The Cost of Commitment - KJ2 Read online

  “Gentlemen, I think it’s time.”

  The waiters, who had been standing at a discreet distance inside the doorway to the kitchen, moved with efficiency and grace into the room, carrying serving plates. The first server bowed slightly at Jay’s side.

  “Would you care for some French onion soup?”

  She smiled at him. “I’d love some, thank you.” To her partner she said, “Um, should I ask how you pulled this off and who these fine gentlemen are? Or where, exactly, the delicious food is coming from? I mean, it smells like it’s coming from our kitchen, but...”

  “Very observant, my dear.”

  Jay waited for Kate to finish the thought. When nothing more was forthcoming she said, “That’s it? That’s it? You’re not going to tell me how dinner is getting to our table?”

  “What does it matter as long as you like it?”

  “Stretch, you know how I am when my curiosity is aroused.”

  Kate grinned evilly. “I know how you are when you are aroused.” Her gaze dropped to her lover’s breasts.

  Jay blushed. “Don’t change the topic. You know what I meant.”

  “Okay, if you must know, I brought in a master chef to cook for us this evening. Are you happy now? Satisfied, Miss Snoop? No wonder you make such a good reporter.”

  “Thank you for answering me.” Jay leaned over and kissed Kate, a long, slow, sensuous joining of the lips that lasted for several moments.

  “If I had known that would be your response, I would have answered you sooner.”

  “Brat.”

  Kate gazed deeply into Jay’s eyes, which were accentuated by the combination of candlelight and the emerald color of her dress. “I will never tire of looking at you, you know that? You are the most beautiful woman in the world, and I still have to pinch myself to make sure this isn’t all a dream.”

  As Jay opened her mouth to respond, Kate’s business phone rang.

  Annoyed, Kate snarled, “That, on the other hand, is a nightmare. I’m sorry, love, I have to get that.”

  “I know. Go ahead, don’t worry. I’ll wait for you.”

  Moving to her office, Kate barked, “Kyle.”

  “Um, Kate, this is the command center. Sorry to bother you.”

  The Cost of Commitment

  “That’s okay, John.” She made a conscious effort to take the bite out of her tone. “What’s going on?” After all, Katherine, it isn’t his fault the job can be damned inconvenient at times.

  “Two inmates got into a fight in the mess hall at Auburn. One of ’em pulled a shank and stabbed the other. He’s gone to the hospital. Last word was he was in critical condition. They don’t think he’s gonna make it.”

  Kate was taking notes. “Okay, I’m going to need names, crimes they’re in for, sentences for each, whether they had any history together before tonight, race, how the officers responded, where the perp is now, and if this was just a one-on-one thing or part of something larger.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “John, that was, what...the third incident at Auburn in the last week that involved a weapon? What’s going on there? I need to know if there’s any hint of a connection between the events. I’ll tell you right now that the reporter for the paper out there is pretty sharp. It won’t take him long to put two and two together and wonder if he’s got four. Are we going to lock the place down and do a cell-by-cell? If so, word’s going to get out in a hurry.”

  “I’ll get right on it and get you answers ASAP, Kate.”

  “Thanks, John, I appreciate it.”

  Back in the dining room, Kate kissed Jay on the shoulder. “I’m sorry about that, love. Now, where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?”

  “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah, just murderers killing murderers. Another day in paradise.”

  “So it’s going to be a long night for you.”

  “Only if the reporters find out about it. For now, I’d much rather concentrate on you.”

  “Mm, that’s okay with me.”

  The rest of dinner was uninterrupted; they managed to eat their way through the salad for two, the petit filet mignon, lobster tails, asparagus tips hollandaise, and twice-baked potatoes without much difficulty.

  Except, that is, when Jay missed while trying to feed Kate some of the potatoes. To make up for her gaffe, she licked the overflow from Kate’s chin. The transgression was quickly forgotten.

  Unable to decide between the fresh apple cobbler and the homemade strawberry cheesecake, Jay opted to sample both, with Kate shaking her head in wonderment at her lover’s endless capacity for food. When Jay had polished off both desserts, she pushed back from the table.

  “Sure you’ve had enough?” Twinkling eyes regarded her adoringly.

  “Well...”

  Lynn Ames

  “Ugh. It’s a wonder you don’t weigh three hundred pounds. I can’t fathom where you put it all.”

  “You’re just jealous, that’s all.”

  “Yep, you’re right. How did you know?”

  “I’ve seen the type before.”

  Again, the business phone forestalled further conversation. “I’ll be right back, sweetheart. I’m really sorry about this. I wanted tonight to be perfect.”

  “It is perfect, love. Don’t worry about it; it’s not as if it’s something you can control.”

  Actually, at the moment Kate was contemplating how long it would take her to fly out to Auburn to finish both inmates off herself. However, recognizing the impracticality of that solution, she opted to answer the phone instead. “Kyle.”

  “Hi, Kate, it’s John again, in the command center. I’ve got your answers for you. Unfortunately, the poor slob died a half hour ago. Here are the particulars...”

  She listened and asked more questions for the better part of a half hour, taking notes and formulating strategy. Then she hung up and glanced at the clock over her desk. 10:02 p.m. Jay was right; it was likely to be yet another long night. Sighing, she made her way out of her office, stopping in the kitchen long enough to thank Barbara again for her services.

  “Oh, you know me, Kate, I’m a sucker for a good romance.”

  “And I’m grateful, my friend. Good night.”

  “You better get going before she goes to bed without you.” Barbara turned and made her way out into the night, the waiters and sous chef having preceded her.

  Kate found Jay in the family room picking out music. Sneaking up behind her, she tilted her head and took a small nibble out of the side of her neck. She felt the shiver even as Jay’s head tipped back to give her better access.

  Given the invitation, Kate wrapped long arms around Jay from behind, pulling their bodies into close contact. She continued to taste and lick her way up to her lover’s earlobe, sucking it into her mouth and biting down lightly.

  Jay groaned, and Kate could feel compact abdominal muscles contracting beneath her hands. Jay turned in the circle of her arms, placing feather-light kisses on her collarbones and chest.

  “Um, sweetheart, before we get too carried away here, I have something for you.”

  “Love, you are something for me,” Jay purred as she licked her way across to Kate’s bare shoulder.

  The Cost of Commitment

  Kate pushed away just enough to give herself room to maneuver.

  Reaching inside her bra, she extracted something shiny.

  “Hey, I could’ve done that.”

  “Yes, and I hope you will...later.” Again, Kate had to still her lover’s wandering hands.

  “Jay, this is for you, because you are the most brilliant gem in my life. I wanted to give you a tangible reminder of how we first met.” She gently grasped her lover’s arm, turning it over so that the palm faced up.

  She kissed the sensitive skin there before concentrating on the task at hand. Stepping back slightly, she waited as Jay examined her wrist.

  “My God, love, you didn’t have to do this. It’s gorgeous!” On her right wri
st sparkled a three-carat diamond tennis bracelet.

  “I love you, Jamison.”

  Jay flew back into her arms. “I love you, too, sweetheart, but you are the only tangible reminder I’ll ever need of how we first met.”

  Kate kissed the top of the fair head she cherished so much, then eyelids, nose, cheeks, and, finally, the perfect lips that beckoned her. She felt Jay’s nipples harden through the thin material of her dress as she deepened the kiss, sucking gently on Jay’s tongue before releasing it to explore further.

  They continued to kiss as Kate guided them up the stairs to their bedroom, Fred trailing behind, used to this behavior from his humans.

  She slowly lowered the zipper on Jay’s dress, kissing and caressing every inch of newly exposed flesh, letting the material slide to the floor and helping her lover step out of it. Slip and pantyhose followed close behind, until, finally, the only remaining barriers were a strapless bra and a pair of very sexy lace bikini underwear.

  Kate returned to Jay’s mouth momentarily as she released the catches on the bra, freeing creamy white breasts and painfully erect nipples. She kissed and licked along the underside of first the left breast and then the right while sliding her hands up the inside of Jay’s thighs.

  “Argh, love, please. I need you so much.” Jay tried to back up to the bed, but Kate held her fast.

  “No, babe. I want you to stand.” This she said as she ran her tongue around the rim of one nipple.

  “Sweetheart, I’ll fall over.”

  “No, you won’t. I’ve got you. Just hang on to me.”

  “Ah!”

  Kate’s hand was following the outline of her lover’s panties as her other hand traced a line up Jay’s body from her abdomen to her breasts.

  “God, love, I’m so wet for you. Please, I can’t take it anymore.”

  Slowly removing Jay’s panties, Kate knelt, quickly swirling her tongue in the warm wetness that awaited her. She closed her eyes and Lynn Ames

  savored the taste with the same sense of wonder she’d felt every time they’d been together this way. She wasn’t quite ready to linger there, though; there was so much more that she wanted to do. She continued on her journey, her mouth tracing her lover’s bikini line, stopping to nibble on the insides of thighs as her hands explored soft, but firm flesh in place after place. “You are so, so very beautiful, love.”

  Jay was barely able to stay upright, her cries of urgency increasing with every stroke of her lover’s tongue. She clutched at Kate’s shoulders, trying to ground herself in the wake of unending sensation, able to articulate only a single word: “Please.”

  Hearing the desperation in her cry, Kate relented, returning to her Jay’s center, gently stroking her first, exploring her folds, tasting her clitoris, slowly drawing the moisture from her, before increasing the pressure and driving Jay over the top.

  Kate held on tight as Jay trembled, aftershocks rolling through her body like waves to the ocean’s shore. When they had passed, Kate guided Jay down onto the bed, removing her own clothes before joining her. She wrapped Jay in her arms and softly stroked her skin.

  “My God, woman, I think you just tried to kill me!”

  “Nah,” Kate smiled, “If I’d been trying, I’d have succeeded.”

  “Hmm. I’m tough to kill, ya know.”

  “Oh, yeah, I would suspect as mu—”

  Kate’s words were cut off when Jay inserted a leg between her thighs, rolling her over and pinning her to the bed, brushing lips and fingers over ribs, then up her breastbone to her shoulders, and finally back down to aching breasts, all the while rocking against her wet center.

  Kate arched up off the bed as Jay ran one hand down into her moist curls, entering her slowly while continuing to exert pressure with her thigh. When Jay bit down lightly on her nipple, Kate came with a sharp cry.

  The two women spent long, languorous hours loving each other before pulling up the covers and falling into a blissful slumber.

  The Cost of Commitment

  CHAPTER TWO

  ate’s peaceful sleep was shattered at exactly 2:14 a.m., Kaccording to the digital

  clock on her night table, when the

  somewhat muted but insistent ringing of her bedside business telephone combined with the vibration of her pager, which danced its way across the wooden surface and onto the floor.

  “Kyle.” Her voice was rough with sleep, which made perfect sense considering she and Jay had finally drifted off only two hours earlier.

  “Hello, Ms. Kyle, this is Danny Wenger from the Auburn Citizen. I’m sorry to wake you...” Kate thought he sounded about as convincing as a three-day-old dead toad, which is to say not very.

  “Hang on, will you? I’ve got to change phones.” She put him on hold.

  Next to her, Jay stirred briefly, mumbling in her sleep before settling back down. Kate regarded her lovingly; she looked so much like an angel. Sighing, she kissed her gently on the forehead, grabbed a robe from the bathroom, and headed downstairs to her office where Jay’s rest wouldn’t be disturbed by conversation.

  “Okay Mr. Wenger, what can I do for you?”

  “I understand an inmate died tonight at the Auburn Correctional Facility. Is that right?”

  “Yes, that’s correct.”

  “According to my sources, his name was Nathaniel Diggs, a guy doing time for murdering his girlfriend after she told him she was pregnant.”

  “The next of kin hasn’t been notified yet, so I cannot confirm or release any information about the deceased at this time.”

  “C’mon, Ms. Kyle, just tell me if I’m right or not. You know I am, all you have to do is confirm it.”

  “When’s your deadline, Danny?”

  Lynn Ames

  “It was two hours ago. They’re holding a few inches of space for me for the next half hour.”

  “Tell you what; I’lll try everything within my power to get you a yes or no before that time.”

  “Thanks.”

  “But if I can’t give you something either way by your deadline, you leave any supposition or unconfirmed rumor out of the piece.”

  “How am I supposed to scoop the early TV news if you don’t help me here?” He sounded like a petulant child.

  “Danny, ever hear the expression ‘it’s better to be right than first’? I think that applies here, okay?” In fact, Kate already knew the name of the deceased and that of the inmate who killed him. It just so happened that she was trying to save Danny’s ass—Nathaniel Diggs was actually the murderer, not the victim, although she couldn’t tell the reporter that until the dead man’s family had been notified. The only question now was whether or not this eager, young journalist was smart enough to listen between the words. Guess she’d find out later that day when the Auburn Citizen was published; since the victim’s family was in Ghana, West Africa, she seriously doubted she’d be able to give the press anything before the late editions in the afternoon.

  She had barely placed the receiver back in the cradle when it rang again.

  “Kate? This is Wendy Ashton from the Associated Press. How’ve you been?”

  “Great, Wendy, how’s life treating you?”

  “Can’t complain. My girlfriend does plenty of that for both of us.”

  “Ah, hates that you work the night beat, eh?”

  “You’ve got that right.”

  “Well, I’m pretty sure you didn’t call me at 2:40 a.m. to commiserate about your love life.”

  “Nah. Heard about the dead dude out at Auburn. Sounds like he got sliced up pretty good.”

  Ah, now here was a smart reporter. She stated her supposition as fact, expecting Kate simply to acknowledge her statement. Very slick.

  “I’m sorry, Wendy, I don’t have anything for you on cause of death or weapon yet. Wish I could help you there. I can tell you that a suspect is in custody.”

  “Very cute, Kate. Aren’t they all in custody inside a prison?”

  Oh, she was good. “Y
es, but this one is in the SHU.”

  “He’s in the special housing unit?”

  “Yes.”

  “Was he there before this incident put him there? You know, already in isolation?”

  The Cost of Commitment

  “Yes.”

  “Well, that narrows it down, now doesn’t it? Why, there must be only 83 or so guys in twenty-three-hour-a-day lockdown, right?”

  “Look on the bright side, Wendy: that’s better than the 1,785 that are in the general population.”

  “Gee, thanks. I hear from reliable sources that this isn’t the first dustup at Auburn this week. Any chance they’re connected?”

  There was no sense denying that there had been other incidents; it was a matter of public record. “It’s a little too early in the investigation to tell, Wendy. They’re still sorting it out.”

  “When will you know?”

  “Hard to say. I’d tell you to try back early next week. I might have something for you then.”

  And so the rest of the short night went. At a little after 3:45 a.m., Kate sneaked back up the stairs to their bedroom. Quietly, she slipped back under the covers, Jay immediately molding herself to her side. Kate savored the feeling of warmth and love that suffused her for the fifteen minutes left before the alarm was set to go off. Reaching over, she shut it off before it buzzed, preferring a more personal method of awakening her partner.

  “Mm.” Jay rolled over on top of Kate, who was busy peppering her bare shoulder with gentle kisses. “Now this is the way to wake up in the morning.” She smiled down at Kate, her expression morphing into a frown when she noticed the dark circles under Kate’s normally sharp eyes. “Did you get any sleep at all?”

  “A little.”

  “Maybe we should skip the workout and run this morning. You could sleep in a little longer.”

  “Nah, I’m okay. Besides, today is Friday. I’ll rest over the weekend, I promise.”

  “Where have I heard that before, Katherine?”

  In one smooth motion, Kate rose from the bed, carrying Jay with her and standing them both upright. “Let’s get a move on, Scoop; I’ve got to be in the office early and you’ve got a 6:30 a.m. train to catch.”

  “Killjoy,” Jay groused affectionately.