Sunday, August 31

Valle Luna, Az.

Erin awoke to find Henderson staring at her from her seat on the opposite couch. Sleep, heavy and cloudy, clung to her tired body making it difficult to focus. She stretched against the soft cushions of her make shift bed and rubbed at her eyes.

Bright sunlight shone in through the window, cascading the living room in angelic like light. Squinting against the sun, she forced herself to sit up.

"Did I wake you?" Henderson asked, her own voice not yet awake.

"No." Erin replied. "I'm used to people staring at me while I sleep." She teased, offering her friend a tired smile but got none in return.

She looked around the apartment and noted that Henderson's air mattress had already been made up and put away. The writer had obviously been up awhile. Erin held up her wrist and tried to focus on the time.

"It's after eight." Henderson offered.

Erin stood and stretched some more before making her way to the restroom.

"Sinclair here?" She asked just before she reached the bathroom.

"She left about an hour ago." Henderson reported as she heard the bathroom door close. She glanced down at her hands and let her heavy gaze drift past them, unable to focus. She hadn't slept much at all the night before. Too many questions had plagued her mind, making her virtually sick with anxiety.

When Mac had arrived the night before, she had waved off any discussion or questions, too exhausted to say much of anything at all. The tired blonde had collapsed on the couch in her clothes and shoes and drifted quickly off to sleep.

Henderson hadn't had the heart to disturb the younger detective, knowing even if she had, Mac would've been useless in her exhausted state. So instead she had let the blonde sleep in peace while her own mind had tortured her throughout the night.

Henderson had replayed some of her previous encounters with Mac. Her mind revealing to her several instances, if not more, where Mac's behavior could be seen as suspicious.

She thought of the first time she had been kissed by Erin Mackenzie all those days ago. She had been sitting in Ruiz's office discussing the case with her superior and the young rookie detective. She had told Ruiz that she didn't think Mac was ready for the dangerous undercover assignment, having thought at the time that the blonde detective was too vulnerable, too easy of a mark for Elizabeth Adams. Mac hadn't taken the news well and she had risen up from her chair to walk seductively over to where the older female detective sat, dazed and confused.

Henderson cleared her tight throat as she remembered the way Mac had held her eyes as she straddled her on the chair. Her cheeks flushed with heat once again as the memory of Mac taking her face in her hands flooded her mind. The kiss had been powerful, dominant and aggressive, demanding an instant reaction from the older more experienced detective.

She raised a trembling hand up to her lips as the thoughts invaded. At the time she had thought the kiss was just a ploy to get her to see that Mac could indeed hold her own as a lesbian. A desperate attempt by a rookie cop to be kept in on the case. But now, looking back, could such a passionate and consuming kiss been given by a woman with no alleged lesbian experience? One had to wonder.

The act itself had been skilled and seductive. Something that a nervous rookie would've had a hard time pulling off. She shuddered as she thought of Mac and how she had made her melt under her body. If the kiss had truly come from someone with no experience, then how had she been able to it with such passion and controlled sensuality?

Henderson rose up off the couch as the disturbing thought finally pushed to the back of her troubled mind. She walked into the kitchen needing something, anything to help distract her long enough to have a conversation with Mac. As she searched the cabinets, Mac emerged from the restroom, her cheeks red and alive from a fresh scrubbing.

"You gonna make me breakfast?" She asked the older detective, teasing.

Henderson pulled down a coffee mug and eyed some coffee but then decided against it. Her stomach just wasn't up for much of anything.

"So how'd things go last night with Sinclair? When I walked in you two looked like I had interrupted something." Erin raised a playful eyebrow at her friend. "I hope it wasn't something too important." She teased.

Henderson lifted her gaze to meet the bright green eyes across from her. She wanted to smile, to make a playful comment back but her face weighed heavy with her worry.

Erin continued to grin, waiting for her friend to fess up and tell her all the juicy details. But when she saw the look on the writers face she knew something was terribly wrong.

"What is it?" She asked, immediately worried.

Henderson started to speak, to tell her it was nothing, but she couldn't. She had to talk to Mac. She had to know.

"Where were you last night?" She asked softly, holding Mac's eyes briefly before she looked away, not yet ready to try and read what the eyes held.

"Wha..?" Erin shook her head, not sure she had heard correctly. The look on Henderson's face was one of great distress, and her question didn't seem to fit with the pain in her eyes.

"I…" She searched inwardly, momentarily thrown by the question. "I went out for a drink." She finally managed still having no clue as to how it pertained to Henderson's look of sorrow and worry.

Henderson braced herself against the kitchen counter as Mac responded, leaving Adams out of the equation. She swallowed back the bitter taste of betrayal that was so ready to rise and conquer her, eating her from the inside out. Why hadn't she mentioned Adams?

"Were you with Adams?" Henderson asked, needing to know and not willing to wait any longer to find out. Her voice faltered, threatening to fail her.

Erin shook her head again completely confused. "For a little while." Suddenly alarms rang off in her head. Was something wrong? Did something happen? She thought of Ruiz and his determination to nail Adams with something, even over her innocence. "Why? Is something wrong?" She asked, physically and mentally coiling, ready to act and respond immediately if need be. Her heart thudded madly in her chest as the thought of Adams in harms way washed over her, threatening to drown her.

Henderson felt her throat tighten as she watched Mac react to the question. Was she worried that her cover had been blown? That the gig was up and that Adams had finally been arrested and charged?

"I'm not exactly sure Mac." She forced out, her voice thick and scratchy. "That's why I need to talk to you."

Erin swallowed hard and nodded. "Ok." She said, offering her assistance.

"Why were you with Adams last night?" Henderson asked point blank. She knew if she was going to make it through this that she had to hit the nail on the head right away.

Erin reared her head back, completely thrown by the question. What did this have to do with anything?

"What?" She asked, searching her friends face for answers.

"Why were you with Adams last night, Mac?' Henderson asked again.

"I told you, I was out for a drink."

"And that included Adams?"

"No, not at first." Erin clarified, still wondering where this was going.

"Then when?" She needed to know and she would keep pushing until she did.

"I don't know." She was so confused and the grilling was shaking her up. "Not until later. She found me and we went for a ride."

"She found you?" Henderson let out a shaky breath. How the hell did Adams find you when I couldn't?

"Yeah." Erin replied. "She said that you and Sinclair came to the club looking for me and she became concerned and went looking for me herself."

"Concerned?" Henderson scoffed out.

"Yes." Erin said not appreciating the tone in which her friend had responded.

"Do you have any idea how bad this sounds, Mac?" She asked, her voice gaining strength.

"Why would it sound bad?" She watched her friend's face. It had changed from one of worry to one of contempt within mere seconds.

"Are you involved with her?" She asked, fighting the rage she was feeling well up inside her.

"Who?" Erin asked, still thrown by the questioning.

"Don't bullshit me, Mac." She warned, her eyes growing big. "You know damn well who."

Erin shook her head, confused and a little afraid by the look in Henderson's eyes.

"Adams?" She had no idea why she was being asked. "Why does it matter?" It was her business and no one else's. And she knew it was no secret how Henderson felt about the night club owner. She didn't want Erin involved with Adams and that was why she was so angry.

"It matters, Mac." Henderson seethed out.

"Why? It's my business and just because you hate her…"

Henderson threw the empty coffee mug she was holding across the room, shattering it against the wall. Erin jerked at the sound of the ceramic mug exploding upon impact.

"It matters because there are people, police personnel, who think that you are covering for her." Henderson said, shuddering from her loss of control. She kept her voice low and level, her eyes penetrating Erin's. Her chest rose and fell with her heavy breathing. "They think you've been involved with her all along."

"That's not true." Erin said, turning her head away to stare down at the ground, her mind racing. What was happening?

"That's what I've been trying to tell them." Henderson managed. "But frankly, Mac. I can't keep it up. Especially when you're off secretly seeing her."

Erin snapped her head up and squared her shoulders. She didn't know what was happening or why. But she resented every word.

"What do you think, Patricia? Do believe them, what they're saying?" She clenched her fists at her side as she watched her friend.

Henderson looked away at the question and swallowed against her tight throat. She stared down at the kitchen counter wanting to tell Mac she believed in her, but knowing she couldn't. There were just too many unanswered questions.

"Well your silence says enough." Erin said, her own body wanting to scream and cry at the accusations.

"Maybe if you stopped seeing her, I could better plead your case…" Henderson started, looking up at her.

"No." Erin declared. "I will see who I want, when I want. To hell with all of you." She dug in her jeans for her keys and then remembered that she didn't have her car.

"Fuck." She fumed as she headed for the door anyway.

"Mac, wait." Henderson called out.

"What?" Erin asked stopping but not bothering

to turn around.

"Please, stay and talk to me. I can help you work this out." Henderson quietly pleaded wanting to make things right. Wanting it all to be alright.

Erin turned and looked at the woman she had called a friend. "No, Patricia you can't. Because whether you believe it or not there's nothing to work out. I haven't done anything wrong." With her heart shattering, she turned and walked out the door.

……… ……… ……… ……… …….. ……… ……. ….. ………. ………. ….

Tuesday, September 2nd

Erin sat staring at her phone. She opened her palm and eyed the phone number still written on it in black ink. It appeared faded but still legible. She knew she wouldn't have let it wash completely off before she had a chance to write it down.

Sighing and sitting back against the couch, she looked around her new home. It was a modest, well kept townhouse, small enough to be cozy, but large enough for her to breathe. After she had left Sinclair's two days before, she had called a cab to take her to her car. Then she had stopped in a grocery store for a local home rental catalog. It hadn't taken her long to find one she liked and when she had offered a large amount of cash to move in immediately, she had found herself with a set of keys and her own covered parking space.

She gazed down and ran her hand over the soft fabric of the sofa. The living room furniture had just arrived the day before and she could still smell its newness. Lucky for her she had found a place that delivered quickly, hence shortening her nights on the uncomfortable air mattress. Last night she had slept on her new sofa and her new, large bed wouldn't be delivered until Wednesday.

She turned her hand over and eyed the phone number again. Henderson's words rang in her ears and she knew she shouldn't see Adams just to be safe. She didn't understand why the department had suspicions against her, but she didn't want to add any fuel to their fire either. She eyed her phone again, brand new and sitting on the table next to the couch. Maybe Adams would have some answers and if not then she should at least warn her that the police were still looking at her as a suspect. So much so, that they were now willing to tie one of their own in with her.

She cringed as she thought of the accusation. Was it because they now knew about Jay and that she had failed to tell them about her? Whatever the reason she had to talk to Adams. She reached over and picked up the phone. She stared at the numbers on the buttons. Who was she kidding? She could try to convince herself all she wanted that the reason she was calling Adams was to talk to her about the investigation, to warn her even. But she knew the real reason she was calling and it had nothing to do with the police or anything associated with them. She was calling because she couldn't get the dark beauty out of her mind for even a second.

She pushed the talk button and dialed the number. As she waited for it to ring, she briefly wondered if she was being watched. She had checked for a tail yesterday and today and hadn't seen anyone but it didn't mean they weren't there. One thing she had been adamant about checking though was her phone line. It had been made available to her that very morning, giving her the chance to check it right away, which allowed her the confidence needed as she made the very private call to Elizabeth Adams.

"Hello." A voice sounded at the other end.

"Hello." Erin said, suddenly unsure and shy.

"Erin?" Adams asked.

"Yes, yes it's me. How did you know?"

"Your voice. I recognized it right away." She sounded genuinely happy to hear from her and still so damn sexy with her deep throaty voice.

"Oh." She said, laughing a little, feeling like a young smitten school girl.

"How are you?" Adams asked.

"Fine." She said quickly, trying to convince herself as well as Adams.

"I don't believe you. You said that too quickly."

"No, I am. Really." She started smoothing out her shirt nervously with her free hand, as if Adams could somehow see her. She looked down and eyed the new shirt, silently wondering if Adams would approve. Some new clothes, along with the townhouse and the furniture had become her newest necessities.

"I guess I'll just have to wait and see you to judge for myself." Adams cooed, instantly making Erin blush. "How about dinner tonight?"

Erin stammered a little, the conversation moving so fast. She hadn't even had time to ask the dark woman how she was doing in return.

"Uh, sure ok." She finally managed.

"Wonderful. How about my place? You remember how to get there?"

"Yes, uh Liz?" She had to speak fast before Adams side tracked her with more alluring dinner date conversation.

"Yes?"

"I think the police are still watching you."

Silence.

"Is that all?" Adams questioned.

"Well, no, but I really don't want to discuss it over the phone."

"I understand." The dark woman replied. "But just so you know this is my satellite phone. I use it for all my private calls."

"That is somewhat of a relief." Erin said, relaxing a little bit more.

"If they are still watching me, is that going to present a problem for you tonight? Coming to my place?" Adams asked.

Erin thought for a moment. She had thought of nothing else the entire night before, tossing and turning on her new couch. How would it affect her, if the department knew she was still seeing Adams?

"No. I don't care if they see me."

"In that case, it doesn't bother me either. I've grown used to their watching my every move. One more night of their pathetic surveillance won't make a difference." She laughed.

"Liz?" Erin asked again.

"Yes?"

"Why do you trust me? I mean, how do you know that I'm not still working undercover for them?"

"I guess I don't know that for sure." She confessed. "I hope you're not, but not for the reasons you may think. Not because of Jay or anything like that."

"What then?"

"Because if you are working for them, then I would know that this, that you and your feelings towards me were just a charade. And that would devastate me."

Erin sat in silence, no words able to travel from her mind to her mouth. "Oh." She said, completely taken aback.

"And besides, I've already discussed Jay with you and if you were really still working for them, I suspect she would already be in custody. I would already be arrested for interfering with an investigation as well as conspiracy and anything else they could conjure up on my behalf."

"True." Erin replied.

"So, with that being said, you still up for dinner? Sounds like you could use a nice meal with warm company"

How warm are you? I would love to find out.

She shook her head and blushed at her own thoughts. "Absolutely."

"Great. How's seven sound?"

"I'll be there."

……. ……… …….. …….. …….. ……. …….. ……. …….. …….. ……. ……..

Erin walked up to the enormous front door carrying an expensive bottle of wine and a ferociously hungry attraction for the woman she was about to dine with.

On the drive over she had tried to calm her nerves and her butterflies but to no avail. She was nervous yes, but not just because of Adams. She knew the woman would be there, drop dead gorgeous and as warm and charming as ever. But what made her more nervous than Adams, was the fear that her own overwhelming attraction and feelings towards the dark woman would cause her to do or say something stupid. In short, she was nervous because she didn't trust herself.

She stood by the door and waited, already hearing the deep barking of the Dobermans. Adams already knew she was there; she had had to call her from the front gate, needing access to the driveway.

She heard Liz call out to the dogs, beckoning their silence. She hastily looked down at herself, anxiously examining her choice of wear for the evening. She rubbed a sweaty palm on her jeans and smoothed out her tight fitting black v neck shirt. She had worn her new black boots to match.

"Hey." Adams greeted in her sexy, throaty voice as she opened the door. She smiled devilishly as she unabashedly looked the blonde up and down. "Wow. You should definitely wear black more often."

Erin smiled back, feeling her cheeks flush with heat from the words.

Adams moved to the side and motioned for her to enter. "And she blushes." She said continuing to grin. "You're something else, Erin Mackenzie."

"Stop it." She pleaded over her shoulder as she walked in. "I'm just…"

"Embarrassed?" Adams asked, raising an eyebrow. She closed the door behind the blonde, her eyes never leaving her guest.

Erin turned to look at her, her cheeks now burning. "Well, yes."

"You're not used to compliments." Adams stated matter of factly.

"No, I guess I'm not." She admitted after briefly thinking about it.

"Well, that's something we'll have to remedy now won't we?" She stepped closer to Erin, walking very slowly. When she was directly in front of the blonde, she leaned in and placed her hands gently on the smaller woman's hips. Then, with her blue eyes piercing, she leaned in and placed a very soft, warm kiss on Erin's lips.

"I'm glad you're here." She said as she pulled away.

Erin stood completely still, almost afraid to move for fear that her legs would buckle.

"Thanks." She finally choked out. "Uh, I mean thanks for the invitation" She felt rattled and awkward. "This is for you." She held out the bottle of wine and tried not to stare at the smooth skin of her exposed chest. The shirt Adams had on was smoky gray and unbuttoned down below her breasts, offering a teasing and tantalizing view every time she moved. Feeling her face flush with another flame, Erin looked away, focusing instead on the dark woman's worn jeans and bare feet.

"Thank you." Adams said, inspecting the wine. "It will be perfect for later tonight." She moved past Erin and headed into the kitchen. "Make yourself at home." She said over her shoulder.

Erin followed her down the tiled walkway, as did the two obedient black dogs. Their claws clapped against the tile, their stubby tails wagging with excitement at their guest.

"I'm just finishing up in here." Adams said from the kitchen. "I hope you like stir fry."

"Yes." Erin said watching the tall woman busily slice some red pepper and zucchini. "I didn't know you could cook."

"I don't do it very often, but I do know how." She finished cutting and scooped the veggies up to drop them in the wok. They made a sizzling noise as they hit the heated sesame oil and cooking chicken.

"Smells great." Erin said as the scent of the fresh stir fry wafted into her nostrils.

"I've got a white wine chilled, would you like some?" Adams moved over to the stainless steel fridge and pulled it open, exposing more alluring flesh beneath her open shirt.

"Yes." Erin breathed out huskily referring secretly to the cream colored, soft flesh of her breasts.

Adams busied herself pouring the wine seemingly oblivious to Erin's reaction.

"Here you go." Adams said as she handed Erin the wine glass. "Start in on that while I finish up dinner."

Erin took the wine gratefully and watched from a small sitting room as Adams stirred the sizzling stir fry while adding in noodles. The dark woman moved like a seasoned chef as she worked. Adding in oils, soy sauce and spices to the mix.

Sipping the chilled wine Erin tried to relax as she glanced around the large home. The two Doberman's sat staring at her, entertained by even the slightest move on her part. She remembered the last time she was in the home and how nervous she had been. The nervousness she felt now was different, more hormonally based than before. Her previous visit to the expensive home had had her shaking in her boots while fighting her growing attraction to the then suspected killer.

She looked up as she saw Adams smile and carry over a large wooden bowl full of steaming food. Now it was just her and Adams. There was no longer any suspicion on her part in regards to the dark woman. Only her nervousness stemming from her fierce attraction.

"I thought we would eat in here instead of the dining room." She said as she set down the bowl on the low coffee table. She then walked to the small sofa where Erin was sitting and grabbed two large cushion like pillows which she placed on either side of the coffee table. "You mind dining from the floor?"

"No." Erin said lightly, rising up from the couch. "Is there anything I can help with?"

Adams had already moved quickly back into the kitchen. "No. You just sit there and look beautiful." She responded with a sly grin.

Erin positioned herself on the floor, making herself comfortable on one of the cushions. The remark and grin from Adams had left her heart beating wildly in her chest and she suddenly realized that due to all her budding excitement and desires towards Adams that she wasn't really very hungry.

"Hope you're hungry." Adams chimed in as if sensing her lack of appetite. She was walking back over with chop sticks and serving bowls in one hand along with her own full wine glass in the other.

Erin sat in silence, a smile displayed on her face. How was she going to explain that she had a ferocious appetite but just not for food?

Adams set the bowls down along with her glass and then bent to first serve Erin out a hearty portion of the steaming stir fry and then some for herself. She then settled down on the cushion lotus style and handed Erin a pair of chop sticks.

The young blonde fingered the sticks, unsure how to hold them. She looked across the small coffee table, and watched as Adams expertly pinched a bite of noodles and vegetables with the sticks and then slipped them into and out of her mouth. Erin looked down immediately, finding the site completely erotic.

"Your turn." Adams said as she finished chewing. She had been watching her beautiful dinner guest and she had noticed that she had yet to take a bite.

Erin met her eyes and then fessed up. "I uh, I'm not sure how." She admitted, feeling completely foolish.

"Mmm." Adams sounded as she scooted over next to the blonde. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed that you knew how." She gently took Erin's hand in her own and positioned the chop sticks accordingly. "There, you see, you use this finger as a base and this one to move your main stick."

Erin tried to fight the lust that was washing through her body in response to Adams being so close. The hot blood pounding in her ears made it difficult to comprehend anything that dark woman had said.

"Go ahead. Give it a try." She encouraged.

"Can't we save us both some grief by letting me use a fork?" She asked, meaning it. She glanced down at her hand, her skin still burning from the dark woman's warm touch.

Adams laughed and Erin felt her breath shorten as the deep and seductive sound played in her ears. Everything about the woman was turning her on. She imagined making more of the same deep, throaty sounds pour out of her while in the throes of passion.

"Sure, I'll get you a fork." She said, completely clueless to Erin's lust filled imaginations. "But first I want to see you give it a try."

Erin swallowed, sure that her erotic images were displayed all over her face. She could feel the dark woman's eyes on her and her skin burned under the intense gaze of the piercing blue eyes.

With her hand nearly trembling, she held the chop sticks firm and grasped out a drooping bite of slick noodles. As best she could, she moved her hand quickly to her mouth, feeling the noodles starting to give way. Leaning forward, she attempted to plunge the food in her mouth before the food fell but she didn't quite make it, dropping some of the noodles on the table as well as on her chin.

As she chewed, she sucked in some wayward noodles hanging from her mouth. Adams chuckled next to her.

"It takes practice." The dark woman said, leaning in closer. "You didn't do half bad." Her hand found Erin's face as she helped to free the blonde of some remaining noodles. "Here." She said as she met Erin's eyes. She was holding up a noodle, wanting Erin to take it into her mouth.

Erin opened her mouth and waited as the dark woman placed the tip of the noodle on her tongue. Erin held the blue eyes with her own as she carefully and slowly sucked the noodle in, wishing instead, that she could suck on the fingers feeding her.

"Can I ask you something, Erin?" She asked, lowering her hand with a thoughtful look on her face.

Erin chewed and shrugged. "Sure." Please ask me to now eat you.

"Earlier today when you asked me why I trusted you, well I guess I'm wondering the same thing. Why do you trust me?"

Erin swallowed, a little surprised by the question. It was, however, an obvious question and she had no problem answering it.

"Because you saved my life." She answered quickly and truthfully and then sipped her wine.

Adams stared at her and then smiled. "Thank you for telling me." She said, the answer obviously satisfying her.

"You're welcome." Erin replied, giving her a smile in return. "By the way, this is really good." She said, pointing to the food.

"Glad you like it." She remained seated next to Erin, instead pulling her own bowl closer. "I seem to be fresh out of forks, so it looks like I'm going to have to feed you." She grinned a devilish grin before grasping another bite for herself.

Erin laughed. "Next you'll be telling me you're fresh out of swimsuits again." She remembered the very tiny white bikini the dark woman had given her upon her previous visit, claiming it was the only one she had.

Adams chewed while somehow managing to keep the grin on her face. "Now that you mention it..." She said, winning a quick slug from Erin.

Adams laughed again and pinched out another bite for her guest. Erin opened her mouth slowly and took in the bite seductively, lightly sucking on the sticks as Adams pulled them from her mouth.

Erin watched and saw the dark woman's blue eyes widen as she retrieved the sticks.

Adams looked down at her bowl, affected by the sensual site. "Before I forget, or better yet, before I get carried away and forget, what happened with Patricia that got you so upset?"

The dark woman watched as the question penetrated Erin's ears. The blonde looked away and swallowed, the color draining from her flushed cheeks.

"That is, if you don't mind my asking." Adams added, not wanting to upset her beautiful guest.

"No, it's ok." Erin answered softly. "They…" She looked up and met the dark woman's eyes. Eyes that looked so deep, so caring. "They think I'm covering for you." She finally finished.

Adams sat in silence for a moment digesting what she just heard. "Covering for me how?" Suddenly she became very concerned and fearful that the police had somehow found out about Jay.

"They think I've been conspiring with you all along. Covering for you, leading them away from you as a suspect." She felt sick just talking about it. She didn't understand it and she never would.

"They think that about one of their own?" Adams asked, her disregard for the Valle Luna police department and its male heads growing stronger by the second.

Erin shook her head. "Apparently so. They want you so bad they're willing to throw anyone in the pot with you."

"My God." She let out shaking her head in disbelief. "I'm sorry Erin. I never should've asked you to keep quiet about Jay. They don't know do they?" Perhaps that was what had sparked their suspicions to Erin.

"Patricia didn't mention it. But if they don't know, they will eventually. Maybe not tomorrow or even next week. But I can't see them letting this go anytime soon. Someone will always be at it and as long as they are, they will eventually discover your long lost sister."

"What happens to you when they do?" Adams asked very concerned. She didn't want the blonde to get into any trouble, especially on her behalf.

"Lucky for me I can simply claim that I didn't remember it."

Adams shook her head. "No." She said adamantly. "You shouldn't lie. Not for me or anyone else. It was wrong of me to even ask. I love my sister but I won't see you go down for this. I will go down there and tell them everything…"

Erin reached over and placed a gentle hand on the dark woman's, instantly silencing her.

"Don't." She said softly. "They'll spin it anyway they can to see that you're punished to the full extent of the law. They hate you Liz. They want to see you burn for these murders, one way or another."

Adams looked down at Erin's hand resting on her own.

"I…" Erin continued. "I couldn't bear to see that happen to you. You didn't kill those men, Jay did. And it was out of fierce love and loyalty for her that you didn't tell."

"I should've stopped her as soon as I knew." Adams said quietly. "I was just so afraid that by going after her, I would lead the police right to her. You don't understand." She said shaking her head. "She's so disturbed from what happened to her when we were kids."

"What did happen to her?" Erin asked softly.

Adams looked up and met her understanding eyes. "She was kidnapped and then raped and tortured by a murderer when she was eleven."

"Oh my God." Erin let out, truly horrified.

Adams continued to stare at their hands and she watched as Erin moved closer, turning the dark woman's hand over to hold it.

"Jay saved me that day." She said, the warmness from Erin's eyes and hand easing the pain in her heart. "She told me to run and she let him take her instead of me."

Silence ensued as Erin watched the dark woman virtually crumble in front of her. The bond between the two sisters was still very much alive and clearly evident as she listened to Adams speak. She could hear the strain in her voice, and the guilt she still obviously felt over the situation.

"You feel that you owe her." Erin stated calmly, truly feeling for the dark woman.

"Yes." Adams said, looking into her eyes. "She protected me and now I have to protect her." She looked away as she thought. "And I was willing to do that at any cost to me or anyone else." She looked back to Erin. "Until now. I won't see you get hurt in this, Erin."

"But it's your sister." Erin said. "You hardly know me."

"I do know you." Adams clarified, rising to her knees. "I don't know how it's possible, but I do. And I would do anything to protect you as well." She lifted Erin's hand and placed a soft warm kiss across her knuckles.

Erin felt her swelling heart race once again in her chest. Her emotions had changed from deep empathy and understanding to pure, wild lust within seconds as she felt the hot mouth brushing and breathing against her skin.

"You better stop doing that or I won't be able to think about dinner any longer." She breathed out, feeling the kisses linger longer with the dark woman's lips pressing and puckering slower and slower.

Adams grinned, looking up from the sensitive skin on the back of Erin's hand.

"You know, I've suddenly lost interest in dinner as well." She stood and held Erin's hand, helping her to stand. "I'll just put this in the fridge for later." She scooped up the large wooden bowl and walked over to the fridge. "I don't suppose…" She turned back to look at Erin as she opened the fridge, quickly giving the blonde a shot of the milky white skin of her breast. "You're up for a swim?" The devilish grin returned and she felt so good and so free at having discussed such troublesome things with someone, who for the first time, seemed to understand. She was eternally grateful to the beautiful blonde and she would do anything to hold onto her, to cherish her.

Erin couldn't help but flush in response to the grin and the offer. Images of their last pool encounter flooded her mind as well as her loins.

"That depends." Erin said, letting her raging libido give her confidence. "Are you fresh out of swimsuits?"

Adams slinked back over to her, holding her eyes the entire time. Her shirt was moving against her breasts as she moved, igniting an erotic fire within her nipples.

"I am." She responded in a deep voice laced with innuendo.

Erin tried not to shudder upon hearing the words. "That's too bad." She countered, not meaning it.

"Is it?" Adams asked, raising an eyebrow. She stood before Erin and began unbuttoning the remaining buttons of her gray shirt. Erin watched completely mesmerized. She licked her lips and swallowed hard as the last button was released exposing a muscled abdomen and the promising spheres of rounded breasts.

Adams grinned as she watched the blonde take delight in the striptease. "Your turn." She said for the second time that evening. Erin looked down at herself, a little taken aback.

"No fair." She said. "I don't have any buttons."

The dark woman smiled. "Darn." She said lightly, crossing her arms over her chest more than ready to watch.

Erin fingered her black shirt while thinking. Then, as she looked down at the dark woman's bare feet, she smiled in victory. Bending over, she pulled off her boots one at a time and tossed them over her shoulders. Then she pulled off her socks and stood grinning from ear to ear before her dinner companion.

Adams raised an eyebrow and uncrossed her arms.

"Your turn." Erin said lightly.

Adams trailed her fingers down her exposed skin as she watched Erin's green eyes take it in. As she reached the waist line of her jeans, she unbuttoned the denim and then inched them down slowly over her hips. The shirt she wore was rather long, covering her most sensitive area, but not before Erin saw the lack of underwear.

As her face and body burned with pure desire, Erin continued to watch with voyeuristic delight as Adams removed the jeans from her ankles and then tossed them across the room.

The dark woman stood before her guest almost completely nude, save for the smoky gray shirt seductively covering her erogenous zones.

Erin gulped at the site but tried not to show how shook up she really was. Instead she gave Adams a half grin and then lowered her hands to inch up her shirt. She brought it up agonizingly slow, watching the dark woman's face as she went. She could see the bold desire in the blue eyes and she found that the exhibition was turning her on ten fold. Her skin felt unbelievably sensitive as the shirt, along with her fingers, maneuvered up and over her body.

Bringing the shirt up over her head, she let it fall down next to her as she stood before Adams breathing heavily in her black lace bra.

The dark woman sucked in a quick hot breath of air as the very site that had haunted her for weeks melted into her eyes. She stepped closer to the blonde, reaching out to grab hold of her jeans.

"Your behind." She said seductively as she licked her lips and focused in on Erin's mouth. "I think I need to help you catch up." She yanked Erin closer and unbuttoned her jeans. As she lowered the zipper she watched as the blonde's green eyes flooded with a darker shade of desire. With her own blood throbbing angrily in-between her legs, Adams pushed Erin's jeans down over her hips and bent down to help ease them over her thighs and off at her ankles. She looked up at the beautiful detective and took in her matching black panties, her sculpted torso and her full breasts. The woman was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. No other woman would ever compare.

She came back up slowly, careful to breath against Erin's skin on the way up. The blonde twitched and jerked in response as Adams rose to stand before her. With the heat back in her cheeks, Erin reached out with her hands and placed them under the dark woman's shirt on her warm hips.

"My turn." She let out in an excited raspy voice. She took a step closer and looked into the hypnotizing blue eyes as she lightly ran her hands up and down the dark woman's skin under the shirt careful to avoid her nipples. Adams shuddered and Erin watched as her pupils dilated. With slow deliberation, Erin stroked the dark woman softly, rimming under her warm breasts, feeling them draw up with anticipation. As her own breathing increased and shallowed, Erin finally gave in and ran her thumbs across the taunt nipples purposely as she drew open the shirt. Adams choked back a near cry of desperation as the sensation spread out like hot fingers expanding out from her breasts and igniting her very core.

Erin eyed the beautifully carved body before her. The dark woman was unbelievably gorgeous. Near perfect in almost every way. From her sculpted face and high cheek bones, to her broad strong shoulders and arms, to her creamy rounded breasts with the dark rose centers and her exquisitely etched abdomen, right down to her long, strong legs. Of course, Erin thought as she ran a light hand down to the thin patch of dark hair between the stronger woman's legs, she had saved the most delectable morsel for last.

Adams shuddered once again and grabbed Erin's hand, halting it's pursuit to the nucleus of nerve endings between her legs.

"No." She managed to choke out. "It's your turn again." She stood still while Erin brought both her hands up to help her shrug out of the shirt. The blonde grinned mischievously and tried to run her hands once again over the dark woman's body. Adams caught her wrists, knowing immediately what she was up to. "Uh uh." She said with a grin. "I said it's your turn."

Erin looked at the dark woman's lips, wanting so desperately to take them with her own. She felt Adams let go of her but she was unable to move, completely mesmerized.

The dark woman stepped ever closer and ran her hands up and down Erin's sides, awakening her skin instantly. The blonde shuddered and braced herself on the stronger woman's shoulders. Adams felt her nostrils flare as she leaned in and inhaled against Erin's neck. She at once recognized the scent of her and she clenched her legs together against the mounting pressure between them. Then, as she allowed the scent of the blonde to swirl in her brain, she reached around and unhooked her bra, bringing it forward across her shoulders and then letting it fall as it freed her ample breasts.

"My God." She breathed out before she even realized it. She looked into the burning green eyes as she touched the gathering dark honey nipples. "You are so beautiful." She whispered as Erin clung to her wrists.

"Ah…" Erin breathed out, with her head held back in pleasure. "If you don't stop…" She said, finally able to look at Adams with fire in her eyes. "I'm going to come." Every stroke against her nipple felt like a hot stroke between her legs. She couldn't understand it but it was happening. Almost like magic.

Adams growled in response to the words. It took every last ounce of strength she had not to give in and make the beautiful blonde come right there on the spot. With great reluctance she removed her hands from Erin's breasts with the blonde still clinging to her wrists. Erin tried to regain control of her breathing but it was difficult. She could still feel the lingering of the hot fingers playing on her nipples. As she breathed deeply, she focused on the fierce blue eyes and loosened her grip on the dark woman's wrists, letting her hands once again fall to her sides.

Adams moved back into her, this time resting her hands on the black lace panties. As she lowered herself to remove them, Erin stiffened.

"Oh God." She said lifting the dark woman's head up with her hands. "I can feel you breathing on my skin." The hot breath had struck her nipples and she had nearly come on the spot. "I think you better leave the panties to me." She said, letting her hands fall to lightly stroke the dark woman's arms as she stood.

"You that excited?" Adams asked raising an eyebrow.

"You have no idea." Erin said huskily.

"I think I might." Adams responded, knowing how close to climaxing she herself was.

"If we're going to make it to the pool we better go now." Erin said, suddenly wondering if she could even walk.

Adams grinned and took her hand. "Let's go then."

As they stepped outside Erin realized she was nearly nude and she instantly covered herself, afraid that someone would see.

"Won't someone see us?" She asked as Adams released her hand to walk unabashedly to the pool ahead of her.

"There's no one around to see. I don't have any immediate neighbors." She offered as she dipped a foot in to test the water. "And if you're worried about air voyeurs…" She said teasing, "The sun's just about completely gone."

Erin glanced to the west and saw the last finger of sunlight bidding the earth goodnight. She relaxed a little and dropped her arms, allowing her aroused breasts to feel the warm night air. She watched as Adams stepped into the pool, wading in one step at a time, before diving in at the last step.

The dark woman surfaced in the luminous water, looking like she just stepped out of a magazine. Erin watched as she ran her hands back over her wet black hair and looked up at her with her blue eyes blazing nearly the same shade of blue as the pool.

"You coming?" She beckoned with a lopsided grin.

Erin laughed, thinking just how close she had been to coming moments before. Christ yes. She thought as she walked closer to the pool. She stopped and stood before Adams and then slowly ran her hands down over her body until she reached her panties. Then, while holding the dark woman's eyes, she carefully inched the panties down over her hips and thighs to her ankles. Stepping out them she then kicked them in the pool and dove in. The water felt cool and refreshing, a little cooler than the last time she had been in it. As she surfaced, she wiped her eyes and searched for Adams. The woman was gone.

With the sunlight quickly being eaten up by night, it was difficult for Erin to locate her right away. The lights in the pool changed color and she could see that the woman wasn't under the water in front of her. Just as she was about to turn to look for her, she felt her press into her from behind.

"I'm right here." The dark woman breathed in her ear.

Erin gulped and felt the hot hands running up and down the sides of her body. She tried to turn but Adams inched her hands up to the blonde woman's breasts where she pinched and held firm to her nipples.

Erin cried out as the wonderfully erotic sensation flooded through her. Adams nibbled on her ear and then found her exposed neck where she bit and sucked all the while pinching and rolling Erin's nipples with her fingers.

"Oh, god." Erin cried out. "I'm going to come." She said as she clenched her eyes closed trying desperately to ignore the overwhelming flames burning in her nipples, burning between her legs.

"No." Adams whispered, smacking her sucking mouth away from Erin's neck. "Not yet." She let go of the blonde's nipples and turned her around. "I want so badly to take it slow with you, but I don't think I can." She confessed breathlessly.

"I don't want you to take it slow." Erin told her. "I want you so bad it hurts." She reached up and cupped the dark woman's face with her hands. "Kiss me." She demanded, pulling her into her.

Adams closed her eyes and kissed the young detective. At first the kiss was soft, tender, and warm. She felt Erin's tongue lick her lips, tasting her. And then she heard the blonde moan and pull her tighter as the kiss became deeper, hungrier. Adams felt Erin's tongue claim her mouth with a vengeance, fueling her desire, shattering her control. She kissed Erin back with all her might, devouring her, conquering her. Her hands held the back of the blondes head and she stepped into her, walking her backwards in the pool until they reached the steps. Once there, Adams pulled away from the powerful kiss completely breathless and dizzy.

"Don't stop." Erin pleaded, trying to pull the dark woman back down to her mouth. Adams pressed into her and Erin felt the step against her heel. "I can't go any further." She said as she looked down behind her.

"Yes you can." Adams said wrapping her hands around her hips and buttocks just before she lifted her. Erin clung to her shoulders and wrapped her legs around the dark woman's waist as she carried her up the stairs. Erin threw her head back as she felt the dark woman's hot skin rub against her overly aroused center.

"Oh my." Adams declared as she gently sat Erin down on the top step. "I can feel you." She said as Erin looked at her. "You're unbelievably wet." She ran a finger down Erin's chest to her belly before reaching her pubic region where a thin veil of manicured hairs sat bobbing against the ebb and flow of the water. "And this." She said maneuvering her fingers carefully into the folds. "Is something I've got to have right now."

Erin's eyes widened at first in response to the words and then instantly in response to the touch. She shuddered and melted as she grabbed hold of the dark woman's shoulders, leaning forward to rock against her fingers.

Adams groaned as she felt the blonde's abundance of hot silk in her hand. Then, letting Erin come forward, she eased her fingers up deep inside her. The blonde threw her head back and cried out as Adams carried her away from the stairs, back into the pool, as she supported her back with her free hand.

Erin moved in waves, grinded down against the incredible feel of the long hot fingers inside her. She clung to the dark woman's shoulders, digging her fingers into her skin, unable to keep her eyes open for any length of time. She pursed her lips and arched her back, the sensations unbelievable and still forthcoming in new and overwhelming swells.

"Feels so good." She said aloud, opening her eyes to look at the woman who was unlocking the doors to such pleasures.

"Does it?" Adams asked, wanting more of her. She eased her free hand up the blondes back and held her shoulder down from behind. Then, with strength and grace, she pulled Erin back a little and curled her fingers up deep inside her. Erin bit down on her lower lip and groaned.

"Fuck me." She said, opening her eyes, deadly serious. "Harder." She declared, trying to bear down on the fingers, needing more, craving more, willing to kill for more.

Adams moved Erin back against the wall of the pool, ready and willing to do anything for her, anything to please her. She eased Erin off her and positioned herself before her, reaching down in the breast high water to open up her legs with her hands.

"Hold on to me." She said huskily in her ear as she plunged back into her.

"Uh! Oh God!" The blonde cried out, clinging to her. Adams stood over her, pummeling her hard and fast, feeling her tighten and grip from the inside. She bent down and bit the blonde's neck, needing to consume her in every way possible. Erin's voice became deeper and heavily strained and with every sound she choked out Adams could feel the orgasm loom closer. The blonde was clinging to her now, her arms wrapped around her back, digging her short nails into her.

"God don't stop." She rasped out, exposing the sexual demon that was currently possessing her. "Give it to me." She demanded.

Adams added another finger and bent her knees for more bearing. She pumped Erin harder and fuller than before, drawing her out slowly before shoving her back in. The blonde went from speaking her demands in demonic tongue to biting the dark woman on the shoulder. Adams could feel her own skin give beneath the clamp of the teeth, exciting her even more. She knew it was time, she had to release her before she herself burst forth with orgasm. Reaching up to grab hold of the edge of pool, she then braced herself to fuck with all her might. With Erin still clinging to her for support, Adams took her thumb and placed it over the blonde's engorged clit while her fingers still fucked her. Instantly, the blonde felt the pressure and she pulled her mouth away from the dark woman's shoulder to throw her head back and groan like a wild animal. Adams clenched her teeth and reached up deep within the blonde, curling her fingers, while stroking the excited flesh of her clit. Then, while looking into her face, she slammed into her. She rocked her hard and deep and fast.

Erin ran her hands up and while chanting illegible words, knotted them in the dark woman's wet mane. Her insides were on fire and her toes were curling as her feet dangled freely in the water, her entire body hinged on the dark woman's fingers. She closed her eyes as the heat from the fingers seared into her, while the strumming of her clit made her bite her own lip so hard it nearly bled.

The insurmountable pleasures rocked her body, consuming every last cell, possessing her like a prisoner. She opened her eyes as she felt the heat invade the last cell, lighting up all the other cells in her body from within. With her eyes wide and focused on the beautifully sculpted face of her lover, she felt the heat and light within explode and she opened her mouth to cry out but her voice was too weak and strained to shout. Instead, he jerked and rocked with the orgasm in virtual silence as the heat escaped her body through her open but silent mouth in a million invisible pieces.

Adams felt the blonde come but heard nothing until the blonde finally managed to choke out a strained cry just before she stopped spasming. She felt her collapse against her shoulder, her whole body limp and resting on her three fingers, impaled there from deep inside.

"Wow." Adams said down into her ear. "It was definitely good for me too." She said, laughing softly as Erin groaned and raised up a heavy head.

"Yeah?" She asked with a lazy grin.

"Oh god yes." Adams said, still feeling her insides throb.

"Did you…" She asked softly with an exhausted voice box. "Come?"

"No." Adams said as she carefully removed her hand from between the blonde's legs.

"Good." Erin responded, somehow finding the strength to stand on her own.

"Why is that good?" The dark woman asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Because I'm hungry." Erin said, reaching down and cupping the taller woman's cluster of excited flesh causing her to nearly jump out of her skin with excitement.

"Oh yeah?' She asked playfully, holding fast to Erin's wrist, so very close to orgasm herself.

"Yeah." Erin said confidently. "And you're just what I've been craving."

Henderson rose up off of Sinclair's couch. It was getting late and she still couldn't sleep. She eyed the bottle of wine the two had shared earlier and she remembered how kind the blonde detective had been to her. First she had shown up with Jack tucked under one arm, wriggling with uncontrollable excitement. The new detective had stopped at the "pet hotel" where he had been staying to pick him up as a surprise for her. Sinclair had said that there was no reason why the small dog couldn't stay here with her.

Henderson stretched and eyed her sleeping pup as he snoozed soundly in a tight little ball under the coffee table. Sinclair had also insisted that she stay as long as she wanted, shaking her head profusely at the mention of a hotel. She walked in the kitchen and poured herself a glass of cold water. Sinclair had soon sensed that something other than her current sleeping arrangement was bothering her. And when she had asked after Mac, Henderson had broken down and sobbed. The sensitive new detective had then sat by her side, rubbing her back while she fessed up her worries, her sorrows.

She sipped at the cold water and looked down the hall to where the detective now slept. The tall blonde had even offered Henderson her bed, claiming that she would gladly sleep on the couch. But Henderson politely declined and told her that her listening and understanding had been more than enough.

She stood staring at the dim master bedroom door almost wishing she had the nerve to walk in there and curl up next to sleeping woman. If she were honest with herself, she would admit that that was exactly what she wanted to do. As she continued to stare at the door a light came on under it along with the muffled sounds of a cell phone. She stood motionless as she heard Sinclair speak excitedly into the phone. She nearly dropped her glass as the door swung open quickly and Sinclair came bounding out in a tank top and panties, jumping into her shorts.

"Good, you're up." She said as she zipped up her shorts. Henderson stood staring at her, too shocked to look away. "There's been a fire." She said, running her fingers through her dirty blonde hair and tucking her cell phone in the pocket of her shorts.

Henderson simply stood and stared, noticing the absence of a bra under the white tank top. What was wrong with her? How could she be thinking about sex at a time like this? Mac was being accused of horrible things, things she couldn't herself make sense out of and here she was wanting to bed the department's newest detective.

"Patricia?" Sinclair asked, as she pulled on a t shirt over the thin tank top. "Did you hear me?"

Henderson shook her head as reality snapped back in. "What?" She asked, blinking at the handsome detective.

"I said there's been a fire."

"Where?" She asked wondering what it had to do with her.

"Mark Mackenzie's." She replied as tossed Henderson her shoes.

She shook her head, unsure if she had heard correctly. "Erin's Mark?" She asked completely dumbfounded.

"The one and only." Sinclair confirmed. "They think it was arson."

"Oh my god." Henderson breathed out, feeling immediately dizzy with shock. "This can't be happening."

part 9

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