Malcolm sat at the vacant desk in the bullpen. A momentous stack of files lined the top of it, surrounding him like the walls of a fortress. It had been only nine days since he'd miraculously survived that fall down the elevator shaft and this was the only way Gil had permitted his stepping even a foot into the precinct.
"Under no circumstances will you leave this building for anything related to a case. Got it?" Gil's hands were on his hips, his "dad voice" engaged. "You are nowhere near being cleared for field work."
"Do I really need cleared when I don't technically work for the NYPD?"
The lieutenant's glare practically burned through Malcom's three-piece suit. "You really want to help? This," he gestured at the files, "helps. If not, then tell me now and you can come back after you've taken the appropriate amount of time off."
Dani and JT exited the conference room on a mission, she turned and made a beeline toward her desk while JT approached them.
Bright's gaze stayed on Dani. No matter what he did, every time he saw her the image of her sitting with him on the couch flashed in his mind. He could feel her lips on his. It was strange to miss something that was never actually reality. He shook his head and answered Gil's question in protest, "No. No. This is fine."
"Boss, alarms just went off at two uptown galleries. We've got addresses." The detective held up two pieces of paper.
Gil took one, "Okay. JT, take Mills with you." A detective two desks down nodded and stood as the lieutenant continued, "Powell you're with me."
"Got it." She pulled on her jacket, following the men down the row toward the door. As she passed Malcolm, she paused for just a moment and scrunched her forehead, silently apologizing that he couldn't join them.
He raised his eyebrows and shrugged as if to say "What are ya gonna do?", then jerked his head toward the door. Dani grinned and rushed to catch up.
Two hours passed.
Malcolm resisted the urge to text and check up on the team. It hadn't been that long and truthfully their absence meant that they were likely chasing down more leads, which ultimately meant he might not have to actually make it through the plethora of files in front of him. So, the longer they were gone, the better, in his opinion.
More time passed. The detectives in the bullpen gradually filtered out for the evening, leaving only Malcolm at his desk. He'd texted Dani. Nothing. Her silence was less concerning when both Gil and JT failed to respond as well. They must've still been working. He willed himself to stay until they returned. That was a losing battle. The profiler finally accepted defeat when he'd read the same line of a report four times and comprehended none of it. He rubbed his eyes and pushed his chair back to stretch, staring up at the ceiling.
As soon as the door to his apartment closed, Malcolm tossed his keys on the kitchen counter from across the room. To be so exhausted and yet completely incapable of quieting one's mind, was beyond frustrating. After changing into more comfortable clothes, he made his way back to the kitchen and filled the kettle with water for a cup of tea. He leaned against the counter, awaiting the whistle, when his door flew open and Dani marched through it.
Malcolm stared at her stunned, as she hung her jacket on the coat rack and stomped toward the kitchen island. She laid her keys and phone down and immediately went to the wet bar. Bright silently watched her, more confused by the second. Dani picked up a tumblr from the bar then huffed back to the kitchen, flung open the refrigerator and retrieved a bottle of water. Without even looking at him she poured the contents into the tumblr and picked it up, staring at it as though she were hoping it might change.
"Days like today really make me wish I was a drinker," she mused taking a sip of the water, clearly pretending it was something stronger.
Malcolm was still hung up on the fact that she was even in his apartment at all, "Um, how did you get in here?"
She glanced over at him, like he'd just grown a second head. "With my key," she drew out the words, clearly confused as well.
"Your key?"
"Yes," Dani sat down the glass and crossed her arms, "the key you gave me."
Malcolm furrowed his eyebrows, "What?"
Dani brought her hands up to her face and rubbed her temples, "Malcolm, I love you, but I really don't have it in me to deal with whatever this is after the day I've had."
I love you?
She continued, "I just…" and looked over at him, a tiny grin turning the corner of her mouth, "I really need to forget today ever happened." She bridged the small gap between them and slowly raised her eyes to his, seductively. "I want you to make me forget."
Malcolm's cock twitched, responding to the phrase before his brain had the chance to. Even once his ability to think had caught up, he was still incredibly confused. Everything about this felt off in a way that he couldn't quite place. Since when did Dani have a key to his apartment? He glanced around the room and suddenly noticed multiple examples of her presence there, ones he'd somehow missed. There were books on the coffee table, fiction novels that clearly weren't his. Pictures of them were hung in various places about the loft. The nightstand closest to them had a journal and pen laying on it, while the end of a colorful hair bonnet was hanging out of the almost-closed drawer.
"Hey," Dani grabbed his chin with her fingers and turned his head back toward her. She leaned in closer so their lips grazed each other as she spoke, "I said, 'make me forget'."
Malcolm swallowed. Her nose was rubbing his playfully, and her sultry breath on his lips sent chills down his spine. She moved in and kissed him softly. The damage was done; her plan worked. He grabbed the back of her head and kissed her deeply. She exhaled, relieved that he took the bait. Their tongues met quickly and the sweet taste of her mouth sent a bolt of electricity straight to his groin, hardening him instantly. Dani clearly felt it and leaned into him pushing him against the counter. Malcolm wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her even closer.
She wasted no time finding the bottom of his shirt and pulling it up over his head. He followed suit, opening the buttons of her blouse as fast as his fingers could go. Once he had it off, he turned her around and pressed against her, skin to skin. His lips left hers and though she whimpered at first at their absence, she immediately appreciated the reason. Malcolm trailed kisses down her neck and over her collarbone, until he reached the swell of her breast. He teased her while unfastening the clasp behind her back, finally putting her in his mouth and sucking when the lace had fallen to the ground.
Dani moaned, grabbing on to the counter for support. The sound set him on fire. It was sexier than he'd ever imagined it could be, the sound of Dani, wanton. He picked her up, wrapping her legs around him, and walked briskly to the bed. As she lay there, her legs hanging off the side, he kissed down her torso, before undoing her belt and deftly removing her jeans. She was bare, exposed, nothing but a single piece of silk fabric remaining. A hunger, a desperate need took over Malcolm. All thought, all confusion, any questions he had about the situation at hand had disappeared. Nothing else mattered but his desire to feel her. As though she could read his mind, Dani grinned and bid him come hither with an enticing finger. He removed both of their remaining clothing before obeying, propping himself above her. Everywhere their bodies touched was ablaze. He was so hard it was painful. But this wasn't about him. Dani needed to forget.
Malcolm leaned down kissing her again quickly, before retracing his steps down her torso. This time he continued further. He gave no warning, merely one teasing lick, before practically devouring her. His tongue expertly found her clit and flicked it. Dani's hips jerked and she moaned again. Malcolm pulled her legs over his shoulders and wrapped his arms around them, to keep her from moving. Then his tongue stopped, only for a moment. Instead he sucked, and Dani gasped. Happy with his response, Malcolm continued, blending the use of his tongue and lips, until she was practically clawing the headboard. In no time, Dani fisted his hair and cursed as her orgasm hit.
Once she had come down, she pulled him up to her. Praising him with a kiss that nearly undid him. Suddenly, she broke away and hopped up onto her knees. At first Malcolm wasn't sure where this was going, until she seductively leaned forward, presenting herself to him. He positioned himself behind her, then grabbed her hair playfully and pulled her up so her back was flush against him. She wrapped her arm around him and again their lips met. His hand found her nipple and squeezed causing her to buck back against his cock. At that, he let her go and she fell forward, onto all fours. Malcolm leaned over and kissed her back before pushing his hips forward and slowly entering her, until he'd filled her completely.
"Fuck, Dani." The words exited as a form of worship.
She inhaled and cooed as he started to move. Malcolm's hands found her hips and used them while he gradually picked up speed. He watched her as she moved with him, her back arched, her breasts bouncing with each thrust. The hunger only intensified and he pushed deeper, Dani's curses spurring him to continue. Dani tightened around him, her climax creeping closer. Malcolm sped up and her arm's gave out, causing her to fall further forward.
"Please, Malcolm," she begged, "Don't stop."
He happily obliged, continuing with fever, desperate to feel her finish around him. Dani continued to repeat his name, the closer she got the more urgent the words became.
"Malcolm."
His own climax threatened.
"Yes. Malcolm. Please."
His muscles tightened, the familiar tingle beginning to spread, as he watched her body move with his.
"Malcolm."
"Bright?"
Malcolm.
"Bright?"
He jerked forward in the chair, awaking violently. Dani immediately backed up, her hands subconsciously raising in front of her.
Malcolm took a moment to gather his bearings. He was still at the precinct, buried in paperwork. However, at this very moment he was sporting a likely noticeable erection. He scooted the chair forward immediately hiding the evidence under the desk, praying she hadn't seen it.
"You good?" Dani asked, lowering her guard.
He tried to laugh it off. She didn't seem to have noticed anything, "Yeah. I must've dozed off."
"What, that paperwork wasn't thrilling and exciting enough for ya?" Dani grinned. "Sounds like it was a good dream though," she added.
"What?" Malcolm was mortified, his eyes wide, as he tried to shake the images of her body from his mind.
"Well, if that had been a nightmare you would've probably tackled me right?" She laughed, "So, seems like it was a pleasant one."
The sound of his name exiting her lips in pleasure echoed in his head. "Something like that," he answered.
Dani gestured toward the conference room, "Gil wants us to brief before breaking for the night."
"Okay."
Malcolm followed her toward the conference room and sat across from her, trying to settle his thoughts.
Well, apparently we are having these dreams on the regular now, he thought to himself. He looked across the table at Dani and she smiled.
Wonderful.