As ever, my grateful thanks to betaWombledon, without whom... And to all those of you who review, especially those of you who review each chapter - it makes such a difference, and has real value in terms of developing style and content. But I love everyone who reads, whether or not you review. Thank you all.

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Gene perched his arse on the stepladder and took a breather. Alex, growling as she scraped at a stubborn bit of nineteenth century gloss, looked about seventeen in leggings and an old green shirt of his that she'd stolen, her hair stuffed under a cotton sunhat, her only make-up a liberal smattering of plaster dust and flakes of old paint. Have you got any idea how much I love you? He scratched his chin, the day-old beard itching.

They were getting ready to paint his sitting room, after a couple of hours bickering in the DIY place over paint colours. After a night broken by nightmares, Alex needed a distraction. They'd have to talk about the bomb, Jaspan, Haggerty – but not today. He wanted her to have a weekend of being loved, looked after, before they had to go back to CID. Catch the wanker Carteret and his poisonous little wife.

So today he'd take her home and distract her with paint.

He couldn't see what was wrong with magnolia emulsion and brilliant white gloss, but she wasn't having it, arguing as they marched up and down the aisles, grabbing filler and sandpaper and white spirit.

'You've got a beige carpet and bile green curtains; you want a pinky-cream paint on the walls? I'd throw up. Anyway, the curtains will have to go.'

'Why?' His jutting chin should have been a warning, but if she noticed, she ignored it.

'Why? Because they're vile.'

'Oh – bile and vile?'

'Yes. Bile green draylon is so last… century.'

They kept it up until they reached the checkout with a trolley full of stuff, and once Gene had paid, they picked up where they left off while they stashed the bags, boxes and cans in the car. Alex flounced into the passenger seat full of designer indignation, and Gene slammed the driver's door shut with masculine resentment at the tyranny of women.

'Won't be told, will you? Bloody men.'

'You drive me demented. Bloody women.'

They looked at each other, eyes narrowed.

'Stubborn, stiff-necked, idiot man…' Alex put a hand behind his neck and pulled him to her, but Gene held her off, looking down his nose at her, eyes glittering.

'It's not my neck that's stiff, Bolly. You have no idea how close you came to showing the punters in there how to give a flue a good rodding. And if we don't get home in the next ten minutes I might just have to pull over and get you to service my driveshaft.'

'Come here. Let me tell you what I have planned for you…' Alex pulled him close so she could whisper in his ear.

'Jesus up a tree... My granny warned me about girls like you.' He slid his hand between her legs, and his tongue into her mouth, making her moan for him, but after twenty seconds he jerked away from her, slamming back into his seat. 'I may be about to paint my house pink, but I am not coming in my pants under a sign saying DIY.'

They made it home in three minutes. The front door was kicked shut by Alex's foot as she pulled Gene to her. 'Now, Gene… can't wait… fuck me…'

Pulling apart only enough clothes to get access, cursing and grunting, they snatched frenzied kisses, biting and licking at exposed flesh. Her arms round his neck, she let out a gutteral scream as he slid into her, lifting her so she could get her legs round his waist, his weight shoving her back against the door, thrusting hard, grunting as she clenched round him, tight and wet, till they climaxed, fast and loud, bucking against the door, rattling the knocker and startling a blackbird perched on the railings.

Dr Alice Penfold, opening her front door to an elderly patient, had to stifle her laughter as Mrs Gorman, eighty one and miserable as sin, pursed her lips. 'Noisy buggers. Bloody teenagers. No self control. Parents should be ashamed.'

Gene got through three hours of scraping walls and sanding wood before he was forced to remove Alex from the stepladder, remove the clothes from Alex, and show her again how much he appreciated all her hard work.

'We'll never get the room painted at this rate.' She ran a finger down his chest and circled his belly button until he captured her hand in his.

'Complaining?'

'About the unscheduled stop? No, my love.' She kissed his hand, and he smiled up at her as he lay full length, his head on her lap, below the beautiful tits. A view to die for.

'In fact, I'm in the mood to grant you three wishes.'

'That's my job. The Gene Genie does that sort of thing.'

'About time it was your turn, then.'

'Any limits?'

'Anything. Anything legal.'

'Chicken.'

'Chicken? Okay, you can have chicken. Second wish?'

'Oi! Bolls… That wasn't a wish, and you know it.'

'Second wish?'

'God, you're hard.'

'Wish I could say the same of you.'

'Bloody hell, give me a breather…'

'Okay. Third wish?'

Before she could blink, Gene had her on her back, hands pinned above her head under one of his as he knelt over her. His other hand was poised over her ribs, and she was squealing.

'Gene, no… don't… don't!'

His hand crept closer to her side, and she was wriggling in a very appealing manner, her tits bouncing temptingly. 'I want my three wishes. You tricked me out of two. Are you going to restore them?'

'I… no…. no!'

She squealed, but he tickled her, already expert in ways to make her yield.

Laughing, begging him to stop, squealing and shrieking, she finally surrendered. 'Yes, yes! All right, you can have them back! Genestop!' But when he did stop, she writhed her hips against him, pouting and batting her lashes. 'Well, don't stop.'

So he didn't. And when he did, eventually, Alex lay sprawled beneath his gaze, drugged with pleasure, her ribs lifting and falling as she came back to earth. She lifted a hand to his face, smiling into the mesmerising eyes. 'I love you. So much. Gene…'

'Shove up, then.' He lay down beside her, pushing his arm beneath her head and curling the other across her waist. He kissed her shoulder, breathing in the scent of her skin. 'Love you, Alex. More than I knew it was possible to love someone.'

'Three wishes, my love.'

He needed no time to think. 'Will you move in with me? I know it's not much, but once you've finished decorating…'

Alex touched her lips to his. 'Yes. Yes, please. Don't care where, as long as I'm with you.' She kissed him to seal the promise.

He kissed her back, to seal the seal. 'How soon?'

'Tomorrow, if you like.'

'How about tonight? We can collect your stuff later. Or tomorrow.'

'Whenever. That's it, then. You have a housemate.'

'Welcome to Chisenhale Road. There's a set of house rules stuck on the fridge. Well, there isn't, but I'll make some up. Housemate. Hmmm.'

'Which is my room?'

'There are five to choose from. Take your pick. You can have the attic, if you like.'

'I'll need a big, squashy bed.'

'There's three of them.'

'I'll need a big squashy man in the bed.'

'That'll be my room, then.'

'If you're sure.'

Gene chuckled, and hugged her.

'I love that noise. I can feel it all the way down to my toes.' She kissed his throat. 'Second wish, my love.'

He looked suddenly nervous. She wondered what was coming.

'Could we get a cat?'

Surprised, she looked at him to see if he was joking. But he was utterly serious, unable to look at her, like a child asking for the moon, waiting for the answer no.

'What kind of cat?'

'Cat. Moggy. Orange stripey thing. Black and white. No. Forget it. You're allergic. Hate 'em. It's okay. Daft idea…'

'Gene. Gene… I love cats. I'd love a cat. Ex-husband's allergic, Ev… my godfather's allergic, so I never had one. Did you have one as a kid?'

He shook his head, and Alex had a sudden vision of the sad little house, the conciliatory silence broken by fury. No place for an animal. 'We'll have to put in a catflap. Shall we go to a rescue place tomorrow?'

Gene grinned, a big kid with stubble and a beer gut. 'There's one about three hundred yards away. In the morning?'

'Yes. Third wish, my love.'

He was silent, eyes shielded from her. He shifted slightly and looked at her. 'Can I save it for another day?'

'Sure.' She dabbed kisses on his face with each breath. 'As many wishes as you like. Whenever. Love granting your wishes. Love to see you smile. Want to make you happy.'

'It's like I've died and gone to heaven, Bolls. Hard to believe. All those months, thinking you hated me. Sometimes when I thought I hated you. Wanting you all the time. Then you were nearly killed by that bitch Joan Cale…' He leant his forehead against hers.

'Nothing like a freezer to bring a relationship to the boil.'

'Not funny, Bolls. Nearly killed me, finding you cold. Made me realise…'

'Gene, Gene... We're here, warm under our de luxe dustsheet, officially cohabiting and shortly to be hired by a cat. Our little bit of heaven. We've earned it.'

'I've earned it. You just scraped in here on my coat tails… Bolly, now, be careful… Bolls… Alexoi!'

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Alex brought in their tea, with a new packet of Garibaldis in her teeth. Gene was sprawled on the sofa, snoring quietly, with the black kitten curled up on his chest. She stood for a while, soaking up the image, dizzy with love for him. She put mugs and biscuits on the table and knelt beside the sofa, watching him sleep, the long eyelashes on his cheeks above the line of a Sunday beard; the blond hair tousled. A pulse in the powerful throat visible in the v-neck of the black jersey, soft lips asking to be kissed…

It had been a busy morning, what was left of it once they'd got out of bed: driving over to Scarborough Street to fetch her stuff, then stopping at a pet shop in the Mile End Road to buy things for the other new lodger. With everything dumped in the hall, they took the brand new cat box and walked hand in hand round to the rescue place. There was the painful process of resisting all but one cat in the building, but they left with a four month old kitten, gleaming black coat with one white foot and a white spot on his belly. He'd stood up at the front of his cage, reaching a paw through the mesh to snag their attention, yowling with a decidedly Burmese accent. His long elegant face had a distinctly oriental cast, the green eyes blazing as he yelled at them, revealing white needle teeth in a pink mouth. 'He's such an affectionate little thing,' said the cat rescue woman. 'Purrs like a Ferrari.'

'A posh mouthy tart, eh?' Gene looked at Alex, his lips twitching. 'What d'you reckon, Bolls?'

For her, it was the eyes, exactly the same colour as Gene's; with two pairs of sea-bright orbs trained on her, she had nowhere to go. 'I think he's adorable. Beautiful.' She smiled at the cat woman, then turned back to Gene, muttering, 'The cat's okay, too.'

Cat Woman, whose name was Natalie, warned them. 'He must be mostly Burmese, although the white bits suggest a touch of German sauce.' She explained, since the couple were looking blank. 'Heinz 57 Varieties.'

Gene's lips twitched. 'Bolly doesn't have Heinz where she comes from, love. Round her house it's Hellmans.'

That got him an elbow in the ribs. 'Oi, you.'

Natalie laughed. 'Less than pure bred, this little one. Aristocratic nose, peasant manners. We've been calling him Tigger, because he bounces. He was brought in because he's athletic, has too much energy, and has no respect for furniture. I think they wanted something cute that slept all day, and didn't reckon on muscles and claws. If you have things you treasure, I'd lock them away for the next couple of years.'

Gene murmured to Alex, 'You're the only thing I treasure, and I'm not locking you away.'

But despite the warnings, the black kitten was installed in Chisenhale Road, and took about thirty seconds to adjust before taking complete control. The boys downed some lunch, then retired to the sofa together for a Sunday afternoon snooze, leaving Alex to her own devices. Redundant already. I'm outclassed. She made a start on unpacking, but thought it wise to consult Gene before moving anything of his.

Alex touched her lips to the corner of his mouth lightly, not really wanting to wake him; but his bare feet twitched at the contact, and the movement woke the kitten, who yawned noisily and stretched. Gene's eyes opened, and he smiled sleepily into Alex's eyes.

She'd never seen anything so beautiful, and fell another few fathoms in love with him, but the blissful moment was shattered by Gene's yell of pain; the kitten had stretched, and rolled, and fallen off his perch; instinctively anchoring himself, he stuck eight needles into Gene's flesh and dragged himself to safety, causing his host to jackknife, arms flailing, one elbow catching Alex under the chin and his pained roar frightening the kitten into flight. It was all over in two seconds, but the Sunday snooze was history. Alex, head ringing from the glancing uppercut, was crying with laughter; the cat was half way up the bile green curtains, and Gene was exercising his impressive repertoire of curses.

Order was restored; the cat lured down from its perch and back into Gene's arms, purring as promised by Cat Woman, while his buddy watched the Grand Prix, and Alex was left to suit herself. I'm jealous of a few ounces of fur. She sat with her arms folded, nose severely out of joint, and bored witless by motorsport.

Gene looked over at her. 'Happy, Bolls?'

'Ecstatic.'

'What's got your goat, then?'

'Nothing.'

'Don't go all girly on me. What's the matter?'

'I seem to be redundant.'

'You're jealous of the cat?'

'Yes.'

'The cat doesn't wait to be asked. The cat demands what it wants, when it wants it.'

'Bully for the cat.'

Gene chuckled. 'You are the most… contrary, baffling, changeable, adorable woman.' He held a hand out to her. 'Come here, Bolls.'

'No, no. You look perfectly comfortable there with your cat and your TV and your tea and biscuits…'

'I am a happy man, Bolly. The only thing that would make me happier would be to see a smile on your face...'

She put one on. 'There. See? I'm fine.'

'… and to have you lying on my lap, purring. Come on, Bolls. Come here.' He waggled his fingers, beckoning her over. She went, taking his hand and sitting beside him, leaning against his shoulder and getting a kiss as a reward.

He picked up the kitten and handed him to Alex; she held him in the crook of her arm, upside down, like a baby, and tickled his white spot. The little cat purred louder, his eyes squeezed shut, and Alex looked at Gene, delighted.

'What are we going to call him?'

'Demon.'

'Oh… not fair. He's not wicked, are you, little thing?' The kitten squirmed in her arms, getting comfortable, purring hard.

'Dino?'

'Short for dinosaur?

'No, you twit. Dino Ferrari.'

'Fred Flinstone had a pet called Dino. Maybe I should start calling you Fred…'

'That'd make you Wilma.'

'Maybe not, then.' Alex stroked the black silky belly, rubbed under his chin, kissed the top of his head and listened to the purring.

'Now you're making me jealous. Give me that cat.'

Alex made protesting noises, but Gene scooped Dino from her arm and plonked him on the sofa arm, where he stood looking a bit dazed for a moment, then sat to watch the humans.

Gene stacked a couple of cushions beside his knee, and patted them. 'Here. Lie across my legs and put your head here. Face down, you nana. Although, come to think of it… No, face down. Come on.'

Complying seemed easier than arguing. She lay as directed, head laid on her hands, ankles resting on the arm of the sofa. Ludicrously comfortable. Then Gene pushed a hand under her jersey and began to stroke her back in smooth, long sweeps of his palm over her skin. She purred. He stopped for a moment to undo her bra, but resumed at once, stroking from her waist to her neck in one long move, back down over her ribs, and again, making her sigh in deep contentment.

'Nice?'

Alex tried to answer but only managed an incoherent mumble. But Gene seemed to get the gist and continued stroking until she was blissed out, floating somewhere warm where there was only Gene's touch to anchor her to the world.

Out of the darkness, a sound. Louder. Red sound. redblack redmouthopenloud bloodmouthdarkdeadred eyes shouting screaming BANG struggling to get out, fighting against…

'Alex! Bolls…. hush… you're safe. I've got you, it's okay. Just a nightmare. Love. shhhh… shhhhh…' Gene rocked her in his arms, held her tight, soothing, calming her until she realised where she was. Gene. Alive. Oh god Jim. 'Jim!'

'I know, love. I know.' He kissed her hair, rocking her, holding her safe. She put her arms round his neck and wept on his shoulder, crying for Jaspan, for her parents, Nicole, Molly… She cried herself to a halt, and pushed herself upright, sniffing.

Gene peered at her face. 'That you in there, Bolls?'

'Sorry…'

'Don't, love.' He kissed her face. 'That's what I'm here for, to look after you. Nothing to be sorry for. Except ruining my favourite woolly. Giving me a fright. Scaring the cat. And making me miss the end of the race.'

She giggled damply, and wiped her face. A yowl from ankle level made them turn. 'Dino says it's supper time.' Alex bent down to talk to the cat in sickening tones designed to irritate Gene beyond speech. 'You poor starving ickle puddy tat… big ol' Gene's coming to feed his baby boy.' Dino bashed his head against Alex's hand and purred through the next yowl, which was a thoroughly charming noise.

Gene looked disgusted and slouched, muttering imprecations, into the kitchen to find a can of cat food and the tin opener. Alex peeked round the door to see him pick up Dino and cuddle him, whispering sweet nothings to him, before putting him down in front of a bowl of processed rabbit. He watched him for a few seconds, a silly smile on his face, before returning to Alex looking sour. 'Bloody cat. In the house for five minutes and we're waiting on it hand and foot.'

He slumped back on the couch and brandished the remote to find the early evening news. 'What with you and it, there's no bloody peace any more.'

She chuckled to herself. I'll never get bored of this. 'Grump, grump. Moan, whinge, grumble. Shall I take Dino and move back to Luigi's, then?'

'I don't care. Had you now. Novelty's worn off.' He had a hand on her thigh, rubbing in small circles.

'Or you could marry me.'

He looked at her then. She froze, aghast at what had slipped out of her mouth, and stared at him wide-eyed. To her horror, Gene had his old stone face on; he took his hand from her leg to scratch his ear and turned back to the television without a word.

Alex felt the blush spread over her entire body, her face and neck flaming with embarrassment, and a voice in her head was shrieking accusations of stupidity. Got to say something. Normal. As if I'd never said anything. 'Er…' Her voice was shaking. She swallowed and took a breath. 'Are you hungry? Shall I see what I can do for supper?'

Keeping his eyes on the box, Gene sounded nonchalant. 'Don't think there's much in, Bolly. Thought I'd go and get a curry. Fancy it?'

'Er, yeah, whatever you like. Let me pay for it…'

'It's okay, Bolls. I think I can stand you a takeaway.'

By the time he came back with food, the spices wafting through the house as he walked in, Alex had almost convinced herself she hadn't actually said it. Hadn't said the words you, me and marry in the same sentence. She downed a couple of beers with her dhansak, and began to feel better. Calmer. Like, who cared anyway?

Gene cleared away the detritus, which vexed Dino, who'd had his eye on a bit of neglected lamb and was about to stretch out a claw to hook it off Gene's plate. Trotting after the delectably smelly remains, the little cat disappeared into the kitchen weaving round Gene's feet, and ten seconds later came an agonised feline scream as a size ten heel trod on a very small paw. Dino shot back into the sitting room and took a flying leap on to the back of the sofa, tail lashing, spitting at Gene as he emerged, contrite and worried. He squatted down behind the sofa so he and the cat were nose to nose, and Alex watched him take all of sixty seconds to seduce the kitten, kissing the bruised paw, rubbing Dino's head and running his fingers down the little cat's spine, murmuring to him, turning him from a spitting fiend into a supercar engine.

It turned her to liquid, all her bones melting as she imagined that firepower focused on her. 'If I let you tread on my toes, will you do that thing to me you just did to him, with the two fingers and kissing it better? Please?'

There was the look, pale fire burning into her, heating her up from way down inside to the roots of her hair. He abandoned Dino, moving in on her with menace, and grabbed her, growling. 'Shoes off.'

She kicked off her moccasins; Gene pulled off his boots and socks, and they stood toe to toe, not taking their eyes off one another. Alex wondered if spontaneous combustion was a myth, and thought she might find out in the next couple of minutes. Gene put a foot over hers and pressed down lightly.

'Ow,' Alex murmured. 'Grrr. Sssst.'

'Poor baaaby pussycat hurt her ickle toes.' The tone wasn't remotely comforting. 'Shall the Manc Lion kiss it better, then.' It wasn't a question. With a low growl, he pushed her down on to the sofa and knelt in front of her; picking up the foot requiring attention, he held her gaze for a long, hot moment, then wrapped his lips around her big toe, sucking hard, then pulling away, his teeth scraping across her skin. Alex tried to growl, but it was more of a moan. Gene subjected each toe to the same treatment, stroking her instep and pushing his fingers over her ankle, up under her trouser leg, teasing, squeezing, as he sucked and licked and nipped at her toes. By the time he'd kissed all five digits, Alex was beyond speech, lying back against the cushions, eyes half shut, panting. 'God, oh god, that's so good…'

She felt hands at her waistband, unzipping, tugging, but was incapable of helping. Gene coped. Then he dealt with her top half, leaving her naked and helpless before him, trembling, skin rosy with desire for him, the scent of her driving him out of his mind. He groaned, desperate to push deep inside her, fuck her hard till she screamed. He forced himself to think about piles of paperwork… Scarman… the smug face of DCI Clark… Under control, he held up his right hand. 'You wanted two fingers.'

She nodded.

'Which two?'

'Long ones.' She reached out and took his hand, pulling it towards her, opening her mouth over his index and middle fingers, her tongue snaking between them as she suckled, her lips full, red, soft…

'Jeesus…' He pulled his hand away and pushed her legs apart. 'God, so wet…'

Alex, mindless with lust, was already close to the edge, and the first touch of his tongue sent her spiralling up, muscles tensing, the fluid darkness gathering round her as his tongue probed and flicked. He slid his fingers inside her, and she bucked, her head flung back, body rocking as she came like a breaking dam. Still he lapped her, tongue flicking and teasing as he groaned with the taste of her; he thrust his fingers deeper, felt her clench around him. She growled and snarled like a wildcat, panting and moaning, beyond the limits of sanity, till a scream ripped from her throat as she came again, bucking and shuddering till the last waves pulsed through her, leaving her limp, breathless, panting with laughter.

'God, but you're good… incredible. Never been…'

Gene knelt up between her legs, his elbows either side of her, leaning forward to kiss her breasts, then her lips. 'I love you more than I can tell you, Alex. Waited for you all my life. Marry me.'

His eyes were inches from hers, glowing, warm, alive… She put her palm to his cheek, her other hand stroking his hair, caressing. The tears welled and shimmered in her eyes, blurring his face until she blinked and the tears spilled; she flung her arms round his neck, clinging to him.

Gene carried her upstairs to his bed. Their bed. She was shivering, and he tucked the duvet round her and kissed her forehead. 'Don't go anywhere. I'll be back before you can think of an answer.'

He was back soon enough, with Dino on his shoulder, two glasses in one hand and a champagne bottle in the other. He put the bottle and glasses on the bedside table and handed the cat to Alex. While she was making a fuss of the throbbing fur, Gene ripped his clothes off and dived under the duvet. 'Christ, that's better. I thought I was going to split the zip, I was so hard.' He leant across her, planting a kiss on her nose en route, and grabbed the bottle. 'Bolly, Bolly?'

'Do you always keep Bollinger in the fridge?'

'Nope.' He wrestled with the cork, twisting it like a professional, wasting not one bubble. The cork rolled off the table, dropped to the floor, was leapt on by Dino and chased under the bed. 'But it seemed like a sensible precaution tonight.' Gene poured fizz and handed Alex a glass.

'You got this when you went out for curry?'

'Well, actually, no. It's been in the car since Thursday. Between Danny Plum and the hospital, I did a little shopping. Wanted to celebrate our first night together.' He tipped his glass to hers with a gentle clink. 'Here's to you, my favourite fruitcake.' They drank.

'And here's to you, my favourite knight.'

They drank again, and exchanged kisses.

So…' Gene put his glass down. 'What's the answer?'

'Of course, yes, my dear love. I'll marry you. Yes, please.'

He reached under the pillow and retrieved a small box. A small dark red velvet box, with a domed lid. 'So when you asked me, earlier, you meant it?'

'Yes. But I didn't plan it. Just sort of came out.'

'Stole my thunder. That's why I didn't say anything. Wanted to ask you properly.'

He opened the little box, pulled out a ring, and pushed it gently on to her finger. Alex looked slightly bewildered, dazzled by the colour flashing from the three diamonds.

'Don't worry, it's only glass and gilt.'

'It's not. Gene, it's wonderful.'

'You deserve the Star of India, but I couldn't get it out of the Tower.'

She shook her head, touching the fiery stones. 'I couldn't imagine anything as perfect as this.'

'Like it, then?'

'Love it. It's beautiful.' She looked at him. 'Like you. Thank you. I'm speechless.'

'There's a result, for starters. How's your diary looking on the tenth of April?'

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TBC