Welcome to the New Year! Normal service has resumed :-)

As Charlie swam effortlessly through the water, part of her was still a little shocked by her behaviour. She'd had sex with Joey. Not once, but multiple times. Even after breakfast, they'd found themselves back in bed and going for it like a couple of horny teenagers who had never experienced sex before and couldn't get enough of the experience. She didn't like this out of control feeling, yet she also did. She enjoyed the sex. A lot. It was more the fact that the most enjoyable sex she'd ever had, had been with Joey. Last night, and again this morning, Joey hadn't been the woman she'd mistrusted for days, she'd been her lover, so where did that leave her now? If she could trust her in the most intimate way possible, why couldn't she trust her in the cold light of day? Because you know she's keeping things from you, she reminded herself. Yet that was no different to last night. Joey had still been keeping things from her when she'd gone down on her, she'd known Joey had never been entirely forthcoming about her past, even as she brought her to another orgasm, and she hadn't cared at the time. Had she been so desperate for sex that she'd been willing to just disregard everything? Yes, was the quick reply, followed by a no. Or maybe just a little. Well, whatever her reasons for allowing last night and this morning to happen, Joey had been right. It was just sex. Meaningless sex. Glorious and mindboggling sex, but meaningless.

Charlie dived under the water, not really convinced by that. One thing was certain though. Her reaction today told her that she should have been stronger and denied Joey in the bedroom, hell, even gone out and found a woman and screwed her brains out. Yeah, that'd have been good for their ruse if that had ever gotten around town. The water lapped at her. She was determined not to let this get in her way though. She couldn't afford to. Ok, so she'd had great sex, her itch had been well and truly scratched, then scratched again and again, so just accept it and move on. To where? She needed to work out her next move.

Figuring out her father's former colleagues and contacts. In truth, she'd given it little thought since they'd arrived in town, but if she was to end this saga, she needed to. Trouble was, such a move would require a level of trust she was in short supply of, because as Joey had pointed out earlier that morning, the only two people they could trust, was each other, even if it wasn't absolute trust. Charlie nearly snorted under the water at that thought. Of course it wasn't absolute trust, there was no way known she'd ever entirely trust Joey, because the woman would never entirely be open with her. Did she actually want that from Joey? Would knowing more about Joey make it easier or make things worse? Given some of her thoughts as to whom Joey really could be, she suspected knowing the truth would make their working relationship stretch even thinner.

"Fuck," she muttered as she resurfaced. Even thinking about her next move somehow came back to thoughts of Joey.

Charlie suddenly found herself sprayed with water. She turned around to glare at the offender. Joey was grinning broadly and though Charlie would never say it aloud, she found the other woman incredibly hot and appealing in her bikini. It also made her feel overdressed in her dull, one piece. At least it protected her from lustful gazes, though Joey had this way of looking at her that made her feel naked. Oh god, why did she have to think that?

"People are watching," Joey said as she drifted closer in the water to her. "Let's give them a convincing show." Charlie had no chance to reply as Joey's lips found hers. She wasn't sure that they really needed to do much more to convince others that their fake relationship was real, since Pippa and Irene had been totally convinced just over a meal. No doubt, by having sex, the dynamic would also have changed between them, making it easier to be comfortable with PDA's. Part of her wished it had had the opposite effect, but as Joey's lips worked over hers, Charlie found herself melting into it.

Damn. It was so hard not to run her hand along Joey's hip, to her belly, then lower, to seek out that wet warmth she knew would be waiting for her, but being arrested for public indecency would be a humiliating way to risk having their cover blown, all because she couldn't keep her hormones in check. My god, what was it about this woman that made her act like this? Joey's nipples were hard against hers, the thin layer of material doing little to disguise her arousal. Joey's reactions certainly weren't helping her own and in that moment, she hated Joey.

Fucking hell, get a hold of yourself you crazy woman, Joey told herself as her body continued to do as it pleased, which right now, was gyrating under the water against the rather lovely and warm body of Charlie. How was it possible to feel so warm in the cold water? If her own body was any hotter, the water would be boiling around them. She was out of control. All her life she'd been smart, it was how she had survived, yet it was quickly becoming clear that she was now in a situation where she found herself out of her depth. She didn't know what to do. Kiss her harder, stupid. Except that wasn't the right thing to do, even as she deepened the kiss.

Her lips were so soft, Charlie bemoaned as she opened her mouth to Joey's insistent tongue. Her legs circled Joey's waist as Joey's hands squeezed her buttocks. Somehow they both managed to stay afloat. If she didn't put a stop to this, Charlie knew they'd be naked and fucking in full view of everyone.

"We have to stop," she managed to gasp out between kisses.

"I know," murmured Joey, renewing the deep kiss that threatened to suck all thought from Charlie's mind. Crazy, it was all so crazy and so totally out of character. Once more, Charlie found herself hating this woman for what she was doing to her. She didn't care that it was her own behaviour that was also allowing this, it was all Joey's fault. Everything was Joey's fault, right down to them being on the run and stuck in this hick town. It was all Joey.

Charlie groaned. Yep, latching onto Joey like a starfish in heat was all the other woman's fault. Oh just give it up, she told herself. There was no point in trying to resist. The deed was done and there was no further point in pretending anything differently; she enjoyed having sex with Joey, and would again, so just go with it.

"I think we should go back to the cabin," Joey said, suddenly breaking away. She got no argument from Charlie as they both swam toward the shore, oblivious to the smirks of some of the beach goers.

They didn't even notice the young man who walked passed their car before Joey started it.

"What are you smirking at?" Casey asked as he raced over to Ruby.

"Just watching our new tenants nearly going for it with each other in the water."

"Seriously?"

Ruby grinned and nodded. "They were all over each other."

"I guess they must be in love."

"Looks like it," she said, suddenly feeling bashful. Her feelings for Casey had caught her off guard, and as much as she wanted to heed her mothers' and her own warnings, she knew she was falling quickly in love with him. She didn't want him to leave.

"Ready for a swim?" Casey asked, unaware of Ruby's inner turmoil.

"Yeah," she said and followed him to the water.

"You're all over the fucking news!" Brax screamed down the phone when Watson finally decided to answer it. "And you've dragged me fucking into it."

"Not my fault," she replied.

"You fucking let them get away!" he screeched. "And blew your fucking cover in the process!"

"The media are only interested in me, because of you and your suspected misdeeds," she pointed out. "Otherwise they would hardly give two shits about another crooked cop."

She could practically feel him shaking with rage through the phone.

"Look," she said in a more conciliatory tone. "Yell at me when I get back, but until then, how about you and Heath stop calling every five seconds and just let me do my job." So that I can then get the hell out of dodge.

"Find them," he said through gritted teeth. "Then get your arse back here."

He hung up before she said anything more.

"Prick," she muttered. He always had been, for as long as she'd known him, but the perks had generally made up for it. That was all pretty much down the drain now and she suspected if he still saw any use for her, it would be on her back, with her legs wide open, servicing him and every other creep in the organisation. No way in hell was she going to be used like that.

"Oh yes," Joey gasped. Her legs were over the edge of the bed, draped casually over Charlie's shoulders as the other woman knelt between her legs. Charlie's fingers and tongue had set a determined pace, a pace Joey was more than willing to go along with. Twice already she'd climaxed since their return to the cabin. They'd barely made it to the bed when they'd fallen upon each other, their clothes long forgotten by the door. Joey didn't care how desperate she'd become, only her next climax mattered and Charlie was making sure that was coming quickly.

"Fuck," groaned Joey, her body rocking against Charlie. She felt powerless. It was a feeling she loathed, but the joy her body felt whenever in Charlie's arms was something more. It made her not care. At least until it was over and she had the ability to think again. Even then, she doubted she'd do anything to stop this from happening again. To feel this, her body alive, every nerve on fire, utter breathlessness at the sheer magnitude of the feelings coursing through her body, then she'd gladly allow herself to be powerless.

Her body soared and she cried out as she came. "Charlie!"

Charlie kissed her way up the naked body, taking her time to cover as much skin as she could, especially around those mounds which she'd quickly come to enjoy so much.

Joey was panting heavily by the time Charlie kissed her way to her lips. She doubted they'd see much of the outside world for the rest of the day, she thought as she flipped Charlie onto her back and treated her to the same delicious delights she'd just endured.

Joey's earlier assessment had been largely right. They'd barely left the cabin for the rest of the day, except for food and drink. They certainly needed it after the workout they'd had. Joey rolled over. Charlie was dozing next to her. God she was beautiful and Joey knew things had gone well beyond this just being sex. Nothing could happen though. Not ever. Charlie would never have a bar of her if she knew the real truth. She sighed. This was all she'd ever have with Charlie. Sex and secrets. It hurt, but that's what happened when you lived your life a certain way. You had to deal with the consequences and for her, it was missing out on a life with a woman she had fallen in love with. There, she'd admitted it. She was in love with Charlie. So very much in love. There was no point denying it or wondering why it happened or if she could have stopped it, for the damage was already done. She was in love with the most beautiful and amazing woman she'd ever met. And it could go nowhere. Her life sucked. She sighed again. All she could do was enjoy being with Charlie for as long as it lasted, which wouldn't be long. Charlie wanted out and she'd be doing everything she could to find that way out, then it would all be over. She'd be alone, hopefully alive and free, but alone. Her heart felt like it had been stomped on. This wasn't how it was meant to be. If only she'd had more time to see her plan through, this all could have been avoided. But then she'd never have met Charlie. Good, because then she wouldn't be feeling like this.

Joey continued to stare at Charlie. Her body was aglow in the evening light still streaming in through the window, giving her an ethereal appearance. No, she didn't regret meeting Charlie, only the circumstances in which they met. God, it was going to be so hard to walk away when the time came, but she had no choice.

Do it now, it'll be less painful, part of her warned. She couldn't though. Leaving Charlie to fend for herself when people were out to kill them, was not exactly the way you treated someone you loved. No, she had to see this through with Charlie, and then disappear into the sunset where no one, not even Charlie, could ever find her. Maybe she'd even be lucky and she'd find a new woman to help her get over Charlie. Fat chance, she thought.

With care not to wake Charlie, Joey leant over and kissed her gently on the lips. "I love you," she whispered, then rolled from the bed. She needed fresh air.

On her hands and knees, Hayley stared into his pain filled eyes as Tegan fucked her from behind. They'd caught him by surprise and dragged him out here into the bush, where no one could hear his agony as Tegan used her knife to illicit information. Unfortunately, he'd yet to reveal what they wanted to know, but it was only a matter of time before he did. They always broke in the end, and when he did, they'd have those women in their hands, and oh the wonderful things they would do to those bitches turned her on like nothing else.

Tegan grunted behind her as her thrusting picked up. Hayley loved it. The twigs digging into her knees and palms, the noises of the bush, his moans of pain and distress, it all drove her to even greater heights.

"Harder baby," she begged. Tegan gripped her hips and thrust hard, sending the fake cock deeper than ever. "Yes!" shouted Hayley, screaming at the top of her lungs as she came. Tegan kept hammering away, their skin coated in blood, bathed in moonlight, as their howls of pleasure drowned out his pitiful cries.

He glared at them with utter hatred. He couldn't move, his bindings held him tight. Nor could he look away, his current position not allowing him to turn his head elsewhere. Nor could he close his eyes, because he feared what they'd do to him if he didn't see them coming, so he watched their debortuary, hating them with a fearful rage.