**a tad 'M' towards the end, couldn't seem to avoid it somehow**

Part 3 of 3

It is many hours later and she is laughing into his merry flushed face, "What in the world is a Clacton and why would I ever want to go there? You are NEVER going back to England so give it up, Caravan-Boy!"

"Oh, don't say that! We might go back… to visit, you know? My parents…" He hushes, suddenly uncertain. Can I still ruin everything? Even now? After so much hard work and exultant pleasure, can I still ruin it all? Well, of COURSE I can! I'm Richard Poole, after all.

She sees his self-chastisement and kisses him sweetly, "No, no, my darling, don't doubt yourself any longer. We've just started to forge a real partnership here. We need to understand each other… to make allowances for our different ways. What are you thinking? Tell me. That's another order."

He swallows, smiles tremulously, and nods. Yes, she's right. I can't keep myself to myself any longer. If she's in my life then she is IN my life… and that means telling her what I'm thinking and feeling. "I want to take you home," he says low, flinching, "I mean BACK… to meet my parents… when the time is right… when we are…" He falters, unsure of her reactions, still fearing the worst.

She smiles in victory. He's so shy. He thrills me even more now than before. Oh, I am so totally lost! And HE is so totally captured and taken and claimed and… and I have to kiss him once more! Just have to… can't help myself…

He gives her a questioning look once she leans back to his side, "What was THAT for? Surely you're not ready for more… more…?"

"More of you?" she smirks.

He has the grace to blush but nods self-consciously, eyes flitting everywhere but at her.

She stretches luxuriously and groans at all the tired muscles and exhausted nerve-endings, "Oh! I never thought I'd say this but… no, no more. I need to rest and get my energy back. You are one little black-hole of masculinity, aren't you?"

He huffs a laugh and continues to blush, "Please, Camille, don't tease me. I don't know what I'm doing. I don't want to jeopardize even one minute of this heaven by saying or doing the wrong thing."

She runs a possessive hand down his torso, "Oooo, no worries there. It would take something totally awful to make me mad at you right now."

"So, wondering about our future… that doesn't bother you?"

"Not at all, chéri, but let's not make too many plans for the moment. We have a lot of things to work out right here, right now. You're the man and I'm the woman but you're also the DI and I'm your DS. Somehow we have to forge a brand new partnership that fits into our old life as well as the new life we're going to build together."

She has found something new to fondle. He squirms in embarrassed pleasure before she gives him a final pat and nestles down at his side. He takes her into his arms with a sigh of relief. The sensual overload is hard to handle. His nerves are still jumping. How am I going to manage to sleep tonight? Tonight of all nights?!

Shhh, his mind whispers, sleep should be the last thing on your mind right now!

He reins in his libido with a stern warning and answers her, "That makes a lot of sense. We need to settle everything between US first… then we can tackle the rest of the world."

"Exactly," she breathes, glorying in the feel of him next to her; so warm, so soft, so firm, so Richard. She wiggles around a bit, trying to find more of him to press herself against, "Mmmm, if you were a blanket I'd wrap myself up and happily smother."

He chuckles, "Well, that doesn't sound like much fun, does it?"

"Oh, I don't know," she murmurs, feeling sleep stealing over her, "maybe I could make you into a suit and wear you forever."

"Oh, I don't know," he mimics, feeling sleep fall away once more, "You worked so hard to get me out of my suit, why would you want to put one on yourself?" He slips a thigh over hers, running a hand up her ribs to cup a breast.

She squirms in turn, "Oh, you! You can't possibly be serious! How much more can one man take?"

He nuzzles her neck, raw desire overriding his manners again, "As much as he can get, obviously! Will you deny me? Poor lonely little me?"

She can't help but laugh, "Oh! Not when you put it like that! How can I refuse such an impassioned plea?" She cups her breasts and mounds them firmly up for his inspection.

"Ah! Such loveliness cannot be ignored," he murmurs before once more dipping his head to her. He thoroughly enjoys her sounds as she submits yet again to his attentions. As he works her succulent body to feed his hunger, he marvels. What in gods' name was I so worried about?

As he spirals down into renewed bliss, a drift of air circles the room and he almost swears he hears another breathless whisper… much softer… almost indulgent…

… men … tsk…

Indeed, he thinks without thought as her body answers his, tsk and double tsk.

The storm rides out the night and so do they. Come the morning, they are awake and dressed, sufficiently sated with just enough sleep to brazen out their confrontation with Dwayne and Fidel, and ready to start their new life by catching a killer.

That evening, her secret stash of seducible comestibles and libations is thoroughly explored, exclaimed over, explained, enjoyed, and even worn briefly before being consumed to the utter satisfaction of both parties involved.

Into the wee small hours of the night.

Best money she ever spent.

END