose their respect even before they hit their teens. But tell me, what’s on your mind? You have that brooding look in your eyes.”
Trishia’s face lost all playfulness, and when she looked at Peter again, she was deadly serious. “I have a plan,” she admitted. “But I need your cooperation, and when I have that, I need the Inspector’s permission. There may be some risks involved.”
Peter leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms. His eyes were glued to Trishia’s face, and he nodded. “Spill it.”
Trishia stretched and felt the tired pull of her muscles. She knew she desperately needed some sleep, but she didn’t have the time yet. First, she needed to talk to Peter about her plan and after that, discuss the details with Inspector Wong. But maybe, after all that, she could afford the luxury of a shower and a few hours of undisturbed sleep. She needed that to make the plan work.
“If Martin Coles has already made his way inside The Reef, unrecognizable to us and pretending to be somebody else, what would you think his next step would be?”
“Trying to make his way up here to get to Alice.” Peter immediately answered.
Trishia nodded and stuffed her hands into the pocket of her jeans, slowly rocking back and forth. “What would he expect us to do?”
“Stay put and wait for him to show up, so we can haul his sorry carcass to jail where he belongs.”
“And what would he not expect from us?”
“I don’t think he’d expect us to let the girls wander around this place all by themselves. I don’t believe that…holy crap, Trish! You must be kidding! You’re not trying to use Alice as bait, are you?”
“No, of course not,” Trishia snorted. “I’d never do a thing like that. But I know he hates me, because I’m a huge obstacle between him and Alice, because I’m gay and, well, because he hates my guts. So, I was thinking of using myself as bait.”
*
“So, what is this plan of yours?” Sam yawned when Trishia finally made it back into the sitting room. She cast her friend a curious look and could not help noticing the fine lines of tension around Trishia’s eyes.
“I’m sorry, Sam, but I can’t tell you yet. Tomorrow morning I’ll know more. The Inspector needs to go over a few details first before she’s willing to give permission. As soon as she contacts me in the morning, I’ll tell you all about it, especially since I’ll need your help.”
“Fair enough,” Sam answered. “But what will we do in the meantime?”
“I don’t know about you,” Trishia smiled, walking toward Lucy and grabbing her hand to pull her to her feet. “But I can hear a refreshing shower and a comfy bed calling my name.”
Lucy’s eyes lit up for a moment, but quickly the worried frown returned to her face. “But, Trish, what about—? Will there be anyone else besides that guard outside? What if—?”
“Shush, it’s okay honey,” Trishia reassured her. “Everything is taken care of. Right, Sam?”
Sam nodded. “Absolutely.” She appreciated Trishia’s idea for that evening and unfolding her tall frame from the couch, she pulled Jody to her feet and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. “No need to worry, Lucy, we’ll be safe here tonight.” Sam walked toward a door at the far end of the huge living room, with a quiet Jody at her side. She opened the door and let Jody step inside. With a friendly wave at her family and friends, she closed the door behind them, looking forward to sharing a shower with Jody before falling into the big bed in the middle of the room.
“Have I ever told you I’m grateful for that ridiculously expensive key card upgrade we did last year?” Jody asked, suppressing a yawn behind the back of her hand.
“Oh, now you’re grateful?” Sam teased. “If I remember correctly you were a tad apprehensive at first.” She kicked off her shoes and started unbuttoning her shirt.
Jody let out a soft laugh. “It was the initial shock when seeing the price tag, love. You have to admit, it wasn’t cheap.”
“Nope, but it was worth it, though.”
Jody sat down on the bed. “I have to admit you’re right. Especially right now. I do feel safe here.” She slipped out of her shirt and tossed it behind her on the bed. “I guess the only way to get in here is to find the emergency key.”
“Which is hidden behind layers of security, so I’m not worried Coles could get his hands on it.”
“Thank goodness.”
“So, there’s no reason for us not to sleep.” Sam shrugged out of her shirt and jumped off the bed to remove her shorts and underwear.
Suddenly, Jody’s mouth went dry, and she swallowed hard, moistening her lips when her eyes were roaming Sam’s body. “Umm…well…like…I…you’re right,” she stammered. She blinked a few times and let out a deep sigh, pulling her gaze away from her lover’s naked skin and focusing on removing the rest of her own clothes. “I’m sure all of us can use some sleep.”
Sam laughed and stepped closer, aware of the effect her lack of clothing had on Jody. She noticed the widening of her eyes and even with the dim light in the room, she saw the slightly dazed expression in Jody’s green eyes.
“I could use some sleep,” Sam said, putting her hands on the bed, on either side of Jody and slowly bringing her body closer. “But cleanliness comes before godliness, and sleep, so, shower first?” she whispered, tenderly kissing the soft skin just below Jody’s ear.
“Oh, boy,” Jody croaked, feeling goose bumps explode all over her body. She felt Sam’s smile against her skin and tried to ignore the soft, teasing lips that were playfully nibbling her neck.
Two can play this game, she decided. She lifted her hands and cupped Sam’s breasts. When Sam’s body jerked, Jody chuckled and playfully pinched the sensitive skin underneath her fingertips. “You’re a tease, Sam,” she said accusingly, but her voice was full of warmth. “And I think that’s another reason why I love you so much. By the way,” Jody said, leaning her head back so she could get a good look at Sam’s face. “I thought you wanted a shower?”
“Only if you’ll come with me,” Sam answered, with a suggestive look.
“Don’t I always?”
“Yes, you do,” Sam replied in a serious voice. “I don’t know anyone else who is so responsive to my touch.”
Jody’s eyebrows shot up before she frowned and looked at Sam with narrowed eyes. “There better not be anyone else,” she growled, making Sam chuckle.
“No, only you.”
“I knew you were a good catch,” Jody deadpanned, kicking away the clothes that had ended up on the floor, which left her as naked as her lover. “How about that shower now, lover-girl.”
Sam extended her hand and grabbed Jody’s, pulling her to her feet and quickly kissing her lips. “Can I wash your back?” she asked with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
“You sure can, but remember, honey, my back is that part of my torso without breasts,” Jody chuckled. “I remember you were confused by that the last time we showered together.”
“Maybe I need some more lessons,” Sam whispered hotly in her ear, letting her fingers trail down the skin of Jody’s back and smiling when she heard a soft moan.
They stepped into the large bathroom, and Sam made quick work of turning on the faucet, and pulling Jody with her underneath the flow of water inside the separate shower stall. She pulled her close and buried her
face in the soft skin of her neck. Her hands stroked Jody’s back and slowly slid down until they cupped her behind and pulled her even closer.
“Lesson number one,” Sam whispered, capturing Jody’s lips in a searing kiss. She gently tugged Jody’s bottom lip and put her tongue to good use by tracing the outline of her lips, before meeting Jody’s in an erotic dance of promises.
Jody moaned and pressed her body even closer, reveling in the feel of Sam’s wet skin. It was something she would never get tired of feeling. The intimate contact was as intense and electrifying as the first time they had made love.
With a sound that resembled a low growl, Sam pressed Jody against the shower wall. Jody’s knees buckled, and she would have slid down to the floor if Sam’s strong legs hadn’t kept her pinned in place.
“Honey, please,” Jody breathed. Even though the lukewarm water was cascading down their bodies, she felt as if her skin was on fire. Sam kissed her passionately, and while her hands and arms supported Jody to help her remain upright, her lips were tracing a path from her neck to her chest, down her abdomen. Jody knew exactly where Sam was heading and she threw back her head and bit her lip to prevent herself from moaning when Sam knelt in front of her and gently draped one of Jody’s legs over her shoulder.
All thoughts of soap were forgotten.
Chapter 19
It had been a long night. Again, there had been little to no sleep at all, and he gradually started to feel he needed some rest. He had hoped that his quest would have come to an end when the sun rose that morning, but his nemesis had thrown up another barrier between him and his goal.
He had spent a few hours in the lobby of the hotel, sitting on a couch with a newspaper, pretending to read while he drank coffee. Instead of reading he had put his eyes and ears to good use and memorized a few room numbers and the guests who resided there. He knew he it would be hard to get his hands on a keycard for the Executive Wing but didn’t realize it was impossible until he found out all rooms at The Reef were equipped with the latest technology in locks. Every guestroom was outfitted with a touch free lock that responded only to a specifically programmed card or keychain. Martin knew he would never be able to access one of the computers that programmed the cards. His only chance was to get the actual key that could be used in case of an emergency. If only he knew where to find one of those.
He had hoped the private elevator had been equipped with a different system, but when he casually strolled by the closed door, he had noticed the security system was the same. He had no chance in accessing the elevator unless somebody in possession of the card was with him. The last thing he needed was to attract attention, so forcing an employee to open the door for him was out of the question. Besides, he wasn’t stupid. He knew only a select few would have access to where he desperately wanted to go.
It angered him to have to change his plans. Samantha Stevens was infuriating. Who did she think she was installing such advanced technology? And Trishia Waters would have known about it. That’s why they had brought Alice to The Reef. Even though he hadn’t seen her yet, Martin knew the young blonde was in the building. He could feel it. She was so close. He could almost taste the victory. But now he had to come up with a different plan. Again. He needed a plan B. And a diversion. After all, if he couldn’t go to Alice, maybe she would come to him.
The rage he felt was overwhelming, and for a few minutes, Martin felt dizzy with hate. When he finally calmed down a little, he slowly climbed the steps up to the floor where he would find room 297.
He realized he needed to revise his plans and while he took a long, cool shower, Martin Coles decided that Trishia Waters would be crushed like a fly. That thought made him feel better and chuckling he contemplated his next move. There was no time to waste, and Martin when he opened his bag, he pulled out a small toolbox and a few other items. With a grin, he started to neatly lay out the things he needed.
“I guess my years as a Scout are starting to pay off after all,” he chuckled. “And curiosity killed the cat.”
*
The long hallway with the thick, luxurious carpet was quiet. The floor covering absorbed the stealthy footsteps that drew closer to the door. There was no sound, except a soft buzzing of the light inside the emergency exit sign. The rest of the world seemed eerily quiet.
A small ray of light fell into the room when the door gradually cracked open, the beam painting a soft yellow trace on the bed. Backlit by the weak source of light a shadow approached the bed with slow, deliberate movements. When it came closer, the sound of heavy breathing filled the room, a mixture of fear and excitement.
Two hands became visible, fingers spread and wriggling. Slowly they came closer until the fabric that covered the hands finally touched the soft skin of a neck, soft, like silk and ice cold.
“Alice,” a whisper shattered the silence in the room. “I have finally found you.”
“No!” Alice shouted, shooting upright and staring into the darkness. Her heart was pounding, and she was breathing hard. She had brought up her arms in a defensive posture, and her whole body was shaking.
“Alice?” Yarra’s voice was sleepy but worried. “Are you alright?”
Alice looked around the darkened room, her eyes searching for the shadow that had wanted to kill her. Her heart was hammering in her chest, and her hands were shaking.
“Alice?” Yarra pushed herself upright and peered at Alice’s face and posture, immediately realizing she must have had a nightmare. She softly whispered words of comfort, cautiously reaching out to touch Alice’s shoulder. Immediately the girl’s body stiffened.
“It’s me, Alice,” Yarra whispered soothingly. “You had a nightmare. You’re safe here, Alice. It’s alright now.”
Yarra’s hand gently touched Alice’s shoulder, traveling to her back, rubbing it in a soothing pattern to help her calm down. After a few moments, she could hear Alice let out a shuddering breath, and the body underneath her hand started to relax.
“Oh, God,” Alice moaned with a husky voice, burying her face in her hands and breathing in deeply. “It was so real.”
“What was?” Yarra asked. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Alice rubbed her face with both hands and felt a shiver travel down her spine. “He was here,” she whispered. “In the bedroom and he was trying to kill me. His hands—.” She swallowed hard and shivered again. “It was so real.”
“I’m sorry, Alice,” Yarra’s voice was gentle. A feeling of deep sadness settled inside her chest because her already traumatized friend even suffered in her sleep. “I know how real nightmares can be, but you are safe here. Sam and Trishia are close by, and Peter is sleeping on the couch in the sitting room. Nobody can harm you here.”
“I…I know,” Alice stammered. “I just wished he would not invade my dreams like that. I’m scared of him, Yarra.”
With a sigh, Yarra wrapped her arm around Alice’s shoulders and gently squeezed. “I know, and although I’ve never met him, he scares me as well. But there are a lot of people looking out for you, Alice and don’t ask me how I know, but I feel that everything will be alright.”
“You do?” Alice whispered, turning her head so she could look at Yarra. She leaned in closer, which made Yarra smile.
Yarra nodded. “I do. And I realize it might be hard to believe right now, but I have faith in the outcome.”
“I wish I had too,” Alice mumbled with a small cough.
“Thirsty?” Yarra asked. “I’ll get you a glass of water.”
Yarra already started to crawl toward the foot of the bed, but a hand on her arm stopped her.
“I’ll be okay,” Alice whispered, glancing at Fiona’s sleeping form. “I don’t want to wake Fiona.”
Yarra’s face split in a wide grin and if it hadn’t been that dark, Alice would have been able to see the dancing lights in her dark brown eyes. “Don’t worry about Fiona. Once she’s asleep, she needs to be resurrected, instead of woken up. She can sleep through al
most anything.” Yarra hopped off the bed and headed for the bathroom where she retrieved a glass of water. She left the light on and left the door ajar.
“Thank you, Yarra,” Alice said. She took the glass and emptied it in one, big gulp.
“Are you ready to go back to sleep again?” Yarra asked when Alice put the empty glass on the nightstand.
“I think so,” Alice answered, but Yarra could hear the hesitation in her voice.
“Just relax and make yourself comfortable. I’ll tell you a story to take your mind off the nightmare, okay. Maybe it will help.”
Alice didn’t answer, but she obediently sank back into the pillows. She tucked her left arm underneath her head and rested her right arm on her stomach. Turning her head, she glanced at Yarra, who was on her left side, looking at her carefully.
Alice swallowed hard and was wondering if Yarra would think she was crazy if she would ask her if it was alright for her to hold her hand. After her mother and brother had died physical contact had been something alien to Alice, and during her years on the street, she always shunned away from touching other people or being touched by them. But somehow Jody had efficiently broken down that barrier. Alice nervously plucked the fabric of her sleeping shirt and felt her heart skip a beat when the fidgeting digits were covered by a warm hand.
“Is this okay?” Yarra whispered.
Alice swallowed away the lump in her throat and could only nod. How did Yarra do that? It was like she had the uncanny ability to read Alice’s mind. Despite the situation, Alice let out a soft laugh.
“What?” Yarra asked curiously, immensely pleased to see Alice relax and smile again.
“Are you a mind reader?” Alice asked, turning her head and staring into a pair of soulful brown eyes.
“I don’t think so.” Yarra chuckled. “But I am a person who often acts on intuition, like…like I feel people.”
Alice took a few moments to ponder those words, as her eyes studied Yarra’s, who patiently waited for Alice to work out whatever it was that was occupying her thoughts.
