Cut Glass: Jewels - Ruby

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Stakeout

Sooner or later, Cutler had to return to Houston. It may take a few days, maybe even weeks, but one day David Fellowes knew the woman would check herself into the Lone Star Inn for the night. And when she did, he would be at her door, demanding an answer. Demanding her body. And demanding her to love him again…if she would. If she could.

For some reason the woman had severed all ties with him, but he was willing to bet none of it was Cut’s doing. It had to be Bar’s. Bar had to be filling Cutler’s head with all kinds of half-truths. And the worse part of it was, he couldn’t explain to her why. He couldn’t give her his side of the truth. Not as long as Bar managed to keep them separated.

Damn that woman. Damn her to hell.

Damn that woman. Damn her to hell. That woman had been trying to keep him away from Cutler ever since she’d first learned of their attraction to each other. Although David was ninety-nine point nine percent certain the boss’s antagonism toward him wasn’t personal, he was one hundred and ten percent dead sure it was professional.

He shifted in his seat, crossing his legs to relieve some of the numbness sinking into his muscles. Nearly two months ago he had said goodbye to the woman he knew without any doubt he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He had thought their time apart would last two weeks, at the most. Two weeks to buy himself out of his lease, donate all his furniture and miscellaneous to several shelters, and place what few belongings he couldn’t give up in a storage locker in the town where his parents lived. The hardest part of it had been going into Captain Chessley’s office and handing the man his resignation.

“What the f**k is this?” the man demanded. David knew the question was rhetorical.

“You weren’t there, Captain. You didn’t witness what I witnessed.”

“You’ve got nearly nine years with the force,” the man had argued. “Why do you want to throw it away like this?” Of course he was going to try and talk David out of it, but there was a whole lot more to this iceberg than what the captain was seeing. The man ought to be grateful David wasn’t letting him peek below the surface.

A shiver ran up his spine.

Jesus. Jewels.

Jesus. Jewels. Facing the nightmares alone, and without Cut’s sweet, warm body beside him to help alleviate the torment, had been a result he hadn’t anticipated. It made needing to get back to Houston and to her all the more crucial. Not just for his sake, but for hers, too. If he was having nightmares, then no telling what horrors she was having to face.

Or had been facing. Remember, she was doing this long before you met her.

Or had been facing. Remember, she was doing this long before you met her. He moaned slightly as his heart caved in a little more. Rubbing a hand over his face, David blinked and continued to watch the door to the motel office. From the window in his room he could see the street, the entrance, most of the parking lot, and the office. Whenever the red vehicle with the Bar logo pulled up to let someone out or to pick someone up, he kept track of the person entering and exiting in the little notebook he used when he was a detective on the force.

So far, in the nearly three weeks he’d been observing, he had made detailed notes on sixteen individuals, and each one them was a lapie. He would bet his life on it.

Sixteen people—twelve women and four men. All of them young, and most of them vigorously healthy. A couple had sported bandages or casts, but they all had a certain look about them. An aura. It was the same kind of “presence” that surrounded Cutler Glass. David guessed it was part of that special power that made each lapie unique.

It had taken him a while before he got wind that Bar was keeping any communication between him and Cutler severed. Realizing he wouldn"t have a snowflake"s chance in hell of seeing Cut again as long as he remained in Colorado, he had returned to Houston and set himself up at the motel he knew Bar used exclusively for her lapies. That was three weeks ago, and so far she hadn"t shown.

A familiar, painful twisting centered in his gut. Somewhere out there Cutler was putting her life on the line. Three weeks was a hell of a long time to go without any down time. Unless…

Unless… He prayed she was still alive. Because if she was, then sooner or later she would have to fly back to Houston and report in to Bar. She would place her little trophy in the vault with her name on it, and then she would be sent here to rest up for a couple of days until Bar’s people located another one of those aberrations of nature and sent her out to kill it.

One day, some day, soon, he knew Cut would step out of that red SUV and check into the motel. As the days and weeks passed, he saw the time between them reuniting getting shorter. David had no idea how long it took a lapie to complete a mission, but three weeks seemed to be pushing the envelope.

Soon. Soon, he kept telling himself. She would show up soon. No ifs, no maybes, but definitely soon. And the moment she did, he would find out why she had been avoiding him all this time. If it was Cutler’s decision, he would learn to live with it, as devastating as it would be. But if this misery was all due to Bar’s interference, there would be hell to pay.

David had made up his mind that he would find out what Bar had told Cutler that made her no longer want to have anything to do with him. Then he would demand to have five minutes to explain. That’s all. Just five minutes. And then, if she still wanted him out of her life forever, he would somehow find the strength to walk away without a glance back because he loved her that much.

Three weeks. In the back of his mind he realized that maybe it was taking so long because she had been injured again. Heaven knew she had nearly died after taking down that flawless blue diamond. And she hadn’t been completely healed when Bar had her go after that amber they had discovered up around the Utah border. Maybe it was taking so goddamn long because she was back in the hospital.

Please, God, just let her still be alive, he prayed silently. Let her be alive so I can justify what I did. So I can explain and ask her forgiveness. Just five minutes, God. That’s all.

Please, God, just let her still be alive,Let her be alive so I can justify what I did. So I can explain and ask her forgiveness. Just five minutes, God. That’s all. The sun was beginning to set. It washed him and the room where he was staying in an orange-red light. In the three weeks he’d been watching the place, he had taken every caution not to reveal himself. Bar knew he wouldn’t stop searching for Cutler. He could only hope she expected him to stake out the company. Oh, yeah, that idea had occurred to him, and there were plenty of places where he could hole up and still be able to see the front door to the building. But the motel was a lot more comfortable. It also allowed him the chance to meet with her face-to-face with less interference.

His butt was sore. Getting to his feet, he adjusted his jeans around his waist, noticing that he"d lost some weight. Nothing like a lovesick cop on a perpetual stakeout to help shed a few pounds.

Something yellow caught his eye, an unusual brightness in the normally dark room. He turned to see a ray of light had landed on the blonde wig sitting on top of his duffle bag. It was the only thing of Cutler"s he had to remember her by, other than his memories. For some reason, it called to him, and he retrieved it to bring it back over to where he was keeping watch.

He turned it over in his hands, then brought it to his nose and sniffed it. All trace of her scent, her perfume, and her shampoo, had vanished long ago. All that was left was the slight chemical smell of the woven cap. The human hair threaded between his fingers like soft cotton strands, and he smiled, remembering when she"d worn it in Colorado.

He was vaguely aware of the mattress jiggling as she left the bed. Somewhere in the distance he heard the toilet flush before Cutler rejoined him. The sheets moved, and her warm body snuggled up next to his. The next instant something very scratchy was placed over his crotch, directly on the head of his d**k, and he heard Cutler softly giggle.

He was vaguely aware of the mattress jiggling as she left the bed. Somewhere in the distance he heard the toilet flush before Cutler rejoined him. The sheets moved, and her warm body snuggled up next to his. The next instant something very scratchy was placed over his crotch, directly on the head of his d**k, and he heard Cutler softly giggle. "What are you doing?" he mumbled sleepily.

"What are you doing?" he mumbled sleepily. "Men always think of their c***s as another little person. I just gave yours a little personality."

"Men always think of their c***s as another little person. I just gave yours a little personality." He turned his face to look at her. She was grinning from ear to ear. Lifting the sheet, he peered down his body and the woody he always sprouted first thing in the morning. Sure enough, his pole stood at attention, except this time it sported a cap of honey blonde curls. He gave her a peeved look.

He turned his face to look at her. She was grinning from ear to ear. Lifting the sheet, he peered down his body and the woody he always sprouted first thing in the morning. Sure enough, his pole stood at attention, except this time it sported a cap of honey blonde curls. He gave her a peeved look. "You forgot the lipstick."

"You forgot the lipstick." "Oops! My bad!"

"Oops! My bad!" "I was teasing."

"I was teasing." To his mortification, she scrambled out of bed and went over to her duffle. Pulling out the small makeup kit, she unzipped it and extracted the lipstick. David immediately sat up and crawled backwards.

To his mortification, she scrambled out of bed and went over to her duffle. Pulling out the small makeup kit, she unzipped it and extracted the lipstick. David immediately sat up and crawled backwards. "Oh, no, no, no." He held out a hand to ward her off, but Cutler advanced toward him, crawling from the foot of the bed. They were both laughing when she jerked back the sheet and removed the wig.

"Oh, no, no, no." He held out a hand to ward her off, but Cutler advanced toward him, crawling from the foot of the bed. They were both laughing when she jerked back the sheet and removed the wig. It was delicious torture to have her draw a pair of lips directly over the head of his erection, outlining the hole like it was an actual mouth. The pressure on his bladder only added to his torment, but it was a delicious torment. When she was finished, she positioned herself over his knees and, making sure his eyes were locked on her, ran her tongue from his balls up to the head.

It was delicious torture to have her draw a pair of lips directly over the head of his erection, outlining the hole like it was an actual mouth. The pressure on his bladder only added to his torment, but it was a delicious torment. When she was finished, she positioned herself over his knees and, making sure his eyes were locked on her, ran her tongue from his balls up to the head. David grinned. "Kiss it, baby."

David grinned. "Kiss it, baby." "Oh, I"m going to do more than kiss it." And she went down on him like the vacuum cleaner from hell.

"Oh, I"m going to do more than kiss it." And she went down on him like the vacuum cleaner from hell. He called out her name and grabbed the headboard behind him. Cutler worked him, her hands cupping his scrotum as her head bobbed up and down, her mouth hot and wet and tight. Her tongue scoured his flesh. Within moments he came, pumping into the back of her throat. When it was over, she kissed the tip of his d**k where the lipstick had smeared, got up from the bed, and went into the bathroom where he heard water running.

He called out her name and grabbed the headboard behind him. Cutler worked him, her hands cupping his scrotum as her head bobbed up and down, her mouth hot and wet and tight. Her tongue scoured his flesh. Within moments he came, pumping into the back of her throat. When it was over, she kissed the tip of his d**k where the lipstick had smeared, got up from the bed, and went into the bathroom where he heard water running. Getting up, he went into the bathroom to relieve himself. Cutler was washing her face. He grabbed her and started out the door. There was a brief struggle where she managed to free one arm. Undulating her body, she tried to launch herself out of his arms, but his grip was firm.

Getting up, he went into the bathroom to relieve himself. Cutler was washing her face. He grabbed her and started out the door. There was a brief struggle where she managed to free one arm. Undulating her body, she tried to launch herself out of his arms, but his grip was firm. "Ha, ha! Nice try, but this time you"re not getting the upper hand."

"Ha, ha! Nice try, but this time you"re not getting the upper hand." "Oh, yeah? Watch me." She tried to lift her legs to give her some momentum, but David flipped her forward, face down, onto the bed. A quick jerk pulled her over the foot, leaving her hanging halfway over the edge so that her feet touched the floor. He pinned her wrists to the mattress and covered her back and buttocks with his chest and groin.

"Oh, yeah? Watch me." She tried to lift her legs to give her some momentum, but David flipped her forward, face down, onto the bed. A quick jerk pulled her over the foot, leaving her hanging halfway over the edge so that her feet touched the floor. He pinned her wrists to the mattress and covered her back and buttocks with his chest and groin. They were both breathing heavily. Already he could feel his erection lengthening, hardening, and insinuating itself between her ass cheeks. He nuzzled her ear, pressing a kiss to her cheek. Without speaking, he slowly started moving his body over hers. The flesh to flesh friction gave them heat. The hairs on his chest tickled them both. After a couple of minutes, she pressed her toes into the carpet and raised her hips to give him greater access. His d**k slid between her lower lips where she was already wet.

They were both breathing heavily. Already he could feel his erection lengthening, hardening, and insinuating itself between her ass cheeks. He nuzzled her ear, pressing a kiss to her cheek. Without speaking, he slowly started moving his body over hers. The flesh to flesh friction gave them heat. The hairs on his chest tickled them both. After a couple of minutes, she pressed her toes into the carpet and raised her hips to give him greater access. His d**k slid between her lower lips where she was already wet. Releasing her wrists, he moved back to spread her and ease himself inside her. It was like sliding into a sleeve of warm honey.

Releasing her wrists, he moved back to spread her and ease himself inside her. It was like sliding into a sleeve of warm honey. Cutler moaned and wriggled her hips. "f**k me, Bo."

Cutler moaned and wriggled her hips. "f**k me, Bo." As if he needed an invitation.

As if he needed an invitation. He tented himself over her back again and began to pump her with long, slow strokes. Deliberate, agonizingly slow strokes. She lifted her butt a bit more.

He tented himself over her back again and began to pump her with long, slow strokes. Deliberate, agonizingly slow strokes. She lifted her butt a bit more. "Faster!"

"Faster!" "Nuh-uh," he whispered with a chuckle. "You teased me, you put lipstick on my johnson, and you put that f*****g wig on it. Now it"s time you paid for your impudence."

"Nuh-uh," he whispered with a chuckle. "You teased me, you put lipstick on my johnson, and you put that f*****g wig on it. Now it"s time you paid for your impudence." "Bet you can"t even spell impudence."

"Bet you can"t even spell impudence." "I"ll take that bet," he smiled. Grabbing her hips, he reared back and happily screwed the smile right off her face. Cutler cried out, clutching the sheets as he continued to pound himself into her. And continued to go at her with increasing speed until her channel squeezed his length so hard, he came a second time.

"I"ll take that bet," he smiled. Grabbing her hips, he reared back and happily screwed the smile right off her face. Cutler cried out, clutching the sheets as he continued to pound himself into her. And continued to go at her with increasing speed until her channel squeezed his length so hard, he came a second time. Spent and exhausted, he curled himself over her and pulled her tightly against his chest, rolling them both further onto the bed. They lay there in sated silence, where he would occasionally nuzzle the back of her neck and place loving kisses in her hair and on her sweaty skin. After a while they finally got up to dress. Cutler noticed him looking around the room.

Spent and exhausted, he curled himself over her and pulled her tightly against his chest, rolling them both further onto the bed. They lay there in sated silence, where he would occasionally nuzzle the back of her neck and place loving kisses in her hair and on her sweaty skin. After a while they finally got up to dress. Cutler noticed him looking around the room. "What? Are you missing something?"

"What? Are you missing something?" "No. Just wondering what happened to your wig."

"No. Just wondering what happened to your wig." "Forget the wig. I"m not wearing that damn thing anymore."

"Forget the wig. I"m not wearing that damn thing anymore." But he eventually discovered it on the floor on the other side of the bedside table, right as they were leaving to check out. He"d stuffed it inside his duffle, just in case she changed her mind. Or they came across a time when she needed her disguise again, which never happened.

Tossing the wig on the floor, next to the tripod, David ran a hand through his unruly hair. Christ, he needed a drink. Sitting at the window, day after day, left him parched, weary, stressed, and increasingly worried. Quickly he went to the little fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. On his return to his seat, he stopped to double-check the settings on his video camera. On those rare occasions when he allowed himself to leave his room for some much needed groceries, to sleep, or to visit the laundromat down the street, he let the camera take over until he returned. He could then check it when he got back to see if he’d missed anything. Or anyone.

Damn you, Bar. Damn you!

Damn you, Bar. Damn you! “Three f*****g weeks. Where the hell are you, Cutler?”

It was his own damn fault, anyway. He should have known Bar would run a background check on him the moment she realized he was involved with one of her precious lapies. The woman was more protective than a Rottweiler. A place as Fort Knox secured as Bar’s company would definitely check out every last detail of everyone who passed through the front doors. Right down to where he bought his underwear, and when he took his last piss.

Giving a little growl of irritation, ex-cop David Fellowes threw himself back into his chair and un-capped the bottle, chugging down almost half of its contents before the cold water forced him to stop. Throwing a little of the liquid on his fingers, he tried to rub the grit out of his eyes. Other than the occasional quick shower and change of clothes, he’d let himself go. Three weeks of growth covered his cheeks and chin. His dark blonde hair was scraggly. He probably looked like someone’s idea of the ultimate stalker, but outer appearances were unimportant. Inside he was still a man desperately in love with a woman who, two months ago, had loved him with the same emotional intensity.

Angrily he swiped at the moisture gathering in his eyes. Five minutes, Cutler. Please. I’m begging you. Give me five minutes to explain, and then I’ll let you make the final call.

Five minutes, Cutler. Please. I’m begging you. Give me five minutes to explain, and then I’ll let you make the final call. A red SUV was stopped at the light just up from the motel. David immediately felt his whole body go on alert as it always did whenever he spotted the familiar vehicle. A quick check through the binoculars identified the Bar logo on the side, and through the car’s tinted windows he could barely make out a form in the back seat.

This wasn"t a pick up. Someone was being dropped off.

He forced himself to take slower, calming breaths. It was another dead end. Another lapie being let out. No sense in getting all excited, he kept repeating to himself over and over. It was a chant he was accustomed to hearing, because it was always the truth. This passenger wouldn’t be Cutler. Don’t get yourself all in a thither.

No sense in getting all excited,Don’t get yourself all in a thither. The light changed, and the SUV turned left, heading directly for the motel. It pulled smoothly into the parking lot and circled around to the front office. The back door opened on its own, since the driver rarely ever got out to open it, and a tall, lithe figure emerged.

David felt his knees start to shake. He knew that figure intimately. It took every ounce of willpower not to race for his door and run for the office.

No, just wait, he told himself. Wait. You’ve been waiting for two f*****g months. Don’t blow it now. Wait until she’s settled in her room.

No, just wait,Wait. You’ve been waiting for two f*****g months. Don’t blow it now. Wait until she’s settled in her room. Wait.

Wait. His eyes locked on her like a starving man would eye a banquet. She looked exhausted. And she was limping. When she turned, he could see the black brace on her right leg, meaning she had been injured during a battle. Maybe her last battle. That would explain why it had taken so long for her to show up again. Maybe she had been recuperating at a hospital. It would explain the cane she was using.

Cutler exited the motel office and slowly proceeded upstairs. The motel was built in a horseshoe shape, with all of the room doors facing either inside, overlooking the pool, or on the outside, facing away. He’d quickly learned that Bar’s lapies got preferential treatment and were always given a room with a view of the pool. Usually on the second floor.

Painfully, and with some difficulty, she took the narrow flight of concrete steps up to the next level and turned left. Her movements were jerky as she tried to maneuver her duffle bag with one hand and a cane with the other. She stopped in front of room 211 and let herself in.

Seconds later, David burst from his room and hustled up the nearby stairs. He had practiced what he was going to say thousands of times while he’d waited for her to return. But now his mind was a blank, his thoughts turned to oatmeal.

His entire soul was focused on seeing her up close. Seeing her, smelling her, and bathing in her presence. And perhaps holding her.

His heart was slamming against the walls of his chest so hard, it impaired his breathing. David paused on the upper landing long enough to get his head to stop swimming, then continued toward her door. Instinctively he checked the other rooms and the ground below to make sure no one started heading his way to stop him.

It wouldn’t matter if they tried. Nothing was going to stop him from what he had to do. From what he needed to say.

Nothing. And no one.

Except Cutler herself.

Except Cutler herself. He raised a fist to the door, halted at the last second, then knocked instead. Inside he heard a weary voice inquire, “Who is it?”

His mouth went suddenly and totally dry. He tried to speak, but his breath caught in his throat. Before he could answer, Cutler asked again, “Who is it?” She was closer. Maybe even peeking through the peephole to check.

He heard a quick rattling of the chain guard, and the door flew open. Cutler stood staring at him in shock. Her beautiful aquamarine eyes were wide, startled, and filled with disbelief and rising tears. The blood was rushing out of her pale face, and she wobbled slightly.

“I love you.”

The words came from somewhere inside him. God help him, but they weren’t what he had planned to say. At least not at the beginning. But, well intentioned plans be damned, the declaration had came out in a crusty rush as he stood at her threshold and pleaded with his eyes.

A second later, Cutler collapsed in his arms.