Once again, many thanks and extra cyber-cookies to A for Antechinus, Sez01, iheartsergeantsmith and Scription Addict for your reviews & constructive comments on the last chapter. You lovely people really do rock :) And thanks to Sez01 for spotting & pointing out the mistake with Heaton's rank, I've since gone back and corrected that :)
This chapter carries the same disclaimers as all the previous chapters. I still own diddly-squat!
Lorna lay back, trying her hardest to stifle her moans of pleasure as Sam's deft fingers traced over every contour of her body, mapping it's regions and thoroughly exploring places of interest. The light brushing of her lover's hair against her torso only added to the maddening sensations coursing through her, all congregating at one point at the juncture of her thighs. She murmured reassurances to the cautious blonde, letting her know when she stumbled across a sensitive area and then delighting in the attention lavished upon it. Her entire being was humming such was the level of her arousal but she was reluctant to push Sam for anything more, fearful that the other woman was needing the time to work up her nerve enough to touch Lorna in the most intimate of ways. Besides which, after so long of finding release solely by her own hand, she was enjoying the intensity of having someone else coax out her pleasure. James had been a patient lover, a passionate partner in the bedroom, but even he had never taken the time to map her entire body with his fingertips like Sam was in the process of doing. A soft warmth enveloped her left breast, laving the nipple with firm strokes of a powerful tongue, heightening her excitement to unsurpassed levels.
"Oh Jesus, Sam…" Lorna moaned sensually, arching her back into the contact and presenting even more of her flesh to the patient lover. Sam accepted the invitation without hesitation, sucking, nipping and nibbling at the sensitive area before soothing it gently with her tongue. The sounds emanating from the redhead were not only encouraging her in her endeavours but inflaming her desires to a heightened state once again. Her fears about not being satisfied or being able to satisfy were receding further with each passing second as she let instinct guide her. One hand trailed lower over the smooth expanse of flesh between breasts and belly, fingers tangling momentarily in the sparse patch of auburn curls at the juncture of Lorna's thighs before pushing onwards into a sopping inferno. Her own breath caught at the amount of moisture which had already gathered there.
"Wow," she murmured, breathlessly.
"That's what you do to me, it's all you sweetheart," Lorna husked, watching, with rapt attention, the expression of wonder on the smaller woman's face.
Sam lowered her face, capturing Lorna's lips in a searing kiss as she began to drag her fingers back and forth through the silky liquid coating the redhead's core. She deftly found the hooded bundle of nerves after just a few swipes, moving with the undulations of her lover's body like a prize rodeo rider, never once breaking their kiss. The Scot tore her mouth away to allow a quiet whimper to escape as two of Sam's fingers slipped inside her, the action not having been a conscious one on Sam's behalf but was repeated once she discovered how welcome a manoeuvre it was. Curling her fingers in a come-hither motion, Sam explored the other woman's inner walls, searching for the elusive area which had made Sam herself come undone. It took a few attempts but once the blonde had located it, there was no stopping her. She plunged two fingers into her lover over and over again, following Lorna's instructions, whenever they were issued, to push harder, deeper, faster. She felt the strong internal muscles fluttering, contracting with greater and greater force as she drove Lorna on towards ecstasy. Her palm grazed over the writhing redhead's clitoris, presenting her with the final push over the edge into an intense orgasm. Sam's fingers were clenched in a vice-like hold inside Lorna's pulsating core, moisture surrounding her digits as a low keening emanated from deep with the Scot's core, signalling her pleasure. The sound reverberated through Sam's own soul, releasing a fresh flood of fluid between her own thighs, coating the inert leg she was straddling. The sensation of Sam's arousal served to elongate Lorna's release, the knowledge that the blonde woman was as turned on by giving as receiving filling her with joy and hope that this would not be a one-time event. Sam collapsed onto the bed beside her lover, gently retrieving her fingers, careful not to disturb the overly sensitive flesh too much. The two of them lay next to one another, smiling softly and exchanging tender caresses as they each recovered from their exercise.
"Mmm, Sam that was amazing. You're amazing," Lorna purred, moulding her body to Sam's until they rested face to face, their entire lengths touching, legs entwined and arms draped across one another's hips.
"Are you sure? I didn't hurt you or anything, did I?" Sam asked, nuzzling the proud chin before her.
"You're kidding right? That was the most incredible I have felt in a long, long time. Not that there have been many to try but no one, since James, has come anywhere close to making me feel what you just gave me," Lorna assured, dropping a tender kiss onto slightly parted lips. "How do you feel about it? Are you ok?"
"That's the first time I've… you know… with someone else in the same room," the blonde admitted, hiding her head between the pillow and Lorna's shoulder. "And somehow what I can do to myself doesn't even come close to what you did for me." The words were muffled but Lorna just about made out what was being confessed.
"Oh sweetheart, that is so special. I'm sorry your previous lovers were such selfish pigs but I'm glad that I can finally show you what being intimate with someone should be like. And any time you feel like a repeat performance, I'll be happy to oblige." The words were muttered huskily into the delicate shell of Sam's ear, resulting in an aroused tremor coursing through the slim blonde's body.
"Any time?" Sam queried, a devilish glint in her eye as she raised her head from its hiding place.
"Absolutely," Lorna assured, dipping closer and capturing Sam's succulent mouth in a searing kiss. Lorna had the brief presence of mind to pull the duvet over their heads before joining her lover in a renewed sea of passion, hoping the downy quilt would muffle some of the sounds of their continued love making and prevent her daughter from being too psychologically scarred.
"Sam, it's Jo. I don't know whether you've seen the news already this morning but give me a call when you get this message either way, please?" The brunette replaced the receiver onto the cradle, picking up the newspaper from the cushion beside her and skimming over the scant details in the report. The deaths of those in custody had made the front page as well as warranting several column inches on page five of the national tabloid. She sincerely hoped that those in charge of the investigation did a better job of protecting those who had enabled the arrests than they did of protecting the arrestees. There was no question in Jo's mind that the deaths had been part of a larger plan to protect the secretive collection of individuals responsible, whether members agreed up front to take their own lives if captured or whether someone had assisted their suicides despite them being in lockdown. As a result, she couldn't help but to be concerned about the welfare of her friends, since both Sam and Lorna had had more than a slight hand in making the arrests happen.
"You got everything you need before I go babe?" Lucy asked as she walked into the lounge, shrugging her jacket on in the process.
"There's just one thing I'm missing," Jo informed her with an innocent expression.
"What's that hon? What do you need?" Lucy wandered closer to the seated brunette, casting her gaze over the blaring headlines on the front page, which told of the suicides she had heard about on the newsflash late the previous night.
"A kiss," Jo declared, puckering up her lips in a highly exaggerated fashion. Lucy leant down as if to grant her lover's wish before scuppering her at the last moment with a detour to her cheek. The raven-haired young woman laughed heartily as arms encircled her waist, holding her captive until she submitted to a proper kiss.
"You're so demanding," Lucy joked, eyes twinkling with joy, "but you're lucky 'cause I wouldn't have you any other way. I'll be back by six at the latest but hopefully I'll get away before then. Call me if you need anything or if you think of anything you want me to pick up on my way home, ok?"
Jo's heart soared as she registered that Lucy had referred to the house as home so naturally. It buoyed her belief that her lover really was as content moving in with her as she herself was, that the fact it had previously been Jo's house. She couldn't prevent a soppy grin from spreading across her face as she told Lucy, "I like the sound of that."
"What? Me at your beck and call?" Lucy retorted with mock indignation.
"Nope, you called this home," Jo replied, her smile growing even wider as Lucy grinned down at her.
"Mm-hmm that would be because this is where I feel at home, so lady, you be good and conserve your energy because I want a worthy homecoming reception this evening, ok?" Lucy's sultry gaze made Jo aware of just what kind of welcome home the young women desired and her own pulse jumped in anticipation. Straightening up again, knowing she needed to cool it or run the risk of never making it in to work at all, Lucy requested, "give me a call later, when you've heard from Sam and let me know she's ok will you? I can tell you're worried about her." Lucy stalled for a few more moments, wishing she could stay with her lover but knowing that she had to go into work, not wanting to test her boss's patience.
"I will and I'll be fine. I promise I won't do anything too strenuous, even if I get terminally bored by the offerings of day time television!" Jo could read her girlfriend like a book; the slight frown marring her forehead, the dimming of the light in her eyes and the almost imperceptible hunching of her shoulders all were clear indicators of her displeasure at being parted once again from the woman she cared for. The brunette would miss the younger woman fiercely but she knew that she must hold back her own neediness in favour of doing what was best for Lucy. "Go on, or you'll be late sweetheart and I don't want you being kept behind to do lines, I need you here for the homecoming event." With a last lingering kiss, Lucy sighed and headed for the door, casting one final longing glance at her partner.
Sam picked up the tabloid paper from behind the front door, flipping it over and stopping dead in her tracks when she saw the headline emblazoned across the front page.
"Oh dear God," she murmured. The story was accompanied by a photograph of 3 men, each of whom had apparently committed suicide the day before. Staring out at her were the faces of three of the men she had put helped to put behind bars for their involvement in the child pornography ring the Podowski investigation had uncovered.
"Sam, what is it? You look like you've seen a ghost." Lorna approached her lover cautiously, taking in the ashen face and shocked expression. Wordlessly, Sam handed the newspaper to the Scot with shaky hands. Lorna read the sub-heading and skimmed through the article whilst pulling Sam to her in a one armed embrace, fearful that the blonde would crumple without the support. "Cowardly swines," she muttered, not attempting to hide her contempt.
"Don't you think it's a little convenient?" Sam wondered aloud.
"It is what it is. The truth might never be known and we shouldn't jump to conclusions or else we'll end up turning ourselves inside out and forgetting to actually live our lives. I don't want to waste my time worrying about what anyone else might do, not when I can be enjoying what you and I can definitely do." Lorna tossed the paper onto the hallway table, wrapping both her arms around the shorter woman's waist and pulling her in close.
"I'm scared Lorna. I don't want to lose you. I don't want to lose this just when I've found the courage to fully embrace this connection between us." Sam buried her head in the redhead's shoulder, clinging to her as though she were afraid she would vanish right then and there.
"We're ok sweetheart, nothing's going to happen to drive us apart. No one would be foolish enough to come after us with this being such a high profile case now, it'd risk too many questions being asked of people who I'm sure would rather see all this fade into the background." In truth, Lorna did share Sam's concerns, fearing that they were now at even greater risk as a result of the investigation they had become ensnared in but knowing that admitting that wouldn't help either of them.
"I hope to God you're right Lorna," Sam murmured defeatedly, shrinking into herself in the protective circle of her lover's arms.
"Morning you two, is it safe or do I need to avert my eyes?" Katie's voice rang brightly from where she had stopped halfway down the stairs. Sam was grateful that her face was still hidden, her cheeks erupting in a fierce blush at the teenager's teasing.
"Morning love, did you sleep ok?" Lorna asked, pointedly ignoring her daughter's question, remaining in the embrace with her partner, not yet ready to relinquish her hold.
"I did, that bed is awesome. I don't think anything would have kept me awake for long," Katie replied with a smile and a raised eyebrow to let her mother know that she had indeed heard plenty of what had been going on in the adult's room the previous night. Lorna joined Sam in blushing this time but cautioned her daughter from further teasing with a subtle shake of her head, indicating it would not be appreciated or tolerated. Katie had the good sense to heed the warning and skipped down the remainder of the stairs before heading towards the kitchen. "Is it ok if I put the kettle on, Sam?" she asked.
"Of course it is Katie, help yourself to anything you like," Sam replied, finally lifting her head from its hiding place and throwing a cautious glance over her shoulder at the miniature version of Lorna. When the youngster had disappeared and could be heard furtling about in cupboards and generally making herself at home, Sam sighed and fixed her gaze on Lorna. "I wish you didn't have to go in to work today," she admitted bashfully.
"I wish I didn't have to either, I'd much rather spend the day here with you," Lorna replied, brushing a stray strand of silky blonde hair behind Sam's ear and caressing the smooth skin of her cheek with the backs of her fingers.
"Call me when you take a break so I know you're ok? Please? I know I'm probably being too clingy and overreacting but I can't help but worry about you. I have this gut feeling that something's not right about all this, so please, for the moment, would you just humour me?" Sam leant in to the gentle caress being offered, looking up imploringly into Lorna's dazzling green eyes.
"I don't need any excuse to phone you. You can count on me getting in touch any chance I get sweetheart." Lorna leant in, placing a quick chaste kiss against Sam's welcoming lips, hyper aware of her daughter being only a few yards away and not wanting to gross the teen out or invite any further teasing of them, knowing that they were both still feeling their way into the relationship. Sam, satisfied for the moment that she would know of Lorna's whereabouts despite them not being together, suggested that they join Katie in the kitchen so that the CSE could breakfast before she needed to leave to take Katie to school and then head for work.
He lay in wait, watching them, biding his time for the perfect moment; the moment when he knew he would strike. Their guard was up, they were hyper aware but he was adept at hiding in the shadows, stalking his prey and capturing his quarry. He watched the two redheads leave the unassuming house, the blonde remaining inside but from his hiding place, he saw the curtains twitch as she watched her guests go. His mission was clear; as much as he wished he could simply exact revenge on the blonde the time was not right for that, not yet. Perhaps if he was successful, if he performed well enough in this duty, he would be given free rein on her but for now, he had to content himself with trailing his target. Soon, he knew, the next phase of his operation would have to come in to play, before his bosses tired of him and sent another to complete his mission. They had to pay, the system had to see that they were no match for them and that no matter how many times they tried, how many arrests they made, there were still plenty of people willing to step up to the plate and ensure the continuance of their enterprise.
"Hi Jo, I just got your message, sorry I was away from my phone when you called. How are you? You feeling more rested today?" Sam rinsed the dregs of her coffee from her mug before setting it aside in the draining board to dry.
"I'm ok, a little nauseous now and again and tiredness is still whooping my bum but I'm better than I thought I'd be so I'll cope. How are you? Did you see the news?" Although Jo was dying to hear how things had gone with Lorna the previous night, there were more pressing issues that needed discussing first.
"I have but I don't think it's wise to discuss it over the phone. Care to have some company? I'm not working today so I'm at a bit of a loose end…" What Sam didn't add but hoped Jo would pick up on was that she also didn't want to be alone.
"I don't know Sam, I was looking forward to a day of my brain oozing out of my ears while I watched daytime telly. You think you can better that?" Jo joked, delighted at the prospect of Sam coming over, both because she enjoyed spending time with her and wanted to support her and also as a distraction to pass the time until Lucy got home.
"Well I will certainly try Miss Masters and if I can't then I will gladly leave you to your brain rotting plans," Sam rejoined haughtily but with more than a small dose of mirth.
"Don't you dare, get yourself over here, I haven't forgotten you promised me all the juicy details from last night." Both women were laughing as they hung up their phones, looking forward to some time catching up on each other's news.
Just a short while later, Sam pulled up at Jo's house and jumped out of her car, hastily making her way to the front door and letting Jo know she was there. She waited patiently for the brunette to get to the door, blowing on her hands to keep them warm having been caught out by a freakishly cold turn in the weather. When she was let inside the heated house, she released a sigh of relief and enveloped her friend in a brief embrace, accepting the offer of a hot drink and following the taller woman through to the kitchen.
"So what is going on with this case do you think? You really think it was suicide or do you think someone managed to get to them?" Jo asked as she handed the DI a steaming mug of black coffee.
"Honestly, I don't know what to think. It does scare me though. Lorna was trying to put on a brave face for me earlier but I can tell she's terrified too. She has Katie to consider, she should never have been put in this position," Sam stated vehemently.
"Power and corruption will always go hand in hand, for as long as people give in to greed and their arrogant belief in their own entitlement. That's not to say those of us who know better shouldn't try to prevent them from harming others though and unfortunately, that will sometimes come at a cost. We all have to focus on whether those costs are worth it in the long run. And while I sincerely hope that nothing happens to you or Lorna or Katie or anyone you care about, anyone involved in the investigation in any way, through your actions, you've saved countless children from being brutalised and abused for the pleasure of others." Jo understood the fear, she felt it too, not wanting anything to befall her best friend or the woman that Sam cared for, but she also knew, rationally, that someone had to prevent these worst kinds of abuse of power. "It's gone on for too long, too many have been hurt and too many times these people have used their influence to avoid taking responsibility for what they've done. This time, they will find that they've met their match because no matter who they are or what they think they can get away with, I know that you are the bravest, most determined detective and will stop at nothing to make sure this stops. You can do this Sam, and you're not alone because I will be there with you every step of the way and I'm sure Lorna will too."
"Thank you, Jo, seriously, that means so much, to hear you say that. I only hope you're right," Sam offered a tiny smile to the brunette from across the kitchen island.
"Of course I'm right, I'm rarely ever not!" That comment earned a genuine smile and a small chuckle from her companion.
"Modest as ever I see," Sam retorted with a dramatic eye roll for good measure.
"Come on, let's get comfy on the sofa and then you can tell me all about what happened with Lorna last night," Jo instructed, giving Sam no room for refusal as she rose and strode from the kitchen without a backwards glance.
Katie hurried through the school corridors, wondering what she had done to warrant being called to the head teacher's office, not knowingly having broken any of the school rules. As she entered the outer office, housing the secretary and bursar, the timid young girl approached the desk and announced her presence expectantly.
"Ms Hart, my name's DS Stuart Turner, I work with your mum and Sam at Sun Hill. There's been an incident, I need you to come with me."