A/N: Hello Lovely Readers! I hope you are enjoying this story. Things are heating up I really enjoy getting your comments and reviews. They really fuel my fire . There's more to come with this story and our lovely OTP. Let me know what you think?
Ch. 4
The morning sun came shining through the bedroom window. She was sleeping soundly wrapped in his arms. He was very warm and hated the thought of getting up and rejoining the rest of the world. He peeked over at the time on the alarm clock that rest on her nightstand and groaned. His internal alarm needed to let him have a break sometimes. She shuffled in his arms and he kissed her softly on her temple.
"Killian, is everything alright?"
"Sleep Love, It's still early."
"You have to leave now?"
"As much as I don't want to I've got to go to work. By any a chance you'd fancy a run?"
She turned around in his arms and faced him smiling.
"You're a runner?
"Aye. I usually run, have breakfast and then walk to work."
"Sounds like you have quite the routine. I'm not much for routines but I'll run with you. "
"You will?"
"Sure, as long as you promise to help me find decent coffee." She said grinning.
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her softly. Her warm body was making him rethink his request.
"Keep kissing me like that and I'm not letting you leave this bed."
"Don't tempt me Love, I'd be happy to stay here wrapped up with you all day." he grinned.
"mmm, sounds good to me."
"Temptress."
He looked at the clock and closed his eyes, buggering hour of the day.
She pushed back the blankets and climbed out of bed with a groan. He leaned over the side of the bed and pinched the space in between his eyes. He wished he wasn't so diligent in that moment. The thought of her soft curves and tender kisses was pulling him further back to the bed.
"Come on, I'm awake now." She said pulling on his hand and dragging him from the bed and falling into his arms.
"I'll run across and get my running clothes on. Meet you downstairs in 15 minutes?"
"Alright, sounds good." She said snuggling closer into his chest.
"Love, You were amazing last night. I had a wonderful time."
"mmm, I had a great time too. " She ran her hands up and down his bare back.
"I better go or I really will take you back to bed." He said.
He reluctantly moved to the living room and gathered his clothing. He pulled on his pants, his shirt and his shoes.
She came padding out from the bedroom wearing a mini robe.
"I'll meet you downstairs in 15 minutes." She confirmed.
"Aye."
He stood up and kissed her softly before leaving the comfort of her apartment.
She ran back to the bedroom and dug out her work out clothing. She quickly ran to the bathroom and rushed through her morning routine. She pulled on a pair of soft running shorts and her Academy T-Shirt that was worn thin and soft.
She pulled her hair up into a pony tail and grabbed her running shoes from the back of her closet. She smiled when she thought about the previous night. He was amazing and made her feel so good in so many ways. She wished they could have just spent the day in bed getting lost in each other. She was having a lot of fun with him.
She wasn't used to having a running buddy but she was looking forward to it. Killian was going to be good for her in more ways than she'd imagined. It'd been a long time since she let herself have a friend or anyone in her life. After her stint in the last city she vowed not to continue a life of loneliness and to try again. She couldn't let what happened in the past break her. She was better than that.
She grabbed her essentials and head out the door to meet him. He wasn't there yet so she started stretching her sore muscles. They were sore in a good way and she blushed when she remembered just how they got sore. He showed up a few minutes after she got outside. He looked handsome in his running shorts and T-shirt.
"Ready Love?" he asked.
"Ready as I'm going to get at this hour with no coffee." She said smiling.
She was a natural beauty and she looked gorgeous dressed down and ready to run. He noticed that her T-shirt was from the FBI training academy and it looked rather worn in. He raised his brow as he looked her over.
"You were FBI?" he asked.
She looked down at her shirt and completely forgot she hadn't mentioned anything about that. It was a part of her life she liked to keep buried for many reasons.
"Uh, yeah. Long time ago." She said.
The depths of her character were vaster than he imagined. He was very interested to hear this story.
"Care to elaborate Love?" he asked.
She was hopping up and down warming her muscles and she smiled.
"Beat me on the loop and I'll tell you all about it. If not you'll have to find another way to get that intel out of me." she said grinning.
"Deal." He said.
They started their run through the neighborhood. He took her on his usual trail and pointed out all of the points of interest along the way. He took her through the park and down the wooded trails. At that time of the morning there were very few people to be seen. She inched in front of him a few times and he picked up the pace to stay in front of her. She laughed and ran faster challenging him to beat her.
He liked that she matched him and pushed him at the same time. She was formidable on the run and he was happy that it was something he could do with her. They were nearly back to the apartment when they came across the little coffee shop on the corner. Both of them were drenched with perspiration and panting hard from the run. He pulled her by the hand and slowed her speed to a walk.
"Look, there is a decent coffee place here there on the corner. As much as I want to learn about your days in the FBI I'd rather buy you breakfast." He said.
She wiped her hand across her brow and smiled.
"That sounds nice. I'd like that. Will they protest with us coming in looking like we fell into a pool." She asked.
"I'll run in and grab some things; we can go to my apartment and eat." He said.
"Alright, sounds good." She said smiling.
He ran inside and ordered breakfast sandwiches and coffee. He remembered she liked light cream and sugar.
He looked out of the shop window and saw her stretching her muscles. She had a gorgeous body and the thoughts of seeing her bare were indecently running through his mind. He shook his head at the thought. He paid for their food and rushed out to meet her.
"Ready Love?" he asked.
"I can't say I'm not curious to see your place." She said.
She took the coffees from him and they proceeded across the street to his apartment building. It was just as tall as hers and she could see her place was not far from his as he'd said. He let her inside and they took the elevator up to the 5th floor.
"Just down the hall Love, Apt. 511." He said.
The hallway was covered in aging floral wallpaper and a berry colored carpet with a tiny diamond design covered the floors. He stopped in front of his apartment and let her inside.
He had a modest apartment similar to hers with a small living room and a kitchen off to the side. No photos hung on the walls, a small sofa in the living room and a TV. He also had a bookshelf that was overstuffed. She'd have to remember to take a look at what he was so fond of reading.
She watched him as he grabbed plates from the cabinet and placed them on his counter. He pulled the sandwiches from the bag and placed them on the plates in front of him.
"Nice place, I see you like to keep things neat and tidy." She said.
"Yeah I'm usually not here very often." He said.
She sat down on one of the stools at the counter and he came and sat next to her. He leaned to his side and kissed her cheek.
"Thank you for picking up breakfast." She said.
"Happy to do it Love. It was nice having company for my run today." he said.
He handed her a coffee and took a sip of his own.
"Wow you remembered how I take my coffee?" she said smiling.
"Aye, I wasn't the one who had a lot to drink Love." he chuckled.
"Don't remind me. How do you take your coffee?" she asked as she took a sip.
"Black, with a little sugar."
"Noted. So I know the deal was you beat me around the loop and I tell you a something about my FBI days. Well, I think you've earned a little information with this gesture. I will tell you that I don't talk about those days often or at all really. It wasn't the best time in my life." She said.
"Love, if you don't want to share I'm alright with it." He said.
He was now completely intrigued but he didn't want to push her into telling him anything she wasn't comfortable talking about.
"No, it's ok. I was an agent for 5 years down in the DC area. I was a profiler and was put on some really nasty cases back then. Things got really rough on one of the last cases I was assigned to and I saw some things that haunt me to this day. I decided that in order to keep my sanity I needed to take a break, that's when I branched out on my own and started working in bail bonds. I could choose my own cases and still keep my skills sharp without getting in too deep." She said.
"I can see why you left. I left special forces for similar reasons. The missions became less and less like I was solving problems and they began messing with my mind." He said.
She leaned into him and put her head on his shoulder.
"Seems like we have more in common than I initially thought we did."
He wrapped his arm around her and kissed the top of her head.
"I have to watch the time Love, I can't be late today. "he said.
"How much time do we have?" she asked.
"About 45 minutes."
"You gotta shower right?" she asked as she gazed into his eyes under her lashes.
"Aye, that I do." He said.
"Want some company?" she asked.
"Hmm, that's an offer I can't refuse." He said.
He picked her up from the stool and tossed her over his shoulder. She squealed in delight.
"Is this how I should expect you to take me every time?" she giggled.
"I am a fireman Love and not every time but we are in a hurry." He said as he walked down the hall.
He placed her down in front of him and turned on the water to a steamy setting. He had a stand up shower without a tub. She stripped off her sweaty clothes and he did the same. She stepped into the steaming water and let it wash over her soft skin.
She turned and waved her finger calling him in to join her. He was standing in front of the door with a look of adoration on his face as he watched her under the showering water. He stepped inside and came up to embrace her from behind.
His hands covered her supple breasts as he pressed soft kisses across the back of her shoulders. She leaned back into his lean muscular body and felt a shiver go through her as he continued to massage her softly.
She reached her hand behind her and gripped his hardening length, stroking him with just a soft amount of pressure. He groaned at the contact and sucked harder on her neck. She coaxed him towards her soft wet aching core. He slipped inside of her easily and she closed her eyes at the sensation of fullness.
"Emma you feel so good."
She leaned forward and pressed her hands against the wall as he continued to thrust into her. He went slowly at first but the moans she was making spurred him on and he picked up the pace. He rubbed gently on her little bundle of nerves in tiny circles until she was crying out his name. The sound of his name rolling off her tongue sent him over the edge.
He whispered her name into her ear and sucked gently on her lobe. She turned around and captured his lips and wrapped her arms around his neck. She felt the water wooshing down her back as his hands caressed her curves. She pulled his bottom lip softly between hers and looked up at him smiling.
"Good morning." She said.
"Certainly is." He said grinning.
"Turn around and let me wash your back." She said.
He laughed and did as she said. She lathered up her hands and rubbed the soap all over his lean muscles and down the curve of his arse. She switched positions with him in the water and he washed her back as well.
"I could get used to this." He said.
"It is nice to have someone help with those hard to reach places." She said laughing.
They finished up quickly in the shower and he loaned her pair of shorts and a T shirt so she didn't have to put her sweaty things back on to go home.
She decided she would go commando and forgo borrowing boxers from him. She looked at the clock and noticed he had 15 minutes to get to the station. She sat next to him as he pulled on his work boots.
"Jones you really know how to spoil a girl." She said as she sat next to him on the bed.
"Swan, you're the kind of girl I'd like to spoil." He said.
She leaned forward and kissed him softly. He pulled her up onto his lap.
"I don't mean to rush you out Love but time is not on my side." He said.
"I know, I'll meet you down there after I pull myself together. I can't very well show up like this." She said.
He looked down at her wearing his cotton T-shirt, her hair was damp and hanging around her shoulders, and her freckles were showing on her nose.
"I think you look beautiful but you're right you should probably change. Remember don't let the guys rattle you." He said.
"I've dealt with serial killers, I think I can handle your fireman buddies." She said.
"Right." He said.
She stood and followed him out the door. She'd be lying if she said she already missed him and he wasn't even gone yet. It'd been a long time since she'd had a connection like this with anyone.
"I gotta run, I'll see you later right?" he asked.
"Count on it." she said.
He leaned down and kissed her softly.
"Best date ever." He said with a wink.
She smiled as she watched him run down the block and head towards the station. He turned back and waved when he was half way there. She waved back like an idiot and then quickly looked around to make sure no one was looking. She strolled down the block with her clothes in a bag and coffee in hand. Today was going to be a good day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~E&K~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Killian slowed down as he got to the door of the station. He smoothed back his hair and straightened out his uniform before opening the door and walking inside. The guys were in their usual places sitting around the table with a box of donuts and Styrofoam cups in hand.
"Just made it Jones. Is this going to be a habit?" asked Jeff.
"I hope so." He said grinning.
"Wait, wait, what this? Killian Jones is smiling in the morning and almost late." said Jeff.
"I'd say ye got laid if I'm reading the grin on yer face correctly." Said Will.
Killian shook his head.
"Surprised to see you here so early, I'm guessing you didn't." said Killian.
"Fool got plastered before we even walked into the place. I had to carry him out myself." said Jeff.
"Oi, I still got her number." Said Will.
"Do you even know who you were talking to?"asked Jeff.
"Does it matter?"asked Will.
"Alright boys pull up chairs." Said Robin.
"It seems we have the work of a serial arsonist on our hands. Comparison of the evidence shows significant similarities in the pattern of the fire and the method used to start it. Shoot, I'll be right back. I forgot the data." Said David.
"While this goes without saying please use extra caution when entering any new fire sites. This person seems to be going for maximum casualties." Said Robin.
Killian had his back to the door and he didn't see her come in. All of the sudden the room went quiet. The men all stopped talking and looked towards the door as the beautiful blond entered their space.
"Can I help you miss?" asked Robin.
"It's the blonde avenger. Curious that she shows up here now too." Said Will glaring at Killian.
Killian turned around to see her and smiled. He stood and moved towards her.
"Hey, I brought the research on those guys. Is it ok that I'm here?" she asked.
"Of course Love. Come in." said Killian.
"You going to introduce us to your friend?" asked Robin.
"Swan?" Said David as he entered the room.
"Nolan, I didn't know you were working here." Said Emma.
"Killian, this is Emma that you've been telling me about?" said David smiling.
"Aye, I gather you two know each other." Said Killian raising an eyebrow.
"Agent Swan as I knew her was one of the best criminal profilers I ever worked with at the bureau." Said David.
Emma felt the blush creeping up on her cheeks.
"The blonde avenger is FBI?" asked Will.
"Oi, watch yourself Scarlet." Said Killian.
"Oh Hey, I remember you. I'm surprised you're still able to talk after that girl sucked your brains out through your ear." Said Emma smiling.
Will grumbled.
Killian laughed.
"Can we please get back to business?" asked Robin.
"I'm sorry I can come back later." Said Emma.
"No, Swan I want to see what you've got. Why don't you sit in so you can see what we've found so far and then we can compare research." Said David.
"Will move over so Jones can sit next to his girlfriend." Said Jeff swatting Will on the arm.
Killian gave him a look that could kill and Emma gave him a curt smile.
"Of course, I'm a gentleman." mocked Will.
Killian shook his head. Emma took the seat next to him and pulled her research out of her bag and laid it on the table. David smiled when he saw the stack of papers. He continued to diligently go over all the elements of the fires, the clues about the methods used to create it, and what he suspected the motive of the arsonist was for each of the fires so far. He gave the men a strategy to put out the fire if they happen to notice the pattern emerge.
Emma carefully listened to all of the facts being laid in front of her. She hadn't worked an arson case in a long time but it seemed that everything she learned in the academy was coming back fast and furious.
She caught Killian gazing at her throughout the meeting at different times. She was still reeling from their date last night and their breakfast this morning. She held her smile inside because she didn't want to give anything away in front of his squad and she was also a trained agent. She knew better than to show any sign of weakness to a hungry mob. She knew they wanted to rib Killian for having her there in the first place and she wasn't going to give them the satisfaction. He'd already warned her that the guys would be unruly towards her if they had the chance.
As if on cue the fire alarm rang out. The men all stood and started towards their gear. Emma stood and backed away so that she wasn't in the way.
Killian came back to her in full gear. She felt a pit in her stomach begin to grow knowing he was going out to a danger. She'd been in that position before in a different situation and different person. Things didn't turn out well that time.
"Emma, I've got to go. Hopefully we'll be back soon." Said Killian.
She reached up and caressed his cheek. "Come back to me ok." She said.
He smiled."Of course Love."
He leaned down and kissed her softly. He couldn't resist leaving her without it.
She smiled. "Go on now before the guys have something to rip you about."
David came up and joined her as she watched the truck depart the station.
"So Agent Swan, fancy seeing you here." Said David smiling.
"I go by Emma these days. I didn't know you left DC."
"Mary Margaret and I are trying to start a family. She wanted to move to a more family oriented community. She also likes teaching here. How about you? What brings you to our fair city?" Said David.
"I'm working bailbonds these days and I have a stack of perps in this town that would keep me in paychecks for awhile. I also do PI work when I can get it." Said Emma.
"How does Killian fit into the picture?" asked David.
"Happy accident." She said grinning.
"You like him. I can't believe it Swan, you like him." Said David.
"David, you know what, I do, I really do. I can't even hide it." Said Emma.
"Good because he likes you too. He's never breathed a word about another woman in all the time I've known him until he met you. The man is actually walking in here smiling." Said David.
"He's great David. He took me to the gun range last night." She couldn't stop smiling.
"Gun Range? Sounds romantic." He laughed.
"Cut it out David. It really was. It was the best date I've ever been on. " she said.
"Wow, I didn't think I'd ever see the day that Agent Swan would talk about a date with someone. You used to be all business all the time." Said David.
"Well, it took something horrible to happen to me to realize this but there are more important things in life than work. I'm still working on it but I'm coming around and I'm starting to believe it." Said Emma.
"Good, I'm glad to hear that. I'm also glad that you like him because I'd hate to come after you if you hurt him. The man is truly decent and he looks out for each one of those bastards like they are his brothers." Said David.
"I can see that. He talks about them like they are. You don't have to worry about me hurting him. I'm hoping he doesn't figure me out and run away." Said Emma.
"Emma, give yourself credit. You're a decent, smart and kind human being. You were one of the best agents and people I've met in my career. They were hurting when you left. I hope you know you were certainly missed." He said.
"Yeah, good to know. I was afraid I burned some bridges but I had to go or I would have gone insane. So, how bad do you think that fire is?" asked Emma. Her brow was furrowed and she tried not to but she couldn't help but show the concern on her face.
"Three alarm. I'm hoping it's not the same bastard that lit the others. Could be worse than it seems if it is." Said David.
"Hmm, I hope it's not the same guy. From all the research I've done on the three perps that are in this area they are really bad David. Any one of them could torch this town without remorse." Said Emma.
The pit in her stomach rumbled as she thought about Killian in danger. She shook her head trying to wipe the possibility out of her mind. As if he sensed it David put his hand on her shoulder.
"He'll be fine Emma. Why don't you show me what you got? It will be nice to work with you again." Said David.
"Yeah, ok." said Emma.
Emma suddenly realized that she knew three people in this town. That's more than she's known in the past 3 years. She felt a sense of belonging that she hadn't felt in a long time wash over her. Maybe she made the right choice with this move.
They sat and went through all of the research that she found and compared it to what David had as well. Truth was that he was the only other profiler that she trusted at the bureau to do as complete of a job as she did. The poured over the details and started to see a pattern appear that could have been two of the 3 perps that she identified. Emma couldn't help but look at the clock every so often waiting to hear something or see the men get back.
Two hours, it took two hours for the truck to return to the station. David clapped her on the shoulder and smiled. "Told you they'd be fine and don't tell me you weren't worried."
She shook her head and blew out a breath. They stood and walked back out into the station to welcome the men. She looked at all of their faces covered in ash and soot searching until she saw his blue eyes looking at her. She locked in on his gaze and he came rushing towards her.
"Hey, you're still here." He said.
"I've been working with David. You alright?" she asked as she caressed his cheek.
"Aye, I think this was arson as well. It was a little less contained than the other. I think he might be getting sloppy." Said Killian.
She wanted to hug him, kiss him, whatever she needed to do to relieve the tension that was running through her body at that moment. She fought all impulses to do it. She was just happy to see he was back and he was ok.
"Really, you think it was the same guy?" asked David.
"Aye, Robin got some pictures at the scene but I suspect you will need to go out and investigate this one too." Said Killian.
"David, let me know if you want some company." Said Emma.
"I might take you up on that offer." Said David.
"I hope you do." Said Emma.
"See ya Swan." Said David.
"See ya." She said.
"You leaving?" asked Killian.
"Yeah, I should probably get out of here. I don't want to overstay my welcome and I've got research to do." Said Emma.
"If you give me a few minutes I'll go with you." He said.
"Yeah? OK." She said.
He smiled and walked over towards the rest of the guys who were stripping out of their uniforms. She breathed a sigh of relief that he was ok and that his blue eyes were gazing back at her. She was getting used to seeing them and she wouldn't want anything to happen to him.
"Oi, Jones you coming to Happy Hour?" asked Will.
Killian looked to Emma and smiled.
"No Mate. I've got plans." He said.
"I see how it goes."Said Will.
"I'll go with you. I could use a drink." Said Jeff.
"Ready Love?" he asked.
"Yeah." She said nodding her head.
She smiled at the guys as they walked towards the door. Killian waved to the guys and pushed down their jeers and whistles as they walked out together.
"Sorry about that Love. I told you the guys could be wankers." Said Killian.
"No, they were fine. I'm not offended at all." Said Emma.
She reached down and grabbed his hand in an unprecedented moment of PDA. He laced his fingers through hers and smiled. She was so relieved to touch him that she didn't care what anyone else thought in that moment.
They walked the block in silence towards home. When they reached his apartment building he stopped.
"Would you like to come up?" he asked.
His face was full of hope and anticipation for her response.
"Sure." She said.
She wasn't ready to leave him yet either, especially after she sat and worried about him for the past few hours.
"Great." He said smiling.
She still hadn't let go of his hand and she continued to squeeze it a little harder as time passed. When they got to his door he pulled away so that he could unlock it. He opened it and let her walk in first. As soon as he closed the door she had him pressed against the door and her lips crashed onto his. She kissed him with everything she had in her and let all emotions she was holding back pour out into it.
He held her in his arms and pressed her as close to his body as he could. He knew she was scared based on the look of relief he received when he saw her face. He knew she needed to feel him. He'd heard from the other fireman who had steady girls that this happened. He never had anyone steady in his life to learn first hand and she was the first woman he wanted to be steady.
He pulled back and cradled her face in his hands. "Are you alright Love?"
He saw the look in her eyes and she nodded. She couldn't speak the words but he knew she was afraid. He kissed her softly pouring love into his kiss to soothe her gentle feelings. He took her by the hand and walked down the hall towards his bathroom.
"Fancy a shower?" he asked grinning.
"I'll wash your back." She said laughing.