Trauma Alert

by Radclyffe

  She was officially off call, but she still had unfinished business.

  *

  Bobby chased a shot of tequila with cold beer and slapped Beau on the shoulder. “Jesus, I can’t believe you went in there. No. Wait a minute. Sure, I can believe it. More balls than brains, that’s Cross.”

  The men and women crowded around the large round table in the center of Bernie’s bar laughed and cheered. Even Jilly, tucked up against Bobby’s other side and looking happier than Beau could ever remember, nodded in agreement.

  “Hey!” Beau spread her arms at the friendly ribbing. “What can I say? When you’re good, you’re good.”

  That brought more hoots and another round of shots, which she managed to avoid in the chaos of everyone grabbing glasses and beers. These postmortem celebrations of having survived another tough one were standard after dangerous callouts or long, hard-fought battles. She didn’t want to be there and she wasn’t interested in getting even a little drunk, but she couldn’t deny her colleagues the chance to reaffirm their own invincibility by saluting hers.

  “You feel pretty wired, baby,” Solea murmured.

  Solea had grabbed the chair next to Beau’s as soon as the group settled at the table and had been inching closer for the last hour. Now she squeezed against Beau’s right side and dropped her hand onto Beau’s stomach. She started making lazy circles and moving lower with each pass.

  “I’m doing fine,” Beau lied, pressing her hand over Solea’s to stop her explorations. The breathtaking charge that accompanied the danger of her job always left her aroused, and tonight had been supercharged. The stress of facing the life-or-death situation inside the 7-Eleven, the all-out terror of being fired upon, and the incredible relief at having survived had her whole system amped to the max. Adrenaline poured through her, spiking her heart rate and her blood pressure and making her incredibly horny. She hadn’t come in days. She didn’t want any woman except Ali, and when she tried to masturbate, her body just shut down. Thinking of Ali just hurt, and she couldn’t fantasize about anyone else. So right about now she was primed, and she didn’t want Solea to be the one to light her fuse.

  “You’re so full of it,” Solea whispered, her mouth so close to Beau’s ear her tongue skimmed the rim. “I bet if I got my mouth on you, you’d go off in a minute.”

  Beau’s clit rolled with a surge of blood and she winced. Lowering her head, she turned away from the others to warn Solea to cool it before she embarrassed them both. But when she opened her mouth, Solea slipped her tongue inside. The hoots around the table grew louder, and when she got her mind around what was happening, she pulled back.

  “Whoa. Jesus.”

  Solea laughed. “You know you love it.”

  “Oh fuck, Cross,” Bobby muttered, elbowing Beau hard. “You are so screwed.”

  “What?” Beau said.

  Bobby pointed with his chin.

  Ali stood on the far side of the table. She looked incredibly beautiful, and incredibly pissed.

  “Ah, hell.” Beau sighed.

  *

  Ali twisted her way through the crowd of celebrants, aware that more than a few were staring at her. She was only interested in one person and gave the rest murmured apologies and perfunctory smiles in passing. Beau’s expression fluctuated between uncomfortable and excited as Ali drew closer, and she decided she liked both reactions. She liked knowing she shook Beau up a little, because Beau definitely turned her inside out. And she really liked the way Beau’s body tensed and her eyes turned hungry. But she didn’t care much for the familiar paramedic who was practically sitting in Beau’s lap, even though she had finally extracted her tongue from Beau’s throat.

  By the time Ali reached Beau, Bobby had pushed his chair away from Beau’s to create a small space beside her, and Ali squatted down until her head was level with Beau’s. She rested her hand on Beau’s knee to steady herself. Up close, she could make out a bruise shadowing the right side of Beau’s jaw and the swelling of her lip. Furious, she gently cradled Beau’s chin in her palm.

  “Did he hurt you, sweetheart?”

  Beau’s lids slowly lowered, as if Ali’s touch was painful, but the deep sound she made in her throat was a far cry from pain. When her lids flickered open, her pupils were wide and unfocused. Her voice was husky, as if she hadn’t used it in a long time. “No. He never touched me.”

  Ali leaned forward and gently kissed the uninjured corner of Beau’s mouth. “Liar.”

  Beau trembled, her breath coming fast. “What are you doing here?”

  “I saw what happened on TV. It was a little scary there for a while.” Ali’s smile faltered and she bit the inside of her lip, then rested her palm in the center of Beau’s chest. “I…I needed to see you. I wanted to be sure you were all right.”

  “I’m sorry,” Beau said quickly. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “I know. I know you didn’t.” Ali concentrated on Beau, on the here, on the now. Beau was not Sammy. “I doubt I’ll ever get used to it, but I know you were doing what needed to be done. I know you’re good at it too.” She took a breath, as if she hadn’t breathed freely in a long time. “I know you need to do what you do. You can’t change, and I don’t want you to.”

  “You’re not mad?”

  “Mmm. I didn’t say that.”

  Beau blanched. “What? I thought—”

  “Your friend next to you.” Ali trailed her fingers down Beau’s neck. “The one with her hand on your leg right now. The one who was just kissing you?”

  “Ah, we work together,” Beau said quickly. “It’s not what you thin—”

  Ali laughed and lightly tapped an index finger against Beau’s chin. “You are not going to try that line on me, are you?”

  Beau groaned. She needed to kiss Ali soon or explode. “I just don’t want you to think—”

  “I think she wants in your pants. And since you work with her and she’s a friend, I’m going to be nice about it this time.” She leaned forward and regarded the woman next to Beau, who was watching them with a tiny frown between her lovely eyebrows. “Hello again. Beau is with me…” She paused, thought for a second. “Actually, that kind of says it all. So if you wouldn’t mind…could you take your hand off her now?”

  “Beau?” the brunette asked, sounding confused and looking put out.

  “Hey, Solea. I’m with her. We’re together.” Beau relaxed infinitesimally when Solea shot back in her chair and folded her arms under her breasts. Gripping Ali’s shoulders, almost afraid she would disappear, Beau whispered, “I mean, if that’s what you want.”

  Ali ran her fingertips through Beau’s hair. “I don’t want to take you away from your friends. Maybe later you can come by my house—”

  “Oh no. Not a chance.” Beau glanced around the table, aware for the first time that everyone was watching them with the intensity of a championship game during sudden death overtime. Jilly sent her a look that she recognized from when they were kids. Don’t screw up. Beau grinned at her. “Anybody mind if I take off?”

  A chorus of “Oh, come on” and “Not when it’s just getting good” and other ribald comments accosted her. Beau grasped Ali’s hand and stood, pulling Ali up with her. She slid her arm around Ali’s waist, and when Ali pushed her hand under the waistband of her pants at the small of her back, she couldn’t remember anything ever feeling as right or as good.

  “I’ve got the day shift tomorrow,” Beau said to the group. “I need somebody to take it for me.”

  More hoots and hollers ensued, and then two men and a woman waved at her simultaneously. “We got you covered, Cross. Take off. You earned it.”

  Beau kissed Ali amidst another round of cheers. “Not yet, but I’m trying.”

  “That’s a pretty good start,” Ali whispered, not caring in the least that they had an audience. She had Beau. “Come home with me and try some more.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Ali tucked her arm through Beau’s as they
left Bernie’s and walked along Locust Street on the edge of the Penn campus, a few blocks from the hospital. At first she was surprised to see how many students were out and about, and then she realized it wasn’t that late. Only a little after ten p.m. The evening had been so tense she felt as if she’d been up all night doing emergency surgery. If she was that wrung out, Beau must be beyond exhausted.

  “Do you need me to drive?” Ali asked as they neared Beau’s car.

  “No, I’m okay.” Beau opened the passenger side door. “I haven’t been drinking.”

  “Good.” Ali grasped the open flaps of Beau’s nylon PFD jacket, pulled her close, and kissed her. “Take me home so I can do that some more.”

  “Oh yeah—hold that thought.” Beau hurried around the car, jumped in, and within seconds was driving east on Spruce Street.

  Ali reached for her hand. “How are you doing?”

  Beau was briefly silent, then glanced at her quickly before focusing on the road ahead. “Better now that you’re here. I’ve been going pretty nuts not being able to see you.”

  “I’m sorry,” Ali murmured. “I was thinking more about what happened at the 7-Eleven, though.”

  “Oh.” Beau slowly exhaled. “The whole scene was a little unreal. I’ve never been in a situation like that before. Sims just aren’t the same.”

  “No, they aren’t. Were you scared?”

  “Maybe we shouldn’t talk about it,” Beau said. “It’s over.”

  Ali leaned across the distance between them and kissed the bruise on Beau’s jaw. “I want to hear. I want you to be able to tell me about what you do. How you feel about it.”

  “Even if it scares you?”

  “You know what scares me?” Ali said softly. “Losing you. That terrifies me. And I realized today, watching you walk into that store, that I could lose you without ever really having had you. Not completely. I don’t want that to happen.”

  Beau caught her breath, her hand clutching Ali’s even tighter. “I need to see you. Be with you. I don’t want my job to come between us.”

  “It won’t,” Ali said quickly.

  “Even though you think I’m a glory hound?” Beau laughed but her laughter was tinged with regret.

  “I did think that. You know you try to make people believe that.” Ali ruffled the wild curls at the base of Beau’s neck. “But I meant what I said back at Bernie’s. I know you’re good at what you do. I’ve seen you in action.”

  “Today was as bad as it gets. I hope.” Beau parked a few houses up from Ali’s, cut the engine, and swiveled in her seat. “I can’t say I won’t ever be in a tough situation again, but I won’t take chances. I promise.”

  “Thank you.” Ali kissed her. “Now come inside. I want you to myself for a while.”

  Beau took Ali’s hand as they climbed the stone steps. “How did you know to come to Bernie’s?”

  “One of the paramedics told me that’s where you’d probably be.” Ali unlocked the door and held it open. “If you hadn’t been there I would have called around until I found you. If you’d been in bed with Solea, you’d have been in deep trouble because I would have tracked you down.”

  Beau stopped and stared. “You don’t think—”

  Ali crowded Beau against the wall and leaned into her, nipping at her jaw. “I think you’re the hottest woman I’ve ever seen.” She slid her hand into Beau’s jacket and rubbed her middle. “And I know Solea—and any number of other women—agree with me.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. Doesn’t matter. I don’t want any of them.” Beau cupped Ali’s ass and tried to kiss her again, but Ali pulled away.

  “Let’s take this inside before Ralph comes down with Victor. I don’t want any interruptions.”

  “You’re the boss,” Beau said.

  “Uh-huh.” Ali shook her head, let them into her apartment, and led Beau by the hand into the kitchen. “I’ve been saving a bottle of wine for a special occasion. Grab a couple glasses from the cabinet over the sink. I think tonight qualifies.”

  “Any night I’m alone with you qualifies,” Beau said.

  “You’re doing that slick thing again.” Ali glanced over her shoulder while rummaging through a drawer. “And I like it.”

  “I’m serious.”

  Beau’s voice was darkly intense and Ali jolted at the instant surge of arousal. She hadn’t thought she could get any more excited, but she’d been wrong. God, God, she wanted her, but Beau had been through a harrowing experience and she didn’t want to attack her like a madwoman. She pulled out a corkscrew and concentrated on opening the Littorai. When she thought she had a handle on her runaway libido, she turned, bottle in hand. “Are you hungry?”

  “No. Can we drink that in bed?” Beau’s eyes gleamed.

  “Oh, yes. We can.” Ali wrapped her free arm around Beau’s waist as they climbed the stairs. She slowed as they crossed the threshold into her bedroom. The street lamp outside provided enough light to see by, and her bed seemed to dominate the room. “You must be exhausted.”

  Beau crossed to the bed, pulled the chain on the bedside lamp, and put the glasses down on the small table. Watching Ali watching her, she pulled her polo shirt up and over her head, taking the tight tank top underneath with it, and dropped the clothes on the floor. Ali’s gaze slid down her throat to her breasts, and her nipples contracted. “Actually, I’m pretty wired. When I get that amped on a call I’m always horny after.”

  “Are you.”

  Beau stroked her stomach and popped the button on her pants. “Yep.”

  Ali closed the bedroom door and leaned against it, the neck of the wine bottle clasped loosely between her fingers. Her throat was dry, her heart was racing. Beau had to be the most beautiful woman she’d ever seen in her life. “I guess I rescued you just in time, then.”

  “You don’t know the half of it.” Beau fingered her fly. “I’ve missed you so damn much.”

  “God, Beau. I’m sorry for being a coward.” Ali still didn’t move. She didn’t trust herself to get too close to her until she had a better grip on her emotions. She wanted her in so many ways all at once. She wanted to touch her, run her hands over every inch of her, to be sure she was real and safe and here. She wanted to kiss her, caress her, make her moan and call out her name. She wanted to claim Beau and hear her proclaim she was hers. “I wasn’t expecting to ever feel what I feel for you. The intensity is pretty much off the scale.”

  Beau stopped with her zipper halfway down. “We can do this any way you want. If you need time, I understand. We can go as slow as you—”

  “Is that what you want? To go slow?” The uncharacteristic insecurity in Beau’s face, in her voice, propelled Ali across the room. She was responsible for Beau’s uncertainty, and she needed to change that. She put the wine bottle down next to the glasses and feathered her fingers over the tops of Beau’s shoulders. Then she smoothed her palms over Beau’s chest and ever so lightly stroked the outer curve of her breasts. Beau’s lips parted and her neck arched, a low groan reverberating deep in her chest.

  “Ali.”

  “Maybe date casually?” Ali cradled Beau’s breasts more firmly and brushed her thumbs over her tight nipples. Beau’s abdomen contracted so hard Ali could count the striations between the rigid bundles of muscles. The scar drew so tight she thought it might tear. “See other people?”

  “Fuck no.” Beau grit her teeth and clasped Ali’s waist. “I don’t want to go slow, and I sure as hell don’t want anyone else touching you.”

  “Then why did you suggest I take more time?” Gently, Ali massaged the band of scar tissue with her fingers until Beau’s stomach relaxed. Beau leaned heavily into Ali’s caress and she skimmed her fingers just below Beau’s open fly, thrilling to the quick jerk of Beau’s hips.

  “I need to be with you,” Beau said. “I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t even come without you.” Beau tugged Ali’s shirt out of the back of her pants, bunched it up in one fist, and stroked the warm
expanse of Ali’s lower back. “Whatever you want, whatever you need, I’ll do it. Just…Jesus, I need to be with you.”

  Ali wrapped her arms around Beau’s waist and snugged her pelvis into Beau’s crotch. The bare skin of her middle brushed Beau’s stomach and her sex swelled and throbbed. “I’d ask you what you want, but I need to tell you something first.” When Beau’s expression turned wary and worried, she kissed her. “Just listen.”

  “Ali,” Beau moaned, her thighs trembling. “Please. It’s okay if you don’t—”

  “Shh.” Ali threaded her fingers through Beau’s hair and kissed her again, slicking and stroking over her tongue, exploring the soft warm recesses of her mouth with slow, teasing caresses. When her head started to spin and her stomach clutched with urgency, she drew back. “I want you. I think I have from the second you walked into my class.”

  “I wan—”

  “Shh.” Ali laughed. “God, you’re impatient—like a wildfire burning so hot. I love that about you.” Ali kissed her again, only a light brush of lips this time. “I love you. I love you so much.”

  Beau went completely still. “You do?”

  “Totally.”

  “Are you…glad?”

  Ali laughed harder. “Oh, sweetheart, glad doesn’t even come close. I want you. All of you. Exclusively. Permanently.” She framed Beau’s face with both hands, careful not to put pressure on the injured side of her jaw. She rubbed her thumbs over the arches of Beau’s soaring cheekbones, kissed her mouth, her throat, the hollow at the base of her neck. Then she leaned back and quickly removed her shirt and bra so her breasts could rest against Beau’s. She sighed at the first contact, heat surging through her nipples. “I want you for the rest of my life.”

  “I never wanted a future until I met you,” Beau said. “I guess I thought I was already living on time I didn’t deserve.”

  “Ah, sweetheart.” Ali pulled her close, held her. “I thought I could keep Sammy safe, and when I failed, I thought I could keep from ever caring enough to get hurt again. Life just happens to us.” She leaned back, caressed Beau’s face. “You happened to me, and I am so glad. I love you and nothing will ever change that.”