Chapter 14

Part of this chapter is rated NC-17. If you are under 18 or are not comfortable, please move to the next chapter after SMK*SMK*SMK*SMK

Several hours later, Lee slumped onto the couch in their bedroom as Amanda moved from one side of the room to the other, putting laundry away.

"Oh, Amanda. This whole thing is driving me crazy. I don't even know where to start anymore." Lee dragged his hands down his face.

"What's the problem, Sweetheart?" Amanda smiled sweetly as she dropped folded socks in the drawer.

Lee dropped his head back against the couch. "Well, let's see. Let's start with Jonathan's suicide note… if it really was a suicide, because so far the tox screens are coming back inconclusive."

"Why's that?" Amanda probed as she moved to the closet.

"I got a message from the ME's office. They definitely found Deja Vu 2 in his system but they also found a high dose of temazepam," Lee explained.

"Temazepam? Isn't that what they give you when you have insomnia?" Amanda poked her head out of the doorway.

Lee blew out a long breath. "Yeah, but the weird part is Francine claims he never had insomnia. In fact, he was just the opposite. He could fall asleep at the drop of a hat."

Amanda leaned against the doorframe, the basket propped against her side. "Well that doesn't make any sense then. I'm sure there's a good explanation for it though. What else is bothering you?"

"His letter. Francine and I were trying to make heads or tails out of it on our drive back, but nothing really stood out. I mean, we're pretty sure the cat is not really a cat but Brody," Lee began.

"You're sure about that?"

"No, but it seems to make sense. Especially after finding that tail on us. I'll tell you, we were damn lucky Francine was paying attention to the road in front of us because I was too busy watching them in the rearview mirror. If she hadn't seen that ball…" Lee's voice faded as he shuddered once. "Anyway, we have no idea who was following us, never mind why."

Amanda placed the basket inside the closet door and crossed the room to sit beside Lee. "Sweetheart, whoever was following you might have had nothing to do with what happened with Jonathan. How many times have you reminded me of that when we're out on a case?" She lifted her hand and began toying with the hair on the back of his neck.

"I know. It just felt like too much of a coincidence. Tomorrow Francine and I are going to see if they found any matches to those fingerprints, go over the letter again, and see what's going on with the chair. That damn chair. I don't understand why she thinks it's so important but I'm trusting her instincts." Lee stopped and smiled at Amanda as he added playfully, "I've trusted yours enough times, and look where we are."

"Awww, Sweetheart," Amanda cooed before leaning close and pressing her lips against his.

Lee responded with a hum as he parted his lips slightly and deepened their kiss. He explored her mouth with his tongue as his hand drifted to the back of her head. He brushed his thumb along her jawline several times before they finally separated. He was surprised when he leaned back to see Amanda staring back at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Why'd you stop?" she teased.

"Why'd you stop?" Lee retorted playfully.

Amanda shook her head. "I didn't stop, you did."

Lee chuckled softly before leaning in again. "You mean you don't want me to stop?"

Amanda pulled him closer to her as she growled, "Never."

Lee wrapped his hand around her waist and in one swift move, pulled Amanda closer.

"So that's how you wanna play, Buster?" Amanda giggled as she adjusted herself so she was straddling his lap.

Lee cast a look over at the closed bedroom door before studying Amanda's face. "When will the boys be back from the movies?"

Amanda leaned forward and kissed Lee's lips lightly. "Hours. Joe took them to dinner first."

"Your mother?" Lee squeaked as her lips began trailing a line to his earlobe which she promptly tugged with her teeth. "Same. She's playing bingo tonight with Aunt Edna."

"What if the girls wake up?" Lee asked breathlessly.

Amanda fisted the hem of Lee's t-shirt and pulled it upward. "Then we deal with it. But until then, stop talking, Big Fella." She managed to remove his shirt just before he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her tighter. She dropped her head and their mouths collided. What began as playful kisses soon morphed into passion-filled ones.

SMK*SMK*SMK*SMK

Lee wrestled Amanda's sweatshirt over her head, tossing it to the side before capturing her bare nipple in his mouth. He suckled the tight tip, earning a moan of pleasure from his wife. Releasing her, he gazed into her dark brown eyes and whispered, "I think you planned this all along."

Amanda rolled her hips, grinding against the prominent bulge in his sweatpants. "I may have considered it when I found out we were going to have some time alone tonight. But you were in such a state when you got home, I didn't want to push. Now, I'm pushing. You need to be distracted and I know just the right way to do it."

"A-man-da," Lee breathed when she rolled her hips again. With a playful growl, He started to lift her to stand so he could carry her across the room to their bed.

"Uh-uh. I told you, we were keeping the couch for a reason," she commanded with a sultry tone.

"Well, if you say so," Lee responded with a grin. "But you're going to have to move enough to lose those jeans."

Amanda pressed her lips to his as she backed off his lap enough to slide the remaining clothing off her body, carefully balancing using her hands on Lee's shoulders. She straddled him once again. She buried her hands in his hair as he forced her higher onto her knees and began worshiping the valley of soft skin between her breasts while he wriggled out of his sweatpants and boxers. He captured one soft globe with one hand, kneading the tender flesh as his mouth found its twin. She released a breathy moan and whispered Lee's name.

Lee wrapped his arms around her bare back, pressed his cheek against her chest, and held her close without moving.

"Sweetheart? Are you okay?" Amanda tried to see his face but his chin was tucked low.

Lee gave her a little squeeze before lifting his eyes up to meet hers. "Sometimes, I just need to feel you. Hear your heart beating. I think of how many times in this business–"

Amanda pressed her finger to his lips. "No. None of that. Take what you're feeling right now and show me. Show me what I mean to you. Or… let me show you what you mean to me."

Lee slid his hand behind her head and pulled her lips back to his as he whispered, "I love you."

Amanda took his cue and shifted her body so she was aligned with his engorged shaft. She slowly slid down, sheathing him to the hilt. She didn't move, she just allowed him to feast on her lips.

Lee felt her hot heat envelope him. He moaned into her mouth as his tongue swept across hers. He could feel her hands sliding across his shoulders to grip the back of the couch. "We do it together."

Amanda kissed him once more and began to move. She rolled her hips to meet his gentle thrusts, their eyes locked on one another. Their slow pace kept them connected in a way neither understood until their desire for each other became a raging inferno of passion and love. Lee's upward strokes were countered with a downward thrust from Amanda's hips. Heat poured from their bodies as they fought to keep pace with each other. When Amanda's body began to shake, Lee held her close, keeping rhythm.

"I love you, Sweetheart," Amanda moaned as she tipped over the edge into oblivion. Lee followed several strokes after, his arms still wrapped around her back.

Several long minutes later, Amanda leaned her forehead against his and sighed happily. "You feeling any better?"

"I never had any doubts about us, Amanda, but you made me realize something." Lee kissed the tip of her nose and waited.

"What's that?" Amanda straightened up slightly and studied her husband's face. She did not miss the twitch of his mouth as he fought to keep a straight face.

"Keeping the couch was the best idea you've had next to marrying me."