Devil’s in the Details, page 28
"Alex, turn around."
I let out a shaky breath, my nerves going off like fireworks. I closed my eyes and let Victoria turn me around, "I'm sorry, barging in like I own the place."
I heard a soft laugh that sounded almost like a sigh, "Open your eyes." Victoria's hands pressed reassuringly against my arms. "I want you to look."
My knees just about gave out when I heard her say that and I slowly opened my eyes, slowly because I was afraid of my reaction if I popped my eyes open too quickly on a topless Victoria. With eyes finally open, I looked at the woman in front of me. She was now wearing a dark blue bra that made me frown a bit, but I still had a view of Victoria's toned stomach. The sight of that alone, made me bite the inside of my cheek. God, she was perfect, beautiful, sexy, gorgeous and all those other words I would find to describe her.
Lifting my eyes away from the plethora of bare skin in front of me, I met her slate grey eyes looking directly into mine. There was a look of fear and trust in them, and it confused me for a second. I was about to step away and excuse myself, when slender fingers wrapped around the hand down at my side and pulled it up to her side.
Victoria pressed my palm against the skin of her right side. Holding it there for a second, she took in a deep breath and began to move it to her back. My fingers gliding over perfect, warm skin, making my heart and breath quicken. Then my fingertips hit the rough patch I had grazed on my counter top. I went to pull my hand back looking at the silent struggle in Victoria's eyes. She shook her head as tears welled up and kept moving my hand over her scar until my whole hand sat against the scar.
I could feel the ridges and hills that came with skin grafts, the thick lines of her puncture wounds that had too much infection in them and were not cleaned properly for far too long. I bent my head to the side to look at the scar. It wasn't as horrid as I imagined, it was large but it wasn't anything that I would shy away from. Not because I had seen far worse in my nursing career, but because it was a part of the woman I loved. This was a part of her and I would love it and her, no matter what.
I leaned back to watched Victoria close her eyes and drop her hand away, leaving mine where it sat. "Victoria..." My voice betrayed me as it came out harsh and quiet. I wanted to cry looking at how scared she was in this moment, scared because I was the first person she had ever allowed to touch or look at this part of her body.
She opened her eyes, looking in mine she let out a slow breath, bending down, her lips brushed against mine, making me quiver all over. I could feel her warm breath mingle with mine right before she closed the gap and kissed me. Kissed me so deeply, I felt my heart stop. I let out a delicate moan, and it set Victoria off. She grabbed me, pulling me flush against her body. The kiss moving from hard and slow to the one she had unleashed on me on the counter of my apartment. I knew where this was heading, and good lord did I want this. Even more as I felt her hands slide across my waist and dip under the thin V-neck I wore. Her hands met my skin, setting it on fire along with the rest of my body.
I had to grab on to Victoria's other side to hold myself up, my knees and legs had become pure jelly as her tongue moved across my bottom lip before it met mine. She pushed hard against my mouth, her hands moving further up and to the clasp of my bra when my conscience suddenly tapped me on the shoulder, reminding me of the tiniest of secrets I carried. I furrowed my brow, nipping at Victoria's top lip, pulling a deep moan from her. I quickly told my conscience to shut up and go away, that I would be okay.
But it tapped a little harder, reminding me of what Victoria had just poured out in the last twelve or so hours, laid bare her deepest darkest secrets and even though mine was simple and severely embarrassing, Victoria would know.
Right as Victoria's nimble fingers flicked open my bra clasp and went to pull it free, I groaned and cursed, pulling back from her mouth, I tenderly pushed some space between us. "Wait, wait."
Victoria moved forward, trying to kiss me again, "I think we've waited enough, Alex."
I shook my head and took another step back, "Victoria please." I let go of her sides, holding up my hand, "I have to tell you something."
I heard Victoria sigh, the tension in the room turning from an explosive sexual one to that all too familiar one that had hovered around us for a year and a half. "Okay." Victoria looked down at the floor, licking her lips in a way that made me want to tell my conscience to fuck off.
Reaching for her hand, I shook my head, "Don't disappear on me, it's not a big something like I’m married or have four nipples." I half smiled hoping Victoria would take the joke, it fell flat. She just looked up at me with a furrowed brow. I huffed, only way to do this was to rip the band aid off and move past it. I scrunched my face out and let it roll out of my mouth quickly, "Iveneverbeenwithawoman." I mumbled it out in one breath.
Victoria's face turned from furrowed brow to scrunched confusion then to raised eyebrows as she deciphered my words. Her mouth fell open as she looked at me, "Did you just say?” She paused, looking over my beet red face, "You've never been with a woman?" She reached for the shirt she had on top of the dresser when I walked in and started pulling it on.
I squeezed my eyes shut, rubbing my face with my hands, mumbling against the small gap between them. "Yes. I have never been with a woman." I folded my arms tightly against my chest, dropping my head to stare at my bare feet and how they contrasted against the dark hardwood floors, "I didn't want to hide it from you, because if we did this, you'd quickly figure it out. I also didn't think that we'd be um, getting to this point so fast."
I swallowed nervously as the ramble started, "Not that I don't want to with you, oh god do I want to. I mean, I've kissed girls in college and done the whole tops off making out, I mean I was in a sorority for Christ’s sake." I shook my head and looked up at Victoria who had a blank face. "I've just never been with a girl, made love to one, or you know."
I frowned, feeling like a teenager all over again when I was faced with this similar issue with my first boyfriend, but Victoria was so much more than a quick teenage romp. I wanted to make love to her and I wanted it to be perfect. "You've let me in so much and I didn't want to..." I rolled my eyes, "I have totally ruined the moment. I’m going to go now, back downstairs and um, yeah. I’ll be out at the car when you're ready." I twirled on my heel to run out of the room when Victoria grabbed my elbow, stopping me and tugging me to look at her.
She had a goofy smile on her face and was clearly trying to hold back a laugh, "Alex, it’s okay." She smirked, "But yes, you did totally ruin the moment." She tugged my arm when I frowned deeper, asking me to come closer. I sighed and moved back to stand in front of her.
Victoria reached up, placing both of her hands on my cheeks, "We can wait a little longer." She grinned, "When you're ready, I can guide you through it, learn together." Victoria started laughing nervously, shaking her head, "I'm sorry."
I gave her a dirty look, "This is not funny."
Victoria nodded, "It's not, but I can't handle how adorable you are right now." She bent and kissed the tip of my nose, then wrapped me up in a strong embrace. "I’ll admit, when you said four nipples, I might have gotten a bit turned on."
I groaned, burying my face in her shoulder as I playfully poked her side, "I'm so embarrassed."
Victoria laughed harder, kissing the top of my head. I poked her again, but secretly I was glad she was laughing. It was one of my favorite things about Victoria. The way she laughed and the way it sounded. I gave up being embarrassed and just held on to Victoria, and mumbled against her, "Well at least all of our secrets are out."
For a split second I swore I felt Victoria tighten up in my arms, before she relaxed, "I guess so."
After picking up her bag and locking the house, I followed Alex out to the old mini cooper. Smiling as I watched her move with her normal ease and confidence, waving at Dale and Mary as they unloaded groceries from the back of their SUV. I waved back at my neighbors, earning a cheery wink from Mary and thumbs up from Dale, making me blush and look down at the faded USNA logo on the right side of my shirt.
I was blushing because my neighbors were happy I had found someone to share my solitary home and life with, and blushing because I knew they were thinking when they saw Alex wearing my clothes. I let out a slow breath, dropping the keys in to my pocket. I had stopped what was inevitably going to happen in my bedroom not because I didn’t want Alex.
I desperately wanted to consummate the tension of the last year and bring us closer, never mind the fact that my body ached for some sort of release every time Alex was near, especially when we kissed. My body was ready just as much as my heart was, but as Alex revealed her little secret, I had to stop. I didn't want Alex's first time with me, or with a woman be tainted and hurried. I wanted it to be something special. I rolled my eyes at how the phrase sounded in my head, exactly like an after school special.
"Victoria, are you going to stare at me all day or what?"
I blinked, looking up at Alex grinning and holding out a hand to take her overnight bag from me. I shrugged, smiling, "I just might, if it's okay with you?"
Alex giggled, walking over to snatch the bag away from me. "You can stare at me while we are at the grocery store, in my apartment, or wherever and whenever your heart desires it, but we need to get a move on. I’m on vacation and I want to get the errands I have ignored for the last week, done, so all of my undivided attention is yours." She was inches away from me, sighing contently looking over my old shirt, "Maybe we can take you shopping, get you something else to wear that isn't grey, blue or has an angry goat on it."
I rolled my eyes and playfully shoved her back, "It's a fighting goat, Alex. Geez, how many times do I have to tell you?" I followed Alex to the car and got in the passenger side as she dumped her bag in the back.
Alex looked at me, still grinning, "I only say it because it irritates you." She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek, before moving to start the old car. "Oh, I wanted to tell you before I forgot." She looked at me, her grin fading a bit, "That detective who was assigned to my case a year ago. She came to the hospital the other day, asking where to find you."
I looked up at Alex confused, "A police detective?" It was time to pull out all of my acting skills, and keep up appearances while I internally made notes to call Dani and have her dig around in this detective.
Alex nodded, "I think her name is Scarlett or something." She tapped on the steering wheel, "She was asking if I knew you and where she could find you. I guess she has some questions about that night I was attacked." Alex glanced at me, biting her bottom lip, "I told her that you and I really haven't spoken much, or were very close." She shrugged, "Which is the truth since this time last week we were on the verge of being nothing more than memories."
I placed my hand on her arm, "It's okay, Alex. You told her the truth." I smiled a little more, "Why does she want to talk to me?"
Alex shrugged again, "I really don't know. I didn't give her an inch. Told her that you helped me that night and if she wanted to find you, she would have an easier time than I would."
She dug in her purse and pulled out a thin white business card with the corners bent, "She gave me this to give to you, well, more like left another card at the nurse’s station after I threw the first one out."
I took the card and scanned over the name in black Times New Roman print.
Detective Jennifer Scarlett. Metropolitan Police Department. District of Columbia.
Tucking the card in my front pocket, I turned back to Alex, "Well, since I am vacation, Detective Scarlett will just have to wait a few more weeks. I really have nothing more I can tell her about that night." I winked at Alex, motioning to the keys in the ignition, "Shall we?"
Alex grinned, starting the car, "We shall."
We both waved to my lovely neighbors as Alex backed out of the driveway and headed out of my subdivision.
* * *
Pushing the grocery cart, I was too focused on Alex bending over to pick up a case of water to pay attention to anything she was saying. I had found over the last hour or so since we had almost broke down that final wall, I couldn't stop looking at her and over analyzing how her clothes fit. The way her arms moved, how attractive her hands were and the glimpses of skin I would catch as she reached up for a box of cereal and my shirt rode up.
Alex was beautiful and the longer I looked at her, the harder it was going to be to go slow.
My roaming eyes were pulled away when Alex walked over to the grocery cart and tossed a few items in. "You know I can feel you staring."
I shrugged, "You said I could."
Alex gave me a half smirk, "I did, but I literally can feel your eyes burning holes in my jeans." She laughed and motioned to the deli counter, "I'll be over there, is there anything I can get you?"
I shook my head, smiling at how utterly domestic this situation was. "I'm all stocked up." I peered around the corner to the bakery section, "But there might be a doughnut or two that needs a good home." I winked at the brunette, "Meet you over there?"
Alex laughed again, "Yes ma'am." She turned on her heel, but spun back around, "Oh, what do you want for dinner? I can make us something or we can order out?"
"I am still voting for a triple cheese deep dish from O'Toole's. We skipped far too many pizza parties and I miss that thick, greasy, gooey pile of a heart attack." I grinned at Alex, "Plus, I want us to have a quiet night together."
She blushed ever so slightly, "Pizza it is then." Alex turned, moving towards the deli counter, throwing an extra bit of swagger in her hips. Knowing I was already staring, I sighed when she threw a mischievous look my way.
I shoved the grocery cart hard, my hands white knuckling it as I headed over to the bakery. Trying to focus on if a dozen or two of doughnuts would be enough to eat away the sexual tension that was building like a wildfire inside of me.
As I filled a bag up with sprinkle doughnuts, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I glanced at the screen, an unrecognized number flashing at me. I never answered unknown callers, leaving it to voicemail to screen those annoying calls out for me. Then the image of the detective's business card flashed in my head, the number on the phone matching the one on the business card.
Taking a deep breath, I answered it, "Commander Victoria Bancroft, how can I help you?" I threw on my best naval officer voice. I knew I would have to be the strong authority figure I once was to get this eager rookie off my ass.
"Hello, Ms. Bancroft, um Commander Bancroft. My name is Detective Jennifer Scarlett with the homicide division over at D.C. Metro police department. Do you have a minute?" Her tone was desperately trying to match mine. I smirked, this could be fun.
"I only have a minute, detective. I’m running a few errands and can't be on the phone for long." I was firm, but polite. I knew in about another thirty seconds I would be able to pick apart the detective and read between the lines of why she was contacting me.
"I won't hold you up then. I was calling because I have been looking for you for a while now. I don't know if you remember assisting a citizen about a year ago? A woman attacked at the metro station near the city hospital?" The detective was smooth. She was being appropriately vague, but I could tell she already had some of the answers to the questions. I glanced over at Alex still standing at the deli counter holding a few packages of cheese and roasted turkey. Of course I would forever remember that night. The night I got involved and ended up falling in love with the defiant woman standing on that platform.
"Vaguely, yes. I had just walked down the station and found an injured woman. I took her to the nearest hospital for further care." I turned back to my overflowing bag of sprinkle doughnuts, "Other than that, I am afraid I have forgotten most of the details of that night you’re probably searching for, detective."
The detective blew out a slow breath, "Is there any way we can meet in person Commander Bancroft? I have some pieces of evidence I would like you to look at. Some loose ends that I could use an expert eye on."
I laughed lightly, knowing exactly where she was headed, "I don't think a military history Professor could help with a cold case. Now maybe if you needed to write a paper on Schwarzkopf's attack strategy."
I rolled my eyes, I needed to get off the phone and call Dani. "Anyways, I’m on vacation for the next few weeks and I really need to go. If you would like, I can put you in touch with my secretary and perhaps we can schedule a meeting at my on-campus office, but as I said detective, I fear I may not be much help." I knew what the detective was doing. She was baiting me, hoping that I would slip and say Alex's name when she referred to the woman at the metro station, or slip and give exact details that only I would know since I was there. Since I was the one who killed the four men who attacked Alex, and was the main reason why the detective was searching me out.
"I will do that, Commander Bancroft, and please, if you do remember anything, call me? I want to tie this old case up and make the District Attorney happy." The frustration in the young detective's voice was heavy. It made me smirk, she was smart, but I was smarter. I had played this game far longer than she had and knew in the end, she would be told to leave the case alone or it would be placed in the hands of a Voltaire asset and forever forgotten. Buried in the basement.
"Of course." I looked up to see Alex staring at me, smiling happily at me, waving in the cutest way imaginable. "Anyway, I must go Detective Scarlett. Please call the Naval Academy admissions office and ask for a Lieutenant Danielle O'Malley. She will get you set up." I issued a quick goodbye and hung up on the detective after I heard her confirm Dani's name.
Alex walked up to me, tossing the deli meats into the cart. "Business call?"
I nodded, palming the phone and setting the doughnuts in the top tray of the cart, "Sort of. That was Detective Scarlett. She wants to meet me and discuss your case." I looked up at Alex to see her tense up. I moved to the end of the cart, picking up her hand, "I directed her to the Academy and my secretary to schedule a meeting when I came back from vacation." I smiled, running my thumb over her knuckles, "It's a shame I actually don't have a secretary, just an in office answering machine that I won't be checking until next month."
