A/N: Katie and Ned have always had to deal with working opposite schedules and even living far apart from each other. Here are a few snip bits. Two are at the beginning of their marriage and one is a little later ;) I'll put the ages in bolt at the beginning of each scene. Enjoy! xx Mariah
Katie - 22
Ned - 26
With a great deal of reluctance, Katie stepped out from the bathtub and wrapped herself in a comfortable fluffy towel - the water's getting luke-warm and Ned left a voicemail on her phone; he's getting home soon.
They may share a life together but—due to an out-of-county investigation that lasted well into the previous night and an early-morning call to a murder scene, followed by another precinct requesting Ned's expertise —she hasn't seen her husband in almost thirty hours, let alone touched him. She missed him.
She traded the towel for her favorite silk nightgown and bathrobe and put on some music. The jazzy sounds coming from the Bluetooth speaker she had on her side table filled the room just as she heard the distinctive footsteps of Ned coming up the stairs.
"Hey, you," she greeted. "How was your day?"
Ned toed off his nice dress shoes then took off the laptop bag hanging on his shoulder and let it fall with a sigh. Her husband looked exhausted, but he smiled at her when he saw her as if he can't help it. "It's so good to see you, Katie. I thought today was never going to end."
She took his suit jacket off his shoulders and puts it on the edge of the bed with one hand. She let the other trail up his chest to his neck and pulled him down into a kiss. She got home from school hours ago, but it's only now that it really felt like it, with Ned holding her and kissing her like she's his whole world.
Soon enough, the tender kiss turned more passionate. Ned moved a hand from her waist down to the small of her back, almost on her ass, bringing her closer against him, and she can feel herself getting wet already. She's holding his head now, one thumb stroking the helix of his ear and enjoying how the tension seems to drain from his body when she tugged on his hair slightly.
"Katie," he breathed reverently against her mouth.
He looked delicious like this: his hair was going every which way; his suspenders were askew and sliding off his shoulders a little bit. She carefully unclipped his detective badge and placed it on the bedside table.
She knew he was waiting for her to take the lead.
"Tell me, baby," she said. "What do you need?"
"I want to make you feel good. I want to feel you, please, baby..." He sounded out of breath already. As always when hearing how much he wanted her, she felt almost dizzy with pleasure.
"Of course, love. Let's get you out of these clothes, yeah?" She tried to walk them back toward their bed while unbuttoning his shirt.
He'd already finished untying his tie, not caring that it fluttered down to the floor when he tried to help her with the buttons. Their hands keep bumping in a very unproductive way.
"Hands off," she told him and stopped walking to better concentrate on the shirt. In answer, he pushed his suspenders down, his pants falling along his legs in the same movement.
Stepping back, Katie took the bathrobe off but left her nightgown on. She liked how the fabric felt on her skin, cool and sensuous at the same time. The fact that its deep-necked, the short cut was particularly sexy on her doesn't hurt.
Ned was trying to keep looking at her and take off his socks at the same time without falling down, which was the opposite of smooth, but she found it endearing. God, she wanted him so much.
The second he's upright again, she tugged him towards her until he buried his face in her neck, mouthing at the soft skin there. Katie moved her legs slightly apart, taking the hint, and he started stroking two long fingers between her folds, alternatively spreading her wetness against her and caressing her with increasing pressure.
"Yes, Ned, that's so good, oh—" she gasped, hips involuntarily rocking against him.
Soon she just wanted his mouth on her too badly to wait anymore. She considered sitting on the edge of the bed—which was much easier than the bed—and have Ned kneel in front of her, but she wanted to be more comfortable, so she removed his wicked, talented hand from her sex and pulled him to the bed at last.
She moved across their king-sized bed and sat against the headboard, legs opening seductively, the bottom of her nightgown pooling around her hips and revealing her to him. Ned, still standing, was practically devouring her with his eyes, and waiting for her say-so.
Come here, baby," she said softly, waging her pointer finger at him.
Not needing any more direction, Ned kneeled in front of her and started trailing his hands up and down her legs, getting slowly closer to her, kissing reverently her clavicle, her shoulder. He moved down to suck gently on the outside of her breast, then lower on her torso when she pushed him on the head.
"Don't tease, honey. Get to it," she said sternly.
She relished his careful explorations and any other time, she would let him worship her body to his heart's content, but wasn't in the mood for slow.
"Anything you want, sweetheart," he smiled at her and lowered his mouth between her spread legs.
He parted her with one hand and started licking at her with his tongue up and down, moaning at the taste of her. For a while, he sucked her center lightly before going back down to tease her entrance with his tongue. Katie can't refrain from a little cry when he alternated the broad licking with sucking on one side then the other.
"That's so good, Ned, yes, don't stop..." she encouraged, panting now.
Still, she wanted more. She wanted him, and her hips started moving in small rolls. Ned grabbed her thigh tighter with one arm and answered her unspoken request by sliding two fingers in her with his other hand. He stroked her and sucked and licked without faltering, utterly focused on her.
Katie knew that right now, all that matters to him was her and her pleasure. The thought was just as exciting as his caresses, and she was getting closer now.
She told him so. "Ned, baby, I'm almost there," she whimpered as he continued to suck lightly until she relaxed completely, then lifted his head to look at her. He looked just as blissed out as she felt, but his cock was still hard.
She rubbed her thumb along the wetness of his lips. His hands, still resting on her legs, tighten at that action, and he leaned forward slightly, although he doesn't say anything, waiting on her decision.
"Come up here," she said and lowered her left leg slightly against the mattress.
He slowly moved onto his knees, gazing down at her with such desire and need burning in his dark eyes. And she welcomed him, drawing him down to her, holding herself still as he began to move inside her. The frisson of happy nervousness that she always felt with Ned passed quickly as he slowly worked his full length inside her.
He was hers, and she had always been his. Always.
She clung to him, meeting his thrusts, panting harshly. His lips against her skin made her shudder with need, and the lube and her arousal made her incredibly slick.
"Oh my God," she moaned.
"Yeah," he whispered. "You feel so good..."
With every gasped breath, she couldn't stop crying out. He felt so big, so thick inside her, and she bucked with his thrusts, meeting him over and over. A tingling prickled against her skin, and she buried one hand in his hair, stroking his muscular back with the other.
An intense wave of pleasure swept over her and she cried out even louder. "Oh my God! So good..."
"Yeah," he growled. "So incredible, Katie. I love you."
She broke with a shrill sobbing cry of pure need and love, still moving with his thrusts, but every muscle in her entire body seemed to tense. For a few seconds, just before she reached the height of her orgasm, she was fighting him, fighting this. Fighting the need to give in.
And then she loosened her grip on his hair and let herself fall. She arched, her eyes rolling back, sobbing loudly. He was still sliding in and out of her, and her legs were still wrapped around him, but she had lost all control and God, she loved it.
He leaned down and put his lips against her ear. "Open your eyes, beautiful," he whispered. "Look at me."
She listened to him, trembling, whimpering. She cried out with his next two thrusts. Then he moved so deep inside her, his eyes glazed over and locked with hers, and she was panting for breath when he came.
"Oh, fuck," he moaned, and she tried to tighten her grip on him, but her strength was spent.
She tugged weakly and he sank to her, still joined with her, her body cushioning his. His heart was beating just as fast as hers. She held him, her eyes closed, her legs still wrapped around his waist. His lips brushed her shoulder and she shuddered.
They remained that way until she felt herself beginning to doze off, and from his even breathing, she knew he already had. With a soft sound, she gently shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position under him.
"Mmm." Ned brought his head back up, his handsome eyes drowsy from exertion. "Sorry, honey. I'll move."
She smiled. "As much as I love you, you were crushing me a bit."
He gently moved out of her, then got comfortable on his side of the bed. She cuddled up against him, both of them still naked.
"You're incredible," she murmured. "That was so good."
He stroked her hair a few times. "Good. I'm happy," he murmured. "I love you."
"I'm happy and I love you too." She closed her eyes, relishing in their closeness.
Katie - 24 (4 months pregnant with Asher)
Ned - 28
Casting a guilty look at the other side of the bed, Katie slowly eased herself up and propped her back against the headboard. Ned was asleep, and she didn't want to wake him up because he was on the complete opposite schedule of her, but she couldn't seem to go back to sleep.
She didn't experience insomnia very often, maybe a few times a year at most, but it had gotten more frequent since she'd become pregnant
Katie thought about getting up, maybe making herself some warm milk or tea, but the house was cold and Ned was warm as a furnace next to her.
She glanced over at her phone but put it away when the glaring light of the screen gave her a headache. Reading didn't appeal; she would have to leave their bed or pull up something on her phone, and that didn't seem like a good option. Even turning on the television and muting it might wake Ned.
He had been working so hard lately, and he needed these few hours sleep. She did, too. So why couldn't she just relax and sleep?
She drew a long, deep breath and released it as a silent sigh, reaching up and taking her hair out of its clip and running her fingers through it. Her fingers were starting to feel chilly, and arms were bare despite the freezing temperatures.
She slid from their bed and the chill was even more penetrating without the warmth of the blanket, leaving her nipples hard-tipped as she walked toward the front door.
"Mmm. Katie?" He muttered sleepily, raising his head from his pillow. "Where are you going?"
"Hey," she said softly, coming back toward the bed. "I was going to get something to drink."
"What time is it..." He brought a hand up, vaguely, his eyelids heavy with exhaustion as he saw the clock read one in the morning. "It's late, baby. Just get some water from the bathroom sink."
She shrugged. "I wanted some tea. I couldn't get to sleep," she murmured and ran her fingers over the swell of her stomach slowly. "The baby has been kicking up a storm."
"Hmm. Come back to bed," he mumbled, waving her toward him.
Katie smiled but did as he asked and slid back under the covers. He pulled her to him, her back to his front, and wrapped strong, warm arms around her.
"Oooh. You're cold," he said, laughing slightly against her neck.
"Don't worry, I'm sure I'll be warm again soon," she shivered as he rubbed his palms against her arm and nuzzled against the nape of her neck.
"Sleepy yet?" He whispered.
"Not sleepy enough," she sighed. "I don't know what's wrong with me."
"Mmm, I know just what you need..." His palm brushed against the side of her breast slowly and she shivered. "Still too cold?"
She smiled, even though he couldn't see her. "Yep." He slowly covered her breast with his hand, then caressed her gently through her shirt. "Somehow I doubt this is going to relax me into sleep," she reluctantly murmured.
"It will after," he promised softly, kissing her neck lovingly. "If you want?"
"Mmm... yes," she replied.
He kissed the nape of her neck, then slid his hand under her shirt. Because he was spooned up tight behind her, his thumb brushed her nipple and she could feel that he was becoming aroused, but he didn't act on it. Instead, he fondled her breasts until she was gently writhing, and then he slid his other hand under her to take over as he traced a slow line down over her belly to her panties.
Her mouth dropped open and she arched against him as he cupped the join of her thighs. He traced the slit of her slowly, kissing the back of her neck as he teased her, and her heart was pounding. When his thumb grazed her center, she whimpered, twisting a little, and he was fully aroused now, just as she was.
"Yes," she moaned softly. "Oh, yes, baby."
"More?" He whispered in her ear.
She cupped her hand over his as he kept caressing and fondling her breasts, stroking her nipples. "I want you inside me," she whispered.
She felt him smile against the back of her neck, and then he pushed her panties down a few inches, just enough. Then he shifted away from her, and when he pressed against her again, she could feel him snug up against her. Half the time he didn't even bother to wear underwear to bed.
"You feel so good," Ned murmured, his breath warm against her skin.
His fingertip traced up and down, stroking the slick lips of her, and she moaned again, softly. When he very gently dragged his fingertips against her, then rubbed the slick warmth of her arousal over her center, she gasped, shifting, trying to open her legs to him.
"Please," she whispered. "I want you so much."
"I want you too." He kissed her just behind her ear. "I want you hot, wet and ready for me..."
By the time she was completely ready for him, she was shivering, but not from the cold. She shoved her t-shirt off and threw it to the floor and her panties were still hooked around one ankle, and it was all she could do not to just strip entirely naked. She could feel Ned panting against her.
"Now?" He asked.
"Yes," she whimpered, reaching behind her, stroking her palm against his hip. "I need you."
When he first began to move inside her, she arched, her mouth falling open. He was still fondling her breasts and stroking her clit, and being completely in his power, just reacting to his caresses and the feel of him against her, was incredibly arousing.
She kept her hand against his hip, feeling his muscles flex as he thrust in and out, slowly, filling her completely before sliding out again, until his cock was completely slick with the warmth of her arousal. He gently nipped against her neck and she moaned softly as the first spasm of her inner muscles clenched the sheath of her around him.
For a second she felt guilty. Ned should be asleep, but she sobbed when he plunged into her again.
"Yes," she cried out. "Oh God… yes..."
Her orgasm was slow, incredible, and when it glazed over her, her hips jerked. She turned her head and Ned's mouth touched hers, and she kissed him hard. Then he broke it off, groaning as he felt her spasm around him.
"Shit," he breathed. "Baby… I can't last much longer."
She felt his hips buck as he came, and they both panted as the aftershocks left them trembling against each other. He stayed inside her and she slumped against her pillow, closing her eyes, sated.
Once they could move again, Ned drew his hand up to drape over her belly lovingly. He dropped down to his knees to press a kiss to the swell there. "Mmm. Tired?"
"Yes," she sighed. "Oh my God. I think I can fall asleep now."
"Good." He moved to up to kiss the nape of her neck again, wrapping his arms around her. "I love you so much."
"I love you more than you know," she whispered, snuggling against him, draping her arm over his.
Katie - 31
Ned - 35
Asher - 7
Willow 4
"Time for bed, sweetheart," Katie told Asher as she entered the room.
Her son looked up from his workbook and sighed. She had to stifle a laugh because the little girl looked exactly like his father at that moment, his expression a mix of impatience and frustration. So she just smiled and pressed a kiss on her forehead.
"But I have to make sure I did my homework right," Asher protested, green eyes big and pleading with her.
Katie mimed rolling up the sleeves of her blouse and leaning over her. "Alright. Let's go over it and then off to bed."
Asher's smile was bright. "Okay, Mommy."
There was only one problem incorrect in his math assignment. Katie explained to her son why it was wrong, pointing at the digits and having him go over the mistake he made in subtraction.
She grinned as Asher let out a squeal of delight upon realizing where he went wrong, quickly correcting his answer. Then he closed his workbook and put it in his backpack.
"Alright, sweetheart. As agreed, to bed." She reminded him and followed him over to his bed to tuck him in.
Asher put his arms around her as she was kissed on the forehead. He continued to hold on, whispering conspiratorially, "Daddy says you smell like cinnamon rolls."
She turned red but laughed anyway. "Did he? Was he right?" She asked.
"You smell sweet," he giggled.
She gave another kiss then went to Willow's bedroom. She had to smile upon seeing her daughter already in bed and pulling the blanket over her legs. The four-year-old's brown eyes widened and she held out her arms. "Mama, I want goodnight kisses!"
Katie sat down beside her in bed, put an arm around her shoulders and kissed her. "Tucking yourself in, baby?" She asked.
"Yes, mama. I'm a big girl now," Willow answered, snuggling her dark brown head against her chest.
"That you are. But hopefully, you'll never be too old for Mommy's kisses, hmm?" She asked, holding her tight.
Willow shook her head. "Never!" Her daughter put her small hands on her face and whispered, "I love you, mama."
"I love you back, my sweet girl." Katie hugged her tight. Was it wrong to wish that her daughter remain a little girl forever? "Sleep tight. I'll see you in the morning."
"Is Daddy home yet?" Willow asked.
"Not yet. He's still at work pumpkin," she whispered, kissing her cheek. "He's keeping the town safe, remember?"
"I remember. He's good at his job," Willow said softly. "I wish he was home more."
"He tries his best, baby." She said. "I'll tell him you miss him being around for bedtime and inner and see what he can do, okay?"
"Okay," Willow slowly leaned back into bed as Katie kissed her once more. "Nite mama."
"Goodnight, baby." She said, slowly walking toward the door and slipping out into the hallway.
Katie walked into her room and went through the usual nightly routine after she'd put the kids to bed. She changed out of her clothes she'd worn since coming home from work and got into the shower, washing the grime of the day away.
Then she got out and put her robe on, beginning her skincare routine before going to her closet to find something to wear to bed.
It was when she dropped her robe when Ned came into their bedroom.
"Looks like I came just in time," he said, closing the door behind him.
She heard the little lock on the door click, smirking.
"Oh, did you?" She asked, glancing over her shoulder as she reached for the nightgown hanging on the closet door.
It was green and see-through. Everything Ned liked on her.
"Mhmm. Did the kids miss me?" He asked. "I didn't want to stay late, but something came up."
"Yeah. They did, but it's fine. We all understand that things happen, honey," she said as she slid the straps of the nightgown on and walked to their bed. "Willow really missed you though."
"That doesn't make me feel better," he sighed and sat down on the bed.
She slowly moved over to sit behind him. "Hey… I didn't mean to say that and make anything weigh on you. I know you are so overwhelmed at work because of all those rookies transferring to different precincts," she said firmly, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
He leaned back into her, inhaling her soft scent of honey vanilla. "I just can't get all of it out of my head," he muttered. "I don't want to think about work at home, but I can't get it out."
Katie gazed up at him, her dark eyes soft and warm. "Do you want me to make you some tea? Sometimes that helps me sleep." She laid her hand on his cheek, lightly tracing a rhythm with her fingertips.
He glanced over his shoulder at her, meeting her eyes. "I think I need something stronger than that after today," he whispered.
Katie licked her lips. "I know exactly what you mean," she sighed. "The kids were crazy today. Willow didn't want to eat her dinner and Asher was worried about his homework… Plus I have all these essays to grade by next week."
"You've got a mindful too," he turned around to face her. "And you take care of everything here… I don't know what I would do without you."
"It's worth it. You put in a lot of work around here too when I can't," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him closer to her now that he faced her.
"Yeah. I try my best" he said, smiling. "I love you."
"I love you too," she said and kissed him.
She sighed against his tongue, cupping his face in her palms as his hands palmed her ass roughly, pressing her body hard against him. She pushed her tongue past his lips as he rubbed his erection against her, the fabric of his clothes giving extra friction of the contact.
Ned made an impatient sound as he dropped on one knee and parted her thighs. Katie gasped as he pressed his nose against her, groaning crudely that she tasted as she wanted him.
He was too good and she quickly came under the ministrations of his skillful tongue and fingers, then she pulled him to his feet and kissed him adoringly.
"You're the best part of every day," he said during a pause in their kiss. He thumbed at the red swell of her lower lip before sucking it between his teeth.
Katie whined, her toes curling. Her hands flailed before they fell on the waistband of his pants. Her fingers were shaking as she fumbled with his belt, dragged the zipper down. Eagerly, she cupped him and her husband hissed, biting harder on her lip.
They disentangled from each other so they could get rid of the rest of their clothes. Katie quickly got rid of her nightgown and laid on the bed, her cheeks pink and her smile shy but also touched wicked as she watched her husband toss away his clothes, and there was no other man she would want, could want as much as Ned Banks.
He was standing at the foot of the bed, his erection in his hand and started rubbing it. "I want you to touch yourself," he told her hoarsely. His eyes burned like wildfire. He stared longingly at her. "Show me where you want me."
She was blushing hard but over the years, she learned the thrill of touching herself while he watched. She rested her back against the pillows as her hands climbed to her breasts. Her eyes closed at the warmth of her palms on her sensitive, tightening nipples.
"Here," she moaned, eyes opening slowly as she pinched and pulled at her nipples. "I want you here."
"Imagine my lips around them," he told her and his voice was guttural as he continued stroking himself, the floorboards creaking as he edged closer to the bed. "Imagine my teeth grazing them gently. Biting oh so carefully."
She nodded, doing as he commanded. She licked her fingertips and gave her nipples a rough pull. "Yes, oh god, yes." She moaned softly as her legs opened.
Ned was staring at her with a glazed look. "You look so beautiful like this," he groaned and with a creak on the mattress, then he took her in his arms and kissed her, lips prying hers open and tongue easily finding hers.
She flung her legs around his waist, ankles crossing in the middle of his back. They continued to kiss, attacking each other's lips ravenously.
Katie was keening and thrusting desperately against him as his tongue licked her throat, the valley between her breasts and finally the red pout of her nipple. He tugged and nipped at the swollen nub harshly, drawing sharp, ecstatic cries from her.
"Please, please," she begged, turning a little to give him her other breast, where another nipple was hurting from so much want. "Ned, oh god!"
He was relentless with her nipples even when his cock was thrusting sharply in her. He watched her writhe and cry out as he repeatedly into her, reveling at the intensity clapping into him like the relentless waves of the sea in the storm.
A rougher tug on her nipples sent her over the edge with a scream and she tightened around him in retaliation for what he had just put her through. Ned cried out and buried his head on her shoulder as he came, lean hips pounding harder against the cradle of her thighs.
Her orgasm was beginning to wane while he was still fucking her, flooding her with sensations. She panted against his lips as his fingers resumed their assault on her nipple, drawing out her release some more while his body, now limp and so heavy against her.
Her eyes were limpid, sapphire pools as they stared back at him. His gaze was soft and tender. She turned her eyes toward the ceiling. More lazy swirls of his tongue on her nipples before finishing with a hungry kiss. Her nipples would be sore—they were sore now, actually—they were covered in each other's sweat and the mess dripped down her thighs.
Playing with his sweat-damp golden hair, she murmured, "Is this the best part of your day, hmm?"
Ned kissed her on the cheek. "You're always the best part of the day."
Katie smiled sleepily at him. "I love you."
"What a coincidence, I love myself too," he joked.
It got him a punch on the shoulder and he yelped. Laughter shook their bodies. Ned slipped down beside her and pulled her to his chest. He threw a long leg across her hips.
Immediately contrite, she kissed him on the shoulder. "I'm sorry."
"I'm strong enough. But I forgot about your impressive right hook." He winced jokingly as he embraced her. He kissed her on the lips lingeringly. "I love you so much. More than I ever thought I could love someone."
She snuggled deeper against him. She loved sleeping in his arms, surrounded by his warmth, his heartbeat lulling her into a sweet slumber. He pulled the blanket over them and held her tighter, dropping a kiss on her shoulder and a good night. She caught his lips with hers and kissed him, just murmuring his name.
Just before they drifted off to sleep a soft knock came to the door.
"Mama?" It was Willow. "Is Daddy home yet?"
Katie reddened while Ned burst out laughing.
"Oh, no, we woke her up," she whispered in mortification.
"She might've had a bad dream," he told her as Willow continued knocking. "Just a second, baby," he called over his shoulder, sitting up.
She huddled under the blankets, then went on to duck her head under a pillow.
"Daddy, you are home! I heard Mommy yelling," Willow said, still knocking.
Ned chuckled again as she sunk further into the bed, groaning about wanting to die.
"Yeah, mama is fine, baby. Just a second… I'll put you back to bed, okay?" Ned was saying as he reached for his pants on the floor.
"Okay. daddy," Willow called back.
"Looks like you'll get your wish to tuck our sweet daughter in, after all, my sweet," she said, still hiding under the pillow and the blanket.
"That. As well as knowing for sure that's there's nothing wrong with her hearing. Just think how much we'll save on insurance from that alone. Although I have to say, your sexy screams could rouse anyone from the deep." He smiled at her pale, freckled shoulder peeking from the blanket and kissed there. "Don't go to sleep yet. I intend to come back for seconds of my favorite dessert," he whispered.
Katie let out a loud, exaggerated snore.
Ned rolled his eyes and went to the door. Willow was standing there, looking cute and sleepy. She looked a little cross at being rudely awakened but her face melted into a darling smile as her father picked her up.
"Let's get you back to bed, baby," he told her.
"Why was mama being so loud?" Willow asked just before he closed the door and walked down the hallway with his precious daughter in his arms.
"She was just having a bad dream, but don't worry, Daddy loves her for it," was his muffled but definitely smiling reply.
Katie pulled her head out from under the pillow and shook her head. "I heard that," she called out to him.