Amanda thought that her days of sneaking around and hiding under beds were far, far behind her. She wasn't a secret, sneaky link, the other woman or an underage teen fooling around with a secret boyfriend behind her parents' back. However, in this moment she might as well have been a combination of all of the above. Lying underneath 'Grace's' bed had a way of humbling the detective. Ugh, Grace and Manuel are the worst. If the situation weren't so serious, she'd probably laugh her ass off at the absurdity and predicament she found herself in. Trying to make little noise as possible, she eased from underneath the bed to listen to what was happening on the other side of the wall.

"You sure you're feeling ok, Grace? You don't look so well." Julie brushed back a few brunette locks from the detective's brow and caressed her face. From an outsider looking in, the gesture could pass as endearing but in actuality, the condescension was palpable.

"I'm good. Honestly? Just a little surprised to see you at my front door…" Even though Grace was saying all of the right words, her inner Detective Benson peaked through via facial expressions. Clearly annoyed with the unexpected pop-up visit from the mischievous woman.

"Easy babe." Amanda whispered with her ear pressed up against the door. She knew her gf well enough to know what look accompanied that statement.

"I told you I was concerned. Stick around and you'll see that we're a very tight knit group at La Dama and we look after our own."

"Good to know."

"Where are my manners? Good morning, Manuel. You're even more handsome in the bright light of day," purred Julie.

"Ugh, barf."

"Morning," Manuel made his way across the room to stand behind his partner. Putting his submissiveness on full display for their uninvited guest.

Julie smirked at the couple, clearly intrigued by the duo. She was very much drawn to Grace and Manuel and wanted to get a better feel of them and their relationship. The unscheduled drop by was a ploy to catch the two unguarded and see if they were as impressive away from the club, as they were inside of it. So far so good but there was still more prying to be done before the blonde vixen would be satisfied, if that were even possible.

"How about a tour, Grace?"

"No, no, no, no tour. Shut it down, Liv." Amanda said a silent prayer. Although she hated every second Olivia was undercover, she wanted her op to be successful and didn't want her cover blown. Needless to say, if she were to be found hiding out, all hell would surely break loose.

The partners exchanged looks, all the while trying to keep the alarm off their faces. Their cover on the cusp of being blown in a matter of seconds. Not only was Rollins stowed away in the master bedroom but the guest bedroom was filled with the male detective's belongings and would be a dead giveaway that the couple may not be a real one. Or at the very least not an amorous one who had hot, passionate, earth-shattering sex like they perpetrated. And there was no way that a woman like Julie would just let that go without a thousand questions. Saying 'no' flat out to the request wasn't a viable option because they didn't want to appear rude by kicking their target out. The seasoned detective did some quick thinking and came up with what she hoped would be a solution of sorts.

"Actually, we're running late for something but how about we have you back over another time and I'll make sure Manuel gives you a proper tour…" Grace's tone was suggestive, while a seductive expression graced her beautiful features, as she grabbed Julie's hand and brought it to Manuel's lips. He placed a lingering kiss there, locking his eyes on the blonde. Then he returned his attention back to his partner and claimed her lips fervently, catching her off guard. She knew that he was doing it for Julie's benefit but there was something different behind the way he kissed her, held her body so close to his own, along with the look in his dark eyes after it was over. What the hell was that?

The invitation was accepted immediately, "Oh, I'd like that."

"Great. I'll set a date," Grace concluded, gesturing back toward the front door, hoping her guest would get the message and follow.

"And this tour…" began Julie, causing the brunette to turn back around, suppressing a frustrated sigh. "Is this an all access granted tour?" The question was bathed in lust, with smoldering emerald eyes dancing between the faux couple.

"Good lord, this chick's got it bad for that asshole." Rollins shook her head at the woman's brazen come on to Amaro.

"Julie—"

"Just think about it. And if the evening goes well, I'm sure I could make something happen on Manuel's behalf in return. I have a lot of powerful friends, who wouldn't mind helping me with a friend's status…"

The detectives met eyes at Julie's insinuation. It was the first time that she'd come close to mentioning anything related to acquiring green cards. Up until now, it had only been partying, prying and sexual advances made. This sudden shift in the case, was exactly the break that the duo had been hoping for. Even though they knew they couldn't give her what she really wanted, they had to let her believe it anyhow.

"Well, if your friends look out for us, I'll have no problem watching you get everything your body desires," The brunette's tone was so sexy and evocative with innuendo that her partner's face instantly flushed with heat.

"Actually, I don't want you to only watch. I want you all the way involved. I want to be your sub, while the two of you dominate the fuck out of me…"

"Not fuckin' happening, lady!" Rollins' hushed exclamation came out a little louder than she intended.

"What was that?" inquired Julie, with a raised eyebrow.

"Nothing," the male detective responded a little too quickly, completely slipping out of his submissive character. He immediately realized his mistake and swore internally at the colossal screw up.

Grace had to regain control and quick. She had to display her dominant side and hopefully distract Julie in the process. "Did I give you permission to speak?!" There was an edge to her voice and it got the attention of both people in the room as well as her gf, whose ear was pressed up against the door, hoping she hadn't revealed her presence.

"No, Mi Dama. Lo siento," he bowed his head in shame.

"On your knees, ahora!"

Manuel eagerly complied. Even though he knew his partner was acting, he was most definitely enjoying every single second of the show. The glint in her smoldering eyes, commanding tone and the way her body swayed and hovered above him as he knelt, was having a strong effect on him. His lower jaw twitched and pulse quickened with anticipation of what was going to fall from those luscious lips next. Julie also totally transfixed on the scene playing out before her, was practically drooling. The brunette's movements were deliberate as she circled her partner and the captivated woman in an authoritative manner.

"Seems like you need a refresher in submitting, propiedad," she grabbed a handful of Manuel's hair fiercely, pulling his head up to meet her gaze. The move, an attempt to silently reassure him to trust her and play along. His blazing brown eyes were filled with desire and heat but most importantly trust. She gave a subtle nod before turning her attention, while keeping her grip tight. "How do you think I should punish him, Julie?"

The green-eyed vixen dropped to her knees beside Manuel and lowered her head in the most acquiescent manner. "In whatever way pleases you, Mi Dama."

"Look at you, so subservient and compliant." Grace released the tight grip on her partner's hair, then caressed the side of Julie's face. "Good propiedad like you, get rewarded with only the best pleasures imaginable…"

"Goddamn! She's way too good at this. Secret, repressed dominatrix maybe? Hmmm, I wonder if she'll dom me sometime? Stop it, Amanda. Mind out of the gutter." The blonde's inner monologue was going a mile a minute.

"Come here," Grace extended her hand toward the woman, who took it. "Work on that thing we discussed earlier for me this week, ok?"

"Consider it done."

"Efficiency is such a turn on," husked the brunette, eyes deadlocked onto her target. "Friday night, seven o'clock, not a second after, be here and ready for me. Now, get out of here before I bend you over this table right now…"

"Jee-zus."

Aye, Dios Mio. The male detective swallowed a guttural moan at his partner's words. The effect that Olivia's alter ego and her words were having on his body, made him feel like a teenage boy who couldn't control his hormones. Julie was also under the intoxicating dama's spell, as a deep crimson invaded her perfect cheek bones and desire course throughout her body. With one more hungry gaze directed at Grace, she turned to exit the condo. The brunette secured the door behind her and released a breath she'd been holding ever since her girlfriend's near exposure. As relieved as Olivia was, she was also pissed.

"Rollins, get out here!"

Shit. Amanda entered the living room area with her hands in the air ready to surrender before the berating began. "I know, I know."

"Do you? You almost blew our cover. A month's worth of good police work—"

"Relax, I'm trying to apologize here. Relax."

"Relax?" Nick looked at the blonde incredulously. "That almost blew up in our faces and you're telling us to relax—"

"Nick, I've got this."

"Yeah, stay the hell out of it, Amaro," seethed the blonde.

"Hey—" the senior detective's interjection fell on deaf ears.

"You know what? I'm getting really sick and tired of your bs, Rollins!"

"Oh yeah? Well, I really don't give a damn what you're sick and tired of to be honest."

"You really need to grow the hell up and get over whatever it is you're holding on to, please. For all of our sake."

"I'll get over it when you get over it. And by it, I mean her…" she nodded her head toward Olivia.

Nick let out a sarcastic chuckle, "You really are a piece of work."

"And you're an asshole."

"Amanda!" Olivia knew that the two human time bombs, were just a few ticks away from exploding right before her eyes.

"And you're a bitc—"

"Woah! All right, that's enough! Both of you, stop! Amanda, go wait for me in my room," Olivia's tone was sharp and unyielding but so was her stubborn girlfriend, who stood her ground. "Now, Amanda."

Rollins was furious. The male detective had gotten underneath her skin yet again. She wanted to knock that smug smirk right off his chiseled face. The blonde scoffed and rolled her eyes, as she reluctantly complied. Once Rollins was out of the room and earshot, Amaro turned to address his partner, rage still flowing through his veins.

"I really don't get it, Liv. What the hell do you see in her?!"

"It's not for you to 'get', Nick. Nor is it any of your business, what or who I choose to do outside of work."

"Oh, so I'm just a work acquaintance now? Wow," he paced the floor, shaking his head at his partner's belittlement of their relationship.

"I didn't say that but I can't have you questioning me about my choices and disrespecting my girlfriend."

"She disrespected me first!" Nick's voice bounced off the four walls of the room. "I've really made a conscience effort to try with her for you. But she's made it absolutely impossible and I refuse to kiss her ass. I won't."

Olivia ran a hand through her flowing, shoulder length locks, "This isn't going to work. I can't continue to be the buffer between the two of you. I can't and I won't." the seasoned detective took a deep breath and let her glossy eyes meet Nick's before she spoke again. "After this op, I don't think we should be partners anymore…"

Kaboom. That was the final tick on his temper timer. But instead of an outright explosion, there was an implosion occurring internally. Nick held her saddened gaze as he blinked rapidly to keep his emotion at bay, in total disbelief of what she'd said. Words failed him miserably, as he continued to stare at the woman, he trusted more than anybody. Without an utterance, he left the condo and slammed the door behind him. Olivia was gutted. Even though she made the decision, it's not what she truly wanted. She hoped that her partners would work whatever issues out but that proved to be an unachievable feat.

"You alright?"

Olivia turned around before answering her gf, "No, I'm not."

"Baby, I'm really s—"

"Don't. Because you're not sorry. You intentionally provoked him, Amanda. And for what? Are you really that insecure, still?!" Olivia was upset, which is why that last question came out a little harsher than she intended.

Amanda winced at the sharp words, before finding her own. "You're really gonna go there? You kissed him for fuck's sake and you wonder why I might feel a liiitttttle uneasy with the two of you shacked up together. That is when you're not busy tonguing each other down for your new sub's viewing pleasure." Harsh seemed to be the theme.

"Oh my god! I can't keep having the same fight with you. I never should have told you about that stupid kiss. You've been acting like a crazy person ever since I told you."

"Insecure. Crazy. That all you got?"

The brunette looked at her stubborn partner disbelievingly. There was no getting through to her when she was in such a defensive state. But she had to try once more, "Amanda, I need you to hear me. I love you, I do—"

"But?"

Olivia scoffed at the interruption, defeat written all over her countenance. "You know what? Never mind. I can't with you when you're like this."

"Like what?" Challenged the blonde.

"Hellbent on fighting. Hellbent on pushing me away," they locked eyes after that statement. "Keep this up and you'll do just that…"

Amanda felt like the wind had just been knocked out of her. Pushing the love of her life away was the last thing she wanted. But she was allowing the green-eyed monster of jealousy to do just that. The room had fallen silent after the brunette's statement. Hurt, fear and exhaustion were floating in the air. Before the silence swallowed them and the room whole, Liv closed the distance between them and intertwined their fingers together.

"You have me. All of me. What more do I have to do to show you that I'm all yours?" Pleading mocha-colored eyes searched cerulean seas of unknown depth.

Without hesitation or pausing to filter her response, Amanda answered the heartfelt question with her innermost truth and desire. "Marry me."

Thanks for reading.