Teaser

Previously on Jaime Lannister Investigations:

Then his hand leaves her back and he cups her face, his fingers tangling in her hair, and she startles a little at the first brush of his lips against hers.

The kiss is not at all what Brienne expected: gentle, coaxing, and almost unbearably sweet. None of her few awkwardly uncomfortable experiences felt anything like this.

The kiss slowly ends and Jaime leans back, searching her face, his expression very serious. Then a gentle smile curves his handsome mouth.

"See?" he says softly. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

She blinks and wordlessly gives a tiny shake of her head.

His smile widens before he leans in and kisses her again.

*/*/*/*/*

Their second kiss leads to a third and then a fourth, each one deeper and more thorough than those before. The tiny part of Brienne's mind that's still thinking and not just feeling is beginning to wonder if she should suggest moving this to the couch or maybe even the bedroom, because the table has the flowers on it plus it's old and not particularly sturdy—

She yelps and jerks away, breaking the kiss.

Jaime blinks dazed albeit confused green eyes and she blushes, although she's not sure she could possibly be any more flushed than she is already from the kisses they've shared.

His arms loosen and she panics, tightening her grip around him as she stammers, "It's nothing! Your hand is cold, that's all." He stares blankly and she says, "Your gold hand. Against my back."

He removes his right arm from around her waist and blinks at his hand as if he's never noticed it before.

She frowns as she watches him. "It's fine," she says.

He startles a little then says, "Of course." He gives her a distracted smile even as he once again leans closer. "I'm sorry it startled you."

"It's fine," she says again, but her frown deepens.

He takes in her expression then half-smiles as he presses another kiss against her lips then steps away.

"Wait," she says, protesting, then bites her lip and lets him go, her stomach sinking into the soles of her feet.

Jaime's smile is slow and wicked. "Oh, trust me: we're going to pick up where we left off," he says, "but besides the fact that this is our first date, I'm not...well...prepared."

"Prepared?"

Jaime chuckles and gives her a quick kiss. "Condoms, Brienne. I have no condoms in my wallet." He raises an eyebrow. "Unless you...?"

She was wrong, Brienne thinks as she quickly shakes her head; she actually can turn more red.

Jaime wraps her in a hug and kisses her, then says, "Come on; you better show me the door before I try to convince you to throw caution to the wind."

*/*/*/*/*

Brienne walks into the office the next morning with her stomach roiling in a mixture of anticipation and dread. The night before already feels like a dream, and she can't help but worry that Jaime is going to tell her it was all a very bad joke at her expense.

Jaime's in his usual armchair in the reception area, reading the daily paper when she walks in. He glances up at her and his face lights up, causing her to blush and mumble a greeting while desperately avoiding Bronna's far-too-interested gaze.

"Good morning," Jaime practically yodels as he scrambles to his feet then is hot on her heels as she all but bolts for her office.

He closes the door then leans against it, a teasing grin on his face.

"I think we need to try that greeting again," he purrs and prowls towards her.

She backs away until she bumps against her desk.

"I—I—I think we need to keep work separate from our...our...our..."

"Personal relationship?"

"Yes."

"I agree," he says as he stops in front of her, so close she can feel his chest lightly brush against hers, "and I think we need to strictly abide by that policy. Starting tomorrow."

"…okay," she breathes and is rewarded with his smile before he leans in and kisses her.

*/*/*/*/*

They get a case that day that puts their personal relationship on the back burner for the next week, although Jaime still phones each night before he goes to bed, even if they've been working together a half-hour before.

Jaime also discovers an added benefit to the grueling demands of the case: he has a valid reason to be unable to meet with Cersei, who's been doggedly trying to convince him to do so.

The disadvantage, of course, is that he hasn't been able to follow up on Cersei's assertion about Joffrey being their son.

He grimaces at the thought as he tiredly drags himself into his apartment on the night he and Brienne finally close their case. He half-hopes the claim is just another one of Cersei's lies.

Jaime tiredly gets ready for bed, still worrying over Joffrey and Cersei and Brienne. At the very least, he needs to tell Brienne about the possibility, and what it might mean for them going forward.

His life is complicated, indeed.

Jaime unfastens his gold hand, places it on the dresser, and carefully flexes his fingers.

Not to mention all the other things he needs to tell her.

*/*/*/*/*

Somehow, though, Jaime never seems to find the right time to tell Brienne…well, any of his secrets over the next week.

He invites her for dinner the day after their latest case is solved with the best of intentions, but it's the first time they've had time for themselves since Sansa Stark's non-wedding, and by the time he's finished plying Brienne with food and wine and kisses, it's time for her to go home.

She rather shyly invites him to a football game the next evening, and he's so charmed, he doesn't have the heart to tell her they really need to talk instead.

He invites her to an art gallery opening the next night, and he intends to talk to her when they go back to her place for a nightcap. Once there, however, she gently teases him about which art objects he would most like to steal, which makes him laugh and pepper her with kisses rather than with his secrets.

And last night, Brienne invited him to see the latest blockbuster in the theatres, and she must have greatly enjoyed him enjoying the movie because she practically pounced on him the moment they returned to her place for a drink…or mayhaps it was because of the overly-handsome star, who had been shirtless for three-quarters of the movie.

Not that it mattered: he certainly enjoyed reaping the benefits.

It had taken all his willpower to resist taking her to bed, but resist he did. He's more than willing to take their relationship to the next level, but he has some vague fantasy in his mind about their first time that includes silk sheets and rose petals and romantic lighting...and a bit more truth between them than he's yet given her.

*/*/*/*/*

"All right," Bronna says, putting down her beer glass and leaning across the small table, "spill it, Brienne."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Brienne says as primly as she can while she feels the seven-times-damned red heat creeping into her cheeks.

"Auroch-shit. You know exactly what I'm talking about...either that, or you're about to burst a blood vessel."

Brienne takes a hasty gulp of her own beer then narrows her eyes in sudden suspicion. "Wait a minute—is this just a ploy to make me break our agreement about Thursday nights? 'No men, no work', remember?"

Bronna snorts. "As much as I would love to have you buy the next round, I'm willing to forego collecting in exchange for some juicy gossip. Come on, Brienne! We missed last week because of work, and you've been busy every night since! Throw me a bone, here! Or is he throwing you one?"

"Bronna!"

There must be something in her face because Bronna's eyes widen. "Oh, shit," she whispers, "this isn't just a fling, is it?" She groans and covers her eyes. "How could I have forgotten who you are? Of course, it's not just a fling."

Brienne scowls down at her beer.

Bronna takes a deep sigh and says, "All right. I won't press you for the most detailed of details, just tell me: are you fucking? And is he any good?"

"We're not—not—" Brienne gives up and gulps her beer.

Bronna's jaw slowly drops and she leans back in her chair. "You're not?"

"Not—not yet. We've just been, you know...kissing and…and…stuff."

Bronna bites down—hard—on her lip and Brienne can see she's desperately trying not to laugh.

Now it's Brienne's turn to groan and cover her face.

"This is all so fucking ludicrous," she moans and then they're both laughing until tears stream down their cheeks.

Once they've calmed—and ordered more beer—Bronna gives her a fond smile and says, "I keep forgetting that you're much younger than your years when it comes to this...stuff." She snickers then says, "Are you prepared for when all this stuff turns into all that other stuff?"

Now it's Brienne's turn to snicker. "You're not usually so delicate with your wording," she says drily.

Bronna shrugs. "Oh, don't expect it to last forever! But for tonight, I think my usual bluntness would do more harm than good."

Brienne sighs and nods. "It's all too...new. Or something." She sips her beer then says, "Besides, he's been a perfect gentleman." She leans closer and says, "He's even brought me flowers. Again! He held my chair for me last night, when we went to that new Volantis restaurant before the movie." She suddenly scowls. "I mean, he's—he's being almost, you know, romantic, and it's great but I don't know if I trust it."

Bronna sighs. "I know your history; of course you don't trust it. I mean, don't get me wrong: we both know that level of courtesy isn't going to last forever, so enjoy it while you can." She gives Brienne a thoughtful look and says, "I think you need to stop by a drug store tonight on your way home, though."

Brienne frowns.

"Double up on the birth control, Brienne," Bronna says with a teasing grin. "You've gone a really long time without sex...and better safe than sorry."

*/*/*/*/*

Jaime has to struggle not to laugh at Tyrion's appalled disgust, even though their conversation is anything but amusing.

Tyrion says, "I can't believe that out of the billions of people in the world, your long-lost son turns out to be Joffrey Baratheon!"

Jaime shrugs. "Well, that's according to Cersei, anyway."

"I'm assuming you'll be wanting a sample or two for DNA testing, then?"

Jaime grimaces and nods. "I need to know," he says.

They exchange grimaces and sip their drinks in companionable silence.

"So," Tyrion finally says, "Brienne."

Jaime raises an eyebrow. "What about her?"

Tyrion laughs. "You've been seen out and about. I gather things have...progressed?"

Jaime shrugs. "In a more or less satisfactory direction, yes."

"What does she know?"

Jaime grimaces again. "Not enough."

Now it's Tyrion's turn to raise an eyebrow. "Not that I blame you for being cautious," he says, "but don't you think now would be the perfect time to have a heart-to-heart with her?"

Jaime drops his gaze and stares pensively at the drink in his hand.

"Mayhaps," he says, his voice neutral.

Tyrion leans forward. "Tell her what she needs to know now," he says, his mismatched eyes intent and serious. "Do it before someone else does it for you."

Jaime's smile is cutting. "Are you threatening me, Tyrion?"

Tyrion rolls his eyes and leans back again. "Are you seriously thinking I would betray you?"

Jaime deflates. "No, of course not."

Tyrion gives him an approving nod. "But I'm not the only one you need to be concerned about."

"No," Jaime says, and gulps at his drink.

*/*/*/*/*

Jaime walks into his apartment, Tyrion's words still weighing heavy on his mind. As much as he doesn't want to admit it, his brother is right.

He flicks on the lights and drops his keys on the table beside the door then strolls into the living room.

He stops short at the sight of the man sitting in his armchair.

They stare at each other in silence, then the man says, "Hello, son."

*/*/*/*/*