Stronger

Mared poured hot water in the coffee mug as she thought about the day ahead. Ellen was going straight to school from Louise's house and her parents were probably going to be away for at least another fortnight so it was just her and Tom. Stirring the coffee she smiled as she thought of the detective currently in the shower. He had been the most annoying man she had ever known but just slowly and surely he had worked his way into her heart and now she couldn't imagine life without him. Sipping her coffee she picked up her phone, checking to see if any of the others had been in touch.

...

Tom closed his eyes as the hot water hit his skin. He had to admit Mared's bed was much more comfortable than the bed he had in the caravan or the B&B. He had no idea if it was due to the mattress or the company. What he did know was that he slept better with Mared sleeping next to him.

He let the hot water run down his back as he thought about the detective Sargent that should have been set against him from the start. He had wound her up, challenged her and did his best to argue with her. Somehow she had wormed his way under his defences. Somehow Mared Rhys had slipped under his defences and now he couldn't think of not having her in his life. The fact that someone had hurt her almost destroyed him. He grabbed a towel as he hit the 'off' button stopping the water as he grabbed a towel. He startled as he heard movement behind him.

"Mared."

"I called Ellen. She's fine - got to the school trip ok."

"She's a good kid." Mared nodded, stepping into the bathroom as he wrapped a towel around his waist. He held her gaze for a moment, knowing she hadn't intended to catch him still infligrante. A sly smile crept up his face as she seemed transfixed by a drop of water running down his chest.

"Tom."

"Yeah?" He stepped towards her.

"This isn't me. I'm not like this. I've never really had anything like this."

"Like what?" He was confused as her eyes steadfastly avoided his. She bit her lip as he touched her chin, tilting her face up to his.

"A relationship. It's always been just me and Ellen. I'm always trying to make things better for her. Make up for how she came not to have a dad. I didn't want to be like those young mums the media stereotyped. And if I'm honest. You're the only man I've ever really trusted." He brushed her hair away from her face as she spoke. "That scares me."

He nodded once, understanding exactly what she meant. He was scared too. So many people he loved had been lost. His father had drunk himself to death, his mother died of cancer. His brother committed suicide when they had been boys. Then Hannah, Sara and Meg. There was no one untouched by the Mathias curse. He swallowed hard.

"I'm scared too." He whispered. "Of hurting you and Ellen. Of letting you down. I." Her lips were on his before he could finish his sentence. His hands pulled her to him, his body flush against him - only separated by a bath towel and her t shirt. Mared deepened the kiss as his body melted against her. Without knowing how she was pinned against the bathroom wall as Tom's towel hit the floor.

"Bed." She gasped as he rested his forehead against hers. "And you never could let me down." Her breathing ragged as she spoke. Tom kissed her again as she took his hand before leading him back to her bedroom.

Xxxxx

"Lloyd?" Delyth opened her eyes, stretching as she realised she was too old to fall asleep on sofas. Picking up her glasses she looked over to where her boyfriend was sat with the laptop on his knee.

"Sorry." He looked at her. "I didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't." She lifted his hand to check his watch. "Six am! What are you doing on the computer at this hour?"

"Trying to find out how Prosser thinks he's going to get away with his crimes. He could have killed Mared. He had to know about the three original victims. He's going to get abduction, conspiracy to murder, perverting the course of justice."

"He's going to prison for life."

"He had friends in very low places. He's scum but he has the luck of the devil. He isn't going to go quietly."

"So, tell me cariad? What do we do?" Delyth watched as Lloyd sighed.

"Find Prosser's boys."

Xxxx