Signs of Interest 6

Movie and A Pizza

@J Hontz and S Pickrel 2009 - all rights reserved

Luc spent all of ten minutes worrying about Justin, and then just dug into the pizza, sipped his beer and relaxed. Without Justin's hormonal surge around things were a lot calmer.

He sat back and observed the women, and ran his eyes across Goldie's place periodically. He felt relatively secure they had her safe. Any attempted break-in would alert them. And, anyway, he doubted anyone would be stupid enough to bother her with the two of them so noticeably hanging around. That was the whole idea. Announce their presence so the bad guys went elsewhere or found other ways to acquire what they wanted.

Lucky Justin had decided he needed a time out, since Luc had pretty much devoured the pizza by himself. He was on his second beer when Justine slipped in the first movie. Luc found himself on the couch between the two women, and thanked his lucky stars that Justin wasn't around to see it since Goldie had her feet up resting on his thighs. Also lucky he wasn't interested in her, or it could have gotten uncomfortable pretty quickly. As it was, he'd have to come up with a good excuse to move before Justin returned.

Then his attention was directed at the movie, as he attempted to put it in context with what he thought he knew of Earth. It didn't seem to really make a lot of sense, so far as he could tell, but the women seemed to find it hilarious and entertaining. He did his best to pay attention, but kept hoping for a sword fight or something.

He turned to find Justine watching him.  He swore there was a smile playing about her lips.

"Chick flick," she said.

"Huh?" he asked. "I'm still not sure what that means."

She just laughed.

He frowned at her.

"No action, Goldie explained. "Well, sometimes guys in tights playing with swords. Hmmm. I wonder how you'd look in tights?  I'd pay to see that," wouldn't you, Justine?"

"Oh yeah.  A lot," she agreed, eying him as she pictured it.  "Definitely eye candy."

"Eye candy?" Luc asked baffled.

"Oh yeah.  Way good to look at.  Sweet."

Luc shook his head. Obviously he'd never understand the natives.  Justin was better at it than he was, anyway. Where was he, anyway?  Luc got up ostensibly to get a beer but really to stretch his legs and check the perimeter. He had this nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right.

"Would you grab me a bottle of water while you're up?" Justine called.  "Please?"

"Of course," Luc replied and obediently sauntered over toward the refrigerator. That was when the alarms suddenly started screaming about an intrusion and one of the windows exploded inward. Within a second a body was flying in through the open window, and Luc was hurtling himself toward it at the same time as he was screaming in his head for Justin.

"Shit," Justine snapped and grabbed her long neck Budweiser like a club in one hand and dialed 911 with the other on her cellphone.

Goldie leaped up and ran toward the door. From behind the chair that sat there she pulled out an aluminum baseball bat and wound up for a strike.

Luc was on the floor grappling with a guy nearly as big as he was and another guy was leaping through the open window. So far, Luc thought with some relief, no weapons were in sight. He pounded the guy he was grappling with and managed to get free as a third guy came through the window.

The second guy was angling across the room, keeping a wary eye on Goldie who was waving her aluminum baseball bat around and glaring at him.  Luc suddenly realized what the guy was doing. He was trying to work his way toward the teddy bear still life. Shit.

Justine snapped her cellphone shut and replaced it with a second long neck, before advancing towards the enemy.  She snarled at her closest target, then hissed, baring her teeth as she smashed one over his face and the other over his head, before dancing back out of the way of the flying blood.  Getting those sorts of stains out of clothes was a bitch.

Goldie had swung and connected with her man's middle. His 'oof' echoed through the room as he doubled over and went down.

Luc had finally untangled himself from his guy and whirled around for the next enemy, only to find Goldie pounding on her guy and Justine standing over hers, who was bleeding nicely onto the rug.

"The cops are on their way," Justine chortled, clearly pleased with herself.

Luc groaned. "Shit," he muttered.

"What's wrong?  Are you hurt?" Justine demanded.

Luc looked down at himself. He'd have a nice shiner, but other than that he was fine. His worry was how to explain these guys to the cops. And where the hell was Justin?

"No, I'm fine," he said after he'd pounded the guy on the floor back into oblivion.

On cue the door burst open.  Justin, with the cops hot on his heels, drawing guns.  He had only one interest and seeing her standing over a guy with the bat at the ready set the beast snarling in possessive, protective rage.  "Are you alright?" he growled as he stalked his way over to Goldie, his eyes taking inventory.

"Of course I'm okay. How... How dare these guys try to break into my studio!" Goldie was spitting furious, and used the bat for one last whack as she said it.

Luc eyed the cops and called out, "Whoa, whoa, put the guns away!  Everything's under control.  Reaching for my badge, not a weapon!"

Justin closed his eyes for a moment, trying to control his relief, and his rage.  "You're getting out of here," he said when he opened them again.  We'll find someplace for the canvases and you can stay at our place in the spare bedroom."

Goldie's jaw dropped open. "What are you talking about?" she asked Justin.

Luc was trying to calm the cops down and racking his brains for some story they'd buy. Nor did he like the look Justine was aiming in his general direction.

"You aren't staying here.  It isn't safe," Justin said in a tone that allowed for no other possible outcome.

Goldie's hands went to her hips.  "I'm staying here. This is my home! This is my studio! I'm not letting anyone frighten me away!"  But she sounded a bit scared now that the adrenaline rush was easing.

"Goldie," Justine said, "maybe you should think about coming to stay with me for a few days, just until things settle down."

Goldie looked over at her, with tears in her eyes. "I hate being scared. I'm not going to let them scare me. I'm not!"

"Is your pride going to stop you from being smart?  Or safe?" Justin snarled.

Goldie physically recoiled from him. She paled, her eyes wide pools of blue.

"Justin," Luc said quietly. "You're scaring her."

Justin sucked in air, his jaw throbbing. 

"Honey, come stay with me for a few days," Justine coaxed.  "Please.  Otherwise I'll be a total wreck worrying about you."

"It'd really be a good idea. I'll pound Justin to a pulp if he takes liberties," Luc suggested.

Goldie bit her lip and looked at Justine.

"We'll stay here and guard the place," Justin said. 

"Why?" Goldie asked.

"Why what?"

"Why would you need to stay here and guard the place?" Goldie asked, her own jaw working.

"Because someone needs to and I'm willing to volunteer," Justin said, his jaw getting tight again.  "No ulterior motive."

Goldie sighed. "Look, Justin, I didn't think you had any ulterior motive. I'm just trying to understand why anyone would break into my studio at all, and why you think it needs to be guarded in the first place."

"It needs to be guarded because this is the second time in as many days someone has targeted your canvases," Justine said, jumping in before Justin exploded.  "As for why they'd do that, I have no idea."

"She's right, Goldie," Luc added. "It doesn't matter, really, does it?  The why I mean?  But this is the second time they've come after your work and this time you were in danger. So let us help.  Maybe Justine will stay with you at our place, too. Would that make you feel safer there?"

Goldie bit her lip again and stared at Justin. "Are you two always like this?  Taking over people's lives?  Even if you're right..." Goldie sank down into the couch and put her hands to her face.  She was suddenly sobbing.

She's coming to my place," Justine said as she sat down and pulled her close.  "No way she'll be comfortable at yours," she added with a glare for Justin.  "She doesn't need caveman there pounding on her."

"Yeah, that'll work, won't it, Justin," Luc said, glaring at his partner.

"Yeah," Justin said, forcing the word out. 

"Well now that all that's settled," one of the cops said, "maybe we can get down to business?"

Luc collected the cops and briefed them, letting Justine calm down Goldie and letting Justin stew in his own juices. They'd have to clear out while the cops looked for evidence.  Evidence,Luc was well aware, that wouldn't be much use at all. But no sense arguing with them about it, let them do their thing. It was no big deal.  He just wanted to break the girls free and get them out of there, and get Justin to the nearest cold shower.

Justine took Goldie to pack a bag, sending another glare Justin's way as she went past.  He suppressed the urge to growl, going to help Luc with the cops. 

Justine closed the bedroom door behind them and grinned.  "Oh he's got it bad for you, sweetie."

Goldie sniffled. "He's a bossy jerk."

Justine giggled.  "True.  But only because every basic instinct known to man is offended at the idea of you in danger while he wasn't here to protect you."

"Protect me!  We three did fine, thank you very much. Luc was awesome and so where you.  Justin's just pissed he missed the action.  And I think he likes my paintings better than me, anyway."

Justine grinned and shook her head while she pulled a suitcase out for Goldie and went to the bath to get her toiletries.  "It'll be like we were back in the dorms, sweetie.  We can make popcorn and sit around in our nighties and talk trash."

"You sure about this, Justine? I mean, no one's been breaking into your place. What if... If you got hurt because of me..." Goldie's eyes filled with tears again.

"Pshaw!  Not going to happen, girlfriend."

Goldie nodded. "I've got to take some drawing material too. Did you see the way Luc fought? I've never seen anything like that before, I need to figure out how he did that."

Justine paused for a moment.  "Let me know if you do."

"Do you like him?" Goldie asked her, as she threw clothes into the suitcase.

"Like who?  Luc?"  She added the stuff from the bathroom to the pile.  "He's...he's...he's different."

"Yeah, he is. And it's odd the stuff he really doesn't get. I mean, what single guy doesn't understand chick flicks."

"I know.  Or eye candy.  But maybe he just avoids all pop culture," she said.

"Maybe," Goldie replied grinning, "he's married and has six kids. You should ask him."

Justine gave her a startled look.  "Good idea."

"Although, he could lie, I guess. They all lie," Goldie added with a frown. "You just can't trust a word they say."

"You're cynical all of a sudden."

"Yeah. Well... Justin keeps trying to order me around. I mean, I barely know him, you know? I liked him fine, until he got all bossy."

"Well maybe it's just as well," Justine said.  "Luc got all funny about you and him.  Like it was a really bad idea cause of the way their lives are or something."

"Dammit. Who's he to stick his nose in?'

Justine laughed.  "He's worried you'll get hurt, that's all."

"My choice!  Geez, one's as bad as the other. Bossy guys. With swords, although no swords in evidence today, sadly."

"They don't seem to carry them around.  Maybe they aren't quite the phallic symbols they appear to be," she murmured wickedly.

"Maybe not for them, but for me?" Goldie replied, grinning.  "Okay, I guess I've got enough stuff. One night, that's all."

"You're so stubborn you make me want to scream," Justine said.  "You're not indestructible, you know.  And I'd miss you."

"Well," Goldie replied, hefting up her bag, "would you let two strange guys disrupt your entire life?"

"That's not the point."

Goldie regarded her best friend for a minute. She bit her lip. "What is the point, then? I'm seriously asking here."

"The point is being safe.  And that it's ok to be scared.  What's not ok is..."  She stopped.  "You know I love you.  But I also know you're afraid of being afraid.  And you think not being independent and self sufficient is being weak and somehow letting down the emancipated female team.  Somebody is doing crazy stuff.  And they've attacked you in your apartment.  You don't have to prove anything behind that, honey.  The whole idea that staying safe means giving them power is just nuts.  Get even instead by doing what it takes to live and testify against them."

Goldie sank down on her bed and dropped her bag. "It's just... I could never count on Daddy. So relying on guys is.. I mean, they're cute and all but..."  Goldie looked up and met Justine's eyes. "I've never been very good at judging folks. Guys, whatever. But I trust you, Justine. So if you tell me something's a good idea, then I'll listen. I'll even do it. So you really think this should be scary? It's not just me being, you know, emotional?"

Justine sat beside her and pulled her close.  "I think there's something going on here that is way out of our league, girlfriend.  I'm scared.  For you and for me.  I think those two guys are so alpha and dominant it's insane for a woman to be willing to be within a mile of them without a club.  But in this situation, I think those two guys would do whatever they have to do to keep you safe.  I trust them both with your life."

She tilted her face towards Goldie's.  "But let us also be clear here.  If those two are cops like you and I know cops, then I'm Peter Pan and you're Tinker Bell."

Goldie giggled.  "Really. Which is kinda why I'm so suspicious. We need to corner them and make them tell us the truth.  Justin keeps saying he isn't lying to me, but he sure as hell is, by omission at the very least."

"I think they're undercover, hon.  I don't think they can tell us."

Goldie frowned, "Well, that's just... wrong. I'm gonna make him talk to me, just you wait," Goldie said as she got up, grabbed her bag and marched out of the bedroom.

-----------------

Luc had pretty much gotten the cops focused on the break-in evidence, so he was eager to get the women out of there before the cops suddenly decided they needed to interview the women now.

"Ready?" he asked, smiling at Justine as she followed Goldie out.

"As we'll ever be," she said, smiling back. 

Justin took the bag from Goldie.  "I'll drive you over.  The cops don't need us for now.  And if they do they can call." 

Goldie frowned, "What, you don't like my driving?"

Luc sighed.

Justin just held his hand out for Luc's keys.  "We'll bring your cars over afterwords."

"A word," Luc replied. He grabbed Justin by the back of his collar and towed him over to the Jeep where they had relative privacy. He slammed his partner back up against the Jeep and stuck his face in his partner's.  "I am an inch away from sending you home as a danger to this mission. So you'd better tell me what the hell is going on with you."

"If I knew, you'd know," Justin said.  "All I want to do is get them to Justine's.  What I do know for a fact is if evasive driving is required I'm a hell of a lot better at it than you or they are.  And your Jeep beats her matchbox hands down."

"Stop changing the subject," Luc growled. "Are you serious about her? Because if you aren't you need to go home now. If you are, hell, you should go home now too.  Shit, Justin."

"You think I don't know that?" he snarled.  "You think I asked for this fucking mess?  You think if I went home I'd be able to stay there as long there's a chance she might be in danger?"  His voice dropped to a rabid hiss of frustration.  "And if this is what I think it is then I don't have a fucking choice about shit."

Luc let Justin go and fell back against the Jeep himself.  "What a bloody mess. All right, let's get them to Justine's but I'm not trusting you alone with her."

"What the hell do you think I'm going to do?  Rape her?"

"Of course not, but you climbing in to bed by invitation with her will ... well, she's suspicious enough of us already. We don't need to let her see any more."  Luc frowned at Justin. "Don't give me that look. If she kisses you, you're lost."

"Sweet bloody hell," Justin swore.

"You said it," Luc agreed and walked off to motion the women over. "We'll get your cars a bit later, I promise, Goldie."

Goldie frowned at Luc, gave Justin a suspicious glare, but then looked at Justine. "All right," she said meekly.

Justin put her bag in the back and then held the door for her.  Justine dealt with her own door.  "My place isn't that far."

Luc climbed in to ride shotgun with Justin, the girls in the back. "Listen, just in case, fasten your seatbelts."

"Fasten our seatbelts?" Goldie asked, her voice rising at the end, her eyes going wide.

"I don't want to get a ticket," Justin said. 

"Oh.  Well in Virginia they can't pull you over for just that," Justine said.

"Please," Luc said.

Goldie eyed him but said, "See, all you have to do is be polite."  She hooked her seatbelt and motioned for Justine to do the same.

"I'll need to do a perimeter check when we get there. Is it a house, or an apartment?" Luc asked. "I don't suppose you have any security system installed."

"It's a house, and yes I do," she said smugly.  "A very nice one too."

"Oh, well, that's good," Luc said looking back at her and smiling. "Will you mind if I ...enhance it a bit?"

"How?"

"Uhm, tricks of the trade. Make it more, er, sensitive," Luc replied, keeping an eye on the rearview mirror and the side mirror.

"How?" she pressed.

"I'll up the gains and add a filter or two," Luc replied, sharing a worried glance with Justin. "I promise I won't break it."

Goldie elbowed Justine. "Who's the one who told me to trust them?" she whispered to her.

"Information is power," Justine whispered back.

"What?" Luc asked.

"Nothing," Justine said.  "Take a right up here."

Luc scanned the area as they approached Justine's house. It was up on a slight rise, which was a good thing, and a lot of the approaches were marshy, so that helped. "Do you know your neighbors?"

"Of course," she said.  "I've lived here for years."

"Good. I want you to write down who they are and what kind of cars they drive," Luc explained, reaching in a pocket and pulling out a small notebook.  He held it out to Justine along with his pen. "That way I can easily tell if someone who doesn't belong here is approaching."

"Wait," Goldie said. "Aren't you two being a bit .. don't you think you're over-reacting or something?"

"After those guys broke into your apartment, not caring that we were all there?" Justin asked.  He didn't get it.  The woman wasn't stupid, but she seemed to be in a state of terminal denial.

"But... but then I shouldn't be staying at Justine's. I'm putting her in danger."

"The alternative is to stay with us," Justin said flatly resisting the urge to grind his teeth.

Goldie turned to stare out the window.

"It'll be fine, Goldie. I promise, we won't let anything happen to Justine. Or to you," Luc added.

Goldie nodded.

Justin pulled into the driveway and left the headlights on.  "We'll wait while Luc checks out the outside and the back," he said.

"Sure," Justine agreed, pulling out her keys.  "The small one is for the alarm."  Then she rattled off a string of numbers.  "That's the code to disarm it."

"Right, got it," Luc said taking the keys and then slipping out of the vehicle.  He pulled a weapon out of his pocket as he did so.  He disappeared into the gloom beyond the lights.

Goldie looked around at Justin. "I'm sorry. I just thought... I never thought..."

"There's no reason you should have," Justin said.  "This isn't something you've had to deal with before."

"I'll do whatever Luc or you tell me to. I won't argue," Goldie added.

Justin fought the impulse to laugh.  She meant it, he knew.  But the first time he told her to do something she'd probably balk.  "Thank you," he said.  "I know this isn't easy."

Goldie nodded miserably.

Justine gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and opened her door as Luc reappeared.  "If you guys want, I'll fix brunch for all of us tomorrow.  Say at about ten thirty?"

"Thanks, sweetie," Goldie told her.

Justin's mental connection to Luc let him know that things were clear in the house.  Luc flipped on the outside lights and stood in the open doorway, his weapon in his hand.

"Sounds good," Justin said and pulled Goldie's suitcase out of the car.  Then he took it in the house, following behind the two women.  "Where?" was all he said, followed Justine's directions to the guest room.  "All set?" he asked when he returned.

"I'll take first watch," Luc said. "You try to get some sleep," he added to Justin. "The girls going to bed?"

"Seem to be.  We've been invited to brunch," he added.  "I'll sack out in the back of the car."

"You think that's necessary?" Luc asked.

"I think I'm not going to sleep whatever I do, so here is just as good as some where else since we aren't leaving."

"Suit yourself then, brother. I'll wake you around 2am local. Me, I'll sack out on that fairly comfortable looking couch when its my turn."

"Whatever," Justin said, and slipped into the backseat.

------------

Goldie knocked on Justine's bedroom door not long afterwards. When Justine answered she looked at her friend and said, "Listen, would you mind terribly if I slept with you?"

Justine gestured to the other side of the bed.  "Climb in."

"Thanks. I'm sorry, I just.. They're scaring me. I mean, they seem to think its more than just someone after my canvases."  She paused as she climbed into the bed. "I never thought it was about me, just about the art."

"You stand in the way of getting the art."

"Hell, all they'd have to do is ask," Goldie replied. "And I still don't get why Luc and Justin care or why they're here and not, you know, someone else."

"They're cops.  Now stop being suspicious and go to sleep.  I'm exhausted."

"I'm sorry. It's all my fault," Goldie replied as she turned over on the pillow and curled up in a fetal position.

"And stop apologizing.  You didn't go out and hire those bozos to break into your place."

Goldie didn't answer for some time, then just said, "Brunch, huh?  Good night," Goldie replied.

Luc, standing in the shadows just outside their bedroom window, winced. He'd heard the whole conversation.  He knew Justin was squirming around in the Jeep. What a mess.

--------

Not long after sun up, Goldie slipped out of bed, pulled on a pair of slippers and padded, in her flannel pajamas, out toward the kitchen and the siren call of the coffee maker. She paused, though, as she passed by the living room. She stopped there, a smile playing on her lips.

She was looking at Luc, who was stretched out on the couch, fully clothed still, even his boots on. He was sound asleep, snoring softly, his legs hanging off the too short couch. His face was darkened, the bone structure highlighted, by a day's growth of beard, his hair was a mess of unruly curls. A sword, she nearly giggled, lay on the floor beside him.

Her fingers itched for a sketchpad and charcoal. She could easily imagine the muscles under the clothes, how they were now relaxed, his long legs, powerful thighs.. And that six pack that was, no doubt about it, under that shirt. The two of them were both solid muscle, their bodies trained. Experts at sparing. And, no doubt more.  God she wanted to paint them ...

"You look like he's the entree of choice on an all you can eat buffet," Justin commented from the doorway.  "I just put the coffee on."

Goldie jumped, and then it took a second to realize what Justin had said. She blushed furiously, but gritted her teeth and sauntered into the kitchen behind him.

"He's beautiful," she explained. "Speaking as an artist, I mean." She opened a cabinet and got out a cup. She checked, but Justin already had one for himself.

"Yes, he is," Justin said.  "But you're better."

She walked over to stand beside him by the coffee pot.  "A compliment?  I'm surprised."

"Why?"

She turned to frown up at him. He was considerably taller than she. She eyed him for what seemed a fairly long forever. "Because I get the feeling you don't approve of me, and don't like me very much.  That I'm more a problem than you want, and that you'd be happier if you'd never seen me, or met me. Not that I blame you for feeling that way. You are caught up in something that has to do with me and not you."

Justin's lips twisted.  "What I don't approve of is what I want to do with and to you," he said finally, the words emerging like quarried marble.

Her eyes went huge and she asked, somewhat huskily, "And what might that be?"

"I want to fuck you, in every way there is, claim every opening you have and then fill them so full of me there will never be a question in your mind or anyone else's whose woman you are, until there's no possibility you'll ever belong to anyone else.  I want to make love to you until you beg for what you want, and then give it to you until you're screaming your pleasure aloud.  I want to mark you as mine, inside and out so you and everyone else knows you're mine.  I want to push every sexual boundary you have, rip away every inhibition."  He said it matter of factly and then paused, swallowing some coffee as he eyed her.  "And that's just for starters."

"You're just trying to shock me. Won't work," Goldie replied nonchalantly, as she poured herself a cup of the coffee.

"Am I?" he asked, amused.  He finished his coffee and put the cup in the sink.  "Believe what you want, baby girl.  But if and when the time comes, don't say I didn't warn you."  He paused at the kitchen door.  "Tell Luc I've gone to get us some clean clothes and I'll be right back."  Then he was gone.

Goldie frowned at the door where he'd exited. "He is one screwed up fella."  And, he confused the crap out of her. He acted like he found her abhorrent, yet..."Mark me as his..." she muttered, then jumped at a noise. It was Justine.

"Good morning. Go admire Luc who's asleep on the living room couch," Goldie suggested.

"Already did.  And realized it was way too dangerous to keep doing it," Justine said as she poured coffee. 

"Justin went to get them clean clothes. He says the weirdest things."

"Oh?"

"Well, he tried to shock me about wanting to get me into bed. Yet he acts like I've got leprosy or something.  He's got issues."  Goldie frowned.  "And an ego the size of Texas."

"Hmmm."  It was a sound of pure skepticism.

"What?" Goldie asked. "What does that 'hmmm' mean?"

"Means I'm not sure I agree."

"What don't you agree with?" Goldie asked, adding coffee to Justine's cup.

"That he treats you like you've got Hansen's disease."

Goldie frowned as the two of them walked over to sit at the kitchen table. "How do you think he treats me?"

"Like you scare him to death."

Goldie almost choked on her coffee. "That's silly," she finally managed when she could breathe again. "How could I scare him? He's like this macho super warrior egomaniac type. I'm.. I'm just me."

"And his reaction to you scares the stuffing out of him.  Or should I say rather, the implications of his reaction to you scare the stuffing out of him."

Goldie frowned. She wasn't good at thinking this early in the morning. "What implications?"

"You figure it out girlfriend.  It's not going to have quite the same impact if I just tell you."

"What impact? I mean, nothing's gonna happen between us, so I can't imagine what his issue is.  I'm like his client. It's... unethical or something."

"Right," Justine said and began getting stuff out to make biscuits.  "You can chop half of the red onion, small dice, for me, and also the green pepper, if you wouldn't mind."

"Sure," Goldie replied. "Good morning Luc," she added, as she smiled at the man standing yawning in the doorway. "Justin went for clean clothes and said he'd be back soon."

"Oh good. I need a shower," Luc replied. "After some coffee," he decided as he smiled at Justine. "You don't have to cook for us, you know. Nice of you to offer though."

"I love to cook and this gives me a chance," she said smiling at him.  "You could start a fresh pot if you're awake enough to measure the coffee."  Justine considered Goldie for a moment.  "If you don't believe me, girlfriend, ask him."

Luc found the coffee and set about making a new pot. "Ask me what?" he asked, glancing around at Goldie.

"Justine claims I scare the crap out of Justin. I told her I think she's been drinking the Kool-Aid."

"Drinking the Kool-Aid?" Luc asked, staring at the coffee grind to make sure it was really coffee.

"You know, Jim Jones, Guyana," Justine said.  "Only it was Flavor-Aid."

"I, uhm, grew up out of the country," Luc explained. "I don't get a lot of cultural references. Sorry.  And yes, Goldie, Justine's right. You do scare Justin."

"No way!" Goldie protested, waving her knife around.

Luc nodded. "Don't touch him. He might panic."

"See?" Justine said.  "Poor man's terrified."

"Luc is just flirting with you, Justine," Goldie huffed.

"I wouldn't dream of it," Luc protested. "I don't flirt."

Justine looked up from sifting flour and baking powder together and grinned at Goldie.  "And you're just as scared of him as he is of you.  But that's okay.  It wouldn't work out between you and Justin and this way no one gets hurt."

Goldie glowered. "I am not afraid of Justin."

"Suit yourself.  There's some ham in the fridge.  Would you mind cutting it into small cubes?  I'm going to make a a sort of western frittata."

Goldie, still glowering, walked to the refrigerator and got out the ham. The way she cut it up had Luc wincing, imagining what she might be thinking she was cutting up.

"I'll go check the perimeter," Luc said and bailed.

"Now he's afraid of you too," Justine giggled.  "Way to go, Goldie!" 

Goldie giggled.  "Well, better that than any alternative."  She looked up as Justin walked in. She put down her knife, walked over to where he was warily watching her, stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the lips before he realized what she was doing.

He froze for the first second.  By the end of the third the overnight bag had dropped to the floor and he had taken control of the kiss.  One hand cupped the nape of her neck, holding her head at the angle he wanted, while the other cupped her ass, lifting her up onto her toes.  He traced the curve of her lips with the tip of his tongue, tasting her before he nipped lightly at the edge of the lower one.  When she started to protest he grinned inwardly and swept inside the sweet, warm cavern of her mouth.  He stroked his tongue along hers, tempting and soothing at the same time, inviting her to duel with him. 

She moaned into his mouth and he took the kiss deeper while his hands molded her body to his, the vee of her thighs becoming a perfect cradle for his erection.  She pressed tighter, winding her arms around his neck, her hips shifting against him, rubbing like a cat and he groaned.

Justine closed her mouth and cleared her throat...loudly.  When that didn't work, she picked up the cookie sheet and let it drop to the counter with a bang.

Justin jerked in reaction and reality returned with an even louder bang.  He pulled back abruptly, disentangling Goldie and swore under his breath.

Goldie, feeling light-headed, wobbled on her feet.

Luc, a look of horror on his face, stood frozen at the outside door.

Justin glared.  Then he picked up the overnight bag he'd let fall and left the kitchen.

Goldie wobbled to the table and sank into a chair there.

"Well, so much for that," Luc muttered and walked over to drown his sorrows in coffee

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