Fic: Something pleasant this way comes (1/1)
Title: Something pleasant this way comes
Fandom: Murder Call
Characters: Tessa Vance, Steve Hayden
Prompt: 047. Heart
Word Count: 3760
Rating: Mature (R)
Summary: Six months after the Oakdale case, Tessa and Steve are experiencing déjà-vu, but this time with a different outcome. (Based on the Something Wicked novel. Another shout-out to tempe_brennandr. Apparently, today's sexy tiems day.)
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. They belong to Jennifer Rowe, Hal McElroy and Southern Star. I make no profit out of this.
SOMETHING PLEASANT THIS WAY COMES
Tessa pushed the door. It swung open and in a blatant display of déjà-vu, she saw Steve standing at the kitchen bench holding a half-eaten sandwich in one hand, and pouring boiling water into a teapot with the other. He looked around and grinned at her, his hair ruffled, his face roughened by dark stubble. Like that time in Oakdale, he was wearing battered corduroy trousers and a blue sweater. He looked just as wonderful as then.
“I thought you might turn up,” he said in that deep tone of voice that was reserved for moments like this: when it was just the two of them and a late night supper. “Tea?”
“Yes please.” With a brilliant smile that dispelled the tiredness in her body, she sat down by the edge of the kitchen island where he’d set the table for the two of them. “Am I still that easy to read?”
Steve picked up the teapot and the tray of sandwiches covered in plastic wrap, and carried it over to her. “Only to me. And I figured with this case… It might bring back some bad memories.” He put the rest of his sandwich in his mouth, then sat down whilst speaking at the same time. “And some good ones, hopefully.”
Tessa blushed at that and thanked the heavens that the light was dimmed so he wouldn’t be able to tell too easily. Yes, the trip home from Oakdale had been enlightening to say the least. No definite promises had been made, but they’d cleared the air and decided to simply let things progress naturally.
Until now, it’d meant continued after-work bar visits that’d transformed to a few after-work drinks at home. It’d also meant movie nights or just meeting up on the weekend when they didn’t have any other plans, and find something to do together. They’d run together, gone to cafés, ordered in takeaway, visited the library, and also some occasional visits to the Sydney harbour where they’d simply strolled along the promenade with an ice cream or warm drink in hand. In short, they’d nurtured their friendship and if some of those nights had ended with a hug, a kiss on the cheek…well, neither made a big deal out of it…even if it’d sometimes been so electric she thought she’d go crazy.
Definitely easier said than done.
But you’ve been good at it. You haven’t messed up.
Tessa was proud of herself when it came to that. She’d managed to not go completely neurotic and second-guess everything Steve said or did. Not that it hadn’t been difficult, but she’d made it and now here they were half a year later, much more at ease with each other. And she knew that he cared about her a lot, that he even found her attractive - those dilated pupils and easy smiles didn’t lie - and that made her both exhilarated and relaxed.
“This is good.” Tessa munched on her sandwich, lips curled into a smile. “Who’d thought we’d be back doing a case like this? Far out in the outback?”
Steve snorted, sipping his tea. “If this is what you call the outback, I need to bring you home to my folks sometime. Now that’s a place way out in nowhere.”
“That why you moved to the big apple, then?” Finishing her sandwich, Tessa wiped her mouth with a napkin and picked up her hot mug of tea. “Need for civilisation?”
“Kinda,” Steve said and dug into another sandwich. “Had to move to become a copper and just never found my way back again.”
His tone turned kind of hushed and Tessa’s heart clenched momentarily. She knew that particular topic was a sore spot sometimes, even if he joked it off most of the time. With a gentle smile, she reached out to cover his hand easily with hers and squeezed it comfortingly.
Steve managed a smile and turned his hand so that he could encompass her palm in his, brushing his thumb softly across her knuckles. “They’ve been asking about you.”
Tessa blushed a little, her chest fluttering with warmth. “You’ve told them about me?”
“Only the good stuff,” Steve teased and drank his tea with his other hand. “How driven you are, bordering on crazy sometimes… I’m kidding, I’m kidding!” He laughed when she glared at him. “Anyway, they want to meet you sometime.”
Although his tone was light, the veiled question was anything but. Rather than freak out, though, Tessa flushed again and found her heart suddenly beating rather fiercely in her chest. “I…wouldn’t mind that.”
It earned her a full-blown grin. “Great. I’ll let you know when they’ll come to town next.”
“All right.” Hesitating for a moment, Tessa half-mumbled, “It’s a date,” with the result that Steve’s grin widened impossibly further.
Ducking her head slightly in embarrassment, she grabbed another sandwich and started eating it in an effort to downplay what she’d just said. While she did, she couldn’t help muse on the fact that they were still holding hands and it didn’t feel awkward, just…incredible. In Oakdale, she’d desperately wanted him to hold her hand like this, and now he actually was. No holds barred.
Eventually, though, the hand-holding and the easy banter tapered off as they discussed some points of inquiry related to the case, and began to clear things away once they were done with that. Normally, this’d be enough for Tessa to start feeling drowsy, but as she waited by the kitchen island as Steve loaded the dishwasher, her mind was running wild.
“You okay?” Steve asked once he stood up and caught her attention. His eyebrows were creased in concern.
Tessa bit her lip, uncertain, and rubbed the back of her neck. “Just thinking about tomorrow. I’m worried the re-enactment is going to be too much for the Wilson children.”
Steve approached her and rested both hands on her shoulders, his gaze gentle. “They’ll be all right. That’s why we’ve got social services and their therapist there, for one.” When Tessa didn’t respond beyond a slight hum, he brushed his thumb underneath her chin and tipped her head up to face him. “Hey. Try not to worry about it. You want me to give you a neck rub before you turn in?”
Tessa’s cheeks flushed hotly, a nervous smile on her lips. To be honest, she loved his neck rubs. He didn’t offer them often, which made them all the more precious, and he was rather good at it too. Right now, though, a part of her worried it’d just stoke the tension rather than relieve it.
You can’t say no, though.
“Sure, I’d like that.” Tessa smiled and allowed herself to be led back to the kitchen chair, where she sat down and shivered when Steve’s hands brushed away her hair for easier access.
“Close your eyes, and remember to let yourself relax.”
The timbre in Steve’s voice was rich and smooth, sending another pleasant tremble through her body from top to bottom. As his fingers dug deep into her muscles, Tessa couldn’t help the soft sigh that passed her lips. She turned to butter in his hands; it was as simple as that. Sometimes, it expelled the tension like a magic spell, while other times it spurred something in her, something deep in the pit of her being: a slow burn.
It was the latter that happened this time. Once her pulse calmed and her sighs softened further, she felt his fingers turn hot as embers on her skin, almost burning her, and her sighs changed quality. The air started to become electric, dangerously so, and she knew one of them would soon take the initiative to end the session. It’s how the story had always gone so far.
Except Steve didn’t show any hint of that, and the hotter his hands became, the hotter she felt and the higher her pulse rose until soon her sighs were punctuated by half-gasps. Her body began to tense, her stomach coiling in anticipation, and eventually her eyes opened widely and she shifted in her seat to signal her desire to stop.
This isn’t the place. Or the time. We’re on a case.
So?
Swallowing, Tessa turned her head to gaze up at Steve, whose features were half-shadowed in the dimmed kitchen. With a shaky smile, she reached up to touch one of his hands with hers. “Thank you. You’re great at this.”
It took longer for him to respond than she’d expected, which made her tense further, but he removed his hands and gave her a smile in return. “My pleasure. Hope it’ll help you sleep.”
“It will,” Tessa said as she rose from her seat and pushed the chair back under the table. Her heart was pounding in her chest, maybe even loud enough that he could hear, and she hoped he didn’t notice.
He’s noticed. You saw the way he looked at you - is looking at you. He’s thinking about it.
Tessa cleared her throat. “How about you?”
Steve pushed his hands into the pockets of his trousers, gesturing for the door out of the kitchen. “I’m not the one with the streak of insomnia. Just need a bed and a pillow, and I’ll be out before you can say ‘break a leg’.”
Although the teasing was familiar, his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. As she walked ahead of him into the corridor and towards the staircase that’d take them up to their rooms, Tessa’s mind latched onto that fact and made her bite her lip.
Why’s tonight different? Why here? Why now?
The voice at the back of her head was unhelpful: Why not?
“This is me.” Tessa stopped at her door, realised how obviously nervous she must seem, and turned to face Steve with a slightly sheepish smile. “But you knew that, of course.”
He’s seeing straight through you now. Good job.
Steve chuckled lowly, careful not to be too loud in case they’d wake the other guests at the B&B. Touching her shoulder again, he leaned forward and kissed her on her cheek, his breath hot against her ear. “Good night, Tess. Don’t let the bed bugs bite.”
Tessa blushed furiously and automatically gave his cheek a kiss too before he could pull away. “Good night. See you tomorrow.”
They lingered only for a moment more, eyes locked, before Tessa turned and opened her door with as much determination she could muster. As she closed it behind her, she stopped in her tracks, her heart beating its way out of her chest, and listened as Steve’s heavy steps lumbered down the hallway to his adjacent room. She heard his door open and close, heard him bustle somewhat around the room, and finally heard his bed creak with his weight before silence ensued.
Calm down, Tessa. You need to sleep.
In an effort to do just that, she opened her window to let in as much fresh, cold air as possible and then went to brush her teeth. Her rosy cheeks and shiny eyes stared back at her in the mirror, and she paced around the bathroom, trying desperately to forget the buzz he’d been able to create in her with just his words, voice and a neck massage.
Tessa knew she’d fallen a long time ago, but most of the time it was easy to push it out of her mind. They didn’t normally sleep next door to each other; they had the safety and sanctity of their homes to preserve their privacy and distance. And normal work days and bar visits didn’t exactly accommodate the kind of intimacy they’d just engaged in. So this was rare territory; it wasn’t strange that she’d react like this. It was quite normal.
Put it out of your mind, Tessa. You’ve got a case to handle. It’s already past one in the morning. Sleep. Get your head on straight.
And if I don’t want to?
That was the question, wasn’t it? Tessa looked at herself in the mirror and felt her hot cheeks, brushing across the piece of skin Steve’s kiss had brushed earlier. What if she didn’t want to leave things like this? She knew they had time, she knew they could probably pick this up later when it was more convenient, but…
But I don’t want to.
Heart hammering in her chest, Tessa felt as if she was going crazy. As of looking at herself from the outside, she put away her toothbrush and changed into her sleepwear, and then exited the bathroom with every intention to continue out of her room…
Only to stop at the soft knock on her door.
It was hesitant, gentle, and she hesitated too, hand on the doorknob. A million thoughts rushed through her mind, each more confusing than the previous, but before she could reach a conclusion, she’d opened the door and now stood staring at Steve’s back. He had his hands tucked into his trouser pockets and when he turned, his eyes revealed a mixture of surprise, worry and indecision.
“I-” he began quietly, eyebrows knitted, but whatever he wanted to say had difficulty turning into words. It resonated so deeply within her that Tessa reached out, grasped his elbow and gently pulled him inside her room.
He didn’t go far, nor did he show signs of further action, instead just staring at her in the dimness as she closed the door. Pausing, Tessa took a deep breath, her hands trembling, and then she turned to face him, her shoulders squared. “I felt it too.”
Steve shifted, his hands coming out of his pockets, his question one of disbelief. “You did?”
It made her smile and she approached him, emboldened. “Yeah.” With a gentle caress, she reached up and cupped his cheek, a shiver running down her spine. “I know it’s not perhaps the best time or place, but…”
They were gravitating towards each other, Tessa realised, and she gasped slightly when she felt his hot breath upon her skin once more. One of his hands reached up to cover hers, while the other caressed her cheek, her jawline, and then trailed into her hair.
“I know,” Steve mumbled, again in that rich and smooth way of his, and she could feel his heat begin to envelop her in the darkness. Just a few inches more… “I’ve been waiting for this, Tess…for you.”
She felt his lips brush against her cheek, lightly, softly, like a prayer, and her lips parted in a gasp. As it caught in a spell, she sought them out and sighed blissfully once they finally connected. Slowly, unhurriedly, they allowed themselves to explore: soft kisses, gentle fingers sliding to the backs of their necks, tongues darting out to meld them even closer together.
Soon, their hands joined in, their bodies pressed against each other, and each caress gave them confidence. Tessa listened to her heart pounding in her ears and felt the comfortable shivers running up and down her spine. Beneath her hands, she could feel his heart racing too; could feel his heat and his growing insistence.
Breaking for air, Tessa smiled up at Steve, who was breathing rather heavily. Wordlessly, she reached down to the edges of his T-shirt and began to pull it up and over his head. He complied without question and let it fall to the floor, gasping slightly when her hands found his bare, flushed skin and explored his back, chest and abdomen before trailing down to his trousers.
After stepping out of them and leaving them on the floor, Steve pulled her closer and ran his hands underneath her pyjamas top. Those rough calloused fingers touched her spine so lovingly, so tenderly, that Tessa felt her back curl in anticipation and she needed to reclaim his lips for a moment.
Her pyjamas bottoms went first and the rush of cold air from the open window was a momentary shock on her system. Noticing her shivers, Steve stepped back and went to close the window. The sudden solitude felt fiercely empty, so Tessa followed him and enveloped him from behind, leaving butterfly kisses all over his strong, warm back.
Once finished with his task, Steve turned in her arms and nudged her to the edge of the bed before he wrapped her fully into his warmth. Their kisses weren’t solely exploring or unhurried anymore. From the base of her being, Tessa felt her body respond in ways she’d yearned for in the past six months. A rising daze was taking hold of her, spinning her out of control, filling her in almost every way imaginable except one.
When Steve’s hands finally reached the front of her pyjamas top, Tessa shuddered, a burst of warmth pooling between her legs. Despite the underlying hurry, Steve unbuttoned her shirt too slowly, too agonisingly, and she grabbed him impatiently until the clothing was finally pushed off her shoulders and unto the floor.
Then, as flesh finally met flesh, Tessa moaned against Steve’s lips in appreciation. She could hear his breathing growing even more ragged and felt his hands trail down from her back to the back of her thighs, lifting her slightly until her bum was settled firmly on the bed.
Recognising the silent request, Tessa scooted backwards, losing her underwear in the process, and lay watching as Steve reached down to remove his boxers. Even in the dimness, she could see the outlines of him when he straightened, could see his hardness settled against his lower abdomen, and an exhilarated tremble rushed through her.
With bated breath and before he could move down on top of her, Tessa sat back up and touched him. Tenderly, softly, with the barest of caresses, but enough to draw a guttural groan from his throat. As if on automatic, his hands entangled in her hair, and she didn’t know if it was a request or an invitation, but she nevertheless leaned forward and kissed his length.
“Tess…” Her name on his lips. Intimate. Far more intimate than she’d ever heard it uttered before. It emboldened her, made her run her tongue over him too, her hands reaching out to caress his abdomen, his hips, his bum.
She never got as far as actually taking him in her mouth, though. Steve pushed her head away slightly, then leaned down and pushed her gently into the mattress, her legs left dangling over the edge. By the time she realised his head wasn’t going to just linger on her breasts, she’d grabbed hold of his hair and now gasped at the sensation of his firm tongue upon her bundle of nerves.
Small explosions burst out, one built upon the other, surging outwards from her epicentre beneath Steve’s circling tongue. She found it hard to keep quiet, but something told her she should. This B&B was old, the walls thin, and she didn’t want any awkward stares in the morning. So she held back her soft moans, which only served to heighten the tension in her groin and make the stars begin to appear in her vision.
Steve was gentle yet relentless, increasingly confident, and she felt his fingers probe her opening, testing its wetness, curling inwards. The resulting pressure was rising like a boiling kettle with its lid still on, and she twisted upon the mattress, biting down upon her hand to keep from crying out loud.
Part of her was grateful when he suddenly stopped, but another part had been stoked into a frenzy, demanding release. It was this part that tugged him roughly to her, let him help her into a more comfortable position, and then wrapped her legs around his hips so that his length pressed against her opening.
It took a moment, partly a frustrating one, but then he was sliding all the way in and Tessa swallowed a moan, her back arching. Steve wasn’t able to keep it down, his guttural groan almost unnaturally loud in the otherwise silent room. In an effort to quiet him, she kissed him, a needy, bruising kiss, and then locked him in place with her arms as she lifted her hips to meet his.
The slow pace they set at first didn’t last. Tessa was already high, the pressure about to burst, and she clenched tightly around him, meeting his thrusts as best as she could. Soon, all she was conscious of was the way his length buried itself within her, the way each stroke funnelled her deeper into the tornado, and she threw her head back, half-crying out once the dam finally burst.
It tore her to pieces, blew her mind, and she rode it out with him, bursting at the seams, until he came as well with a few rapid thrusts and a guttural sound torn from his lips. Then, spent, they collapsed upon the bed, all sweaty and hot, and struggled to catch their breaths. Steve’s head rested between her breasts and Tessa couldn’t help holding him close, relishing his nearness and the sense of completion she felt.
Eventually, though, they broke apart to clean themselves up. Steve fetched a towel from the bathroom while Tessa lay on the bed, smiling a little to herself. She accepted the towel a little awkwardly, automatically turning away whilst she cleaned up and put on her underwear again, then threw it onto the floor to join the rest of their clothes.
“Mind if I stay here tonight?”
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Steve looked uncertain, as if what they’d just done hadn’t quite confirmed things yet. Tessa’s own awkwardness melted at the sight and she pulled him down next to her. “Of course. But if I wake up on the floor sometime in the night, you’re banned until further notice.”
The teasing helped. Steve chuckled as he drew her close, his warmth now comforting rather than electric, and Tessa tilted her head back to share a gentle kiss with him. “Is it too soon to say I love you?”
“I basically said I wanted you to meet my parents. That’s kinda huge.” Steve grinned and kissed her for a long, long while. “So no, it’s not too soon. And I love you too, Tess.”
Tessa smiled widely, feeling utterly happy, tired and giddy at the same time. If she could fall asleep like this every night from now on, she didn’t care what kind of cases they were thrown into anymore.
Maybe you won’t have insomnia anymore either.
Maybe…
With a contented sigh, Tessa snuggled close to Steve and promptly fell asleep.
FIN
Fandom: Murder Call
Characters: Tessa Vance, Steve Hayden
Prompt: 047. Heart
Word Count: 3760
Rating: Mature (R)
Summary: Six months after the Oakdale case, Tessa and Steve are experiencing déjà-vu, but this time with a different outcome. (Based on the Something Wicked novel. Another shout-out to tempe_brennandr. Apparently, today's sexy tiems day.)
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. They belong to Jennifer Rowe, Hal McElroy and Southern Star. I make no profit out of this.
SOMETHING PLEASANT THIS WAY COMES
Tessa pushed the door. It swung open and in a blatant display of déjà-vu, she saw Steve standing at the kitchen bench holding a half-eaten sandwich in one hand, and pouring boiling water into a teapot with the other. He looked around and grinned at her, his hair ruffled, his face roughened by dark stubble. Like that time in Oakdale, he was wearing battered corduroy trousers and a blue sweater. He looked just as wonderful as then.
“I thought you might turn up,” he said in that deep tone of voice that was reserved for moments like this: when it was just the two of them and a late night supper. “Tea?”
“Yes please.” With a brilliant smile that dispelled the tiredness in her body, she sat down by the edge of the kitchen island where he’d set the table for the two of them. “Am I still that easy to read?”
Steve picked up the teapot and the tray of sandwiches covered in plastic wrap, and carried it over to her. “Only to me. And I figured with this case… It might bring back some bad memories.” He put the rest of his sandwich in his mouth, then sat down whilst speaking at the same time. “And some good ones, hopefully.”
Tessa blushed at that and thanked the heavens that the light was dimmed so he wouldn’t be able to tell too easily. Yes, the trip home from Oakdale had been enlightening to say the least. No definite promises had been made, but they’d cleared the air and decided to simply let things progress naturally.
Until now, it’d meant continued after-work bar visits that’d transformed to a few after-work drinks at home. It’d also meant movie nights or just meeting up on the weekend when they didn’t have any other plans, and find something to do together. They’d run together, gone to cafés, ordered in takeaway, visited the library, and also some occasional visits to the Sydney harbour where they’d simply strolled along the promenade with an ice cream or warm drink in hand. In short, they’d nurtured their friendship and if some of those nights had ended with a hug, a kiss on the cheek…well, neither made a big deal out of it…even if it’d sometimes been so electric she thought she’d go crazy.
Definitely easier said than done.
But you’ve been good at it. You haven’t messed up.
Tessa was proud of herself when it came to that. She’d managed to not go completely neurotic and second-guess everything Steve said or did. Not that it hadn’t been difficult, but she’d made it and now here they were half a year later, much more at ease with each other. And she knew that he cared about her a lot, that he even found her attractive - those dilated pupils and easy smiles didn’t lie - and that made her both exhilarated and relaxed.
“This is good.” Tessa munched on her sandwich, lips curled into a smile. “Who’d thought we’d be back doing a case like this? Far out in the outback?”
Steve snorted, sipping his tea. “If this is what you call the outback, I need to bring you home to my folks sometime. Now that’s a place way out in nowhere.”
“That why you moved to the big apple, then?” Finishing her sandwich, Tessa wiped her mouth with a napkin and picked up her hot mug of tea. “Need for civilisation?”
“Kinda,” Steve said and dug into another sandwich. “Had to move to become a copper and just never found my way back again.”
His tone turned kind of hushed and Tessa’s heart clenched momentarily. She knew that particular topic was a sore spot sometimes, even if he joked it off most of the time. With a gentle smile, she reached out to cover his hand easily with hers and squeezed it comfortingly.
Steve managed a smile and turned his hand so that he could encompass her palm in his, brushing his thumb softly across her knuckles. “They’ve been asking about you.”
Tessa blushed a little, her chest fluttering with warmth. “You’ve told them about me?”
“Only the good stuff,” Steve teased and drank his tea with his other hand. “How driven you are, bordering on crazy sometimes… I’m kidding, I’m kidding!” He laughed when she glared at him. “Anyway, they want to meet you sometime.”
Although his tone was light, the veiled question was anything but. Rather than freak out, though, Tessa flushed again and found her heart suddenly beating rather fiercely in her chest. “I…wouldn’t mind that.”
It earned her a full-blown grin. “Great. I’ll let you know when they’ll come to town next.”
“All right.” Hesitating for a moment, Tessa half-mumbled, “It’s a date,” with the result that Steve’s grin widened impossibly further.
Ducking her head slightly in embarrassment, she grabbed another sandwich and started eating it in an effort to downplay what she’d just said. While she did, she couldn’t help muse on the fact that they were still holding hands and it didn’t feel awkward, just…incredible. In Oakdale, she’d desperately wanted him to hold her hand like this, and now he actually was. No holds barred.
Eventually, though, the hand-holding and the easy banter tapered off as they discussed some points of inquiry related to the case, and began to clear things away once they were done with that. Normally, this’d be enough for Tessa to start feeling drowsy, but as she waited by the kitchen island as Steve loaded the dishwasher, her mind was running wild.
“You okay?” Steve asked once he stood up and caught her attention. His eyebrows were creased in concern.
Tessa bit her lip, uncertain, and rubbed the back of her neck. “Just thinking about tomorrow. I’m worried the re-enactment is going to be too much for the Wilson children.”
Steve approached her and rested both hands on her shoulders, his gaze gentle. “They’ll be all right. That’s why we’ve got social services and their therapist there, for one.” When Tessa didn’t respond beyond a slight hum, he brushed his thumb underneath her chin and tipped her head up to face him. “Hey. Try not to worry about it. You want me to give you a neck rub before you turn in?”
Tessa’s cheeks flushed hotly, a nervous smile on her lips. To be honest, she loved his neck rubs. He didn’t offer them often, which made them all the more precious, and he was rather good at it too. Right now, though, a part of her worried it’d just stoke the tension rather than relieve it.
You can’t say no, though.
“Sure, I’d like that.” Tessa smiled and allowed herself to be led back to the kitchen chair, where she sat down and shivered when Steve’s hands brushed away her hair for easier access.
“Close your eyes, and remember to let yourself relax.”
The timbre in Steve’s voice was rich and smooth, sending another pleasant tremble through her body from top to bottom. As his fingers dug deep into her muscles, Tessa couldn’t help the soft sigh that passed her lips. She turned to butter in his hands; it was as simple as that. Sometimes, it expelled the tension like a magic spell, while other times it spurred something in her, something deep in the pit of her being: a slow burn.
It was the latter that happened this time. Once her pulse calmed and her sighs softened further, she felt his fingers turn hot as embers on her skin, almost burning her, and her sighs changed quality. The air started to become electric, dangerously so, and she knew one of them would soon take the initiative to end the session. It’s how the story had always gone so far.
Except Steve didn’t show any hint of that, and the hotter his hands became, the hotter she felt and the higher her pulse rose until soon her sighs were punctuated by half-gasps. Her body began to tense, her stomach coiling in anticipation, and eventually her eyes opened widely and she shifted in her seat to signal her desire to stop.
This isn’t the place. Or the time. We’re on a case.
So?
Swallowing, Tessa turned her head to gaze up at Steve, whose features were half-shadowed in the dimmed kitchen. With a shaky smile, she reached up to touch one of his hands with hers. “Thank you. You’re great at this.”
It took longer for him to respond than she’d expected, which made her tense further, but he removed his hands and gave her a smile in return. “My pleasure. Hope it’ll help you sleep.”
“It will,” Tessa said as she rose from her seat and pushed the chair back under the table. Her heart was pounding in her chest, maybe even loud enough that he could hear, and she hoped he didn’t notice.
He’s noticed. You saw the way he looked at you - is looking at you. He’s thinking about it.
Tessa cleared her throat. “How about you?”
Steve pushed his hands into the pockets of his trousers, gesturing for the door out of the kitchen. “I’m not the one with the streak of insomnia. Just need a bed and a pillow, and I’ll be out before you can say ‘break a leg’.”
Although the teasing was familiar, his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. As she walked ahead of him into the corridor and towards the staircase that’d take them up to their rooms, Tessa’s mind latched onto that fact and made her bite her lip.
Why’s tonight different? Why here? Why now?
The voice at the back of her head was unhelpful: Why not?
“This is me.” Tessa stopped at her door, realised how obviously nervous she must seem, and turned to face Steve with a slightly sheepish smile. “But you knew that, of course.”
He’s seeing straight through you now. Good job.
Steve chuckled lowly, careful not to be too loud in case they’d wake the other guests at the B&B. Touching her shoulder again, he leaned forward and kissed her on her cheek, his breath hot against her ear. “Good night, Tess. Don’t let the bed bugs bite.”
Tessa blushed furiously and automatically gave his cheek a kiss too before he could pull away. “Good night. See you tomorrow.”
They lingered only for a moment more, eyes locked, before Tessa turned and opened her door with as much determination she could muster. As she closed it behind her, she stopped in her tracks, her heart beating its way out of her chest, and listened as Steve’s heavy steps lumbered down the hallway to his adjacent room. She heard his door open and close, heard him bustle somewhat around the room, and finally heard his bed creak with his weight before silence ensued.
Calm down, Tessa. You need to sleep.
In an effort to do just that, she opened her window to let in as much fresh, cold air as possible and then went to brush her teeth. Her rosy cheeks and shiny eyes stared back at her in the mirror, and she paced around the bathroom, trying desperately to forget the buzz he’d been able to create in her with just his words, voice and a neck massage.
Tessa knew she’d fallen a long time ago, but most of the time it was easy to push it out of her mind. They didn’t normally sleep next door to each other; they had the safety and sanctity of their homes to preserve their privacy and distance. And normal work days and bar visits didn’t exactly accommodate the kind of intimacy they’d just engaged in. So this was rare territory; it wasn’t strange that she’d react like this. It was quite normal.
Put it out of your mind, Tessa. You’ve got a case to handle. It’s already past one in the morning. Sleep. Get your head on straight.
And if I don’t want to?
That was the question, wasn’t it? Tessa looked at herself in the mirror and felt her hot cheeks, brushing across the piece of skin Steve’s kiss had brushed earlier. What if she didn’t want to leave things like this? She knew they had time, she knew they could probably pick this up later when it was more convenient, but…
But I don’t want to.
Heart hammering in her chest, Tessa felt as if she was going crazy. As of looking at herself from the outside, she put away her toothbrush and changed into her sleepwear, and then exited the bathroom with every intention to continue out of her room…
Only to stop at the soft knock on her door.
It was hesitant, gentle, and she hesitated too, hand on the doorknob. A million thoughts rushed through her mind, each more confusing than the previous, but before she could reach a conclusion, she’d opened the door and now stood staring at Steve’s back. He had his hands tucked into his trouser pockets and when he turned, his eyes revealed a mixture of surprise, worry and indecision.
“I-” he began quietly, eyebrows knitted, but whatever he wanted to say had difficulty turning into words. It resonated so deeply within her that Tessa reached out, grasped his elbow and gently pulled him inside her room.
He didn’t go far, nor did he show signs of further action, instead just staring at her in the dimness as she closed the door. Pausing, Tessa took a deep breath, her hands trembling, and then she turned to face him, her shoulders squared. “I felt it too.”
Steve shifted, his hands coming out of his pockets, his question one of disbelief. “You did?”
It made her smile and she approached him, emboldened. “Yeah.” With a gentle caress, she reached up and cupped his cheek, a shiver running down her spine. “I know it’s not perhaps the best time or place, but…”
They were gravitating towards each other, Tessa realised, and she gasped slightly when she felt his hot breath upon her skin once more. One of his hands reached up to cover hers, while the other caressed her cheek, her jawline, and then trailed into her hair.
“I know,” Steve mumbled, again in that rich and smooth way of his, and she could feel his heat begin to envelop her in the darkness. Just a few inches more… “I’ve been waiting for this, Tess…for you.”
She felt his lips brush against her cheek, lightly, softly, like a prayer, and her lips parted in a gasp. As it caught in a spell, she sought them out and sighed blissfully once they finally connected. Slowly, unhurriedly, they allowed themselves to explore: soft kisses, gentle fingers sliding to the backs of their necks, tongues darting out to meld them even closer together.
Soon, their hands joined in, their bodies pressed against each other, and each caress gave them confidence. Tessa listened to her heart pounding in her ears and felt the comfortable shivers running up and down her spine. Beneath her hands, she could feel his heart racing too; could feel his heat and his growing insistence.
Breaking for air, Tessa smiled up at Steve, who was breathing rather heavily. Wordlessly, she reached down to the edges of his T-shirt and began to pull it up and over his head. He complied without question and let it fall to the floor, gasping slightly when her hands found his bare, flushed skin and explored his back, chest and abdomen before trailing down to his trousers.
After stepping out of them and leaving them on the floor, Steve pulled her closer and ran his hands underneath her pyjamas top. Those rough calloused fingers touched her spine so lovingly, so tenderly, that Tessa felt her back curl in anticipation and she needed to reclaim his lips for a moment.
Her pyjamas bottoms went first and the rush of cold air from the open window was a momentary shock on her system. Noticing her shivers, Steve stepped back and went to close the window. The sudden solitude felt fiercely empty, so Tessa followed him and enveloped him from behind, leaving butterfly kisses all over his strong, warm back.
Once finished with his task, Steve turned in her arms and nudged her to the edge of the bed before he wrapped her fully into his warmth. Their kisses weren’t solely exploring or unhurried anymore. From the base of her being, Tessa felt her body respond in ways she’d yearned for in the past six months. A rising daze was taking hold of her, spinning her out of control, filling her in almost every way imaginable except one.
When Steve’s hands finally reached the front of her pyjamas top, Tessa shuddered, a burst of warmth pooling between her legs. Despite the underlying hurry, Steve unbuttoned her shirt too slowly, too agonisingly, and she grabbed him impatiently until the clothing was finally pushed off her shoulders and unto the floor.
Then, as flesh finally met flesh, Tessa moaned against Steve’s lips in appreciation. She could hear his breathing growing even more ragged and felt his hands trail down from her back to the back of her thighs, lifting her slightly until her bum was settled firmly on the bed.
Recognising the silent request, Tessa scooted backwards, losing her underwear in the process, and lay watching as Steve reached down to remove his boxers. Even in the dimness, she could see the outlines of him when he straightened, could see his hardness settled against his lower abdomen, and an exhilarated tremble rushed through her.
With bated breath and before he could move down on top of her, Tessa sat back up and touched him. Tenderly, softly, with the barest of caresses, but enough to draw a guttural groan from his throat. As if on automatic, his hands entangled in her hair, and she didn’t know if it was a request or an invitation, but she nevertheless leaned forward and kissed his length.
“Tess…” Her name on his lips. Intimate. Far more intimate than she’d ever heard it uttered before. It emboldened her, made her run her tongue over him too, her hands reaching out to caress his abdomen, his hips, his bum.
She never got as far as actually taking him in her mouth, though. Steve pushed her head away slightly, then leaned down and pushed her gently into the mattress, her legs left dangling over the edge. By the time she realised his head wasn’t going to just linger on her breasts, she’d grabbed hold of his hair and now gasped at the sensation of his firm tongue upon her bundle of nerves.
Small explosions burst out, one built upon the other, surging outwards from her epicentre beneath Steve’s circling tongue. She found it hard to keep quiet, but something told her she should. This B&B was old, the walls thin, and she didn’t want any awkward stares in the morning. So she held back her soft moans, which only served to heighten the tension in her groin and make the stars begin to appear in her vision.
Steve was gentle yet relentless, increasingly confident, and she felt his fingers probe her opening, testing its wetness, curling inwards. The resulting pressure was rising like a boiling kettle with its lid still on, and she twisted upon the mattress, biting down upon her hand to keep from crying out loud.
Part of her was grateful when he suddenly stopped, but another part had been stoked into a frenzy, demanding release. It was this part that tugged him roughly to her, let him help her into a more comfortable position, and then wrapped her legs around his hips so that his length pressed against her opening.
It took a moment, partly a frustrating one, but then he was sliding all the way in and Tessa swallowed a moan, her back arching. Steve wasn’t able to keep it down, his guttural groan almost unnaturally loud in the otherwise silent room. In an effort to quiet him, she kissed him, a needy, bruising kiss, and then locked him in place with her arms as she lifted her hips to meet his.
The slow pace they set at first didn’t last. Tessa was already high, the pressure about to burst, and she clenched tightly around him, meeting his thrusts as best as she could. Soon, all she was conscious of was the way his length buried itself within her, the way each stroke funnelled her deeper into the tornado, and she threw her head back, half-crying out once the dam finally burst.
It tore her to pieces, blew her mind, and she rode it out with him, bursting at the seams, until he came as well with a few rapid thrusts and a guttural sound torn from his lips. Then, spent, they collapsed upon the bed, all sweaty and hot, and struggled to catch their breaths. Steve’s head rested between her breasts and Tessa couldn’t help holding him close, relishing his nearness and the sense of completion she felt.
Eventually, though, they broke apart to clean themselves up. Steve fetched a towel from the bathroom while Tessa lay on the bed, smiling a little to herself. She accepted the towel a little awkwardly, automatically turning away whilst she cleaned up and put on her underwear again, then threw it onto the floor to join the rest of their clothes.
“Mind if I stay here tonight?”
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Steve looked uncertain, as if what they’d just done hadn’t quite confirmed things yet. Tessa’s own awkwardness melted at the sight and she pulled him down next to her. “Of course. But if I wake up on the floor sometime in the night, you’re banned until further notice.”
The teasing helped. Steve chuckled as he drew her close, his warmth now comforting rather than electric, and Tessa tilted her head back to share a gentle kiss with him. “Is it too soon to say I love you?”
“I basically said I wanted you to meet my parents. That’s kinda huge.” Steve grinned and kissed her for a long, long while. “So no, it’s not too soon. And I love you too, Tess.”
Tessa smiled widely, feeling utterly happy, tired and giddy at the same time. If she could fall asleep like this every night from now on, she didn’t care what kind of cases they were thrown into anymore.
Maybe you won’t have insomnia anymore either.
Maybe…
With a contented sigh, Tessa snuggled close to Steve and promptly fell asleep.
FIN