Darkness Past

by Sherryl Hancock

  “Fucking A,” Sable said, her voice reflecting her surprise.

  Cat shrugged as the check came. She automatically reached for it, but Sable was faster, picking it up and handing the waitress the check and a credit card with a wink.

  Narrowing her eyes, Cat canted her head to the side.

  “You didn’t think I was letting you pay?” Sable asked, sounding truly astounded.

  Cat opened her mouth to answer, but then smiled instead. In truth, she was used to being the one in charge in her relationship. Elizabeth always let her take care of things like the check. Not that Elizabeth didn’t pay many of the expenses in the household—she certainly contributed through the profits she made on the restaurant and nightclub. Cat staunchly refused to let Elizabeth use her trust fund or her father’s money, which was considerable, to pay for daily living.

  Cat and Sable left the restaurant and headed to Bourbon Street, a popular gay bar in San Diego. Cat was known there, since she was there frequently with her friends, or on occasion with Elizabeth. Naturally everyone was shocked to see Cat in the presence of a superstar.

  Standing back, Cat watched Sable work the crowd that gathered around her. Cat was watchful, naturally taking on the role of a bodyguard. When a taller butch woman with short dark hair was insistent that Sable have a drink with her, her hand on Sable’s arm, Cat intervened.

  “Let’s ease off the lady now,” Cat said, stepping between Sable and the other woman, her hand on the taller woman’s arm.

  “Step off,” the butch woman growled.

  Cat slid her hand down to the woman’s wrist, tightening her hold and applying pressure at the pulse point.

  “I said,” Cat repeated, her tone all cop now, “ease off the lady.”

  When the dark-haired woman tensed, her other arm balling into a fist, Cat tightened her grip further.

  “If you don’t think I can break your wrist with one hand, you can try me,” Cat said, her voice dangerous. “I can also put a fairly nasty hole in you with the nickel-plated Beretta in the holster at my ankle.”

  The taller woman brought her chin up at the threat, but could also easily sense that Cat was serious.

  “Back off, Jackie,” one woman said from the butch woman’s side. “She’s a cop.”

  “A cop?” Jackie queried, looking surprised.

  “A cop,” Cat repeated.

  Jackie, who’d already let go of Sable’s arm, since the pressure Cat was exerting on her wrist was causing her arm to tingle, stepped back.

  “Good choice,” Cat said, her smile icy as she escorted Sable to the bar.

  While they stood at the bar ordering their drinks, Sable glanced around them. She could see people looking at them, and pointing at Cat and talking. It was obvious the story of what had just happened was circulating around the bar—no one else approached Sable, other than to smile at her.

  “You’re handy to have around,” Sable said, her hand on the small of Cat’s back.

  “Uh-huh,” Cat said, feeling Sable’s hand but not mentioning it.

  Sable lowered her head slightly, her lips right next to Cat’s ear. “Are you always so forceful?” she asked, her voice husky.

  Cat felt the involuntary shiver go through her; it was a natural reaction to the feeling of such a sexy woman so close to her. Turning her head, Cat looked directly into Sable’s eyes.

  “Always,” she replied, her lips quirking.

  “Mmm…” Sable murmured, feeling her pulse quicken.

  Cat turned back to the bar, taking the drinks the bartender handed her with a wink.

  “A friend of yours?” Sable asked Cat as they made their way to a table.

  “She dated my ex,” Cat replied with a shrug. “So she kinda knows me now too.”

  Sable thought that the bartender looked more than interested. In fact, a number of women seemed interested in both her and Cat. When a song came on that Sable liked, she grabbed Cat’s hand and pulled her out onto the dance floor. She found quickly that Cat could definitely move. Everything about the way she danced was sensual, and Sable found her mind wandering to what Cat would be like naked and in bed. She knew she was quickly becoming obsessed with the beautiful blond cop. It was Sable’s nature to form quick attachments. When she felt a connection, she felt it and went for it.

  They’d been at the club for about an hour when Cat heard a very familiar voice behind her.

  “Fancy meeting you here…”

  Cat turned around, a bright smile already on her face. “What has you out of your love nest?”

  Kana grinned, nodding toward Palani, who was talking animatedly with Jerry at the bar.

  “Ah, the little woman,” Cat said, smiling.

  Kana looked at Cat, then at Sable, raising her eyebrow slightly.

  “K, this is Sable,” Cat said.

  “I know who she is,” Kana said, a smile on her face. “Nice to meet you. My girlfriend loves your music.”

  Sable extended her hand to Kana, sensing the presence that everyone did with the big Samoan woman. She tilted her head to the side. “Your girlfriend, but not you?”

  Kana grinned unrepentantly. “I’m more of a classic rock kind of girl.”

  “I see,” Sable said, nodding.

  “Sable, this is Kana Sorbinno,” Cat said, finishing the introductions as Palani and Jerry walked up.

  Sable’s eyes widened slightly at seeing the beautiful dark-haired model, because she recognized her immediately. Hell, she’d had enough fantasies about the cover girl. Then it clicked. She looked back at Kana, then at Palani again.

  “You’re Palani Ryker,” she said, then looked at Kana. “And you two were on the cover of Cosmo last month.”

  Kana rolled her eyes, as Palani gasped.

  “Oh my God, you’re Sable Sands!” Palani exclaimed.

  “I know,” Sable said, grinning.

  “I love your music so much,” Palani said, all smiles now.

  “So your girlfriend says,” Sable replied. “I’m glad to hear that. I happen to love your pictures—you are an exquisite-looking woman.”

  Kana exchanged a look with Cat, a smile tugging at her lips. She knew women all over the world were in love with Palani’s looks. This was nothing new. What had Kana curious was the fact that this very publicly gay rock star was out with Cat. Had she missed something?

  “Cat,” Kana said, putting her arm around the smaller woman, “let’s go to the bar.”

  “Uh-huh,” Cat murmured as Kana steered her toward the bar.

  Sable, Palani, and Jerry got engrossed in a conversation, even though Sable’s eyes kept wandering back to where Cat and Kana stood talking. She saw Kana touch Cat’s cheek at one point, her look sympathetic, and she knew the two of them had been intimate at one time. It was obvious. By the time Kana and Cat came back to the table, Jerry was dancing, and Palani was sitting down with Sable. Kana took Palani’s hand and led her to the dance floor, leaving Sable and Cat alone.

  “So was that about your girlfriend?” Sable asked Cat as she sat down.

  Cat nodded. “K just wondered if Bet and I have broken up.”

  “Her name is Bet?”

  “Well, it’s Elizabeth,” Cat replied, “but I’ve always called her Bet.”

  Sable was surprised to feel a stab of jealousy for a woman she’d never even met. “So why didn’t we go to her club?” Sable asked. “Or doesn’t she know you’re out with me?”

  “She knows,” Cat replied. “We didn’t go to her club because it’s not a predominantly gay club. I thought you’d feel more comfortable here.”

  “I would, or you would?” Sable gave her a pointed look.

  Cat returned her look. “If you want me to take you there, I will.”

  Sable didn’t answer, looking at the dance floor and watching Kana and Palani dance.

  “Your friend can really move,” Sable commented.

  “Yeah, K’s pretty good,” Cat agreed, noting that Sable had avoided the part about going to Elizabeth’
s club, but not commenting on it.

  Sable looked over at Cat, her eyes narrowing slightly. “You dated her, didn’t you?”

  Cat nodded.

  “And you let that go?” Sable asked, gesturing toward Kana.

  “I never had her heart,” Cat said, smiling wistfully. “Palani always did.”

  Sable remembered what she’d read about Kana and Palani being separated for a while. “Did you love her?” she asked out of curiosity.

  “I came pretty close to it,” Cat said, “but it’s hard to really love someone you know will never truly love you back.”

  “So do you love Elizabeth?”

  Cat looked across the table at the other woman. Eventually she shrugged and nodded. “I love her.”

  “You don’t seem too sure of that,” Sable asked, having noted the slight hesitation.

  “I’m sure of it,” Cat said. “But I’m beginning to wonder how sure of us she is.”

  Sable was surprised by that. “Why wouldn’t she be sure of the two of you?”

  “Because Elizabeth was straight before she met me,” Cat replied, not sure why she was telling a virtual stranger about this.

  “So you think she’s not sure she’s gay?”

  “Well, I’m not really gay,” Cat said. “I’ve always been bi.”

  That surprised Sable even more. “Really?”

  “Yeah,” Cat replied, knowing that Sable had thought her a lesbian.

  Sable nodded, processing that information. “But you’re sure of your relationship with her?”

  “I knew I wanted to be with her,” Cat said, “and I know now that I prefer to be in an actual relationship with a woman.”

  “Why’s that?” Sable asked.

  “Because in relationships, women are better able to share themselves. Men are too preoccupied with other things.”

  Sable liked that answer. “So you’re basically a lesbian now?”

  Cat smiled. “Well, I’m in a relationship with a woman,” she said. “That’s not to say that if I was single again and the hottest man alive offered, I wouldn’t take him up on it.”

  “Have you had the hottest man alive?” Sable asked, her tone derogatory.

  “I’ve had one that’s pretty damned hot,” Cat said, grinning.

  “And was he as hot in bed?” Sable asked, sure of the answer.

  “Oh yeah,” Cat said, her blue eyes sparkling.

  Sable’s mouth dropped open. She was shocked. In her limited experience with the opposite sex, she’d had the man considered the “hottest man alive” by People magazine, and he’d been a total waste in bed.

  “So who was this?” Sable asked.

  “One of the men I work with,” Cat replied.

  “So why didn’t you stick with him?”

  “Well, for one thing he’s married,” Cat said, surprising Sable again. “And for another, I respect the hell out of his wife.”

  “You respect his wife?” Sable asked, not sure if she was ever going to understand Cat at all.

  “Yeah,” Cat said. “She’s also on my team. She’s a damned good shot too.”

  “Is she pretty?” Sable asked, her grin evil.

  “Gorgeous, and,” Cat added with a mischievous wink, “good in bed too.”

  “Oh my God, you had them both?” Sable asked. “Do they know?”

  “Of course they know,” Cat said, shrugging as she drank the shot she’d brought back from the bar. “They were both there at the time.”

  Sable’s eyes widened further, even as she smiled. “You are a bad girl, aren’t you?”

  Cat grinned. “I do what feels good at the time.”

  “Mmm,” Sable murmured, thinking that sounded far too good an opening to ignore.

  Standing up, Sable took Cat’s hand, pulling her up out of the chair and leading her to the dance floor. A slow song had just started, and Sable took that opportunity to get close to Cat, her hands on her small waist, pulling her closer. Cat kept her head to the side, allowing herself to feel the music for a little while. Sable wore an intoxicating scent, very sexy, and Cat was feeling the shot she’d just had.

  Closing her eyes, Cat let her body move with the music. She felt Sable’s hands slide farther around her waist, pulling her even closer. There was only two inches difference in their heights, so their bodies melded perfectly. Hair brushed Cat’s cheek as Sable lowered her head. Cat felt the soft slight wetness of Sable’s lips on her neck. She sighed, allowing herself to enjoy it. When she felt the gentle suction of Sable’s mouth, and her thumb brush over an already hard nipple between them, Cat gasped. Lifting her head, she looked up into Sable’s eyes.

  That’s when Sable kissed her.

  Warning bells started to go off in Cat’s head, but they were quickly overtaken by the sheer sensuality of the kiss. It was obvious Sable was very used to kissing women. Her lips were strong and demanding, but had just the right amount of sensual softness to them to make Cat feel absolutely weak. When Sable’s hand slid through her hair, tightening on a handful of the silken strands, Cat was sure she was going to come right there. The kiss intensified, and Cat could only respond, forgetting where they were, that she had a girlfriend, that anything existed. This was pure sexuality, and she reveled in it for the moment.

  Reality kicked in as the song ended, and Cat broke the kiss, trying to calm her pulse as she stepped back from Sable’s embrace. Glancing up, she felt a brief sense of satisfaction to note that Sable looked just as affected by the kiss as she was feeling. Again, reality closed in. When they walked back to the table, Cat kept going and went to the bar, ordering a shot of Cuervo 1800.

  “After that kiss, I’d need one too,” came Kana’s voice from behind her.

  Cat turned around to look up at Kana, shot in hand. She tossed back the shot; after that she felt calm enough to look at Kana again.

  “Saw that, huh?” she asked, grinning as she felt the alcohol soothe her frayed nerves.

  “The whole bar saw it, Cat,” Kana said, her smirk humorous.

  “Great,” Cat said, shaking her head. “What am I doing? Am I trying to fuck up my relationship or what?”

  Kana looked considering, then shrugged. “I think you’re having a really rough time right now, and Sable is one hell of an outlet.”

  Cat nodded, her expression contrite. “Not what I should be doing.”

  Kana shrugged. “I’m not here to judge you, babe.”

  “Okay, but it’s crazy,” Cat said.

  Kana said nothing, merely looking back at her.

  “You’re not helping,” Cat said sourly.

  Kana shrugged again, grinning. “And?”

  “Fuck you,” Cat said, grinning too.

  “You’re not driving home, right?” Kana asked.

  “I’m fine,” Cat assured her.

  “How many have you had?” Kana asked, her eyes narrowed.

  “Three shots total, K,” Cat said. “I’m fine, really.”

  Kana narrowed her eyes further. She rarely trusted someone who said she was “fine,” but she also knew Cat was extremely responsible about such things. Finally she nodded, and they headed back over to the table.

  An hour later, Cat found herself walking into Cat’s Bet with Sable. She wasn’t sure exactly how she’d been talked into going to her girlfriend’s club, but here she was at the front door. The doorman knew her and opened the doors for her and Sable with a smile and a “Hey, beautiful.” He always flirted with her—he knew she was dating the owner, but he always flirted with her.

  The club was crowded as usual. It was an upscale, happening place, with style and a lot of beautiful people. Cat looked around, spotting Carmella, Elizabeth’s hostess, who kept an eye out for anyone important entering the club. Carmella spotted Cat as well and made her way to the best table in the bar, near the dance floor, clearing it for Cat and her guest.

  “Hello, Catalina,” Carmella murmured in Cat’s ear, her Mediterranean accent clear and rich. “It’s lovely to see you again.” />
  “Hi, Carmella,” Cat said, smiling, then gesturing to Sable. “Carmella, this is Sable Sands.”

  “I know Miss Sands,” Carmella said, her smile brilliant as she extended her hand to the other woman. “I like your music very much.”

  “Thank you,” Sable replied automatically, as she glanced around the place. Cat’s girlfriend was no slouch in the style department, at least not where her club was concerned.

  “I will let Ms. Endicott know you are here,” Carmella told Cat, smiling again at Sable as she walked away.

  “They always clear the way for you here?” Sable asked as they sat down at the table cleared just for them.

  Cat shrugged. “The owner’s girlfriend,” she said, sounding unimpressed.

  A waitress appeared, and Cat ordered a double shot and a Corona. Sable ordered a shot of Jägermeister and a Hefeweizen. Their drinks had just come when a beautiful woman with long golden hair and deep blue eyes walked up. She was dressed in a black Halston dress and strappy heels. Around her neck she wore a gold Byzantine chain with a sapphire and diamond heart. Her skin was tan and smooth, and as far as Sable could see there wasn’t one flaw to her. Gorgeous, was all Sable could think.

  “Finally made it to my club, I see,” the woman said, her English accent clear and sophisticated.

  Cat smiled, standing up and turning to Elizabeth.

  “Yes, honey, finally,” she said, leaning down to kiss her girlfriend’s lips softly. “Bet, I want you to meet Sable Sands.”

  Elizabeth extended her hand to the other woman, her eyes looking directly into Sable’s. Sable took Elizabeth’s hand, reading in the other woman’s eyes something akin to suspicion.

  “Thank you for letting me borrow your girlfriend to act as tour guide,” Sable said with a slight edge to her voice. “You’ve got a great place here.”

  Elizabeth nodded, a polite smile on her lips, even as her eyes narrowed slightly. She glanced at the table and saw the shot glass of tequila, a double, and a Corona. Elizabeth’s eyes slid to Cat, searching hers.

  “Come dance with me,” Elizabeth said, taking Cat’s hand and pulling her toward the dance floor. She glanced back over her shoulder. “You’ll excuse us, won’t you?” she asked, her tone holding no sort of question to it.