Free Winds of Heaven by Kate Sweeney Page A

“We’re fine. I’m so sorry I bothered you.”
    “You call me. I don’t care what time,” Casey said firmly. “Understand?”
    “Y-yes, I will, thanks, Casey, bye. Oh, wait, Skye wants to talk to you. Is that okay?”
    “Sure, put her on.” Casey instantly grinned. She looked at Suzette, who raised her champagne glass. Casey turned away.
    “ Cafey , light go out. I scared,” Skye whispered. “Mama scared. Mama say damn.”
    Casey laughed out loud. “Don’t be scared, Shortround . The lights will come back on when it stops raining. You take care of Mommy, okay?”
    “’Kay. Come home,” Skye pleaded. “Peas.”
    “I-I will, Shortround . You be good for me?”
    “’Kay.”
    “Let me talk to Mommy, sweetie,” Casey said. She wanted to say “I love you.” Why didn’t she? Why would she? she asked herself. What right does she have to even—
    “Casey, again I’m sorry.” Liz’s voice was full of concern.
    “Don’t be, it’s fine.”
    There was silence for an instant. Casey’s mouth went dry; she swallowed once but said nothing.
    “Skye misses you.”
    Casey heard the softness in Liz’s voice and her heart continued to race. “That’s because she wants a present.” Both laughed, easing the tension between them.
    “You know my daughter too well, Ms. Bennett,” Liz said, still chuckling. “Well, bye. We’ll see you in a few days?”
    “Yes, I’ll be home soon. G’bye , Liz.”
    Casey hung up the phone and looked at it for a moment. She then looked up to see Suzette holding an empty bottle of champagne. “Suzette, my pet. Put that down,” Casey said slowly.
    “I should object,” Suzette sighed as Casey crawled back onto the bed, taking the champagne bottle out of her hand.
    “That would be most objectionable,” Casey assured her as she nibbled her way down the length of her torso. She kissed the soft dark curls as Suzette parted her legs, letting out a deep groan as Casey nestled herself between her legs.
    She kissed her inner thigh, nipping up and down, eliciting small gasps from Suzette, who was holding onto the headboard for dear life murmuring encouraging words as Casey leaned in and parted the thick folds with her tongue, easily gliding up and down. Suddenly, Liz Kennedy’s face flashed through her mind and she stopped in mid-glide. She blinked a few times, then shook her head.
    Suzette whimpered, “Don’t stop.”
    Casey tried desperately to concentrate. Finally, Suzette moved quickly and Casey looked up, dumbfounded.
    “That does it. I know your touch, Casey Bennett,” she said evenly and started gathering her clothes.
    Casey was still stupefied as she sat up and just watched.
    “Why don’t you go back up to the Northwoods and do whatever you have to do? Seduce her, sleep with her, but get it out of your system,” she said, now more angrily. “We have no commitment, and that’s the way I like it, truly. However,” she said as she dressed. “I would like to think that when you’re fucking me, you’re at least thinking about me.”
    Casey’s eyes widened in shock. “Wait, it’s not like that. I mean, yes, her face flashed through my mind, but, Suzette, she’s pregnant.”
    “What?” she bellowed, then gave her a sick look. “You’re fantasizing about a pregnant woman?”
    Casey rolled her eyes at Suzette’s horrified tone. “It’s not like that. She has a little girl.”
    “What?” Suzette exclaimed again and threw up her hands. “She’s pregnant and has a kid? Are you sick?”
    Now Casey was angry. “No,” she said, trying to gain some credibility. “I am not sick. It’s not what you’re thinking. She’s very attractive, but I-I’m not attracted to her.”
    Suzette rolled her eyes as she buttoned her blouse. “Casey Bennett, don’t try to blow smoke up my ass. If you want to fuck her—”
    “Don’t talk like that about her.”  
    Suzette raised an eyebrow. “You just made my point,” she said, chuckling as she slipped on her shoes.