Sweet Lullaby

Chapter Two

"Well, knew her would be a stretch."

Allowing a charming smile to slip onto her face, Hunter Drakes played Cierra Speares like a finely tuned fiddle.

"What was your relationship with her?" Cierra hoped the irritation she felt was not present in her tone. She hoped it sounded like a curious, good-natured question, lest Hunter be the serial killer, or involved in any type of way. She didn't think she was, but she knew that she was becoming more and more subject to bias.

Shrugging, the woman ordered a type of liquor with an elaborate name that Cierra didn't recognize. It apparently took more assembly than simply retrieving a can from a fridge, and so Melissa left them to do so. Once her absorption into the drink was apparent, Hunter shifted to face the Detective once more.

"I knew her before she was married; helped her realize her preference for women. Unfortunately, couldn't deter her decision." Her tone was unbothered.

Of course. She could turn anyone gay.

Popping the top of her soda, Cierra took a sip casually. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Hunter with the utmost scrutiny. Shuffling her dark hair over her shoulder, she offered a swooning Melissa an appreciative smile as she placed an odd dark green drink in front of her.

"When was the last time you heard from her? Were you together?" She gave up the entire pretense of being a regular patron, instead opting for a blunt line of questioning.

Giggling, Hunter leaned back on her stool. "Together? No, I don't do relationships. We simply ruffled the sheets for a while, sweetheart. Last I heard of her was about a week ago, but she said her husband was becoming suspicious, so she ended it." Taking a sip of her drink, she gave another heart-wrenching smile. She didn't even seem bitter about the end of their arrangement.

Internally, Cierra frowned. That didn't tell her much, for a suspect could act a variety of ways.

"What is this, a police interview? You're treating me like a suspect or something," She stated suddenly, startling Cierra, until she realized that the woman was simply teasing. "You asked me your questions, now I get to ask you mine."

Chewing her lip, Cierra reluctantly agreed. Why, she didn't know herself.

"Have you ever been with a woman, Ms. Speares?"

Nearly choking on her drink, Cierra cleared her throat. "U-um, no. I'm straight." She spluttered.

At this response, Hunter giggled. "No one is truly straight, Cierra. Why, I could kiss you and have you begging for a whole lot more." Her tone turned sultry, making the sentence sound that much more provocative.

Cierra's mouth fell open with a small, audible pop. "I'm going to have to disagree with you there."

Pushing it a step further, Hunter swiveled on her stool, using her legs to push Cierra in her direction as well. Face to face, Hunter leaned in so close that Cierra could smell a sweet aroma emitting from the woman.

"Want a demonstration?" She all but purred, her smirk getting wider when she saw the blush spreading across Cierra's cheeks. A second passed, and Hunter's lips were suddenly on hers. One hand slid behind her neck, the other resting on the Detective's knee. Maybe the placement was to keep her from moving, but that was exactly the opposite of what was on Cierra's mind.

Just as she felt the initial surprise melt from her limbs and made the motion to lifted her arms to lock them around Hunter's neck, the woman pulled away, returning to her original position as if nothing had occurred. Lifting her glass to her lips once more, she smirked at the look of shocked desire on Cierra's face.

"Why exactly are you here, Detective? What do you want? A straight woman in a gay bar, seems a little off, don't you think? You don't even have the stereotypical gay friend here to act as your supposed cover." Her tone suggested something a lot more provocative than what Cierra had originally came for, but she couldn't truthfully deny that those intentions hadn't changed.

She didn't understand what was going on; she was straight for goodness sake, but here she was, lusting after a woman she had only just met. Who had the gall to kiss her without any kind of warning. Who had all the potential of being a full-blown murderer.

Wiping her face as blank as she could, she answered. "To be honest, I don't know. I guess I've been," She paused, swallowing roughly, "questioning myself recently. I wanted to find someone who could maybe help me get an answer."

Hunter was delighted. This woman was so easily walking into her grasp, she didn't even have to work at it.

Knocking back a new shot of straight alcohol, she turned her gaze completely to the other woman, who seemed to quiver underneath the intensity of it. She was so very obviously a cop; from the beginning, she'd seen her flash her badge to Melissa, who was eyeing her from the other corner of the bar. But she could use that to her advantage.

"I can give you an answer," She stated jovially, ordering another shot. "Just drink this, and I'll do to your body what no man can ever dream of doing."

She could tell that her words affected the other woman, although she tried to suppress it. Hunter smirked internally. No one, man, woman, or anyone in between could resist her; it was literally an impossible feat. She was lusted after everywhere she went; God forbid she actually show some of them some attention; they'd practically throw themselves at her. She applauded Cierra for holding her own for so long, but she would soon crumble her resolve.

Appearing to be hesitant, she gingerly took the glass from Hunter. Arching an eyebrow, she waited until the Detective lifted the glass to her lips, taking the shot.

Two shots later, she was a little more than tipsy, leading Hunter to believe she couldn't quite hold her alcohol. Hunter took out her wallet, placing a few bills on the bar that more than compensated for the drinks they'd both consumed. She didn't want the other woman too intoxicated; she wanted her to be in a semi-clear state of mind so that in the morning, she'd remember exactly what had taken place.

"Why don't we move this to a more... convenient location," It wasn't a question nor a suggestion; it was a command.

Lacing her arm around Cierra's waist, she just barely managed to conceal her excitement. Tonight would be fun.

Having loosened up, Cierra nodded, a small, confident grin lighting up her face. The alcohol had very clearly allowed her to let go of her caution, but it was Hunter's natural charm that completely wiped away any inhibitions she might've had about going home with a complete stranger.

She's even more gorgeous when she smiles, thought Hunter.

Pushing open the door to the exit, the cool night air tickled Hunter's face. She hadn't planned on taking home anyone tonight, maybe just a simple screw in the bathroom if she felt like it, but the moment she saw her, she couldn't just let Cierra walk away.

There wasn't much of a line at all, so there would be no witnesses besides Melissa who could specifically identify Hunter leaving with Cierra. However, she knew the woman would never point the finger at her; she was entirely too infatuated.

Hunter was pulled out of her musings when they turned a corner onto the street where she had parked and Cierra all but threw her up against the wall of the building they'd just left, wrapping her arms around Hunter's neck. The movement momentarily shocked her, but she soon caught up as the other woman's lips were suddenly against the exposed skin of her shoulder.

She smirked. The alcohol must have weakened her resistance to her as well.

"Why wait to get to your place?" She muttered, taking one of Hunter's hands to place it onto her waist. The other soon followed suit, and Hunter had to force herself to not take her right then and there.

Good things came to those who waited.

"I can't very well take you in the middle of the street, Cierra," She said, leaning down to nip the other woman's lip teasingly. "But my home is less than 20 minutes from here, so I promise you won't have to-"

"Cierra!" A masculine voice broke through the silence of the night, a new face appearing on the corner.

Hunter scoffed, eyeing him distastefully. Somehow, he managed to look like a cop even whilst in street clothes. He was more than likely her partner; there was no way that another Detective just happened to be lurking around whilst Cierra was inside the bar.

His dark brown eyes, made almost black in the little light, searched the street until they focused on them just a few feet away from him, filling with relief, closely followed by confusion.

"Cierra, what the hell? You have a job to do, there's no time for you to be trying to get laid!" He tried to sound firm, but there was an unsure waver in his voice that caused Hunter to smirk.

Rolling her eyes, Hunter stepped back into the light of the streetlamp, pulling Cierra with her. She wasn't about to have her night ruined by this guy.

His entire demeanor changed once he got a full look of Hunter; he straightened up, a charming smile with barely concealed lust hidden behind it lighting up his face. "Hey there." With the two words, it seemed that both of them had lost sight of their initial mission.

Hunter almost broke out in laughter but decided to save face for him. "Hey yourself. Sorry to tell you this, but her job will have to wait." A bold statement for her to make, but she had no doubt that her newest interest would agree and it showed in her confidence. "She's coming home with me tonight." Beside her, Cierra leaned into her side, nodding.

"Cover for me with the Captain, I'll call you tomorrow morning."

She didn't give either one of them a chance to think about saying anything else, impatience beginning to taint her mood. Without another word, Hunter took Cierra's hand, dragging her across the street where her car waited patiently for the both of them.

Tonight is going to be fun.