Free A Matter of Trust by Radclyffe

never been into women that way.”
    “I do seem to recall that.”
    Sloan had to laugh. There had been a time in those first few months in Thailand when she had tried very hard to get Sarah into her bed. They’d had everything going for them—common interests, similar jobs, and they were thousands of miles from everyone they knew. Finally, one night after too many beers, Sloan had boldly leaned across a tiny table in a dimly lit Bangkok bar and kissed Sarah soundly on the lips.
    Sarah had kissed her back, quite thoroughly, and then settled back into her chair and studied Sloan gravely. Her exact words had been, “I’ve been wondering for months what it would be like to kiss you. You’re a damn good kisser, Sloan. I thought you would be. As much as I love you, though, I’m just one of those girls who have a thing for those ridiculous male appendages. I hope you don’t take it personally.”
    And Sloan hadn’t.
    “Sloan?”
    Sarah’s voice brought her back to the present. She seemed to be wandering into places she really didn’t want to go quite a bit lately. “Damn it, Sarah, I hate to get in the middle of these things. You’re one of my oldest friends, and Jason and I not only work together, I’m fond of him...and Jasmine.”
    “I know; that’s why I wanted to talk to you.”
    Sloan sighed. “How long has it been since you were with someone?”
    For a moment, pain shimmered in Sarah’s green eyes. “Four years. He was an attaché in Bangkok. I thought we had something special. Turns out, he didn’t.”
    “I’m sorry.” Sloan knew Sarah didn’t take relationships lightly, and she hated to think of her getting hurt. She also knew Jason had had more than his share of heartache because of the part of him that was Jasmine. Sometimes thinking about Jason and Jasmine made her head swim, and she was well used to it by now. She could only imagine what it would be like dating him. “Look,” she said, “it’s up to Jason to tell you how things are with him and Jasmine and everything. All I can tell you is that I don’t believe he’s ever dated a woman who knew about Jasmine. You might have your work cut out for you in that regard.”
    Sarah was quiet for a moment, remembering how much she had enjoyed watching Jasmine perform the night before, and how something in her had been excited knowing that Jasmine was part of Jason. It wasn’t something she needed to analyze in great depth. It simply was.
    “I’m not fooling myself, Sloan. He’s a transvestite. It’s not just an act at the Cabaret for him—I know that. But we all have diverse dimensions, sexually and psychologically, that we express in slightly different ways. I appreciate that there are parts of Jason that are best expressed through Jasmine. I don’t understand it completely, but it doesn’t seem to bother me. At least not so far.” She sighed. “I just wanted to let you know before I did anything.”
    Sloan sat up and reached for a towel. She tossed one to Sarah as well before rubbing her face vigorously and blotting some of the sweat from her hair. “I can’t think of anyone I’d rather see with him,” she finally said and smiled. She meant it.
    “Speaking of that sort of thing,” Sarah flashed her another grin, “what’s the story with you and Michael?”
    “There is no story,” Sloan said stiffly, halting in mid-motion. “There’s absolutely nothing between Michael Lassiter and myself.”
    “Okay. My mistake, then.”
    Sarah thought it prudent not to mention that both Michael and Sloan had spent an enormous amount of time studying each other when they thought the other wasn’t watching. It hadn’t escaped her notice either that Sloan had been particularly charming and touchingly attentive with Michael. It had also been obvious that Michael, for all her excited interest in what was happening around her, sparkled every time Sloan leaned close to speak to her.

Chapter Six

    Just before 6:00 on Monday morning, Sloan settled