"I’m fine, Allison, just a little tired. It’s been a busy day." Allison nodded and they walked for a while in companionable silence. As the hotel came into sight Allison tugged her to a halt. Morgan cocked an eyebrow in question. Allison reached up and idly toyed with the laces of her shirt.

"Do you have to go see Carolyn again tonight?" Allison asked, looking at her through her eyelashes. Morgan’s body answered that question for her as her heartbeat jumped under the brush of Allison’s fingers against her chest.

"Yes I do, Allison," she said softly. Green eyes dropped and a pout tugged at her lips, making Morgan smile slightly. Hmmm….What can I do to get myself out of this…..She thought to herself. An idea popped into her head. "But I was hoping you would join me in a game of chess before I go?" Allison looked up at her, startled. Morgan smiled at her and motioned for her to walk with her again. Allison tucked her hand back into the crook of her arm and walked alongside her, a small smile teasing at the corner of her mouth. Morgan sighed softly to herself. Morgan, you are playing with fire…

Allison hid a quiet laugh behind her hand as she watched Morgan reach to move a piece and pull her hand back, frowning. A pair of gorgeous blue eyes shot a mock glare at her before returning to scrutinizing the board. She dreaded the end of the game, though she knew it was near, knowing that once it was over Morgan would leave her company for Carolyn’s. The evening had been extremely pleasant, and she’d even managed to coax back out the charming side of the captain that had disappeared after reaching the hotel. She had tried hard to bury her jealousy and take pleasure in the fact that Morgan had obviously put off her plans with Carolyn to spend time with her, but she still wished that she could keep the captain from leaving the room tonight. Of course, that would take a bit more intimate of an effort…Allison, you are shameless for thinking such thoughts! She scolded herself. No matter how attracted you are to Morgan you can’t throw yourself at her!! You’re a lady! Start acting like one! Morgan finally leaned forward and moved her piece, her shirt gaping open as she did to tease Allison with shadowy curves. Allison jerked her head to the playing board as Morgan cocked an eyebrow at her and tried to pretend her cheeks weren’t on fire as she swiftly made her final move.

"Checkmate, again, Captain, seems I am too much of a challenge for you" she said triumphantly. Morgan bowed her head at her in gracious defeat.

"Yes, Miss Allison, you certainly do seem to be more than I can handle." Allison felt her skin tingle as Morgan’s eyes and the warm note in her voice told her that they were suddenly speaking about more than chess. She sat ensnared in the captain’s eyes for a long moment until Morgan pushed herself to her feet. "Thank you for a wonderful evening," she ducked her head to her in a slight bow and turned for the door. "Do you need anything before I leave?" Allison sighed softly.

"No…though you could stay up here?" She heard a hopeful note enter her voice and watched Morgan carefully. The captain cocked her head at her and smiled.

"No, Miss Allison, I don’t think that would be a good idea. Would you like me to get those buttons before I leave?" Allison nodded and turned her back to the older woman. As Morgan’s fingers worked at the back of her dress she glanced over her shoulder.

"Why wouldn’t it be a good idea?" She asked. Morgan looked at her for a long moment, her hands still, then looked down and let the last of the buttons loose.

"Do you want me to get the laces, too?" Morgan asked, ignoring her question. Allison heaved a sigh of relief as the constriction around her chest loosened and decided to be persistent.

"Morgan? Why wouldn’t it be a good idea?" The captain looked at her for a long moment, her eyes dark and mysterious, then slowly ran a caress down Allison’s bare back.

"Because, Allison, I’m sure your father would like you returned to him, innocence intact." Allison felt her lips part in a soft moan at the caress and felt a distinct loss as Morgan pulled her hand away. "Good night, Allison." She turned and watched Morgan walk out of the room, wishing something she could say would bring her back. Slowly she stepped out of her dress and laid it across her trunk, absently smoothing out the skirts before searching out another of Morgan’s shirts to pull on.

Retrieving the book she had been reading that afternoon she crawled up into the middle of the bed and curled up on her side, pulling her pillow under her head and opening the book. Finding where she had left off she tried vainly to absorb herself in the story, finally giving up after she lost her spot four times. Rolling over onto her back she heaved a huge sigh, closed her eyes and tried to force herself to sleep.

Morgan leaned against the wall outside the door and closed her eyes, resisting the urge to go back into the room and show that tempting redhead exactly what she was toying with. Taking a deep breath she moved away and padded barefoot down the hall to the stairway. Starting down the slowly curving steps she stopped abruptly at the sight of Carolyn paused halfway up the stairs, a stormy expression on her face. She held her hand up as the blonde opened her mouth. Carolyn snapped her mouth shut and glared at her as she moved down the steps and past her. Glancing over her shoulder she gave Carolyn an expectant look before heading for the sanctuary of the parlor. She smiled wryly to herself as the quick staccato beat of Carolyn’s shoes rang out on the floor of the foyer as she caught up to her. Morgan shot her a warning look as her lover opened her mouth again and nodded towards her rooms, hoping the woman would take the hint and wait until they were behind closed doors before she tried to flay her with her sharp tongue.

Morgan opened the door to Carolyn’s parlor and walked inside, turning as the angry blonde slammed it shut behind her.

"Where the hell have you been all- ," Morgan silenced Carolyn with her mouth, pushing the woman against the door and drowning her words in a heated kiss. Carolyn melted quickly against her, wrapping her arms around her neck and kissing Morgan back with passion. The captain felt all of the frustrations brought on by Allison’s flirtations rise to the top and push her over the edge. Without releasing Carolyn’s luscious lips she moved them across the room and through the door to her bedroom, casually undoing the buttons up the back of her dress and unlacing her corset. Carolyn laughed into the kiss and helped Morgan strip her of her clothes as they reached the bedside, pulling her lips away to tease her.

"Well, captain, I guess if leaving you in that tart’s company for the evening brings you to me like this then I’ll gladly pay that price." Morgan smiled hungrily down into Carolyn’s dark eyes and laid her back in the bed.

"Will you, Carolyn? Are you sure you can handle me?" The blonde laughed and let her lips curve into a sensual smile.

"Oh I am positive I can handle you, Morgan." Carolyn pulled her down into the bed and into her kiss, giving Morgan reason after reason to forget about the redhead sleeping in her bed. Morgan willingly drowned the thoughts of Allison’s shy seductive smiles and enchanting flirtations in Carolyn’s passion, burning her frustrations out deep into the night until she fell asleep with her head on Carolyn’s chest, her lover’s fingers soothingly stroking her back.

Morgan blinked her eyes open against the morning sunlight and rolled onto her back, looking up at the canopy above her in confusion. She stretched and yawned and sat up, letting the blanket that had covered her fall to her waist as she looked around Carolyn’s bedroom. The memories of the night before flooded back in a rush and she grinned to herself, feeling the tension that had strung her taut significantly reduced. Humming sounded from the bathing room door across the way and she slipped out of the bed and padded across to peek around the jamb.

Carolyn sat on a bench next to a still steaming tub of water drying her self off, a cat-like smile curving her lips. Morgan laughed softly and the blonde woman looked up. "Well, good morning, lover, sleep well?" Morgan smiled and walked over to tease Carolyn’s lips with a kiss.