Chapter 2 the flat

"You did good tonight Bolly" said Gene as he drove her home later that night

"Thanks" Alex smiled, appreciating the rare compliment

She kept noticing him looking at her, she was expecting him to make a sarcastic comment at some point but it didn't come.

Every now and then she'd get a waft of alcohol and cigarettes from him, but strangely instead of disgusting her, it was somehow reassuring and familiar. She still felt nervous, but now it was for a different reason. She'd been turning something over in her mind ever since they'd got in the car and as he parked up outside her flat she knew it was now or never.

Before she could chicken out she suddenly asked,

"Erm, would you like to come in ..for coffee?"

He looked at her for a disarmingly long time before answering

"Yeah.. why not?"

They climbed the stairs, Alex's high heels click clacking noisily on the tile covered concrete.

Her head was giddy with excitement and she had to check her self so she didn't giggle like a naughty schoolgirl.

God he's only coming in for coffee! What's the matter with you woman? She scolded her self, but then reasoned - Because you feel like this is the first time he's noticed you – properly as a woman and not just as a colleague!

As soon as they walked in the door of her flat, she slid out of her coat and hung it off the back of a chair. She bit her lip while she had her back to him and sincerely hoped she wouldn't make a fool of her self.

What the hell am I doing? God I'm acting like a lovesick teenager! Well.. if I could do it with Nicky Ravell - then I can do it with Gene!

She felt frisky and daring, maybe it was the dress, maybe it had been the successful conclusion to the job or maybe it was the way Gene kept looking at her, she didn't know. She'd seen a different side to him tonight and he'd seemed genuinely concerned for her. He'd saved her so many times, since she'd been here, but this was different, the way he'd burst in - he'd looked furious and Nicky had hardly done anything!

She felt his eyes burning into her as she walked into the kitchen to put on the kettle. Without her knowing he'd followed her and made her jump when she turned round.

He looked her up and down - again in that disconcertingly impassive way of his, but there was a soft mischievousness to his eyes this time.

She tried to look relaxed as she leant back on the kitchen counter, attempting to look as impassive as he did. He moved a little closer

"Come off it Bolly!" he purred "You were crapping yourself in there, weren't you? Just like you're crapping yourself now!"

"What are you talking about?" Alex retorted trying to sound indignant "I just invited you in for coffee that's all!"

He gave a skeptical snort and smirked.

"So this dress was all for him then?" he asked, reaching up to rub a finger along the inner edge of the front of her dress, following it down into the folds.

She breathed in sharply as she felt him lightly touch the side of one breast. She didn't answer, the words wouldn't come out.

He looked at her again his eyes burning into hers, she felt like he could see right into her soul and read her mind. She hardly dared breathe as his they became softer, the trace of a smile now playing on his lips.

He reached his hand up to her neck, slid the same finger under the dress at the shoulder and slowly began pushing it off. Alex knew he was goading her, waiting for her to tell him to stop, but at that moment she was like a rabbit in the headlights.

The mood was broken abruptly by the kettle whistling loudly.

"I'd better get that!" she managed, her voice barely an audible whisper. She whipped round to take it off the boil, but as soon as she turned back to face him, he asked again,

"Well Bolls? Was this for me or him?"

Alex still couldn't seem to answer, but she knew that in saying nothing she'd already answered his question. She felt nervous goose pimples begin springing up all over and her nipples stuck out like coat pegs - which hadn't gone unnoticed.

"So..got a thing for the Gene genie eh? Want a bit of rough do you Bollyknickers?" he drew himself still closer to her. Alex was sure he was going to kiss her then, but he didn't - he merely got so close they were almost touching then pulled back. Was this really happening or was he still just teasing her? Her breathing quickened making her breasts rise and fall heavily. Her expression was soft, though now slightly anxious, her mouth felt dry and she licked her lips.

He reached his hands up to her shoulders again and this time pushed both sides of the flimsy dress off, making it fall down her arms, stopped only by the erectness of her nipples. The slightest breath would make it continue it's decent to her waist. His eyes were locked into hers watching, still waiting to see if she would make a move to stop him.

Alex felt dizzy, her heart was pounding in her chest, so much so you could see it flutter under the skin of her collarbone. She could hardly bear the tension

God I wish he would just...

Then at last, he pulled her face towards his and kissed her, the warmth of his lips touching hers caused a shock like electricity to pulse through her body. She sighed and tried to lift her arms to reach around his neck, but was prevented from doing so properly by her fallen sleeves. She wanted to get close to him, to feel his warmth against her exposed skin; she felt vulnerable - she was barely clothed and he hadn't even taken his coat off.

His hands slid down to her breasts and he stroked and squeezed them gently. She wanted to tease him and say something disparaging like - "what's taking you so long?" "or "are we going to do it or what?" but she was scared he might stop and leave – she didn't want to spoil the moment.

"Gene..?" she managed at last, as he moved his mouth from hers to her neck, but she didn't know what to say.

Without warning he roughly grabbed the back of her thighs and lifted her easily up on to the counter top, pushing himself in-between her legs. She used this opportunity to pull off her sleeves – freeing her arms - and then reached up to push off his coat. He helped her by pulling it off the rest of the way. She tried undoing his shirt buttons, but frustrated by shaky fingers she just ripped it open instead. He squeezed her behind and pulled her closer; she wrapped her legs around him. The kiss became more passionate, more urgent. He pulled her skirt up, pleasurably discovering that she wasn't wearing underwear(she couldn't find anything in her eighties collection of knickers that didn't give her a VPL !).

She pushed her body close against his chest, enjoying the sensation of it's warmth against her naked breasts. He undid his trousers then lifted her up and while still kissing, they did an awkward half walk, half fall onto the sofa in the living area. Alex began to moan loudly as he began thrusting hard inside her and she writhed under him, pushing up her pelvis to feel more of him and allow him to go deeper. She just wanted him so badly and was completely lost in the moment; for now nothing else mattered. He couldn't get enough of her body, all the while they made love he kept rubbing, squeezing and stroking. She climaxed so quickly and so strongly, it took her by surprise and she cried out loudly. On seeing her come Gene quickly withdrew to finish by hand - an old fashioned method of 'birth control' he would know well, then rolled over onto his side. He was sweaty with exertion and they both lay there in silence for a while.

After a few minutes had passed he turned to look at her and smiled which made her belly flip, it was so rare to see him smile properly. When he did, his whole face lit up and his blue eyes sparkled, Alex felt he looked so handsome. He bent up his arm, leaned on his hand and looked down at her breasts, stroking round them in circles with the fingers of his other hand.

"You've got great tits Bolly!" he announced playfully, looking up again.

Alex gave him a wry smile - what was the punchline going to be?

"I'm not saying the rest of you ain't pretty fabulous too! In fact..." he continued, looking her up and down appraisingly, "you're probably the best bit of stuff I've ever ad!"

"Thanks!" she said in surprise, not really knowing whether to take that as a compliment or not.

She looked at him and smiled, she liked him as he was, but she now wanted to see the real Gene Hunt, the one he hid from everyone. She turned round to face him, touched first his face then his chest and slowly moved down to his belly. Considering how much he abused his body, he wasn't in bad shape, probably all that running around and beating up suspects! She dared to move her hand down lower.

"Bloody hell Bolls, let the poor bugger have a rest will yer!" He smirked

She moved her hand away again, she wasn't trying to get him going, she just wanted to touch him, to look at him, to find out more about him – to know him. She looked down at his manhood briefly before asking, "How many women have you been with Gene?" not expecting him to answer truthfully, or even at all.

"I've had my fair share!" he answered, rather stiffly, pursing his lips, "How many men have you been with?" he retorted back

Alex shrugged, "I..I can't remember exactly, not that many I don't think. I was always too busy studying, then there was my job and then I got married then there was my.." she stopped before she mentioning Molly, "but I had trust issues too I suppose"

"Fear of abandonment or of getting blown up?" he asked in what she felt was a rather tactless referral to her father.

But instead of answering she just sighed resignedly.

"Gene... don't you just ever..well..open up to anyone, talk about your feelings?" she asked tentatively

"Talking about your feelings is for girls and poofs! And I have a few trust issues myself!" he snorted, turning onto his back

Alex felt a little deflated at this.

"So that means you won't tell me how you really feel about me then?" she continued, leaning her head up on her hand.

"I fancy you, you fancy me!" he shrugged, "what is there to talk about?"

"You know what I mean!" she pushed

"Oh you mean the 'L' word!" he pouted thoughtfully

Alex raised her eyebrows expectantly, but he sat up suddenly.

"Where's me fags, I'm gagging for a smoke!" He asked rhetorically reaching for his trousers (which he'd kicked off when they'd lain down) and sat up on the edge of the sofa. Alex sat up too, bringing her knees up to her chin and wrapping her arms round her legs.

"Gene!" Alex scolded, still waiting for an answer

"Look Bolls" he replied at last, after lighting his fag and taking a deep draw on it " it's not going to be all champagne and roses with me, so don't start thinking I'm going to change overnight, or that you're gonna change me! I'm an arsehole! But I've had to learn to be one to survive in this job. That's why the wife left me, that's why they all leave in the end, because the job comes first. After sucking on the smoke a few more times he blew out fiercely and knocked the ash into a cup that had been left on the table.

There was a few minutes silence while they both contemplated their own thoughts

"Gene?" Alex tried gently, trying not to cough in the haze.

"I.." But she hesitated when he looked up at her. Should she tell him how she felt? No - it could wait, it wasn't the right time and she didn't want to rush things.

"Lets go to bed" she said instead, standing up and reaching out her hand.

"Good idea, we've got to be up for work in a few hours!" he replied - so matter-of-factly, that she was taken aback when he took her proffered hand as they walked over to the bedroom.

She was also surprised when, even though he'd seemed to have gone a bit cold on her before - when she climbed in next to him, he allowed her to get comfortable against his side. Her head snuggled into his shoulder and her arm resting on his belly. He reached his arm around her with his hand on her arm and squeezed gently.

They lay there in silence until Gene fell asleep and Alex watched him until she drifted off herself.