Thanks to all who have read and reviewed so far. Apologies for the delay in updating – busy few weeks! Anyway, the next instalment …

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Chapter 9

"Well, thank you for a lovely evening, DCI Walsh."

"You are very welcome." He raised an enquiring eyebrow. "And what happened to 'David'?"

She turned to him, fluttering her eyelashes and affecting a low sultry voice.

"I have a thing for men in positions of authority. Did I not say?"

He snorted in amusement and Faye smirked at him, unclipping her seat-belt and reaching for the door-handle.

"May I escort you to your front door, ma'am? Us men in positions of authority tend to be quite old-fashioned about such things."

She suppressed a grin, charmed by him yet again. Best first date ever, bar none.

"You may, Sir. Do take care to walk on the outside of the pavement to protect my crinolines, won't you?"

Sliding from her seat she caught the rumble of his chuckle and it gave her immense pleasure to know she was the cause of it. As she walked around the car to join him he gave a little half-bow and proffered his arm for the short stroll back to the flat. She rolled her eyes, but slipped her arm though his anyway.

Outside the front door she paused and turned to him.

"I meant it, David. I had a really good time tonight. Thank you."

"Me too, love. Could I … um … take you out for dinner tomorrow night, maybe? I know this nice little bistro just around the corner from my place. Up to you, though. We could leave it if you think it's too soon … and I'm gabbling now, aren't I? Sorry …"

He would have said more but she pressed a finger to his lips to silence him.

"That would be really nice. I'll look forward to it."

Without breaking eye-contact he reached up and caught her hand in his, pressing a soft kiss against her knuckles. The breath caught in her throat at the tenderness of the gesture, but before she had time to react he released her fingers and leant in, brushing his lips tentatively over hers.

If anyone had questioned her afterwards, she'd have denied any culpability whatsoever in the events that followed: all of a sudden she found herself pressed up against the door, the two of them necking like a pair of horny teenagers, her hands fisting in his hair to keep him close, her hips grinding urgently against his. When lack of oxygen finally became an issue they broke apart, breathless and panting, shocked at how quickly an innocent peck goodnight had spiralled out of control and become an outpouring of repressed desire. They gazed at one another, blinking in some confusion, before Faye took the initiative, her heart still fluttering like a trapped bird beneath her ribcage.

"I … um … suppose I really ought to invite you in for coffee now."

Blushing, she avoided further eye-contact, straightening his tie and smoothing down his lapels, but he wasn't about to let her get away with it, tipping her chin up and forcing her to meet his intense gaze. Her knees threatened to give way all over again as she stared up into those arresting blue eyes.

"I'd love to, but I've got an early start tomorrow. Can I take a rain check?"

Faye took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, trying to regain some control over her body's traitorous reactions.

"You do realise "coffee" wasn't a euphemism for anything else, don't you? I'm not the kind of girl who puts out on a first date."

His lips turned up into a smile and then he leaned in to whisper seductively in her ear, his warm breath sending another shiver skittering down her spine.

"I'll let you into a secret. I'm not that kind of boy either."

Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he took her hands in his and gave them a reassuring squeeze.

"Text you tomorrow, OK?"

As he turned and strode off down the road she called after him.

"You'd better!"

He raised a hand in salute and she watched his tall, elegant figure until he crossed the road and was swallowed up by the gathering gloom. Rifling in her bag for her key, she stepped into the hallway and leant back against the door, reaching up to press two fingers to her kiss-swollen lips. If that snog was anything to go by, I really need to get horizontal with that man very soon. Or indeed vertical, for that matter. She imagined him taking her up against the wall, stifling a giggle as a shiver of arousal ran through her. She'd definitely be in need of a box …

xxxxx

Lorraine took one look at her flushed face and raised an enquiring eye-brow, a smirk tugging at her lips.

"Good night, then?"

Faye beamed at her, sinking back into the sofa with a sigh of contentment, knowing she wouldn't be allowed to keep anything from her best friend.

"Better than good. Amazing. He's attentive, funny, intelligent and drop-dead bloody gorgeous. And, oh boy, can that man kiss …"

She pretended to fan herself and Lorraine chuckled.

"Shall I buy a hat, then?"

Faye snorted.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, love, I need to check out a few more of his moves first. Preferably horizontally …"

"Wanton hussy."

Lorraine sniggered, placing a glass of chilled sauvignon blanc in front of her friend. Faye groaned, dropping her head into her hands.

"I know! He's taking me out again tomorrow night and I have no idea how I'm going to resist jumping his bones. It's been SO long and the man's a sex god. Did I mention?

"Maybe just once or twice. And he is a looker, I grant you. Almost in Jason's league, in fact."

She grinned and Faye sobered for a moment.

"Speaking of whom, how is he?

Lorraine's grin widened.

"Much improved, thanks. And coming home tomorrow, fingers crossed."

"I'm so pleased for you, Hon. And Jason, of course. Him being in hospital for the best part of a week can't have been easy on either of you.

Faye squeezed her friend's hand and Lorraine blew out a long unsteady breath.

"It really hasn't, specially with so many nurses hovering around him all the time. Honestly, when I went to visit last night one of them was sitting in my chair, bold as brass! Apparently she'd just 'dropped in' after her shift ended …"

Lorraine waggled her fingers around the words and Faye suppressed a chuckle.

"Attack of the green-eyed monster, love? You don't need to worry, he only has eyes for you, as well you know."

"Yeah, maybe. I still want him here where I can keep an eye on him, though. And it's not as if I don't have a perfectly serviceable nurse's uniform hanging in the closet, after all …"

Lorraine smirked and Faye chuckled.

"You go, girl! Gently, though. Remember the broken ribs."

Her friend sighed heavily.

"It'll be wonderful having him home but I guess it'll be a while before … well, you know … normal service is resumed, so to speak."

Faye nudged her, grinning wickedly.

"Don't you be so sure. Bet he's as horny as hell, and that's one place that escaped injury, luckily."

Lorraine turned to her friend, affecting shock.

"Faye! He's still badly bruised and in need of some serious 'R&R'. The thought never even crossed my mind!

Her lips began to twitch, and both women dissolved into a fit of giggles.

"Yeah, right. I'll just call you Pinocchio, shall I?"

"You know me too well …"

Faye lifted her wine glass and turned to her friend.

"Here's to the two of us getting laid again in the very near future!"

"I'll drink to that …"

Two women grinned at one another before clinking glasses.

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xxxxx

Hope people are still reading and enjoying. Think we might be back in M-rated territory very soon … well, if Lorraine and Faye have anything to do with it, at least!