Friday

Sat propped up against the pillows, glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, a heavy tomb of a book resting on his lap, Robbie read. The evening sun had made an appearance at last, muted shades of orange casting a warm glow around the room, reflecting off the dressing table mirror and scattering the light yet further. From here he could see to the houses that backed onto the garden, the walls of which created a sheltered courtyard effect for the green oasis that was Laura's pride and joy. Not that he was paying it much attention.

After a long week of the most fleeting of conversations snatched in corridors or on the phone as they both dashed about the city, he'd found himself anxious to see her. He'd chanced that she might feel the same and decided to drop by unexpectedly and he'd been pleased with the welcome she'd given him, But after the briefest of kisses it was clear that she was busy trying to finish off her own work and so without a word he'd retreated upstairs, keen not to disturb her. The book was supposedly some light background reading for a case he was currently working on and as such had been recommended as entry level by a university don. But so far it was proving anything but. He looked up as he heard her light footsteps on the stairs and smiled to himself as she entered the room, his eyes then returning to the page he'd been tackling, frowning as he considered whether to quit whilst he was ahead on this one. Climbing onto the bed and lying on her side propped up on her elbow, took her time to look at him. If he'd caught her eye, the glint he'd have seen would have given him a clue as to how she felt about him being there, but his gaze didn't leave the page.

"Was it presumptuous of me to think you'd want to see me tonight?" he asked. He was mildly concerned he'd crossed a line that wasn't quite ready to be breached.

"Perhaps," she replied, "Although not as presumptuous as getting changed and making yourself comfy on my bed!" she teased, her hand moving to rest lightly on his leg.

It had been a surprise to answer the door and find him standing unannounced on her doorstep. His warm smile had softened any fleeting sense of anger she might have felt that he'd interrupted her such was her keenness to clear her desk ahead of a weekend free of work. But then he'd simply left her to it, not made any demands or had any expectations that she should bend to whatever thoughts he might have had in coming over. That had pleased her, his quiet consideration, and now she found that she was happy he'd made the effort, the tantalising prospect of him in her bed for the night. She could feel the heat of him through the traditional pyjama bottoms he favoured, pairing them as he did with a dark coloured cotton t-shirt, and slowly started to walk her fingers up his thigh and over his hip bone. She tilted her head back to see his response, a small smile on her lips as she saw him trying to keep his focus on his book but knowing full well he wasn't reading a single word. Her fingertips reached the hard bound fabric cover and taking it gently from his hands, she closed it and reached over him to place it on the bedside table, taking in the smell of him as her body lay briefly against his. She resumed the gradual ascent of her hand as it now caressed his chest, trailing a lazy circular pattern. She could feel his eyes on her now as her own gaze followed that of her hand as she traced a path lightly up the side of his neck, a days worth of stubble rough on her palm and finally she cupped his face, a finger gently stroking his cheek as her bright blue eyes met his in a crinkled smile.

"Why don't you ever wear your glasses at work?" she asked curiously.

He chuckled, "They already know about my experience and wisdom on all things, no need to lay it on any thicker for them," adding, "That and I keep forgetting."

"Tut tut, Inspector," her voice now low, "Well, I'm not sure you'll be needing them anymore tonight," she murmured as she removed them carefully and rested them alongside the book.

She moved closer to him, her lips lightly brushing his, her body now pressed up against him. She sighed quietly as she felt his arms encircle her in a warm embrace, pulling her in. He kissed her softly and felt her melt into him, and as their kiss intensified he could feel himself similarly responding, relaxing into her petite frame but with a growing urgency at her touch. The feeling of them together was still so new and yet so familiar. There'd been no awkwardness in shifting their relationship from friendship to something more. Well, the odd stumble, he conceded, recalling how overwhelmed he'd felt at her wanting him as much as he'd wanted her, but that has passed and now it was glorious just to be able to do this, to be together so intimately.

"You're thinking, Robbie," she said, pulling back from their kiss. "Something wrong?"

He smiled at her concern and moved his hand to touch her cheek softly. "Nothing at all. I was just thinking how lovely this all is. You and me."

She felt her tummy flutter at his words and smiled. He was right. Admittedly it was very early days but in all the time she'd hoped that they'd get to this point she'd never imagined it would be as wonderful as it was proving to be.

"Mmm, lovely," she whispered seductively in his ear as she moved over him, planting a chain of kisses from his ear, along his jaw line until their lips met again. He let out a quiet moan before reluctantly breaking away but only to suggest that they should close the curtains. She laughed lightly and moved to do so, before squealing in delight as he pulled her back down to the bed and kissed her passionately.


Afterwards they lay together, warm and entangled in each other's arms underneath the duvet, clothes left discarded on the floor. Her head resting on his chest, her fingers subconsciously stroking the soft salt and pepper hair on his chest. He could smell the sweet scent of her wafting up to him. Was it her shampoo, he wondered, or perhaps her perfume? He'd noticed it earlier when she'd bent over the slab in the morgue, reaching to show him something significant that she'd found on the body that had been discovered earlier that day. He thought he probably should have been paying more attention to what she was telling him but he'd only been able to think about how he wanted to hold her and have her fragrance surround him in quite a different way.

"Any plans for tomorrow?" she asked, interrupting his thoughts.

He shook his head, "None. You?"

"Not much." She paused, "Would you like to do something?" she asked lightly.

She was very conscious they were still finding their feet in terms of a balance. They already worked so closely together that she wondered whether even more time outside of work might send them down a dangerous path, familiarity breeding contempt and all that.

"Absolutely. What do you have in mind? Walk and a pub lunch?"

"Sounds good," she replied as she moved away from him to stretch out her limbs, her arms above her head, back arched. "What?" she demanded, catching sight of his grin as she did so.

"Oh nothing," he said, reaching for her, "There's just something quite alluring about the way you do that!" his hands sliding across the taunt muscles of her stomach as she laughed and wriggled to escape his clutches.

A raised eyebrow joined his grin as he caught sight of her naked form as it slid out from under the covers, which was met by his pyjamas as she scooped them up from the floor and threw them towards him, winking at him as she disappeared into the ensuite. He chuckled as he dressed and lying back down, his arms behind his head, sighed happily, delighted at the prospect of more time spent together tomorrow and feeling not a little pleased with himself that he'd decided to stop by at all.

To be continued…


Part three has turned into a bit of an unwieldy beast that's proving hard to tame but I'm desperate to start sharing some of it. I hope you'll check back for future instalments!

And I know, I gave him glasses! Don't worry, they won't appear again, or maybe they should?! I enjoyed the idea of Laura removing them so much I couldn't resist :-)