Page 45 of Rookie Days

“Dammit!” she raged.

“Hey, it’s okay.”

“Not okay by me,” Janet spluttered.

“Well, alright. Here, Jan. Take this.”

Janet accepted the gym towel that she offered and buried her face in it, and in her hands. Ambushed by her own emotions once again, and it was driving her quite mad. Lia did not seemto mind overly as she rubbed a soothing hand up and down her back. She was silent for a few seconds, which allowed Janet to get the tears under control. At least, she hoped. She took a deep breath, wiped her face, and turned back to her friend.

“You want to know how I’m doing…”

“Yes, I do. Tell me.”

“I think I’m losing my mind.”

Lia’s response was to make a reassuring throaty sound and wrap her up tightly in both arms. The gesture triggered a few more tears. Janet could feel her heart racing harder than during the thrusters session… Embarrassed, she tried to pull away but Lia kept her close.

“Just relax for a minute.”

Janet tried her best. Lia let her go pretty soon after, though she kept a reassuring arm around her shoulders.

“I’m sorry, Lia.”

“Don’t be. You know, I consider you a special friend. Your strength and confidence after Quinn was shot really helped me to keep it together at the hospital. It may sound strange but you really felt like an angel protecting us all on that day, Quinn, Ellie, and I.”

Janet gave another half-sob, half-chuckle.

“Yeah… Ellie. I’ve made such a fool of myself with her!”

If Lia was surprised at this uncharacteristic admission, on top of all the tears and neediness that Janet so hated to display, she did not let it show.

“I think I’d like to hear a bit more,” she simply said.

Janet was grateful for her smile, the touch of teasing in her voice, clearly there to put her at ease, and a whole lot of warmth and affection.

“Quinn is a lucky woman to have you,” she murmured.

“She knows it, don’t you worry,” Lia nodded, nicely tongue in cheek.

Now this made Janet laugh.

“Yeah, she’s clever.” In the same breath, she blurted out the rest. “I kissed Ellie.”

Lia stared in surprise for a moment before breaking into a wide smile.

“Okay. Well… That’s great! Or don’t you think so?”

“Oh, for sure.” Janet shrugged. “It was amazing. Like, three times.”

She smiled unconsciously as she remembered the way Ellie had kissed her. She’d been so gentle... Almost shy the first time, which Janet had found incredibly sexy. Before long, she’d turned a lot more certain. Commanding. Very nice, indeed... Ellie had still shown restraint but all the same, there had been plenty of heat in that second kiss. Janet had seen it reflected in her eyes as well. Just pure desire.Oh, man!Just thinking about kissing Ellie made her feel all warm and weak. The idea of what the woman might be like when she allowed herself to feel, and go with the flow of her desires, turned her brain to jelly.Mmm…

“I can tell from your smile that it must have been a great connection between the two of you,” Lia remarked. “So, how did you get to that point?”

“I treated her for an injury the other day,” Janet explained. “She was in pain, upset about something that happened on the job. Dark and broody. Distrustful.”

“Cops tend to be a bit wary like that.”

“Yes. She was armed and dangerous but also vulnerable.” Janet tried not to smile again. That look in Ellie’s grey eyes from time to time… Was there anything sexier than the defenseless side of a female warrior?Or more pathetic than gushing about it?She shook her head in a mix of annoyance and defeat.Oh, well.Couldn’t be helped, apparently. “Overall, she was just… Ah. She looked so damn gorgeous!”

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