************
Yawning tiredly, Shay sat at her assigned desk in the IA office going over Jace Parker's statement. Her nightly ritual was still intact; she barely slept. It escaped her how even after two months she still reached for Frank in her sleep and woke immediately when she could not wrap her arms around him or curl up into his embrace. Once awake, there was no getting back to sleep.
Because a daily routine of Captain George asking her out to dinner had been established for the past month, Shay never looked up when he approached her desk. "Tired. Not in the Mood. The answer is still no."
"That's all well and good, Detective. I'd like you to meet your new partner, Lieutenant Mike Richards," George bit out.
Shay groaned audibly and looked up into a pair of dark chocolate eyes that sent her pulse racing and her head swimming. She blinked slowly as if trying to clear her vision.
"He out ranks you, Detective, so he's senior partner. Fill him in on your case and get to work," he ordered before leaving the two alone to get acquainted.
"Brenna McKendry," she said, holding out her hand. When he folded her hand into his, the current of electricity she felt almost caused her to jump out of her skin.
"A pleasure, I'm sure," he said with a smirk. "Mind if we discuss the case over breakfast?"
"Not at all," she replied, getting to her feet and gathering the files. She shoved them into her briefcase and followed him out of the office.
--
"So the nature of this case is to prove Officer Brunell planted the knife on the victim?" Mike asked as he took a bite of his blueberry bagel smothered with cream cheese.
"Basically, yes. We have five neighbors willing to testify that the knife was planted on the man and he was merely using the back yard of the residence to cut through to his own property. He had nothing to do with the drug ring. There is also the matter of Officer Parker's deceit. That will need to be dealt with as well."
"Have you interviewed Brunell yet?"
"No. We have a meeting scheduled with him at 11a.m. He's off duty today and requested the meeting take place at the park near his home. Do you have any objections to that?" She studied him while she waited for his answer. He was extremely handsome, with rich black hair and superbly chiseled facial features. My God! The man was perfection.
"It's unusual, but I see no problem with it," he answered quietly.
************
Sitting at a community chess table in the park across from the two IA agents, Brunell regarded them stoically. The man, Lt. Richards, was not with the lady detective yesterday when she interviewed Parker. There seemed to be uneasiness between them and being newly formed partners might explain that feeling.
His gaze slid to the woman, whom he noticed glanced to and away from her partner quickly. Well, her obvious trouble adjusting to her new partner was of little concern to him. He just wanted this to be over, and in his favor.
He knew a way to get to the lady detective - a way that would make her mold to his wants and needs; a way that would make her a willing partner in his schemes. She was a lonely woman and sexually frustrated. He could smell it on her. Yes -- one good fuck and the bitch will be mine.
He smiled inwardly as she repeated her question. Being somewhat of a ladies man, Pete had no doubt he could get the pretty lady into his bed. Jace had been wrong about one thing. She was not cold. He could see the pent-up passion that hid behind those icy blue eyes.
"No, Detective, I did not plant that knife. I assure you, the man went for a weapon. I saw the flash of metal just as my partner shouted a warning."
Mike stared blankly at the officer. He read through the smug exterior as Brunell examined Detective McKendry. He saw the predatory look in his eyes as well as if the officer had the words "I'm gonna take her" tattooed across his forehead.
"How would you explain the witnesses willing to testify that you did plant the knife?" McKendry asked coldly.
"Oh, I don't know," he answered sarcastically. "Could it be that I arrested half their families over the past few years?!"
Brenna jotted down a few notes before asking, "And did you at any time ask Officer Parker to confirm that the suspect had a weapon on him?"
"No, Ma'am. My partner witnessed everything. There was no need to ASK him to do anything."
"Thank you, Officer Brunell. Lt. Richards, do you have anything further?" Brenna asked, glancing at her partner.
Mike shook his head and extended a hand to Brunell. "We'll be in touch."
Brunell shook his hand and then reached for Brenna's. He made note of how she gave no acknowledgement as he stroked the back of her hand softly with his thumb.
************
Brenna slid into the passenger side of Mike's black Chevy Silverado and sat silently while he pulled the vehicle into traffic. She watched him as he weaved in and out of traffic, taking alleys and side streets all the while watching the traffic behind them in the rearview mirror as if to make sure they weren't being followed. He pulled into the driveway of a two-story house and eased the truck into the garage. He clicked the remote and the garage door closed slowly.
It was only when the overhead door closed that he jumped out of the vehicle and made his way around to open the door for her. He reached out and grasped her by the waist and helped her from the large truck.
Moaning with pleasure as her body slid along his, she took delight when he crushed her firmly to his chest as he wrapped her within his embrace. "Is it really you, Tiger?" she half cried, half moaned just before their lips met in a demanding, heated kiss.
After a long moment, Frank broke the kiss to look upon her face and the changes she had made to her appearance. "I miss the honey shade of your hair," he murmured as he dropped tiny kisses over her entire face.
"Is that all you miss," she asked, laughing softly.
In reply, he swept her into his arms and carried her into the house. She twined her arms around his neck as he carried her up the stairs and into the room he was using as his own.
"Where are the children?" she asked, the urge to see them overwhelming.
"I told your father to take them to the park. It would be harder for them to see you and not understand why you couldn't stay," he explained. His heart ached for her as he watched a tear slide down her cheek. He sat her gently on the bed and knelt in front of her. "Maybe bringing you here was a bad idea altogether."
"Maybe it was. I yearn to see my children...to hear their laughter and watch their little faces light up with each new discovery they make. Ariel's so young..." Shay trailed. She touched a gentle hand to Frank's cheek.
Frank covered her hand with his and gently removed it from his cheek and kissed her palm. "I couldn't bear another day without your touch," he admitted. He laid his head in her lap and sighed longingly as she ran her fingers through his hair.
She lifted his head and smiled lovingly into his eyes. "You surprised me today, Tiger. You were the last person I expected to see, but words can not express how happy I am that I'm here with you now."
"Then no more words, darling Ashling," he whispered, his lips feather light against hers. "Let us show each other our feelings instead."
Shay felt near giddy at the thought of touching her husband intimately and being once again touched by him. It had been so long. As if possessing a mind of their own, her lips captured his hungrily, her tongue sliding past his soft lips to touch and stroke his tongue sensually.
He moaned deeply within the kiss, delighting with each touch and caress of their lips and tongues. He felt Shay's hands trail from his shoulders to the buttons of his shirt. Each button presented its own obstacle that she overcame deftly as their passionate kisses stoked the flames of desire that burned brightly within each of them.
Frank undressed her slowly, first unbuttoning the cream colored silk blouse she wore. He draped it carefully over a nearby chair before urging her to stand and helped her remove her tan slacks.
He took a moment just to take in her beauty as she stood before him clad only in her eggshell bra and panties. He lifted his hands to her hair and removed the pins that held her hair in the twist to let it fall free past her shoulders. A vision, his Ashling was, and never had he realized just how long two months had seemed as his gaze took in her loveliness.
He quickly shed what remained of his clothing and gathered her into his embrace. Passionate and demanding, his lips captured hers in a hungry kiss as he eased her down to the bed and all was forgotten, even if just for a couple hours, except their love for each other and the pleasure they would bring to their union.
************
To be continued...