Chapter 11

I pressed the button for my floor and then cupped Emily's face with my hands and returned the favour she had bestowed on me earlier. I caressed her lips hungrily, using my superior height and pushing her backwards against the lift wall as I devoured her lips. God this woman could kiss. She pushed back at me and met me halfway, making it clear from the way she was nibbling at my bottom lip that I wasn't going to have this all my own way. Somehow, whilst my hands where stroking her cheeks, her hands had made their way under my jumper and shirt and they were busy stroking trails of fire down my back as her tongue tentatively asked for permission for entry to my mouth. Someone groaned. Shit! Was that me AGAIN? And where the fuck was the heat in here coming from? Did they install a heater in the lift and I missed the residents' memo?

*BING* The lift stopped and the doors started opening. Jesus fucking Christ. We broke apart and just stood staring at each other for a moment, both breathing heavily. The hormone levels slowly dropping as breathing rates returned to normal. Got to say though, my fucking heart was going like a freight train; I could hear my blood rushing around in my ears. Fucking hell.

I managed to gain some semblance of control and cleared my throat.

"Yeah, so, coffee? Yeah. Coffee" I took her hand in mine and we exited the lift and headed for my flat door. Jesus I was turned on. She could do this to me from kissing. My back was tingling from where she touched my skin. I wondered if she felt the same about the kisses. It was intoxicating and utterly terrifying all at the same time and all in one perfect little package called Emily Fitch.

I looked at her as I reached my door and took my keys out. She had a cute little half smile on her face and I saw her reach up to touch her lips. Ha! Nope, not just me affected by it all then.

Key in the lock, I suddenly realised that I couldn't remember if I'd tidied up any incriminating evidence of my job and what I did. Buggery wank shite bollocksing hell. The horror must of shown in my face.

"Naomi? You ok?" I smiled and looked at Emily.

"Yeah, can I be like really weird and ask you to just wait here for a minute while I check my place is tidy? I got up late and can't remember if it's tidy." She laughed.

"Yeah, I can do that. You've got 2 minutes before I come in after you"

I gave her a quick kiss on the lips and dived into my place. Seriously, I was in such a pissed off mood last night I couldn't remember. I ran around the flat like a headless chicken, but thankfully everything was pretty tidy. I stuffed some stray files in a drawer in my bedside table and kicked a sock under my bed out of sight.

I knew I wasn't the most picture friendly person around, so the only pictures of me were a couple with Effy, Tigger and one with Tony – thankfully neither of us in uniform. My 2 minutes up I opened the door.

I leaned against the door frame, aware that I was taller than Emily and smiling down at her in what I hoped was a relatively seductive manner as opposed to looking like a big old perv.

"Well, hello there, this is a pleasant surprise" She laughed and pushed past me.

"Let me see how the other half live then, shift your arse" And with that she walked into my lounge. Pushy little beggar she was. I decided to give her the tour.

"So, this is the living room with the view and the big comfy couches" I pointed at the big windows and then the couches. Emily smiled and took in my piss poor attempt at being an estate agent with those big brown eyes of hers. "Over there's the kitchen bit. We don't get on much, me and the kitchen. I have an outstanding collection of take away menus. I'm really not much of a cook to be honest." She obediently trotted behind me as I put the coffee machine on. "But look, I CAN make coffee."

I showed her the rest of my place; somehow managing to restrain myself from making the cheesy comment "this is where the magic takes place" when I showed her my bedroom. She was quite quiet, but the intelligence behind her eyes as she took it all in was unmistakable.

As we stood in the kitchen making the promised coffee, she leaned in and kissed me gently on the cheek. I looked at her puzzled.

"Not that I'm complaining Ems, but what was that for?"

"For not pushing that kiss earlier any further. Some might have expected more straight away, but you didn't. And believe me, that was high on my list of great kisses." She paused. "You know for two allegedly shy people we've done well so far, you've flirted and asked me out and I decided to throw myself at you after giving you my card". She laughed. "Jesus, Jan was giving me some funny looks after that".

"You bring it out in me I think" I smiled. "I was a total bitch today when you didn't reply to my text, I thought I'd been over flirty or soppy by saying that Wednesday was too far away." I took a slurp of my coffee, "thought I'd come on too strong or something". I went silent for a minute, Emily leaned back against the counter, allowing me to finish. "I'm really glad you saw me today and made the first move, I really like you, you know".

We moved to the couch, I curled my legs under myself and Emily leaned towards me whilst sipping her coffee. She looked at the cup and smiled. "You're right, you DO make a mean cup of coffee, this is lovely. And yeah, I really like you too, I'm guessing the kissing sort of gave that away. Your text was lovely, I was just reading it and then my stupid sister knocked her wine glass over my phone. I could have cried. I was trying to think of how to contact you."

She stopped for a minute, so I leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips. They were so soft, I couldn't get enough of them, or her and we hadn't kissed for at least 30 minutes. I was due a kiss so I went back for more. I could seriously lose myself in this woman's touch.

"So, come on. You know I have a sister, you know what I do for a living, dish some dirt".

And that was it; we spent the next hour just talking. A kinda pre-date date as it were. She told me about her dad's gym and her sister being some sort of fashion designer and I told her about my lack of biological family, but explained I had Effy and Tony to keep me in check. Even showed her the pictures without being asked. I had to lie when she asked me what I did for a living, and to be honest, I'm not 100% sure she bought that I was an office worker for Customs and Excise. But, she seemed to let it go if she didn't. The conversation was so easy, punctuated with little hesitant touches from both of us.

Emily's stomach growled and I realised that it was getting late and I was hungry. She looked utterly embarrassed and started stumbling an apology.

"Don't be soft, I've dragged you up to my lair and you're apologising? Do you want to get something to eat with me? I think it'll have to be take out, but my treat." I looked at her hopefully, but she looked at her watch and sighed.

"Sorry, hun, I'm going to have to go, I've got to meet Panda at my dad's gym." I must have looked confused and disappointed. Panda? What the fuck? A Panda? She smiled gently, and picked my hand up and entwined our fingers. I rubbed my thumb over her knuckles.

"Pandora, or Panda, is a friend of mine. She's a bit..." Emily waved her free hand in the air a little, "kooky I think is the best term for her." I raised an eyebrow at her. "She's a yoga instructor at my dad's gym, we were school friends together and she's probably what you think a yoga teacher is like. All new age hippy and shit. Her favourite word is bonkers for god's sake." She laughed quietly.

"When I was growing up and realised I was gay, I'd go to her house to escape from everyone. She's probably my version of your Effy. I need to check her new class schedule. She has a habit of screwing it up. And she's got a spare phone I can pinch until I sort out mine."

I stood up and dragged Emily with me. My actions caught her by surprise and, caught off balance she fell forward into my arms. Heh. I was good when I wanted to be. I brought both my arms around her shoulders and snuggled into her hair and neck. I felt her take a shuddery breath, push her nose into my jumper and hug me tighter.

"Well, Emily No Phone, I'm guessing I'd better let you go and save Panda's reputation as a yoga instructor then. I'll let you get in touch with me yeah? Save me harassing you." I kissed the top of her head as I reluctantly let her move out of my embrace.

She moved her arms up to my neck and pulled my head down before thoroughly kissing me senseless again. "Gotta go Naoms. Panda'll freak if I'm late and she can't get hold of me. I'll call you laters ok. And thank you. This was actually lovely you know".

I walked her down to her car (big bad police sergeant remember? It's my job to serve and protect), reminded her I'd pick her up at 7 on Wednesday and gave her one last peck on the lips before she drove off.

Back in my flat I leaned against my front door smiling. She was fucking perfect and I was a fucking smitten kitten.

Repeat after me, I am a big hard scary copper, I am a big hard scary copper... Ah fuck me, who the hell was I kidding?