by SY Thompson
Ronan kissed her passionately as she stretched out on Sidney’s form. Their legs entwined together and Sidney could feel the copious moisture at her center soaking her thigh. She felt desire resurge through her veins and urged Ronan onto her back. She lowered herself to lie on top of her strong body. She slowly moved against Ronan, pulled away, and pressed down again. She circled her hips rhythmically, touching and not touching, mercilessly teasing.
“Please,” Ronan gasped. “I’m burning up.”
With a gentle knee, Sidney parted Ronan’s legs and pressed her thigh against the liquid heat. Ronan moaned and grasped hold of Sidney’s buttocks as she arched up into her.
“Tell me what you want,” Sidney invited huskily into the aroused woman’s ear. She traced the delicate shell with her tongue, and was pleased when she felt her tremble.
Ronan had to swallow twice before she could respond. “T...touch my breasts.”
Sidney shifted and propped herself on an elbow with her body draped over her lover. She slid a palm over the smooth plane of Ronan’s chest until her hand filled with one breast. It was a creamy heaviness, curving and pliant, overflowing, and incredibly sweet as she lowered her head and took a satiny nipple into her mouth. Her hand drifted over to tease the other nipple and she pinched the taut bud between her fingertips.
Sidney knew how incredibly sensitive Ronan’s breasts were and took her time as she teased them with almost harsh pinches and tender swipes of her tongue until Ronan moaned.
Ronan pulled Sidney's head back up with her fingers buried in her hair. Her kiss was aggressive as she devoured her mouth. Then Sidney’s hands were back on her breasts as she stroked slowly and sweetly. Ronan’s body jerked as one of the small hands found the moisture between her legs. She shuddered as the fingers began to stroke and Sidney heard the sound of her breath as it caught in her throat.
Urgently rotating her hips, Ronan suddenly stopped as two long fingers penetrated past the tight muscles and slid deep inside. Sidney’s tongue thrust in and out of her mouth as her hand matched the urgent lift of Ronan’s hips. Sidney felt Ronan shudder with the intensity of the sensations in her body as she pressed against her. Then her body began to quiver with the force of her pleasure.
Ronan groaned as the spasms tore through her. Slowly she settled against the sheets. Sidney slid up into her arms and they relaxed into mutual contentment. The respite was temporary and then they immersed themselves again in the scent and texture of each other, trying to satiate a hunger.
Several exquisite hours later, Sidney felt her muscles start to relax into slumber and dimly heard Ronan mumble from somewhere far away, “Good night, my love.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
THAT NIGHT SIDNEY enjoyed the best sleep she could remember in a very long time. She didn’t wake up once through the night, but was somehow aware that Ronan’s arms never left her. The next morning, she awakened snuggled deep into Ronan’s bountiful breasts and thought she had died in her sleep and gone to heaven. Then the computer activated the alarm and ruined the illusion. All too soon, Ronan was dressed and on her way to the office.
“Why?” Sidney asked, concerned that she was about to walk into the lion’s den. She was still in a robe that Ronan had lent her and sat on the sofa with a cup of coffee.
“If this reality is so much more open that they conduct public executions, I may be able to overhear something vital.”
“What am I supposed to do while you’re gone? I came to help, not hide in a closet.”
“And you will help,” Ronan assured her. “But you cannot come to work with me. That would draw attention that we don’t want. I need you to stay here, but you won’t be sitting around.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“Watch the news. I’ll show you how to work the broadcast feeds. Just make sure you don’t accidentally accept any incoming calls. It may sound like I’m giving you busywork, but you can find out a lot about a society from the news feeds. You might learn something that could save our lives later.”
Ronan walked over to the huge monitor and picked up the remote. “This monitor allows you to see who is calling as well as be seen by them.”
“You told me that last night. I’ll be careful, but what am I listening for?”
Ronan shrugged. “Anything that helps you to understand the functioning of this government can only help us. More important though are any broadcasts of troop or police movements, executions, or public announcements. Most of the broadcasts will be in German so I’ll turn on the translation matrix.”
“Translation matrix, huh? That’ll definitely help. Subtitles, but spoken instead of written.”
Ronan smiled and shared a long, lingering kiss before she turned to the door. “I promise I’ll be back in about an hour. We still have to do something about that execution this afternoon.”
Sidney knew Ronan was making light of the situation, like what they had to do later was easy stuff. She appreciated the attempt to help her feel better and decided not to make a big deal out of things right now.
Turning on the huge set, Sidney retrieved another cup of coffee and settled in to watch. As she watched a news channel something suddenly struck her as unusual: no one had visible tattoos, earrings, eyebrow rings, nose rings, lip rings or had subjected their tongues to piercing. Everyone interviewed or seen on the street was subdued, keeping their heads down to avoid undue attention. It all seemed a little weird to her and she started to feel like she was under scrutiny even inside the safety of Ronan’s apartment.
Although she was in a strange environment watching bizarre societal interactions, she felt comforted by Ronan’s familiar scent that lingered in the air. With little to do but worry about her welfare or try to find a distraction, Sidney carefully watched the broadcasts to try to glean some feel for the world in which she suddenly found herself adrift. After a while, the magnitude of their situation began to creep into her mind. Sidney started to wonder what she was doing here, in this time and in this place. They were only two women willing and eager to go up against a fascist government that had operated with autonomy. In addition, they had the secret police to consider. All things being equal, she thought it a possibility that she and Ronan were out of their minds.
For a second it was a narrow escape whether or not she would panic. Sidney’s heart rate suddenly doubled, her blood pressure shot up so high she wondered if this was what a heart attack felt like.
“It’s just anxiety,” she said aloud and took a deep breath. “I need to take a break from watching the news.”
She stood up and went into the bathroom to take a shower, hoping the steam would help clear her mind. The warm water ran over her curves like a lover’s caress and Sidney suddenly had a mental image of Ronan’s hands on her skin. Arousal shot through her and she gasped at the sensation before she pulled back from the spray and opened her eyes. Now was not the time to indulge in fantasy. Ronan would be back soon and she wanted to be dressed and ready. Sidney reached out and switched the water to a temperature cold enough to make her wince. She was shivering and her teeth had begun to chatter when she emerged a few minutes later and grabbed for a towel.
She dressed in blue jeans, a long-sleeved flannel shirt, thick socks and sturdy hiking boots. The jeans and boots were the same ones she’d worn from her own time, but she dug through Ronan’s closet to find the oversize shirt. Sidney needed to roll the sleeves up a little to fit properly, but the cloth still carried Ronan’s scent and it comforted her.
Whatever happened this afternoon, she would be ready. Then she went back into the living room to brush up some more on this century’s news. Sidney sat back in the deep wing-backed chair and picked up the remote. An image of Ronan flashed through her head and she wondered what her partner was up to at that moment. The thought threatened to set her heart tripping again and she quickly began to flip through the channels. There wasn’t anything she could do to help right now, except to trust in Ronan’s abilities. The time would
come when Sidney would have to help in whatever plan her partner devised. To that end, it was important that she learn as much about her environment as possible. She needed to focus.
Sidney found a news program and listened intently to the ever-prevalent stories of mayhem and robbery. Near the end of the broadcast, a political story aired and her attention sharpened when she heard the name Sloan.
“Sloan? Isn’t that the name of Ronan’s superior?”
Listening intently, Sidney learned that the man had announced his intention to run for Delegator of the Neue Konservative Regime. She wondered if it was just her, or did such a position seem like the perfect place to implement the government’s threat?
A clip of Gustav Sloan ran as he waved to cheering supporters, kissed babies, and generally ran through the whole political shtick. Sidney felt a sense of dread as soon as she saw him. He was a tall, slender man with a swarthy complexion and slicked back blonde hair. The first word that came to mind when she saw him was snaky. While she watched the screen, the voice-over from the newscaster filled her in on the man’s background.
“In an unprecedented move Lieutenant Gustav Sloan of the Neue Konservative Regime has announced his bid to become Supreme Ruler of the Fatherland.”
An image of Sloan and another man came onto the screen.
“Sloan was born into a farming family in Skierbieszow, Poland. In early 2245, his family fled to Germany to avoid advancing Chinese troops. They lived near Leipzig until Sloan entered the military service in 2263. Decorated for valor during the Russian Blitzkrieg, he received the Order of Merit of the Federal Public of Germany.
“In 2297, he joined the Neue Konservative Regime, climbing quickly to his present position. Lieutenant Sloan has served as advisor to the current Federal German leader, Delegator Weizsacker.
“The election in three months will decide which of these men will be the new Delegator. Will Weizsacker be re-elected or will Germany see a new face of power under Lieutenant Gustav Sloan?”
Sidney stood up with her head buzzing. Was Sloan a member of those responsible for the infiltrators? If so, she had to wonder if his political agenda was the first move in an attempt to usurp power. Did it mean the Guard hadn’t yet achieved full infiltration? Maybe they had done some good after all, slowed the invaders down, and made them more cautious about taking over past government leaders. Maybe the Regime had decided to start somewhere more innocuous. With thoughts running rampant, Sidney walked into the kitchen to make a fresh pot of coffee. She looked at the clock and noticed it was getting late.
Where was Ronan?
The loud crack of splintered wood suddenly filled the room as something rammed the front door. Sidney dropped the empty coffee pot and hardly noticed as it shattered on the tile floor. Military troops wearing black tactical gear, including full-face helmets, swarmed in and she turned to run but there was nowhere to go. In seconds, they had her surrounded.
“What do you want?” Sidney faced them squarely, hoping she could bluff her way through. They could hardly know who she was and it was more likely that they had the wrong place. Ronan was an officer of the law and they wouldn’t break down her door if they knew that.
A tall German in dress uniform and cap entered and walked over to her. He stood quietly for a moment and smiled cruelly. Then he removed his leather gloves slowly and struck Sidney viciously across the face. “You will not speak unless you are asked a direct question. You are under arrest.”
The man switched to German and said something to his men. Two of them grabbed her by the arms and started to drag her from the room. Sidney struggled uselessly as they hauled her out of the apartment.
“Who are you?” she demanded, ignoring his orders. “Why are you doing this? You have the wrong person.”
He didn’t answer her questions and watched as his men hauled Sidney into the cold, rainy, overcast day without a coat. Powerless to resist the men, she could only worry about what might have happened to Ronan and how they’d found out about her. Even more frightful was the possibility that one more might have been added to the list of intended victims for the scheduled execution.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
RONAN HATED TO leave Sidney alone in the apartment. She understood that she wanted to help and was resistant to the idea of just waiting around, but it was necessary. In this world of curfews and paranoia, papers were mandatory. Sidney had none.
Before she went to the office, Ronan intended to meet with her informant at his usual haunt. Although considered just another snitch by many of the other detectives Ronan knew, he had a lot of contacts. If anyone could get what she needed it would be him. She had let him go several times when she had caught him in the vicinity of a crime and he was indebted to her. Unfortunately, the favor she intended to ask of him meant they would be even.
A few blocks west of her apartment, she took the steps leading down to the subway platform. Public transport supplied the anonymity she required and she took the train that would carry her into the heart of the homeless district. The train stopped a few times on the way to let passengers on and off. With each stop, Ronan felt she had traveled farther into the heart of evil. The platforms were littered with debris. Lights flickered uncertainly and shadows loomed. Each time the doors parted, she could see shapes move within the shadows like whoever dwelled there avoided the light. The solid feel of a laser pistol in the shoulder holster made her feel better, but she hoped she wouldn’t need it.
The passengers were bedraggled and snaggletoothed, their garments tattered with half-finger gloves. Ronan ignored the stench of unwashed bodies and stared at a fixed point near the exit. Finally, the train stopped and she could just make out a sign in the gloom that let her know she’d arrived. She was through the doors almost before they parted and she heaved a sigh of relief. She headed for the stairs and took them two at a time until she was outside in the overcast day. Even with rain hanging heavy overhead and the chill in the air, she basked in the light that felt like tropical sunshine after confinement in the tunnels. Ronan leaned against the side of the building and closed her eyes for a few moments. She stood upright and pushed away from the support before looking around warily.
In this part of town, Ronan felt it was prudent to stay sharp. Few people were on the streets, most tended to lurk in doorways and dark alleys. When unsuspecting prey wandered into their territory, they quickly became another statistic. The crime rate was high, but hope and morality were low. Ronan consciously attempted to adopt a threatening air of her own and strode quickly down the street to where she would be likely to find her contact. As she walked block after block she would catch flickers of movement out of the corners of her eye, but no one dared to approach. She was too alert to be easy prey.
Another block and Ronan turned down an alley that was wider than most. Schultz wasn’t known for his bravery, preferring to hang out in the most deserted areas where he could see any threat coming far in advance. The high stone structures that lined this alley magnified sound, and since most of the gangs traveled in packs, he would have plenty of time to scrabble into hiding.
True to form, he was nowhere in sight, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t here. Ronan’s senses told her that he was very close and at just the right moment to leave an impression he would pop out. She walked slowly down the alley, freezing near the end. Where the shadows were thickest, she could just see him. He stood with his arms folded casually as he leaned against the corner of a building.
“Hello, Schultz.”
Her greeting was casual as though she had known all along that he stood there. He would not be pleased that she’d forestalled his entrance, but she didn’t have time to muck about. Ronan still needed to get to the office and then back to the apartment where Sidney waited.
Schultz stepped into the watery daylight with his hands jammed into his coat pockets. He was a thin man, almost emaciated, and had black hair and deep-set brown eyes. He dressed well enough for people from this low-end district, his gar
ments less tattered than most. His coat was heavy, while his gloves were thick and intact. Schultz wore a hat that Ronan thought of as a fedora low over his eyes and twirled a toothpick casually between his yellow teeth.
“Something I can do for you, Detective Lee? This isn’t your usual haunt.”
“I need a favor,” she said without preamble and watched as his eyes narrowed. No doubt, he was calculating how much he could charge for this favor. Ronan stopped any reply by holding out a wad of cash between her index and middle fingers. “I need papers for a friend. They need to be good quality. Impeccable.”
Schultz reached for the cash and Ronan pulled her hand back to get his attention. “I need them by this afternoon.”
The informant hissed between his teeth. “They won’t be cheap.”
“They better not be,” she told him. “If they’re cheap, they’re no good. Get them to me at Detective headquarters. There’s a bonus in it for you if you’re there by one o’clock.”
“Ah, Lee, you know how much I hate to go into that place.”
Ronan ignored the complaints, knowing that the guards would never let this low-life into the structure.
“I’ll meet you behind the building, in the alley on the east side. Don’t be late,” she advised, finally handing over the wad.
Schultz scanned the crisp bills quickly and his dark eyes lit up. There was enough money there to qualify as his bonus already, but Sidney was worth so much more and Ronan wasn’t about to quibble.
Her mind already on other things, Ronan dismissed him and quickly headed back for the main intersection near the subway. The ride back would be more pleasant since she would be riding out of the depression this place inspired. She’d used up most of the hour she promised Sidney by the time she arrived back at her office. She told herself that she would only be a few minutes, ten at the most, and then she could head back to the apartment. These next few minutes might provide answers to a lot of questions and she had to try to find out where the secret police held the rebels. In this period, many things were different and that included the public executions. Since she wasn’t familiar with such things, she would have to find out as unobtrusively as possible.
