Ah, the course of true lust … erm, love … and all that! ;)
Thanks for the kind reviews, on with the story.
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Chapter 2
Right on time there was a knock at the door and she leapt up, her heart starting to beat wildly. Breathe, Alex. You'll be fine after a few drinks.
"Evenin', Bols."
His long elegant frame seemed to occupy all the available space in the doorway as he handed her a bottle of red. She took it with shaking hands and tried to ignore her jangling nerves.
"Good choice, it'll go well with the steaks. Come on in."
"Are we havin' chips too?"
She grinned, hardly able to take her eyes off him as he stretched out on the sofa and propped his feet up on the coffee table. Was that a new shirt?
"What else?"
He smirked at her.
"Yer know me so well. Nice outfit, by the way."
As his hungry gaze openly devoured her, she felt exposed, vulnerable, and she turned away to hide her confusion.
"Glass of wine, Guv? Dinner won't be long."
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They ate in the kitchen by candlelight, and once Gene had got over the idea that soft lighting was for 'poofs' and they'd each had a couple of glasses of red they began to relax. There was a sweet inevitability about the way the evening was bound to progress but they both chose to ignore the elephant in the room and make small talk, content to take things slowly, knowing they had all night.
His eyes gleamed molten silver in the flickering candlelight and she couldn't prevent her gaze dropping to his lips as he ate, recalling the heady passion of the afternoon and the delectable taste of his kiss. Once or twice their knees touched under the table and she jumped as something akin to an electric shock ran up her thigh.
Gene polished off his last mouthful and leaned back, sighing in contentment.
"That was bloody excellent. Didn't know yer could cook, Bols."
She shrugged nonchalantly, secretly glowing at his praise.
"It's only steak and chips, Gene. Difficult to mess up, really."
He shook his head, tapping a finger on the table to emphasise his point.
"Ah, that's where yer wrong, luv. A good steak takes a bit of culinary skill, and that one was perfect."
She felt herself beginning to blush under his appreciative gaze and cleared her throat nervously.
"Shall we … um … move back into the living room? I'll just sort out some coffee, I'll be through in a minute."
He meandered back into the other room with his glass and the remains of the bottle and she watched his retreating back, slowly letting out the breath she'd been holding. Why couldn't she just let go and enjoy herself? It wasn't like she didn't want a physical relationship with him, in fact quite the contrary: now she'd made the decision she could think about little else, she yearned for his touch so much that the waiting was becoming delicious torture. She put the coffee on, giving herself a severe talking to. So she was going to let Gene Hunt, the Guv, the legendary Manc Lion have his wicked way with her. So what? Oh God, I'm actually going to sleep with Gene. Although somehow I don't think there'll be a lot of sleeping involved. Her hand shook slightly as she picked up her wine glass and went to join him.
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"So. Do you think Scholes will be much use to us, Guv?"
Gene shrugged, puffing out his cheeks. They were sitting on the sofa facing one another, close but not touching, even though the atmosphere was now so charged that it was just a question of who made the first move.
"Not sure, luv. He's terrified of Bains but he's a slippery little sod and he's worked for him fer a long time. Could just be intendin' ter feed us a load of old cobblers ter throw us off the scent."
She gazed at him thoughtfully.
"There's no doubt he's afraid of something, he was shaking with nerves all through the interview, but whether he's genuinely in fear for his life I'm not sure. He might just have been terrified of saying the wrong thing and giving himself away …"
Gene nodded, his gaze holding hers, and the intensity she saw in his silver blue eyes made her shiver.
"Time will tell, Lady Bols. Meanwhile its Friday night, it's nearly Christmas, and we're off duty."
He leaned in closer and her pulse rate doubled.
"Alex, have I told yer how bloody gorgeous yer look tonight? You always do, but in that dress … let's just say it does things ter a bloke's blood pressure that might not be considered entirely healthy …"
To her surprise he ran one finger slowly down the length of her bare arm before taking her hand in his much larger one and examining it.
"Always thought yer had lovely hands. And now I sound as poofy as bloody Tyler."
He smirked at her bemused expression before dipping his head to press a soft kiss to her palm and she reached forwards with shaking fingers to stroke his silky mane. As he raised his dazzling gaze, his face mere inches from hers, the phone shrilled out and they both leapt backwards.
"Christ on the ruddy cross!"
Gene ran a hand through his hair in frustration and Alex took a shuddering breath before moving across the room to answer it.
"Oh, hi Ray … As a matter of fact he is, we were just … um … going over the case. Wait a second, I'll put him on."
As she passed the receiver to Gene their fingers touched briefly and a spark travelled up her arm.
"Raymondo? Ter what do I owe this dubious pleasure?" As her gaze travelled lovingly over his broad frame she noticed his shoulders slump. Not good news, then.
"Bollocks. I'll be there in ten …"
He hung up and stood gazing out of the window, massaging the bridge of his nose wearily.
"Gene?"
He spun round as though he'd forgotten she was there.
"Sorry, luv, I've got ter go. Seems a body's just been fished out of the river and from the description the caller gave it could well be Scholes."
She blinked at him in surprise, her hand going to her mouth.
"Oh God. He was right to be afraid, then."
He shrugged his jacket back on and as he reached for his coat she shook herself out of her reverie.
"Wait, I'll come with you …"
He took her by the shoulders.
"It doesn't need both of us, luv. And you're hardly dressed fer the occasion, are yer?"
His expression softened and he leaned in to kiss her gently on the forehead.
"Can't catch a break today, can we?"
Without thinking she slid her arms around him and tilted her face up, her eyes searching his.
"Will you be back later?"
He smirked, his eyes gleaming.
"Try and bloody stop me. Shouldn't be more than a couple of hours or so."
He paused in the doorway.
"Don't start without me, will yer? Although that's quite a vision ter keep me warm on a cold winter's night …"
She rolled her eyes as he winked lasciviously at her before the door slammed behind him.
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Well you didn't really think it was going to be that easy for them, did you? ;)
Hope you're still enjoying. If so, I'd love to know.
