"That's it" Kate said as Jim and Taylor informed her the plan was finished with. After two weeks of nothing they were just scrapping it. She was actually relieved to hear the news as she was tired playing the cheese in the trap.
"Yes" Taylor said as he sat opposite her at the table with Alicia to his right.
"After two weeks you're calling it quits. Why?" Kate asked them.
"Honestly?" Jim asked her, Kate turned to her left and looked Jim in the eyes.
"No lie to me, I found it oddly comforting" Kate said dryly. Alicia smiled into her cup of tea while Jim and Taylor were expecting Kate to be a little more friendlier now she was going to be able to sleep well at night.
"It's been over two weeks and nothing. I have a feeling the killer is organising something big which is why she is lying low-" Taylor said only for Kate to cut him off.
"Something big for me or the whole colony? I'd hate to feel like I'm so special she needs to plan a huge production just to kill me. All it takes is a well placed shot or a bomb. I would use a bomb, it's easy to construct and plant and all you need is for it to be blown at night when I'd definitely be at home" Kate said thoughtfully as Jim looked to Taylor and Alicia with concern at Kate's morbid thoughts.
"Let's hope that idea hasn't crossed the killer's mind" Taylor told Kate who he was sure was now cataloguing all the places she place a bomb in her house.
"I know I'm kind of sick of having to rebuild the place I live every few months. Choosing a colour scheme would be a bit of bitch fight with Malcolm" Kate half joked, she really didn't care about that as all she could think about now was pulling up floor boards and checking the crawl spaces for a bomb and all the other hiding places she would put a bomb.
"So, the plan is scrapped and the soldiers guarding your house will be changed so it doesn't look like we were trying to play at something. No more messing around we play it by the book" Jim said to Kate, he was slightly disappointed it hadn't worked.
"Ok, does Malcolm know all this?" Kate asked.
"Yes" Taylor said.
"In fact I think he was ready to call it a day when he got the news" Jim said.
"Talk about a man with no work ethic" Kate drawled sarcastically, she gave a smile before she took a sip of her tea.
"So you can return the sig back to my vault" Taylor said. Kate looked to Alicia who shook her head as if to say 'I didn't tell him'. She and Alicia had pulled Kate's old Sig Sauer from the gun safe in the house along with her cleaning kit to give her something to keep her mind calm and hands busy when Malcolm wasn't around.
"How?" Kate asked Taylor. He gave her an incredulous look.
"I know everything and there are security cameras inside this house" Taylor told her.
"Right, well no I'm keeping the gun" Kate told him
"Kate" he said in a warning tone as he didn't like to argue with Kate. He gave her the look would have made many of his soldiers quake in their boots but not Kate.
"It's my gun" She told him.
"Bullets pass through walls" Taylor argued which was his main concern about her having a gun.
"So do sonic blasts when they are turned to a specific setting" Kate countered.
"There are only 10 bullets and a sonic pistol is indefinite amount of rounds as long as you keep it on a low setting" Taylor told Kate.
"I like my gun and anyway why are we arguing the merits of which gun is better when all I'm doing is cleaning my sig to keep me calm. I don't intend to use it" Kate said unless I have to… she added in her head.
"I want it back in my safe" Taylor told her.
"It's not going to happen. I'm not giving up my gun with killer still out there" Kate told Taylor.
"You have three sonic pistols including the one Malcolm has in the bedside table" Taylor told her, Kate pursed her lips as she actually had five guns as she had procured a couple more from the master of arms. She was amazed they hadn't told Taylor and she was definitely not going to mention it to Taylor.
"Talk about a cliché spot to put a gun" Jim mumbled. Kate looked to Jim.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know there was an unwritten rule that all gun toting citizens of the 22nd century shall stow their guns in the top draw in the kitchen next to the garlic crusher" Kate drawled mockingly to Jim.
"Yes it is. So where do you keep your guns?" Jim asked.
"I like to keep mine under my pillow but Malcolm doesn't like it hence the gun safe" Kate told him like it was a dirty secret.
"No, really where do you keep your gun?" Jim asked her.
"That's my business but when the kids are around or Malcolm finds my other hiding places it's in the gun safe in the bedroom" Kate told him, her comm. buzzed and she pulled it out of the pocket of her maxi dress and read the message. A smile spread across her lips as it was from Malcolm.
"Anything dirty?" Jim asked as he leaned towards Kate to look at the comm unit but Kate pushed his face away with the palm of her hand.
"No but it's rude to read other people's messages"
"I wish Liz would write me dirty messages"
"Please I once got a message from your wife that was meant for you. So I know for a fact she writes dirty messages to you" Kate told him as she tapped in her response and sent it.
"They aren't dirty" Jim told her, Kate looked at him with raised eyebrows.
"Really? you sticking with that story because I have it saved you want me to read out loud?" Kate asked Jim as she made it look like she was sorting through her comm. unit's message banks.
"You wouldn't" Jim said.
"Try me" Kate challenged with a smile.
"Honestly how old are you two?" Taylor asked them, Jim and Kate looked at him and paused for a moment as if pondering his question. Alicia knew that Taylor had just put fuel on the fire when it came to Jim and Kate having irreverent conversations. She had learned as Kate and Evan gave her the same look a few days before having one of the most randoms conversations with one another.
"Are you speaking mentally or physically?" Kate asked Taylor with an innocent tilt of her head.
"She has a point and when you say physically do you count the time differences of when we were born as well?" Jim asked. Kate's eyes went wide as if she were having an epiphany.
"Oh that's a good point because I would be older than you" Kate told him,
"Actually you'd be the oldest living Terra Novan" Jim told her in a matter of factorial conversation.
"Can we put a hundred and sixty so candles on my cake for my birthday this year?" Kate asked Jim looking excited at the idea of having a cake covered in 160 or more candles. Taylor looked to Alicia with an expression of 'why did I start this?'
"If that's what you want then Malcolm will have to organise a bigger cake and we'll have to scrounge up the candles and fire extinguishes" Jim told her.
"Well you're the sheriff just go around and confiscate the candles" Kate told him.
"You know you need to have a valid reason for confiscating items. You just can't take things from people. It's stealing" Jim told her.
"They are a fire hazard" Kate said like it was already obvious what the answer was.
"You should let Kate keep her gun" Alicia said to Taylor when Kate and Jim left the house as Elisabeth had called to remind Kate of her follow up appointment. The two still making imaginary plans for Kate's 160th Birthday as it only seemed fair for them to give her a well rounded age as they couldn't be bothered to do the math.
"I gave up the plan and it wasn't for sex" Taylor told Alicia he wanted her to know he wasn't going to be bribed with sexual favours.
"No?" Alicia asked with a smile.
"No, I talked with Doc Shannon asked about Kate and what you mentioned this morning about stress and pregnancy" Taylor said.
"Ok, I guess that means I'm off the hook" Alicia said as she leaned against the front door.
"No it doesn't" Taylor told her.
"Yes it does, you told me it wasn't for me or sex so yeah this is me off the hook" Alicia said with a victorious smile as she pushed off the door. She would have moved to the kitchen but Taylor had other plans.
In a lightning move, Taylor hooked an arm around her waist and hauled her against him. He caught her lips with his, and kissed her hard.
With a groan of pleasure, Alicia kissed him back, blindly, arms coiling around his neck, fingers sliding into his salt and pepper hair. The kiss was a scalding eruption of weeks of repressed passion.
It escalated to the next level as Taylor backed her into the nursery room and against the wall, using the partition to secure her to him as he slid his scorching palms up her body and cupped both of her breasts.
"You know the cameras and a soldier watching this" Alicia told Taylor in a breathless voice as he looked at her with heated eyes and allowed his hands to slowly roam her body.
"Blind spot right here" he told her. She looked and noted the spot for later reference. It was a corner in the nursery but with the doors open she could see the living area and the side hallway so all views of the main access points to the house that lead to the twins.
"Or we can take this to the bedroom" Taylor said before he kissed her again this time deepening the kiss and plundering her mouth with his tongue. He wished Alicia was wearing a dress instead of pants as he moved his hands to cup her bottom and lifted her off her feet. At the same time she at the same time, she practically climbed him, coiling her legs around his hips.
"We can't" Alicia told him as she pulled away from the kiss. Taylor held her by the thighs and anchored her to the wall with his body.
"Why not? The twins are asleep and we have time. I'm definitely good to go and you're on fire" Taylor said with a smile as he kissed her again but Alicia pulled her lips away.
"No really we can't" Alicia told him, Taylor dropped his head on her shoulder.
"Why not?" he groaned he tried to find a scrap of patience as he wondered what excuses she was going to give him today. He was patient but a man could only be so patient when his wife was making salacious invitations and not following through.
"Because we are two incredibly fertile people and I'm not taking the chance of being knocked up again for at least another year if ever and I haven't had my shot and we don't have any forms other protection" Alicia said a little more bluntly than she had intended but she needed to make it clear she was up for anything but sex. Taylor lifted his head and looked at her.
"If ever? You don't want more kids?" he asked taking her blunt response to the extreme as he wasn't exactly able to think clearly as he was painfully aroused and pressed up to the woman he so desperately wanted to possess. She was throwing up a major stop sign. She frowned as she couldn't believe out of everything she said he picked up on her comment about kids.
"I don't know. I would like to enjoy having my body back for a few months before we even begin to discuss the idea of having more kids. Anyway aren't the twins enough?" she asked him as she felt the incredible urge to rip Taylor's clothes off and have her way with him faded slightly as she knew they were about to breah a topic of conversation they weren't on the same page about.
"They are for now" he said conceded.
"For now" she repeated. Alicia looked at him and she knew the moment for ripping one another's clothing off was gone even if his erection wasn't.
"Alicia, I want more kids. I've always wanted more with you" he told her as he caressed her thighs slowly as he held her eyes in his.
"How many are you talking about? Because I'm not giving birth to a platoon of Taylors" She told him taking what could've been a tender moment and stomping on it.
"I don't want a platoon, maybe one more" he said as he couldn't believe they were having a proper conversation in their current state. Alicia pursed her lips looking thoughtful for a moment as if they were having this conversation sitting at the dinner table not with her legs wrapped around his waist being pressed against the wall by him.
"One more I can handle but only if it's via invitro-fertilisation" She said like it was a negotiation.
"What? You want to be turkey basted?" Taylor asked her, Alicia chuckled at him.
"Charming analogy but yeah I don't trust you to impregnate me with one child the fun way" She told him with a mischievous smile. Taylor opened his mouth to say something when his comm. beeped in his pocket. Alicia dropped her head back hitting it against the wall as she had been hoping to continue their hot interlude just through other more pleasurable ways that didn't result in her getting knocked up.
"I have to get that" Taylor said as she slowly released her legs and lowered them to the floor. He pulled out his comm. unit but didn't move away from her as they looked at one another the sexual tension was thick enough to slice with a knife. "This is Taylor, Go ahead." He said as he ran his free hand up her arm and laying it to rest on the side of her neck. Alicia ran her hands up under his shirt lightly raking her fingers across his heated skin making him shiver in pleasure.
"Sir we've have a break in at one of the power relay stations and it's acting up." Guzman said.
"Which relay station?" Taylor asked.
"15, nothing looks out of place but considering the circumstances I thought you might want a look yourself" Guzman said.
"I'm on my way. ETA: 10 minutes. Taylor out" Taylor said as he pressed the end button and pocketed the comm. before he looked at Alicia.
"I guess it's lucky" she murmured.
"I wouldn't say so" Taylor told her.
"Continue later?" she asked him there was a hint of hope in her tone.
"I'd rather continue now but-"
"You got a power relay station on the west side of the colony to attend to" Alicia told him and she slipped out from between him and the wall. She turned her back and took a deep breath to quell her disappointment and frustration. For just a moment they had been on fire like old times, she hadn't realised how much she had missed it until she had it for the briefest of moments. Now she was hungry for more but knew she couldn't push it further as Taylor was on duty. Work always came first.
"Alicia?" Taylor asked, Alicia turned on her feet and smiled reassuringly.
"I'm fine, I am" she assured him.
"Alright"
"I'm going to go check on the girls and give you some cooling off space" Alicia said with a smile as she looked down at his pants that were straining from his arousal.
"I don't think it will help" Taylor said putting his hands on hips and looking down at his wayward member.
"Then think of something incredibly ugly" Alicia told him with a smile as one of the twins started acting up it was if the two were set to go off just when Taylor wanted to suggest something dirty and fun to do with Alicia.
"Oh wow what's cooking good looking?" Kate asked as she came into the house to find Malcolm in the kitchen cooking. Whatever he was cooking smelt delicious. "It's smells delicious" Kate added as she kicked off her flat shoes and walked over to Malcolm and they shared a quick kiss before he went back to chopping up some vegetables.
"Ah let's see I have miso glazed xiphatinus slowly baking in the oven and a vegetable broth with tofu and udon noodles. Rice is already steamed as I know you like having both noodles and soup." Malcolm said, Kate smiled as she liked how smug Malcolm looked about knowing all of her food preferences even if he was slightly disgusted by her odd miso cravings.
"Dessert?" Kate asked as if she were testing him.
"Mango and Peach tart in the fridge. All your favourites and a couple of mine" he said as he was quite fond of Mango and Peach tarts.
"I knew I married you for more than your good looks" Kate said as she stood behind him and wrapped her arms around his middle pressing her protruding stomach into his back slightly to get her arms around.
"Here I was thinking it's because I'm good in bed" Malcolm said as he continued chopping up vegetables.
"Sounds like the words to a song" Kate said.
"Really?" he asked in a tone that said that he didn't agree.
"I'll have to reintroduce to the Skyhooks. When will dinner be?" Kate asked.
"Ah not for another hour. So-" Malcolm stopped mid sentence as he could have sworn he felt something poke his back, he knew Kate's arms were around his middle "Kate" he said calmly as he didn't want to get too excited.
"Yes" Kate said as she had her head lying side on his back.
"Did our baby just kick me in the back?" he asked as he placed the knife he had been preparing the vegetables with on the counter and turned around to face her.
"Possibly" Kate offered with an odd smile as she had felt the foot push out against Malcolm. It was the first strong movement she had felt. She watched as Malcolm's face lit up in amazement and joy as smiled and placed his hands on her stomach.
"Isn't that amazing?" he asked in awe as he felt the baby pushed its little foot out where one of his hands was. He laughed in joy of the moment as it was amazing to feel the tiny little life kick out again.
"Yeah it is" Kate said softly as bit her bottom lip and half smiled watching his excitement. It made her heart melt as she felt his joy and enthusiasm at feeling their baby kick.
"I think the show is over" Malcolm said after a couple minutes pass as he hadn't felt any movements since the first couple of kicks. He looked up at her and saw her softened expression as she had been watching him. He saw all of her emotions written in her eyes and it was like something clicked in him. He just knew that he loved this woman, before he told himself he was going to love her as he only felt a strong physical attraction after they first met in the infirmary when he woke up from a coma for months he felt bad that she would tell him she loved him and yet he hadn't been able to return the token of affection as he didn't want to lie but now he could. He loved her. He moved his hands up her body and cupped her face and looked at her.
"I love you" He said when he pulled back from her lips momentarily. His forehead pressed to hers, Kate's eyes stung with hot tears as it was the first time he had actually uttered the words 'I love you' and meant it. Since the accident and the memory loss he hadn't said the words and she noticed them being unsaid and when she said she loved him he just kissed her instead of saying the words until now.
She didn't take it personally as she preferred he didn't lie to her. She told herself it was enough that he was just with her and trying but hearing the words fall from his lips made her world brighten. She smiled as tears ran down her face.
"I hope these are happy tears" Malcolm said as he used his thumbs to brush the tears off her cheeks.
"Yeah they are. I love you" Kate said before she pulled him into a mind searing kiss.
"You're home late" Alicia said when Taylor came through door. Taylor said he would be an hour late but had ended up being 3 hours overdue for dinner.
"Yes, one of the power distribution centres was broken into." Taylor said as he kicked off his boots and closed the door locking it before turning to see Alicia standing by the kitchen bench, her hair hung loose around her shoulders and she appeared to be wearing nothing but a thin silk wrapper. She looked beautiful.
"I know I was standing right next to you when you got the call. I assume since the power is still everything was fine?" Alicia asked.
"Yes. There wasn't any damage or anything missing or out of place. I have a couple of engineers scouring the whole room to make sure everything is where it should be. Also the cameras were broken so no ID on the culprit but we all know who it was." Taylor said as he moved into the kitchen keeping his distance from Alicia so he could stay focussed.
"That's frustrating" Alicia said Taylor made a noise akin to agreement as he took a moment to enjoy looking at her legs.
"So how was your evening?" Taylor asked looking up at her face.
"It was ok, Evan and the kids stayed for dinner and left about half an hour ago. The twins are down for the count" Alicia informed him.
"Anyway you look ready for bed" Taylor said as he wondered if she was completely naked under the wrapper or not.
"I am but I'm good for a cup of coffee and dessert. I saved a plate of food for you" Alicia said as she moved to the oven. She pulled it open and then pulled out the plate she had been keeping warm in the oven and placed it on the bench.
"Thanks I'm starving" Taylor said as he moved into the kitchen and placed a kiss on her lips before getting cutlery and carrying his food to the dining table.
"Coffee?" Alicia asked him.
"Please" Taylor said between bites as he wolfed down the food. A moment later, Alicia sat next to him and placed two cups of coffee on the table before them. "So what's for dessert?" Taylor asked.
"Me" Alicia said in a low husky tone, Taylor nearly choked on his dinner as he had not expected such an answer. He swallowed some of his coffee and turned to Alicia as she had been teasing him as much as he was her over the last few weeks but this was the first time she had been so forward and the actual chance of follow through. Then he figured what happened earlier today was just a fluke.
"Really? There going to be whipped cream and warm honey?" he asked her teasingly as he continued to eat his dinner. Alicia smiled and shook her head.
"No, there isn't enough time as we only have an hour in exactly-" she pulled out her comm unit from the pocket of her wrapper and looked at the time "In 5 minutes" she told him as she turned off her comm and placed it on the table before looking at him.
"What happens in 5 minutes?" He asked as he finished the last of his dinner and pushed the plate away from him.
"The cameras in the living room will be turned off. Only I and Guzman know about it and before you give a speech about it being on for our safety. We aren't the targets and there are soldiers guarding the house. I even double checked all the windows and door so will you just relax and enjoy yourself or do you want me to call Guzman?" she asked as she undid his shoulder holster and pulled it off him and placed it on the dining table.
"One hour" Taylor said as picked up his cup of coffee and moved to the lounge to stretch out and get comfortable. Alicia followed him to the lounge and stood in front of him.
"If you're not interested in finishing what we started earlier.." Alicia drawled she slowly opened her wrapper and allowed the flimsy material to slide off her revealing her in all her naked glory. Sure she wasn't back into her previous shape yet but the way Taylor was looking at her made her feel like she was a goddess.
"Oh no I'm interested, very interested" Taylor said as he allowed himself a few moments to drink in the sight of her naked before him. He was glad the back windows were frosted glass and the ones that weren't had the shades down as he never wanted to share the view before him with anyone else.
"Well here I am" Alicia told him enjoying this moment more than she should. She closed the space between them and sank one knee on either side of him straddling his lap.
"I feeling tad over dressed for this party" Taylor murmured as he slowly reached out to touch her with both hands. Her hair, her cheek and her shoulder, he ran his fingers lightly down her arms then over to her breasts as he kept his eyes locked with her. The way he looked at her made her feel impossibly sexy something she hadn't felt in a very long time.
"We can fix that problem" Alicia said as reached forward with her own hands and tugged on his black shirt. He reluctantly pulled his hands away from her body and broke eye contact as he pulled his shirt off tossing it to the side as Alicia unbuckled his belt and pulled it from his pants throwing it behind her. When they locked eyes again it was like what had been a slow simmer of heat between them combusted into a powerful need as he pulled her to him crushing their upper bodies together as he shifted forward on the lounge so she could wrap her legs around his waist and he then pulled her onto the lounge under. Alicia pulled the belt out from around his waist and unbuckled his pants and tried to push them down wanting him to be as naked as she was and have him possess. But struggled as melted in pleasure as her mind was completely switched off as she gave into her physical wants and needs enjoying the tactile feel and the pleasure of Taylor as his hands were everywhere, sweeping her body, touching, exploring, as he kissed and licked her, tasted her.
"I believe this is my dessert and I got an hour to enjoy it" Taylor told her in a husky yet amused voice as he was getting tangled in not only Alicia but his pants. He wondered for a moment where his finesse for stripping out of uniform quickly had gone but moved on as he got up shucked his pants quickly and returned his full attention to Alicia.
"Like what you see?" he asked as she her eyes were roving his body like she were a starving woman and he was the fine cut piece of steak. A slow and sexy smile spread across her lips as she gave a nod, he moved towards her with full intention of ravishing her when all the lights blinked out.
TBC! See you all very soon with more...