Expelling her breath slowly, Reese opened her eyes, bent her forehead to the mat between her steepled hands, and greeted her class in Japanese. The ten students returned her bow and her greeting, and for the next hour, the men and women trained in the art of jujitsu. Reese moved silently between the partners, observing and occasionally stepping in to demonstrate a technique before moving off again. Her classes were traditional in the sense that the students learned by performing and by watching Reese and Bri. Before Tory’s pregnancy had become too advanced, she’d been one of the senior students, although her formal training had been in hapkido, a Korean style similar to the Japanese martial art of aikido. All three styles, however, bore similarities in their use of joint locks, shoulder throws, and defensive blocks and kicks.

After Reese dismissed the class, Bri approached and waited a few feet away. Other than the fact that Reese was an inch taller and thirty pounds of muscle heavier, they were so close in appearance, with the same thick black hair and cobalt blue eyes, that strangers often mistook Bri for Reese’s younger sister. Reese removed her hakama and held it out to Bri. “Thank you.”

“It is an honor, sensei” Bri replied as she always did, for it was customary for the senior student to fold the sensei’s ceremonial outer garment.

Reese nodded in acknowledgment and glanced toward the door, where a petite brunette with whiskey-colored eyes waited, her gaze focused intently on Bri. Allie Tremont was Reese’s newest student as well as the newest member of the sheriff’s department, having just transferred from nearby Wellfleet. The look of unguarded appreciation on Allie’s face took Reese by surprise. Surely Allie knew that Bri was involved. Reese turned at the sound of Bri’s voice.

“Here you are, sensei”

Reese took the folded garment, and the two women walked together to the end of the mat, bowed, and then stepped off.

“The second Sunday in October,” Reese said. “I’ve asked a test board to convene for your black belt test,”

“I…oh wow…I…” Bri’s voice caught and she swallowed. “Yes, sensei. Thank you.”

For the first time, Reese smiled. “No need for thanks.”

“Oh, man. Wait until I tell Carre.” Then, remembering that telling her lover about one of the biggest events in her life was the only way that she would be able to share it with her, a cloud passed across Bri’s face and the light in her eyes dimmed.

“I’m sure she’s going to think it’s great,” Reese said as she clapped Bri on the shoulder.

“Yeah. She will.” Subdued, Bri looked over to where Allie still waited and forced a smile. “Hey,” she said as she started toward the brunette, “guess what?”

Reese waited for them to change and followed them to the door. As she locked up, she watched Allie climb onto the back of Bri’s motorcycle and wrap her arms around the rangy youth’s raid section. A few seconds later, Bri gunned the motorcycle down the driveway and onto the road with Allie pressed tightly to her back.

“Perfect,” Reese muttered to herself as she walked toward her Blazer.

Chapter Two

“Bri and Allie left class together today,” Reese announced as she stripped down in the bedroom in preparation for a shower.

“Hmm?” Tory, who’d just fed the baby and put her down for a nap, sat on the side of the bed buttoning an oversized man’s shirt the only thing she happened to be wearing. Finished, she looked up in time to see Reese, who hadn’t bothered to pull on underwear after changing out of her gi at the dojo, kick out of her jeans. Tory caught her breath, ambushed by the unexpected sight. Whereas her own body, even at the peak of conditioning, rarely looked more than sleekly toned, Reese’s was a study in richly sculpted muscle. How many times have I seen her this way? A thousand? How many times have I touched her? Too many to count. And still she makes my heart stop.

“Your shift starts at four?” Tory’s question was casual but her voice was husky and low. The stirring in her belly was welcome after the long abstinence. They had been carefully intimate a few times since Reggie was born, at least to the extent that Tory was able to caress Reese to a gentle climax or hold her while she brought herself to orgasm. But Tory had been so exhausted from the difficult labor and subsequent surgery and then the demands of a hungry newborn that her own sexual satisfaction hadn’t been high on her list of needs. Suddenly, it was. Out of nowhere, desire flared, hungry and hot not the slow ignition of simmering coals that she might have expected after such a long period of quiescence, but a full-force blast of heat that left her instantly wet and craving Reese’s touch. “You’ve got a while yet before you have to leave for the station, right?”

“Uh-huh.” Reese glanced over and stopped in midmotion. A faint flush rose on her chest when she registered the look on her lover’s face. “Tory, come on.” Her voice held a hint of both warning and plea.

“I’ve missed you touching me.”

“I’ve missed you, too like crazy.” Reese’s eyes darkened with the need she had no desire or ability to hide. She crossed the room quickly, knelt in front of Tory, and rested both hands on Tory’s thighs. The tail of the loose cotton shirt brushed the backs of her hands, gentle as a kiss. “But Wendy said”

“Wendy said,” Tory repeated firmly as she cupped Reese’s breasts and leaned to kiss her, “that I couldn’t have vaginal intercourse for eight weeks. She didn’t say I couldn’t come.” She found Reese’s mouth just as she closed her fingers around the small, erect nipples. As she slid the tip of her tongue teasingly over Reese’s lips, she tugged her nipples to the same tantalizing rhythm.

Groaning, Reese surged against Tory’s body, pressing her breasts hard into Tory’s palms. She smoothed her hands under the shirt, her thumbs stroking the insides of Tory’s thighs.

Tory lifted her mouth away, murmuring throatily, “Oh yes. I’m not the only one who misses it, am I, baby?”

“You know how much it excites me when you touch me.” Reese’s blue eyes had gone nearly black, her breathing reduced to short, swift gasps. Having the baby in their life was a miracle, but it was Tory she lived for. Tory who defined her existence, Tory who gave purpose to her days. “I’m most alive when you have your hands on me. I love it when you make me come.”

“I haven’t been doing enough of that lately, that’s for sure.” Tory stretched out on the bed, grasped Reese’s hand, and drew her down, too. Then she turned on her side and edged a knee between Reese’s thighs. “Going from every other day to once every couple of weeks is a big change.”

Reese laughed softly, insinuating her fingers beneath Tory’s shirt again to stroke her back. “We’ve both been pretty busy with Reggie, and you are recovering from surgery. I haven’t felt neglected in that regard.”

“Neither have I, really,” Tory murmured, trailing her fingers along Reese’s thigh, “Until today.”

“Mmm. I’m not complaining.” Reese caught Tory’s lower lip in her teeth, bit gently. “These are extraordinary circumstances.” She touched her tongue to the spot that she had just nipped. “But I miss touching you. I miss hearing you, reeling you come.”

Moaning softly, Tory smoothed her hand down Reese’s flank and over her hips. “I’m so ready to come for you now.”

Whatever protest Reese might have made was lost on a moan as Tory slid a hand between her legs and squeezed gently. Tory whispered, “Let me come for you, baby.” She squeezed again. “Let me come with you. You want to, don’t you?”

“Oh yes. Yes.” Reese’s vision was hazy, her stomach in knots. Tory. Touching her, loving her. Tory. Needing her, wanting her. “Oh, Tory.”

“It’s okay, baby,” Tory soothed, pressing her fingers into the waiting wetness.

“Don’t touch me yet,” Reese warned breathlessly. “You know I’m no good at holding back. Let me make you feel good for a while first.”

“Good?” Tory’s laugh was shaky. “It can’t get any better. God, I’m so ready now I could burst.”

“Just wait.” Ignoring the steady surge of blood pulsing through her depths and the almost painful need to push into Tory’s palm, to rub against the fingers that she knew could have her rocketing to orgasm in a matter of seconds, Reese rested her forehead against Tory’s and anchored herself in her lover’s eyes. Watching Tory’s eyes grow cloudy with pleasure, she caressed her breasts, swollen and heavy, and squeezed the dark, full nipples. She thrilled to Tory’s soft cry as she smoothed her fingers down the center of her abdomen, still gently rounded with the memory of pregnancy. Tory’s fingers twitched against her clitoris, and she struggled not to come. “Careful,” she whispered urgently.

“Oh God,” Tory sighed, “I love to feel you like this, so hard, so ready for me.” The feel of Reese’s pleasure, hot and wet against her fingertips, made her body soar. “It’s been so long. I need you now, baby. Please don’t make me wait.” Her hips bucked as Reese fondled her. “Oh, I want to come.”

Reese brought her mouth to Tory’s and kissed her deeply, stroking tongue to tongue as her fingers swept up and down the length of Tory’s clitoris, circling harder with each long caress. Tory, caught by surprise by the swift rise of her orgasm, closed her fingers convulsively around Reese, jerking her clitoris spasmodically as her own climax peaked, With a cry, Reese flooded Tory’s hand with her passion.

“Oh my God,” Reese murmured, staring at the ceiling as she waited for her limbs to make their way back to her body. Tory curled against her side, her head on Reese’s shoulder, making small, contented sounds of happiness. Reese threaded shaking fingers through Tory’s hair and caressed the back of her neck. “How is it… that I never remember just how wonderful it is making love with you?”