Page 45 of Heat of Justice

Kim shivered with a mix of relief and excitement.‘Good,’she quickly typed in reply. Then hesitated, deleted the word, and replaced it with‘Great’.Instantly deleted that too, and went with‘Perfect’in the end.And once again, experienced a twinge of annoyance at her own self.How old are you, dammit?

“Don’t,” she muttered. “Don’t ruin it.”

She was old enough to want this and not feel guilty about it, she reflected. Whatever’This’may turn out to be with Cody. Fifteen minutes later, a polite knock on the door almost had her running to answer it. She forced herself to slow down and check the security cam first. Cody.Yes…And Kim had never felt safer.

“Hi.” She opened the door wide and watched the tired look on the detective’s face give way to a slow smile.

“Hi, Kim.”

Cody’s blue eyes drifted over her like a sensual caress. Kim had changed into a pair of white Indian dhotis and a linen shirt of the same color, open at the top to reveal a flash of bronze skin. She wore a trio of thin gold chains of different lengths around her neck and a gold bangle around her right ankle. Her hair was loose, and she was barefoot.

“Everything okay?” she murmured as Cody lingered, both silent and thoughtful.

“Uh, yeah.” The woman’s grin returned, as well as a line of color across her cheeks. “Just thinking you look like a princess from an Arabian tale or something.”

“Or something.” Kim laughed, but her heart swelled at the candid remark. “Make that a tired lawyer, eh? Come on in.”

“Thanks.”

Cody looked like a treat herself in a fresh pair of blue jeans, brown suede slip-on boots, and a grey V-neck t-shirt. She musthave stopped home to change, but she still carried her badge and weapon.

“Are you off-duty?” Kim asked.

“Well, it’s after hours, so, kind of.”

“Meaning you never really switch off, right?”

Cody answered with a light, smiling shrug. “Being a cop is not just something I do for a living. It’s what I am. So yeah, I’m never really off.”

Kim thought herself immune to the selfless hero vibe, but apparently not with this particular woman. The remark struck her as beyond sexy and attractive, as was the intensity in Cody’s gaze as they stood facing each other in the hallway. Kim imagined it must reflect her own.

“Look,” she said. “About this morning. I need you to know this isn’t the norm for me. I don’t go out much. I don’t date. And I certainly don’t kiss women the way I kissed you on the beach.”

“Okay.” Cody nodded slowly, heated eyes still riveted onto hers. “I don’t want you to.”

“What?” Kim frowned.

“Kiss other women the way you kissed me on the beach,” Cody repeated. Then, she slayed her with her next words. “Only me, Kim.”

This time, she made the first move by sliding her hands under her hair and coming to rest on the sides of her neck. With both thumbs firmly supporting her jaw, she tilted her head up and took her mouth with a deep, commanding kiss. The gesture made Kim see sparks behind her closed eyelids. Instantly, she wrapped her arms around her shoulders, as much because she wanted to hold her as to steady herself. She was trembling. The second Cody touched her like this, so sure and confident, Kim’s legs turned to water. A shower of fiery tingles zipped from the top of her head to hit between her legs. She clung to Cody and returned the kiss in exactly the same manner.Jesus!In the blinkof an eye, she was primed. Ready. And so damn close! Cody teased her with her tongue in a delicious swirl, then withdrew, prompting Kim to chase the kiss. She heard a sound, halfway between a moan and a sob, and realized that it was her. As Cody deepened the kiss, Kim slid her hands under her t-shirt to caress her naked back. What a thrill to feel that slender but strong body shiver in response! What a delight to feel Cody’s hot and smooth skin prickle under her fingertips. She moved her palms to her stomach and delighted in making the hard muscles tense and ripple.

“Kim,” Cody panted. “I won’t be able to stop if—”

“Good,” Kim answered sharply. “I don’t want you to.”

Using her own words... Cody almost ripped her shirt open in her haste to get to her bra and relieve her of it. As soon as it was off, she broke another searing kiss and lowered to catch a hard nipple between her lips.

“God!” Kim cried out and threw her head back. “Cody…”

She held her close, both hands fisted in her hair to keep her on the spot. She arched into her, demanding more. Cody sucked her harder, responding to her wordless plea. The ferocity of her own need surprised her, but Kim no longer questioned it. From the first moment she laid eyes on Cody, something in her knew the woman was special. Different, for sure.Mine.With a rush of feral desire, she pulled her up for a scorching kiss.

“I need you,” Cody grunted against her lips.

“I know, baby.” Kim unhooked the belt on her jeans, and she made short work of the buttons. “I need you too.”

She yanked her pants down and slid one hand between her legs. Cody was swollen, hot, and wet. Also, she almost collapsed when Kim pushed her fingers over her.

“Fuck! You’ll make me come.”

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