Course of Action

by Gun Brooke

  “Now, the Maddox movies. You’ve signed contracts to do the first three. How does that feel?”

  “It’s a true honor to be chosen for this adventure.” Carolyn leaned back, touching her lips with an index finger. Her face turned serious. “I’m also well aware of the responsibility. A lot rides on the first one being a success, and since I play Diana Maddox…” She shrugged.

  “Yeah, they’ll have your head if you screw up,” Leno joked. “There’s a lot of action in these stories.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Any qualms about kissing the lovely Ms. St. Cyr?”

  Annelie closed her eyes and moaned in exasperation.

  “Not one bit. Besides, she’s a very attractive woman. Wouldn’t you want to kiss her?” Carolyn deadpanned.

  Leno missed a beat and then shook his head in mock dismay as the audience cheered. “I’m a married man. Are you trying to get me in trouble?” He grinned. “Honestly, Helen St. Cyr is one of my wife’s favorite actresses, right up there with you and Alice Kriege.”

  “All character actresses,” Carolyn observed. “Your wife has good taste, Jay.”

  “Naturally. Goes without saying. She married me, didn’t she?”

  The audience laughed.

  “So, playing Diana Maddox—a tormented, complex, lesbian character—no big deal?”

  Carolyn shook her head, giving Leno a somewhat patronizing glance. “I never go into a role thinking it’s not a big deal, regardless of who the character is. Playing a lesbian is a first for me, if you don’t count doing the Maddox audiobooks, and I intend to do my best to give Maddox credibility and to keep her natural. A certain percentage of all women are lesbians or bisexual—and the concept of love in any way, shape, or form between consenting adults is a good thing, right?”

  Looking slightly stunned to be on the receiving end of Carolyn’s firm glance, Leno nodded willingly. “Absolutely.”

  Carolyn was obviously not finished with the subject. “And as for her being tormented and complex, that has more to do with her persona than her sexual preference.” Carolyn delivered the correction with an enticing smile, but her voice was forceful.

  Leno reached for his tie knot, only to stop halfway. Clearing his voice, he returned the smile. “Now, I only have one final question.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Are you going to do all the stunts yourself? I know from the books there’s some nudity, for instance.”

  Carolyn rolled her eyes, making the audience giggle. “Jay, you have a one-track mind. Well, in my contract, I’ve agreed to partial nudity when it’s called for in the story.” She leaned toward Leno, putting a hand on his arm. “I suppose by ‘stunts’ you’re also talking about the love scenes?”

  “Eh…yeah.”

  “The only time I’d demand a stand-in or a stunt woman to take my place would be if it concerned…cooking.”

  The audience roared, and Leno laughed along with them. Annelie knew Carolyn was in control of the show and admired the way she charmed both her host and the spectators.

  “I know I said that was my final question, but, if you’ll indulge me, what are your plans for tonight? Are you going to paint the town with your colleagues and Ms. Peterson or…?”

  Carolyn smiled wistfully. “You know, I’m going straight to bed. Tomorrow will be a long day, and I want to be at my best for the people attending the convention. They’re even coming from Europe and Australia.”

  “Well, we’ve certainly enjoyed having you here on the show, Carolyn. Thank you so much for coming.”

  Carolyn rose and took a bow as applause thundered, then left the stage. Normally, Leno’s guests remained on his couch, but Carolyn had refused to stay longer than her slot.

  Annelie rose and turned to Gregory. “Wasn’t she great?”

  “Outstanding. She charmed them all. They’ll want her back when the movie premieres.”

  “I’m sure they will.”

  The door opened and Carolyn entered, with sparkling eyes and a broad smile on her face. “All done,” she proclaimed, energy vibrating in her voice. “We can leave right away, can’t we?”

  “Sure. Are you in a hurry?” Annelie raised her eyebrows.

  “I want to get back to the hotel and order something from room service. I’m starving.”

  “Your wish is my command. We have an early start tomorrow.”

  Carolyn walked up to Annelie and studied her closely. “I was okay, right?”

  Annelie wanted to stroke her lover’s cheek, but decided not to since studio personnel were present. “You were awesome. Come on.”

  Hearing loud music from the house band in the background, Annelie noticed a new bounce in Carolyn’s walk as they left the studio, making her realize her lover was on her performance high. When Annelie felt a soft caress of Carolyn’s hand on her own, a thumb stealthily rubbing her palm, she shivered and glanced at her.

  “Behave.”

  Carolyn smiled innocently. “All right.”

  *

  They barely made it over the threshold.

  Annelie turned to close the door, and Carolyn leaned past her, shutting it with the palm of her hand and locking the deadbolt. Pushing Annelie against the wall, she slipped her hands eagerly under her white silk shirt and stroked the skin on her stomach.

  “Carolyn?” Annelie managed, before the other woman claimed her mouth, parting her lips in a passionate kiss. “You were going to call room service…”

  “Shh.” Carolyn pushed Annelie’s jacket off her shoulders while she kissed her way inside the shirt she was unbuttoning. Tracing the delicate collarbones with open-mouth kisses, she made Annelie moan as she pushed down the shoulder straps of her bra and let it fall to the floor, together with her shirt.

  “You’re so beautiful,” Carolyn murmured. “Exquisite.” She closed her lips over a taut nipple, making Annelie arch into the touch. She nibbled Annelie’s breast just the way she liked, making her gasp with pleasure and almost moan with pain.

  “You’re insatiable,” Annelie gulped. “What brought this on?”

  Carolyn didn’t answer. Instead, she unbuttoned her lover’s black slacks, pushing them down her hips. Annelie stepped out of them, watching in awe as Carolyn suddenly knelt in front of her, sliding her lace panties down next. Slowly, interrupting her intentions by placing kisses on Annelie’s thighs, she undressed her completely. Carolyn’s beauty, her dark eyes brimming with desire, made Annelie’s heart ache.

  Carolyn began to caress her way up. Carefully letting her nails trail up along the smooth thighs, she closed in on the blond tuft of hair, making Annelie tremble.

  “Come on, love, spread your legs for me,” Carolyn encouraged. “That’s it…more…I want to look at you.”

  Feeling utterly vulnerable and even more aroused, Annelie complied. Carolyn had often taken the initiative in making love, but never like this. The contrast between Carolyn’s elegant appearance and Annelie’s own nakedness added to the feeling of being exposed. Yet it was such a thrill.

  Annelie gasped when gentle fingers parted her folds, carefully exploring. Carolyn rose to her feet, her hand still working between Annelie’s legs. “So wet,” she whispered. “For me?”

  “Yes.” Feeling vulnerable about her body’s reaction, but unashamed, Annelie closed her eyes at the tender examination. She ached for Carolyn’s touch, knowing how her lover could feast on her, drive her toward the abyss with her mouth. “Only for you…”

  Watching Carolyn slowly undress, Annelie noticed her lover’s hands were shaking. She moved toward her, close enough for Carolyn to feel the heat radiating from her body, then wrapped her arms around her, pulling her tight against her naked frame. Lowering her head, she devoured Carolyn’s lips in an endless kiss.

  As she pulled back, she gazed into Carolyn’s hypnotic eyes—narrow slits shining with desire.

  “You drive me insane,” Carolyn confessed. “Your voice, your body…your touch. You make me want to do…” Her voice trailed off as she suddenly blushed.


  “What?” Annelie whispered, cupping the back of Carolyn’s head. “Tell me.”

  Reaching for Annelie’s breasts, Carolyn let her thumbs work the nipples relentlessly. “I have fantasies…” She pushed her thigh between Annelie’s. “About us. Doing things.”

  Oh, God. Annelie swallowed, her head swimming with the sensations raging through her body. The slender thigh between hers made more moisture pool at her center. “And what do we do in your fantasies?” she asked.

  Carolyn leaned down and took one of Annelie’s aching nipples in her mouth, sucking it for agonizing seconds before replying. “For some reason, I have this image in my head…” Her hand slipped in between their bodies, finding the aching ridge of nerves between Annelie’s folds and rubbing it in slow circles. “…of you, on your knees, on a chair, holding on to the backrest ...” Her fingers pushed farther ahead, spreading the wetness. “…and me, behind you, exploring all of you.”

  Two fingers entered Annelie, curling inside her until they found the spot that made her go rigid. “And you ask me to take you, to make you mine…” The fingers began an in-and-out motion while she kissed Annelie’s neck, her tongue painting a blazing trail along her jaw. “You whimper my name, and I have access to any part of you I want. Nothing’s taboo. You want me to take it all.”

  “Carolyn…oh, yes…” Annelie was completely caught up in the sound of her lover’s voice and what she was saying. The scene she painted was exciting, and she knew it wouldn’t be long until it pushed her over the precipice. Take me. “And what happens then?”

  “I enter you, with my fingers, with my tongue…” Carolyn moved her lips close to Annelie’s ear. “I dream of doing this, of taking you completely.”

  Trembling all over, her breath ragged and her legs becoming increasingly weaker, Annelie was stunned by Carolyn’s candor and trust. Not about to disappoint her lover, she gently took a handful of auburn hair, turning Carolyn’s face up for another deep kiss.

  “It’s true, you know,” she breathed. “There’s nothing you can’t do to me, because we love each other. I’ll fulfill all your fantasies, one by one, to the best of my ability…I want to, very much.” Anything…she wanted to do everything with this woman.

  Annelie felt tears well up as Carolyn pressed her drenched sex against her thigh. “Annie, I can’t believe how you make me feel…just talking about it, confessing how you invade my thoughts at any given time, makes me feel more than…oh…I’ve never…I can’t believe this…”

  Annelie felt her lover push against her, whimpers muted by Carolyn’s mouth placing open-mouth kisses along her collarbones. She cupped Carolyn’s bottom, helping her ride the thigh lodged between hers. “And how does your fantasy end?”

  “Usually, it ends with…uh…me penetrating you with as many fingers as you’ll let me…” Carolyn murmured something inaudible.

  “What?”

  “Nothing…”

  “Tell me. You can tell me anything.”

  Carolyn sighed, her hips jerking, her fingers pressing into Annelie becoming frantic. “You allow me, in my mind, to stimulate you everywhere I want. You let me…Oh, Annie! Oh!”

  Carolyn came, and the feeling of her arching against her made Annelie’s body convulse along with her. Slowly, her knees gave in as her inner muscles clenched Carolyn’s fingers over and over. Lances of pleasure streaked through her body, and she whimpered aloud, clinging to Carolyn. Sliding along the wall toward the floor, she finally sat with her lover straddling her lap, hugging her close while she tried to catch her breath.

  “My love…Annie, I love you.” Carolyn’s voice broke, and muted sobs wracked her. “My precious girl…”

  “Shh…I love you too. You’re my heart, Carolyn. Only you.” Annelie kissed her. “I’d gladly let you do everything in your fantasy. Nothing you want to try could make me uncomfortable, since it’s you. I adore you. I have fantasies too. I have so many things I want to do with you…for you.”

  “Nothing…nobody…has ever affected me this way. It simply has to be you. I can’t imagine feeling…this, with anyone else.”

  Annelie felt her throat constrict at the naked emotions in Carolyn’s voice. She refused to cry, but held on even tighter to the woman in her arms. Not doubting Carolyn’s truthfulness, Annelie knew she felt the same way.

  They sat on the floor until the air-conditioning made them shiver. Annelie helped her exhausted lover to her feet and guided her into the bathroom, where a hot shower warmed them up. After quickly brushing their teeth, they crawled into bed, Annelie cradling Carolyn from behind.

  She ravaged me. She pressed me against the wall, insatiable, and turned on beyond anything I’ve experienced with her…or anyone. Almost asleep, Annelie thought about how Carolyn had made love to her. She dominated me, but she didn’t try to control me. How does she do it? She’s had no experience loving women before me. She claimed me tonight. There’s no other word for it.

  Carolyn had a habit of calling Annelie hers, but in a way that made Annelie feel loved and protected, not possessed. Perhaps it was because they took turns being the strong one. Cuddling Carolyn, she felt her lover’s naked bottom against her sex and suddenly remembered the other woman’s fantasy about taking her in every way possible. Not at all shocked by how Carolyn’s mind worked, Annelie vowed to turn that fantasy into reality. Soon.

  *

  “Can you believe someone will travel great distances for the opportunity to ask one single question—and they want to know if my belly button is an innie or an outie?” Carolyn’s incredulous tone made the other passengers double over as the chartered jet leveled out at thirty thousand feet. It was just before midnight.

  “I’m even more awed at how you found your bearings and kept from laughing when you replied,” Harvey’s wife, Francine, offered, wiping tears from her cheeks. “In fact, there were some outrageous questions directed at all of you.”

  “I still can’t get over the question about my boots,” Helen added. “Did you hear that girl call them fuck-me boots?” She grinned. “I was shocked and appalled. Now I can’t wear them without wondering what signals I’m sending.”

  “Liar,” Annelie snorted. “You were flattered!”

  Helen playfully swatted Annelie’s arm. “Well, can you blame me? The kid was half my age.”

  “And so infatuated with you, she was ready to climb up on the stage.” Annelie laughed.

  “Who can blame her? She confessed Erica Becker is her favorite character, and there Erica was, in the flesh, and—in very special boots.” Harvey winked.

  “Yeah, very useful boots,” Annelie teased.

  Helen rolled her eyes at her before sending Harvey a broad smile.

  “I’ll say.” Harvey stroked his mustache, trying to keep a straight face. “But I don’t think the girl would’ve reacted the same way if I’d worn those boots.”

  “Don’t sell yourself short,” Carolyn said. “Who knows?”

  “Hardly! However, I’m glad we’re not doing any more conventions for a while. My hand needs to recover first.” Harvey wiggled the fingers on his right hand in the air.

  “Your hand? What happened to it?” Carolyn frowned.

  “I must have signed more than a thousand autographs. I’m an old man, remember? I can’t imagine how many you two beauties signed.”

  “At least twice that, old man,” his wife teased. “I think even Annelie signed more autographs than you.”

  Carolyn smiled as she glanced at her lover, sitting next to her. “You got a lot of attention, didn’t you?”

  “More than I was comfortable with initially, but, once I got over my first panic, I was fine. People were really kind.”

  Carolyn hadn’t realized until after the performances how people had surrounded Annelie, eager to show their support and wanting autographs. She could well imagine Annelie’s first reaction.

  “Annelie? I’ve got faxes coming in for you,” Gregory said from behind them. “Want me to bring them to
you?”

  “No, I’ll come back there.” Annelie disappeared to the desk area.

  “Monday is business as usual, then,” Helen mused. “I’m actually excited about continuing the readings. Was it Friday we’re starting the first studio rehearsals?”

  “Yes, I believe so.” Carolyn nodded. “As far as I know, they’ve completed Erica Becker’s apartment. By then, they should’ve come close to finishing Maddox’s place and the interior of the police station.”

  They continued to talk shop for a moment until Annelie returned with an odd expression on her face.

  “What’s up?” Carolyn felt her heart flutter.

  “The security company faxed a copy of the police report from Friday afternoon. Trevor White is in custody, as we knew, and they expect the ADA to go after him with a list of charges.” Annelie sat down next to Carolyn again. “I’m just relieved he didn’t turn out to be my father.”

  Carolyn reached around her, squeezing Annelie’s shoulders. “I know, love. So are we.”

  “Also, Regina left a message. She wants everyone to take tomorrow off and work on your scenes at home. Apparently she has to take care of some problems that have cropped up, but she’ll be ready for Tuesday’s readings.”

  “You know, that’s not such a bad idea. I get jet-lagged even with the three-hour difference,” Harvey said and then suddenly sniffed the air. “Oh, dear God, tell me that’s what I think it is.”

  Annelie, breaking out of her reverie, smiled at the hopeful look on Harvey’s face. “If you mean the best hamburgers with all the extras money can buy, it is. The chef’s fixing them in the kitchen.”

  “French fries? Onion rings? Quarter pounders?”

  Harvey’s eyes widened as Annelie nodded at each suggestion. “And a salad,” she added.

  “God, are you trying to kill him?” Francine moaned. “He’s not a young man anymore. He can’t be on a diet like that.”

  “He won’t be after today. This is a special occasion,” Annelie said. “We’ve had so much Italian, seafood, and Japanese food lately. I was in the mood for a regular burger. I can see I’m not the only one.”