Training the Rookie, page 5
“I can go,” I said quickly. “In fact, I will. Just wanted to make sure you were okay and… Clearly you are.”
Blair nodded, saying nothing. I turned to go.
Her “wait” stopped me.
Before I knew what was happening, I was adding, “And you should know, that as shitty as you feel right now, you’re going to feel better – just give it time. It was really brave, what you did there. The reflexes were spot on. Not sure I could’ve when I was new at the job.”
But, instead of my words producing the effects I’d intended, when I glanced at Blair, there was a deep furrow carved into her forehead, and her head was shaking. “I’m not so sure.”
“Seriously,” I said. “When I was new, you should’ve seen me. I basically jumped at the first sound of gunfire. Noah and Peter still josh me about that one.”
Blair looked like she was about to smile, but instead just shook her head. “That's not what I meant.”
“I know,” I said. “But I was serious about before, too. Don’t beat yourself up. When it comes down to it: who would you rather be dead — that guy, who would’ve gone on to commit a whole bunch of other crimes, most likely? Or us, two cops doing their job, and a little innocent old lady?”
“You forgot the cats,” Blair said.
I reached out, my hand stopping midway. “There’s a smile.”
It struck me how stupid I was being. But I couldn’t help it.
When I’d met her, Blair had seemed the picture of having it all together. It made her sexy, sure, but this vulnerable side wasn’t helping things. It felt like every time I spent more time with my new partner, I was being shown a new side to her. And I found that I liked each new side even better than the last. Without allowing myself to think about it, I closed my arms around her. “I’m glad you’re taking another day off. Part of me thought you’d be so stubborn as to storm right into work.”
“I wanted to,” Blair admitted. “But there’s no point in me coming in if I can’t handle it.” She felt good in my arms. Her hibiscus scent was thick, probably because I had my nose dug into her hair.
It seemed as though we sunk closer and closer together with every passing heartbeat. Hers seemed faster than mine, or maybe that was mine I was sensing through her. At any rate, I didn’t want to let Blair go, although I knew I desperately needed to. But it seemed inevitable, irresistible.
Drawing away, I was quick to rip my gaze off her too, focusing it on a picture on her mantel.
“That your sister?”
Rubbing her temples, Blair nodded. “That’s Ella with the grand piano she won in some kind of contest.”
“Some kind of contest?” I raised a brow.
Blair went over and flopped on the couch, although she was smiling in spite of herself. “Yeah, she’s a brilliant pianist. Super talented. She enters over fifty events a year.”
I went over to sit a hands distance away from Blair.
“Wow. That’s a lot.”
Blair nodded and rubbed her temples again. “Headache,” she explained, getting up. “The best thing for them I found is warm cider actually.”
In the kitchen now, she said, “Want some?” I nodded, and before I knew it, Blair was coming back with mugs that looked more like soup bowls. Accepting mine, I had to chuckle.
“When I said that cider helps,” Blair explained, “I meant a lot of cider.”
“Yeah, no kidding.” I lifted my cider mug and we said cheers. As she sipped, I watched her over the rim of my cup. If I was smart, the time to go would’ve been after that hug, or even before it. Problem was, being around Blair was akin to being electrically shocked every few seconds. No smart thoughts happened there.
The way her tongue slipped up and out to catch a stray droplet of cider had my dick twitching. The way she blushed, almost surprised to see me watching her like that. Almost like she had no idea just how sexy she was right then.
And with the way we were only a hand’s distance apart.
“Sorry my couch is so small,” Blair apologized, without looking at me.
“It’s fine,” I said, stopping myself before adding, in fact, that I preferred it.
Because Blair was my partner, and this was not happening. Sure, I was attracted to her. And sure, she was showing all signs of being attracted to me too. Right then, I had to just be there for her. And maybe leave, if it came to it.
But my cider wasn’t done, and when Blair said, “Movie?” I couldn’t find a way to say no.
My lips were all poised and ready, the “No” all ready to be let out. But just the slightest flicker disappointment in her eyes made me stop.
“Here, I’ll go get some chips.”
I set my gaze on the flat screen TV before me. It was well sized, not too big, not too small. Not overly ostentatious, yet classy looking, pleasing to the eye. Like Blair. She didn’t try to be hot or cool, she just was.
“You’re not even going to look?” Blair chided me gently as she returned. I gazed up to see a bowl of ketchup chips plopped on my lap. I caught her eye, and we burst out laughing.
“You had these on hand?” I asked.
“Actually, yeah,” she said. “Can’t remember when I got more, but here they are.”
“Great,” I said surely. “How long have you been in this place?”
Knowing what was coming, Blair smirked. “Oh, just about five years or so.”
I raised a chip to that. “I’m sure their elderly state will add a nice change in flavor.”
Blair opened her mouth to protest, but I was already chomping down on the chip, which, thankfully, tasted regular enough to me.
So, Blair started the movie, and we sat there, the self-control of not touching each other radiating between us. She was so close. So tangibly close.
I rose. “I should go.” I kept my gaze on George Clooney, who was looking at Blair how I wanted to. How I knew I couldn’t if I was going to get out of here at all. “I mean, I took the day off, in case you needed anything. But I really should get going.”
And there it was, not even a viable excuse.
I took a step toward the door, but Blair called out my name. As I stood there, it was a look — like a lasso caught on my heels. I couldn’t help but chance a glance back, catch the disappointment drooping her face. And just like that, the last dregs of my self-control fell away. I swallowed the no back, and all I could do was obey the entreaty and that face. Sitting down, I faced her. There was no hands width between us now. Our legs were tight, side-by-side. There was no point in asking what she wanted, what she needed.
It was all there in her still, waiting face. Waiting for me to do what, I saw now, had been inevitable since that first time I saw her in the hallway.
I pressed my lips to hers.
11
Blair
Holy hell. All this time, and his kiss was… that?
The kind that ripped through me like a live wire.
The kiss grew, swelled. He sucked on my tongue, pulled back my lower lip. All the pent-up attraction I’d had for him was breaking free.
Lips and hands moving in tandem, Jeremy kissed my sleepshirt off me. The bare skin below his fingertips delighted in, swirling up and up and up until they glanced off my nipple
Whoa.
It seemed we were going both too fast and too slow at once. Like there was an underlying blueprint we were following that egged us on, even as we ached to savor what was happening. This long-overdue meeting of our bodies. Because we’d wanted this – it was in every harried touch – since the start.
And now, finally, we were getting it.
His fingertips fluttered over my ribcage like keys on a piano, my moans part of the tune. Our mouths feasted on each other, unable to get enough.
Hip to hip, enlaced hand to enlaced hand, our bodies ground our building pleasure into each other. Our tongues tangled.
His clothed chest was pressing onto my bare one, while his fingers strayed further and further up… until, finally, there.
A gasp fell out of my lips as his cool fingers clasped down on my breast. We paused.
There it was. Even after the kiss, we could’ve gone back, laughed it off as some stress-fueled whatever. But this? His hands on my breast, his other hand meandering downward? There would be no laughing this off, that was for sure.
Not with the way he was kissing me now. As if he was voracious, with a hunger only the taste of me could sate.
Now, his fingers were playing along my panty line.
Now, I pulled off his shirt. Bare-chested, it was impossible not to marvel at the grid work of muscles. As my finger traced them, he did the same with my abs, as his finger continued its slow but sure inching down.
Jeremy paused.
Our gazes caught. My finger stopped at his heart and I could feel it through his chest – beating a steady rhythm against me.
And then, everything happened at once. My mouth flew for his. All that followed was just our bodies responding to each other: tongues twisting, hands diving, feeling.
One finger toyed in and out of my waistband, as I trembled.
There was no room for thought here – only sensation responding to sensation.
I bit and lapped at his ear, groaning into it as his fingers inched down until he slipped two into my waiting wetness and I groaned.
Good. Fucking. God.
The slick feel was so damn good. He twirled his fingers in me, and I clenched for dear life. His fingers pulsed in me and I reached for his dick over his pants. His pants were off in seconds and he was staring down at me, his eyes dark with lust.
There was no chance of slowing down one bit.
Now I was back on the couch and his body was pressed up to mine, he tore at my panties until they came off and flung them across the room. Finally both naked and panting, he slid himself into me in one hard thrust.
And then the dance begun. I wrapped my legs around his waist and pulled him in deeper. His cock continued to grow and pulse deep inside of me, wringing moans from my chest. I threw my head back and lifted my hips to meet his, losing myself in each powerful thrust.
12
Jeremy
Finally, I was inside of her – and it felt so fucking good. Tight as a custom-made glove, and the way she was groaning, arching her pelvis up for me was enough to make a guy come way too early if he wasn’t careful. Good thing I had no intention of not being careful. I wanted this to last as long as humanly possible.
So, I started out slow, a painstaking grinding into her that sent both of us shaking. Closing my eyes got me deeper into the pleasure, but opening them and seeing Blair’s slack jaw nearly drove me crazy.
She was so hot, and unexpected. She was off the charts.
We established a steady rhythm as I slowly built the pace. It was almost too good, but I forced myself to hold back. No way was I going to come before I felt Blair’s sweet pussy spasming on me.
And I wasn’t far off, judging by the feel of it. Not with the way those animalistic noises were coming out of her and her body was tremoring. Yes, we were close.
We kissed and fucked our way from one position to the next – from missionary to doggy, to legs akimbo. Until her legs were propped up on my chest and I was fucking her deep and she was shrilling for more. And more was exactly what I gave her.
Faster and harder I pounded into her, until there were no words left.. Until Blair’s form fell back, breaking out in shaking and groans. I opened my eyes to watch that. Seeing her come was as good as a stroke to my dick. Blair was so…
“Goddamn hot,” I murmured, stroking a hand across her cheek.
Her eyes fluttered open. Our gazes caught.
As I picked up my pace, this time, Blair’s pelvis met my every inward jerk with a clasp of her own.
In and out and again. Faster and tighter and deeper and tighter.
And then we rolled and we were on our sides, gasping breaths from each other, slamming our limbs together in one final desperate spasm as we came.
Afterwards, I held her in my arms and wondered vaguely how, after the best sex of my life, we were supposed to go back to normal tomorrow.
13
Blair
His lips against mine woke me up; tore me from a haze to clarity. His hands cupped my face, his body pressed into mine.
And this feeling, bubbling in my chest was a mixture of agitation, fear, pure liquid joy.
The rightness of it was unmistakable and yet…
I looked away. It was my partner I had just slept with. The man I worked with every day – and would have to continue to work with.
Suddenly, everything went cold and clammy, like some teenager’s sweaty palms running all over me. What the fuck had I been thinking?
Sitting up, Jeremy only tried once to kiss my turned-away cheek before rising.
“I’ll just hit up the bathroom,” he said.
I let him go without saying anything. What was there to say? The sex had been amazing, sure, but we worked together. It shouldn’t have happened.
Poking between my blinds were the unmistakable rays of morning sunlight. Yawning, I got up and started getting dressed.
A few minutes later, Jeremy was back and dressed as wel.
He lingered for a second or so, then turned for the door. “I should get going. But Blair?”
“See you at work,” I said crisply, turning away.
No way could I look him in the eye as I used that nonchalant tone. Then I’d see whatever expression he was wearing – did he feel as awkward and upset about this as I did? – and waver.
“See ya,” he said in a cool tone, leaving.
Only once I heard the unmistakable bray of my closing front door did I allow the breath pent up in me to escape. There. That wasn’t so bad, now was it?
I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth instead of answering.
--
At work, Jeremy had a coffee for me at my desk as usual.
“Good morning,” he said, as usual.
Our eyes met, we nodded. There, it was decided then, business as usual.
Although as Noah walked by and I was forced to return his cheery wave, my arm creaked with reluctance. Pretending things were normal between ourselves was one thing – what were we going to do about the others?
14
Peter
Something was up. I’d already had my suspicions by how awkwardly Jeremy and Blair had acted when I asked them to lunch an hour or so ago. But as we went into Angie’s for lunch, there was no doubt about it. The way Blair and Jeremy’s eyes kept flitting to each other, as if they shared some unsaid secret. How even Jeremy, the perpetual jokester, wasn’t as talkative as usual. And there was, of course, the fact that he hadn’t come home the night before…
Inside Angie’s, we chose our usual booth, the one in the corner. There was an awkward moment where everyone stood, not sure who would be sitting beside who. Finally, Jeremy threw himself in, and the rest of us followed suit. And once again, his and Blair’s eyes met. Did this explain why Jeremy had been MIA the past few days?
In any case, Blair looked a hell of a lot better than she had the last time we saw her. That last time, it almost looked like she was going to keel over on the spot. I’d sent her a text too, and her response had been polite but brief. Not that I could blame her. It was tough. One of the first days on the job and you have to shoot a guy dead?
In any case, Angie’s was rattling with eager conversation, and after we made our orders, our food arrived quickly enough.
“This breakfast special is really good,” Blair said, smiling to Jeremy. The way he smirked, as if he was one who had stumbled on the place instead of me, annoyed me for some reason.
“Hey Jeremy,” I said, “Busy last night?”
Poor little brother. I could read him like a book.
Even though Jeremy’s shrug was noncommittal, it was clear as day. Mainly because of the way Blair reacted too, concentrating on chewing her bacon and not meeting my eye. Next thing I knew, Blair was rising, saying “be right back” as she headed to the bathroom.
“Before you say anything…” Jeremy was saying.
But I didn’t hear the rest of it. Calmly turning to him, I said, “So you slept with her then.”
Chaos erupted. Jeremy shoved away his plate of food. Noah sucked in a deep breath and practically choked on one of the ice cubes in his water. And I sat there, staring at him.
“Don’t try and deny it.”
Jeremy glowered at me. “I wasn’t going to.”
I resisted the urge to laugh outright, concentrating my glare onto the knife on the table, which showed my elongated face. “Whatever happened to keeping it professional?”
Jeremy’s stubborn frown wavered. He shook his head and said, a little sadly, little ruefully; “Man, her messy hair and these PJs she was wearing, I mean, if you would’ve just seen her…”
“Seen what?” Now, surprisingly enough, it was Noah speaking up, chomping down on the remaining ice cubes in his mouth as he did so. “How badly she needed us to be there for her? And you went over there and took advantage of it?”
Jeremy clenched a hand onto the end of the plastic table. “I didn’t go over there intending to take advantage of anything. It just happened.”
“It just happened,” I echoed, a bit mockingly. “And what exactly do you plan to do now, about what ‘just happened’?”
My question hung over the table. “I don’t know,” he finally admitted.
“Obviously, this can’t continue.” I said. “If Chief Fallows found out…”
Jeremy’s head shot up so his glare focused on me. “She’s not going to find out.”
“Not from me she isn’t,” Noah acquiesced. “Still, man. You’ve got to see that this can’t happen.”
Jeremy gave his head a terrific shake. “I know we can’t happen. I’m not an idiot. I just…” His gaze lowered. “I really like this girl, okay?”
