A/N: Greetings!
Note: This story is set in the very early 2000s, like 2000-2002. Just FYI in case you're like, "What the..." on some things, lol.
Review:
Shaky - Thanks for the review! This story is rated M for a reason, so yeah. Also, the emphasis is on the physical currently for a reason. And Finn isn't just a regular ex in this story. Anyway, if you continue reading this story, hopefully you will get some things cleared up for you. :)
Without further ado, the next chapter!
Rachel swam for a while and then did a little sunbathing. She had a natural tan and didn't burn easily but hadn't been exposed to much sun lately, so she wanted to be careful not to overdo it. After coating herself with a liberal amount of sunscreen, she stretched out in a lounge chair on the upper deck of the boat.
Quinn stood near the railing with a collection of fishing gear scattered around her. Rachel decided to lie on her stomach but turned her head so that she could admire the blonde's casting techniques. Every line of her body was aesthetically pleasing.
Rachel couldn't help remembering how firm, yet soft, Quinn had felt when she had latched on to the taller woman this morning. Even the memory of Quinn's reaction had the brunette's blood hotter than the sun baked her skin.
It had been so long since anyone had held her, tightly and securely. Just held her. Without pretense, without making demands she couldn't accept.
Quinn had wanted her this morning. At least, the blonde's body hungered for hers. The thought thrilled a very private, primal part of her. Rachel found her wildly attractive and was pleased that the other woman reciprocated the feeling, even if neither of them planned to act on it. It still gave her ego a much-needed boost, a warm, fuzzy feeling to hug to herself.
Finn hadn't wanted her in a physical sense. He'd had plenty of women willing to satisfy his carnal desires. He had been openly affectionate in public but very impersonal in private. The setup had suited her needs, yet it had kept her isolated. She'd had no one she could trust or be comfortable with for months.
Quinn had to be applauded for not trying to take advantage of their forced intimacy. Rachel hadn't known whether the ex-agent's legendary honor extended to personal relationships. She supposed it did, yet she had an insane urge to entice the blonde beyond her control.
What would it take to make her lose control? What kind of person would it take to make a woman like her forget everything but raw, primitive need? Did such a person exist? Was she stupid even to speculate? Probably. Rachel had never been the type to stir anyone to unbridled passion.
Deciding her backside had been exposed long enough, Rachel turned to offer her front to the sun. Quinn had fussed about her staying on the deck too long, but it felt as close to heaven as she had ever known.
Finn, Berry, the agency, and its moles were far, far away while she basked on her tiny island of freedom. She tilted a visor over her eyes but managed to keep Quinn in full view. Rachel loved watching the lithe movements of her arms and shoulders as she swung the fishing pole to cast out her line. Her subdued but obvious strength fascinated the brunette.
The midday sun soon had every inch of her skin tingling from prolonged exposure. Flesh that had been cooled by the water was now sizzling. Heat penetrated her bikini top to tighten her nipples, spreading the nerve-titillating sensation throughout her body. Watching her sexy companion increased her arousal, so she shut her eyes and tried to get a rein on her wayward libido.
Dozing and unaware of the passing time, she continued to rest until a shadow fell over her body. At the same time, she felt the gentle splash of something cool on her neck. It sizzled on her overheated flesh. Peeking from beneath the visor, she glared at Quinn. The blonde stood beside her chaise, dribbling bottled water on her sun-drenched skin.
It felt like a liquid caress against her bare flesh, so cool and sensual that her breasts grew full and tight. For that reason only, she gasped and glared at the other woman. Quinn returned her gaze with an unrepentant and totally wicked grin.
"Time's up," the taller woman quipped mischievously.
Rachel tipped her visor back over her eyes. "Uh-uh, I'm not on a schedule."
"Oh, yeah, you are," Quinn responded, the playfulness gone from her voice.
Oh, joy; Ms. Serious is back again, Rachel thought with an inward sigh.
Quinn continued on, just as seriously, "You've had enough sun and enough exposure for one day. It's not safe to stay out here too long."
She had a point, but that didn't mean the brunette had to like it. "Go away. You're just mad because you can't catch any fish," she replied petulantly.
The blonde scoffed and raised that eyebrow of hers that Rachel found entirely too sexy. "What makes you think that?"
She couldn't confess to having watched Quinn's every move, so she improvised. "I haven't heard any triumphant whoops," she drawled. "I think they're a must for you sporty, competitive types."
That cheeky grin was back in place. "Competitive, huh? What if I'm just a kind, sensitive woman who throws the fish back in the water?"
Rachel rolled her eyes in disbelief, and then she returned Quinn's grin. In that instant of teasing, something hot and electric flashed between them. So hot that the brunette's muscles tensed and her breath got caught in her throat.
Quinn's eyes grew hooded, her features a taut mask as she stared down at the shorter woman. Rachel licked her lips, feeling wary, yet wildly excited by the fierce hunger throbbing between them. She needed to diffuse the situation before it erupted into passion, yet the look in Quinn's eyes held her mesmerized.
"If you're going to waste your water, dribble some into my mouth," Rachel said huskily, never imagining that the simple action could take on the impetus of sexual foreplay.
Quinn did as she asked, watching the brunette with an unblinking concentration as she swallowed and then lapped the excess off her lips. The unbridled flash of excitement in Quinn's eyes caused Rachel's breathing to grow shallow. Her heart banged against her chest as every nerve ending in her body quivered with anticipation.
Closing her eyes against the ferocity of the desire in Quinn's, Rachel struggled to regain control of her rampaging pulse. Counting to ten and practicing her deep-breathing technique seemed the most practical course of action. At least, until the blonde began to paint her body with the remaining water.
Rachel felt the cooling stream of liquid start at her fingertips, run up her arms, across her chest, and then down the other arm. Her skin sizzled, the cool water on her hot flesh causing a potent reaction in every cell of her body.
Next, Quinn bathed her left foot, letting the water tickle over her toes and then zigzag its way up her calf to her thigh. She felt its pooling coolness on her stomach, where Quinn painted a slow, leisurely pattern of water that caused her breathing to falter and her muscles to contract.
Her right leg got equal treatment, from toes to thigh, and then the water settled in her naval. Rachel was coming apart at the seams. The erotic bath made her breasts swell against the confines of the bikini top, her nipples aching for attention.
She didn't think she could get any more aroused, until Quinn aimed the water directly onto those rigid peaks. She slowly and painstakingly saturated each nipple through the cloth until Rachel's nerves sung with tension and she felt like launching herself off the chaise.
Her sharply indrawn breath signaled the devastating impact the blonde's caresses were having on her self-control.
"Quinn!" The exclamation was a tangle of shock, reprimand, and exhilaration. The other woman's first name slipped out, inadvertently destroying another small barrier between them.
"I'm cooling you off," the taller woman merely stated.
The words were simple, but Quinn's husky tone conveyed a more primal message. Her voice was thick with desire. She wanted Rachel. Maybe as much as Rachel wanted her. The brunette dragged in a breath and opened her eyes, leveling her gaze at the other woman's body. She stood so close that her arousal was plain to see. Quinn's own breasts were fuller than before, and her nipples were obviously hard and straining against her bikini top, signaling her own undeniable hunger.
Oh, my God. Rachel knew she should close her eyes and block out the sight, but her body wasn't obeying the frantic mental commands. This woman had the power to make Rachel forget all her carefully formed plans. Feeling suddenly overwhelmed and out of her league, her panicked brain searched for a way to shatter the escalating tension.
"I think I'll take a swim. That should cool me down." Rachel intended to make a firm announcement, but the words came out all low and shaky. Clearing her throat she tried again. "Maybe we both better take a dip."
Quinn took a step backward and offered the brunette her hand, her gaze never wavering from Rachel's. The green in the blonde's eyes had gone dark and hazy with need, but Quinn allowed her some space. Rachel slipped her hand into Quinn's and let the other woman draw her to her feet. The touch of skin on skin lit more fires along her nerves. Another minute of contact and Rachel was sure she'd disintegrate into a pile of ashes.
"Race you?" The brunette's challenge lacked spirit, coming out all confused and breathy.
"Not until I get a drink of that water," Quinn said on a low growl, pulling Rachel tight against her chest and taking her mouth with savage hunger.
Quinn tossed the empty water bottle aside and clutched Rachel's head with both hands as she moved her mouth against the brunette's. The force of the kiss left Rachel helpless to respond or withdraw, until the blonde gradually eased the pressure. Then Rachel opened her mouth and welcomed Quinn's tongue with abandon, stroking and sucking until she drew a moan from deep in the taller woman's throat.
Her hands clutched at the blonde's slim waist, the feel of the soft, warm skin making her eager for closer contact. Quinn continued to cradle her head, devouring her mouth, while Rachel strained to fit their bodies more snugly together. The blonde's rigid nipples pressed into her own chest, making her insides quiver. Her legs began to tremble, and soon Quinn's strength was all that kept her upright.
Quinn finally lifted her mouth, allowing them to gulp in air, and then she nibbled at the brunette's lips while Rachel fought to regain some control. Her desire for the blonde was too strong, frighteningly so. She had never wanted someone as much as she wanted Quinn, and that scared the hell out of her.
Desire warred with common sense, but then Quinn recaptured her mouth for another long, deep kiss. The taller woman coaxed Rachel's tongue into her mouth and sucked deeply. She felt the pull of it deep in the pit of her stomach. Moaning and rocking against her, Rachel felt herself falling off a dangerous precipice and fought to pull herself back from the edge.
"Quinn, please!" she whispered against the blonde's soft, delicious mouth, unclear of what she begged for most.
"Tell me you want this," Quinn insisted huskily, grasping the brunette's hips, lifting her and pulling her legs around her waist.
The action brought their sensitive nipples together and Rachel's wet center flush against the blonde's torso. Rachel gasped at the exquisite feel. So close. The satisfaction she craved was so close, the blonde's body pressing firmly against her throbbing core. She rocked herself against the blonde and then swallowed her moan in another ravishing kiss.
"Bed?" Quinn asked again, while her slender fingers dug into Rachel's flesh and pulled her still impossibly closer.
Yes! Take me to bed! Rachel thought, but she couldn't get the words past the lump in her throat. She wanted Quinn, ached for her, yet something kept her from making the final commitment.
"No!" She almost screamed the word.
Quinn jerked her head back as though Rachel had slapped her. Rachel felt one of her fingers pressing into her skin as the blonde's features underwent a frightening transformation. Rachel watched in horror as contempt replaced the passion in her hazel eyes.
"Forget yourself for a while?" Quinn spat in a soft, dangerous tone that sent a shiver over her. "Or are you as skilled at teasing as you are at everything else? Another day, another conquest? Is that how you operate?"
For just an instant, Rachel felt a shiver of fear. Quinn's demeanor had changed in the space of a heartbeat. The drastic change shook her, and then it made her sick with shame.
She shouldn't have screamed, but her instinct had been to protect them both. Quinn believed her to be capable of selling herself, body and soul. It only proved how little they really knew each other. Succumbing to passion would satisfy a temporary urge but ultimately make their situation worse.
Rachel tried to pull out of her grasp, but the taller woman wouldn't let her go. Instead, Quinn swung her into her arms. Stifling the desire to scream, Rachel clung as the blonde moved across the deck.
"Hold your breath," she commanded firmly.
The next thing she knew, they were catapulting down the sliding board. They hit the water hard and sank so deep that Rachel nearly panicked. Quickly disentangling herself from the other woman's arms, she fought her way to the surface and dragged in a much-needed breath of air.
Quinn swiftly put some distance between them, swimming toward the show with strong, sure strokes. Rachel watch her, her heart heavy. What must Quinn think of her? And why did it matter so much? Quinn had been equally guilty in the explosion of passion, but she felt like a fool and a phony.
After dragging in a few long breaths, Rachel floated in the water until she had recovered her composure. When Quinn started swimming back toward the boat, the brunette climbed from the water and headed straight for the shower.
Once she'd finished, Quinn took a turn, and Rachel made them a light lunch. They ate in silence, each having withdrawn into a protective shell. Then the blonde spent the next couple of hours boating around the lake while she watched a movie. Despite their separate pastimes, each was acutely aware of the other's proximity.
Toward late afternoon, Quinn realized the fuel tank was getting low. She turned to Rachel, allowing herself to study her for the first time since she had had the shorter woman in her arms. Her muscles tightened at the memory, but she determinedly ignore the reaction.
Once her hormones were under control, she had gotten over the anger at the brunette's rejection. Rachel had prevented them from committing a major act of stupidity. Pregnancy obviously wasn't a concern, but there were other issues to consider. It shook her to think that she almost had sex with a woman who'd shared her body with scum like Hudson.
The thought both disgusted her and infuriated her. The disgust was normal, but the anger wasn't, and that worried her. She had no business getting more deeply involved.
Aside from Maggie, there hadn't been many serious relationships in her life. In her early years she had been too focused on her career to think about long-term commitments. Since Maggie, she'd been too wary. Anytime she got involved, it was with the clear understanding that Quinn wasn't looking for permanency.
She should be thanking Rachel for calling a halt to an explosive situation, but she couldn't find the words.
Rachel had put on a pair of pink shorts with a white, cropped top that partially bared her midriff. Her hair looked clean, soft, and shiny. Her arms and legs already looked a shade darker and just the tiniest bit sunburned.
Quinn had been aware of her activity ever since the movie ended, but now she realized that the brunette had been baking. The scent of cookies filled the galley, making the blonde's mouth water. She couldn't remember the last time she had had freshly baked cookies.
Focusing her thoughts back to the need at hand, she looked over at Rachel. "We need to refuel," she said, capturing the other woman's attention.
Rachel looked directly at her, but her expression remained guarded.
"According to this map, there's a huge dock called Burnside at the other end of the lake. I'm heading there now," the blonde explained.
Rachel nodded. "It might be better to steer clear of the dock where we left the car. That way none of the staff will get too familiar with the sight of us."
"We need to call Berry," Quinn added, "but we can't use a local pay phone. Do you have a cell phone?"
"Yes, but it's probably of no use out here. It should work once we get to a little higher elevation," Rachel replied somberly.
Quinn nodded in understanding. "Okay, then, we'll dock, refuel, and take a hike until we can get a signal."
Rachel merely nodded, looking more subdued than Quin had ever seen her. It made her feel guilty, yet irritated by the guilt. She searched for a way to ease the disturbing tension between them.
"You sharing any of those cookies? They smell really good," the blonde said, offering an olive branch.
The innocent pleasure that lit the shorter woman's features cause a knot to form in Quinn's gut. Rachel offered her a tentative smile along with the cookies, and the knot tightened, a sure sign that Quinn was beginning to care too much. She knew better than to get emotionally involved, yet the captivating brunette made it hard to maintain an impersonal distance.
"They're just the packaged kind you slice and bake," she warned, easing more of the strained atmosphere.
The blonde shrugged. "Beggars can't be choosers," she said, taking a handful. She thanked her companion and turned back to the wheel.
The refueling didn't take much time. After they had finished, Quinn steered them into an empty berth where she secured the boat. Rachel grabbed her oversize bag, and they started climbing the winding path toward the highway.
People and cars came and went, but no one paid them much attention. They were just another couple of strangers in an area swarming with vacationers. They walked steadily uphill for half an hour, and then settled onto the wooden bench while Rachel called Berry.
"The call's being forwarded," she said. "He's probably not home from the office yet."
Quinn leaned her head closer so that she could hear any conversation, but the move brought her face disturbingly close to the brunette's. Close enough that she could smell the coconut scent of her shampoo. Her pulse reacted, and then she heard the click of a connection.
"Berry."
"It's Phantom," replied Rachel.
"You and Fabray okay?"
"We're fine," Quinn said. "How's everything on your end? Is Hudson behind bars?"
Berry's tone was grim. "Not yet."
"Why not?" they demanded in unison.
"The district attorney got the indictment, but we're waiting on a search warrant for his estate. As soon as we have it, we'll arrest him. I don't want to give him an opportunity to have evidence destroyed. We want to take him and his cohorts by surprise, or they'll go into hiding behind a bunch of high-priced lawyers."
"Sounds like a solid plan," said Quinn.
"Is there anything I should look for besides his business records?"
"My suite of rooms is on the northeast corner of the house," explained Rachel. "The closet has a circular clothes rack with a center section portioned off for shoes. That's where you'll find the videotapes I couldn't smuggle out with me. There should be five. It's important that you keep the one labeled 'Party.' The rest can be turned in to the agency."
"Why should I keep any of them? You know it won't be valid evidence unless it's legally confiscated during the search."
"It's not part of the evidence," she insisted. "It's personal and so important, Leroy. You have to get all of the tapes and keep that one for me. I don't trust another soul with it."
"Whatever you say. I'll take care of it myself."
"Promise?"
"On my life," he assured her, and then added, "We're going to get him."
Quinn felt Rachel relax, on then realizing how tense she'd been during the conversation. Quinn's curiosity about her just went up a couple more notches. What kind of tape had she hidden? Was it personally incriminating? Maybe an X-rated video of the two of them? The thought made her stomach clench.
She supposed it could be some kind of weird or deviant game Hudson played. Maybe he'd taped her without her knowledge, or in a compromising situation. Rachel wouldn't want it to fall into the wrong hands. The idea made the blonde furious.
Her voice held a low throb of anger as she spoke to Berry. "We've got to go. What next?"
"Stay low and call again tomorrow about the same time. I should have good news by then."
"Is Hudson still proclaiming his fiancée's been kidnapped?"
"Yeah, but I didn't have to disclose Rachel's identity. Someone tipped the press off to another possibility."
"What possibility?"
"That Hudson's fiancée wasn't kidnapped and actually ran off with her lover. Someone much younger. And a woman."
Quinn tilted her head enough to lock gazes with Rachel. She watched the brunette's eyes darken at the suggestion, and then Rachel lowered her lashes to hide her reaction.
The ploy amused Quinn, easing some of the tightness in her chest. "You wouldn't have been responsible for that bit of gossip, would you?"
Berry's response was all innocence. "I'm just doing my part to keep my FBI buddies in North Carolina informed. And you know how the media always jumps on every new angle."
Quinn smiled and glanced at Rachel again. She looked equally pleased by Berry's tactics.
"Sounds like you've got everything under control. We'll get back to you tomorrow," the ex-agent replied.
Rachel said goodbye and closed the phone. Then she looked up at the blonde. "Is there someone you'd like to call?"
Quinn shook her head, wondering if anyone aside from Berry worried about the shorter woman. During her years at the agency, she had found it impossible to sustain close relationships, but then, she'd always been a loner.
Except for Maggie. Friends who had tolerated long absences were rare, but Maggie had understood and been a true friend. Quinn would never forgive herself for not being there when her partner needed her most. On that last fatal assignment.
All the more reason to see that Hudson rotted in Hell.
"We'd better get back to the boat," she said.
Quinn studied their surroundings as they retraced their path to the dock. When the path narrowed, Rachel took the lead. She stepped around a rock, and Quinn accidentally bumped into her, but they quickly severed the contact.
One touch was enough to stir the blonde's imagination. She'd fought to suppress the image of the other woman on that chaise – her lush body glistening in the sunshine and clothed in nothing but a few strips of cloth.
Her breasts had been plump, their peaks beading into fat buttons when Quinn had teased them with water. Her mouth, so eager and responsive. God, what a luscious mouth. Quinn could have feasted on it for hours.
And her legs.
Quinn stared at her backside when the brunette stepped ahead of her again. Her hips were slim but nicely rounded. She had long, well-toned legs. Great legs. Quinn could still feel the strength of Rachel's thighs wrapped around her, and the heat of her body arching against her own. Quinn had almost lost it completely.
She had never wanted a woman more, had never wanted to bury herself in someone and claim full possession. She wasn't the possessive type. Never had been. She had never experienced such a fierce desire to conquer and possess. Not until this morning, and Rachel.
Need still clawed through her, but there was no way she would act on it now. The timing was all wrong. Rachel might have been as aroused as she was, but the other woman hadn't minced words when she wanted to shoot her down. The brunette's panicked "no" had been as subtle as a slap to the face.
They boarded the houseboat with no more than a passing nod to a couple of strangers. Everybody had their own agenda and nobody had the time or inclination to chat, which worked in their favor. Blending into the crowd had never been more satisfying.
"You want to take it out this time," she asked, after making a quick security check through the houseboat.
Rachel nodded. "Sure."
The shorter woman preceded Quinn into the cabin and took a seat behind the wheel. She started the engine while the blonde untied the mooring ropes. Then Rachel slowly steered them through the maze of docks and boat traffic until they were in the main waterway again.
"My turn to cook," Quinn announced. She joined the brunette in the cabin area and helped herself to another cookie. They were delicious. "What'll it be?"
"What can you cook?" Rachel asked, looking over at the blonde briefly.
Quinn rummaged through the refrigerator. "How about some grilled pork chops and baked potatoes? I think I can manage that."
Rachel nodded in agreement. "Perfect."
They ate their meal a half-hour later after dropping anchor in another small cove. Rachel complimented Quinn's cooking skills and ate everything on her plate. Both were careful not to make too much eye contact or broach sensitive subjects. Studied politeness became the rule of thumb.
The sky grew cloudy at dusk, and a small shower kept them inside the cabin. Rachel watched a cooking show while Quinn curled up on the sofa with a book. Quinn divided her attention between the book and the other woman, until the hunger in her reared its ugly head again.
By the time the rain stopped around ten o'clock, she was more than ready to escape the confines of the cabin. The sky had cleared, so she wanted a last look around the area.
"I'm going up on deck for a while," she said.
Rachel glanced up from the TV. Then she shut it off. "I'm getting tired, but I'd like to sit outside for a few minutes before I call it a night."
Wonderful, Quinn thought wearily to herself. Outwardly, however, she merely nodded and advised, "Grab a towel for your chair. It'll be wet."
The brunette nodded and heeded the advice before heading outside.
Quinn followed her up the ladder, trying hard to ignore the gentle sway of her behind and the legs that were driving her crazy. As soon as they reached the deck, the blonde distanced herself and flopped down in one of the lounge chairs. Rachel sat in the one she'd used earlier in the day.
A silent groan rumbled in Quinn's chest at the sight of her. The shorter woman appealed to her even more than she had earlier. Her cautious reserve made her all the more alluring.
"Do you have a headache?" Quinn asked.
Rachel glanced at her with a quizzical expression. "No, why do you ask?"
"You're rubbing the back of your neck again. I've seen you do it several times in the past few days. I thought maybe you suffer from tension headaches," she explained.
Realization dawned on her face before she shook her head. "No, I just have a sore spot on my neck."
She hesitated, making Quinn wonder if she intended to explain or leave her in the dark. Then the brunette continued.
"I had a weird little accident while I was at Finn's estate. I'm still not sure how it happened. I guess Finn and I bumped into each other at the bottom of the stairs. I cracked the back of my head on the corner of the newel. It bled so much that it needed stitches."
"He took you to the hospital?" Quinn questioned incredulously.
Rachel laughed softly. "When you have the kind of money and clout Finn has, they bring the hospital to you. Some doctor friend of his rushed to the house. He administered a local anesthetic, put a couple of stitches in the back of my neck, and went on his way again. I hardly felt a thing."
Worry sprouted up in the blonde. "You were never unconscious? You're sure Hudson wasn't somehow responsible?"
Rachel shook her head. "At first I wondered if I'd blown my cover, and he was planning to drug me or something, but he seemed genuinely concerned. He and the doctor were very attentive."
"Did you need to have the stitches removed?"
"He said they'd dissolve naturally," the brunette replied.
"And the cut is still hurting?" The strength of her concern for the other woman alarmed Quinn, though there was little she could do to stop it.
"It doesn't hurt; it just throbs once in a while," she explained.
It still didn't sound good to the blonde. "Maybe it's infected. Lake water is full of bacteria."
She shook her head again. "It's not that sensitive. I meant to have Paulo check it when he did my hair. I forgot, but he would have noticed if it looked red or irritated."
"I can take a look at it in the morning if you want," Quinn offered, knowing the shorter woman wasn't likely to ask.
Rachel smiled genuinely. "Thanks, I'll let you know if it starts to bother me again."
Quinn doubted that but let the subject drop. Looking at her and thinking about her was distracting enough. So much so that the blonde forced herself to focus on their surroundings.
The inky sky was brilliant with its canopy of stars. Water lapped lazily against the shore, the waves rocking them in their wake. Breathing deeply, Quinn let the warm, rain-washed freshness of the air seep into her senses.
It was soothing as well as arousing, creating a sensual delight and bringing her body to full, aching awareness. The kind of awareness that no amount of moonlight would soothe. Quinn wondered if Rachel felt it as strongly as she did.
The night was meant for loving, for oh-so-slow caresses, hot, tangled bodies, and deep, drugging kisses. But making love wasn't on their agenda. The woman she lusted after didn't want involvement and had ruthlessly reminded her of that.
It might be a very long night.
A/N: Things are starting to get interesting! Next chapter to come shortly!