CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

" What's going on? " Elsa asked when Carly met her on the stairs.

" Just...getting dressed, " she said. It wasn't a lie. " How were the roads? "

" Good. A lot of trees down. We saw a barn that was completely lost out off 39."

Carly nodded. " Fish? "

Elsa held up a bag.

" Where's Pat? "

" She's...ah...she'll be down in a minute. Why don't you help me feed the egrets, " Carly suggested. " Where's Martin? "

" He went to check on the barn." Elsa followed Carly back down the stairs, finally taking her arm to stop her when they entered the kitchen. " What's going on? You're acting strange."

" I'm not acting strange. I'm just...tired. Didn't sleep much last night, with the storm and all."

" Uh huh."

" Really."

" And how did Pat sleep? "

" She slept fine. In fact, I gave her a pain pill and she was out."

" A pain pill? What happened? "

" She got hit in the head with a limb. When she was out."

" Mi Dios! I told you it was too dangerous to be out. Estú pido! She could have been killed! "

" Don't you think I know that? "

" What's all the yelling? " Pat asked from the doorway.

" Jesus! Look at you, " Elsa said. She walked to Pat, gently touching her bruised cheek. " Stitches? You let her give you stitches? "

Pat met Carly's eyes and smiled, still seeing the lingering desire there.

" She didn't exactly give me a choice, " Pat said. " In fact, she tied me down and had her way with me."

" I most certainly did not. If I'd had you tied down, I'd have stitched your mouth shut as well."

" Well, I see nothing's changed with you two, " Elsa said.

Pat and Carly exchanged glances again, then Carly lifted the towel off the egrets. Twin mouths opened immediately.

" I know you're hungry. Tia Elsa brought you some lunch, " she cooed.

" Dios, they're ugly, " Elsa said as she peered into the box. Then she looked at Pat. " You risked your life to save them? "

" Yes, I did. They were just so helpless out there. They would have been killed."

" You could have been killed, " Elsa said.

Pat shrugged. " But I wasn't."

She watched as Carly cut the fish into small pieces, then smiled as the hungry birds snatched it up. She touched the bruise on her cheek. Yes, it was all worth it.

" Where's Martin? " she asked.

" Outside checking the damage."

" I think I'll join him, " Pat said. " Been cooped up long enough. Besides, I want to get some shots, " she said, holding up her camera.

Carly grabbed her arm as she walked past.

" Be careful. Don't do any bending or lifting, " Carly said. " Your cheek, it'll just start throbbing again."

" Are you threatening me with another pain pill, Dr. Cambridge? "

" No. We certainly can't have a repeat of last night, " she teased.

" No, we can't." Pat flicked her eyes to Elsa who was listening to their every word. She stepped closer to Carly and whispered, " Because I want my mouth on you tonight."

Then she walked away, leaving a stunned Carly staring after her. Carly squeezed her eyes shut against the vision of Pat lying between her legs, bringing her to orgasm with her mouth. Mi Dios.

She knew Elsa was watching her as she went back to feeding the egrets, but she ignored her. Knowing Elsa, it wouldn't last long.

" Oh my God, " Elsa said.

" What? "

" You had sex."

" What are you talking about? " Carly said, trying to sound offended.

" You're blushing. You never could lie worth a damn."

Carly raised her eyes, intending to deny it, but when she met Elsa's amused eyes, she smiled and nodded.

" Well? "

" Well what? "

" Details, " Elsa demanded.

" I will not. And not one word in front of Pat. I mean it."

" You are so cute." Then her eyes widened. " Oh, Dios! When we drove up? When you didn't come down? "

" Yes. Are you happy now? "

" Yes. I'm happy now." Elsa walked over and hugged Carly hard. " I knew she was the one, " Elsa said.

" The one? I think that's a bit premature, Elsa."

" No. She makes you laugh. She makes you happy. And you probably don't even know it, but Pat's eyes light up each and every time she looks at you."

" Elsa, if I tell you something, you promise you won't over-react? "

" Me? "

" Yes, you."

" I promise."

" Pat doesn't intend for this to be a...passing affair. In fact, she wouldn't even sleep with me unless I knew what the stakes were, " she said. " I could fall in love with her, Elsa. It would be so easy. But what if it ends? I'm not sure I could manage again."

Elsa smiled sweetly at her. " You're already in love with her, Carly."

Carly hung her head. " If I don't say the words, I can still believe that I'm not, " she said quietly. " It hurts. Just the thought of losing her hurts."

" You've just begun. Why are you insisting that it will end? "

" Because that's what happens with me, " she said.

" It happened once, " Elsa reminded her.

" And I can't go through it again. I promised myself I would never let anyone get inside me again."

" It's too late, Carly. She is inside you."

" Yes, I know she is."