Free Suspect Passions by V. K. Powell

Regan’s cool blue eyes became clouded and distant. Syd felt momentarily ashamed for having triggered such an unhappy memory.
    But Regan wasn’t distracted for long. She finally got to the point of her seemingly coincidental visit to the Cop Out. She was checking up on Syd, certain that she was so disturbed by their earlier meeting that she would fling herself into the arms of the first available woman she met. Bingo. Syd hated to admit it, but she was right again. If the dark-haired butch had followed her into the restroom and come on to her, she would’ve gladly obliged. But she wasn’t about to admit that to Regan Desanto.
    Instead, she accused Regan of being attracted to her and maybe even a bit jealous. Heat rose in Regan’s eyes when she mentioned their first encounter at the Cop Out. Regan shifted her stance uncomfortably, moving slightly away from Syd. She repeatedly licked her kissable lips in an involuntary motion indicative of sexual arousal and invitation.
    And when Syd inched toward her, whispered that she should admit her attraction, and rimmed the edge of Regan’s ear with her tongue, the response had been immediate. Too immediate and too strong. It had been Syd’s experience that reactions that intense were usually employed to hide equally fierce feelings. The thought sent a shiver of uncontrollable delight through Syd’s body. She could easily imagine this emotionally contained woman letting herself go and allowing Syd to please and pleasure her.
    But Regan’s release came in another form—a brilliantly orated sermon about Syd’s irresponsible behavior and its possible effect on her civil case, her job, and the City of High Point. Again, she nailed Syd with her insight and made her consider things in a broader context. How could this woman arouse her sexual interest and emotional curiosity, and challenge her professional commitment all at the same time? The latter rocked Syd. No one had ever questioned her job performance or dedication. And to have the woman who was supposed to be defending her do so spun Syd into her second default behavior—anger.
    She completely withdrew from Regan, all flirting and playfulness carefully tucked behind her impenetrable screen of self-protection. Ice water pulsed through her veins as she stepped intentionally away from her attorney. How dare she assume to know what mattered to her, to have any concept of what killing another human being had done to her, or to understand the lengths she’d gone to in order to cope with and forget that night for even brief moments. She was wrong. Regan Desanto had no idea what made her tick, and that intellectual and compassionate void might cost Syd her livelihood.

Chapter Six

    Two days had passed since Regan’s ill-advised stop at the Cop Out, but the heated exchange with Syd kept replaying in her mind at the most inopportune times. This particular version occurred during the morning staff meeting: Syd standing toe-to-toe with her, whispering that she should accept the attraction between them. A warm, moist tongue sliding seductively around the rim of her ear.
    A slow burn started low in Regan’s belly and crept lower.
    “Regan?” Terry Blair and the rest of the legal staff were staring at her, awaiting the answer to some question she’d obviously not heard.
    “Yes?” Regan knew her face telegraphed her lack of attention and embarrassment at being caught. She made a mental note to have her hormone levels checked at her next physical. There had to be some organic reason for her uncustomary states of arousal and lapses into sexual fantasy.
    “I asked for an update on the Cabot case.”
    “There’s not much to tell at this point. I’ve been going through the file more thoroughly, and I’ve requested her Internal Affairs and personnel records.”
    “Is she calling in as we requested?”
    Regan thought of the clipped phone exchanges the last couple of days. “Yes, she is. And we’re meeting this afternoon to go over a