Dead on Arrival, page 1
part #3 of Sapphic Sphere Series
Dead On Arrival
By
TT Banks
A Sapphic Sphere Collection Novel (Book 3)
PREFACE
***
She opened her eyes again, and slowly followed her arm from shoulder to palm. She stopped breathing. Her wrist was bound to the bed. She panicked and strained against the bungy cord that held her wrist. She tried to reach across herself with her other hand, but found it too was tethered. She tried to call out, only now realizing that her lips were sealed shut.
***
NYE
- Tori -
“TEN… NINE… EIGHT,” the bar’s patrons shouted in unison. Tori was filled with an energy that almost couldn’t be contained.
This is it. This is my moment. I’m going to kiss her. And it makes perfect sense. It’s New Year’s Eve!
She twisted her necklace in her fingers, a move she often did when she felt nervous about something. She forced herself to let go and took a deep breath when the crowd shouted, “FOUR!” Tori took a brief moment to appreciate her best friend – admiring her. Nat Webb stood four inches taller than her, had a shock of jet black hair that stood up all on its own, was well-muscled, and her facial features looked like were chiseled from stone. Nat had made herself look irresistible this evening, wearing black slacks, a dark red button down, and a thin black tie.
Hawt!
Tori felt a surge of fear when the crowd chanted, “THREE!” She automatically reached for her necklace, but when she did, Nat turned toward her, grinning widely and swatting at her hand. The world seemed to drift away when Nat grabbed her hand, and Tori forced back the tears of fear and smiled along with Nat.
“TWO… ONE… HAPPY NEW YEAR!” the room erupted with hoots and hollers. Confetti and balloons fell from the ceiling, but Tori didn’t notice. Nat had pulled her against her body, brought her lips next to Tori’s ear, and half-whispered, “Happy New Year, Tori.” When she pulled back, they both looked at one another for what Tori felt was an eternity. And then it happened – Nat lowered her head again, but this time not to whisper into her ear. This time, she pushed her lips against Tori’s.
Oh… My… GAWD!!!!
Tori’s lips felt like they were aflame. She wrapped her arms around Nat’s neck, pulling her hard against her mouth. She could feel Nat smile against her lips, and then she felt Nat’s lips opening to deepen the kiss.
Tori’s mind went blank when their tongues began to twist together. Suddenly, she wasn’t just kissing Nat, they were full-on making out. Their tongues danced. Their breath became heavy…
Tori opened her eyes, and they were in her bedroom.
When…? HOW did this happen?
They stood at the foot of the bed, their fingers interlaced, just staring at one another. Nat smiled her wolfish smile, “I’m going to please you so hard, you’re not gonna know what hit you.”
Tori’s knees felt like jelly.
Nat pulled her close until they were middle to middle and began kissing her neck. A wild heat pulsed through her – head to feet. Suddenly, Tori wasn’t wearing a shirt. Then she wasn’t wearing any bottoms. Nat’s button down shirt had somehow also made it to the floor.
Seeing Nat in just her white tank top made Tori’s mouth go dry and her hands shake. Nat put her fingers underneath the hem of her own tank and pulled it off in one swift motion. She then pushed Tori onto the bed, eased her knees up, and lowered her face into Tori’s hot, wet center.
Tori woke in a sweat, mid-orgasm. “Oh fuck,” she lamented in a hushed tone to herself.
Reality Bites
- Tori -
Tori squinted into the dim light of the unfamiliar bedroom, and tried to remember where she was. She used her right hand to feel her body, and determined she was still clothed. She flicked her eyes to the left and squinted hard, trying to bring whoever was laying on her left arm into focus.
Oh shit – I have a coyote ugly situation on my hands…
She stared at the woman, trying her best to recall the circumstances that would lead her to awaken in a strange room, with an unknown rando. She pinched her eyes shut and mouthed the word “fuck” at the ceiling. She focused again on her companion – the woman had short cropped, light brown hair, smeared mascara and lipstick, a pug nose, and an almost translucent complexion.
I met her on the way out of the bar.
Tori ran her free hand over her face, trying to scrub off the hideous hangover that was making the room feel wobbly. She considered for a moment the meaning behind “Coyote Ugly” – she could escape without detection only by gnawing off her own arm. She turned slightly, squinted at the sleeping woman, and then briefly considered the flesh of her bicep, causing her stomach to lurch.
Fuck that.
She clenched her jaw tightly, staving off the need to vomit and pushed her left arm more firmly into the mattress, attempting to relieve the pressure from the woman’s weight and pull her arm out. As she eased her arm out from underneath her unfamiliar friend, the woman turned onto her side and her hand landed on Tori’s breast.
Well, this is getting more awkward.
Tori rolled her eyes at herself, and gently eased away from the touch of the sleeping woman whose name popped into her head. She had called herself JR, and had approached Tori several times the night before. Clearly, the last time she was successful.
Or I was just too drunk and lonely to care?
She slowly pulled her body away from the slumbering woman and was just about to get completely out of the bed when JR croaked, “Really? You’re just gonna do me like that?”
Tori’s eyes widened and she turned back quickly, “I – uhh…”
JR’s eyes were still closed, but she smiled slightly, “No worries, baby. Nothing happened. We made it back to my place and you started crying about some other chick. I tried to convince you that I was what you wanted, but you wouldn’t give it up.” JR squinted up at Tori, “Too bad, I’m a whole lotta fun after a few drinks – could’ve been a marathon of fucking.”
Tori smiled tightly at the last bit and said, “Oh, what a shame… So, we didn’t?”
“You still have all your clothes on, don’t you?”
“Yeah, but you don’t,” Tori commented on JR’s state of nakedness.
JR laughed, “It was my last ditch effort to get your attention, but you passed out on the bed.”
Tori looked away, “Why didn’t you put something on?”
“I only sleep in the nude, baby.”
“Please don’t call me that.”
“Yeah, okay,” JR said, turning to the bedside table and lighting a cigarette.
Jesus fucking Christ – I went home with THIS woman?!
JR sucked hard on her cigarette and exhaled loudly, “So, you up for it now?” she asked, wiggling unattractively on the bed.
Tori stifled a laugh and got completely off the bed, “Sorry, JR. I… I have…”
“Yeah, yeah… Your sister from another mister. You told me all about her. She sounds like a wank. Good luck with that. Make sure you lock the door when you leave.” At that, JR turned over, stamped her butt out in the ashtray, and wrapped herself in the covers from Tori’s side of the bed.
“Sorry,” Tori whispered.
“Whatever. What a waste.”
Tori rushed out of the apartment, grabbing her jacket and personal belongings as quickly as she could. Once out of the apartment building, she closed her eyes and blew out a breath of frustration, trying to remember everything that had happened the previous night…
***
The evening was perfect. Tori had it all planned out – she was going to kiss Nat at midnight - and her mind ran wild.
Nat would reveal her expertly hidden, true feelings for me, and I will be able to profess my deep, deep, deep-deep love for Nat. And then we can fall madly, passionately in bed together… And then we could move in together. And maybe get a dog!
When the crowd started counting down, Tori grabbed her necklace as an anchor to her sanity, and began sweating profusely – her hands, her feet, even the backs of her knees felt sweaty.
You can do this – besides, she doesn’t know how you feel. Just kiss her already.
When the crowd hit two, Tori turned to Nat, who was smiling ear-to-ear and chanting with the rest of the mob – clearly oblivious to Tori’s excitement and discomfort.
“ONE… HAPPY NEW YEAR!” the room exploded in cheers, balloons fell, confetti sprayed everywhere and Nat turned to Tori. Nat leaned down, and half-shouted, “Happy New Year, Tori,” in her friend’s ear. She pulled back pressed her lips to Tori’s quickly, and Tori’s arms wrapped around Nat’s neck. Nat smiled as their faces pressed together, and then something changed – maybe it was Tori’s imagination, or maybe it was her trying to force Nat to feel something. But, for a brief moment, their kiss changed from platonic to deeply intimate. Nat’s mouth opened slightly, her face tilted, and she pushed her tongue into Tori’s mouth.
Tori’s eyes sprang open at the feel of Nat’s tongue in her mouth and she nearly shouted in glee. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth wider, allowing their tongues to dance together. But before the kiss could become any more tantalizingly sexy, Nat pulled back with a surprised look in her eyes and a question forming on her lips. Their eyes were locked together – Tori felt the tears from years of frustration burning to the surface, and Nat’s eyebrows bunched together in confusion or perhaps understanding. Nat started to lean forward, and just when Tori thought she was going to get another kiss, another rowdy partygoer grabbed Nat by h
Tori’s heart sank as she watched Nat’s demeaner go from shock and surprise to a sexier pose – one that meant she was really into this stranger’s kiss. She watched as her best friend, and woman who held her heart for too many years, mashed her body into the other woman’s and seemingly forgot about their moment together.
Tori pushed her way through the throng of people and shouted her order over the music and cheering. She turned back towards the crowd, and felt her heart sink lower than it ever had.
I need to get over this… I need to get over HER.
Tori handed the bartender a twenty and then proceeded to drink far too many kamikaze’s in a row. That’s when JR sidled up to the bar. It was her second attempt at getting Tori to talk to her – but by that time, her inhibitions were down and this sad version of her best friend seemed to be slightly more attractive than earlier in the night. Everything from that moment on, however, was a complete blur.
***
Tori tried not to think about that kiss with Nat all week, but there was no getting around it. Every free moment of every day – she was stuck in that moment.
What was that look? What was she going to ask? Why did she open her mouth? Why did she make the kiss a real kiss if she didn’t feel anything? WHY, WHY, WHY?!
Tori stirred her coffee and muttered to her beta fish, Marvin, “Buddy… I need to meet someone. I need to get a life outside of Nat. I need to get laid.” Marvin flicked his tail and shot across his tank. “I’ll take that as agreement!”
Tori grabbed the beta food from a cabinet and sprinkled in an appropriate amount. Marvin flitted to the surface and bobbed for the food as quickly as she could sprinkle it into the water. “Now, now… don’t get too greedy. You don’t want to get all fat… what if I found you a lil’ girlfriend? Or maybe a boyfriend?”
Shaking her head at Marvin and chuckling to herself, she lamented, “I wonder how many people would consider me a lunatic for having this conversation with a fish?” She grabbed her coffee, sat at the kitchen table and decided it was time to wrap Nat’s birthday present. Before sticking it into the wrapping, she popped open the box to double check the gift was inside and to take one last look at her heart on a string.
The gift was a sterling silver, Celtic love knot. She held the necklace up and watched as it twisted, turned, and flashed at her. This was her attempt to let Nat know how she felt. She didn’t want to say it – she couldn’t say it – so maybe the love knot would say it. Inside there was a little card that read, “The recipient of this Celtic Love Knot should know that they now hold the giver’s heart in hand.”
Tori took a deep breath and fiddled with the love knot that hung at her throat. Nat had given it to her years before – not long after they had just met. She squeezed her knot in between her fingers, brought it to her lips and stuck it back against her skin. She stared at Nat’s necklace and willed it to mean something deep.
She glanced up at the clock and realized that she was running late for work.
Of course…
She grabbed her personal camera bag, checked that she had an extra card for picture storage, and raised her travel mug at the fish tank. “Cheers buddy – I’ll see you a little later.”
Sleeping Beauty
- Nat -
Nat jumped out of the truck, grabbed her bag, and rushed towards the apartment building door. She quickly scanned for number four-fifteen, saw that it read “Murphy, P.” and rolled her eyes.
“It’s another Murphy – I wonder how many Murphy’s we have in Boston?” she asked sarcastically to her partner, Burke.
“Hey now, aren’t you dating a Murphy? Come to think of it – you’ve probably dated half the Murphy’s in Boston,” poked Burke.
“Oh shut up!” she blurted out, opening the door. “And I’ve dated WAY more than half,” she teased, grinning in Burke’s direction before running up the stairs. “Come on man, we only have to do four flights!”
“Fucking stairs. Always stairs. When are we going to get a building with an elevator?” Burke bitched.
“Please bro. You know that we don’t have buildings like that unless they’re in the nice part of town – and goddamnit, we’re not ever going to that side of the city,” Nat called behind her. “Hurry up man, you’re slacking!”
Once on the fourth floor, they made their way down to number 415 and Nat knocked loudly. “Hello? Murphy? We’ve had a phone call that we need to do a wellness check. Please open the door.” Nat waited and then pounded on the door again. “Where the fuck is the Super?” she asked Burke, who gave her an exaggerated shrug.
At that moment, she heard a loud huffing sound accompanied by the sounds of jangling keys coming from the stairwell. A few moments passed and the door was flung open, revealing a large, lumbering man with a mass of keys hammering into his hip with every step.
“Are you the Super?” Burke asked.
“No Burke, he’s the Key Master – clearly he’s looking for the Gate Keeper. Know her?” Nat jibed and then turned her attention to the Super. “Hey man, you’re going to have to let us in.”
The man, clearly out of breath, put his hands on his knees and looked up at them. He puffed at them, “I… thought… the… police… were… coming….”
“Take it easy, man,” Nat cautioned, “Just breathe.” She motioned to Burke to assist the Super and continued, “The police are on their way, but there’s no answer. Just open the door, man.”
The Super shook his head, “Can’t,” he inhaled deeply, “Cops first.”
Jeeeezuz fuuuuucking – it’s just a welfare check.
“Fine. The boys in blue will be here in a moment,” Nat looked at her cuticles while Burke eased the Super into a seated position in the hallway. “You know which one of those keys opens this door?” Nat asked, yanking her thumb in the direction of 415.
“Yeah. Course. I’m no dummy.”
“You want to point it out to us? You know, just in case you have a coronary before you let us in?”
The Super scowled at Nat, and she smiled a wicked smile back. “Come on man, I’m just worried about Murphy, P.”
He nodded in understanding, and flicked through his keys, wheezing all the while. “This is it,” he said after a few moments, holding up one of the keys and handing it to Burke.
“Thanks man,” Burke said, winking in Nat’s direction.
“Gimme that!” Nat said, snagging the key out of Burke’s hand.
“HEY! You’ve got to wait for the cops!” the Super ordered on a wheezing breath.
“Look man, we have a million and one calls a day – this one is probably nothing. Peter or Patrick or Paul Murphy probably went out of town!” Just then, the stairwell door opened and a uniformed police officer walked into the hall. “Would you look at that! That’s what I call timing!” Nat cried, sticking the key in the lock. “Hey Derby – we’ve knocked, you can give it a go, but I doubt anyone is in there.”
Derby nodded, pulled his utility belt, hitching up his pants, and knocked anyway. “Police! Welfare Check! Open the door!”
Nat rolled her eyes.
Self-important ass!
Derby turned to her, “Seems like no one’s home.”
“You don’t say?” Nat muttered.
“Let’s go have a look,” Derby said, unlocking the door.
Nat heard the Super call out after they had entered the apartment, “Her name is Penny.” She stopped in her tracks.
Penny? Could this be MY Penny? How many Penny Murphy’s live in this city?
Nat’s mouth went dry. They had only been out twice since that night, but each time they had gone back to Nat’s apartment.
I can see why…
“Found her!” Derby called from what Nat assumed was the bedroom. “Webb? You better get in here – I’m pretty sure this is your department.”
Natasha Webb wasn’t sure of what she would find beyond the bedroom door, and she had a sneaking feeling that she didn’t want to, but she moved into the room regardless. The light in the room was dim, but she could clearly make out Penny Murphy’s face – it was grey and her eyes were a strange milky color.
