Hey Guys,

vacation is over :(

but I had time to write a bit.

Chapter 8 is finally finished and I thought I upload it as soon as possible.

Hope you enjoy this chapter :)

I would like to thank all my followers for your patience. And of course my beta, for being amazing and for being part of this story.

Written in Gail´s POV, her thoughts are in italic.


I joined Chris, Traci, Steve and the others at The Penny and ordered myself a Jack Daniels. I felt nervous about the night and needed something to calm me down. I didn't want anyone to see that I was nervous, most especially Holly. It was very important to me that she knew I was okay with her meeting my friends. I wanted her to know that I was in this with my whole being. I really looked forward to seeing her again – to hear her voice and feel her presence. She made me feel things I never thought I could ever feel with a woman.

"So, where's Holly?" Chris asked smiling.

Don't you dare to think about my girlfriend, Diaz.

"I don't know. She should be here soon. She's never late," I shrugged my shoulders and emptied my glass. We kept to small talk about work, cases, and our days. Traci told me about a case another detective had to deal with. It involved a young boy who was killed in a gang-related incident.

The door to The Penny opened, and Holly entered the bar. My eyes lit up when I saw her and my body filled with warmth. My palms became sweaty. She wore this amazing red blouse, which hugged her in all the right places and tight leather jeans. It reminded me of her outfit at the wedding. They were similar, but this one made her look even more attractive

Wow, why do you have to be so hot, Babe?

Maybe it was her confidence, or her smile, or the way her eyes lit up when they met mine.
I watched her as she walked toward us and my mouth fell slightly open. I had never seen anyone so gorgeous before. Her blouse was opened, enough to show just the right amount of cleavage. She looked stunning. I felt the urge to walk right up to her and kiss her possessively on the lips. Everyone should know that amazing woman was with me. My eyes moved up and down her body enjoying the sight before me. Then I realized she was looking directly at me. I looked into her eyes and she smirked. She caught me checking her out. I blushed a bit but I also felt flattered to call her my girlfriend. She walked over and placed her hand on my shoulder for just a second and sat down beside me. My shoulder burnt from her touch. She smiled at me, still unable to form a coherent thought. I just looked to her and smiled. I moved my mouth to say something, but no words came out. I'm sure she sensed my current state. I introduced her to the others, and they introduced themselves as well. A part of me wanted to show everyone she was marked. But my rational mind stopped me from doing it. It was enough for me to know that she spent last night with me.

She leaned against my ear, "Are you alright?" she whispered while her lips brushed slightly, barely noticeable, against my ear. I inhaled sharply but tried to stay as calm as possible. She leaned back in her seat and looked at me, still waiting for an answer. I smiled to reassure her everything is fine.

"So Holly, Dov and I were discussing how much of the CSI stuff is real. Since you work at the lab you probably can give us some answers," Chris asked widely smiling.

She's mine Chris!

Holly answered firmly with her lopsided smile, but I could sense something was bugging her because her smile didn't reach her eyes. I leaned close to her, "Are you really alright with all this?" I asked feeling guilty for not being open about our relationship.
"Yeah, I am. Let's talk about it later, okay?"
I leaned back in my chair, a bit worried about what might be up. Maybe she wasn't cool with this but wouldn't say it to me. She laid her hand down on my thigh and squeezed it before pulling her hand away.

We fell back in small talk and chatted. I was amazed how comfortable she was with the group. It seemed my friends liked her, but more importantly for me was that she liked them, too. It made me feel proud to have this woman sitting by my side; someone who fits in easily, unlike me. I wished I could be as open as she was.

Steve and Holly talked about sports, and she told him she used to play soccer. "Have you ever heard about Gail's first experience with soccer?" Steve asked. I immediately looked at him and glared.
"Don't you dare, Steve!"
Holly and Steve started to laugh. "Have you ever heard about her experience at the batching cage?" Holly shot back. "Anyway, I took her there one day and tried to talk her into it...," she continued, ignoring my stare.

"Hold on," Traci interjected, suddenly very interested in their conversation. "Gail? This Gail? The one over here, was at the batching cages?"
"Yeah, and instead of hitting the ball she threw away the bat." Holly answered while she stroked my back and dug her nails slightly into the scratches she made last night. I shivered and winced at the sudden touch and light pain. "Steve, tell me about her experience at the soccer field."

Without hesitation, Steve began to tell the story. "Well, she was about 5 years old," he started then looked at me curiously, "were you 5 or 6 at the time?"
I shot him a look that I hoped communicated the thoughts going through my head.

Just shut up, you jerk!

"Yeah, well you know she played with a few other girls and suddenly a cat ran on the field. Gail had the ball in front of her. Then the cat walked over to her sat down in front of her and meowed. Gail was so shocked, she kicked the ball and ran away screaming. It was hilarious."

Holly laughed out loud, which made me blush even more. I looked down on my hands and hoped the earth would open itself and swallow me. I felt embarrassed. She played soccer for many years, even had her own jersey and I just played it once. I knew she would never laugh at me because of my inability and unwillingness play sports.

She leaned in towards me, "What is it with you and cats?" she asked, then leaned back and taking a sip of her beer. I leaned in dug my fingers on the mark I left last night and whispered, "Judging by my back, you are more of a cat than I am". I leaned back and smirked as she choked.

Something wrong, Doc?

We teased each other the whole evening, but this was the first comment about last night. She swallowed her beer, and excused herself to go to the ladies room.

"Wow Gail, she's amazing. How can someone as nice as her be your friend?" Steve asked.
"Nice one brother, nice one."

Dov turned in his chair quickly, causing my beer to spill over the table and on my jeans.
"DOV!" I exclaimed.
I got up from the table and started to head in the direction of the ladies room. I turned around and looked at the group again. "I hope there will be another beer for both of us when we come back!"

I entered the ladies room and checked to see if we were alone. Washing her hands, her back was turned to me. I took advantage of this situation and pressed myself against her, letting my hands slide up along her ribcage to her breasts. I grabbed them and immediately let them go again. I let my hands ghost up her front, barely touching. She leaned her head slightly to the side, away from the hot breath I blew on her neck. I leaned into her ear and whispered, "God Holly, you are amazing." My hand found the hem of her blouse and pulled it away to reveal the mark. We looked in the mirror and I took in the image in front of me. I kissed her skin, just above the mark and said to her with a husky voice, "Mine." She moaned and shivered. I turned my head towards her neck and looked into the mirror again. Her eyes were closed and she rested her hands against the sink for support. I couldn't help myself but smile. Another moan escaped her throat as I nipped at her neck. My hands traveled south again, and I cupped her through her jeans. She pressed herself further into me. My other hand traveled towards her waistband and I let my thumb slide under it.

"Gail," I heard her say. "Stop please. We can't... Not now... Not here."
I leaned my forehead between her shoulder blades, "I know, but you look so beautiful." She turned around in my embrace and kissed me slowly. After she pulled away, I watched her eyes move down my body.

"Wet already?" She asked smiling as she looked at my beer soaked jeans.
"You wish." !" I answered as I pulled back. Effectively I slid my hands over her breasts again.

"Let's go back to the bar. I want one more shot. You want one?" she asked. "I definitely need one!"
I shook my head.

As we walked back to the table, she greeted Traci at the bar and ordered her shot. I watched as they talked, unable to figure out what their conversation was about. She blushed while Traci whispered something to her. Holly downed her shot and Traci smiled knowingly that something must be going on.

"She is amazing, Gail. I have to agree with Steve, how can she be your friend?" Chris said as he chuckled. "Is she single?" He asked quietly as he leaned into my side.

NO! She's NOT!

"Chris, close your mouth you're drooling."

Chris pouted a bit but Dov quickly grabbed his attention with another trivia question. I purposely didn't listen to them. "William Hartnell," Holly answered for Chris. We looked at her with shock as she continues, "He was the first doctor from 1963-1966, may he rest in peace. He was amazing. But my favorite is David Tennant."

"Wow, Holly that's right," Dov said and she chuckled.
Holly was having too much fun with the stupid trivia game.

Nerd!

She knew the answer to every question making it a playful but intense match between 'King of the Dorks' and 'Ms. Wonderful.'
At the same time she continued her conversation with Steve and Oliver about all kinds of topics. Steve told her a few things about our childhood, trying to embarrass me every now and then, but my mind was too occupied with Holly to get upset.

"Gail?" Traci asked, doing her wave thing again.

Go to a doctor, Nash.

I chuckled slightly.
"Traci?" I said annoyed.
"I asked you four times if you would like to take a few shots at the bar?"
"Sorry, yeah of course, only if you pay!" I answered while I got up and headed to the bar.

We stood there and downed our shots. I turned around to look at the group and glared at Chris who was trying to flirt with Holly. Maybe it was just in my imagination and Holly was just Holly. It's who she is. She is friendly to everyone. Probably I should be proud of the reaction she receives from the guys. In the restroom she made it pretty obvious she wasn't interested in anybody else.

I didn't want anyone getting the wrong impression. They shouldn't think she was interested in Chris. They probably would have tortured me if they thought they could set them up. That was what annoyed me about their interaction together

Traci looked at me and I could feel she wanted to ask something.
"Spit it out!" I demanded
"It's nice" Traci answered. I gave her a questioning look.
"It's nice to see you happy, Gail." she clarified.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.
"Come on Gail, let's go back." Traci said as she paid for our drinks.

We joined the others at the table and continued with the small talk.

We left the Penny with Traci and Steve. I ordered a cab for both of us. The cab driver told us he'll be there within five minutes so we said our goodbyes to Traci and Steve.

The door to the cab was not even closed before I attacked her lips moaning in her mouth as I felt a relief for the first time that day.