AN: Thank you once again for all the lovely reviews and comments about this fic - I'm glad you're enjoying the story and really pleased you've stuck with it. Hope you like this next chapter.
Starting over – chapter 7
The pop of the champagne cork caught her unawares and she giggled at the shock of it, trying to catch the fizzing liquid in her glass before too much of it escaped onto Luigi's tiled floor. It was her first trip downstairs since the shooting, the first time she'd felt up to socialising, but as soon as she set foot in the bar she realised how much she'd missed it, wishing she'd made the effort to come sooner.
"Great to have you back, Ma'am," Ray told her, topping up her glass before moving on to his own.
"Glad to be back," she murmured, surveying the crowd of smiling faces, the whole team here, apparently to mark her return from isolation. "It's lovely to see everyone again."
"Aye," replied Ray. "You've been missed, all right. We've all been looking forward to you getting back. Well, nearly all." He threw a dark look at Gene before moving aside to allow the others to give Alex their best wishes.
Shaz's enthusiastic greeting nearly knocked Alex off her feet, pushing Ray's cryptic comment from her mind, and she was soon engulfed in good wishes and kind words. She'd had no idea the team would be so happy to see her back and was delighted and moved by the scale of their welcome. Twirling from one smiling face to another, she spent the best part of an hour reassuring people about her health and telling them how close she was to complete recovery. Eventually tiring of being at the social centre, she sought refuge in a seat in a corner, dragging Shaz along to sit with her.
"You sure you're all right now, Ma'am?" Shaz queried softly.
"Really, I'm fine. Couldn't be better. Just still a bit tired, that's all."
"Well, you do look well," she agreed. "Will you be back in the office soon?"
"I certainly hope to be back at work in the not too distant future, yes."
"That's good," smiled Shaz. "The Guv'll be delighted to get you back."
Raising an eyebrow, Alex took a swig from her wine glass. Gene was on the opposite side of the room, chatting to Viv, looking more at ease than she could remember seeing him. In the ten days since they'd first made love, they hadn't spent a night apart. Somewhat to her surprise, and, she admitted, her relief, he hadn't wanted just a one night stand. The opposite, in fact – the more time they spent together, the more intensely he acted towards her. And she loved it. Despite all her modern sensitivities, her hard-fought independence, she revelled in Gene's all-consuming desire for her, the way he made her feel utterly wanted, cherished, possessed.
She'd been worried about the team seeing them together, that they'd guess there was something going on, but she'd done her best to act normally, as though she hadn't been welcoming Gene into her bed every night. They hadn't talked about it, but Alex assumed that Gene wouldn't want everyone knowing his private business, and what he and Alex got up to after hours definitely counted as private business. So she was being careful to keep up the pretence, none of the easy touches or intimate glances that had become second nature, no flirting, no overt warmth. She thought they were getting away with it, but it wasn't easy and she hoped they wouldn't have to keep their relationship hidden for too long.
Turning her attention back to Shaz, Alex shrugged. "I'm sure the Guv'll cope, whether I'm at my desk or not."
"If you say so, Ma'am," Shaz countered slyly. "But I still think he'll be happier when you're back by his side, where he wants you to be."
Pressing her lips together, Alex wasn't too sure how to respond. In the event she was saved by Chris, who came across to sweep his woman back into the crowd. Alone at the table, Alex realised she was growing tired, still not fully recovered from the effects of her injury. She took the opportunity to slip quietly away, stopping alongside Gene for a moment, whispering something quickly in his ear, before making for the exit and the sanctuary of her flat.
Watching as her heels disappeared on the stairs, Gene felt a pang at her departure. He'd been delighted that she was feeling ready to face people again, to socialise with the team, and she'd looked so beautiful at the centre of everyone's attention. Even though he'd spent the last ten days getting to know her body in the closest detail, he still caught his breath at the sight of her elegant features, her amazing curves. He still couldn't quite believe she wanted him, that she felt the same desperate need felt for her. But, miraculously, she hadn't kicked him out yet and he had no intention of giving her any reason to any time soon.
He couldn't help but feel a slight disappointment about her reserve this evening, though. He knew, of course, that she still wasn't feeling one-hundred percent, that she was a little nervous about resuming the social whirl with the Fenchurch East team, but he'd hoped, secretly, that she'd take the opportunity to let people know about their relationship.
She'd looked so good this evening, absorbing the team's good wishes with her usual grace, shining as the centre of attention, and he'd been struck by an absurd feeling of pride. He was proud of her, proud that she'd chosen to let her barriers down with him, but there was little justification for pride when their fling, or whatever it was, was still secret.
Of course, there was also the raging jealousy that burned in his gut whenever another man got near her. He'd thought it might have got easier now that he'd had her, but if anything the jealousy was actually more acute, making him more anxious as now had so much more to lose. He wanted everyone to know she was with him, that she was his, so that they knew there was no point trying anything on with her. But she was being so careful, detached almost, that he gathered she'd rather keep things secret for now. He would accept her wishes, of course, respect her desire for privacy, but it wasn't easy and he didn't know how long he'd be able to keep it up.
Half an hour later, after downing one last pint and exchanging a few friendly words with Viv, he made a discreet departure, slipping up the stairs while the team's attention was captured by Chris and Shaz's enthusiastic if tuneless rendition of Save Your Love.
Alex heard him on the stairs and let him in, sliding her arm around his neck and pulling him down for a kiss before he'd even made it through the door. "Been wanting to do that all night," she murmured into his mouth.
"Thought you were tired," he smiled, kicking the door closed behind them and pulling her into his body.
"Mmm," she agreed, nipping his jaw, "exhausted. Better get straight to bed."
"Right you are." He followed her to the bedroom, both of them shedding clothes along the way, so that by the time they hit the bed they were naked, arms and legs entwined, hands and mouths exploring with abandon.
"Love the way you taste, Bolly," he muttered, licking his way down her neck, pulling her tight nipple deep into his mouth. Easing her onto her back, he continued his journey down her body, kneeling between her legs, pressing kisses against her stomach, the inside of her thighs.
She was completely open to him and he breathed her in, the scent of her sending him spiralling. He'd never get used to this, the sight of her beautiful body, the way she squirmed beneath his fingers, his tongue. Bending closer, he swirled his tongue around her sensitive nub, smiling as her hips bucked towards him, her cries of desire filling his ears. He loved this, loved making her come, knowing that he could bring her to the peak of pleasure and beyond. She was pleading now and he slipped two fingers inside her, thrusting slowly, sucking hard until he felt her tighten against him, gasps and moans spilling from her lips as she crashed over the edge.
He gave her a moment before moving back up her body, taking her face in his hands as he pressed his lips against hers. "Gene," she sighed, "you're so good to me."
Smiling, he nuzzled against her throat, pressing his body close against hers. "My turn," he growled, the ache in his balls now a driving need.
"Seems fair," she mumbled, pulling him in for a lazy kiss before running her hands down his chest, taking his solid length in her grip. She loved his body, the strength in his shoulders, the length of his legs, and he hadn't disappointed in at any point in between. Pumping slowly, rubbing a soft thumb across his tip, she moaned as he thrust towards her, as he muttered her name.
"Want you, Alex," he grunted, slipping away from her grasp and raising up on his knees. He flipped her over, pulling her hips upwards, sliding into her in one thrust. He filled her completely and she gasped his name, pushing back against him, her hands flat on the mattress as she sought to take his whole length.
"God, Gene, so good." He bent low over her, pulling her back against his chest, one hand skimming the length of her body, lingering at her full, aching breast. Biting gently on her shoulder, he rubbed a thumb across her nipple, murmuring her name as she panted out her need.
He groaned as she twisted her hips against him, whispering, "Soon, Alex ," into her ear. She reached down her body, stroking herself, sending herself flying into orbit as he flooded into her with a cry of pure release.
Panting and sweating, they collapsed together to the mattress, twisting until she was nestled comfortably in his arms. She stared up at him through smudged lashes. "Have you been practising?"
"Only with you," he murmured, dropping a kiss against her temple. "Although I prefer to think of it as perfecting the technique."
Laughing softly, she kissed his chest. "I'm available for training sessions any time you like," she smiled, curling into him as she felt him slip quietly into sleep.
~ x ~
"Right you lot." Gene strode into the squad room, surveying the team, trying not to be distracted by Alex's empty desk. "We've got some intelligence on a major drug deal that will be going down on our patch within the next couple of weeks. Big time, expensive, dangerous. We know the importer is one Sniffer McHarris, previously small scale but now apparently moving into the big league. What we're less clear on is who is doing the buying. We know they frequent the Six Bells at Whitechapel, we know there's more than one of them, but beyond that it's guesswork. That's where you lot come in."
Gene paused and looked around the team. Chris and a few others were taking notes, most were looking attentive. Once again, though, Ray's attention had gone awol. Sighing inwardly, Gene continued, "We need to recce the location where we think the deal's going down. We need background on the individuals we know or suspect are involved. We also need to work out if we can infiltrate the gang we think are behind the purchase of the drugs."
A sea of nodding heads stared back at him, just one permed head staying still. Gene knew this was a sensitive operation with some tricky activity to be undertaken before they could claim a successful result. He desperately wished for Alex's insight, her confident analysis, but instead he was going to have to rely on Ray and the team. It wasn't an encouraging prospect.
"Shaz, you get onto records, see what we can find out about the known individuals. Chris, Frank, you get out to the location, bring back a report on the lie of the land, including information about places for stakeouts and the take down. Ray, I want you to get in with the locals at the Six Bells, see what you can find out about the buyers. Everyone else in support as and when. All clear?"
A chorus of "yes Guvs" rang out across the squad room as the team set to work on their assigned tasks. Gene watched as Ray got slowly to his feet, but instead of coming towards him for a more detailed briefing, he turned away and headed towards the doors. Gene bristled. "Carling! A word."
Ray made his way sullenly into Gene's office, picking up his notebook along the way. "What can I do for you, Guv?" he asked, shuffling a little, avoiding Gene's gaze.
"What you can do is take your thumb out of your arse and start behaving like a Detective Sergeant."
"Don't know what you mean, Guv." Ray stared through the office window at a point beyond the rear wall.
"I think you do, Ray. I need everyone on top form with this, and that includes you. If you've got a problem with my orders, you come and talk to me about it. Otherwise, just do your job and do it properly. Got it?"
"Yes, Guv." Muttering something under his breath, he turned and walked out, Gene's eyes following him warily as he made his way back to his desk.
~ x ~
Later that evening, after a cursory drink with the team, he slipped up the stairs to Alex's flat. She welcomed him with an enthusiastic kiss before serving up a plate of sausage and mash with a scotch on the side. He supposed he ought to worry about getting used to such domesticity, that he might start taking it for granted just at the moment when she decided to pull the rug out from under him, but there was no point denying it to himself – he loved coming to see her, preferred her place to his, felt that a visit to her flat was like coming home.
He couldn't seem to get enough of her. Just the smell of her, the strawberry thing she used in the shower, was enough to turn him on. It didn't help that she was so open to his advances; not once had she turned him away, pleaded a headache or being not in the mood. In fact, she'd initiated matters on more than one occasion herself. Such a contrast to his missus, who'd had to be wined and dined before every begrudging encounter. He still couldn't believe his luck.
This evening, she'd sunk to her knees in front of him, drawing him into her willing mouth, sucking him with a passion beyond anything he'd ever experienced. Her hands had wrapped around him, smoothing along his length even while her tongue circled his rim, cupping and stretching his balls, driving him past the point of no return until he exploded into her throat, pulsing into her over and over, until he collapsed, spent, against the sofa. Once he'd recovered he'd led her back to the bedroom and returned the favour, licking and nibbling until she thrashed beneath him, shouting his name, begging for release. He'd kept her at the brink for as long as he could, bringing her close time and again before easing away, until she eventually tipped over, thrown headlong into a climax that sent her spinning.
They lay curled together in the darkness, Alex's breathing gradually slowing to its normal pace, her head resting sleepily against Gene's shoulder. She peeked up at him for a moment, then nuzzled back into his body. "Gene," she murmured. "You've still got my spare key, haven't you?"
He looked down at her, questioning. "Yes. You know I have."
"Good." She pressed a kiss against his chest. "I like you having a key."
Hugging her closer, he told her, "I like having a key. Keep hoping that one day I'll surprise you in the shower."
"You know, you could bring a few of your bits over. Just so you don't always have to trek back to yours ever day. If you want to. Not to worry if you don't."
He tilted her head up to his and pressed a soft kiss against her lips. "I'll do that." He thought for a moment. "The team was happy to see you this evening," he told her. "They're looking forward to having you back."
She gave a non-committal mumble, adding, "Don't really want to rush back, Gene. Enjoying my recuperation."
Chuckling softly, he asked, "Do you know when you might be up to rejoining the team?" He hoped she couldn't tell how anxious he was for her return, how much he needed the team to see that she was solidly behind him. Despite his impatience, he genuinely wanted her to take as much time as she needed before coming back; rushing back to work before she was ready wouldn't help anyone. He just wanted her to be ready soon.
"Well," she whispered, "I wanted to talk to you about that."
"What do you mean?" He twirled a lock of her hair in his fingers.
"I was wondering whether I should think about transferring out."
He froze, a frown chasing across his features. "Why would you want to do that?"
Snuggling closer, she smiled into his chest. "I don't know how well we'd work together, now this has happened." She fluttered a hand around their entwined bodies. "If I'm honest, I don't know if I'll be able to go back to taking professional orders from you now I've seen you naked."
"I wouldn't worry about that," he mumbled. "You never took orders from me before." He tried not to worry, to take comfort from the fact that she thought their relationship was serious enough to consider upending her employment situation to protect it. But he couldn't counter his dismay at the thought of not seeing her every day at the office, not working alongside her. A cold panic engulfed him at the thought of her drifting away from him if she worked with other people. "Anyway," he went on. "We don't have to decide now, do we?"
"Course not," she mumbled sleepily, relaxing into his arms. He nodded and held onto her tightly, not letting go until he was sure she was completely asleep.