Hello everyone. Here is a chapter that begins a little sultry (one of my favorite little scenes to write) and ends with a call back to 5x18, but with a twist. Happy reading!
Jay
"Hailey, if we don't leave now, we are going to be late."
"Coming, coming."
Intelligence was roped into attending a fundraiser event hosted by the newly elected alderman of the twenty-first district. The last thing I want to do on my time off is be forced to smile and shake hands to impress some bigwigs.
However, when Hailey finally walks out of her room wearing a slinky black dress that perfectly hugs every dip and curve of her body, with her hair loose, falling about her shoulder with one side tucked behind her ear, I change my mind. My breath catches in my throat, and my heart nearly skips a beat. Scratch that. My heart stops beating altogether.
"Does this look okay?" she asks.
I have to make a conscious effort to close my gaping mouth. I still can't quite believe my luck. Still can't believe she's all mine again if I'm honest. The most beautiful, the most arresting thing in the world, for me, will always be Hailey.
"Jay…?"
"Y-You look great," I say, which has to be the greatest understatement of the century.
"Thank you." She tugs gently on my tie. "You clean up nice yourself."
She pulls a little hard on the tie until my lips find hers. I kiss her more deeply – she's so soft and so sweet and everything within me tightens. I want her. Always.
"Are you trying to get in my pants?" she asks breathlessly when I break the kiss moments later to run my lips down the length of her neck.
"What gave you that idea?" I mutter against the spot where her pulse thumps at the base of her throat. I lick and nibble her skin, feeling a shiver move through her body.
"You're making it very hard for me to keep my wits about me," she sighs.
I chuckle, nipping gently at her skin, "Am I?"
Laughing, Hailey slaps my shoulder. "I never knew you were such a tease," she chides. "I must say I'm discovering a new side of you."
"Are you disappointed?"
A slow smile spreads over her lovely face. "I didn't say that now did I?"
Then she double-whammies me with a wink followed by one of her big beautiful smiles.
I pull her into another deep kiss, overwhelmed by how life has changed in the past few months. While Hailey and I are still working through the bumps of our past, we are closer than ever. There is a deeper understanding, a bond that goes beyond what we previously shared. Every day we discover something new about one another and, every night, I fall asleep with a deliriously happy smile on my lips.
"Jay…" Hailey breaks the kiss and looks up at me, all hazy-eyed. I groan and pull back, knowing that if I don't, I won't be able to stop. I look down at her and she smiles, wiping lipstick from my lips with the pad of her thumb. "The sooner we go, the sooner we can leave," she reasons.
I slide my hands innocently from her shoulders to the curve of her waist, eventually settling on her hips.
"Don't think anyone will miss us."
She laughs. "Oh, but they will since Voight made it clear that attendance is not optional, Jay."
I groan again, taking a full step back now. "C'mon then. Before I change my mind."
When we arrive, all we've missed is the pre-dinner mingling, but we aren't late by any means. Though if things back at Hailey's apartment had continued, I wouldn't have minded being late. I try to stay clear of events like this – fundraisers, fancy dinners, balls, and galas put on by politicians, but I have to admit, having Hailey here doesn't make them so bad. Even if I have to pretend that every move she makes, every smile she beams, and every sweeping motion she makes with her hair doesn't make me want to drag her back to her apartment and finish what I started.
Tonight is going to be a long night.
We spot the unit, dressed to the nines, and make a beeline for the table. We sit, nursing our drinks and chatting about one thing and another until someone takes the stage and begins the opening remarks. The chatter gradually dies down, and all eyes are drawn to the front as a few speakers take the podium to deliver their speeches.
In the meantime, I feel Hailey's unblinking stare burns into me, forcing me to look at her for a brief moment. I notice her lips have a slow, slightly wicked smile on them, and her blue eyes are tinged with mischief.
I raise an eyebrow.
Beneath the table, she places her hand on my thigh, as if it belongs there. High, firm, familiar. She looks at me from underneath her lashes, and I wonder what she is thinking. Then I get my answer when her fingertips slide up, just a little. I turn my head to really look at her, trying to figure out where this is going, and when she responds with a single raised eyebrow and a smirk across her face, I know I'm in trouble.
Deep, deep trouble.
The current speaker is talking about new housing developments, I think, but it's hard to follow when Hailey is rubbing my leg in exactly the right way to make it impossible to concentrate. When her hand travels higher than is proper, my body responds to her like I'm a teenager. Sweet Jesus. Then her hands slide to my inner thighs and I almost choke on my drink. To my credit, I don't jump out of my chair. But every muscle in my body is tense, and I'm sure my ears are bright pink.
"You okay?" Hailey winks; I wonder if she's trying to kill me.
"Water down the wrong pipe," I manage to choke out.
"Mhmm," she hums.
Her hand then moves further up, her fingers feather-like, and I feel myself falling deeper and deeper down that rabbit hole of no return. The room bursts out laughing, and my eyes dart around to see if I am the source, but then I realize the speaker made a joke about being a Cub's fan – exactly what, I have no idea – and so I return my focus to keeping a moan from escaping my mouth as Hailey moves her hand just enough that her nails brush over my zipper.
Is she trying to wreck me altogether?
When her fingers finally stroke me over my pants, an involuntary hiss escapes my lips. Heat prickles along the surface of my skin and becomes hard to control my own breathing. Our gazes connect and the smug look on her face ruins me – she knows exactly what buttons to press, and she is enjoying seeing me lose all higher brain function.
When her fingers start fumbling with my belt buckle, I wrap my fingers around her wrist and gently pull her hand away from my crotch. As much as I want the release that will take me to heaven, it can't happen here. I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths. After a few minutes, I look at her and watch her tuck her hair behind her ear, look down, and then look back up at me. The way she bites her lip against that wicked smile on her lips is pure sin.
"Are you trying to kill me?" I ask, only half-jokingly.
"Am I?" she says, tossing my earlier teaser back at me. My response is a mix between a laugh and a groan.
Common sense tells me not to play with fire, but I need to even the score. But not right now.
I'm nothing if not patient.
Only when dinner is served, do one of my hands find its way to her thigh. For a while, my hand just rests innocently there, and then, about the time she attempts to take a bite of the chicken, my hand begins to move. Not a lot, but slowly my fingers brush against her bare leg. She startles, once, and when all eyes turn to her, she shoos at a nonexistent fly to explain away the twitch.
She shoots me a glare that could counter global warming, and I bite my lip to suppress a laugh.
"So, Hailey," Kim pipes up, between bites of food. "I got these spa coupons and I thought we could use them. My sister gave them to me but…"
I let my fingers mold to the shape of her leg, brushing her inner thighs causing Hailey to drop her fork. Encouraged, I let my hand travel higher, tugging the hem of her dress up. The slight tremble I feel there gives me a good indication that she isn't the only one vulnerable to this kind of torture.
"…It's not a fancy spa," Kim continues, clearly oblivious to what is happening beneath the table. "But it's not going to break the bank, you know?"
Hailey smiles and nods as Kim continues with her sales pitch, but I can tell she is not processing anything Kim is saying.
I move boldly, higher and Hailey looks slightly disoriented, flustered. When I finally touch her panties and stroke her through the thin material, she inhales sharply. I glide my fingers over to the edge and slip my index finger around the fabric so we're skin on skin. Then, she shifts in her seat and her thighs fall apart, just slightly.
Oh, Hailey.
I groan inwardly and feel an answering leap in my groin.
Touché.
I look at her and her full lips are parted – an unquestionable challenge – an expression I've drowned in too many times. As much as I want to watch her come undone, I rather be her only spectator. Slowly, I remove my hand and Hailey nearly whimpers at the loss, but recovers, clearing her throat.
"A spa day sounds great, Kim," Hailey finally replies.
"Oh great! I will schedule one for this weekend."
The dinner plates are cleared away, and the dessert is placed on the table. Hailey looks pointedly at me and lifts a glob of icing from the cake onto her finger and licks it off. I nearly lose my composure then. There's nothing I want more than to whisk her out of here and finish what I started – what we both started.
"Lady's room, Kim?" Hailey asks.
"Yes," Kim and answers.
They walk away, and Hailey tosses a wink over her shoulder. I give her a stern look. Or at least try to, because I have to press my lips together to hide my smile. I let the vision of her burn into my memory – not wanting to ever forget how she looks at this moment.
"I'm not even going to ask what that look is about," Ruzek says. "But will guess it means you and Hailey are doing okay?"
I nod, unable to hold back the huge grin I know is spreading across my face. "We are figuring things out."
Kevin laughs. "Figuring things out, huh? Is that what the kids are calling nowadays?"
"We're talking," I offer.
Ruzek is grinning now. "Congratulations, bro."
"Congratulation on what?" Antonio asks, appearing at Kevin's side. "What's happening."
"Nothing," I say, too quickly.
"Just tell'em what you just told us," Kevin prompts.
"Nah, because then he'll gloat!"
"Now you really have to tell me, what do I have to gloat about? I love it when I get to gloat!"
"Yeah. I know you do, Tony, what's why I'm not going to give you the satisfaction!"
"You tell him, or I will have to," Ruzek says with a laugh. "I know how irritating he can be, but this one needs telling."
"For fuck's sake. Will someone just tell me?"
I laugh. "Hailey and I are friends… again."
"I knew it!" Antonio slaps my back. "I knew you guys were more than friends. I called it. That day at the bar. But you know what, I'm happy for you, I'm not even gonna gloat."
We all laugh, and I shake my head.
"But that means I get a free pass on something else down the line," Antonio says.
"Yeah, that's more like it," I say and roll my eyes.
At the end of the night, unable to wait any longer, I grumble, "We're getting out of here." Then I take Hailey's hand and lead her through the crowd. I don't wait to say goodbyes, nor do I allow others to slow down our progress towards the doors. I have her hand in mine and, as far as I can tell, Hailey is racing towards the exit just as quickly and I am.
We make it back to her apartment lobby, then to the elevator. At her door, I take her keys and unlock it, and then Hallelujah, we are back inside her apartment.
I pull her dress up, her hands fumbling with my fly.
"Stay still," she scolds.
"I am," I say, taking her lips in a quick kiss.
She fumbles with my boxers.
"You want this to be slow?" I ask, dragging my hands to her ass and lifting her to me.
She wraps her legs around my waist shaking her head. "Later."
I take one step forward and brace against the wall. Her hands wrap around my neck, and I savor the feel of her fingernails digging into my back. Her touch feels so, so good. I love the way she fits into me.
"I want you now, Jay." Her voice comes out husky, needy. The way I feel.
"I'm yours, Hailey."
I slide home and everything is a blur of pleasure and need. I can't get enough of her. All I want to do is spend every single moment with her.
Like this.
Forever.
x
It's been a few months now since Hailey and I got back together. I knew it was going to be good, but it has surpassed my wildest dreams. I've never been happier. I love Hailey desperately. So much that it scares me. And as of late, my love seems to be picking up speed overwhelming me almost, tinged as it is with panic: I'm so afraid of losing her again.
This fear kicks up a notch when Hailey dusts off her old cover after a drug deal ends in a double homicide. One of the victims was a guy Hailey knew from her last undercover assignment. He was a member of a meth distribution crew led by Ronald Booth. The mere sound of Booth's name has a dark flush of anger crawling into Hailey's cheeks, blending with the resentment I know is simmering in the middle of her chest.
Although she told me what happened while she was under, I know she didn't tell me the truth. Well, not the whole truth. The look in her eyes, the way she stares at me impassively, like a wall has just been erected between us, has alarm bells ringing. So, I decided to do some digging, and what I discover, has anger rising like a flooding river inside me.
After meeting with her former case officer, I send her a quick message asking her to meet me back at the district. I just need her to tell me exactly what happened so that I know what we are up against. While I wait, I take a moment to gather my thoughts because fear and anger (not directed at her) are causing my mind to spin out of control.
"Hey. I got here as fast as I could. What's the emergency? You okay?"
"This," I say uncovering the pictures of her battered face. I can barely look at them without my stomach twisting. "Time stamped December 31st. New Year's Eve." I pause and look at her. I can't tell if she is shocked, angry, or hurt, but something is stirring inside her head. I soften my voice. "What the hell happened?"
Hailey shakes her head and pushes past me.
"Hailey, what are you doing? We gotta talk about this."
"You called Rafferty behind my back?" She spits out.
"You know… you didn't really give me a choice. Look I get that you hate Booth. And you want to nail his ass, but this… is too dangerous."
"It's part of the job."
"Just tell me everything. I want to help, okay?" I soften my tone to almost a whisper. "I promise."
Hailey pauses, considering my words. I resist the need to touch her, to kiss away frown lines on her brow.
Without meeting eyes, Hailey admits that at Booth's New Year's Eve party, he drunkenly attacked her. I feel the anger that was already burning so hot inside of me, kick up a notch, ready to burst into flames. I try to remain calm as I force the next question out.
"Did he?"
"No. I got away. Garrett got me to the hospital."
Garret, I note – the undercover whose body is still missing. I try to convince her to tell Voight, but she's not having it. She wants to see this through. Then our eyes meet, both of us looking for reassurance, neither getting it.
"I'm fine," Hailey adds. "Okay? I promise."
She reaches forward and touches my shoulder, but I grab her hand. "Hailey, wait—"
"Jay, we have a good chance to nail him. Can we just play it out? Please?" She pauses, her expression softening. "I need this."
She tries to mask her emotions with a smile, but the smile never makes it past her lips. I recognize the hurt in her eyes. The sadness. The grief. As a soldier, I know exactly what she's feeling – Hailey lost someone.
I gentle my voice even more. "Garrett?"
After a long, strained moment, anger dissipates, and silence fills the space between us. But, again, she tries to mask her distress with a bland smile. I think this is more for my sake than hers.
"Yeah. He was the one that pulled Booth off me that night. He stopped him from… rapping me… Killing me."
I pull her to me as I watch her lungs yank in a choppy breath. She buries her face on my shoulder, and I can feel every nerve and muscle in her body vibrating with restless energy.
"I'm sorry you lost him," I say and kiss her hair, breathing her in.
Hailey nods and pulls back after a few moments, letting out a long sigh. "I should probably get back."
The uncertainty in her eyes kills me, so I lean in, capturing her mouth with mine, sweeping my tongue across the seam of her lips until she opens for me. The kiss becomes desperate, demanding, on both sides, and we cling together in mutual need. We kiss until we almost can't breathe and even then, we only lift our heads long enough to take a breath.
I know we can't keep doing this here, so I muster every bit of willpower I have and pull back, resting my forehead against hers.
"I've missed you," I say, hating how needy I sound, how shaky my voice is. We didn't get to spend nearly enough time together since she's been undercover.
"I've missed you, too."
"Promise me you're going to be safe."
"I'll be safe."
"Ok," I whisper and let her go.
Hailey goes back to her UC apartment and I retreat to mine. Something about this whole case is not sitting right with me. An uncomfortable feeling settles sourly in the pit of my stomach, but I have to ignore it. For now, I have to pretend everything is okay.
The next day Hailey is able to put a camera in Booth's office, narrowly avoiding being caught, but not before Booth threatens her with a knife. On a whim, I call her phone, and luckily, Booth answers, and I use the opportunity to introduce myself as a potential buyer. It seems like we've finally got the son of a bitch in pocket, but when we meet in person, he calls off the deal.
It's then that I realize Booth has a sick obsession with Hailey. We need to pull her out, and surprisingly, Voight agrees and orders us to shut down the operation. This clearly does not sit well with Hailey. I can see her holding tight to the anger inside of her, which slowly erodes her composure. Though, I doubt anyone else notices.
We agree to meet at the UC apartment to clear it out, but Hailey doesn't show up and doesn't return my calls. The sick feeling churning in my gut intensifies.
Hailey is making a desperate off-the-book move to get the deal back on track.
I call Kim and she pings Hailey's phone, the signal puts her near Booth's warehouse. I drive frantically there, knock on the door, but get no answer. I knock and wait. No answer. So, I knock again. No answer again. I knock again, harder, more insistent. Silence. I have Kim ping her phone again, but the signal is lost.
I return to the truck and hit the steering wheel with both fists as the realization sinks in.
Booth has Hailey.
Thank you for reading! All forms of comments/constructive criticism are welcomed. Next week we will find out what ensued. Cheers, D.