Separated

Chapter 1

They hadn't spoken to each other for a week and the tension was getting to him, John Mcbain, lieutenant of police, was working again for the third day this week. He was throwing himself into his work, because he hadn't seen his girlfriend, Evangeline Williamson, the District Attorney of Landview for a few days.

She insisted that they not be around each other, but only where cases were concerned and it was killing him inside to be away from her; he missed her laugh, her smile, and the feel of her lips against his. John knew that if he didn't see Evangeline soon, he would explode.

John decided to file one more report before he packed up and called it a night. As he was getting comfortable there was a knock at the door.

"Yeah, come in." He called to the person on the other side of the door.

In walked the Commissioner of Police, Bo Buchanan, also the uncle of Natalie Buchanan, a woman that didn't know when enough was enough.

"Hey, John how's it going?" Bo asked taking a seat in front of John's desk.

"Trying to wrap up a case and go home. What about you, how's Nora and Matthew?"

"Doing okay they're at home and that's where I'm heading. I just wanted to tell you I'm heading out and don't overwork yourself." With that, Bo stood up and walked toward the door, before he opened it, he turned toward John.

"Have you talked to Evangeline lately?" Bo was hoping that she could get him to lighten the load.

"Actually, no I haven't seen or spoken to her lately. So there hasn't been much personal talk." John took his mini basketball off his desk and tossed it in the air.

"Well, if you do, tell her I have a few cases I want her to look through."

"Alright will do."

Bo walked out of the door, and back towards his office.

Bo worried about John sometimes, he could wear himself thin. He only hoped that Evangeline could help him take his mind off work.

Two cups of coffee and an hour later, John was walking out the door, when he got a pleasant surprise. Standing by the desk nearest the door was Evangeline, the very person who haunted his every thought. He walked up behind her with an inch of space left between them.

"Hey stranger." He whispered in her ear.

"Hey yourself. What are you doing here so late?"

"I had a case to finish, I was just leaving. Why are you here?"

"I had to pick up some cases, and now that I have, I'm on my way out." Evangeline stepped away from John.

He took another step towards her and lightly grabbed her wrist; he turned her towards him.

"John, we shouldn't be doing this here, we shouldn't be doing this at all. I thought I made myself clear about where I stood with our relationship and where Natalie was concerned."

Evangeline wanted more from John but didn't want to push him into making a commitment, but she knew that until Natalie Buchanan was out of the picture or no longer an obstacle for them, that they couldn't see each other personally.

"I don't care about Natalie and what goes on between us stays between us. I just want to be with you, only you. I know you like being with me, so why can't we be together?"

John waited for her response; it was pure agony, not being able to feel her body next to his in an intimate way.

"What do you want me to say John? Forget about our problems, come home with you, and it will all turn out to be a happy ending?" She turned her whole body toward him and he could see tears streaming down her face.

John reached out and wiped a tear from her cheek. He didn't like to see her cry; it upset him to think he caused her pain.

"Hey look, don't cry. I just missed you and wanted to see you." John had that look of want and longing in his eyes that only Evangeline could fill and he was hoping he could convince her to come with him.

"I tired and I would really like to go home John. Can we talk about this later?" Evangeline turned to leave, but John pulled her into a kiss that started out sweet and turned into a passionate battle between them.

John ran his hands up her arms, over her shoulders, and through her hair; he loved the thickness of it, the deep ebony color, and how it fell on her shoulders and down her back. He traced the outline of her lips with the pad if his thumb and slowly parted her lips with his tongue to gain entry. He had waited so long for this moment, that he was afraid it was all just a dream.

She was the first to pull away; if she didn't stop now she knew she would have any control over what happened next.

John pulled up for air, but kept Evangeline in his arms.

"Still think we should be apart, when we work so well together?" He was still trying to convince her that being together was the best thing for them, but he could tell it was going to take more time.

Evangeline tried to pull away, but John kept his grasp on her. She figured once, he had her he wasn't letting her go.

I really need to get home John; I have a lot of work to do. We can talk later." She pulled away, this time he let her go … for now."