She unlocked the door to her apartment and held it for Sonya.
“I’m on the second floor. It’s not very elaborate but it’s mine. You’ll have to forgive the disorder; I haven’t really finished moving in.” Cam led Sonya up the dark flight of stairs. They needed another new paint job but at least they were clean. The dim bulb that lit the stairs needed dusting.
She led Sonya into the compact living room. She looked around at the love-seat sofa, the low particle board coffee table, and the dozen cardboard boxes that filled the room. When Cam locked the door behind them and lowered the blinds in the two windows, Sonya wandered into the small bedroom. As Cam came up behind her, she turned and slowly opened Cam’s leather vest.
“At least you have a large bed,” she said softly, as she pushed the vest back and started to unbutton Cam’s shirt.
As Cam felt Sonya’s hands on her body, the desire that she’d felt in the parking lot began to heat up and Cam drew Sonya to her, their lips meeting tentatively at first, then hungrily. Cam’s tongue explored Sonya’s lips and those lips opened in welcome. Soon their bodies were grinding into each other as Cam reached around to unhook the waistband of Sonya’s short black skirt and let it slide to the floor.
Sonya pulled back just far enough for Cam to unbutton her blouse. Soon the shiny grey blouse and the lacy black bra joined the skirt on the floor. Immediately the black panty hose joined them.
Cam looked down at the smaller woman. Her body was lithe, her breasts small. Her shoulders were a creamy bronze that glowed from sun and moisturizers. Every ounce of the small body cried out to be touched. A look of appreciation spread across Cam’s face.
“Are we going to stand here all night?” Sonya murmured as she unbuckled Cam’s belt, unzipped the fly, and pushed the jeans down over the hips. Then taking Cam’s hand, she backed toward the bed. Cam stepped out of her jeans, threw back the comforter, and followed as Sonya fell back onto the bed.
Sonya’s body was petite. She had a firmness to her that hadn’t come from a gym. Cam looked down at her as Sonya reached up to draw Cam’s face to hers. Their lips met in a frenzied grasp that neither wanted to release. Tongues, teeth, lips, all had one assignment; whatever else needed to be done would have to wait.
Cam looked down at the slender body. A patch of jet black hair shone in the glow of her nightlight.
Sonya drew her close, her body undulating slowly beneath Cam’s.
Cam’s body began to remember the feelings she hadn’t felt since…since Michael left to go back to Canada. Was she being unfaithful to Michael? They had an “open” relationship and Michael knew she was on assignment and might have to do a lot of things to get needed information. But this was Sonya. She didn’t have to do this if she didn’t want to. This wasn’t part of the job. Sonya wasn’t a part of this, was she? But…but she was so attractive! And she made Cam’s body start to pulse whenever she saw her.
Sonya’s movement stopped her questions. Cam let Sonya roll her onto her back.
“I’ve been wanting…no…needing to do this since you first walked into that banquet,” Sonya whispered. “You’re a very hot woman, Cameron Andrews. There are so many parts of your…” She stopped to find the right word. “Of you that I want to explore. Whoever let you get away is a fool.”
“No one let me get away,” Cam started to protest, but Sonya’s mouth found hers before she could formulate any further response. Soon Sonya’s tongue wove its way between Cam’s teeth. There was nothing left to say.
Sonya’s lips worked their way to her neck, below her right ear. Cameron gasped. How did Sonya know that was one of her erogenous zones? It had taken Michael two days to find it. Of course, her relationship with Michael hadn’t started this way.
Why am I thinking of Michael at a time like this? Cam wondered as Sonya’s lips found her already erect and swollen nipples. A moan escaped her lips when Sonya’s teeth began where her lips left off.
“This is more than I hoped for,” Sonya whispered.
Cam started to sit up but Sonya stopped her.
“No, chica. You first.” The look in her eyes told Cam she was on a very determined mission.
Cam acquiesced and sank back onto the bed. Sonya would have hers later, if Cam was still able to move.
When she felt Sonya’s hand touch the wetness between her legs, she felt the fire start to ignite. There was suddenly nothing on her mind but the feeling between the two of them that swept through her body and turned her bones to water.
* * * *
“Don’t you have anything to eat in this place?” Sonya asked as Cam came out of the bathroom.
“I haven’t had time to go to the grocery store. I was going to do that today,” said Cam as she rubbed the towel through her hair.
“Your kitchen looks like a swarm of locusts swept through it. I couldn’t even find enough bread to make toast. Coffee’s on, though.” Sonya sank down onto the bed as Cam searched through her dresser for clean socks.
Cam leaned down and kissed Sonya on the cheek. “Thank you. Perhaps we should go out for breakfast. I’m better in a restaurant than in a kitchen at this time of day.”
“Sounds nice but I have work to do today. I need to get home soon,” was the reply.
“Work? On Saturday? What kind of work do you do?” Cam asked.
“I’m an interior designer. I need to have plans ready for a meeting on Monday morning. Hopefully the client will like them enough to pay my retainer fee.”
Cam laughed, looking around her. “I guess this place looks pretty tacky to you, Ms. Interior Designer.”
“Well, a lot could be done with it, if you really tried,” Sonya agreed. “But if you’re not going to stay here all your life, why bother?”
“That’s what I thought. This hasn’t been the year to put down roots.”
“Where did you live before?” Sonya wanted to know.
“Over in the Bolton Hill area. Nice place but too expensive for me now.”
“I almost bought a house over there a few years ago. Steep price and I don’t think the owner even knew what could be done with it.”
“I imagine you could have made it into a palace.” Cam smiled, sliding her feet into her running shoes. “My sister is good at that. I never had the inclination.”
“Well, chica, you do so many other things so very well, there had to be something you’re not good at.” Sonya smiled up at her, rolling her eyes suggestively.
“Really? Let me check.” With that, Cam kicked off the shoes, crawled onto the bed, and pushed Sonya back into the pillows. Sonya would definitely not be getting a lot of designing done today…at least not interior designing.
* * * *
It was late that afternoon before Cam took Sonya home.
“Don’t you have your own car?” Cam asked as they parked Cam’s motorcycle in front of Sonya’s building.
“Yes. But I hate leaving it parked on the street at night. I always get a lift or take a cab when I go to the bar. Besides, if I pick up someone to take home, we go to her place. It’s better that she not see what I’m driving until I get to know her better,” was Sonya’s answer.
“What do you drive?” Cam couldn’t imagine what made Sonya so leery about showing her car.
“A Jaguar XJS.”
“Whoa!” Cam almost choked. “That’s some car! No wonder you don’t want it left out on the street. Do you keep it in a vault somewhere?”
Sonya laughed. “Sometimes I wish I still had the money I spent on it hidden away in a vault somewhere. I wish I never bought it. It looks good, it drives wonderfully, it feels luxurious, but the expenses are driving me crazy. It’s just not practical in the city.”
“Do you really think it would be any less expensive outside the city?” Cam chuckled.
“Probably not,” Sonya agreed as they walked up the front steps of the building. “But at least I’d get to drive it more.” She pressed the elevator call button.
Cam looked around the lobby. “Are these apartments or condos?” she asked.
“Condos,” Sonya said as the elevator doors slid open.
“You must be doing pretty well with your interior designs. A condo and a jag? Wish I could make that kind of money.” Cam followed Sonya into the elevator where Sonya inserted a key into a “privacy switch” and pressed the button for the top floor.
“Oh, I think you will after a while. It’ll come. When you focus on something you really like doing, the money will come in.”
Cam smiled. “I’ve heard that before. I really liked police work but it didn’t bring me much money. I guess that’s why I began selling drugs. But look where that got me. That’s a step forward and two steps back.”
“But look where you are now. You enjoyed beating up those two punks, - now don’t tell me you didn’t - and now Nick has hired you. See? What goes around…”
The elevator door slid open onto a very roomy, brightly sunlit living room.
Cam just stared.
“This place is phenomenal!” she gasped. She looked around. The huge living room was furnished with two - not one, but two - brown leather sofas facing each other in front of a fireplace with a large marble hearth that nested into the corner of the room. Windows on both sides faced south and west of the city. A solid glass coffee table separated the sofas and just to the side of the fireplace, stood a 48-inch flat screen plasma TV.
“I feel underdressed just looking at this!” Cam managed. “Is it safe to walk across the carpet with my shoes on?”
Sonya turned to her with a smile. Wiping her hand down Cam’s cheek, she said “You are so precious!”
“Precious?!?” Cam exclaimed. “That’s the first time anyone has called me that!”
“Well, come on into the kitchen and let’s make some…er…I guess we’ll call it supper. We missed breakfast and lunch and it’s really too early for dinner.”
Cam followed her through the living room, past a dining area that could easily seat ten or twelve with no crowding at all, and into the kitchen. It, too, was larger than she’d expected.
“You could fit my whole apartment into this kitchen!” Cam was delighted. “Do you have a “thing” for appliances? Look at all this stuff.” Cam walked through the kitchen examining the blender, toaster oven, dual coffee and espresso machine, and microwave, all shiny chrome and by the looks, top of the line. Shiny pots and kettles hung from hooks in the ceiling. A two-oven stove nestled between the large chrome refrigerator/freezer and the dishwasher. “Do you normally cook for an army?”
“Yes, I do. I love to cook and have been known to invite Nick and his entourage and a few friends of mine for dinner,” was Sonya’s response.
“All by yourself?” Cameron couldn’t imagine feeding ten or twelve people like that.
“No!” Sonya roared. “If I’m cooking for that many people, I’ll hire some help. I don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen while everyone’s having fun. Nick’s housekeeper, Laura, helps me a lot. It’s good for entertaining clients, too. We get a lot of big spenders from out of town who want to relax.”
Cam was surprised by the word “we” but didn’t question its meaning. She leaned against the small kitchen table and studied Sonya’s movements. The smaller woman looked as comfortable here in her kitchen as she did on the dance floor or bedroom. Cam started to calculate in her head the amount of money that must have been spent on this condo. Somehow she didn’t think being an interior designer paid for all this.
Sonya looked up at the frown on Cam’s face.
“What are you scowling about?” she asked.
Cam looked up quickly. She hadn’t realized that her thoughts were apparent on her face.
“Just thinking. You look very proficient in here.”
“Is that a problem for you?” Sonya asked.
Cam shook her head. “Not at all,” she said lightly. “I was just wondering what else you did so well. Do you have skills outside the bedroom and kitchen?” Cam smirked. This woman seemed to know her way around quite a few places.
“Now, be careful! Don’t agitate a woman with a knife in her hand!” she said, brandishing a paring knife.
“Ah!” Cam took a step back. “The last woman that attacked me with a knife is dead now.”
“You killed her?!” Sonya stopped and turned to face her. Astonishment was written clearly across her face.
Cam nodded.
“Is that scar below your rib cage related to that?”
Cam looked away. Sonya reached out and put her hand on Cam’s arm.
“I’m sorry if I’m asking too many questions. It must have been rough,” she soothed.
Cam nodded again. “It wasn’t the easiest thing I’ve done.” She shrugged.
“That happens. You do what you have to do,” Sonya said in earnest. She gave Cam a tight hug. “I’ll try not to get on your bad side. At least here in the kitchen.” She winked. Then, pointing to the spot on her neck that begged to be kissed, she said, “Now if you can remember this spot, when I finish these omelets I just might show you what MY bedroom looks like. Go sit down in the living room and get comfortable. Turn the TV on if you want. The remote should be in a basket under the coffee table. I’ll have these ready in a minute.”
Cam backed away and went into the living room. The walls on each side of the fireplace were full windows, floor to ceiling, overlooking the rolling hills just southwest of Baltimore. One could see a lot farther than from Maggie’s windows and the view was magnificent. Cam wondered if you might be able to see Washington, D.C. on very clear days. She could already see flight patterns out of B.W.I. airport.
This is very expensive for an interior designer, she thought. Maybe there is something else here…or am I just looking for an excuse to get close to Sonya? Last night and today felt wonderful. How many of Charlie’s rules did this break? At least one came to mind immediately: Cam was definitely not staying detached.
It wasn’t long before Sonya came in from the kitchen carrying two plates. Cam was still standing at the window, admiring the view.
“Want to sit in here or at the dining room table?” Sonya asked as she came up behind Cam.
“Here’s good. I’ve become quite proficient at balancing plates on my lap,” Cam answered. She took one plate from Sonya and sank down onto the couch. The plate held an omelet that was stuffed with mushrooms, peppers, and cheese. Several slices of orange and apple were beside it. “This looks great. How much do you charge?” Cam chuckled.
“We can take it out in trade later, if you’d like.”