Chapter Three

James slowed as he reached the precinct, scanning the car park, relaxing as he saw Jean's car. She was still here, which meant that he had a chance to make it right…if he could find the courage. Reminding himself that he could hardly make things worse, he went into the station. The desk sergeant smiled at him, saying,

'Glutton for punishment are you?'

'I can't find my keys. I must have left them upstairs somewhere.'

The desk sergeant buzzed him in and James made his way upstairs. The cleaners had finished so the only lights left on were in Jean Innocent's office. Taking a deep breath, he knocked and went in.

Jean looked up and quailed inwardly as she saw James standing there. Exerting iron self control, she said,

'Sergeant Hathaway, what can I do for you?'

James closed the door behind him and stood in front of the desk, saying,

'I've come to apologise, Ma'am.'

'Apologise? Whatever for?'

Jean stared blankly at James as she tried to think what he could have done that needed an apology.

'This morning…I lied to you. When I said that I don't like to be touched when I'm upset.'

'I know.'

James looked at her in amazement, before realising that he shouldn't have been surprised, she was one of the most talented police officers he'd ever met. As he studied her face, he realised that she was very upset and for a moment he wondered why, until with sudden insight, he guessed what she must have thought when he wouldn't turn to face her. His guess was confirmed when she said,

'You're under no obligation to tell the truth in a situation like that.'

'If it had been sexual harassment, then yes, you're right.'

'James, it was sexual harassment.'

'It's only sexual harassment if it's unwelcome.'

'What?'

'The definition of sexual harassment is unwanted comments or touching of a sexual nature, Ma'am.'

'I know what sexual harassment is,' said Jean tartly.

'Ma'am. So given that it wasn't sexual harassment, it was unprofessional of me to lie to you.'

Jean looked blankly at James as she tried to process what he was saying. It had been a long and truly vile day so it took her a few seconds to realise what he was saying; her touch had not been unwelcome. But if that was true…

'So why did you keep your back to me?'

'I'd had a physical reaction and I didn't want you to feel awkward, Ma'am.'

Jean blushed and warmth ran through her as his words sank in. He found her attractive, so attractive in fact that a simple touch from her gave him an erection. As she looked at James the thought of him being aroused in her office brought several of her fantasies to mind and she inhaled sharply as her body flooded with arousal. She started to suppress it but then remembered that she was divorced now, she was allowed to have sex with other men. However, there was one thing that she had to confirm first,

'James, are you sure about resigning?'

'Yes.'

The simple monosyllable freed her from the constraints of being his boss and she smiled brilliantly at him saying,

'Dinner?'

James' face lit up and he said,

'Yes. Where do you want to go?'

His brilliant smile sent shivers down her spine and Jean realised that there was no way that she was going to be able to last through a formal dinner without jumping him,

'Why don't we get a take away and take it back to my place?'

Jean's voice was husky with desire and James' arousal ratcheted up several notches. Swallowing hard, he said,

'Good idea.'

Their eyes locked and James walked round the desk, pulled her to her feet and kissed her tenderly. As his lips touched hers, Jean felt an overwhelming surge of love and desire and she deepened the kiss, leaning into him. The kiss had started gently but soon became a battle for dominance as their tongues tangled together. James started kissing his way down her neck, pushing her blouse aside so he could suck the skin over her collar bone before finding the pulse point at the base of Jean's neck and grazing it gently with his teeth. Jean ran her hands through James' hair then scratched the base of his neck before pulling his face back to hers so that they could kiss again. James pulled her closer to him, running his hands up and down her back then cupping her buttocks. Jean shivered and suddenly all that mattered was feeling his skin against hers. She pushed his jacket off his shoulders and ripped his tie off, throwing it on the floor. She started to undo his shirt but stopped with a moan of pleasure as she felt his hands on her breasts through her blouse. James pushed her jacket on to the floor and hastily unbuttoned her blouse, pulling it out of her skirt. Jean finally managed to unbutton his shirt and push it aside so she could run her hands over his chest and stomach. James undid her bra and lifted it out of the way, saying,

'You're so beautiful.'

His hands were on her bare breasts before she had a chance to refute his statement and then the feelings were too intense for her to be able to speak coherently. James kissed his way down her neck to her breasts and the sensation of his mouth on her breasts had her squirming against him,

'James… I… I need…'

Reaching down, James pushed her skirt up to her waist and gently slipped a hand inside her panties, caressing her. Jean groaned again and reached for his belt but he stopped her with his free hand, saying,

'No, I'll explode in your hand if you touch me.'

She tried to bat his hand away but he pulled away from her, saying,

'Wait.'

James started to undo his belt and Jean took the opportunity to remove her panties, staring at James as she did so, admiring his tall, masculine frame. Then his trousers and boxers were round his ankles and he was lifting her on to her desk. She opened herself to him eagerly and he gently joined their bodies. They both moaned as the intensity of the connection sent them even higher. Unable to wait, they moved frantically together. Jean screamed as she climaxed and a few seconds later, James followed her over the edge.

About thirty seconds later, Jean realised that she was really quite uncomfortable, the desk was hard and she was partly lying on her stapler. Wincing, she pushed on James' shoulder. He looked at her expression and moved immediately, helping her off the desk and saying contritely,

'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you.'

'You didn't, the desk and my stapler did.'

He relaxed slightly but she could tell that he was still worried so she put her arms around him and said,

'That was amazing but next time we want to have sex on a desk, we need to bring cushions.'

James smiled and sat on her chair and pulled her into his lap, saying,

'I'll make sure I have one with me at all times.'

Jean laughed and said,

'And how are you going to explain that to Robbie?'

'I'll tell him I've got piles.'

Jean giggled and snuggled in, kissing his neck gently. James tightened his arms around her and kissed the top of her head and caressed her back.

After a few minutes, Jean said reluctantly,

'James, we need to move. The desk sergeant might come up.'

James nodded and they quickly put their clothes to rights. Jean ran a comb through her hair and put some lipstick on then said,

'How do I look?'

'Amazing.'

Jean blushed, saying,

'Idiot. I meant do I look respectable?'

James looked Jean over critically, then said,

'Yes. Do I?'

'Yes,' said Jean, resisting the temptation to kiss him again; fresh lipstick on his lips would not help their efforts to look normal.

Jean looked at James slightly shyly but he'd already said yes to dinner so she said,

'Thai all right?'

'Yes.'

'Good, let's go.'

Trying to avoid touching each other, they left the station together.