Thanks everyone for hanging in here! I appreciate the support.
Chapter Twelve
Michonne hung up the phone, finished writing a few notes she'd gathered from the client she was just speaking with and thought about planning an escape to anywhere but there. However, upon looking at her calendar she noted two upcoming meetings and realized an escape would not be happening anytime soon. Since she'd returned from Philadelphia, the sadness and fiasco that had been her attempt at being there for Mike, life had been a little insane. She'd traveled to London unexpectedly for a week because of a crisis at her job and was working with a significantly smaller team, but seemingly more clients due to another layoff. In addition to dealing with the craziness at work, she'd moved out of Angela's house.
Crashing with her had worked when Angela was distracted with Reggie and Michonne was busy with work, but when there was downtime and they were both in the home, things would get awkward, with Angela being anal about every little thing. As a result, Michonne was now a firm believer of the old adage that every queen needed her own castle and that friends can't always be roommates.
Michonne glanced at the time on her desk clock, her mind instantly going to Rick, how much she missed their daily talks. They'd kept their routine going, talking and texting multiple times a day during all of her chaos over past weeks, but the last few days' things had changed. She'd been so busy with work, dealing with the upheaval there, working extra-long hours, from sunrise to sundown, that she'd barely had time to text, and no opportunities for calls. But maybe that was for the best? She posed to herself. Considering how close they'd become, just with texts, calls and Skype.
Maybe they needed to slow things down. There was still three months to go until they could truly pursue something more than friendship. But that was under the assumption that by that time Rick would be divorced. They were way ahead of where she planned, connected in ways she never imagined, not that she was complaining. Nonetheless, what would she do if Lori wouldn't grant Rick the divorce? The woman had already been stalling for months to move things forward. Would she wait for Rick forever? Asking herself a question that stirred her with emotions she wasn't yet ready to face, and honestly she hoped she'd never have to.
She did however, need to connect with Rick, to hear his voice, feel his humor and the comfort he brought. Though they texted early that morning with her telling him of her jammed packed day and them wishing each other a good one, they hadn't communicated since, due to her being engaged in back to back meetings. Maybe she could reach out to him now. Give him a call before her next meeting. She mused with excitement. Michonne picked up her cellphone and was just about to speed dial his number when the administrative assistant for the floor peaked her head into her office and announced that Mrs. Simpson, her boss, wanted to have a brief discussion before their next meeting. Michonne hid her frustration well, pleasantly accepting the firm request, then gathered the stack of materials she'd need for the chat and followed the administrative assistant out the office, vowing to call Rick before day's end.
Rick didn't plan this. No matter how much he wanted different, he planned to wait to see her, to respect her request that they give it six months before they pursued more than friendship. But fate had stepped in, wielding its hand and changing things. Three months ago, he didn't know that he'd be in Atlanta for a law enforcement summit about improving relations between minority communities and the police.
His boss, Sheriff Jackson, had planned to attend. However, his wife was due to have unexpected surgery. So he'd sent his second in command, Chief Deputy Bratton, Morgan Jones and Rick, due to his leadership amongst his fellow sheriff's deputies in King County. Rick wanted to be a part of the discussion, but really didn't want to go due to things finally moving forward with his divorce. Lori seemed to be coming around and might just be ready to sign the papers.
Additionally, he and Carl were making tremendous strides in strengthening their rapport. Unfortunately, the Sheriff had stopped short of ordering him to go, and though the man wasn't terribly progressive, he made it clear that attending would ensure that the department would receive federal funding that would be a godsend for improvements that needed to be made throughout the department. In spite of this, Rick was still reluctant to go and was seriously considering rejecting the order, until he learned where the Summit was being held – Atlanta.
Rick stepped out the elevator into the lobby of the parking garage, then exited into a plaza that was surrounded by office buildings and luxury apartments. He looked straight ahead and spotted his destination - a high-rise of glass windows and angled roofing. This was Michonne's place of work. He thought with nervous anticipation. Suddenly his heart seemed to dance in his chest, to pound more fiercely and his hands felt unusually clammy. What am I doing? He questioned within. Am I being too confident? Too bold? They hadn't talked about this. She had no idea that he was in Atlanta.
Furthermore, their agreement was that they'd not see each other for six months, now here he was literally showing up on her doorstep, which could be interpreted in a number of ways, none of which were positive. Rick stared at the tall glass building, knowing that she was on the 23rd floor due to the many discussions they'd had about her job. He then took another scan of everything around him, noting the affluence of the area, the sophistication that was all Michonne. The excitement grew within him, heightening his desire to see her, to walk through that door, make his way to her office and find her. He knew that she'd be happy to see him. He could feel it, deep within his heart.
Even still he didn't know what he'd be walking into. She was at work, at least he hoped and wouldn't be expecting him. No matter how happy she'd be to see him, his visit could still be an unwanted to surprise. He should text her. Rick told himself. Let her know that he was there or give her a call. But he didn't want to. When he was honest with himself, he realized that apart of him was afraid of letting her know that he was there. She'd been so adamant about them waiting to see each other in person, to start a romance, that a part of him feared that if he told her he was in Atlanta, she'd turn him away. Not to mention the fact that they weren't together and he was about surprise her like they'd been officially dating for months. Hell, no woman would be cool with that. Rick thought as the doubt crept in and deepened, when he questioned whether she was even there. She could be away from the office meeting with a client. She could be traveling. Well he knew it wasn't the latter because she'd told him earlier in the week that she'd be Atlanta for at least the next couple of weeks.
Spotting a small café next to the building, Rick made his way to the restaurant instead of Michonne's place of business and quickly got seated at a table outside. It was a little early in the day for a drink, being as it wasn't even 6pm, but he ordered a beer anyway, hoping the Sweetwater brew would take the edge off. This is ridiculous. Rick scoffed to himself. You're not a 16 year-old trying to ask a girl to the prom. You're a man, who is going to visit a friend, nothing more. Making the decision he should've made a while ago, Rick picked up the phone to dial Michonne, but was stopped by a call coming through.
It was Carl. Rick spent the next 45 minutes speaking with his son, walking him through homework and talking baseball, while people watching and nursing his beer. It was a good conversation. Though it was a welcome change from where they were more than a month ago, Carl had yet to fully accept that his parents were never getting back together. After finishing the call with Carl, Rick had dialed Michonne, but her phone went straight to voicemail. He was disappointed. He wanted to tell her he was in town, that he wanted to see her, but he just didn't want to leave it out there like that, as a voicemail. Thus, he simply asked that she call, as soon as she got the message and hung up.
Rick took a breath, attempting to calm the knots in his stomach caused by the thought of her calling back. He then took a final swig of his beer, leaving it half full, threw a couple of dollars on the table for the waiter, exited the patio and made his way towards the parking deck. His stride was slow, his heart burning with longing, fighting his choice to leave this situation to a voicemail when she was a mere elevator ride away. His mind then recalled what it was like, the last time he'd seen her on that 4th of July night in Palmer. How beautiful she looked, how connected they were, what it felt like to touch her, to kiss her, to hold her.
Could he really be so close to her and walk away, with only the hope that she'd soon return his call? He questioned within, when he heard his name, the voice he knew so well invading his thoughts. Rick looked in the direction from which his name had been called, his heart now racing with excitement, when he saw her – the woman who he'd come there for, the woman who in such a short time meant so much to him. His breath quickened as they're eyes met. Her gaze shocked, yet mirroring the tenderness and joy he felt. Rick stood there for a moment, noting how incredible she looked, with her dreads pulled up in a messy bun, highlighting the beauty of her face, and the way the dress she wore fitted her perfectly, accentuating her curves and the splendidness of her legs.
"What, what are you doing here." Michonne quietly asked, as she slowly walked up to him, her gaze bound to his stare, warming her and weakening her all at once.
"Actually, I was just leaving." Rick replied in the same quiet tone, inciting a questioning look from her, which prompted him to continue. "I'm in town for a law enforcement summit…I know we agreed to wait 6 months, but…I couldn't wait, I had to see you." He admitted with impassion. Michonne briefly dropped her eyes at the hotness in his gaze, the power in his closeness.
"I'm glad you're here." She nearly sighed.
"Really?" Rick uttered with a small smile, heat and happiness rushing through him as he gradually closed what was left of the distance between them.
"Really." She softly confirmed, her heart racing, barely keeping pace with her breath, when he took her face in his hands, his eyes, a smoldering blue, for a moment holding her gaze, silently asking her permission, which she wordlessly granted, before he lowered his mouth to hers, faintly touching them with his, inflaming them both, then slowly, passionately taking her mouth. Michonne helplessly moaned and responded in kind, deepening the kiss, elevating the longing within Rick, when she remembered where she was, and languidly pulled back, leaving Rick breathless and wanting more.
"Can I take you to dinner?" He then asked, his mouth still so close to hers, tempting her to kiss him again.
"Yes." She breathed.
"Where?"
"There's a French restaurant down the street."
"French. Huh? How appropriate." He gently smirked, causing her to shyly drop her eyes and smile, before he then kissed her again.
Thirty Minutes Later
Rick and Michonne stumbled into her lavish condo, their lips locked in a flaming kiss, their focus fleetingly on closing and locking the door behind them, before they made their way to the master bedroom. Michonne stepped out of her three inch heels, while Rick discarded his Timberland boots, after which they moved to fluidly relinquish their clothes. Both assisting each other with unclasping buttons and zipping down garments, between passionate kisses that momentarily quenched their mounting desires.
Free of their clothing their lips met once more, their mouths feverishly melding together as Rick slipped his hands into her hair, loosening the pins that held it up, anchoring her lips to his with hunger. He then abandoned her mouth to graze her cheek, then drifted to her fragrant neck, causing Michonne to weaken in his arms, to moan. Pulling her tighter within his grasp, he returned his mouth to hers, rousing her to take control, passionately devouring his tongue while pulling him forward, walking them backwards until they reached the bed.
Rick amorously stared as Michonne lay nearly completely bare before him, with nothing but her lace undies and his boxers between them. She was beautiful. He thought with searing tenderness, admiring every inch of her body, that was a perfection of curviness and dark brown. Michonne caught his eyes when they turned back to hers, holding them as she slowly, sensuously unclasped her bra, mesmerizing him when she slipped it from her body and lightly tossed it aside.
Rick's breath stopped at the sight of her nude chest, the heat spiking in his veins, heightening the fire between them, when he stripped off his boxers, making her nervous, yet burning with hotness, at the flawlessness and fullness of his form. Rick lowered his taunt body over hers, and recaptured her lips with wild hunger, his tongue deeply probing her mouth, groaning at its sweet taste. He again moved to her neck, kissing a fiery path to her chest where he spent an infinite amount of time, exploring her sensuous mounds. He loved the way his caresses intensified her awakening desire, caused her to become more heated and pliant, to moan, to writhe beneath him, with every gentle squeeze, knead of his thumb, and feel of his mouth, hot and wet, tasting each peak.
Rick then traveled further, kissing a smoldering path over her belly, stopping a moment to gently attend to her navel, before reaching her panty line where he noted an elegant tattoo, that extended beyond the dainty covering of her undies. He tenderly kissed the small work of art, stirring Michonne to breathe his name, to open herself more to him, enticing him to move to the delicate valley between her thighs. Rick teased her to the brink of ecstasy, with the sensation of his mouth, moving the lace cloth against her, driving her to breathlessly sigh, to desperately want more, when he slipped her panties off.
He then fleetingly kissed her bareness, leaving her panting with yearning before surprising her by retracing his fervid path, coming to lay between her legs, his hardness, brushing against her. Michonne gasped, as he fervently assaulted her neck, fiercely tasting the sensitive spot beneath her ear, prompting her to force his mouth back to hers, to kiss him with intense need, setting him afire, driving him to fully surrender, to give himself to her completely, as he entered her with deliberate passion.