Chapter 14

"I'm sorry dinner was rubbish."

"It's alright Robbie. I'm not with you for your cooking."

He took her hand, "So exactly why do you keep me around?"

Standing, she leaned over to kiss him as she put her plate on top of his. "Well you are a dab hand at cleaning."

He caught her arm, pulling her to him, "Are you trying to get out of cleaning?"

Glancing at the pan with the burn cannelloni, "I'm afraid I'm not certified for cleaning hazardous materials."

He started picking up the dishes, "I'll clean up my mess if you tell me one more reason you keep me around."

She lifted her wine glass to her lips smirking over the top of it, "Easy, you can reach things on the top shelves."

He turned to watch her as she walked away appreciating the sway of her hips. Carrying the dishes into the kitchen he rinsed them and placed them in the dishwasher. Returning to the table he picked up the salad bowl and dish with the burnt dinner in it. He looked at the dish, calculating how long it would take to clean it and made an executive decision.

Pressing his foot on the pedal of the metal can he dropped it into the container. He'd rather buy a new one than scrub it out. Perhaps he could tell James his recipe was to blame and convince him to buy them a new one.

He made quick work of the kitchen then headed into the sitting room in search of Laura. With wine glass in one hand and the bottle in the other he smiled when he saw her reclining on the sofa. "Quite the lady of leisure aren't you?"

"I believe you promised me home cooked dinners and back rubs when you retired. Do you know how long it's been since I've received a back rub?"

He topped off her glass then set the bottle on the table. Lifting her feet he sat and rested them in his lap, "I provided you with a home cooked dinner tonight." She raised a single eyebrow. "Well it was cooked at home, I never promised edible."

The edges of her mouth raised, "I believe edible is implied in the contract. Taking a sip from his glass, he thought for a moment. "Perhaps you would be interested in renegotiating?"

"What do you have in mind?"

"On my nights to cook, I will bring home takeaway." Seeing her look, "Of your choosing."

"And?"

"On nights you cook, I will do all of the cleaning."

"And?"

He set his glass on the floor and lifted one her feet. His thumbs pressed into the arch of her foot eliciting a pleasurable moan, "I promise a foot massage on every night you cook."

Letting her head fall back to the arm of the sofa, she smiled, "We are so close to a deal Inspector Lewis."

He changed feet, again pressing into her arch, smiling to himself as she pushed against his hand. "What will it take to satisfy you Dr. Hobson?"

A throaty laugh escaped her, "Well there is the matter of a back rub."

Before she knew what happened, he was on top of her, smothering her with his weight. "I'm happy to rub any part you would like."

Wrapping her arms around him, she pulled him down for a kiss. They were both breathless when it ended. She smiled, mischievously, at him, "Just my back will be fine. I wouldn't want you to think you were being rewarded for that meal."

Nibbling at her neck he laughed, "Perhaps if I do a good enough job on your back rub you will consider offering me a small reward?"

"You'll have to do your best work."

His hand moved up her side, cupping her breast. His thumb brushed over the taut peak, making it tighten even more. "I think I am up to the task."

"Then perhaps we should take this upstairs. Maybe you can add another reason for me to keep you around to the list."

He kissed her then stood, pulling her with him. "Go on up, I'll clear these glasses and be up in a minute."

She took his hand, pulling him behind. "The glasses will still be there in the morning."

Heat suffused his body at the look she gave him. He allowed himself to be pulled behind, "Who am I to argue with that kind of logic."

At the stairs he pulled his hand from hers then raised both hands to her shoulders. His thumbs dug into the skin, "No reason we can't start the back rub early."

She leaned into him, enjoying the feeling, hard, but not too hard. "We aren't going to stay on the stairs all night are we?"

Kissing her neck, he laughed, "No, that wasn't my plan. Just thought you deserved a preview."

She bit her lip trying to control a moan as his hands moved lower down her back. Her muscles were both relaxing and tightening in anticipation. She forced herself to take a step up, away from him. Looking over her shoulder as she started to climb faster, "You'll have to do better than that."

He took off after her, pulling her to him, capturing her lips in a tender kiss. She'd expected him to be a bit more forceful because of her teasing. The soft kiss melted her. Turning in his arms, her hands went around his waist, began untucking his shirt. To hell with back rubs, there would be other nights for those.

She started walking backwards, leading him to their bedroom. The kiss continued, moving from tender to needy.

The ringing noise took several moments to break through their haze. It wasn't either of their phones. Finally as Robbie pulled away breathless, "Doorbell?"

She pulled on him, "They'll go away."

An insistent pattern of ringing filled the house, "Or they won't. Go on, I'll answer the door and be right back."

She kissed him again, more insistently, "Don't be too long."

He watched her walk away then turned and jogged quickly down the stairs, tucking his shirt as he went. The doorbell rang again. He cursed under his breath as he opened the door.

James pushed past him, a bag of takeaway in one hand and case files in the other, "I think I found something. I thought we could go through these and get a head start on tomorrow."