After dinner, as coffee was being served, Eddie saw Eric step out of the private dining salon so she decided to follow him. She walked down the hallway and saw him go up a flight of stairs to the Rose Club Bar, an opulent room with vintage furniture, paintings and pricey cocktails. She caught up with him as he was ordering at the bar. "Hey, Eric," she said as casually as possible.

Eric seemed genuinely happy to see her. "Oh, hi, Eddie. How was your dinner?"

"Great. It was all amazing. Are you escaping?" She tried to sound teasing.

He laughed. "Not exactly. They have a vintage cognac at this bar that I like, so I'm treating myself."

She glanced at the menu. The drinks started at twenty dollars, so she set it down. Looking around the room she appreciated the decor. "This is a beautiful room."

He nodded. "Yes the artwork here is impressive. Did I tell you that I dabble in art sales?"

Her curiosity was peaked. "No, really? What kind?"

He smiled in a droll sort of way and lowered his voice. "The expensive kind."

Eddie felt a chill up her back and she was suddenly aware of a possible motive that she hadn't thought of before. "Wow, you haven't mentioned that before."

"I'm going to be bidding for a Picasso at an online auction tomorrow afternoon after the seminar wraps up. Would you like to come to my room and check it out?"

Hook, line and sinker, she thought as she looked up at him. "I'd love it! What time?"

~~00~~00~~

Jamie finished his coffee and the conversation he was having with one of the couples when he realized the reception was breaking up and Eddie hadn't returned to the dining room. He thought he'd seen her walk out in pursuit of Eric, so he headed in that direction.

He wandered out in to the hallway and noticed jazz music coming from the Rose Club Bar. Climbing the staircase to the upper level, he walked in to the bar which was seductively lit with dim red lights and flickering candles. He saw Eddie perched on a red velvet bar stool leaning against the pink marble bar. Eric was nowhere in sight, but a tall, blond well dressed man was standing beside her, his arm draped around her back. Jamie made his way next to her. "Hey, honey," he said as he stood on the other side of her, facing the stranger.

"Oh, hi!" She said. "This is Steve. He's a financial advisor for Morgan Chase. We were just talking about investments."

Steve looked at Jamie cautiously. "Yeah, I was just giving her some pointers, nothing else. Sorry, I didn't realize this pretty lady was married."

Jamie smiled. "No problem. But if you don't mind would you take your hand off my wife's assets?" Steve quickly removed his arm and excused himself, disappearing in to the darkened bar.

Eddie eyed her partner teasingly. "You can really be a buzz kill, Reagan, you know that? I never figured you for the jealous type."

"So, did you get anywhere with Eric?"

She nodded. "Yes, finally! It turns out he has a passion for art collections."

Jamie raised a brow. "Interesting. I don't think he mentioned that to us."

"He's bidding on a Picasso tomorrow and invited me up to his room in the afternoon. It'll be our last night here, Reagan, so I'm hoping this pans out."

He ran the scenario through his head. "You sure you're ok going up there alone?"

"Yeah," she said confidently. "I'm good."

He smiled and held a finger up to grab the attention of the bartender. "How about a nightcap?"

Eddie lowered her voice to whisper. "The drink menu starts at twenty dollars here. It might be a little high for our per diem, if you get my drift."

"Well, we still haven't opened that bottle of honeymoon champagne the hotel delivered after we checked in." He smiled at her. "Why don't we have some?"

She laughed. "That's the best offer I've had all night!"

~~00~~00

Ten minutes later they were walking down the corridor to their room. Eddie pulled a key card out of her black evening bag and Jamie took it from her and slid it in the door, which he quietly pushed open. As Eddie tried to walk in to the room, his hand grabbed her elbow and he gently tugged her back toward him.

She looked at him in question. "What wrong?"

He had a playful look on his face. "I was just thinking that since we exchanged wedding vows this morning it makes sense you should be carried over the threshold."

"Oh, come on, Reagan. You don't have to…" She was cut off as Jamie reached around her back and under her knees and lifted her up in the air. Eddie quickly wrapped an arm around his neck. "Oh my God, be careful!"

Jamie laughed trying to steady himself. "Don't squirm or I'll drop you!"

Her arms tightened around his neck. "Don't drop me!" She pleaded mischievously.

He stepped inside and turned so she could push the door closed. He walked over to the sofa adjusting her in his arms. "You need to lay off the cheesecake, Janko," he said setting her down and making her laugh.

She watched as he found the champagne in the fridge and began opening it, the cork making a loud "pop" as it was released from the bottle. Jamie filled two glasses and held one out toward her. "What should we drink to?"

She took the glass and looked at him, his blue hazel eyes filled with light and midnight. One thought immediately came to her and she held her glass up. "To partners."

He nodded approvingly. "To partners." The champagne tasted bubbly and elegant. As he watched her he noticed a dribble of champagne bubbles on her chin. He stepped closer and reached out, his thumb brushing the French droplets from her skin, and she reached up and put a hand on his arm, stepping closer to him. He leaned forward and pressed a tender kiss against her lips. It was spontaneous, and he knew they should stop there, but before he could use better judgment Eddie parted her lips and he could taste her and feel the warmth of her breath with his, champagne bubbles still on her tongue as it tentatively teased his. He set his champagne glass down on the table and reached for hers. As he wrapped his arms around her, Eddie slid a hand up around his neck and he was lost in a deep electrifying kiss. His hands moved up and around her satin covered body, feeling every curve and detail, prompting her to whisper his name breathlessly in to his mouth.

His mouth covered hers and her teeth nipped at his lower lip. He gasped in to her mouth.

"Jamie," she panted against him.

"Hmmm?" His language skills were escaping him as his fingertips toyed with the zipper on the back of her dress.

"When I made that comment in class yesterday, about our fake sex life and banging one out. Did that really shock you?" She looked up at him.

He smiled seductively and whispered against her lips. "Nuh-uh," he kissed her tenderly as he spoke, "it made me want to bring you up here to the room and bang one out." It was her turn to gasp as he lifted her up against him, his mouth covering hers, breathless and chaotic. They stumbled up against the wall by the bedroom door with a thud, their lips and teeth crashing against each other. She moved and walked backwards until the backs of her knees bumped in to the bed, causing them to tumble on to the mattress. Eddie burst out laughing as Jamie kissed her cheek, her jaw, and down her throat, his teeth grazing her ear and the soft skin from her neck to her chest. Her laughter turned to ecstasy as his lips left a trail of kisses down over the swell of her breasts to where the satin just barely covered her. Her fingers slid in to his hair and she arched up against him.

Jamie paused and looked down at her and she opened her eyes and looked up at him. She reached up and undid his necktie, the buttons of his shirt coming undone, and he slowly settled down on top of her. Her mind reeled with the feel of his warm body, his middle pressing against hers. Her hands glided up and down his back as she felt his fingers slide over her thigh and under the hem of her dress. "I want you," he whispered against her neck and she moved until she could kiss him again, her mouth granting him permission.

He paused again, and their foreheads rested against each other, panting and catching their breath from kissing and pent up emotions. She brushed the tip of her nose against his, making him smile, and she spoke in a soft whisper. "I want this too, but I can tell something has been on your mind so I wish you'd trust me."

She had asked him before and he had brushed it off, but now he had to confide in her. He owed it to her and to himself. He exhaled. "Yeah, you're right," he said, reluctantly rolling off to one side. He propped his head up on one hand and looked down at her, while his other hand still held one of hers.

"What is it?" Her voice was quiet, and calmer now, but worried it was something serious.

"Remember the other night at the precinct, after Danny and his partner left, when Renzulli asked me in to his office?" She nodded and he slid his fingers through hers. "Well, I sat for the sergeants exam last month and he called me in to his office because he had the test results."

Her eyes widened in surprise and relief. "Jamie that's awesome!" She studied his expression. "What was your score?"

He answered diplomatically. "I guess I did pretty well."

Eddie knew her partner well enough to read between the lines of his restrained response. "Oh my god, you aced it, didn't you?" Her face lit up with a smile.

"I held my own," he said again, but this time with more pride in his voice.

"I'm so proud of you! Why didn't you tell me any of this?" She clasped his hand tighter.

"I wasn't sure which way it would go."

She turned on her side to face him, her voice filled with excitement. "So did Renzulli mention a sergeant position and which precinct they'll be transferring you to?"

He looked in to her eyes which glittered with happiness for him and his heart thumped in his chest. Turning down this assignment was getting easier and easier by the minute. "Actually, there is another piece to this, Eddie. It turns out Renzulli is being promoted to lieutenant, which means his job is open." He watched her face and could see the subtle recognition in her eyes as the pieces began to fall in to place. "And I'm on the short list. They asked me if I'd consider taking the promotion at the twelfth." His news had fully registered and he felt her slowly withdraw her fingers from his.

"Oh," she said, trying not to sound as awkward as she suddenly felt. Eddie was truly happy for him, but her heart felt an ache and a loss she had felt before. But she wanted to be supportive knowing he would need it in his new role. "Well it's an awesome opportunity, Reagan, and if anyone deserves it it's you, and I mean that." Her voice was filled with sincerity and encouragement. "I hope you you're not thinking of letting our partnership get in the way," she added earnestly as she stiffened her posture.

"It's a great opportunity, Eddie, but I don't want to be your boss. It's as simple as that."

She shook her head. "You can't turn this down, Jamie. This is an amazing opportunity!"

He spoke matter-of-factly like he always did. "I know but I'd rather wait until another sergeant position opens at a different precinct."

"But that could be another year or two. And you deserve this now." She squeezed his hand again, her voice and her touch filled with friendship and reassurance.

He didn't' answer and Eddie pushed herself up from the bed. "C'mon, Reagan." She held her hand out at him. "Let's change clothes and have some more champagne to celebrate your test results and promotion, and we need to plan for the op tomorrow with Eric anyway."

He let out a long breath and looked up at her reluctantly. "I may not even take the job, Eddie."

She stood next to the bed and squeezed his arm. "Over my dead body, Reagan. You've earned this. Not to mention that my partnership for the past two and half years hasn't hurt."

He let out a breath and smiled up at her. "I'm gonna need a cold shower, thanks to you."

She laughed. "The bathroom is all yours."

Jamie padded in to the bathroom and shut the door. The first thing that caught his eye was a black lace bra draped over a towel bar. He slumped against the wall and banged his head against it. Eddie's voice came from the other side of the wall. "Hey you ok in there?"

"All good," he answered as he turned the shower temperature to ice cold.

A/N Thanks for reading and following this story. :-)