The two women awoke in the same position they had fallen asleep in, mere hours before. Sheridan was sprawled on top of Keefer, and the tall woman was content to let her lay there as long as possible.

Keefer knew Sheridan was awake, and had been for quite a while, but the construction worker hadn't moved except for little errant shivers as the brunette traced light, circular patterns all around the muscular back with her fingernails. A smile lit the inspector's face. She was certain that her lover had never had a morning-after before and she seemed so perfectly content to lie there all morning if she could. It warmed Keefer's belly to think she'd made the blonde feel that way.

Sheridan sighed in pleasure as Keefer's nails traveled to the back of her head and scratched her scalp in the most relaxing way. "I'm never going to get up if you keep doing that," she said sleepily, pressing her cheek down and rubbing it into Keefer's breast.

"It's eight o'clock already, I think you have to get moving, Sher," Keefer said reluctantly, untangling her fingers from the sleep-tousledİ blonde hair.

Sheridan sighed, this time in disappointment, and she lifted her upper body, resting her weight on her elbows. "Good morning," she said with a lazy smile.

Keefer smiled back. "Good morning," she replied, turning her head a little to the side.

"Let's not start that, c'mere," Sheridan ordered gently before leaning down and taking a proper good morning kiss.

"I must have sleep in my eyes and..."

"Shut up," Sheridan said with a playful grin.

Keefer narrowed her eyes in return and then laughed. "Okay, but you really have to get going," she reminded the comfortable blonde.

Sheridan tilted her head and looked down at where their bodies met, and then lifted only her eyes to meet blue ones with a sensuous smile. "Mmmm, what a way to wake up, on top of the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Naked to boot."

Keefer took a quick breath as the smaller woman began sliding down her naked body, leaving little kisses behind.

Sheridan kissed each breast softly, then each relaxed nipple, grinning at them as they began to perk up for her. She moved lower and kissed Keefer's ribs, the right side, then the left. She slid lower still and placed a sweet kiss on her lover's navel before kneeling between her legs and leaving a gentle kiss there, stopping to ruffle her nose through the soft black hairs.

Keefer was struggling not to cover her face; this was all so new to her. The way Sheridan was kissing her made her feel very special and somewhat embarrassed all at the same time. "Do you kiss all the girls good morning like that?"

"Never saw a morning with anyone else, Keef. Only you," Sheridan said with a twinkle in her eye, still crouching between her lover's legs. "I better get out of here before I really wake you up." The blonde placed one more kiss on Keefer's center before sliding out of bed.

Keefer's eyes widened at the sight of her naked lover standing by the side of her bed, wearing a harness and a dildo. "You didn't take it off?"

"When could I? I'm going to have the worst marks from this thing now," she grimaced as she pulled the straps from her body.

"I'm sorry..."

"Why? I wore it to bed in the first place, it's my own fault," the construction worker said as she examined her backside in the mirror. "Look at that," she laughed, "it looks like I'm wearing a jock strap." She showed her ass to Keefer who giggled a little.

"Does it hurt?" the brunette asked of the red marks.

"Nah, not really, but this thing throbs a little," Sheridan pointed to the dark bruise on her throat.

Keefer blushed hotly.

"Aw, stop that, Keef. I like it, it drives me crazy when you suck on my neck." She wiggled her eyebrows and smiled.

Keefer threw a pillow at the naked blonde. "Go shower, you pig."

"Oink," Sheridan snorted her way to the bathroom, gathering her discarded clothes along the way.

*******************

Keefer stepped out of the shower with a self-satisfied grin. Sheridan was still banging around the house, which meant she didn't want to leave. The tall inspector tsk'd at herself as she dried between her legs. She expected to be sore to some extent, but she wasn't. In fact, she felt like she could have another go at it, especially after thinking about nothing else the whole time she showered.

"Keef, I gotta go." Sheridan knocked lightly at the bathroom door.

The brunette opened the door enough to stick her head out and smiled, Sheridan was holding out a cup of coffee. "For me?" Keefer asked, even as she took the cup and sipped from it.

"Open up, sexy," Sheridan said, leaning on the door, "I want a kiss to hold me over." She licked her lips and winked.

Keefer opened the door to reveal a long arm holding a short towel over her front.

Sheridan's eyes narrowed as she drank in the vision, a happy little smile graced her lips. "Mm, mm, good," she hummed, reaching out and running her fingers down Keefer's shower-warmed arm.

Keefer chuckled nervously and set her cup down on the vanity. She looked down at herself and winced slightly... the towel barely made it to mid-thigh, and the end she held against her breasts hardly covered them at all. She watched those green eyes drink her body in. The way Sheridan was leering at her sent a now-familiar tingle through her body, causing goosebumps to break out and her nipples begin to tighten beneath the damp towel.

"Are you cold?" Sheridan asked at the shiver that shook the tall body as she stepped closer.

"Stop," Keefer said holding up her hand. Sheridan stopped in mid lean, her mouth still open on its way to taste skin. Keefer stepped back and took a deep breath. "Sheridan, just the way you look at me gets me crazy."

"And this is bad, how?"

"You have to go to work."

"I can be late." The blonde shrugged and continued forward on her quest for a taste of Keefer.

The taller woman backed into the sink and held her towel tighter. She knew if she should drop it, Sheridan would pounce on her like a hungry tiger. "Didn't you get enough last night... this morning?" Keefer asked, breathless in anticipation of Sheridan's tongue.

"Never enough."

The inspector gasped as that hot tongue and soft lips covered the top of her right breast. "Sher..." she moaned.

"Just a little taste," the blonde reasoned, switching to the top of the other breast.

Keefer's grip on the towel loosened without even realizing it and Sheridan nudged it down further with her tongue.

"God... you better stop..." the brunette said shakily.

"Uh, uh," Sheridan shook her head, causing her tongue to bathe an even greater area.

Keefer let her body relax against the sink as Sheridan began to peel away the towel. She wanted to blush, but found that she enjoyed her lover's attentions more than they embarrassed her. She sighed in willing surrender and allowed Sheridan to pull the towel completely off, but she closed her eyes so she couldn't see the green eyes staring at her naked body.

"Fuck, you're incredible,"' Sheridan said, running her hands up and down the outside of Keefer's thighs.

"That feels good," Keefer dared to admit.

Sheridan smiled; a surge of happiness ran through her body. Her shy lover was beginning to express her pleasure willingly and it thrilled her. She continued to run her hands up the tall woman's torso, stopping just beneath her breasts, and down, stopping just above her pubic hair. "Tell me," Sheridan whispered, standing on her toes, asking for a kiss.

Keefer met Sheridan's lips. "You make me feel good," she said before covering the blonde's lips with her own.

Sheridan groaned, Keefer's lips tasted so good, they felt so soft and sweet as they opened to accept her tongue. A small sigh of pleasure escaped the brunette as their tongues met and touched, the sound caused the construction worker's sex to twitch. She pressed her body into Keefer's bared skin and was rewarded by two long arms draping leisurely, comfortably, over her shoulders.

They kissed for long moments until Sheridan became good and aroused. She pulled away from the kiss and looked into heavy lidded blue eyes. "Thank you for this Keefer," she said, smiling appreciatively at her lover.

Keefer blushed at the compliment, she felt very good from head to toe from Sheridan's apparent gratefulness. She watched as her lover winked and smiled happily before turning and leaving the bathroom with a spring in her step.

Keefer leaned all her weight into the sink and breathed deeply, willing her heartbeat back to normal.

Sheridan stuck her head back into the bathroom to catch the dreamy, aroused expression on her lover's face. "I just needed something to tide me over for the rest of the day."

"Yeah, thanks," Keefer said sarcastically, covering her body with the towel once again.

Sheridan chuckled and really left this time.

"God... the things she does to me."

********************

The construction worker drove like a maniac to her apartment where her babies were patiently waiting for her. This is getting crazy! I have to invite her here soon or the kids will never forgive me, she thought as she pulled her car in front of a fire hydrant in her haste to get upstairs.

Her key wasn't even in the door when she heard the dogs whimpering and singing with excitement at their mommy's return. She had to actually push the door open as they kept throwing themselves at the other side. "Back up, guys!" she said with a chuckle, finally opening her door.

"Hiya kids!" She shouted with her arms open and the two dogs jumped her so hard she was on the floor in a heartbeat. "Okay... okay..." she grabbed Zeus's snout with both hands. "Kisses," she demanded and was rewarded with many. Pharaoh was extremely excited and started gnawing on her arm, whining and growling. "OW! Cut it out!" she yelled, shaking her arm free from the strong jaws. "You're a pit bull, for shit's sake... that hurts!" she chastised the hyper dog and pulled him under Zeus's body in order to receive her kisses. She grabbed him by both ears and kissed his wet nose and he followed her lead, bathing her whole face with his long pink tongue. "Now, that's more like it!" she said as she tried to get up from the floor.

Sheridan didn't walk the dogs today -- they walked her in a very determined manner towards the park. She really didn't have time for a long run, but she felt guilty and indulged the dogs, calling the job site on her cellular to let them know she'd be late. Bobby laughed at her, saying something about not forgetting the details when she finally got there.

The blonde watched her dogs romp as she thought about why she felt weird about sharing her intimacies with the guys when it came to Keefer. When Bobby laughed, she had winced, feeling suddenly uncomfortable about him knowing why she was late. This had never bothered her before, she lived to tell of her exploits with the women; she loved watching their jealous faces in rapt attention as she gave them play by plays of the night before. Now, she wasn't too keen on sharing Keefer with them... with anybody, for that matter, and it made her think.

******************

Keefer decided this was her last day of vacation and she intended to use it wisely and do nothing but relax. She took Fifi for a long walk, meandering up and down the streets of her neighborhood, and couldn't help but think about the night before. She blushed, but not as darkly and not as frequently as she used to as she remembered what they had done. She recalled herself reacting to Sheridan with near abandon, moaning and groaning loudly, losing control of her body and wrapping her legs around the smaller woman's back. This was so unlike the brunette who was wondering just what Sheridan was capable of. How far can I comfortably go with her?

Keefer trusted the blonde construction worker, more than anyone she had ever known and she felt safe with her. She didn't have reason to feel otherwise, never had Sheridan made her feel uncomfortable, and if she had felt that way to begin with, the sexy little blonde took care of it in the blink of an eye... whether with words or with actions. Keefer always felt confident when Sheridan was around. I miss her already, she thought as she stepped up to her front door. Is that normal? she wondered, closing the door behind her and looking around her house. She felt a loss, knowing that the blonde wasn't there waiting for herİand shook her head. You couldn't stand the thought of having Danni here all the time, why is Sheridan so different?

Fifi climbed up on the sofa and curled up with a rawhide chew, Keefer's gaze followed the dog and she sighed, joined her on the sofa and turned on the television with the remote. That lasted until she flipped through all the channels distractedly and turned the set off. I really do miss her already; this can't be healthy, she thought with a small frown. The tall woman went into her bedroom and laid down on the bed, hugging the pillow Sheridan had slept on before their impromptu middle of the night lovemaking. The scent of the blonde only made her crave to hold her in person and Keefer closed her eyes, wishing she were there. A thought sprung to her mind unbidden and, to her great surprise, fell out of her mouth, "I love you, Sheridan Landers."

********************

When the blonde construction worker got to the jobsite, she was met with hoots and applause. She took off her hard hat and bowed to her co-workers. Sheridan was never late for work because of a woman, she never stayed anywhere but in her own bed after sex, so this little greeting made her blush a little bit, but she recovered quickly. "Eat your hearts out, guys," she said with a snicker.

"We are, we are... so tell us, was she that good?" Bobby asked, knowing full well that Sheridan wasn't going to talk about it. They all knew this was different and wanted justification for their assumptions.

"Even better," the blonde said with a wink before taking the top off of her coffee and blowing on it.

"Well... details?" Tony asked.

Sheridan squirmed uncomfortably, she wasn't sure what to say but she knew it would have nothing to do with Keefer. "Let's just say..." she pointed to the hickey on her throat.

The guys laughed as they always would, but all had knowing looks on their faces. Sheridan wasn't talking; this was exactly what they had thought.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked self-consciously.

"It's written all over your face," Tony said with a sweet smile.

"What is? What the fuck are you talking about?" Sheridan said in annoyance.

"Come on, Patch, you're in love!" Phil blurted out.

Sheridan's mouth hung open and she blinked a few times. "I am not," she said indignantly.

"Please, you can lie to yourself, but you can't lie to us," Tony said as he patted her on the shoulder.

Sheridan paled slightly. Could it be? She put down her coffee, her stomach suddenly in knots. Nah. "What makes you guys the experts anyway?" she said with a forced chuckle.

"We've been there, chica, we know. There's nothing wrong with it," Bobby said reassuringly.

"Yeah, well, don't you think I'd know if I were in love?" Sheridan said feeling very nervous.

They all shook their heads. "Nope," Phil spoke for all of them.

"Come on, am I really that fucking clueless?" Sheridan asked with a hint of desperation.

"Yeah," Tony nodded, "but it's not a bad thing," he added at her outraged expression.

The blonde waved her hand and snorted. "Oh, get a grip. I care a lot for this woman; she's different, that's all. I'd know if I was in love," she said with confidence she didn't feel at all.

"Okay, we'll drop the subject, but if you need to talk, we're all ears, Patch. We care about you and know what you're going through," Phil said sincerely.

"Yeah, yeah," she said. "I need to get some air."

As soon as she was out of hearing range, the guys busted out laughing.

"God, is she thick!" Bobby said.

"Absolutely dense," Phil agreed.

****************

The muscular blonde kicked at the sand with her toe, a severe scowl on her face. I'd know if I was in love! Who do they think they are... telling me... like they'd know... buncha losers... Sheridan sighed heavily. Come on, Sher, be fair... they're not losers, they're good guys, married guys... guys in love with their wives... The blonde glanced back at the room she just left. Ya think? She wondered if, maybe, there was a chance they were right.

*****************

Keefer's mouth hung open in shock. She hadn't moved in a long time and it worried Fifi who ran up and licked her mommy's face.

"Did you hear what I said, Feefs?" she asked the dog who merely cocked her head. "I said I love Sheridan." The dog's tail wagged happily at the blonde's name. "If I had a tail, honey, it'd be wagging so hard, I'd take flight," Keefer laughed loudly, nervously at her own words. Blue eyes started to tear up as she laughed and she wasn't so sure it was because she was laughing. The tall woman was confused. She shouldn't be in love with a woman with Sheridan's reputation. Should I? she thought as her laughter slowed down and all that was left were tears. "Why the hell am I crying?" she asked her concerned doggie, who started to whimper as she did every time Keefer cried. "I think I'm finally in love! This is a good thing, isn't it?"

Keefer got up from the bed and began to pace the length of her room, still hugging the pillow to her chest. "There's nothing to be afraid of... she's not the same Sheridan that they all talk about. She's different with me; she respects me and cares about me. I can tell; I can feel it in her touches and see it in her eyes," she said to herself, "AND," she turned and faced the mirror, "she wants to show me off at the club... her club." The brunette wiped her eyes and felt suddenly proud. "I think it's safe to assume that falling in love with Sheridan isn't as bad as it sounds," she reasoned. "Now, how does she feel about me?"

Keefer knew one thing for sure -- she could not tell Sheridan that she was in love with her until the muscular blonde was ready to hear it. She was positive that her little construction worker was going to go through a few hoops before she admitted that she felt anything more than like for her. Keefer was sure that Sheridan was past the "like" stage, but the problem with a woman like Sheridan was getting her to admit it to herself. The tall woman felt suddenly apprehensive about seeing her lover, now that she knew she was in love with her. How was she going to hide that? "I don't want to scare her away! Oh no!" Keefer panicked. "She's going to see it in my eyes, she sees everything in my eyes!" The brunette looked stricken for a moment. "Oh, but wait just a minute... I can see everything in hers, too," she smiled deviously and a chuckle escaped her lips. "She doesn't have to say anything, I'll know." Keefer suddenly felt much more at ease with her revelation. "I'll know if she feels the same, even if she doesn't."

********************

It was coming close to lunchtime and Sheridan was getting mighty restless so she went out to sit at her usual spot. No amount of work could take her mind off of the discussion from earlier and she wasn't hungry either. She was going through her storage of Keefer moments, trying to find instances of herself acting like the guys did when they first met their wives to be. She didn't see herself acting like the goofy idiots she observed in them, but a few things did make her think. The time in the bathroom at the club when Keefer called and she ran like her ass was on fire, the time in the car when she had an explosive orgasm with Keefer's name written all over it. She smiled with that memory, totally blocking out the other woman's reaction. Then there's the first time we kissed... I swear the floor dropped out from under me. Another smile accompanied that thought. How she makes me feel just to be around her... so special, important, needed. Her smile disappeared as she tried to think of another woman making her feel the same way. There were none. Needed, it's a nice feeling. Sheridan felt a tickling sensation in her stomach. She touches me and everything's okay... and making love to her... oh, yeah... there's nothing more fulfilling than giving her pleasure. The thought felt foreign to the blonde, like someone else said it and she wondered about it for a long time. I never gave a rat's ass about someone else's pleasure... one little gasp from Keefer and my chest feels like it's going to explode! Sheridan could almost feel that exact sensation as she remembered their last time. Those lips... so soft and perfect. Green eyes closed with that image. Then there's her eyes... I could get lost in them, I can see everything... she lets me see everything. Sheridan pictured those deep blue pools of trust and her stomach flip-flopped wildly. The blonde backed up from her own imagination. Just what is it you see in those eyes, Sher?

*******************

After stopping at the deli and the gourmet coffee shop, Keefer was getting out of a cab in front of Sheridan's construction site. She couldn't wait any longer and had to know this minute what her blonde lover was feeling. She spied the muscular woman sitting on the tailgate of a pick-up truck, swinging her legs and lost in thought. Her brow was furrowed and she seemed to be troubled. Keefer approached quietly, so not to disturb her lover, but walked into her line of vision so she wouldn't scare her either. As soon as the blonde construction worker saw her, she leapt off of the truck and looked panicked.

Oh, shit! Why is she here... now?

"Sher? Are you okay?" Keefer asked with concern at her lover's behavior. She seemed trapped.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. What are you doing here?" she asked more harshly than she intended.

"I thought I'd surprise you," the brunette held up a big paper bag. "I brought lunch."

Sheridan's trepidation from moments before suddenly disappeared once she saw Keefer look slightly hurt. "I'm sorry, Keef, I didn't mean to sound so..."

"No, that's okay. It looks like I interrupted you. It's my fault."

"Come here," the construction worker motioned with her finger, hopping back up onto the tailgate and pulling off her hard hat. Fuck everything, I need to hold her, she thought as she watched the long-legged inspector close the distance between them.

"I hope you're hungry," Keefer said, coming to a stop standing between Sheridan's legs.

Green eyes locked on worried blue and the blonde smiled slowly. "I wasn't before, but somehow, I suddenly have an appetite." Sheridan's smile turned into a sexy grin and her eyes fell on Keefer's lips.

Keefer noticed where Sheridan's gaze narrowed and she licked her lips impulsively, causing her lover to hum in approval. She stiffened as the blonde began to pull her hips closer. "Sher, the guys..." she protested.

"Let 'em find their own inspector," Sheridan chuckled and pulled Keefer down for a kiss.

**************

Phil gestured wildly from the hole in the wall and Bobby and Tony ran over to see what was so important.

"Damn, would you look at Patch?" Phil whispered even though they were far away.

"Never mind her, look at whose face she's swallowing!" Tony said.

Sheridan pulled back from the kiss and held Keefer's face in her hands tenderly.

"Well, that answers our questions."

"Girlfriend's in love... big time."

The three men left Sheridan and Keefer alone and went back to work with a good feeling inside.

"Good for her," Bobby said with sincere happiness.

***************

Keefer looked deeply into Sheridan's eyes, it seemed to her that the blonde was searching for something in hers, too, and it only made her stare deeper, unblinkingly into the sea green eyes. It was a moment Keefer would never forget, it was that exact second that she realized that Sheridan loved her. She threw herself at the blonde and Sheridan wound up on her back with Keefer on top of her in the back of the truck.

"Hey," the blonde chuckled, "what was that for?"

"Nothing baby... nothing," Keefer gushed. She didn't have to hear it, and Sheridan could tell her when she was good and ready to, but she knew and it made her want to scream. She kissed every inch of skin on the squirming woman's face and laughed with joy as she did it.

"Wow, is this how I'm gonna get lunch from now on?" Sheridan teased, forcing them both to sit up.

Keefer locked her ankles around the construction worker's back and tried to smooth down her hat-ruffled hair. "Am I too heavy?" she asked.

"Nope," Sheridan smiled, liking this playful side of her girlfriend.

"Good." Keefer reached for the bag she had thrown in beside her lover and opened it. "Here," she pulled out a sandwich and a cup of coffee.

*****************

Phil couldn't help himself and went back to the hole in the wall in time to witness Keefer feeding Sheridan her sandwich. Hearing him laugh, the other guys came to stand beside him.

"You can never tell her we saw this," Tony said.

Phil shook his head. "I never thought I'd see the day. I kinda feel proud, don't you?"

Bobby nodded. "My wife never feeds me," he pouted.

"Smart woman," Tony joked and the three men walked back to their workstations with big smiles on their faces.