The operative smiled at Shelby. "Until you came along and found a pattern that got me recalled."

Shelby turned puzzled eyes on Kris. "I don't get it. If you were working for this country, then why didn't you just contact them? They could've rescued your mother and none of this would've happened."

"I tried to contact them a couple of different times. They never responded. Turned out that Michael worked for them, too, and they suspected him of being a traitor. They knew what was going on and let it play itself out." Kris shrugged. "They got what they wanted. We were used, but it did turn out okay."

"So you don't owe them anything more, right?"

Kris sighed. "Supposedly not. But I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised to be reactivated if they decide they need me for something."

"That sucks!"

"I know and I would fight it, but it is an outside possibility."

Shelby nodded. "Well it's a good thing they released you, because I was going to talk to Earl and Dennis tomorrow and just happen to mention what a field day the press would have if they ever found out about this case. No way was I going to let you just disappear."

Kris was overwhelmed by the intensity of her feelings, and gently brushed Shelby's lips with her own. Smiling seductively, she said, "So, we have the apartment to ourselves tonight?"

Kris' voice was tantalizing and, her body awash with desire, Shelby gazed into the passion filled blue eyes and nodded. "Just you and me. Think we'll be able to find something to do?"

She smiled and gently brushed the tips of Kris' breasts with her fingers. When her partner took a deep breath, Shelby's fingers revisited the now erect nipples.

Kris grasped Shelby's hand and raised to her mouth, kissing the palm. "You are a tease."

Shelby innocently commented, "Moi?" She chuckled. "Payback time."

Nodding in understanding, Kris grinned. "I think I'm gonna like this payback." She kissed Shelby lightly. "Let's get more comfortable. I hate these institution clothes they gave me."

Shelby made a point of looking at her partner's plain blue blouse and slacks. "Oh, I don't know. They aren't so bad. Or maybe it's just that I like what's in them."

Laughing, Kris said, "Is that right?" She shifted her partner off her lap, stood and offered her hand.

Accepting it, Shelby eagerly followed the operative into the bedroom, feeling the desire surge through her body as her green eyes hungrily raked the tall form in front of her.

Turning, Kris drew the blonde into her arms, marveling at how the shapely body melded so perfectly to her own. Her heart raced as she inhaled the scent that was uniquely Shelby's and she tightened her embrace, passion and peacefulness vying for supremacy in her raging emotions.

Nuzzling the fragrant gold hair, she whispered, "I love you, you know. No one's ever made me feel like you do. With you in my arms, I feel like nothing can touch us, no one can hurt us, and I've never been happier in my life.

Her face buried in Kris' neck, Shelby smiled a deep radiant smile of contentment. She knew exactly what her partner meant. She never wanted to move, never wanted to break the enchantment of being in this woman's arms. Then she felt Kris' hands begin to stroke her back and heard the other woman's voice, husky with desire.

"I'd like to make love to you."

Shelby's skin was contracting with each movement of her partner's fingers, fueling the fire already burning hotly within her. Her voice sounding strange to her own ears, she breathed, "God, yes!"

Kris took a deep breath to slow her racing desire. She wanted this to be special for Shelby and didn't want to rush. She unbuttoned each button deliberately, taking her time, fighting the urge to hurry. Separating the fabric, she eased it over her partner's shoulders, letting it slide to the floor. Leaning forward she shared a kiss with Shelby.

Utterly captivated by the blue eyes burning into hers, Shelby's hands fumbled with the buttons on Kris' shirt, her fingers not cooperating as her body thrilled to the magical feel of her partner's touch on her exposed skin.

Shrugging off her unbuttoned blouse, Kris reached behind Shelby, and unfastened her bra. Within seconds it joined the growing pile of clothes on the floor, as Kris paused to admire the firm, full breasts, before softly kissing each erect nipple.

Shelby sucked in a breath, arching in to the sensations elicited by the warm lips. She slid her arms around Kris, undoing and removing her partner's bra, brushing her fingers across the bare breasts in front of her.

Kris struggled to control her desire. Wanting to just rip the rest of their clothes off, she murmured, "You have no idea what you're doing to me," and ran her fingers down the middle of her partner's abdomen, stopping at the top of Shelby's shorts.

"I hope it's the same thing you're doing to me." Shelby reached over and grasped the elastic waistband of the uniform slacks that Kris had worn home, tugging downward.

Kris smiled and winked. "I'll get these if you get yours."

Shelby returned the smile. "Deal."

Within seconds, the two women stood face to face, each admiring the other's shape and substance.

Kris closed the minute distance between them and embraced Shelby, electrified by the feel of the younger woman's skin against her own. "Mmm." She lowered her mouth to Shelby's neck and left a path of wet, warm kisses in its wake.

Shelby felt a flicker of uncertainty. She wanted to make love to Kris, but was suddenly overcome with doubts about her own inexperience.

Kris gazed at Shelby, sensing her unease. "If you're not ready, we can wait."

Looking into the concerned blue eyes, Shelby shook her head. "No. I'm ready. That is, I want to." Flustered, she tried again, "It's not that. It's just...I feel like... I don't know...really...what to do. I've never made love to a woman before."

Kris smiled warmly. "You've been doing just fine." She lifted Shelby's hand and kissed the palm. "Let me show you?"

Shelby gazed into the ardent blue eyes and nodded. "I want you to teach me how to make love to you."

Her partner's words acted as an aphrodisiac, and Kris guided Shelby towards the bed, pulling the covers down, then joining Shelby who slid over to the center of the bed, opening her arms as her lover moved smoothly into them.

Shelby's body thrilled to each caress of her partner's hands and to her mouth raining kisses upon her, feeling the love behind each touch as the sensations in her body continued building. Time became meaningless as her body soared toward release, until, breathless, she begged, "Kris, now."

When her partner complied, Shelby plunged into an idyll of bliss, her body convulsing as waves of pleasure rippled through her.

She felt Kris wrap her arms around her, holding her tightly until she finally stilled. Looking up at her partner with dreamy eyes, she whispered, "Oh, my God."

Kris smiled, brushing the bangs from her partner's forehead before kissing it. "I take it you liked?"

Shelby, drained, chuckled weakly. "You have to ask?"

"I wanted it to be special."

Looking into the serious blue eyes, Shelby assured Kris, "It was. You took me to a place," she struggled to find words to convey the depth of her feeling, "that I've never been before."

Smiling contentedly, Kris gazed at her partner. "I'm glad."

Shelby reached over and brushed her fingers against Kris' nipples, smiling as the flesh puckered at her touch. "I want to do that to you."

Kris' desire flared at the seductive words and she sucked in a breath when Shelby's teeth grazed one of her erect nipples.

"So, what do you say?"

Nodding, Kris said, "Yes, please."

Shelby urged Kris onto her back and then positioned herself over her partner. She gazed into the blue eyes, seeing the vulnerability so carefully hidden from the world, and her heart melted.

Guarding that trust, Shelby began a slow exploration of her new lover's body, her nervousness forgotten as Kris eagerly responded to her touches, her body pleading for more until time lost all meaning in the consummation of their love.



*  *  *

The next morning, Kris and Shelby departed for Lisa's house at 10am. Kris was quiet most of the trip, deep in thought. She was happy her mother was alive, but still had no idea how to relate to her. They were worlds apart. Shelby knew her mother better than she did now. How do you recapture a bond that you thought was gone forever? Would her mother accept who she was? These and other questions haunted her.

She thought about what Shelby had said about how much Masha loved her, but it was hard to wrap her mind around that. She loved the mother she treasured in her memory, but was she still the person Kris remembered from childhood? She found herself nervously excited, and was thankful for the comforting feel of her lover's hand resting on her thigh, soothing her roiling emotions.

Shelby squeezed Kris leg when they pulled into the driveway and parked. "Ready?"

Kris quirked a tentative half-smile. "Ready as I'll ever be."

She followed Shelby to the door, watched her partner knock, and then followed her into the house.

Lisa had seen Shelby's car turn into the driveway from the living room window and hurried to the kitchen to greet her and Kris. Masha had indicated she would wait for her daughter there, wanting some privacy for their reunion.

Lisa smiled at Kris. "She's in the living room."

Kris nodded, steeled herself for the reunion, and left the kitchen.