Page 104 of The System

Kieran rubbed her hand hard against the spot above her hipbone and downward until it hit her thigh. She did this a few times and closed her eyes, picturing Carina’s hand doing this.

“If it’s too soft, I’ll just laugh. But hard enough, and…”

“Oh, my God,” Carina let out. “I can feel you contracting.”

“Yeah. And your fingers feel really good in there. Like, perfect, actually.”

“Can you come just from that?”

“I might need a little help.” She smirked.

“Really not a problem. Just tell me what you need.”

Kieran did, and minutes later, when she came, it was with Carina inside her, slowly curling her fingers just right and driving Kieran wild. Carina then moved back up her body and kissed her hard, her fingers still inside but not moving.

“That was the hottest thing I’ve ever done. You have to teach me how to touch you there. God, so sexy, Kieran.” Carina kissed her neck. “I need you.”

Kieran opened her eyes and let out a small smile. No one, including Diego, had ever said those words to her in this context.

“Tell me where,” she requested.

“On top of me. Inside me. Just… all over me.”

So, Kieran gave Carina what she wanted, and before they fell asleep that night, after several more rounds and a shared shower in Carina’s very nice bathroom, Kieran tossed the pillows on the floor one by one as she teased Carina by asking her where she’d gotten each one and why. They’d laughed about it and compromised that if they were ever going to permanently share a bed, Carina could have three decorative pillows, but that was her limit.

The next morning, Kieran woke up to find Carina not in bed. She checked if the bathroom was occupied first, but then she heard sounds coming from downstairs. Throwing on her clothes from the bag she’d brought with her, she followed those sounds and found Carina at her kitchen table, with her laptop open and a cup of coffee beside it. Carina looked different. Her face was a stone, and Kieran worried that in the light of day, Carina was regretting what they’d done.

“Morning,” she said. “Can I have some coffee?”

“Of course, you can have coffee.” Carina forced a smile. “You’re up early. I thought you’d sleep in a bit, and I’d wake you before I have to go.”

“I woke up, and you weren’t there. I didn’t even get to see the robot alarm, so I’m very disappointed.”

“I left Carl in the closet last night. I kind of forgot all about it when you told me to take you to bed.”

“Are you okay?” Kieran asked as she moved to sit down next to her, skipping coffee for now. “You look like you’re not okay. Was what happened last night–”

“No, babe. This has nothing to do with last night. I am very happy about last night, and I’m hoping you’ll stay here tonight, too, or I’ll go to your place, but we do need to talk.”

“About?”

“That foster brother who said Marin burned him with cigarettes,” Carina began. “He’s made another, even more damning statement. I guess Kevin took it yesterday. He emailed it to me.”

“He’s allowed to do that? You were–”

“I’d hear about it anyway, but I asked him to keep me informed. I can’t use any of this since I’m not on the case. I won’t help him, either, which would be against the rules of recusal in this case, especially now that we’re dating.”

“Okay. Well, it can’t get worse than her killing two men. So, what else is he saying she did?”

“He’s saying she killed a woman, too,” Carina replied and turned her laptop to her. “In a sworn statement, he says he’s been too scared to come forward, but there was a girl whom they both knew. She was homeless after aging out of the system, and Marin, allegedly, killed her.”

CHAPTER 31

“I really shouldn’t be doing this, Carina,” Kevin said.

“It’ll all be in discovery. She’ll find out from Frank.”

“But she’s the sister of the defendant. She’s not involved in Marin May’s case.”

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