"If you just tell me where we're going, I can get us there faster," Erin side-eyes him from the driver's seat.

"Eyes on the road, Erin," Jay faces straight in his seat, half smiling in amusement. "If I told you where it ruins the surprise."

"I don't like being surprised," she huffs. They pass through another streetlight before getting one with a red. Stopped until the signal change, she grips the steering wheel tighter. "Surprises make me nervous, okay. I prefer to know what's going on."

Jay shifts towards her in his seat, "You've trusted me all day. Don't stop trusting me now." His expressive eyes shine in the night, giving her the security she needs. She nods in agreement. She continues their drive down the road. "Turn left on Michigan," he directs.

Her side-eye is inquisitive this time. She cruises at an average speed, preparing for any new directions. After going another mile, she rolls her neck to the side. Her cheeks buff out, ready to blow out air. The technique allows her anxious feelings to subside.

He sees her nervous actions in the corner of his eyes and smirks to himself. "You're going to take the next right," he informs her. He straightens up to be more alert for the following directions. "Now at this light, you're going to make the next two lefts. A U-turn since it's a one-way street."

Doing as instructed, she gets them to the final street. She cranes her neck to see out the windshield to identify where they could be going. "Pull up where you see the marquee for The Crimson Ivory and the valet for the garage," Jay says.

"A hotel," her face furrows in confusion. She maintains her focus on the road and pulls into the valet line. She glances over to him at him wide-eyed, "This your way of whisking me away? Showing off your fairy-tale magic on me," she claims facetiously. "I'm learning a lot about you, Jay," she smirks, her dimples greeting him.

"Um-I, I thought a nightcap would be a good idea. This place has a nice bar, but then we bought everything for the gingerbread house. I didn't want to have pressure on us. I wanted a neutral place to do it. The-the gingerbread house," he rambles. He has trouble reading her, waiting on her response. He swallows thickly, and he starts to sweat. He does not want to come off as if he is insinuating things about her or how their night should end. He would give up an unspeakable number of things to never have today end. Sadly, as the clock ticks down, their night will have to end. Losing this peculiar yet courageous woman is not an option for him.

Erin shifts the car into park and idles it. "How about we valet this car, and you show me how we are going to do it. I, for one, want to get started," she grins, jumping out of the car to pay the attendant.

Jay is left in the car speechless. He shakes his head clear and exits the car. "Wait! Erin," he hurries to meet her at the valet booth. She peers over her shoulder and patiently waits for him, "Too late. I paid for the valet. Let's head inside."

"Hey man, thanks for solid on this one," Jay converses with the desk receptionist. Apparently, Jay knows a guy at The Crimson Ivory. Erin thought they were using a conference or event room for this gingerbread house. Then that got her thinking about baking the gingerbread and how it would get done. Turns out Jay's connection helped him get a suite in the hotel. While Jay is checking in, Erin browses the enormous lobby's featured Christmas décor. She shuffles the bags in her hands to get a better grip of them. She walks towards the arched walkway of the lake view, the benches decorated with garlands. She jumps when she feels someone come up from behind her.

"I got our room keys. Here's yours," his deep voice in her ear, and he slides the key card into her pocket. She prays he is not looking at their reflection in the glass because she is sure her face is beet red. She keeps her attention on the lake view in front of her.

"The lake view is nice. It'll be much better from upstairs," he inserts in the silence hanging between them. He grabs the bags from her and guides their way to the elevator.

The door opens to a contemporary suite. Clean lines of the layout and a modern design of the furniture make the room aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Bold royal blue and ivory the featured color palette of the room. The living space of the suite opens to the left with a full kitchen. White and red decorations are sprinkled on tables and counters. Laminate wood flooring throughout brings the polished look together. It is the floor-to-ceiling windows showing off a gorgeous view of Lake Michigan that stops them.

Jay lets out an impressed whistle. "Wow is right," Erin steps closer to the windows. "How did you work this one?" Erin tries not to scoff, finding the luck and planning unbelievable.

"Christmas magic," he shushes her, placing the bags on the kitchen island. "You brought in almost all the bags," he speaks out loud.

"Uh, yeah. Figured I could get some of my gift wrapping out the way while doing that gingerbread house," she says behind him, removing her outerwear and boots back to the closet by the entry door.

"I included your bags too ... uh, I didn't want to leave them in the car. I should have asked. Because, uh, after this thing. Umm, no, I mean in the morning you'll-," she laughs off her nervous rambles, "-I'm going to the bathroom," she rushes to the direction she thinks the bathroom is.

Safe behind the closed door, Erin breathes a sigh of relief, using the door as her regulator. Be yourself, Erin. Why are you getting so nervous? Being alone with him is psyching her out. She likes Jay. The possibility of denying that is slim to none. He is kind, sweet, and a tad cocky. All the same qualities he exhibited since meeting him yesterday. in this scenario, what is she supposed to do? Her thoughts drift as she refreshes her face and appearance at the vanity. Then she sees it. The bowl of condoms on the shelf below. "Oh, my God?" She grabs the bowl in a hurry, opens the connecting door, and places it on the nearest surface, not even turning the lights on.

Meanwhile, Jay is retrieving all the necessary items for the gingerbread house on the counter. He is relieved he is not the only one feeling nervous, the butterflies, if that is what they are, for the other. There is one last thing he wants to surprise her with. He checks to make sure it was set up, and hangs his coat, and lines his boots by the closet. The most beautiful sight greets him at the island, Erin scoping out his meticulous ordering of all the gingerbread-making items.

"There's a method to the madness," he chuckles. She nods meekly and smiles.

"Before we get into any of that. How do you feel about topping this Christmas tree?" He introduces before adding, "Decorating the tree is fun and all, but I thought you'd get some joy out of placing the topper on this one tonight. I had the staff remove it. We could do it together?" Erin quietly walks to the Christmas tree she overlooked on the way in.

The tree is decorated in red and white matching the decorations in the hotel room. She notices the copper wire star on the side table. Her grunt, seemingly indecipherable, causes Jay to take slow steps toward her. "Why are you doing all of this for me?" Her back to him, one of her fingers tracing the star.

"Why not?" He peers down at her. "You ready to place it on," he grins, hoping to appeal to her.

"Yeah ... how are we supposed to get it up there?" She does a quick scan for a chair or step stool.

"That's where I come in handy," he squats down to lift her by her thighs. A shriek echoes off the walls of the suite, Erin grasping the topper and wherever her other hand lands to grab Jay. Her fingers clutching his shoulder, neck, ear, and roots of his hair. Lifting her this way, he did not factor in balance. "Ahhhhh," her shrill lessens, and her hand rests on his neck. "Put me down," her breath evens out.

"Not one for the safety books, are you?" Her eyebrow quirks up at him.

"Thought it that'd be the fastest way to get you up there," his embarrassment of overstepping disappears.

"I'm not a rocket ship." She studies him for a moment, "Here, I'll get on your shoulders and lift me that way."

"I probably should have just asked you, huh?"

Erin pats his back with a little more force, so he kneels on the ground. The lift this time is much smoother and a better range of the tree. The twinkling lights of the Christmas tree and the moonlight on the lake provide her with a calmness she has not felt in years. Families do these sorts of traditions. Not that she hasn't done Christmas traditions with the Voight's necessarily, but today is an all-out Christmas about her. Her and Jay. Far back in her mind, the glimmer of hope that pieces of today are things they can continue.

Jay tilts his head up to check on her and sees the serene look on her face. For the hundredth time, with every new glimpse of her, she becomes simply more breathtaking. He notices her state changing, and he steadies his hold on her. "You got it," he grimaces at his in choice first words. "Yeah," her voice distant when she responds. She leans towards the tree, floating the wire holder at the crown of the tree. A wistful smile appears on her face as she positions the branches, fixing them in their spot. Ready to set the star alive, she flicks the switch on the back, and the highlights of yellow, purple, and white emit throughout, reflecting off the window. Her face dances, marveling at it. His gaze is a myriad of emotions watching her. Afraid to get ahead of himself, he steps back for a better look at the topper. Her thumbs land on his face to massage the stubble on his chin, redirecting his eyes to meet hers.

Better acquainted from topping the tree, Jay and Erin decide to start the gingerbread. Jay shows off his mastery skills of making the dough. He alters his mother's recipe, using the ingredients they bought and the items at their disposal in the suite. Erin is mind-boggled. The suite's full kitchen had items in the fridge and a pantry. Even a blender, rolling pin, and baking sheets too. Refusing to believe a typical suite is prepped for gingerbread house activities, Erin watches Jay from the counter. Her eyes jet laser beams at the back of his head. The Christmas spirit outweighs her confusion, and she busies herself with investigating all the other cabinets.

"If you open that door over there, you'll find a secret portal. Hot chocolate too," his sly grin hidden.

Grabbing one of the complimentary waters, she heads over to her stack of bags on the floor. She starts setting her gifts aside, emptying them when she pulls out the pajamas sets.

While four pristine balls of dough chill in the fridge, he arranges the decorations for the house. He is having fun partaking in what is his favorite tradition with Erin. He didn't realize it is something he missed. Especially with how domestic it feels. His mom would love her. Maybe not her lack of knowledge with a blender, nonetheless she would approve of her being a woman to bring home.

Two dainty hands slide into his vision, distracting him from his thoughts. He recognizes the articles of clothing immediately. "What will it take to get you into these?" She offers to him, her fingers slowly dragging away from it. "I'm going to change into mine," she leans over the counter, waiting for his answer.

"Hell isn't frozen over yet."

"Too bad. You're going to miss out," she rasps, pulling away. "Hell is where all the naughty people are," she moseys off to the bathroom. The sound of the shut door makes him notice that he is biting on his lip hard. Two can play at that game.

She sneaks curious glances at him from her seat on the floor. Both on the unspoken agreement of which tasks they are good at. Jay rolls out the dough to cut, and Erin wraps presents. He can sense her eyes on him longer this time. "Technically, it wouldn't be us making a gingerbread house if you don't assist me with any of the steps," his voice carries over to her.

"Sous chef at your service," she salutes, excitement clear in her voice. Her cheerful dimpled smile his undoing. She is a vision in her white and red outfit. The material clinging to her figure makes his whole body heat up, parts of him twitching alive, and his fingers tingling to hold her.

He demonstrates how she should roll out the last dough ball, indicating to add more flour to the counter or rolling pin if needed. He finishes cutting pieces of the third and stifles a laugh at her progress on the dough. "You're bunching the dough all to one side," he comments.

"Houses are lumpy. I'm giving this one texture."

"Not on my watch," he brushes her hand. "I'll show you," both of his arms now around her. His fingers intertwine hers to grip the handles and he begins to roll the dough. "Pressure is important. Start in the middle and work it to the outside." He chuckles, "In your case, we work it back to the middle. Pull in the bin." His floury hands simulating to her how it is done. His technique precise and smooth. "Now put your back into it. Lean forward a bit," he presses his chest to her back. "Push out slightly with your arms," their arms moving in sync. "Roll the dough out to the edges, two pumps each side all the way around." The gestures and the way Jay is speaking in her ear makes her palms sweat. His grip tightens with the new pressure of the roll, "Keep the rhythm until the dough is evenly thin," his words breathed out behind her ear. It is taking all her control not to let out a sound. "You think you can take it from here," he removes his hands, returning to his spot at the counter. She misses his warmth the second he does. A noncommittal grunt speaks for her.

She is uncomfortably aroused, and no relief is available. Her only solution is to add distance between them. "You know what they say about two cooks in the kitchen ... I'm going to finish what I was doing, there, over there," she abandons the counter for gift wrapping.

Jay chalks it up as a win. Revenge is sweet, and revenge he can't wait to taste later. He finishes up the prepping and sets the timer for the gingerbread cut-outs. The counter is clean and clear for him to organize the next steps.

Erin notices they did not buy tags or stickers to mark the gifts. She takes a mental note and orders the bags. Putting the gifts in the chair beside her, she scoots back to her set-up to gather the scraps and wrapping paper. Before he says anything, she feels Jay's presence inching in her direction. Her breathy chuckle sputters out at the sight of him now donning his pajama set.

"We're those kinds of people now. Appease the ghosts of Christmas by looking like this," he crouches down to sit next to her.

"We?"

"These pajamas and this suite. We are the perfect magazine cover waiting to happen."

Erin gets up to clear the leftover materials and then returns to her place on the floor. Unsure of what to do, she grabs her water to finish it off. Jay moves to lay against the chair, and he catches her eyes as she looks over her shoulder. He lays with one leg bent up and the other stretched in her direction. It is instinctive how she crawls over to him, and his legs relax around her when she moves in between them.

His hands settle in his lap, lightly touching her hips, not knowing where else to put them. Her hum of satisfaction inspires him to roam his hands. One laces their fingers together. His other hand travels from her hip, the inside of her arm, and to her shoulder deliberately slow. She melts into him even more. Spurred on, he caresses his fingers over her neck, to her collarbone, and down the necklace he gifted her. He starts tracing the talon pendant on her chest and cycles the movements, stroking her the same way. He releases his other hand to toss her loose waves behind her shoulder to give his fingers more access. Her breathing is no longer controlled and her legs rubbing together stirs his temptation. He continues his path.

She knows she is a goner. She is putty in his hands. An arch of her back or an utterance of a moan is going to send the message she wants him. She wants his hands all over her. She pictures his strong hands on her breasts and the inside of her thighs. God, he is good with his hands. His muscle flexes when she squeezes her grip on his thigh. Unbeknown to her, she grabbed him. She eases her hold on him, but he traps her hand back and drags it further up to the meeting of their hips. She cannot prevent the sharp gasp that escapes her lips.

He releases his hand on her shoulder and lifts her chin to capture her full lips. Erin abandons her restraint for a crushing kiss. Their mouths play with each other. He groans in her open mouth, and her groan encourages him to slip his tongue inside. She moans, feeling his tongue wrap hers. Their kiss becomes sloppy from their angle. She turns to straddle his lap when clockwork strikes, the oven timer blares. His lips beg to stay on hers, but he has a recipe to follow.

"I-I need to get those out the oven," he husks, lingering his lips to caress hers. He scooches them up for him to stand.

Erin is left breathing heavily. Fanning herself, she stands up and grabs her water bottle to discard it.

Setting the gingerbread in the freezer to cool, Jay works next on the icing. The house is almost ready to assemble. After surveying the room, Erin eventually wanders closer to him looking to make herself useful. His sexy sous chef. "Erin, delicate hands for this one. Fill these two and twist tie the ends," he passes over the bowl, spatula, and pastry bags. He instead focuses on the gingerbread pieces, grabbing it from the freezer and dividing up the parts for the house.

Icing is a task not listed as one of Erin's strong suits. Eyeballing what she thinks is an even amount in both bags. Laying one on the bowl as she fills the other. Exchanging the bags in her hands, the icing runny, and it begins to spill out. No wonder she must be careful filling these. She twists ties one and slides it over to Jay.

"Thanks, come here. We can start constructing it, and we will glue it together," he nods to the tray he is working on. "Grab your icing too."

She picks up hers and watches him demonstrate how he is sticking the first two sides for the base. "Hold it for a minute or until it sets and add the next pieces. You glue the opposite end while I hold this one," he says gently.

"Okay," she pauses nervously. She adjusts her grip on the pastry bag, grabbing both ends. She inspects the front end closer and notices her mistake. Her plastic pastry bag has no open tip for the icing to pipe out. She goes for the scissors and cuts the point down the middle. She holds it from the middle, and the end unravels. Testing it, she squeezes the middle, and the icing leaks out on her hand and wrist. She forgot the twist tie on this bag. She rolls her eyes and goes to retrieve a fastener. More icing pours out the front.

Jay, not speaking a word, watches her greatly enthused. She grabs the front end and works on closing the other end. More icing spills out. Frustrated, she squeezes the bag tightly, and the icing spurts out. She lets out an exasperated breath. He laughs softly, feeling sympathy for the struggle she is having in the baking department.

"I said delicate hands for a reason. Now, look at you. Icing everywhere," he teases.

"Almost everywhere," she licks the back of her hand, her gaze on him. "Mmmm," she licks her lips, enjoying the taste of it.

Jay carefully takes hold of her icing-covered wrist. His eyes ablaze, he licks between her thumb and index finger, lightly kissing her skin clean. Lingering his mouth down, he licks the icing from the inside of her wrist. The taste of her skin silences his thoughts. He nibbles on the curve of the wrist, his eye never leaving hers. He sees the darkest hue of green he has ever seen. Caressing her pulse point, he interchanges licks to sucking. Tiny mewls come from her. He drags his lips up the palm of her hand and licks her fingers.

Her parted lips beckon him, but he dives to her clavicle, licking the icing splattered there. He trails his tongue along the inside, sucking her skin and her necklace. His name cries out, demanding. Both of his hands grab her face, and he claims her mouth for a searing kiss. His tongue swift as she welcomes it in. He explores every inch of her mouth to taste her. He pulls her in closer, his hand finds her waist, and the other grips her neck.

She moans as Jay backs her up to the counter. Her body molds into his, and she drifts her hands up his torso to his neck. His touches fueling her, she kisses him faster, harder. He lifts her on top of the counter. She can finally touch his toned muscles, the material of their knit pajamas stretching with every movement. Her hands venture down his arms, and he pulls at her waist near to the edge. He moans in return, his lower region covered by her warmth. The threads pulled tight on his bulge. She feels how stiff he is, and she slinks her leg through his from behind, bringing him closer. "Jay," she murmurs. Her other leg raises to wrap around him when he pushes away, ending their long kiss.

He untangles from her and leaves the kitchen. Erin is undeniably aroused and over interruptions. Hot, she breathes in deep and huffs it out. Following him, she unbuttons her top.

Jay senses her approaching ferociously, ready to seize her prey. A thrilling shiver shoots down his spine. "I thought I'd turn on some music," he starts to explain, "set the mood." His further explanation fails to be heard by her. Erin loosely interlaces two of his fingers in hers and resumes control. Searching for the bedroom, she opens the door adjacent to the bathroom.

She pushes through the door, patting the wall to locate the switch. Flicking it on, the new source of light welcomes them. A stunning reflection of the moonlight off the lake shines through the glass-to-glass windows. In the center of the room is a king-sized bed draped in red silk sheets. "Red silk sheets," she whispers, a curve to her lips. Their suite solely cannot be holiday themed. Jay must've planned more pieces of this, and she's game. Her sultry footsteps are agonizingly slow back to him. "Turn me on, Jay," she growls seductively.

CW

The sound of her voice and reverb of the music travels through his veins, informing him of his pursuit, one that no longer in his imagination. His mouth begins to water at the reality of Erin mere inches from him, her body within his reach.

Fear aside, he steps into her space and bridges their remaining gap. He robs any words left for her to muster up, and he steals her lips in a kiss like a fire never on record. His lips hard on her, their mouths devour the skin it lands on. Hands yank on the first piece of the other they can find. Her hands grip his waist tightly, and he pulls on the plackets of her shirt.

Unlike their first kiss or the ones after, their make-out session now is a precursor for more. His body temperature goes up several degrees. Their connection introduced meaningful purpose to him. They shared vulnerability, and now they will be even closer. Erin trusts him, and he is grateful. He promises to himself to make sure she feels safe.

His hands follow the curve of her neck. His thumb presses under her jaw and his fingers run through her hair. Walking her backward, his arms find her waist, and they fall onto the bed. She groans underneath him, and he lifts to hover over her. She needs him closer, and she pulls him down. He responds, pushing his weight and his tongue into her. The sounds from her are throaty and intoxicating, and he jumps alive. He rocks between her legs. He hears the sound he is waiting for, her gasp of air, the wanton desire she knows he will give her. He reminds himself he is in bed with Erin, the receptors in his brain spark full throttle.

He slides his expert hands under her shirt, and his fingers leave goosebumps over her skin. He continues up higher. Her hold on the back of his neck is strong. Their tongues swirl in a synchronization, mimicking their upcoming union. Erin moans deeply. The sound vibrates through his body as he grinds into her. She twists in his hands; his calloused palms and fingertips knead her breasts.

"I knew you were walking around without a bra," Jay speaks on her lips, "Trying to seduce me?" Erin gulps, gasping her lips apart, tempting him to return. He moves to sit back on his knees, and she leans up on her forearms, her lower half engulfed by him. She is a bit of an enigma to him. Fully clothed, her innocent, ardent look feels as if she is bare before his eyes. Her wordplay is left out, and her voiceless reciprocation clues him in on the fact she will be silent.

Jay edges away to allow her to sit up, and she reaches for the hem of his shirt. He helps her pull it off, tossing it away. He grabs the nape of her neck and crushes his mouth on hers, consuming her. The swiftness of his lips dizzies her. Blood pours to all her extremities, and she breaks away. Erin crosses her arms around her waist to peel the shirt from her body. Removing it, she playfully throws the shirt in his face, and she kisses his chin through the fabric. He flings the shirt away, his mouth back on hers.

His arms envelop her, their bodies flush, her chest pressed up against him. Her warm skin and the peaks of her nipples slide against his pecs. Jay moans into her mouth. He slams them back onto the bed, and they jerk up from the firmness of the mattress. His hands travel lower to the band of her pajama pants. Erin spins them over, and her lips are fierce on his mouth for a sensual kiss. Her craving for him clear. Frustrated groans shout aloud as they tangle on the bed, Jay wanting to land on top. Her reluctance to lose, Erin pins him back down. She contently hums into his mouth and forces her tongue through his lips.

Jay slips his fingers in the band of her pants and caresses down her supple skin. She wiggles out of them to help remove them from her legs. Erin crawls down his body. She feels exhilarated. Fantasy or a proponent to unspoken words, tonight will be fun. Her hands find his waistband, seeing him impressively hard, waiting to spring free. His breathing is heavy under her touch. Her fingers follow the outline of him, forming her hands on his erection. Both take a deep breath, Jay from surprise and Erin from awaiting anticipation. He raises his hips from the bed, and she tugs his pants down the front, eager to see him revealed. All their remaining clothes are gone, and they take a moment to look at each other. Jay sweats on the sheets, gawking at her. The woman above him is the most beautiful in the world. Beautiful in every possible way describable. The carnal hunger in his eyes is well received. Her dark eyes find a hint of light, giving her a proper look of the handsome man below her. His visibly toned body speaks to her. His muscles contract under her, keenly begging for them to join.

Erin squeaks when he brings her down, and he flips them over. Her hands brace on his shoulders, and he smashes their lips together. Bruising lips feed their passion, exploring more of one another. Their lips are swollen but desirable. To Erin, it is magical, the type of kisses he gives her. His kisses vary from affectionate and hesitant to bashful and tender. She earns her first taste of him. Her lips trail across his mouth. Her lips brush down to his cheek, jaw, and throat. She sucks on his Adam's apple and her tongue to circle it. He twitches, poking her inner thigh when she sucks his skin in her mouth. His warm skin pulsates in tempo to the surround sound in the background. The stereo forgotten on Erin, she follows his rhythm, her need pooling. "Jay," Erin urges enticingly.

Her plea for him a wonderous sound. He grins and claims her mouth back. He hooks an arm around her back and pulls her close. He does a quick survey of the room, and he crawls up the bed. Erin does her best crawling backward; his manhandling, the smell of his cologne, and musk of his sweat mingling spurs her on, and she wraps her arms around his neck, letting him drag her. His physique turns her on, "Jay," her quick gasp is answered when he moves them to the middle of the bed, having grabbed a condom from the bowl on the bedside table.

Jay lays her back down on the bed, and he secures the condom. He guides himself to her entrance. He utters her name, and gazes in her eyes to be sure this is what she wants. The dilated saucers in her hazel eyes answer him, but he needs to hear it from her. "Yes. I want this, Jay. I want you," Erin declares raspily, her consent touches his caring dark blue eyes.

She parts her legs further, and Jay thrusts his length in her opening in one fluid stroke. Her scream of pleasure voices for him, only for him. He gasps heavily, pushing inside of her slowly, and both enjoy the feeling. She whimpers needily her him once Jay fills her core. He lays on her, his arms to either side of her shoulders, locking her underneath him. He begins to set a pace, gentle and deliberate, intending to go all night. Erin gasps, her head falling to the side. He groans, his mouth kisses down her neck, licking up her skin. His girth strokes inside of her, feeding on her, her walls pulse rapidly.

Erin lost count of the uncontrollable moans she lets out. She opens her eyes, feeling sweat beads on her forehead. Her vision is hazy, blinded by the sensation of him inside her. Him the ocean, his strokes hitting the shore and returning to sea, only to continue the tide, her the gravitational pull. He feels good.

Jay moans her name into her neck, sucking her flesh tight in his mouth. He slides nearly out, and he thrusts in her faster. His moans blend into hers. Jay reaches back to encircle her legs over his, and he picks up the pace. She feels as if she is floating off the bed. The pleasure takes her to new heights. Her hands gather up the sheets. Each of his thrusts bunches the smooth, waxy silk under her. Her toes curl, and his name spills from her lips. His body is a gift, her Christmas gift, an amazing giver he is. Erin closes her eyes in pure lust. He grunts and moans when she vise grips him. She sighs loudly, her neck rolls back. He kisses her lips when he is deep inside her, and he stills before pulling out.

"Hold on to me," Jay tenderly directs. He brings her arms around his neck and her legs to wrap his waist. He grunts, standing to his knees. One arm hooks underneath her and holds her strongly to him, and the other on the mattress. Her high-pitched gasp is music to his ears when he enters her once again. He pants and starts moving within her. "I could see how turned on you were. I wanted to crawl right up inside of you then." She softly whines, holding him tighter.

He kisses along her neck, kissing under her jaw, sucking on her pulse point, and behind her ear. She thrusts up as he strokes in and out of her. They are both panting from the exertion and the closeness of each other. Jay rocks his hips back and forth, making sure he rubs her clit. She moans in a fury. Erin squeezes her hold on his waist, her calves lock, thrusting up as he grinds into her. Her entire body engaged on him, clenching him, shaking. His sharp pants and her sweet cries conquer any melodies of music in the room. Jay bites her neck, a move so hot she knows she drips on the bed.

"Erin, you feel so good," he breathes, and he kisses her lips, connecting them completely. He digs his fingers deeper in the mattress, and his bicep flexes to tighten his hold on her. He pumps back into her, hitting her g-spot. He growls in her mouth, swallowing her sensuous sigh. Their kissing ensuing, he lowers them back onto the mattress.

Jay rolls on his back with her, needing the rest. Erin bumps his head, and her hot, harsh breaths expel on his face. Her necklace dangles, glistening a nice sheen of her sweat. Her lushly tousled golden-brown hair curtains him. Scents of her perfume, her fruity shampoo, and her sweat mix gloriously, luring him as he breathes her in. He leans his head up to brush her lips, slow and purposeful. They connect their gaze, and flares of ecstasy flash through. He cups her face, and his hand catches a few locks of her hair. Their desire solidifies with a single-lip kiss. Her wet heat melts into him, and it drives him crazy. She makes him feel so uninhibited.

They go slow, the time they take kissing one another. Jay caresses her back and pets her ear, running his hands through her hair. He rolls them sideways, moving her leg to encircle his waist. "You're so beautiful," he pecks all around her lips, butterfly kissing under her jaw and down her neck. She giggles from the ticklish feeling. Jay nibbles on her neck and her shoulder, creating lovely noises from her. He returns his lips to hers, caressing down her back, hip, and thigh. Her hand reaches up to hold his jaw, kissing slower. The kiss they are sharing, sensual and passionate, is almost too hard for her to comprehend. A woman such as her, in bed, in his arms, it is a first. Today has proven to be many firsts for her. Erin opens her eyes and ruffles his hair, staring at him to memorize all his features. Jay caresses his hand up her waist to below her shoulder and holds her closer. She shivers and looks into his eyes and sees a rush of emotions. His hand pets her back, and he nuzzles her neck, placing warm kisses on her skin. She takes a deep breath, her arm hooks under his, and hugs her body to him. She wants to stay in his arms.

He rolls Erin on her back. He opens her legs up wider with his, spreading her out. He grips her waist, her body all his, and pulls out of her. He laps his tip along her labia, and her liquid gold covers his length. He rubs his tip into her clit, and she gasps hotly. Jay repeats his movements and massages his tip on her sensitive nerve. His hands go to grab her hips, and he pushes his shaft down to rub through her slit, top to bottom. "Who are you?" she whines, writhing under him. Desire storms inside her belly and electrifies her blood. She is drenched and greedy for him. His tip moves past her entrance, pumping in and out of her opening. "Fuck," they gasp together. Connecting their gaze, dark half-lidded eyes full of lust, he plunges into her, her core his treasure. Her moan, the raspiest, huskiest sound he has heard, fuels him. Needing to hear it again, he wraps her legs around his waist. Jay lifts his body, his hands on either side of her, and he thrusts into her. He goes in and out of her at a speed that has her back arching wildly. Erin screams his name, a prayer on her lips. Her thoughts register Jay is taking her to the brink, and she wants more.

She locks her ankles and tightens her thighs, her body quivering. She uses her feet to pull him down closer. "Oh, my god, Erin," Jay groans. She murmurs his name in return, and she runs her fingers through her hair, arching her back higher for him. He sinks into her body. The noise of their slapping flesh and the headboard thumping off the wall is a more pleasant soundtrack. Jay leans in, kissing her pillowy lips. He bites her bottom lip and sucks it in his mouth. He grips the sheet, his moans deep, his strokes deeper, and his grinds harder. Erin groans, her nails dig into his back, pushing her body equally as hard. The intensity makes her reach her high. Falling into the sheets, her release drones on. Encouraged, Jay changes to thrusting in her fast, slow, stopping, and repeating. He is throbbing. "Aaaa, Erin," his cry for her reaching throughout the suite. He arches into her, his release arriving. He pants, sweat rolls down his skin. His hands caress her legs down. He collapses on top of her, buried inside her, and his face next to hers.

Erin draws his lips in for a sated kiss, their tongues joining. Jay recovers enough to pull out and roll off her. Chests heaving and bodies splayed on the bed are aftershocks to their earthquaking romp. He glances over to her, and the blissful grin on her face boosts his ego. With a satisfied grin on his face, he relaxes his body into the bed, and his breathing tempers down. She focuses on her breathing, her heart racing from what is she could call the best sex she ever had. His heart rate wanes, and he relaxes in the bed.

She briefly glances over to him, "I don't think I can move," her body feeling heavy.

"Me either," Jay soaks in the phantom sensation of her tightly clenching him and her body meshing into his. "Damn," he closes his eyes. The sounds of her soft, deep breaths allow him to subdue the lull of his exhausted body. He lays sideways to face her. "How has that for a carriage ride?" He purrs like a vampire who tasted blood for the first time.

She shakes with laughter, her limbs immobile. She glances over to him, "You have made it up to me. In more ways than one."

"Yeah, I did say I was taking you on a ride and … a long night," his voice drops low.

"Mmm. You did say that. You seem to be keeping all your promises."

"Night is not over," he winks at her. Steadying himself up on his elbow, he grumbles, regretting the decision to climb out of bed. He saunters to the doorway, disregarding his clothes, having no reason to wear them any longer. He twists around to look over his shoulder at Erin, "Stay here. Don't leave the bed," he orders provocatively.

Before he is out of sight, he rounds the doorway and peeks in on her. Energy restored, she fluffs the pillows on the bed, gathering all but one to the side she is on. She swivels back around, and she notices he has yet to leave the room. Freezing in place, she sits down on her feet. She stares at him intently, the same look on her face just before they were intimate. His darkening eyes ogle her, and he pulls in his bottom lip, biting it. He should get back in bed. Her skin flushes red, and she covers her naked form. He steps in to return to her, and she instantly perks up. He appreciates her fiery nature and sheer confidence, but her appearance of meekness is such a turn-on for him. "Keep the bed warm for me, Erin," he drawls smoothly, exiting the doorway.

Against the headboard, her breathing is erratic, and her body is shivering. "Oh, my God," her hand on her heart, the other clutching a pillow. The modesty mystifies her. Her perception of him in bed before their activity began was the opposite of what, who, she received. Jay's ability to sustain himself and consider her pleasure was a new experience. One that she wants to have again and again. The unknown, the curiosity, and the attraction she has towards him are all-consuming. He is a fantastic lover, and she got off multiple times. Although, one element during the whole shebang she found odd was him not kissing for touching her anywhere else. Thinking about him, she files the matter away, no longer questioning it. Jay guarantees her a long night, and she hopes he is willing to take all of her. His sensibilities and his character alone are enough to draw her in and hook her. Calming down, Erin stumbles off the bed. If they are going all night, she needs a bathroom break.

Erin emerges from the bathroom to see the bed vacant. She plops down on the edge of the bed nearest the bathroom, chuckling to herself. The placement of the bowl on the bedside table was ideal. Granted, she was oblivious to the room being the bedroom or this extravagant. Bowl in her hand, she brings it onto the bed. She scrambles to the headboard. The recall of Jay crawling and dragging her on it stirs her yearning for him. Erin tucks under the sheets, and she sets down the bowl beside her. Jay strides in with a tray in his hands. His poised body oozes comfortability. She weak under the sheets. The ease in which he walks through the suite unrestrained has her aching. Her body acts prematurely, instinctually reacting to him. He takes his seat on the bed, his legs hanging over. He sets two distinct glasses of water on the bedside table and the tray on the mattress. "I thought you might be thirsty," he says, grabbing one to drink, "I know I am," his eyes full of sexual promise.

"Is that the gingerbread house?" She asks.

"Leftover pieces. Almost finished, the last part is the roof. Putting the house together requires waiting for the glue to dry." He picks up the tray to show it to her, "Try some." Erin scoots over to him, mindful of the sheet covering her. She debates on what to try first. Instead of grabbing a piece of gingerbread to try, she chooses a gumdrop. She scoops up the icing it is stuck to. She is purposeful in her actions, seductively bringing it to her mouth, parting her lips to suck the candy in, and she chews it with a delighted moan. Her eyes never leaving his. Jay feels himself jump alive. Before she finishes sampling the candy, he crashes his lips on hers. His tongue penetrates through in search of how the sugar tastes in her mouth. "Tastes how I remember," he maneuvers the tray to the side table.

"I want you to have all of me, Jay," she invites with the same look. The fusing colors of her hazel eyes are a portal, screening to him how she wants their night to end. Without a doubt, he wants all of her. He knows touching her, kissing her, and tasting her the way he wants to is a hard urge to resist. In the recesses of his mind, he wonders about tomorrow and what the next day brings. Denying her now is out of the question. Once he does pass the threshold, he knows it will be utterly impossible to let her go. He unarguably agrees to her request. For her, tonight, he will.

"I will," he stands up from the bed and rips the sheet out of her hands. She is surprised initially then excited, and she reclines into the pillow. He climbs back onto the bed, and he slinks his body to her. The new movement next to her spills the condom wrappers from the bowl. He ignores it, the same with the scrapes of gingerbread lost on him, having something, someone, better to enjoy.

End CW

The bright light of the sun permeates through the curtains of the window, arising Jay from sleep. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he registers where he is. The firmness of the mattress is not the one in his bedroom. He stretches his arms out, and he touches something solid next to him. His vision widens, and a woman comes into view.

She is facing him, the cloak of sleep upon her. Her peaceful appearance bewitches him. The unruly brown locks frame her face, the slight movements of her eyes, and her soft breathing, a refreshing sight to wake up to. He slowly moves the hair away from her face. Petting her hair down to her shoulder, he draws his fingers down her arm to her hip, the red silk covering her bare skin underneath. His hand ends on her thigh, and he tucks in the sheet around her.

He reclines back on the pillow, his head leaning in the crook of his arm, admiring her. Damn. He is here with Erin. They spent an entire day getting to know each other and partaking in Christmas together. Last night, yesterday, was incredible. But what does that mean for them for today? He still hasn't told her one of the most important things about him. His job, and that he'll be working with her.

Muted groans bring his mind back to the present. Erin covers her eyes with her arms, shielding the sun away. She rolls on her stomach to avoid the glare, wishing to keep the start of the day at bay. He settles more into the pillow, his head propped by his hand. He feels content in their simple bubble.

Erin shifts back reluctantly, agreeing to her natural body clock. Her sleepy eyes peak through her tousled hair. Flipping it back, she sighs happily into her pillow. Until the presence felt beside her alerts her awake, transitioning her from a daydream-like state. His morning smile restarts her heartbeat, the light from the sun highlighting his glory. "I thought I was going to find one of your shoes left behind when I woke up," Erin quips, her raspy voice deeper.

Hearty laughter is heard in response from him. He wipes the tears forming in his eyes, a smile clear across his face. To hear him laugh is such a beautiful sound. She wants to keep him this way. The thought alone stuns her because the feeling is one she is avoiding to define.

"So, I'm the Cinderella of this equation," he grins. His face dips in close to hers, "Have you no faith in me?" Her sweet smile and beaming eyes tell him of her restored faith. He closes the remaining space between them, the sheet serving as the only barrier. "Good morning," the huskiness of his voice drips out for her pleasure.

"How do you feel?" Jay asks gently.

"How do I feel?" She ponders initially before her face smiled all at once, "Good."

"Are you full of Christmas spirit now?"

"I know I was full of something last night," she rasps.

"Hmm. You're saying if I poked you, you wouldn't burst of candy cane and tinsel," he playfully tickles her side. Her squirming only molds them even further together. His growing arousal for her is hard to cover as the sheet moves undone.

"No," she giggles brazenly. "Last night was amazing. Special," she breathes, her dark lashes batting up at him, her eyes narrowing in on his lips. His hand caresses her shoulder, gazing into her eyes before he meets her lips. It's fleeting, the sweet morning kiss they share.

He reaches for the glasses of water he had brought in. Erin fixes the sheet, covering herself, and she takes a sip of water, thanking him. He excuses himself to the bathroom, picking up his pajamas from the floor. Two realities bombard Erin. One is to go back to the normal routine of work, and the second pursue the feelings she has for Jay. She should tell him. It's the shuffling in the bathroom and the closed door that jolts her up. She gets out of bed to dress and freshen up.

Erin packs away her clothes while Jay works on his task in the kitchen. Dread fills her first, then worry as the fear subsides. Focusing on the positives clearly in front of her, she convenes with him in the kitchen.

"Ooh, not just yet," he conceals the items in front of him. "You'll see the final product later."

"Okay...," she squints in his direction.

She ventures into the closet and retrieves her phone from her coat. Now, she wishes she hadn't. Her home screen overloads with an influx of notifications. She clears them all and opens her texts from Hank. The pit in her stomach is hollow as she scrolls. Reading that Hank approved a new hire and for her to return once the festival is over, she turns her phone off and shoves it back into the pocket. She steals a glimpse in the kitchen, no longer seeing Jay there but standing by the Christmas tree instead, treating himself to the morning view of the lake. He turns as Erin approaches. All he can think about is how unassuming she is about her beauty. In her pajama set, she could not look more stunning in his eyes. If it were up to him, he would kiss her hard and slam her up against the window. He holds back. She meets all his expectations. He needs to tell her.

"Hey," she starts, "See anything interesting out there?"

"No Dasher, no Dancer, no Prancer ... but there is a vixen here," he grins confidently.

She pulls her lips, "Shut up," her smile ensuring he was.

His smile downturns, a solemn look on his face, "I'm heading out early. My things are ready at the counter," he speaks regretfully.

"O-Oh," she blinks in surprise. "I did say one night, right?" She chuckles uncomfortably, hoping to summon the strength to tell him. He stares at her attentively, hanging on to every word.

"There is one thing left to do," she inhales deeply, "I want to tell you that I think I'm-," her stomach rumbles. Her eyes widened at the impossibly poor timing of her appetite.

"I figured you would be hungry. I called for room service last night to be sent up for you," his charming smile making this morning extraordinarily difficult for her. "I checked out too. They know you'll be up here and to drop your card off on the way out. Enjoy the food, the bath, and relax in the suite."

Erin wordlessly faces him. His words run through her head. Their night is over. "You're not staying?"

"Yeah, I have an early day. I got some paperwork to do for work today," he acknowledges.

"Jay, I-"

"-I should have shared this earlier," his gaze falters, "I'm a cop and starting at Intelligence. I'm going to be your new partner," he glances back to her expectantly.

"I know," she casts her eyes to the floor. They are no longer avoiding this subject. Jay drums his fingers, the tension building from hearing the confirmation in her words. "I got confirmation from Voight. This morning actually," her eyes on him. "I, I heard the half end of your call at the store. I heard you say Voight's name. That, that's all I heard. I put two and two together. I didn't want to spoil how our day was going," her face lowers, "I should have mentioned it, because then-"

"-It's not solely on you. I didn't say a word either." He lifts her chin for her to look at him, "Bruno saw me at the festival, wanted to introduce me to you. I couldn't have our day ruined." He clears his throat, "Not that it would have been. I was all in." They share a small smile.

"Where does that leave us?" Jay poses the question, dropping his hands into his pockets. He gives permission for her to decide because he knows what he wants. He could not get her out of his mind. He found her. He believes in his heart she is the one.

"I think we should keep this between us," she begins after time past.

"What?"

"It's best we start over. Not draw attention. Intelligence is a new unit. We have to make an impression, no distractions."

"Is that what you want?" He hides the hurt he is stung with. "Because I-I know how to be professional at work."

"Yes," her gaze wavering, the answer not convincing him. "What kind of partner would I be if I wasn't already trying to have your back?"

"Erin," he breathes out.

"We'll always have this," she cements. "Thank you for giving me an incredible Christmas, Jay. Thank you for being with me."

"Always." He wraps his arms around her. Embracing her in a hug, he holds her a little bit longer and a little bit tighter. "I'll see you on my first day," he promises. She nods into his shoulder. "Merry Christmas, Erin," he cups her face to kiss her cheek.

"Merry Christmas, Jay."

Erin skipped a bath for a shower. Her excuse to wallow in the water running down her face. Would it have been so bad to let him know she was falling in love with him? Falling in love after one day, is that too soon? Self-preservation outweighed her feelings, resulting in her pushing him away. Luckily, she doesn't have to wonder about not seeing him again. If he were a regular guy and not him, would she be this adamant about seeing them once this thing was over? What did she want out of all of this? She got her Christmas wish. Wasn't that enough?

She is spread out on the bed in a robe from the shower. She could be amid another round with Jay, probably. Instead, she is fondling her body how she craves him to do. Eyes closed, she pretends he's her on top of her, kissing down her body. She pulls in her lips, restraining the gasp ready to escape. Her release is incomplete by the knock on the door. The profound sigh she lets out upsets her more.

She momentarily hopes Jay is at the door. She knows he isn't. When she walked him to the door, she stayed by it for quite a while, hoping for his return to the suite. Had she opened the door to go after him, they'd see they were both on the other side. Neither of them did. Rather than Jay, it is a server pushing a rolling cart.

"I got it from here," declining the white glove service, Erin wheels it into the kitchen to set it up. An array of items on the counter has her forgetting the food. The gingerbread house finished and wrapped in a plastic bag. Candies, coconut, and sprinkles thoughtfully decorate the house. Along with it are a vinyl keychain, a travel mug, and his pair of gloves. She grabs the card tucked under the gloves.

Memories to take you back to where it all got started :-)

No. It's the heartfelt sigh from the gift that upsets her the most.

District 21 lives up to the hype. The chattering of the lobby a relieving sound. It shows him that, depending on how cases go with Intelligence, there will be things going on down here for entertainment value. Officers zip by, ones in uniform, others in plain clothes. Since he is only here for paperwork, he should also acquaint himself with the layout, officer assignments, and useful connections. Anyone new he meets could be of service to him later. He aims towards the door that reads Intelligence Only. His hand on the knob to enter, a voice stops him.

"Only the Intelligence Unit has permission to use that door. Unless you're a perp admitting defeat, or a white shirt, step it over here," a sergeant, as designated by their stripes, ushers him to the desk.

"I don't know whose idea was it to hire Fred, but real crime solving happens at the 21st. Not mystery hunting secret doors," the Desk Sergeant berates again.

"Hello Sergeant. Halstead. Jay Halstead. I'm the transfer Sergeant Voight put in for," his arm extended across the desk to shake hands with the sergeant.

"I know who you are, Detective," his hand going unrecognized, "The first thing you need to know about the 21st is nothing gets past me. Sign these, return them to me, and I'll get your palm scan for Intelligence's entryways."

"Yes, ma'am," he collects the folder of documents.

"Sergeant Platt," Platt scolds.

"Sergeant Platt, got it," he chuckles. He sits on the bench across from her. The menacing presentation she attempts to give off does not faze him. His time in the military guarantees that he has seen it all.

An uncertain amount of mind-numbing time later, he finishes the paperwork. Handprint scanned, code selected, locker chosen, and a tour of the cells in the basement by Sergeant Platt, he decides to meet the unit.

The organization of the bullpen is detailed, spacious, and filled to satisfy a Chicago fanatics wildest dream with numerous police and sports memorabilia around. He spots an empty desk, no personal items in sight, declaring it as his own.

"Halstead!" Dawson and Willhite greet him across the hallway before proceeding to their desks.

"Are there only four detectives in this unit?" Jay asks.

"You're a detective? Got to work on your perception, kid," someone speaks from behind him. The person in plain clothes wheels from their desk.

"Olinsky," he offers, shaking hands.

"Uh, Halstead," Jay does a wider sweep of the bullpen. "How many of us is it? In the unit."

"These detectives, the tech downstairs, and anyone on patrol that we call in for low level work," Voight states matter-of-factly.

"We didn't make much head way on the Dumas case to supply for the Commander to request the D.A.," his gravelly voice grabbing the group's attention. "New approach, find the snitch, and I'll revisit the victim," he commands. "Halstead, you're with me," Voight heads back down the hallway.

"I only have my badge on me." He didn't think to bring his weapon. "Shouldn't I wait for my partner? Or are they meeting us there?"

"YOUR partner has another assignment. A badge is all you need, for now. I'm going to see how you handle this. Then I'll determine if selecting you was the right choice."

"Quicker than calling a canary, they made off with all Rizzo's signed merchandise. I had no chance. The insanity of it was like a beer can in a Super Bowl parade," the incessant sound of her friend's voice drives up her irritation. Well, her friend and the Pin the Red Nose on Rudolph game she is monitoring.

"My luck of staying in Chicago for Christmas, and I still miss out on the scramble of the season," Caitlyn finishes, looking to Erin. "I'm surprised you're back here. I've been having a nice time working this festival. I could finish out for you." Her offer very appealing, but Erin is concluding her hunt.

"No, I'm good. A few more days of this, and I'm back to work. I got it handled," Erin says vehemently, reordering the game and returning to her position behind the booth.

"Don't sound so excited about it. Did yesterday not go as planned? Your prince a frog now or something."

"Something like that, yeah," Erin answers wearily.

"Too bad for him. That means we can make use of the last activities of the festival. We are a no for that benefit dinner. As much as I love wealthy men, I'm not up for that kind of party for Christmas," Caitlyn returns to prop Erin up.

"You're giving me a headache. Let's just drive, see where we land."

She knows there is no sense to harp on the fact she misses him. However, in lieu of finding a place to go patron, she opts to pull up to the window display he made for her first. All the feelings she experienced from last night flood through her veins. She fiddles with her necklace, hopelessly thinking more magic will happen if she stares long enough.

"You must really like this guy, or he needs to be reported," Caitlyn says, looking up from her phone, "Want to tell me about him? We've been parked here for a while, looking harder at this window than a normal person does."

"I'm keeping yesterday between us," Erin answers, eyes no longer on the display. "I do like him," she smiles, thinking of him, "I really like him."

"Why are you here with me then?"

"It's complicated."

"Complication sounds so unfulfilling," Caitlin stresses, rattling on, "Good thing you have me until Christmas is over. I have no idea what you plan on doing for New Year's Eve, but home is calling me for time with my parents. You going to be okay without me?"

"New Year's Eve isn't that much of a deal. Plus, I'm definitely working that day," Erin's attitude slowly sounding defeatist.

"Maybe it won't be as bad. You'll have a new partner by then, right?"

Erin's face blanches, powering on the car engine, "Mmm-hmm, yeah." Signaling to pass out of her parked spot, "We are a no for Molly's tonight too."

His first day, by Voight's standards went swimmingly. They were able to get the victim talking. Voight has a natural charm in extracting information. They were able to narrow down details of the incident, changing their focus to how the snitch was even involved.

The interesting aspect of the day was Voight's audacious leadership style. Jay noticed how he moved around the city, unlike any cop he worked with. Most of it seemed questionable. However, he isn't going to concern himself too much about how Voight prioritizes his methods.

Somehow his anticipation of working in Intelligence does not compare to how much he wants to see Erin. He misses her. If he sums up today, it will tell him Erin made the right call to instruct them to portray an empty canvas at work. The number of times the Commander shows up to heavily observe Intelligence, he would not be privy to lovesick cops.

He declined the invite for Molly's to commemorate his first day because he is not doing that without his partner. His thoughts treat him to images of Erin as his partner. He can't wait to see his partner in her element. Until his eventful first day with her, he detours to her window display. He pictures how surprised she was and how happy she looked. Oh boy, is he is in love with her.

"Erin is so lucky." "How cute is this display!" "Roger, I need you to make me one of these." "Simplicity. Best display I've seen. You don't need all those dramatics." Passersby compliment the display, and he feels good about the praise. He wishes Erin was here viewing it with him.

The sigh he releases is due to melancholy and his phone ringing. "Hey, Will," he trudges back to his car.

"Jay?" Will's exaggerated shock makes Jay peeved for picking up the phone. "You called my phone, Will."

"Oh. I haven't seen or heard from you in two days. Figured something happened to you," Will sasses into his ear.

"I was busy," Jay not in the mood to be pestered by his brother.

"I'm the busy one. So, who is she? She had you camped out that long with her. Way to go, bro!"

Laughing as he gets into his car, "Shut up, Will. I was given the green light with Intelligence yesterday. Handled the paperwork today."

"What! Congrats, man. Now you can start paying rent."

"You live in my apartment. A crowded one," Jay warns lightheartedly.

"I'm a heavily sought-after roommate. In saying so, I should mention I'm heading up to New York City on the first of January. For a detail."

"You're some government Doctor now?" Jay deadpans, getting his last glimpse of the display.

"Nope, just a lot of money in housewives wanting a new body for their New Year's resolutions."

Jay scratches his forehead, preparing himself for his next decision, "Umm. Since I'm working, I won't be able to drive up to the cabin. We can see how dad is doing?"

The air feels different walking into the bullpen. It is bizarre how empty the bullpen looks. Erin is never the first one to arrive. Working the festival for two weeks, give or take the days she was there, was not her scene. She is glad to be back to the work she enjoys.

She walks by the open desk that is now her new partner's and notices it looks neat. Appropriate to how orderly he was with the gingerbread house. She entered through the back entrance, subtly delaying her encounter with Jay. Loitering in the hallways, stairwells, and interview rooms, she knows she has to act normal. Being the first one in, she did not strategize how to do that.

"Lindsay. Hi, I'm Lindsay. Detective Lindsay, your partner," she mouths to herself, pacing in the break room.

"What are you doing?" The voice startling her, she spins around.

She relaxes against the counter and sees that it is only Jules. She plays off her unfolding stress, "Someone took my mug. I can't find it anywhere around here. You know how I am without a cup in the morning."

"I didn't know you had a mug," Jules peaks back into the bullpen, "My bird's-eye view detects no mugs. You check your desk?"

"I'll worry about it later. Let's get a brew going."

Trusting in the coffee to balance out her worry, Erin pours their share. She finds the mundane ritual of coffee in the morning with Jules calming. The familiarity of it has her sharing about her time off in an ill-defined fashion. Summing it up, she leaves out anything that could potentially be identifiable. She retells her encounter with the mall Santa and going back to the festival, where she met someone and spent the day together with them.

"Did you get to your Christmas romance after all?" Jules asks curiously. A soft pat on the door signals the two new arrivals, Dawson walks in with Jay to pour their bids of coffee.

"Most parts, not the love confession," Erin shares honestly, her face a tinge red.

"Pfft! Really? With a smile like that, after spending a whole day together," Jules speculates.

"And with a blush like that too. You had a good time. Glad to see it and you back," Dawson adds in.

"What! I don't blush. I have a reputation to maintain," Erin stammers.

"Sure, whatever you say, Lindsay," Dawson laughs on his way out.

"No love confession from either of you?" Jules reiterates once more.

"I have a feeling it will be worth waiting for," Erin swoons, "I have all the time. There's hope," her words reaching Jay.

Her eyes glance over at him. His handsome stature leaned against the counter, welcoming and irresistible. His tender eyes answer her wordlessly of the same promise. Their road back to love is only starting. Fully ignited. He nods in their direction, walking out to his desk.

"That's your new partner," Jules watches him.

"Hmm, has he been here long?"

"Only a few days. Voight has attempted to run him ragged. You know, typical hazing rituals."

"Interesting," Erin laughs, "Good news he stayed?" Erin gets up. She will make this introduction straightforward.

She marches over to his desk. Jay immediately stands, seeing her coming. "Hi, I'm Detective Erin Lindsay. Your new partner."

"Detective Halstead," he greets with a firm handshake. They savor the touch of each other's hand longer than formal standards.

"Nice meeting you," he drops his hand, "I was beginning to think your desk was staged, and I was partnering with Olinsky or Voight."

"That wouldn't be too awful. You're not going to have it easy with me either, by the way," Erin banters.

"I'm not expecting you to," his smiles purposely cocky.

Sizing him up, "You shall see Detective Halstead," she withdraws to her desk.

"Grab your gear," Voight barks, racing up the stairs. Olinsky trolls behind him. "Active crime scene in Garfield Park. Units and patrols are there. We are taking the lead. Let's get a move on," Voight orders, proceeding to the roll-up.

The others grab their things in a hurry. Erin stops at Jay's desk, him holstering his gun. He looks up to give her his attention. "By the way means, I'm the one driving," Erin winks, speeding off.

Jay chuckles at her gusto. "Get used to it. No one drives with Lindsay," Dawson relays knowingly.

"We'll see," Jay smiles affectionately, more so to himself. His outlook changed seamlessly the moment he laid eyes on Erin. He cannot wait for what else in store.

AN: I split chapter 3, originally 20K+ words, into two chapters now. The story kept getting longer, which led to a horrendously late update. Then the beginning of this year has been terrible. I was a whole mess finishing this up. I overshared prior about all my anxiety, lol. I feel better now! Thanks all for the support and well wishes.