"Christ, it's hot!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Alex cursed herself for stating the obvious. Three days into a heat wave, could it be anything else? The temperature must have taken its toll on Bobby as he failed to pass comment on the number of times he'd heard that statement, failed even to grunt in acknowledgement. Alex turned away from the electric fan which only stirred the heat, making stray strands of her hair stick to sweaty skin. She tried again.
"Helluva time for the AC to break down."
The heat must be dulling her usual wit because she's sure she said this a couple of hours ago. Still there was no reply. She glanced across at Bobby who was slouched over his desk, head resting on one hand, studying the file open in front of him. Or so it seemed. Alex looked more closely, a sneaky suspicion that he had nodded off creeping into her mind. He was very still but that was not uncommon, especially if he was concentrating. The closed eyes weren't uncommon either, but she rarely observed the shadow of long lashes cast over his cheekbones.
Feeling a little voyeuristic for noticing such detail, she justified it because he was either deliberately ignoring her or asleep at work and continued her study. His hair was overdue a trim, the usual waves had become full curls and, of course, he needed a shave. She wondered if the stubble would feel stiff or soft under her fingers – a thought dismissed as the result of the heat addling her brain.
Hastily she turned her attention to his hand resting on the blotter, to the slightly bony wrist, to a forearm revealed by his rolled-up sleeves. Her eyes wandered up his long arm, not muscle bound but she knew he was strong, having seen him in action. She tried to ignore the faint flutter in her stomach. Her gaze now travelled across his improbably wide shoulder, along the open neck of his shirt with not one, but two buttons undone, a concession to the heat and she watched, fascinated, as a bead of sweat ran down his neck to disappear into the cluster of dark hair usually concealed by collar and tie.
Alex abruptly stood up, glad of the sudden thirst that gave her an excuse to move, and headed across the squad room to the soda machine. Startled by the movement, Bobby stirred out of the doze induced by a long day, the late hour and the oppressive heat in the squad room, to see Alex walk past, looking cool in her simple sleeveless linen dress. Its colour matched the blue shirt he'd worn this morning and they'd both laughed about that.
He was no longer wearing the same shirt, having changed into a fresh white one after lunch, had wished he could also shed socks and shoes, envious of Alex in her sandals. The second shirt no longer felt fresh as it clung to his back and damply gathered in the waistband of his grey pants, his leather belt adding to the discomfort. Alex had no such problems to deal with, the linen loose and light, barely touching her waist, skimming her hips. Bobby's gaze lingered on curves usually hidden by holster and jacket, dropped to her smooth calves, and toes that had surprised him with their pearly-pink polish.
Knowing Alex was unaware of his scrutiny, he relaxed back into his chair, enjoying the way her muscles flexed in her arm as she fed coins into the machine. It felt wrong to watch her this way but the sultry heat lulled him. A soda clunked into the tray and his stomach did a lazy flip-flop at the sight of her hem riding up to expose several inches of toned thigh as she bent to retrieve the can. Bobby tensed a little, preparing to avert his eyes as Alex began to turn, but she paused half- way through the action and brought the soda up to her face. Her eyes closed at the feel of the cold metal and Bobby watched, transfixed, as she ran the can down her cheek, her throat; her head dropping back as she relished its coolness.
He shifted in his chair, glad that the bull pen was empty so no one else was sharing what felt like a private show, aware that his reaction was becoming obvious. His voice caught as he attempted to break the spell.
"Does – uh- does that help?"
Alex's smile was bewitching in the light cast by the vending machine and her answer was full of promise.
"Why don't you try it?"
There was something feral about the way Bobby stalked across the squad room, and as he approached, Alex's mouth went dry again. She was very aware of him standing mere inches behind her studying the choice of drinks available, very aware of the masculine smell of fresh sweat and cologne, very aware of the rustle of fabric and the jingle of coins as he fished around in his pocket for change.
Bobby used the coins as an excuse to cover the rearrangement necessary to relieve some of the tightness in his shorts, and he checked to make sure the action hadn't been spotted. No, Alex was still facing away from him, the nape of her slender neck exposed as her hair was tied up in an attempt to keep cool. He resisted the urge to touch the tendrils curling at her hairline and gave into another urge instead. Using the advantage of his height he reached over and grabbed the soda from Alex's hand.
Her surprise at his sudden manoeuvre was eclipsed by the shock of the ice-cold can on the back of her neck. Alex let out a gasp. The sound sent a shock of its own straight through Bobby's body, culminating in his groin. He rolled the can a little, down into the semi-circle of bare brown skin exposed above the neck of her dress. His step forward was involuntary as he was summoned by the siren call of her moan. Alex dropped her head forward, offering up more skin to the thrill of the chill; the motion bringing their bodies into contact.
They froze; her butt cradled against his thighs, his erection nestled in the small of her back.
In her head, Alex knew she was in the squad room, in the place she worked hard, not wanting to jeopardise the respect she had gained, worked harder still to maintain the professional relationship with her partner. But her body only knew Bobby's heat through her thin dress and the ice-burn of the cold soda on her back, only knew the twin hardness of Bobby and the can against her spine, and it had been so long since she had last felt a man, last wanted one, needed one. She sank back against him.
Bobby had not realised he'd been holding his breath; the feel of her body pressing closer made him expel a long deep lungful, stirring the hair that curled at her nape, making her tremble. He dipped his head and blew deliberately, delighting in her reaction. Reaching down to touch the back of her hand, he drew his fingers gently up her arm, feeling the hairs rise, feeling her shiver. He moved slowly, fearing a snarky comment that would re-establish the boundaries but all that came from her lips was a sigh. Emboldened, he dropped the soda and pressed his burning lips against her damp skin then, needing more of her, flicked out his tongue to savour the taste of salt, breathing in her light floral scent.
His tongue traced a path down to meet the zipper of her dress, to follow its neckline up to her shoulder, his arms coming around to pull her even closer. Alex rested her head back against his chest granting him further access to her neck and she rolled her hips. His groan hummed against her throat, reverberating in his chest, echoing in the ache between her thighs. Raising her arm to stroke his face, she answered her earlier question, finding stubble soft when stroked in one direction but prickly when stroked the other way, both sensations equally exquisite against her palm.
Bobby's hand was flat against her stomach, its span so wide that the tip of his thumb brushed the lower swell of her breast and his little finger could feel the lace of her panties through thin fabric. He increased the pressure and began to move his hand, copying the slow circle of her hips, breathing a little heavier into her ear. His breath cooled the wet trail left by his tongue and his erection throbbed against the constraints of his clothes, eager to be released, eager for hotter wetter confinement.
Alex suddenly broke free and twisted, her hand against Bobby's chest holding them apart. His heart sank. Of course she'd be the one to bring them to their senses; she'd always been the more pragmatic half of their partnership. Alex watched the fire die in his eyes and was quick to correct his misunderstanding, raising her hands to his cheeks and keeping her voice as gentle as her touch.
"We missed out a step."
She almost laughed at his puzzled expression, the smile still twitching at her lips as she pulled his head down for their lips to meet in a long, slow languorous kiss that left both of them smiling when it ended. The kiss had rekindled the spark in his eyes and she fanned it by running her hands down the broad expanse of his back before tugging his shirt free of his pants. This time their kiss smouldered as his hands cupped her butt, caressing the curves of her cheeks, as her hands explored the play of muscles across his back, first through cotton then skin on skin, a tantalising taste of pleasures to come.
The kiss deepened, tongues tangoing as his hand made the slow waltz up her back and over her shoulder, before his fingers sashayed down the slope of her breast. Alex moaned into his mouth as his thumb danced with her nipple, already erect in anticipation. Her hands scrabbled for a dance partner of their own, found one taller, broader, more erect. It was Bobby's turn to moan as he broke the kiss, sagging against Alex at the surge of arousal her touch inflamed.
The desire that had flickered in Alex now flared as she realised the impact she had on this man, but with it also came a little reality check. Somehow she found her voice.
"Do you think we should take this somewhere more private?" She'd also found her mischievous side again. "Like... the captain's office?"
White teeth flashed as Bobby smiled his reply, happy as ever to play along with her, but he was experiencing a little reality check of his own. It had been a while and he'd forgotten to replace the condom in his wallet the last time he'd been fortunate to need one. A trip to the men's room to restock would break the mood. His mind worked furiously as Alex led the way towards the corner office, the answer coming as he passed their desks.
Alex entered the office first, her back to Bobby as one by one she closed the office blinds, leaving only the window blind open to enjoy the late evening sun that poured like honey into the room infusing everything with its golden glow. She turned at the sound of the door being locked and her eyes met Bobby's. The silence hung as heavy as the heat and her eyes dropped under the weight of his gaze, falling on the item clutched in his hand. She burst into laughter.
"Really, Bobby, your binder?"
Joining in with her laughter and thankful he had remembered his secret stash, Bobby waved the offending object with a flourish. The laughter faded as he laid the binder flat on his hand and carefully unzipped it, the sound unnaturally loud in the room. Alex thought of the long zipper that ran down the back of her dress, of the noise it made when it slid open and wondered whether he would be as slow and careful with it. And she thought of his shorter zipper, how he had felt under her hands, the noise he had made.
He was holding out the binder to her now, like a ring-bearer's cushion but it bore no ring, just a small square foil packet that gleamed in the dying rays of the sun. It was an offering, a proposal of a different kind, but no less serious. She knew Bobby as her partner all too well but the man now stood before her was a tall dark stranger inviting her on a journey from which there could be no return. She looked up at his tilted head, at hope hiding behind humour in his eyes and felt the tension that was as thick as the heat in the room. The blood drained from her head, leaving her light headed as it flooded south, filling out her breasts and tightening her nipples before it pooled in her groin. She pressed her legs together, feeling faint at the sensation, at the thought of him between her thighs.
Bobby watched the emotions play across her face, the setting sun adding an ethereal edge to the vision as it gilded her skin and lit up the halo of her hair. His heart was beating furiously, ready to burst from his chest, and it leapt at the sight of her hand reaching out to accept his invitation. His heart was not the only organ to react, his erection now swollen to the point that the pressure in his pants was a tortuous mix of excruciating and exhilarating as the taut fabric held him tight.
He stiffened further as he watched Alex toy with the condom, teasing the corner of the packet across her lips, outlining her coy smile. She taunted him some more, her tongue flicking out to lick the foil and a bolt of pleasure shot through his groin, galvanising him. Bobby snatched the condom from her, dumped it and his binder on the desk and reached for Alex.
Free from the constraints of uncertainty and caution, he let loose on her body, his hands and mouth wild in exploration. His urgency was inflammatory and Alex found her fingers were clumsy as she fumbled his shirt buttons, hampered by pauses to exchange fierce hungry kisses before their mouths moved on, only to return to feast again. At last his shirt was off and Alex binged on the banquet of Bobby's body.
He tugged her hair loose, its soft tickle as it fell a perfect counterpoint to his hard hands kneading, his fingers probing trying to find a way through to her. They found her zipper and no, he was not slow or careful, and she wasn't sure if the sound was zipper or fabric being pulled apart. Now he was frustrated by the fastening on her bra, as she was with his buckle and button and zipper, frantic fingers finally finding victory, his large hands on soft swollen mounds, her smaller hands meeting a larger, harder swelling. Their moans were indistinguishable, lost as their mouths melded, tongues circling and stroking to mimic their hands.
But there was still too much fabric and not enough skin, and desperate hands moved to shed unnecessary clothing while their mouths tried to maintain the necessary contact. Alex got an arm tangled in a bra strap and the armhole of her dress, Bobby stumbled while trying to toe off shoes and socks but now they stood, breathing a little heavily, with nothing and everything between them.
Haste and urgency had burned away to be replaced by a deep smoulder of need. Alex stepped forward and slowly, deliberately ran a finger down Bobby's chest, dallying a moment in the dark hair scattered there, before descending to feel the quiver of his belly, to feel him hot and hard in her hand. She leaned closer, her tongue following the path of her finger, lingering on the nub of his nipple before beginning its descent.
Bobby's breath caught as her fingers fondled him but realising her intent he stilled her hand, tucked a finger under her chin to lift her face up to his, not sure if he was capable of speech but managing somehow.
"N-no, 'm too close."
Pique battled with pride within Alex, feelings drowned in the depths of his eyes dark with desire, in the sight of him sinking to his knees as if in worship, in the blessing of his kisses on her breasts, her belly. His finger dragged across her sweat-dampened skin, along the flushed and feverish flesh of her thighs before dipping into the source of yet more heat. Her knees buckled but Bobby's hands supported her, guiding her down into the nearby chair. She felt his mouth replace his finger, his stubble soft and prickly against tender skin as he devoured her. Bobby's strong hands continued to cradle her as he soaked up the sensations; savouring the taste, the scent, the feel of her, relishing her sinuous stretch and the tension in her thighs. Her hands, once gentle on his head, now grabbed at his thick curls as her hips shifted and shook in his grasp.
Alex was surrounded by fire; from the dying embers of the sun to his searing lips and scorching tongue. The desire that had been simmering within her was now being stoked and stroked to a slow boil, threatening to bubble over... But not quite, there was something more that she wanted, that she needed. She nudged Bobby away and rose from the chair. Bobby moved so he could watch her, easing the beginnings of a cramp in his calf as he stretched out his legs and leaned back on his elbows, luxuriating in the feel of the cool floor against his hot skin, appreciating her supple grace as she leaned over the desk, feeling the lazy twitch of his erection at the sight.
Grabbing the condom which lay incongruously amongst the standard desk detritus, Alex turned back to him, a little self-conscious under his scrutiny. His obvious admiration restored her confidence and she posed a moment with her foot on his chest; the Amazonian queen standing over her mighty warrior conquest. She smiled a little at her fancy and her foot slid over his body to straddle him. Bobby sat up and drew her down into his lap, drawing his legs up to support her back, drawing matching moans from their mouths as finally his heat met hers.
Alex lost focus for a moment until another twitch of his erection trapped between them gave her a pointed reminder. This time she brought the condom up to her mouth not to tease but to tear open the packet. Bobby clenched his jaw and tried to steady his breathing in an effort to maintain some composure at the feel of her hand and the latex sliding down his length.
Sensing his impatience, Alex shifted until she was poised in the perfect position to welcome him into her body, pausing for a brief moment to drink in the sight of him in the twilight glow. There was a sheen of sweat on his brow, evidence of her arousal glistened in his stubble and his eyes shone with something deeper and more profound than mere desire. She was intoxicated by the sight, by their scent mingled in the humid air and she swayed a little before sinking down into the furnace of his embrace.
Bobby's head swam as molten heat engulfed him, Alex's mind reeled as her body opened to him and it was all so hot, so tight, so full, so deep, so much... Motionless, they tried to assimilate the onslaught of sensation and emotion, wanting the moment to last, knowing it couldn't, torn between craving the climax and needing it never to end.
Alex was spellbound by the pounding in his chest pressed against hers, by the pulse in his throat, by the throb deep within her. Bobby was mesmerised by the hectic flush rising in her cheeks, the deepening rose of her lips and the way she seemed to melt around him, sucking him even deeper into her, sucking a groan from his lips. Alex rocked a little in response, revelling in the resulting ripples that ran through her then rocked again, and again, building a slow sensuous rhythm. Bobby let her set the pace, aware that if he led he'd be unable to resist the hard pound and plunge that would finish him all too soon, so unlike this gentle grind that kept him teetering on the edge.
Closing her eyes, Alex focused on feeling the slick slip and slide, the scrape of her nipples through coarse chest hair, the soft stroke of his lips against hers. Her hands gripped Bobby's shoulders as the sensations stacked up and she was glad of his solid body to lean on. The feelings mounted at the relentless rub of skin on skin, at the tug and pull of tender, swollen flesh and, overwhelmed by the intensity, she lost her rhythm. Bobby took over, using his strong arms to move her body back and forth maintaining the slow easy tempo she had established.
Alex succumbed; powerless against the rising rapture, the ripples of pleasure coming faster, harder, becoming waves that swelled and peaked and crashed on the shores of her surrender, over and over and over. Bobby broke as she shuddered in his arms, releasing a tsunami of ecstasy that coursed through his body and erupted in thick spurts deep inside of her. His spasms, her convulsions strung out the climax leaving them wrecked in its wake.
Bobby slumped back, Alex collapsing onto his chest and they lay together in a sweaty panting tangle of limbs, limp with exhaustion, lethargic in the humidity that remained even though the sun was long gone.
The shrill ring of Bobby's cell phone roused them from their soporific stupor. Groping around, Bobby managed to locate his pants, struggling to extract the phone one-handed, not wanting to let go of Alex. She watched as he listened to his voicemail, and knew what he was going to say by the sombre look on his face. Bobby slowly put down the phone and turned to her, wrapping her in his arms and holding her tight, reluctant to bring harsh reality into a time he wanted to cherish. Alex squeezed him back, understanding his conflict. Her voice cracked as she asked;
"They've found him?"
"Yeah, at least they think so. The body's mutilated but it's definitely a young child."
Alex gave him one last squeeze before rising on wobbly legs to gather her clothes in the gloom. Bobby hauled himself upright, his heart heavy as he tidied away what remained of their magical interlude and got dressed. The air was no longer sultry but smothering and his shoulders drooped as he opened the door.
Squinting against the sudden glare of the fluorescent lights in the squad room, Alex paused on the threshold to look up at Bobby. Feeling stupidly shy after all they had done, she found it difficult to meet his eyes. Bobby reached out to gently cup her face and she rested her cheek against his palm. His voice was barely a whisper.
"This... this is only the beginning, you know."
He was not sure if the droplet of moisture that ran down her face was sweat or a tear; its saltiness on the tip of his tongue gave him no clue. To reinforce his words, he pressed his lips to hers. There was no heat in the kiss, only warmth and when they drew apart, Alex silently nodded her affirmation.
They headed out of the squad room into the trials of the night, now partners in every sense of the word.