"Yes, I'm starting to think I'll have to buy one of those laptops and learn the basics." Carolyn laughed. "I know, I know, I'm still getting the hang of using the cell phone."
The door opened and a young man poked his head inside. "Regina wants you in the conference room, please. Five minutes."
"We're coming." Helen rose from the couch, taking her bag with her. "I need to do something important before rehearsal." She pulled out a toothbrush and gave Carolyn a smug grin. "I come prepared!"
***
Annelie watched Carolyn exchange some final words with Regina and then say goodbye. The studio was quiet.
Carolyn walked up to her, her eyes shining with excitement. "They looked at the dailies, and Regina is thrilled with what we did today. That's pretty rare with her. She's usually hard to please. Seems Helen and I nailed it."
"I'm happy for you, but not surprised."
"You're biased." Carolyn looked around the empty set and then kissed her gently on the cheek. "I'll just go change into my own clothes. I can remove the makeup later. The girls have all gone home." Checking her watch, she frowned. "It can't be that late."
"Your watch is on Maddox time. It's almost midnight."
"Late enough. I'm not very tired yet—I must still be on a high. You ready to get out of here?"
"Don't change yet. I want to see you in your office as Maddox. I haven't seen much of the shooting."
Carolyn cocked her head. "We've only shot a few scenes," she explained. "I think you want to see me as Maddox in the office because Helen and I shot the scene today." She winked, making Annelie blush. "See? I was right."
Annelie took her by the hand, pulling her toward Maddox's office at the far end of the studio. It was furnished with an old, scratched desk, a leather chair with a tall backrest, and several filing cabinets.
"That's some ambiance," Annelie said, looking around the set. "The prop guys have done a great job."
"Yes, it looks wonderful." Carolyn sat down on the corner of the desk. "I'm going to spend a lot of time here."
Annelie sat down next her and leaned back. "Erica Becker was sitting on Maddox's desk like this, wasn't she? I saw the promo pictures today."
"Oh. Well, she sat like that, but with her legs slightly parted, like this." Carolyn's eyes glittered when she stood up, gently nudging Annelie's legs apart. "And Maddox was standing very close, like this, pushing her away and pulling her close at the same time."
Annelie's breath caught in her throat at the sight of Carolyn, still looking like Diana Maddox. Dressed in a black pantsuit and white shirt, with the prop gun still bulging under her left arm, Carolyn looked every bit the famous character.
"You look so beautiful, like Maddox, but still yourself. Perhaps you are her…or vice versa?"
Carolyn backed off a little and something in her face altered. Eyes suddenly fiery, she said, "I don't know what you're talking about. You barge in here in the middle of the night, when I'm trying to get some work done. You know how backed up we are. What the hell's going on?" She glared at Annelie, half-playful, half-serious, coaxing her to tread the line between fantasy and reality.
Annelie leaned back on her arms, sitting on the desk the way she'd always imagined Erica would in this scene. "You know very well what's going on," she said, eyes narrowed. "For days you've acted like we're no more than casual acquaintances."
"We're working on a case involving a dead kid, Erica. There's no time for anything personal."
"Don't even go there. If you had your way, you'd skid around this issue, case or not. Why do you think I'm here now, in the middle of the night?" Annelie imagined Erica hurt, distraught, yearning for more than Diana was willing to give. Her tone conveyed her emotions. "Because you're here... alone. And there's nowhere to run."
"You want to talk, so talk." Carolyn stood, arrogant and outrageously desirable, her thighs almost between Annelie's legs. "What the hell's going on? Can you explain that to me? We've worked together for more than two years. We've been to hell and back, witnessed the things monsters do to innocent people, and we've supported each other through all of it. I thought we were friends!"
Annelie raised her hands and took Carolyn by the shoulders, barely able to resist shaking her. "We are friends! We're friends and so much more." She pulled her closer, lips trembling. "I'd give my life for you, Diana."
Carolyn tried to pry Annelie's hands off her shoulders but ended up stroking the soft skin instead. Her hands slid up Annelie's arms to the softness of her neck.
"Oh, God, Erica. If you let me touch you…"
"What are you afraid of? This?" Annelie lowered her hands to Carolyn's waist and drew her so close she could feel the damp of their merging breaths.
***
Carolyn stopped resisting as soon as Annelie's tongue entered her half-open mouth and found hers. Moaning out loud, she kissed Annelie deeply in return, lowering her onto the desk. "All right," she whispered feverishly. "If this is what you want."
"It's all I've ever wanted," Annelie gasped. "You're all I want, Diana. Only you. I've waited so long…for this…"
Carolyn's weight descended on her, sliding between her legs. She pushed Annelie's skirt up and traced the naked skin above her stockings with hands that shook slightly. Devouring her with long kisses, she caressed her way up to the lace and satin of her panties. "So you want me to make you mine here and now?" She rubbed the damp fabric between Annelie's thighs. "No romance, no declaration of love, nothing?"
Annelie went rigid, turning her head away from the insistent words. But she was unable to prevent herself from undulating against the probing fingers. "You don't understand. It doesn't matter…"
Carolyn stopped moving, her hand slowing down. "What do you mean?"
Annelie faced her squarely. "It's impossible to make me yours."
"So it's just sex."
Annelie pushed herself up, sitting on the edge of the desk, Carolyn's hands still between her legs, waiting. "No. Never just sex." Tears ran down her face, and she threw her arms around Carolyn's neck, holding on tight. Her hips started moving against Carolyn's motionless fingers. "Don't you see? It's a done deal. You can't make me yours—I already belong to you."
Carolyn's eyes suddenly brimmed with tears, and she shuddered slightly as she gave in to Annelie, accepting what she offered. Kissing her deeply, she pushed the panties aside and entered her with two fingers, evoking a low moan.
Annelie arched and whimpered as Carolyn took her thoroughly on her desk. Clinging to her, she gasped as yet another finger entered, stretching her. "Diana, please…" She reached inside Carolyn's jacket, her fingers sliding over the gun harness as she unbuttoned the white shirt. Pushing the bra up, she eagerly sought the soft skin so long denied her.
Carolyn whimpered as fingertips found her nipples, the sweet torment increasing her efforts to bring Annelie pleasure. "Oh, yes."
She held Annelie close with one arm, her fingers on the other hand caressing the shivering woman. Feeling her own sex convulsing while Annelie tweaked her nipples, Carolyn didn't take her eyes off her lover for a second. "I love you, Annie…I love you so much."
"And I love you. Don't let go of me."
"I won't. Ever."
The leather couch in the office was useful when the two women needed a more comfortable way to catch their breath while adjusting their clothes.
"I can't believe we did that." Carolyn nuzzled Annelie's cheek. "You bring out the strangest behavior in me sometimes."
"Strange as in good, or strange as in bad?"