"Ok," Kathryn said quietly, squeezing my hand quickly before letting go.

I glanced up to watch her searching the cupboards for a glass. She looked so intent and far away. I wondered how she would feel about me if she knew the whole story. The thought of her walking out of my life brought on more tears. I dropped my head back into my hands to try and stop them. Jeffries had been watching me and I wondered; had she already looked into my past?

Kathryn returned and touched my arm. I looked up into her concerned eyes. She gave me the glass and reached out to move the hair out of my eyes. I so wanted to trust her, to tell her the whole story, but fear was a hard lump in my throat.

"Darling, if you’d prefer to talk to the detective alone I’d understand," she said.

That would be so much easier! I searched her eyes before taking a drink. No, I couldn’t run any more. If we were ever going to have any chance together she needed to know the truth.

"No, no I need you to stay." Her hand was warm and reassuring on my cheek.

The open concern of her face almost made me cry again. Did I deserve someone so good?

"So Miss Raven, you know who did this?" Jeffries asked.

"I’m quite certain," I said as I took another long drink, giving my self some time to compose the sentences in my mind. No matter how I said it, it would come out sounding crazy. I put down the glass and stood up, walking over to the door to make sure it was shut tight. How to start? I stopped and looked at the slash on my rear bike tire, resting my hand on the ergonomic seat.

"I used to have a green banana seat. Sparkly green with tassels on the handlebars. I used to double my friends all the time, one in particular. We met when we were 9 and were best friends until she moved away in sixth grade. She said we were kindred spirits like the girls in Anne of Green Gables." I could hear Jeffries taking notes. "I’m sorry I know I’m not making any sense."

"Take your time. No rush." The detective said. Kathryn nodded her head in agreement.

I turned towards the bed and rage boiled up again. I couldn’t look at that. The puddle of blackened white wax marring the middle of my Grandmother’s quilt, meticulous stitches charred and ruined. I turned back and grabbed the glass to refill it in the kitchen.

"She came back in my senior year. She was athletic and got popular really quickly. I was a geeky bookworm, but she stopped them from teasing me. She would ignore me at school but she started calling. Then coming over. We almost got caught… anyhow she got really controlling. I only applied to schools that were far away. The day I got that acceptance letter … I was so happy… I thought I had escaped her. She showed up again at the beginning of third year. Acted like it was all a big coincidence. I should have known it wasn’t. Eventually we got involved again and moved in together. We were horribly closeted. She was so paranoid. I moved out and she wouldn’t leave me alone. Refused to believe we had broken up. I got a job in Chicago through a school friend and left without telling her, but she tracked me down." I had been pacing a line between my bike and the bookshelf, not looking at either of them, just staring at the worn wooden floor. How to say what came next? Without diminishing or making it sound too …

"She wouldn’t leave me alone, it just got worse and worse, until she came after me. I fought her off and.. and she went through a window. It was a mess."

There was a long silence. I took a drink and put the glass on one of the bookshelves. I leaned my elbows on the top shelf and rubbed my temples trying to erase the images in my mind.

"Was that when you changed your name?" Jeffries asked. So she had done some research.

"Yes," I said turning to face Kathryn. Her eyebrows fought towards each other causing a crease between them. Concerned? Confused? I couldn’t quite tell.

"After that I cut all ties with my past, except my Grandma, but … she died and I had to go back." I caught sight of my ruined quilt and tears welled up again.

"And that gave this person the opportunity to start stalking you again?" Jeffries asked calmly.

"I think so … that must have been it. I was so careful." I tried to meet Kathryn’s eyes, but she was staring into space. She looked angry, really angry. Her jaw muscles were tense. She looked up at me and her eyes softened. I let myself breathe again.

"That car last night Nika?" She looked like she knew the answer already. I nodded.

"What car?" Jeffries asked stepping closer. Kathryn reached out and took hold of my right hand. I sat on the arm of the club chair.

"We were followed last night, after Kathryn picked me up."

Kathryn filled in the details about the car and the brief chase. Jeffries called in the description and partial license plate number. I was surprised Kathryn had noticed so much.

"I suggest you find someplace else to stay for a while, Miss Raven. It’s clearly not safe for you to be here." Jeffries spoke in a sympathetic but commanding voice. I suddenly felt totally alone. It was a familiar feeling, but the past few days with Kathryn had almost made me forget. Perhaps I really was meant to be alone.

"Nika, you know you’re welcome to stay with me, just until you decide what to do next."

I couldn’t speak for a long time. I couldn’t even look at her. I just concentrated on swallowing the new lump in my throat. I managed a shaky breath and nodded, looking into Kathryn’s kind eyes. Was there more than just concern there? Could she feel what I was feeling? What I hadn’t let myself feel for so long. Were these fledgling emotions strong enough to undo all my years of fear? Hope seemed like a distant shore. I closed my eyes to stave off more tears.

"I’m exhausted," I finally admitted. Kathryn moved to sit in the chair and wrapped her arm around my hips so we were both facing the detective.

"I can contact you at Mrs. Ridgeway’s then?" Detective Jeffries asked.

"That’s Ms. Ridgeway. But feel free to call me Kathryn, Detective."

"Alright. Miss Raven, one more question. You haven’t told me the perpetrator's name…" They both waited for my response. I could barely bring myself to say it. It had been so beautiful in the beginning and she turned it all to pain and disgust.

"Her name … is Shelley, Shelley Snyder." I looked Jeffries straight in the eye.

"Not the Shelley Snyder?" I nodded yes. "But they said that it was a car accident…"

"It wasn’t."

"Je-sus!"

"Shelley who? What are you both talking about?" Kathryn interjected.

"She was a favorite to win Gold in Athens but an accident tore up one of her arms and part of her face. It destroyed her swimming career."

"Was she disfigured?" Kathyn asked looking at the shattered mirror.

"No, well the plastic surgeons fixed her up pretty good." Jeffries still sounded amazed. "That makes this case a lot more interesting," she mused.

"Detective, I’m sure you understand that it would be in everyone’s best interest to keep this out of the news." Kathryn’s eyes held steady.

"Of course, of course." Jeffries shook off the implication and glanced up at me. "I’m sure I’ll have more questions and hopefully more information for you in the next few days." She shifted her gaze to Kathryn. "She’ll be safe with you?"

"Very." Kathyrn rubbed my hip. "I have an excellent security system."

"Glad to hear it. I’ll get to work on this right away, in the mean time you might consider a restraining order." She strode towards the door and nodded goodbye.

"Didn’t work last time," I mumbled as the door closed behind her.

**********

We sat quietly for a long time. I tried to reassure Nika with my touch, but she seemed so far away. Finally I stood up and faced her.

"So what shall we take with us?" I smiled a little and tried to catch her eye.

She wouldn’t look at me for a long time. She just sat there staring at the mess. She appeared so lost.

"Darling, Nika, you’re not alone in this ok?" I crouched down to look up into her eyes, which immediately welled up with tears. I wrapped my arms around her and let her cry for while, not knowing what else I could possibly do. "Are you crying because you’re angry?" She nodded against my shoulder.

"And because, you’re here. I’m sorry to …" her voice cracked.

"Nika, hush, don’t worry about me. I just want to make sure you’re ok. This doesn’t change anything. I mean I had fantasized that someday we might move in together … this is kind of … unexpected but, it’s not necessarily a bad thing, darling. If you want you can stay in the guest room." She looked up, her eyes vivid blue from the tears.

"You thought about us living together?" She was almost smiling. I nodded and felt my face blush. She pulled me into a tight hug and mumbled against my stomach. "Sorry my life is so messed up."

"My life isn’t exactly in perfect order right now either… come on darling let’s think of it as a mini-vacation." She looked up and I wiped the tears off her cheeks. She stood up and pulled me close.

"Kathryn," she sighed into my hair; holding me tight. Her arms relaxed and I pulled back to kiss her. It was deep and passionate, we gasped for breath when it was over. She looked calmer. "Could I bring my bicycle?"

I looked over at it. "We could take the front wheel off." This brought on smile.

"Thanks, it’s important to me." She grabbed a bag from the closet by the door and stuffed some clothes into it. Pulling things out of the small dresser she handed them to me and I arranged them in the large backpack.

"This looks like it’s been around." I said trying to lighten the mood and perhaps get Nika to think of something else.

"It has. Been all over Europe and Asia with that pack. I got those sari’s in India." She gestured at the blue and purple silk that curtained the bed.

"They’re lovely."

"Well they were." Nika sounded bitter.

"What was it like there?" I tried to distract her again.

"Amazing, incredible, like absolutely nowhere else on Earth. You should go."

"Maybe you could show me round, I don’t think I’d have the guts to go alone, like you."

"Oh I wasn’t alone. I went with a Swiss woman I’d met in Thailand." Nika paused in her packing for a moment, then blinked and started again.

"What was her name? If you don’t mind me asking?"

"Petra." Her eyes darkened and her jaw clenched. She started moving faster, practically throwing the clothes at me. "I’ll tell you about her sometime."

Her drawers were emptied in no time at all and I wondered how often she’d been through this. Packing up and moving on short notice to escape a madwoman. She disappeared into the bathroom. I looked around and realized how few belongings she had. She returned with a plastic shopping bag half filled with toiletries and stuffed it into the bag. Then she tossed a few books into the top compartment of her back-pack and we walked down to the car together so she could put it in behind the bucket seats. It was a tight fit. I scanned the street for tan sedans. Nika surprised me by taking my hand as we walked back to the door.

"Do you have any bungee cords?"

"No, I don’t thing so."

"It’s OK I have some."

At the top of the musty stairs someone called her name. We turned around.

"Miss Nika, you’re ok. We were worried about you." An older Vietnamese gentleman with thinning hair hurried down the stairs and took her hand. "Miss Maudie was very upset."

"Mr. Hoang, this is my friend Kathryn."

He looked me over intently and smiled. "Nice to meet you." We said in unison.

"I won’t be around for a little while, please tell Miss Maudie that I’m Ok, and thank-you for putting out the fire. You saved most of my things." Nika looked on the verge of tears again. "You’re Ok?"

"Oh! I’m fine, it’s Ok, just a little smoke! I’m glad you’re safe. Make sure you stay safe!" He raised his eyebrows and patted her hand before letting it go.

"Yes sir." Nika smiled, her eyes were wet.

"Ok, I’ve got to get to work. Maybe we’ll see you again?" He said to me as he started down the stairs.

"I hope so," I said. Nika squeezed my hand and we went back into her apartment. She crouched down and pulled an old-fashioned small leather suitcase from under the bed and handed it to me. It was quite heavy.

"God! What’s in here?"

"My life." She said with her back to me. She slid her hand under the mattress and pulled out two thin books. "Could you take these too." She asked handing them to me. She grabbed a small fanny pack from the floor by the front door and hooked it over the handle bars.

"After you." She said gesturing towards the door. I stepped into the hall and waited by the stairs. Nika followed with her bike’s crossbar expertly balanced on her shoulder. She locked the door and walked down the stairs with ease.

I turned on the radio in the car so Nika wouldn’t feel pressured to fill up the silence. I waited in the car while she bought new tires for her bike at a sporting goods store. There was a brief awkward moment when we got home.

"The guest bedrooms are downstairs." I said, and she hesitated at the door.

"Is that what you want." She looked nervous, uncertain, I hated seeing that look in her eyes. As much as I wanted to hold her I stood still.

"Honestly no, Nika, but I don’t want you to feel pressured at all. What do you want."

"I don’t want to be alone tonight." She glanced down at the floor. I guessed this was hard for her to admit. I stepped close and quickly kissed her cheek.

"You’re not alone. C’mon." I turned quickly and led the way up the stairs so she wouldn’t see the tears in my eyes. I put her heavy little suitcase on the bed and walked into the ensuite. "I’m going for a swim darling. I need to relax and I think you maybe need a little space. Come join me when you’re done. " I stripped off my clothes and donned my silk robe. She stood silently looking a little lost. Where it lay on the bed, the backpack resembled a giant beetle on its back. She stared at it with revulsion.

"Darling, feel free to make room in the closet and that top drawer is almost empty... hell dump it all out on the floor if you want, just … just try not to think about it too much right now. You’ve been through a lot today. Don’t be too hard on yourself." I wrapped my arms around her from behind. She was trembling.

"Thank-you, Kathryn," she whispered holding my arms tight around her. When she let go I stepped away and kissed her hand.

"I’ll be in the pool." I held her eyes until she nodded and let go of my hand.

The late afternoon sun felt good on my skin. I dove in and swam a few laps. Then I lay on the hot concrete to warm up. Then I slid back in and swam some more. This was my favorite way to relax, to leave the world behind. I wondered if Nika had ever been scuba diving in all her travels. As I pulled myself through the water I imagined diving with her, the big blue, the weightlessness, the feeling of absolute content and freedom I felt under water. I’d put my water bottle in the shade of the bridge; I stopped to have a drink. Nika was sitting on the ground at the far end of the pool. Her bike was flipped over so she could fix the tires. She was wearing baggy cut-offs, a tank-top and a ball-cap to shade her eyes. I watched her for a while and took another drink. Then I swam lazily down to the end of the pool balancing my elbows on the top step slowly kicking my feet to stay afloat. I could feel the sun warming my buttocks or was it just looking at Nika that made my body pulse. She seemed intent on her work so I swam some more laps.

The next time I stopped she was using a small pump to fill the tires.

"There’s a compressor in the garage," I said, startling her a little. She smiled at me. I watched her eyes slide past mine along the curves of my floating body.

"I’ll be back in a sec," she said. I curled my legs under and pushed off with my feet. I lay floating on my back with my eyes closed. The sun swirled colours under my eyelids. I felt good. Relaxed. I wished I could get Nika to relax. She just needed some time. Could I be patient with her? I heard the ticking of a bicycle and turned upright in the water treading while my eyes readjusted. Nika rode past. I swam to the edge and held on. She turned and rode back, stopping right in front of me. I didn’t think it was possible for her to look even sexier, but there was something almost predatory in the way she looked on a bicycle, it was damned sexy.

"Good as new," she announced, quite pleased with herself. I smiled up at her.

"That bike is pretty important to you."

"You have no idea," she said dismounting and laying it gently on the ground. "Can I join you?"

"Darling I thought you’d never ask," I smirked at her "but remember this pool is reserved for naked ladies only."

"Oh I’m not really sure I’m a lady." Nika smirked as she slid off her cutoffs. She hadn’t bothered with underwear. She watched my eyes trail up her legs and pause. She looked a little nervous as she took off the ball cap.

"We’ll make an exception this time." I murmured as she pulled the tank slowly up and off, letting her generous breasts bounce ever so slightly. Her nipples hardened in the cool breeze.

"Is it cold?" she sat down on the edge and dipped her feet in. Without waiting for an answer she braced her hands on the edge of the pool, lifted her hips and slid effortlessly into the water, turning as she did to face me holding onto the edge one-handed. She pushed herself under and resurfaced with her head thrown back, her hair slicked back off her face. She blinked away the water and smiled at me, somehow managing to look shy even though she was completely naked. Without letting go of the pool edge she wrapped her other arm around me and nuzzled her face into my neck. Our legs tangled together under the water. I held her close. "You’re very important to me," she said quietly.

"You’re important to me too, Nika," I replied as she kissed my neck lightly.

"I need you to know that … that I thought I was fighting for my life, I’m not a violent person. I’d never…" I pulled back to look her in the eyes.

"Darling, that thought never crossed my mind. Do you think you would be here now if I even imagined that was a possibility." She froze in my arms.

"No?" Her eyes were wide and searching mine.

"No." I smiled to reassure her. "I trust you, Nika. You know you can trust me?"

"Yes, I’m trying." Tears welled up in her eyes again. I hugged her again and felt her relax a little.

"Good, just keep trying. You’re safe here darling, believe me." I kissed her purposefully, trying to communicate everything I was feeling and everything I needed her to know. Her body relaxed a little more. She pulled back and I pushed away from the edge of the pool, splashing her on purpose.

"So much for trust," she said throwing her arms up and bringing them down to splash me back. There were still tears in her eyes but she was actually smiling.

"Well, you can also trust the fact that I always win in water fights." I taunted.

"Is that so?" she said acting haughty.

"Absolut .." she pulled me under. I surfaced laughing. Our marine battle lasted quite a while. By the end we were both panting with laughter and half of the pool had been splashed up onto the deck. "Join me for a quick shower before dinner?" I asked before kissing the tip of her nose.

"Absolutely." Nika replied and we climbed out of the pool and walked with fingers entwined into the house. The guest bathroom was closest; I turned on the stereo as I passed the panel in the hall; boppy Ska filled the house. Nika looked at me surprised. "Is that the radio?"

"Yeah, do you like it?" I asked turning on the tap and checking the water temperature.

"Mm-hmm, I think I could use something upbeat right now." Nika smiled.

"After you." I held open the glass door for her. Once we were both safely inside I flipped the handle and the shower startled us, Nika let out a squeal.

"Is it Ok?" I asked smiling at her.

"It’s a little hot." She said and I bent over to adjust the tap. "Besides, with you in here it’s hot enough already." She smirked at me as I stepped under the spray.

"Oh you’re so smooth." I sputtered water laughing. Nika grabbed the soap and lathered me from toes to shoulders. Her soapy hands made my nipples peak and sent waves of passion over my skin. With my eyes closed I let her steer me back under the spray.

"I love your freckles." She said grabbing the shampoo. I actually blushed, but I don’t think she could tell. I’d always been a little self-conscious about them. "They’re really erotic." She dipped her head and kissed just below my collarbone.

"You really think so?" I asked feeling ridiculously pleased that she liked them. I watched her squeeze some shampoo into her palm and reach past me to replace the bottle.

"I do. They’re beautiful." I steered her in a circle so the water was hitting her.

"I’ve always thought of them as an imperfection."

"You’re beautiful." She leaned in and kissed me as she massaged the shampoo into my hair. Once my hair was rinsed I grabbed the soap and stood behind Nika wrapping my arms around her. I started by rubbing the soap in circles on her tummy, then slowly dipped down the sides of her hips and back up her bottom. She moaned. With Nika’s body blocking most of the spray I crouched down to thoroughly stroke her legs. She changed her stance and braced her hands against the tiled wall. I massaged her bottom with both hands. Retrieving the soap I slid it up the inside of one of her thighs until I found her bush and just brushed the hair with the soap; I worked in to a lather with my hand. I stood up, my nipples carving lines out of the white lather on her back; I sent the bar of soap up Nika’s abdomen to swirl around her superb breasts. She grabbed the soap out of my hand and turned around. She pulled me to her and our lips were soon feasting on each other. The soap clattered into the tub as Nika turned us sideways to catch the shower spray on our mated chests.

"Kathryn, I’m so incredibly wet." Nika gasped, before kissing me again. I kissed her more passionately to let her know how much she was turning me on.

I could feel how hard our nipples were. I pulled away from her lips to capture one plump nipple between my lips while my hand ventured lower. She certainly hadn’t been lying. The smoothness of water gave way to an entirely different level of wetness. Her warm slick passion pulled me in.

"Darling are you sure you want …" I started to ask.

"Gods yes! Please Kathryn, I so want you inside me." That was all I needed to hear. Passion overtook us both. Nika’s strong hand cupped my head keeping it in place at her breast. I carefully positioned my feet so I wouldn’t slip while I plunged into her glorious wetness again and again. She leaned gingerly against the cool tile and lifted one leg to brace her foot against the glass wall. Her free hand slid to meet mine, to spread herself wide and toy with her clit. Her gasping breaths and bucking hips encouraged me to keep going even when the water began to cool and my arm muscles ached. I was rewarded with a sudden flood of heat and a very surprised look on Nika’s face. "What the?"

"Goddess Nika, you’re amazing. You’re so amazing!" I grinned up at her.

"Did I just?" Her eyes were wide with amazement.

"Yes, darling, you ejaculated." I stood up slowly sliding completely out of her. She let out a gasping sigh. "Incredible darling."

"I didn’t think… I mean, wow." She looked at me quite bewildered.

"Come on, let’s rinse off and get out before the water goes totally cold."

Bundled up in big towels we went up to my bedroom to change. "I’d like to order in, how about you?" I asked her. Nika smiled a little and shook her head before saying: "I’m fine with that … I’m amazed I can still walk after that!"

"Darling, you’re not hurt?" I felt suddenly worried.

"Ah, no. Definitely not hurt, hon … amazed, shocked a little, and more satisfied than I ever thought possible." She murmured beside my ear before easing me onto the bed. Kneeling over me she kissed me long and slow; her lips felt hot. "I think I may be getting addicted to you, Kathryn Ridgeway."

"Hmmm isn’t addiction usually a bad thing?" I teased.

"Not in this case." Nika smiled. "I’d really love to taste you right now." She whispered, her eyes searching mine.

"Darling, this is going to sound horrible, but could it wait until after we eat something? I’m starved! What with the swimming and then you working me so hard." I smirked at her. "Do you think you’ll still want to later?"

"I can’t imagine not wanting you." She quirked an eyebrow at me. She moved to lie beside me and lightly kissed my cheek. "So, beautiful, what’s you’re preference?"

"Women, definitely." I quipped.

"You can not pass up a cheesy joke can you? I was talking about take out!" She rolled her eyes in mock dismay and fell onto her back. I leaned up.

"It’s one of my many charms darling!" Her eyes sparkled with laughter.

"So, Pizza? Chinese?" She smirked up at me.

"How about Thai?"

"Yummy."

"There’s a movie we could watch too if you wanted, darling let’s get dressed. You’re all goose-bumpy." I sat up and rubbed her arm.

"That’s because of you." Nika dropped her voice to make it sultry, and made a face to match, flaring her nostrils, pursing her lips and flashing her eyes.

"Goof!" I tossed a pillow at her and got up.

A short time later we were snuggled up on the couch sipping hot chocolate and waiting for the food to arrive. Nika was reading the DVD case.

"So you bought this?" She glanced up at me half-sneering.

"Trust me it’s good! I’m sure you’ll like it. I already know you like cheese!"

"Better than Charlie’s Angels?"

"So much better!"

Twenty minutes into "D.E.B.S" Nika had to admit that I was right! The Security buzzer rang. I paused the film and asked Nika to grab us some plates and glasses; I’d ordered young coconut juice too. I grabbed my wallet and quickly hit the button to open the gate. Nika’s fleece jacket was lying on the chaise; I pulled it on against the evening chill and opened the door. The driver was familiar and smiled at the size of tip I gave him.

I took the large paper bag back to the coffee table where Nika was waiting. We had just started removing the hot containers form the bag when the doorbell rang. I still had Nika’s coat on.

"I’ll get it, the driver must have forgotten to give us something." Nika said jumping up. I heard her open the door, there was silence for a moment, but then, a low and dangerous voice said: "What the hell are you doing here!"

Part 7