Thanks again for all the kind support. The next instalment …

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Chapter 12

"Guv, tell me you didn't. Not 'The Albatross' …"

Sam rubbed his temples and Gene grimaced, cradling his drink.

"She caught me at a low moment. Believe me, I'm not proud of it."

The younger man patted him on the shoulder sympathetically.

"Sorry, but I have to ask …"

Gene nodded, not meeting his eyes.

"I drove her home from the pub, she practically ravished me on the stairs, and then afterwards she started on about cookin' me breakfast and us spendin' the day together, like we were an item. I got out of there sharpish, I can tell yer."

Sam winced, shaking his head ruefully.

"I bet you did."

Gene pouted for a second, his brow furrowed.

"Funny, I thought she'd give me the cold shoulder afterwards but I couldn't move fer the next couple of weeks without her makin' eyes at me. Tried the avoidance technique and she seemed ter get the message, but then she turned up in the Railway Arms again one night."

Sam blinked at him.

"Please tell me you didn't ..."

Gene shrugged.

"I honestly don't know. I went ter the gents and when I got back she'd bought me a whiskey, seemed churlish not ter drink it. Next thing I know I'm wakin' up in her bed stark naked with a poundin' head and a mouth like the inside of a postman's sock."

He downed his drink, feeling the welcome burn at the back of his throat.

"I couldn't 'ave had more than three or four pints beforehand, Sam, not nearly enough ter lose a whole night. And there was something else."

Sam raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

"Go on."

"Let's just say I've never woken up without … yer know … before. Well, not since I was about twelve anyway."

He looked pointedly down at his crotch and Sam grinned.

"What, never?"

"God's honest truth. Think I'd 'ave ter be dead. And even then they'd 'ave trouble nailin' the lid down."

He grinned back and Sam rolled his eyes.

"And what did she have to say?"

"Claimed I couldn't raise a smile because we'd been at it like rabbits all night. And then she was even more clingy than the first time, pleadin' with me not ter leave."

Gene shuddered.

"When was this?"

"A couple of weeks back. Come ter think of it, I don't think I've seen her since. Maybe she's taken some leave."

Sam drummed his fingers on the bar thoughtfully.

"I think we've got our prime suspect, don't you?"

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He'd noticed Alex giving him those little seductive glances as he drove them home, so it was no great surprise when she pressed herself lasciviously against him in the hallway, dragging his head down for a slow, sensual kiss.

"Mmmm … want you, Gene …"

He surrendered to her for a few seconds before pulling away reluctantly and holding her at arms length.

"Me too, luv, believe me. Need ter talk ter yer first, though."

She allowed him to steer her in the direction of the kitchen, her brow furrowed. Gene turning down sex in favour of a chat? It must be important.

"Drink?"

She nodded, and he poured her a glass of wine before rescuing a beer from the fridge and seating himself opposite her. He took a deep breath, his gaze holding hers.

"Yer know when the tyre got slashed the other mornin'? Well, it wasn't kids, Alex."

He reached into his pocket and retrieved both notes, laying the first one out in front of her.

"I found this tucked underneath the windscreen wiper."

She scanned it quickly, her hand going to her mouth.

"Then this one was delivered ter the station yesterday, I only got it this mornin'."

Taking the second letter from his hand, she read it before placing it on the table next to the first. He noticed her face had gone pale, her eyes darting about as her mind considered the possibilities.

"And there was the brick through the window too. Gene, I think this shows all the hallmarks of a jealous woman."

A little smile twitched at the corners of his mouth.

"No wonder you and Annie get on so well."

She searched his eyes, her jaw tensing.

"Annie already knows about this? Who else?"

"Just Sam, luv. I needed someone ter talk it through with, and Annie just happened ter walk in on the discussion."

She shoved her chair back and braced her fists on the table, the anger flashing in her eyes.

"And why exactly couldn't you talk it through with me?"

"I didn't want ter scare yer, luv, that's all."

Her hands went to her hips and he flinched under her unrelenting glare.

"I don't need protecting, Gene, I'm a grown woman. Sam thinks I might even be a copper, which would explain why I'd seen a file with his picture in it."

She narrowed her eyes.

"You thought this was more to do with me, didn't you?"

He held his hands up in a placating gesture.

"At first. But now I think you and Annie are right. Look at the envelope."

She examined it, chewing her lip.

"This is all one cutting. Someone kept a report about you, didn't she?"

He nodded.

"Looks that way. Maybe yer are a copper after all, Bols."

She crossed her arms.

"Don't try and flatter me, Gene. You should have told me earlier, this involves both of us, after all."

He shrugged uncomfortably.

"Sorry, luv. I just thought yer had enough on yer plate, what with the memory loss and all."

She raised a sardonic eyebrow.

"Anyone would think you cared, Guv. So, just whose toes am I treading on? Or have there been so many you really don't know?"

Turning her back on him abruptly she blinked hard, not wanting him to see the tears glistening in her eyes. His chair scraped across the floor and then his strong arms were around her as he pulled her back into his body, his breath warm against her ear. She couldn't bring herself to push him away: she wanted to hear his reassurances, needed to know she meant something to him. His voice was gruff.

"Alex, I've been on me own for the best part of a year and I'm not a saint. Or a monk, come ter that. There haven't been many, believe me. And none of them mattered till now."

Her heart fluttered in her chest. Was this Gene admitting he had feelings for her? She swallowed, hoping her voice didn't sound too wobbly.

"Is this your way of telling me you do care?"

He moved her hair to one side and brushed his lips over the exposed skin behind her ear, and her legs went weak.

"Yer know I do, yer daft mare. It's not like I've offered anyone else the use of me spare room, is it?"

She smiled despite herself, turning slowly in his arms.

"Prove it then."

Gently he wiped away a tear with his thumb and then his mouth came down hard on hers, his kiss leaving her breathless as he hoisted her into his arms and headed for the bedroom.

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Much later she was snuggled up to him on the sofa, her fingers trailing over the exposed 'V' of chest revealed by his bathrobe. Looking pensive, she reached for her glass and took a sip of wine.

"It's not possible your ex wants you back, is it?"

He snorted derisively.

"Highly unlikely, luv. Last I heard she was planning ter get hitched again, and good luck to her."

Alex buried her nose in his hair, grinning to herself, trying to keep the humour out of her voice.

"You don't think its Phyllis, do you? She gave me such an interrogation today, I'm guessing she quite fancies a bit of the Gene Genie herself."

She felt his chuckle vibrating through his chest.

"Phyllis wouldn't be so subtle, luv. She'd punch you in the gob and hurl me ter the ground, no messin'. Anyway, last I 'eard she'd got a toy boy, probably chained up in her bedroom right now waitin' for her ter ravish him again. Lucky bugger."

She bit his earlobe.

"Be careful, Guv. I'm a very jealous and possessive woman, I'll have you know. And passionate … and insatiable …"

He pulled her head down and slid his tongue between her lips, teasing, tasting, and she felt him hardening against her thigh. His eyes glinted wickedly.

"Prove it …"

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He let her take the lead at first, her hands and mouth exploring every inch of his body before she straddled him, sinking gradually down onto his eager length with a groan of pleasure. She rode him slowly, setting a pace to suit herself, until he could stand it no longer, rolling her onto her back and pinning her hands above her head, still buried deep inside her. She writhed wantonly underneath him, her pupils large with desire, her hair spread out like a dark cloud across the pillow, and his heart contracted.

"Alex …"

Shaking her head, she placed a finger against his lips, seeing the depths of her own feelings reflected in his silver grey eyes. Her voice was low and lust-filled.

"Show me …"

Later, she lay with her head pillowed on his chest knowing something had shifted irrevocably between them that night. She didn't care if her memory never returned in its entirety: as long as she had Gene Hunt in her life nothing else mattered.

"Gene?"

"Hmmm?"

"You know if I moved out all this would stop, don't you?"

He moved her back so that he could look into her face, tucking a stray hair behind her ear.

"You're not going anywhere, luv. 'Sides which, it wouldn't solve the problem, would it?"

She nodded.

"True. We just need to find this poor woman and get her some treatment."

He snorted, waggling his eyebrows at her.

"Didn't yer know? There's no cure, sweetheart. Once yer've had the best …"

She reached down and took him in hand.

"Prove it …"

He groaned, smirking at her.

"Bloody hell, yer really are insatiable, aren't yer?"

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Wish she'd leave some for the rest of us! ;)