************
Safe within the circle of Frank's arms for the first time in weeks, Shay did not want the moment to end. Still, there was the case to get back to and they were expected back at the office to report to the Captain. Regretfully she sighed as she pushed out of his arms and moved to leave the bed.
"Uh...no," Frank said and pulled her back into this arms.
"Tiger, we can't stay here all day, as much as I'd like to." She propped herself up on an elbow to see his face clearly.
"Mmm...I know, I know." He kissed her lightly on the tip of the nose. "There's the little matter of Jake's report we need to discuss." He sat up and brought her with him, placing her across his lap.
"I'm listening. Although, there's a certain part of your anatomy that's pressing against my thigh, making it difficult to think."
He chuckled and leisurely ran his hands from her shoulders down and over her breasts, pausing to knead them softly. He finally rested his hands at her waist, his thumb drawing delicate circles on her soft flesh. He held her firmly against him and was amazed at the power she had over him. That he wanted her again after just making love did not surprise him all that much. She had always had that affect on him. There were nights when they made love endlessly. When he thought he could not possibly have the strength to love her again, she would touch him or her breath would fan his heated skin and he would be once again lost in his desire for her.
Shay licked her bottom lip when his hands trailed over her. Already the ache at her core was throbbing incessantly. But they had already been gone too long. "So, what did Jake have to say?" she asked, not really caring about anything at that moment but the touch of his hands on her skin.
He really did not want to talk, just touch and feel, but he slowly turned serious. "Jake called in last night. Brunell made what could just be an idle threat. But, Ash...I saw the way he was looking at you today. He wants you."
"Frank, you're jealous," she accused. She had seen Brunell scrutinizing her, but felt it was more to gauge what her position was on his case.
He arched an eyebrow at her, letting her know just how ridiculous her statement was. "Shay, we discussed this. You know there's a possibility of retaliation."
She nodded. "Retaliation, Frank. Not, 'hey baby, let's bone'."
He took her by the shoulders and gave her a gentle shake. "This is serious."
She pushed his hands away and crawled for the edge of the bed. "Like I don't know that? Sweet Jesus, Frank! I'm not an idiot." She reached the edge of the bed when she felt his fingers circle her ankle.
He tugged her back onto the bed and rolled her over to face him as he lay atop her. "I'm just asking you to be careful," he whispered.
Their faces were so close; she could feel his breath fan her cheeks. In his eyes she read the concern and fear for her safety. Even as partners, he would not be able to watch her 24/7 and it was tearing him apart.
"I know, Frank. I'm sorry," she whispered in return before his lips descended to hers.
He pulled away suddenly. "We should go." He kissed her.
"Yes." She kissed him.
"This is us going now," he said, chuckling as he kissed her again and her legs wrapped around his waist.
"Uh-huh, we're going," she purred as he joined his body with hers in a perfect union.
************
"That was some lunch," Captain George stated irritably as Mike and Brenna returned to the office.
"Had a flat tire," Mike replied effortlessly as he seated himself at his desk.
"Oh, is that so?" he asked Brenna sarcastically.
"Yes, sir. Real flat," she replied, looking straight into the Captain's eyes.
"Tell me about the Brunell case," he demanded, his irritation clear.
"It's his and his partner's word against the witnesses. It's your call, Sir," Mike replied.
Brenna shuffled through the downloaded reports that came through on her laptop while she and Mike had been out of the office. "Sir, before you make a decision, there are a few more things I would like to check out."
"Very well, Detective McKendry. I will wait on your report before making a decision."
After the Captain left the room, Mike shot her a questioning glance. "Financial reports finally came through. I had to go through a few...um...cod-ed channels to get some of this information. We're going to need some time to sort through it."
Mike caught the floppy disk she tossed to him and shoved it into the drive on his laptop. "What the..."
Brenna nodded. "Two mortgages. Both under his ex-wives names. And we aren't talking middle-class here, Lt. We're in the mansion prices."
"Not to mention vehicles," Mike commented tapping his lower lip with two fingers. "He drives a classic Corvette Stingray...his ex-wives both drive brand new Mercedes."
"And look at these alimony and child support figures. No way he can make this on his salary." Brenna looked up just as someone approached their desk. Detective Alisha Kent. Well, that didn't take long.
"Hey, Bren. Ya gonna introduce your partner to the rest of us deprived souls?" she joked.
Brenna inwardly seethed. Alisha did not even have the courtesy to look at her when she spoke. Instead she blatantly gave Mike the once-over, and Brenna easily read the attraction Alisha felt for Mike.
"Of course. Lt. Mike Richards...Detective Alisha Kent." Brenna forced herself to turn back to the reports she had been reading while Alisha made her move with Mike.
"Well, Mike...I hope you don't mind...we're pretty informal here."
"Not at all, Alisha," Mike smiled charmingly.
"Good. A few of us are going for drinks later at O'Malley's. Would you care to join us?" As an afterthought she added, "You, too, Brenna."
Brenna looked up at the other woman with cool eyes. She knew full well the invitation was for Mike only. "Thank you, no. I have a lot of work to do."
Mike nodded. "We've just made some headway in this case and..."
"Oh, Lt., don't let that stop you from getting to know everyone," Brenna said sugar-sweetly. "I can go through these reports and get you up to speed in the morning."
Mike knew she was baiting him. If he did not go, he would create a rift between himself and the others in the department. If he did go, Brenna would make his life hell. He was between a rock and a hard place.
"See...nothing to keep you tied to your desk this evening," Alisha interjected.
Brenna almost gagged at the sound of the purring voice coming from the other woman. If Mike did not make his decision soon and send the woman on her way, Brenna was sure she would come over the desk and rip the woman to shreds. That would not help their case one bit.
He cast another look at his partner who smiled sweetly at him. Oh, he knew that smile. That was the 'I know you have to do it, but I'll hate you anyway' smile. "Thank you, Alisha. I look forward to joining you and the others."
After Alisha said her goodbye, Mike opened his mouth to make assurances to his partner. Brenna put up a hand. "Forget it," was all she said before burying herself back in the reports.
************
O'Malley's was definitely a cop bar. More precisely, it was for Brass and IA, who were segregated from the rest of the division. Brenna had given him directions to the joint and it did not take more than a second for Alisha to sashay to his side once he entered the place. "Good evening," he said, smiling down into her upturned face.
He sighed inwardly, hoping this evening ended quickly. Even if he was looking for companionship, Alisha was not his type. Shorter than he preferred, she was perhaps five foot five. Short brown hair, full lips and whiskey brown eyes, she curved in all the right places, and was exceptionally well endowed, but still, she did nothing for him.
"We've got a table in the corner," she informed him as she led him to the small group of IA agents and introduced him.
He settled in for an evening of one-upmanship between the men and warding off the advances of Detective Kent, who did little to hide her attraction to him. More than once he had to remove her hand from his thigh, although he did it in a manner that she did not suspect her touch annoyed him. He would gently remove her hand from his leg, place it on the table and cover it with his own for a short time. Smooth, Richards...real smooth.
Two hours and two beers later he made his leave with Alisha following closely. She insisted she needed a ride home because she had had a little too much to drink and made it obvious whom she would like to give her a 'ride'. Uncomfortable, but having no reason to refuse her without raising the suspicions of the other men at the table, he had acquiesced. Alisha sealed the deal by surprising him with a full-blown kiss to the lips. He nearly choked when she forced her tongue into his mouth, but fought the urge to push her away and returned the kiss.
"Come on, Detective...let's get you home," he said, his voice dripping with insinuation for good measure. They left the bar followed by chuckles and catcalls from the other cops.
************
To be continued...