Sorry for the wait. This is just a short chapter because I haven't been able to work on it much lately. However, I wanted to post since I had some requests. I hope you enjoy :)
Murder on the Highway Ch 4
Andy Flynn shifted, uncomfortable from the sliver of sun reflecting through the window. It was splayed in a fragmented prism of light across his face, causing him discomfort. He tried in vain to drag himself away from the offensive perpetrator when he realized his chest felt achy, and a weight lay sprawled across it, effectively pinning him to the bed. His mind was filled with fog from a deep sleep he hadn't remembered falling into when the previous night's shenanigans replayed in his mind. His large hand moved of its own volition along the curvy frame that had taken up residence atop his ribcage at some point in the night.
Sharon's face was burrowed into the soft underside of his jaw and her breath was beating out an even rhythm to the pulse in his neck. Andy laughed in his mind at the sight before him as he tried in vain once more to arouse her sleeping form. He'd not intended to spend the entire night in her bed, instead meaning to retreat to the solitude of the couch. However, he'd fallen asleep much sooner than he'd anticipated, and when he'd awoken several hours before he'd decided the warmth of the woman beside him was more enticing than the loneliness of an old couch.
She began to stir and the feel of her skin against his made his heart race and his body react in ways he'd not prepared for. Sharon let out a soft, sleepy moan and stretched her lithe body along his side. She jumped back when she felt more than she bargained for. "Andy, I'm so sorry."
"Good morning. I wondered how long you were going to sleep." He rolled toward her, reaching out to bring her closer. A peculiar look played across his face, as he questioned her sudden reluctance to be near him.
"Andy, what time is it?"
"Hmm? I don't know, why?" He tried once again to pull her closer, intending to quell the fire burning within. In the morning light she was even more beguiling than she was when they'd been so rudely interrupted the night before. However, she clumsily climbed over him in an attempt to disentangle herself from the quilts when her knee narrowly missed a very vital piece of anatomy. He grunted in reflex and rolled over into the fetal position. She may have missed but that didn't mean it hadn't knocked the wind out of him in return. The sheer nervousness of the situation had thrown him into a tension-filled spiral and he was breathing a ragged defeat when she finally stood over him in a concerned stance.
"Oh my goodness, Andy are you okay?" Sharon reached around him, trying to ease his discomfort, not realizing what she was actually grabbing for. Andy pulled away, a nervous reaction to her quick response. "Andy, oh my gosh, I am so sorry. I don't know what overcame me. Are you alright, do you need medical attention? Did I hit it on the way over?" Sharon stood pacing back and forth beside the bed awaiting any response from the man currently taking up residence in her warm bed.
"Why did you do that," he whimpered out in a strangled cry.
"It wasn't intentional, I swear! I was trying to get out of bed because, if you haven't noticed, the sun's up."
"Uh, yes Sharon, I noticed the sun's out. It was burning my eyes, but I couldn't avoid it because someone was invading my personal space." His voice had taken on a somewhat tetchy tone as he shot unnoticed daggers with his eyes.
Sharon chose to ignore the very flustered tone of his voice, knowing full well he was still a bit taken aback by her near miss. "I am sorry about that Andy, but if you don't want everyone in camp to know you slept here last night, I suggest you get a move on. Unless, of course, you were planning on living it up in the boy's club, letting them think you bagged the most hated Captain in the department."
Andy swung around to face her. His face full of astonishment, brows furrowed into a gruff line, and a spattering of sweat across his upper lip. Sharon gave as good as she got with her arms tightly crossed over her chest, her top lip biting her lower lip and raised into a smirk, while a finely arched brow hovered over her sparkly green eyes. He couldn't help but laugh, the usual ire he felt at seeing her strike that pose lost in the glow emanating from her. His eyes raked her over, scanning every inch until he landed on the exposed thigh before him. Creamy and toned as he remembered it from the night before, this time even more inviting in the morning sun. He found his hand reaching out and softly stroking it, encouraging its owner to bring it nearer him.
Sharon's skin crackled with electricity under the manipulation of Andy's tender touch. She felt it vibrating in the farthest reaches of her mind, along her scalp, and down her spine where it pooled in the tips of her toes, only to shoot back in rapid signals to places she hadn't bargained for. She shook with an unwarranted skittishness, the bravado from the night before having diminished in the morning light. She shook herself back to reality and snapped to attention. "Andy, we've got to get a move on! I personally don't feel like explaining to Chief Pope why you're in here." She whirled around and began yanking articles of clothing from the racks in front of the fire. She was clutching them to her chest when he approached her from behind. He placed his hand on her lower back and whispered lightly.
"You can relax, Sharon. I won't bite, unless you want me to." She jumped, a nervousness at being caught motivating her more and more with each passing second. The clothes dropped to the floor in a scattered pile and she began laughing in reply. Andy watched her as she bent forward to retrieve them. He couldn't help but watch, her nightgown gaping in the front afforded him a clear view. She righted herself, and stared at him wide-eyed, a small cough in her throat, and the glazed look to his eyes began to dissipate. She shoved the shirt and pants into his arms and gave him a shooing motion. He retreated to the bathroom and changed out of the flimsy bathrobe he'd worn since the night before.
She stood at the stove heating water for a cup of tea, having already changed into a pair of form fitting blue jeans and a three quarter sleeve v-neck sweater. She looked good and inviting, but Andy was on a mission. He knelt down by the couch and looked underneath. His muffled voice reached her ears after a moment. "Sharon, I'm missing a sock. Have you seen it?" She poured the water and set the kettle back on the burner before joining him in the search. They crawled on hands and knees looking in vain when finally she stood up and pulled him along with her.
"Andy, this is ridiculous. We don't have time for this and I'm most sure you have another sock in your tent. You really need to leave."
Andy scrunched up his face and gave the woman before him a good once over. She stood in a familiar stance, arms crossed, tension oozing from every pore, and a determined expression on her face. He would have laughed if he didn't think she'd get her gun out.
"Do you need help with the word immediately, Lieutenant?" He lost it when her foot began tapping and she rushed to pick up his shoes. "Let's go mister. I don't see what's so funny."
"Nothing really. It's just your nickname really fits you, ya know." He took the shoes and tried putting them on. "Hey, maybe you can find my other sock, huh. I mean, it's kinda weird without the other one."
"Yea, okay. If I find it, I'll be sure to bring it to you. Now you've got to go." She began pushing him to the door. She stopped, opened it a crack, and stuck her head out. "The coast is clear, go." She pushed him once more.
"I don't know what the hurry is here. I mean I could've shown you a great way to wake up instead of the present you gave me, ya know." Her response was a quiet grunt. He opened the door, but before he could take a step out, he was being pulled back in and slammed against the wall. Sharon's hands ran over his abs and up his chest, caressing him in a languid motion. Her face appeared in his line of vision, and before he knew what had overcome her, the sweet flavor of sensuous lips were on his. She teased him slowly at first, nipping his bottom lip tenderly before a full onslaught began ravaging him. He parted his lips to taste her fully when a tongue shot between his teeth and they began to wrestle for control.
Sharon ground her body against his, their hands and arms a tangled web. His hands weaved their way into the long tendrils of fiery hair and tugged her ever closer. She moaned softly into his mouth, sucking on his lip one last time before separating herself from him. They both gasped for air, Andy unsure as to what had just transpired. Sharon moved in once again and he mentally calculated the milliseconds it would take him to lift her and throw her back on the bed. Instead, her hand reached out and turned the knob on the door. She leaned in and whispered, "Okay, this time I mean it. You need to go."
Andy's mouth dropped in surprise and shock, thinking they were about to resume their earlier tryst and that he had indeed talked her into it. She stood before him, serious and stern. Her arm raised and finger pointed, indicating her statement had not been a joke. He shook his head, huffed an aggravated sigh, and departed. The feel of the door whooshing closed brought him back to reality; the sights and sounds before him came like a rushing wind and knocked the breath out of him. In a flurry, he rushed across the yard toward the mess hall. Voices could be heard echoing from within.
####
"Flynn, where the hell have you been?" Provenza snarled at his partner while eyeing his disheveled appearance. "Did you sleep with the raccoons, you look like you've had a romp in the hay but seeing as it's mostly just us here, I can't imagine who you'd been with." He noticed his partner's shifty eyes, and how he was nodding at everyone else but him. "Earth to Flynn, I asked you a question."
"Just forget it, would ya. I'm hungry and that food smells delicious." Andy walked away, ignoring the look of indignation on Provenza's face.
"What's wrong, sir? Did someone else not enjoy your chipper persona this morning either?" Julio laughed and scooped another spoonful of cheesy grits into his mouth. His shoulders shook with laughter as he poked Buzz in the side, trying to get his attention and perhaps coax him to join in the merriment.
"Don't get me involved. I don't feel like getting into trouble this early in the morning. Besides, Captain Raydor just walked in, and the Chief doesn't look too happy, as usual."
"Cap'n Raydor, uh Sharon, it's so good of ya to join us and all. Was starting to think we'd have to send out the old dogs to fetch you this morning. Then again, Andy just joined us about 10 minutes ago himself." Brenda gave Sharon a knowing look before sashaying toward the small group at the opposite end of the room
"I'm so glad I could put a smile on your face, Brenda." Sharon's low voice echoed back to the table and the men stared from one to the other.
"Hey, Andy! Provenza said you never made it to the tent last night. Who'd you find to keep warm?" Julio scooted over as the older man took a seat next to him.
"Mind your own business, Julio. And stop wagging your eyebrows. Why do you guys always assume something dirty happened? I got stuck in the storm, that's all. Now eat your food and shut up."
"Well you have to admit, it is strange. I mean Provenza hasn't stopped talking about it. Your partner was worried."
"I don't believe anyone asked you, David. And stop sucking up, the chief isn't around." Provenza shot the detective a warning look, and turned his face once more toward his partner. "Now, Mr. Flynn, I do believe my question was, 'Where the hell were you last night?'"