In today's installment we rejoin the shower, already in progress. Andy has taken control and proceeds to torment the living shit out of Sam. Should we expect any less?

Chapter 10

She bypassed the wash cloth, put the soap directly on her hands and began the exploration. It didn't take Andy thirty seconds to realize soap was not going to stay on her hands. By that time it wasn't a problem because her interest was no longer remotely related to Sam getting clean. Enjoying the texture, the taste, the feel of his body was her only interest. He tried to stop her explorations twice before she made her way back to standing in front of him, looking him in the eyes, "OK."

"OK?"Sam saw the darkening of her eyes, she wasn't panting but her breathing was more pronounced than had she been completely calm.

"OK."

"You mean you're OK?"

"Yes. I'm OK, but Sam, you… you are defiantly… fine." The sweep of her eyes first down and then back up, the slight nod of her head and the way biting her lower lip suppressed a smile, left no question her observation about Sam had nothing whatsoever to do with his health.

He turned off the water, grabbed a towel and began drying them.

"Sam, can I have my own towel?"

"You don't like me drying you?"

"I love you drying me but I have to dry my hair… and brush my teeth and stuff…. and if you keep drying me… well… you know." Sam knew very well what she was talking about. He handed her a towel.

Nothing says couple like a towel wrapped man and woman sharing a single sink. The intimacy of the scene was lost on neither of them. When Andy exited the bathroom Sam was propped up in bed, sheet pulled part the way up, waiting for her. "We can do that shower thing together again soon?" she asked.

"Probably."

The bedroom light was off but light from the bathroom bathed the room in a soft glow and outlined Andy standing in the door way. Her naked silhouette took Sam's breath away as she dropped her towel and moved toward the bed. Sam saw she was smiling as she reached for the sheet and pulled it down before she crawled across the bed, straddled his hips and leaned in to kiss him. The kiss was passionate but brief. She pulled back from him and said, 'I'm ready, please don't make me wait."

He didn't.

Andy was asleep before her breathing returned to normal. Sam gently disengaged himself from her, sat up and slipped out of bed. He stood and watched her sleep for several minutes before retrieving his towel and wrapping it around his hips.

He should be able to fall blissfully into oblivion next to the woman sleeping in his bed. He had spent months now wanting that woman in that position. About half that time he had denied the desire but the denial never made the desire go away. The problem having her there now was keeping her there, short of handcuffed to the bed post, he had no foolproof solution.

With a low self mocking laugh Sam left the bedside, he needed a drink. Before his hand touched the cabinet door he had rethought that idea and instead filled his water glass from the tap. Alcohol had been his salve when Luke had her, it helped him forget, not care as much, masque the pain. He needed a clear head now. Andy had bought the theory she was safer with Sam for a few days because Luke might confront her again at her apartment. Sam didn't think there was a high risk of that happening. He knew enough about human nature to see the confrontation playing out with a somewhat different cast of characters.

Just the same as he wasn't mad at Andy for picking Luke all those months ago, he was mad at Luke for existing so Andy could pick him. If Luke ever blamed Andy he wouldn't stay mad at her long. That's not the way things work. Sam would very soon become the object of his scorn. He had never been Luke's favorite person; the break up with Andy would elevate him to the lofty position of 'most hated'.

Had Andy not encountered Luke at her apartment this evening the entire weekend would have been one that held reality at bay; camping in the woods, food from a Coleman Stove, an unfamiliar dance club and dance partner, exploring physical and emotional relationships with a new man, none part of her day to day existence but tomorrow would bring reality rushing back and would send Sam back into his position of partner and friend. Lover and confidant did not extend past the doors of Fifteen Division, Sam knew it and accepted it but he did not like it. He could only hope Luke's confrontation took place away from Andy's eyes.

He had not settled on a strategy for dealing with Luke. What he would say to the detective was unclear in his mind. He knew he would accept all the blame, which would cost him nothing. Luke would not accept responsibility for problems with his relationship with Andy and Sam really didn't care as long as Luke was old news and stayed that way. Sam had only one interest, Andy.

Tomorrow would require a clear head, if his Fun with Sam and Andy adventures hadn't put him to sleep maybe the most deadly dull activity in the world would, he headed to the clothes dryer. Folding tee shirts were mind numbing but tonight his tees were mixed with black lacy thongs and bras. This must be a cosmic conspiracy designed to keep his libido on high alert. He simply shook his head and accepted the inevitable, all those things Andy McNally had invaded his world, he was a lost soul, accept it.

He folded tees and temptations before turning off the lights and heading to bed, praying he had the fortitude to keep his hands off his partner. The alarm awoke him way to soon.

He hit the alarm before it woke her. Finding her still asleep and still in his bed was more reassuring than he would admit. She didn't run. His smile followed him to the kitchen to turn on the coffee pot and then to a quick session in the bathroom before leaning over the sleeping woman kissing her on the cheek, and saying, "Sweetheart, time to get up." When she grabbed him, pulled him into the bed and rolled over on top of him he realized someone had been pretending to be asleep and laying in wait for him. He did appreciation initiative.

"Good morning, sweet man." Her kiss was way past a greeting.

"Don't start that!" his smile weakened the threat.

"I was just showing my appreciation for a good night's sleep and other… favors… I remember from last night." Her hand's exploration of his chest, a further display of her appreciation.

"Andy!"

"Do I detect a little reluctance on your part?" she leaned in to kiss him again but his hands on her shoulders put a stop to that notion.

"Eat a big lunch today, Andy. Dinner will be delayed so you can show your appreciation, here, directly after shift, now get you sweet ass in that bathroom and get ready for work." He rolled her off him and got out of bed.

"Slave driver! I'm feeling underappreciated," as she headed toward the bathroom.

Sam was fully dressed when he delivered her coffee to the bathroom and wished he hadn't. There she stood brushing her teeth dressed in that set of black lace temptations he had folded last night. The sight was worthy of a centerfold, that was not the problem, he would spend all day in a patrol car with her knowing exactly what was under that uniform and gun. She was defiantly not driving today. Having that picture riding next to him would be hard enough, sitting and watching while she drove would constitute cruel and unusual punishment.

When she had the toothpaste out of her mouth and could speak again, "You folded my clothes; you didn't have to do that."

"I'm a masochist." He left the bedroom, sat at the dining table and waited for her.

She was dressed to leave when she approached him. He started to get up but her hand on his shoulder stopped him and as if that wouldn't be enough to keep him in place she sat in his lap, put her arm around his shoulders and kissed him. "I don't mean to get you all stirred up this morning."

"As she snuggles in his lap while pressing herself to his chest and kissing him passionately, you have to select your lies more carefully, McNally, not that I'm complaining. I will set the alarm a half an hour early tomorrow morning so I'll have time to respond to your invitations. Just thought I'd let you know."

"I had you pegged as a man who thought of everything."

"My goal is to please, ma'am. Shall we go to work?"

"I'm with you partner."

Sam locked the front door and handed her the truck keys, "You want to drive?"

She handed the keys back with a withering look. "You would stir up trouble if you could wouldn't you?" They were on their way to the station before Sam replied.

"You are always after me to drive, when I finally offer, you turn me down and accuse me of impure intentions."

"That must have been your evil twin."

"I'm may need a twin if you keep tormenting me half the night and then ambushing me again bright and early the next morning."

"Sam, I don't believe that for a minute."

"We'll see. We're almost there. It's Friday morning all over again. You ready?" Sam had spotted Luke sitting in his car when he pulled into the lot. If Andy didn't notice him, all the better.

"As ready as I'll ever be." As soon as Sam stopped the truck Andy hopped out, grabbed her bag and headed for the station. Sam remained seated. When he was sure she was inside, he got out of the truck, shut the door and began walking slowly, waiting for the call.

"Swarek, a word!"

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