Author's note:- Ok so, this is sort of written in blocks of two so chapter 1 and 2 are the same events seen from Graces POV then from Boyd's then 3 and 4 are another set of 2 and so on. The dialogue on each set of two is the same but the reactions are from different POV. Not sure if that makes the format clear or not but hopefully it will! I own nothing; rated for sexual content and language.
Overheard 1/12
"This might not be as bad as I was expecting at least we're close enough to home to stay tonight have our seminars tomorrow and go home." I've been trying to find a silver lining for Boyd since we got here earlier and suffered through introductory drinks. It hasn't been working. He hates anything like this, conferences, seminars, anything that isn't getting on with actual police work in his eyes but he hates this one in particular. It's the MET's annual psychology in policing conference which means tomorrow he has to be lectured about my usefulness and I get a lecture at the same time about policing. It's tedious and unnecessary but we have to do it so I refuse to be a complete grump about it.
"I still don't get why we have to do it. I mean why do I need to be lectured on getting into the head of psychos that's what I have you for." He's on his second Scotch and that is being washed down by his first glass of red so this is only going to go one of two ways. Either he'll get pissed and storm off to bed in a sulk then be impossible tomorrow or he'll get merrily drunk and realise we're here so we might as well enjoy it. I'm hoping for option 2 I have a feeling I'm more likely to get option 1 though.
"You get lectured so you continue to appreciate my wonderful skills and the fact you have me to get into people's heads and don't have to do it yourself."
"And you? What use is a lecture on modern policing to you? You know our job almost as well as we do."
"Ah well that's the secret of these things I don't get lectured about policing mine is a booster on coping skills."
"Coping skills for what?"
"Working alongside pigheaded police officers without killing them." Ah there it is a smile, maybe I'll get option 2 after all.
"You'd never kill me you'd miss me too much." The waitress has finally brought our food and I'm grateful for the chance to absorb some of the alcohol. We're dangerous in situations like this, when we're alone and any from London and the office. There's always been a thing between us, complete raw lust that's what it is, and an unspoken acknowledgement that it exists. Along with that acknowledge comes a very weak agreement that other than torturous flirting and teasing it will be unlikely to go any further. When we're away from everything that is normal for us it's too easy to be tempted and I know he feels the same. We've never given in to how we feel but the longer it goes on the more I think that it's inevitable we someday will.
"Maybe but then I'm a woman in demand you know, Broadmore would have be back tomorrow. I'd find a way to forget about you." The way he's shaking his head now is far too cocky for his own good.
"No, no I think we've made it clear repeatedly that you're ours now there's no way we're letting you go again. Besides without you I'd be back in uniform within 12 months for refusing to attend things like this. I only come because we get to have dinner together and decent wine on the MET."
"But I seem to remember you being very impressed last year by the number of younger versions of me there were at the conference I'm sure you'd find someone to replace me. Maybe one of those girls at that table you keep looking at."
"I'm not looking to replace you none of them are better than you and as for that lot I'm actually looking at them wondering why four supposedly highly educated women feel the need to scream rather than talk." I knew that was why he was looking the girls couldn't be more than 30 but instead of having a normal conversation one of them says something and the others all erupted like a group of hyenas. "You're the only psychologist for me Grace you know that."
"Aw you're such a charmer at times Peter."
"Anyway I saw you find it very hard to take your eyes off the wine waiter's bum at the reception. Not only that but DI Stewart was practically fawning over you and you weren't exactly pushing him away."
"Only because I knew you were watching." I've given him a slightly cheeky smile and he's nodded. He knows I like to play with him. He likes to openly flirt and tease, I like to play on the fact he gets a little jealous at times when he sees other men look at me. It's madness, we're not a couple, we're not head over heels in love teenagers, we've never even kissed let alone done anything else but we're both addicted to how we spark off each other. Sometimes I think its better we've never done anything I worry that the second we released all that tension it would be gone forever and I'd miss it.
"Yes I was. You know how I love to watch you. One of these times were going to have to stop playing games Grace because as fun as they are I think letting ourselves give in would be more enjoyable. There's always tonight the night's young." Shit you'd swear he read my mind. What the hell do I do now?
"Have you just actually propositioned me detective?" That's it Grace go with humour keep it light. I really want to say yes, why the hell can't I just do it?
"I suppose I did, blame it on the Scotch. We should probably turn in we've a long day tomorrow." Brilliant Grace now he's downing his drink and I've got up as if I'm on autopilot and with nothing but a kiss on the cheek I'm walking away leaving him sitting t the table.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
This is ridiculous I'm a grown woman across the hall in a hotel from a man I really want to sleep with and who wants to sleep with me too. He as good as said come back to my room with me and I ran like a naive teenager."
I'm lying on top of my bed staring at the ceiling wishing more than anything I'd just said yes. I'm such an idiot, well no more. I want him and to hell with what will happen afterward. Half a dozen steps from my door across the hall to his that's all it takes. I'm on my feet and out the door before I have time to change my mind again. This is going to happen eventually why not tonight.
"Oh fuck...oh yeah...urghhhhhh..." I've reached the door of his room and raised my hand to knock before I heard it. For a second I'm frozen to the spot. It's not loud but loud enough I can hear him mutter and groan on the other side of the door and it doesn't take a genius to know what's happening.
I'm such a fucking idiot. I've made it into my own room again closing the door and leaning back against it. I'm doing my best not to get upset, like I said earlier it's not like there's actually anything between us that would prevent him finding someone else it's just...I've only been in my room half an hour he had to have waited about 10 minutes before he found someone to relieve his tension. How much of a complete idiot have I actually been all this time? Well if all it takes is for me not to immediately jump into his arms for him to look elsewhere then whoever she is she's welcome to him.