CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT. Jake opened her eyes, instantly aware of the woman curled beside her

Jake opened her eyes, instantly aware of the woman curled beside her. She lay flat on her back, Nicole snuggled at her side, arm wrapped around Jake's midsection. She let her breath out slowly, mentally reliving the night. They had talked some, yes, talked about the case. But hands wouldn't stop touching, lips wouldn't stop seeking. She closed her eyes, her arms tightening around Nicole.

How had it come to this? At her age, how did she become so... insatiable? It wasn't like other partners hadn't wanted sex all night long. Heather, in fact, ten years her junior, had begged for it. Jake had tried to keep up, really she had. But it was a halfhearted attempt. Nicole however, could take Jake places she had never been. And a rather pleased part of her knew that she did the same to Nicole.

But what did that mean? They were good in bed? That much was obvious. But the ties ran deeper for Jake and she suspected they did for Nicole, too. But, Nicole was damn near closeted. Where in the world would Jake fit into her life? What they shared in bed was most likely all they could ever share. As Nicole had said numerous times, Jake was not her normal date.

Lost in thought, she was startled when warm lips covered a nipple. With her eyes closed, she felt Nicole's hand slide across her skin, and Jake's hips involuntarily rose to meet that hand. Insatiable? Yes.

But Nicole simply touched her, that lazy hand moving over her thighs, pausing briefly at the now healed scar, and back up again, finally resting on Jake's breast.

" Are you teasing me? "

Jake felt Nicole smile against her breast. " No. Just... touching you."

Nicole sat up, resting her head in the palm of her hand as she watched Jake, her other hand still drawing lazy circles around Jake's nipple.

" You're not sorry, are you? "

Jake raised her eyebrows. " Sorry? "

" That we... made love. I know, the night before, you thought it was a mistake."

Jake smiled. " It's a mistake if my lieutenant finds out."

" Rick was okay with this? "

" No, not really." Jake sat up, too, leaning against the head-board. " I told him that I could keep this separate. And I think that I can. It's just that I've not ever had to try before."

" Yes. But this case might be over in a day, a week, " Nicole shrugged.

" Yeah. It could be over soon." And then what? Would Nicole just walk out of her life again? Most likely. " We hope it's over soon, anyway. Five murders to pin on this guy are enough, and I know you're ready to get your life back to normal."

Nicole attempted to smile. Back to normal? Back to her lonely house, and the never-ending stream of blind dates? Back to her life... where there was no place for Jake. Strangely, that thought made her heart ache.