Ok, Ok! It took a while but something tells me you'll love the chapter. Please comment I'd like to know your opinion on it.

Slow

Gabriella Dawson's apartment.

Today had felt like living in a bubble. Day off from the firehouse, she woke up at 8 and went out for a run to work out the excitation on the day awaiting her. Positive excitation that was, a well deserved positive excitation for that matter. Even when the cold water hit her bed face, the bubble wouldn't burst. Even when her neighboor complained about her TV making too much noise, the bubble wouldn't burst. And even when she dropped half a cup of salt in her bolognaise sauce, it wouldn't burst. It tasted like she was eating underwater, but it was still okay. That's how that day felt, how she'd imagined it to feel.

After a long bath, she took the time to exfoliate and then mosturize. Strawberry scented products were akin to godsent as they reinforced the bubble sensation. Excitement came again as she pictured the outfit she would go for to turn his head. How crazy was it that she was there preparing for a date with her Lieutenant? She got to ask herself questions like what lipgloss he'd like, which dress would lit his eyes and what topics he'd like to discuss.

And that was a good question though, what would they talk about? What if this well expected date turned out to be ... Boring? And she felt everything come crashing down around her. The bubble threatened to pop. Quick Gabby, stay in the zone. Keep it going. Think about something else. Something good.

Midnight red, that's the gloss she'd wear, he would look at her and he'd be glad he asked her out. He'd wonder why he hadn't done it earlier. That was what would happen.

Make up; done. Hair: done. Outfit: to be chosen. Black or blue dress? Bodycon or loose fit? Loose fit, who was she, a nun? This was a date! Bodycon it would be.

The classic little black dress, flirty, sexy and the not-trying-too-hard outfit. Perfect.

Her phone rang. It was him, she grabbed the phone, held it to her ear with her shoulder and grabbed her purse. She threw a quick glance at the mirror and puckered her lips around a finger to remove the Midnight red excess. Out the door she was.

There he was. Deep gray slim fit shirt, a dark black blazer and the eyes of a walking firework to dress it all up. They shone so bright and suddenly the hours she'd spent preparing for it were worth it.

"Ready to eat m'Laday?" he forced an accent as he gentlemanly kissed her hand.

She giggled at the cheesy act. "Starving 'Muh mister" she attempted, cringing at how lame it sounded.

He made a face "Neh, you could have done better"

"Agreed"

He smiled and led her over his forearm and they started to the car. Gabby kept wishing for someone to pinch her. It almost felt like an out of body experience except she looked at the scene from her body. It was the feelings that felt a mile away. Like wrapped up in a box somewhere. But she would open the box, right? It would all be fine.

In the restaurant, her eyes kept getting bigger. Every second brought a surprise. Indian cuisine in a traditionnal decor. The walls were in marble, gilded moldings of oriental patterns ornated the immaculate rooftop. Each table was covered in an embroided red and gold table sheet and the glasses were expertly placed on both ends. Gosh even the chairs were masterpieces! Handmade embellishments carved the rustic wood with the precision only a dedicated pair of hands could deliver. The wonders of colours and scents did nothing short of immersing her in the culture. Spice scented incents sticks burned nearby which sent her nostrils in heaven.

Speechless from the start she had just be talking it all in. So that was it. Dating Lieutenant Casey was far from her dreams, in a good way. And that was not the best. She felt like she had been walking through India as she walked across the restaurant. Too distracted by the many wonders she encountered she forgot the whole purpose of that place: food. A table, that's where they were going. So where was it?

A balcony awaited straight ahead, her smile grew wider as she started to put the pieces together. They were eating outside. He went out first and helped with the step. The night sky offered a clear view on the stars it housed, some brighter than others. The crescent moon shone above the terrace as to witness her magical moment. But, better yet, the terrace overlooked the Chicago bridge and lake. Her home as she'd never seen it.

"Wow" she finally spoke her eyes didn't leave the water. She let her gaze venture the subtle reflection of the moonlight and the light from the bridge

"As you said." He kept his orbs on her "you look stunning".

She smiled with her teeth "Thanks" and sat at the table.

"So apparently, you jinxed the day?" he said all teases.

And the discussion went on about how the jinx wasn't intentionnal. How Mouch had been a consistent buzz kill.

"His show isn't even telenovela good" he laughed

"What, you know it?"

"I'm their Lieutenant, I know a lot I'd like not to"

"Hey, when did this jinx rumor thing even start?"

He stopped as he was about to take a sip of his glass of whine and frowned.

"No-one told you?" he said as though it were incredible.

She shook her head.

He bent toward her and invited her to lean in as well.

"It started one cold winter night" his voice was warm with a hint of mystery " But let me give you some backstory first" she nodded "The afternoon was dead silent, no cat stuck in a tree, no blocked elevator, nothing"

"A perfect day" he nodded in agreement

"The whole team enjoyed their bags of chips in front of the Chicago bulls game. It was a calm day at the house just how we like'm"

"And" her eyes widened in suspens

"The game was good, the lakers were leading 2 to.."

"Matt!" she circled her hand

"The night fell, a biting cold came with it. They were all gathered in the kitchen drinking coffee and having a nice time. Off at midnight, that's a rare thing. No calls for 36 hours. It felt like a dream. But on that horrible night."

"That build up though. Spil the beans, I wanna know"

"Shhh! You're ruining the atmosphere."

She giggled and focused again, a finger on cealing her lips.

"October 5th, 11:45 pm" He said with the horror story voice again "They could almost taste their freedom. They heard birds sing and saw butterlies everywhere. It had been a good day. Up until that dreadful incident. The one that changed everything. A curse darkening the brightest days" He talked with his hands. "The whole day everything had been perfect, except for one guy, everything he was told to, he did wrong. Mopping the floor: the secretary slipped and almost broke a leg. Cooking dinner: He put a handful of salt instead of a pinch. Practicing: he slammed his hammer 2 milimeters away from his lieutenant's face. It was almost as if he had been " he held his palm upwards the tip of his fingers pointing at Gabby.

"Jinxed" she completed, "but that doesn't say how it happened"

"Be patient. I had to set the mood first"

"Uhuh?" she smiled, he responded showing his teeth

"11H50, 51, 52 it all went so slow. They all sat, on the floor, on the couch, keeping their eyes peeled for the liberating moment. 56, 57; Still no alarm, no call for the team, 58. 2 more minutes and there it was, they could all go home. But then the jinx got up and screams No calls for the shift, champaign's on me! And the alarm screams not even a second after that.

She burst out laughing and even had to put down her food.

"What?" he asked half joining in

"That was so bad!" she laughed again "All that build up"

"What? I'm a good storyteller!"

She laughed even harder "Yeah, yeah you are" and and giggle followed, this time he laughed too.

After dinner they decided to take a walk, neither ready to cut the evening short. He put his hands in his pockets and she rubbed her arm, flipping her hair out of her face. Sexy black dress but not very warm. The wind brushed through her face, forming tears in her eyes and she tried to look at his eyes.

"You cold?" He said, taking off his blazer without taking the time to hear her answer.

"You don't have to do that," she looked for a tissu in her bag.

He looked at her eyes "Yes I do" he placed the blazer over her shoulders and delicately placed a kiss on her head.

She walked and bit her lip as to hold in the words begging to come out. He saw that, loved that expression on her face.

She finally met his eye, "ok what's the catch?"

Caught off guard, he almost startled "What do you mean?"

She shrugged "the fancy dinner, the charming story, the romantic walk by the water. Where does it go wrong?"

"Why would it go wrong?"

She shrugged again "I just want this night to stay as is: Perfect"

He sighed in relief "Me too," he stopped and got closer to her, she stopped on the spot, under the streetlight. The beam on light kissed her face, showcasing her golden skintone and the lucious lip color she'd picked. Her eyes had never been that way, vulnerable with a hint of bold. Tender but full of desire. And at that moement he wanted his blazer off her shoulders, he wanted her dress on the floor and her shoes in the water. But that would not happen so soon. He would make sure to keep her comfortable. He would ensure it was what she wanted too.

But would a kiss be alright? All the signs pointed positive. She looked ravishing as always, she had not once broken eye contact. He could go for it.

He leaned it, preparing his lips for the pucker but hers met them with such passion he took no time to think. The soft caress of her mouth sent shivers down his back. His hand cupped her shoulder and the other one brushed through her hair. She pulled herself in onto his chest, the warmth of his body only brought her closer, she folded her arms over his chest letting her hands rest on his shoulders for a moment. She then flew them to his neck to pull him in for another taste as they broke the kiss. He grinned under her lips and surrendered to her wishes. His lips synced up with her as he felt her body tremble under his touch. Unsure of what it meant, he offered to get in the car.

He grabbed her hand and slowly led her to the car, smiling at the perfection of the moment. She also smiled like an idiot. The kind of idiocy she could get used to. He accompanied her to her seat, opening the door for her. She refused to get inside and looked at him with seductive eyes.

"Ok!" He headed to the driverseat "But it's your loss, I've got a heating system integrated"

"Yeah, I gathered" she said a finger in her mouth. When did she get so naughty?

He laughed and sat behind the wheel? She got in the car as he turned the heat on literally And figuratively. His eyes gazed at her neck as she watched them follow the trail of her cleavage. She cupped his face and pulled him in toward her she kissed down his neck and enjoyed hearing his heart beat faster. Her hands felt like feathers rushing through his body. She left his begging for more as she took the caress away, her lips slipped between his in a heartbreaking separation. Her head now rested on the seat-pillow, her breath was loud and her finger danced on her neck and collarbone.

"Why'd you stop?" he whispered, in a transe. The burning pupils were back and they raged harder this time.

"I'm trying to calm down. I wanted to take it slow" she struggled to catch her breath.

"We can do that" he answered holding on to the feeling of ecstasy running through his veins.