Complications Minor Chapter 17 (of 20)
Oct. 28th, 2008 11:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
misssara11Title: Complications Minor
A Blackpool/Secret Diary of a Call Girl crossover with just a hint of Keen Eddie
Rating: M
Paring: Peter Carlisle/Hannah Baxter
Spoilers: All of Blackpool and S1 of Secret Diary of a Call Girl
Summary: It's a simple arrangement. Right?
Chapter Summary: Peter's healing up nicely. There's movies, keys, poker, therapy, a (possibly final) trip to the coffee shop, poker, shopping, and a surprise at the end. Oh my.
Previous chapters can be found here.
AN:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
swankkat and kalleah made this whole thing better by pointing out obvious and unintetionally hilarious typos (I'll never look at cars or socks the same again). And if you'd like to know what was worn in the dressing room, click here.
A week later and Peter was well on the mend. Hannah had gone back to sleeping at hers but she was still there to check in every day. And now that the first declarations of love had been made, the words flowed freely but not so much as to cheapen their meaning.
Since he was still in the air cast for a few more days, anytime spent together was usually spent at his flat. This night was no different. They had a stack of movies and takeaway boxes set in front of them while they relaxed on the sofa.
Hannah had surprised Peter by asking to watch her favourite musical and then popping in Moulin Rouge. They were contentedly snuggled together; Peter’s good arm wrapped around Hannah, his hand rubbing her arm and she curled around his middle. When the final strains of Elephant Love Medley died out and Satine announced that Christian was going to be bad for business, Hannah sat up.
“Huh.”
“What?” Peter focused all his attention on her.
“You realise that that’s…”
“Us?”
“Yes.”
“Well, except I’m neither a poet or sitar player. And I’m not entirely penniless.”
“And I’m not dying, nor is some duke trying to make me his. I don’t even think I’ve had a duke. Aristocracy, yes. Members of royal families, yes. But never a duke. And no, I won’t tell you who.”
He smirked at that and then, after a moment, said, “So, have I been?”
Hannah gave him a confused look. “Been what?”
“Bad for business.”
Hannah sighed and rolled her eyes in a good natured way. “Yes, not that you need that stroke to your ego. But yeah, you have been a bit. The bigger problem is: I don’t mind. I mean I’m not hurting for work by any means but I’d rather be with you.”
“I’m glad you are and I miss you when you’re gone.” With that, they settled back into the film. A while into the next movie, Peter spoke. “Hannah, I don’t want to seem ungrateful, but there is a serious problem with the little red and white things you’ve been wearing for me.”
She sat up, worried. “What’s that?”
“You know that in my current condition I can’t chase you around the room, like you deserved to be. I have to live in hope that you’ll come to me.”
She smiled. “And I have. I’ve also hardly been playing keep away from you. But if you need reassurance…” She climbed into his lap and kissed him deeply. He then watched as she slid down between his propped up leg and the one setting on the floor. She looked up at him in the way that never failed to make him instantly hard. She looked up through her lashes as she freed his erection.
Peter let his head fall back and eyes close as Hannah’s mouth descended on him. He was beginning to feel the first signs of impending orgasm when there was a click and a voice calling, “Peter? You home?”
Hannah shot up, her mouth still in an ‘o’ shape.
“The door wasn’t locked, mate. I’m grabbing a beer.” Monty’s voice carried to them. They broke into action. Hannah grabbed the nearby blanket while Peter hurriedly put himself away. The blanket over his lap just tented over his hard-on.
“Cushion.” Peter set it down and Hannah rested her head on it, causing him to groan when she bumped him. “Sorry,” she whispered.
“Ah, there you two lovebirds are. God, you’re dull. You need to show your lady a good time, Carlisle. And I would think a woman of the world such as you, Hannah, would keep him on his toes. Ah well. What are we watching?” Monty made himself at home as Hannah and Peter exchanged looks, each planning ways to hurt their uninvited guest and make it look like an accident.
After twenty minutes of Monty giving running commentary on the movie and eating a good deal of their food, Hannah stood and said, “Look, Pippin, we do not show up and interrupt your dates. I appreciate you care enough to check on Peter’s well-being, but I would desperately like to shag that man on the sofa senseless. Would you please leave?”
Monty stood and grinned. “I was wondering how long it would take you two to brake. You just had to ask. Peter, I really like her.”
“Go!” Hannah pointed to the door.
Monty winked whiled being shoved down the hall. “I’ll call tomorrow. And I’ll want details!”
Peter watched as Hannah huffed back into the room. “The nerve! What are you grinning at?”
“I really love you.”
Hannah smiled. “Yes, well.”
“I believe you said you wanted to do something to me.” She helped him up and led him to the bedroom where she made good on her promise.
The next morning, Peter was propped up by some pillows and reading the paper when Hannah came back into the room. She, of course, was wearing a shirt of his and carrying two mugs. She handed one to him.
“It’s tea. You’re out of coffee.”
He took a sip. “Sorry. Haven’t been able to pop ‘round to the shops.”
“Make me a list. I’ll get what you need.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to do that. Besides, you’ve run out of some things simply because I’ve been here. It’s only fair.”
“All right then. If that’s the case, if there’s anything you want in, you should get it.” Peter went back to his paper but his mind was on something else. He had been waiting for the right moment and thought this was it. He leaned awkwardly over to his side table and took a box out of the drawer. “And Hannah? You can use this.”
She cocked her head in confusion but lifted the lid and took out the piece of metal found inside. “A key?”
“To here. You come and go all the time. You shouldn’t have to borrow mine or wait for me. Sometimes I work late and you’re stuck until I can get away. And you seem to like to come here after out calls.” He was rambling. He knew it but he wanted to delay the rejection he felt was coming. She laid a hand on his arm.
“You gave me a key to your flat.”
“Yeah. Is that okay?”
“Yeah.” She leaned over and kissed him. Then, to his surprise, she left the room. She came back in, scribbling something on a notepad. “Here.”
He looked down at the paper with numbers written on it and then looked back up to her.
“It’s the code to my building, I’m…I’m not giving you a key but not because I don’t want to. It’s just, with my line of work; I don’t want you walking in at an inopportune time. This will get you as far as my front door. And just so you know: no one, not even Ben, has a key to my flat. It’s just me and the building supervisor.”
Peter knew how big this was for her. He hoped that some day she’d let down all her barriers but he’d take whatever she was willing to give. “Come here.”
He pulled her into his lap and the proceeded with celebrating the next step in their relationship.
Peter was finally free of his air cast and could wear two shoes again. Monty insisted on a man’s night to celebrate. Peter decided it was easier to go with it in fear that his partner would show up at an inconvenient time again.
This led them to this point: Peter, Monty and Ben around Peter’s table, playing cards in their hands, piles of different coloured chips sitting in front of them, snack foods and beer bottles scattered about.
His front door clicked. “Peter? I’m leaving some things here for later. I… Oh. You three are adorable.” Hannah, in one of her work suits, stopped and grinned at them. They looked at one another, trying to figure what was ‘adorable’ about the situation. All of them had unlit cigars in their mouths. Monty hid his eyes behind a pair of sunglasses, Ben had tossed aside his green plastic visor; but other than that, this was serious business.
Monty broke the silence. “You know, Hannah, I’m the only one here who’s never seen you naked and that’s just not fair. I do not have plans to pay for the privilege because I wouldn’t do that to my very dear friend, not the least because he would hurt me. So, to make it not so scandalous: strip poker. What do you say?”
Peter watched her consider it and then take an empty chair across from him. “Deal me in.”
Peter turned to Ben. “Is this a good idea?”
“I’m not sure. I haven’t played poker with her since university and then she was okay. Sometimes good. Sometimes bad. Just average at it. Who knows what’s happened since then.” They raised their eyebrows at each other and turned their attention back to the game.
Monty grinned when Hannah dropped a stocking on the table a few minutes later. That was the last time he held that expression. A half-hour later he frowned at the sight of his cards and hers laid before them.
“You can leave your pants on, Monty.” Peter smirked at looked at Hannah with adoration and pride. While Peter and Ben lost a couple of items, Monty was certain his luck would change with each hand and kept battling Hannah and losing. Hannah had lost her other stocking and her jacket. She wasn’t a card shark by any means. She was just smart and could read people. Peter had a feeling she’d won a few hands on bluffs alone. How he loved this woman. “Right, always a pleasure, boys, but I really must dash.”
They collected their things. Peter had slipped his arms into his shirt when he caught Hannah slipping on a stocking. He watched as she stretched to pull it on her leg and stood and hitched her skirt to connect the suspenders. She caught his eye, smiled and winked. He grinned, then scowled as he noticed the rest of the company was doing the same. When they noticed him noticing, they discreetly looked away.
Hannah came around the table and rested her hands on his shoulders. Peter put one of his hands on hers.
“So you’ll be back after?”
“Yeah. I’ve got two appointments, so it will be later.”
“Just let yourself in. I’m not promising I’ll wait up but I’ll try.”
Hannah pointed to all of them with her free hand. “Now, you all play nice and clean up after yourselves. I don’t want to come back here to find feathers from your pillow fights and cotton wool from your mani/pedis.”
“No worries. We’re just going to plait each other’s hair, talk about Big Brother and where Brangelina’s next child will come from. Maybe some facials. Manly stuff.”
“All right then.” She leaned down and kissed him long and hard, letting her free hand drift down to caress his chest. When she pulled back she whispered, “Love you,” into his ear.
“Love you too,” he replied just as quietly. He watched her walk to the door and returned her wave was she left.
“That’s one hell of a woman you’ve got there, Peter.” Monty had redressed.
“Don’t I know it.”
“But she’s never playing cards with us again.”
“I don’t know. It was fun watching you go down in flames.” Ben popped a crisp into his mouth.
“Et tu, Benjamin? I don’t have to stay here and suffer these indignities.”
“So what kind of indignities will you suffer then?”
“Well done, Ben.”
“Thank you, Peter.” They shook hands.
Monty sat back down. “Just for that, I’ll make you suffer my apparently intolerable company.”
Peter sat back and balanced his chair on two legs. “Come on, Monty, you know you’re our mate. We wouldn’t bother otherwise.”
Once Peter got his guests out the door, he changed into his pyjamas and set up camp on the sofa to put a dent in the paperwork he’d let fall by the wayside while he was injured. Hannah returned to find him surrounded in files and crime scene photos. She joined him on the sofa and kicked off her shoes.
“Hey. Working hard I see.” She yawned. “I’m beat.”
Peter leaned over for a kiss. “Go to bed.”
“I’m going to shower first. You’re joining me, yes?”
“Eventually. Now go.” They kissed again and he went back to work. He vaguely registered the water turning on and off and the shuffling of feet crossing the hall. He kept working even though his eyes were beginning to cross and he had to fight to keep his head up.
The next thing he knew, the telly and lights were off, his glasses were set on the coffee table, he’d been moved to a reclined position, and covered with a blanket. He didn’t think on it and rolled over and went back to sleep.
He woke again, this time to a weight on his chest. He looked down to find Hannah asleep on top of him. He tightened his arms around her, which made her mumble, and drifted back to unconsciousness.
The next time he woke to the sun peeking in the windows and hitting his face. He looked down at the woman sleeping on him. He pondered how he reached this point. Of course he’d never followed a traditional path. Fall in love with Sally the sweet shop girl that lived down lane, get married, have kids and live an ordinary life. That wasn’t for him. His marriage was a mistake. Falling for a married woman was a mistake. But he didn’t regret any of it because it led him to this. To his younger escort girlfriend. The one he met because he was a client first. It wasn’t a fairy tale romance by any means, but he wouldn’t change it either.
True, her job wasn’t something he was thrilled with but he had no room to be judgemental on it. He knew he loved her and she loved him. She could have any man she wanted and she wanted him. He wasn’t going to take that granted. He brushed a bit of hair behind her ear which caused her to stir. She gave him a sleepy smile.
“I thought I told you to go to bed.”
“I did but you didn’t join me. So, I came out here to drag you there but you had crashed. I made you comfortable and covered you up and went back to bed. But it’s a funny thing; I can’t fall asleep in your bed without you there. The only remedy was to come to you.”
“It does seem to be a serious issue. Tell you what; I have a couple of hours before I need to get motivated. Why don’t we actually curl up in the bed?” They did move and curl together, quickly falling back asleep.
When his alarm went off, Peter reluctantly removed himself from Hannah and went through his morning routine. He went back to his room to grab a jumper and his watch and glanced at the figure in the bed.
Hannah had pushed the covers down to her legs. The Oxford she’d chosen had ridden up to display her hip. The couple buttons she’d done up stopped right above her navel. The shirt had moved enough to partially expose a breast. Her hair splayed over her pillow and her lips were slightly parted. Just the look of her was making his pants become constricting. With a sigh, he left the room to grab his mobile. He paused for a moment and then dialled.
“Monty, it’s Peter. Do me a favour and tell the boss I’ll be in after lunch.”
“Something wrong?”
“No.”
“Oh! Hannah came over last night. That’s just fantastic!” He heard Monty sniff.
“Are you crying?”
“I’m just so proud of you right now. Go forth, my friend, and bed your woman! Bed her well! Wait, what should I say about where you are if I’m asked?”
He walked back in the room where Hannah was waking up. “Say I’m seeing my therapist.” With that, he hung up.
Hannah raked her hair back and smiled. “You on your way out?”
“No, actually, because you, Miss Baxter, are causing trouble.”
She knitted her brow. “How? I was sleeping.”
“In my shirt. In my bed. Looking the way you do.”
“Oh, I see.” She nodded. “So, you’re just doing your civic duty.”
He crawled onto the bed and hovered above her. “Yes. It’s for the greater good that I take the morning off to shag my girlfriend.”
She reached up and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “Hmm. Better get to it then.”
The rest of the morning was spent naked and happy. Together they had found things they never thought they’d enjoy before then. Hannah was finding vanilla sex more enjoyable and Peter was trying new things. As such, police issue handcuffs had been making common appearances in their play. She’d always liked being put in light restraints and he seemed to get something out of it as well.
As they laid there recovering from the latest go ‘round, Peter looked at the clock and groaned. “Now I really do have to go. Thank you for a lovely morning. We’ll have to do this again some time.”
“Do you really have to go?”
“Yes. Now quit looking at me like that.”
“Maybe I don’t want to.”
He kissed her and got out of bed. “My little vixen. I love you and I have to go to work.”
A couple days later Peter was in court and asked to Hannah to meet him at the coffee shop during a break in the trial. They met outside and entered hand-in-hand. Shareece instantly brightened at the sight of Peter.
“Detective! I haven’t seen you in a long time. I hope every thing is okay. Oh.” Her face fell, as it usually did, when she saw Hannah and their joined hands. “What can I get for you?”
They attempted not to laugh as they put in their orders. They then found a table. Hannah took a sip of her drink.
“How’s it going? The trial that is.”
“Boring. A lot of hurry up and wait. Monty’s been silently chatting up one of the jurors. That’s where he is now. Listen, Hannah,” he took one of her hands, “While I was there, I heard something. Anthony Quince’s trial is coming up.”
She shuddered a bit and he squeezed her hand. “Will I have to testify?”
“I don’t know. I can see if you can just video your statement. Honestly, there’s enough stuff without your say to put him away.”
“I’m ready for whatever.” She shook her head to clear it. “Let’s move to better things. I can get us tickets to another West End show or a concert next week. A concierge owes me a favour.”
He gave her a genuine smile. “Let me know the choices.”
The weather was warming but there was still occasional chill. Hannah had removed her jacket. Underneath she had on a blouse, flowing skirt and knee high boots. When she would move and especially when she would cross or uncross her legs, a tantalising flash of skin would tease him. Peter realised he had no idea what she was saying.
He stood and announced, “Excuse me for a moment, would you?” As he passed her, he whispered in her ear, “Meet me in the broom cupboard in two minutes.”
Her eyes widened a bit but she nodded in agreement. He waited and as soon as she was in reaching distance, he pulled her in, slammed the door, threw the lock and pressed her against the wood, holding her arms above her head.
His lips attacked her mouth, cheek, neck, ears, chest, whatever he could reach. He let go of her arms to open her top and suck on her breasts. Hannah went after his shirt but didn’t get far.
“What brought this on?”
“Those damn boots. Don’t ever wear those without me around. Every man alive will try to do this to you.”
“I can handle myself. And you’re the only one I want taking me in cupboards.”
They grinned at each other. Peter fumbled in his pockets for his wallet to retrieve the condom he had there and wrestled it on. He didn’t pay attention to what Hannah did to her knickers after he saw her remove them while catching the action from the corner of his eye.
Soon her skirt was hiked up and her legs around his waist. He slid into her and set an unruly pace. They weren’t exactly being discreet between the continuous thumping against the door and their own noises. They came one after another. Hannah let herself slip her legs back to the floor and used Peter to keep herself upright.
“Like the boots then?”
“Fair assessment.” They laughed. Still breathless, they pulled themselves together. As they exited, they came face-to-face with a stunned Shareece. Her mouth was completely open and her eyes threatened to fall out of her head. The tray of mugs she was holding crashed to the ground, Peter and Hannah grabbed their things and ran out, laughing the whole way.
“I don’t think we’ll be welcome back there anytime soon!”
“You broke the poor girl’s heart, Peter!”
“I can’t help if the sexiest woman in all the world wore the flirtiest pair of boots around me. The fact that she’s my girlfriend and I have the honour of defiling her anytime I please is just a bonus.”
“Smooth talker.”
He kissed her. “I’ve really got to get back. I love you.”
“I love you too. And so do my boots!”
He groaned and kissed her cheek before heading back to the court house. He met Monty and their DCI outside the courtroom.
“Carlisle, do you have those notes?”
“Yes sir. In my pocket.” He reached into the inner trench coat pocket for his notebook while his superior turned to chat with a passerby. As he removed the pad, he watched in horrified fascination as a familiar scrap of lace made a gentle arc before landing on the ground.
Monty picked it up, smirked at him and twirled it around his finger. He raised his eyebrow and went to speak.
“For God’s sake, Pippin! How many times have you been asked to keep your private life just that?!” Their DCI glowered at them.
“Sorry, sir.” He let him pass. “You owe me.”
Peter grabbed Hannah’s underwear and shoved them into another pocket. “I’m aware.”
“Don’t have to ask what or who you were doing during the recess.” Monty clapped Peter on the shoulder as Peter tried to fight the blush rising on his face.
To celebrate the increasingly warming weather and the fact that Peter’s ankle was completely healed, Hannah announced they were taking the day off. And shopping. Peter was less than thrilled with this idea until Hannah said part of the excursion would be to lingerie shops where she’d model her purchases for him after and he could even pick a little something out she would wear (and then not wear) only at his. She also did some convincing with her tongue that made him absolute putty in her hands.
They walked hand-in-hand along the row of shops, Peter letting himself be dragged into whatever caught Hannah’s fancy. They were both carrying a few bags as Peter bought a couple of things for himself and did the good boyfriend duty of carrying her bags except for the pink ones. She laughed at him but happily took those on herself.
They grabbed lunch at a chippy as they knew they would most likely not be welcome back to the coffee shop anytime soon. It was mutually agreed that it was worth it.
A trip to an Agent Provocateur led to a quick, intense makeout session in the dressing room. They both decided it was too soon for another semi-public performance and stopped it there.
“Right, one more stop.” Hannah led Peter to another shop. He read the neon sign in the window.
“I’ll pass, thanks.”
“You sure? I’ll get you something special.” She was charming him and it almost worked.
“Hannah, I appreciate this is one of the places the tools of your trade are sold but some things are best left a mystery to me. So, if you must get something for us to both enjoy, surprise me. I’ll be out here when you’re done.”
“Fine.” She went up on her toes for a quick kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He smiled at her as she grinned and entered the sex shop. Peter adjusted the bags on his arm and shoved his hands in his coat pockets. He wandered aimlessly on the pavement. At one point he turned and paused at the person standing there.
“Hello, Peter.”
“Natalie.”
A Blackpool/Secret Diary of a Call Girl crossover with just a hint of Keen Eddie
Rating: M
Paring: Peter Carlisle/Hannah Baxter
Spoilers: All of Blackpool and S1 of Secret Diary of a Call Girl
Summary: It's a simple arrangement. Right?
Chapter Summary: Peter's healing up nicely. There's movies, keys, poker, therapy, a (possibly final) trip to the coffee shop, poker, shopping, and a surprise at the end. Oh my.
Previous chapters can be found here.
AN:
swankkat and kalleah made this whole thing better by pointing out obvious and unintetionally hilarious typos (I'll never look at cars or socks the same again). And if you'd like to know what was worn in the dressing room, click here.A week later and Peter was well on the mend. Hannah had gone back to sleeping at hers but she was still there to check in every day. And now that the first declarations of love had been made, the words flowed freely but not so much as to cheapen their meaning.
Since he was still in the air cast for a few more days, anytime spent together was usually spent at his flat. This night was no different. They had a stack of movies and takeaway boxes set in front of them while they relaxed on the sofa.
Hannah had surprised Peter by asking to watch her favourite musical and then popping in Moulin Rouge. They were contentedly snuggled together; Peter’s good arm wrapped around Hannah, his hand rubbing her arm and she curled around his middle. When the final strains of Elephant Love Medley died out and Satine announced that Christian was going to be bad for business, Hannah sat up.
“Huh.”
“What?” Peter focused all his attention on her.
“You realise that that’s…”
“Us?”
“Yes.”
“Well, except I’m neither a poet or sitar player. And I’m not entirely penniless.”
“And I’m not dying, nor is some duke trying to make me his. I don’t even think I’ve had a duke. Aristocracy, yes. Members of royal families, yes. But never a duke. And no, I won’t tell you who.”
He smirked at that and then, after a moment, said, “So, have I been?”
Hannah gave him a confused look. “Been what?”
“Bad for business.”
Hannah sighed and rolled her eyes in a good natured way. “Yes, not that you need that stroke to your ego. But yeah, you have been a bit. The bigger problem is: I don’t mind. I mean I’m not hurting for work by any means but I’d rather be with you.”
“I’m glad you are and I miss you when you’re gone.” With that, they settled back into the film. A while into the next movie, Peter spoke. “Hannah, I don’t want to seem ungrateful, but there is a serious problem with the little red and white things you’ve been wearing for me.”
She sat up, worried. “What’s that?”
“You know that in my current condition I can’t chase you around the room, like you deserved to be. I have to live in hope that you’ll come to me.”
She smiled. “And I have. I’ve also hardly been playing keep away from you. But if you need reassurance…” She climbed into his lap and kissed him deeply. He then watched as she slid down between his propped up leg and the one setting on the floor. She looked up at him in the way that never failed to make him instantly hard. She looked up through her lashes as she freed his erection.
Peter let his head fall back and eyes close as Hannah’s mouth descended on him. He was beginning to feel the first signs of impending orgasm when there was a click and a voice calling, “Peter? You home?”
Hannah shot up, her mouth still in an ‘o’ shape.
“The door wasn’t locked, mate. I’m grabbing a beer.” Monty’s voice carried to them. They broke into action. Hannah grabbed the nearby blanket while Peter hurriedly put himself away. The blanket over his lap just tented over his hard-on.
“Cushion.” Peter set it down and Hannah rested her head on it, causing him to groan when she bumped him. “Sorry,” she whispered.
“Ah, there you two lovebirds are. God, you’re dull. You need to show your lady a good time, Carlisle. And I would think a woman of the world such as you, Hannah, would keep him on his toes. Ah well. What are we watching?” Monty made himself at home as Hannah and Peter exchanged looks, each planning ways to hurt their uninvited guest and make it look like an accident.
After twenty minutes of Monty giving running commentary on the movie and eating a good deal of their food, Hannah stood and said, “Look, Pippin, we do not show up and interrupt your dates. I appreciate you care enough to check on Peter’s well-being, but I would desperately like to shag that man on the sofa senseless. Would you please leave?”
Monty stood and grinned. “I was wondering how long it would take you two to brake. You just had to ask. Peter, I really like her.”
“Go!” Hannah pointed to the door.
Monty winked whiled being shoved down the hall. “I’ll call tomorrow. And I’ll want details!”
Peter watched as Hannah huffed back into the room. “The nerve! What are you grinning at?”
“I really love you.”
Hannah smiled. “Yes, well.”
“I believe you said you wanted to do something to me.” She helped him up and led him to the bedroom where she made good on her promise.
The next morning, Peter was propped up by some pillows and reading the paper when Hannah came back into the room. She, of course, was wearing a shirt of his and carrying two mugs. She handed one to him.
“It’s tea. You’re out of coffee.”
He took a sip. “Sorry. Haven’t been able to pop ‘round to the shops.”
“Make me a list. I’ll get what you need.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to do that. Besides, you’ve run out of some things simply because I’ve been here. It’s only fair.”
“All right then. If that’s the case, if there’s anything you want in, you should get it.” Peter went back to his paper but his mind was on something else. He had been waiting for the right moment and thought this was it. He leaned awkwardly over to his side table and took a box out of the drawer. “And Hannah? You can use this.”
She cocked her head in confusion but lifted the lid and took out the piece of metal found inside. “A key?”
“To here. You come and go all the time. You shouldn’t have to borrow mine or wait for me. Sometimes I work late and you’re stuck until I can get away. And you seem to like to come here after out calls.” He was rambling. He knew it but he wanted to delay the rejection he felt was coming. She laid a hand on his arm.
“You gave me a key to your flat.”
“Yeah. Is that okay?”
“Yeah.” She leaned over and kissed him. Then, to his surprise, she left the room. She came back in, scribbling something on a notepad. “Here.”
He looked down at the paper with numbers written on it and then looked back up to her.
“It’s the code to my building, I’m…I’m not giving you a key but not because I don’t want to. It’s just, with my line of work; I don’t want you walking in at an inopportune time. This will get you as far as my front door. And just so you know: no one, not even Ben, has a key to my flat. It’s just me and the building supervisor.”
Peter knew how big this was for her. He hoped that some day she’d let down all her barriers but he’d take whatever she was willing to give. “Come here.”
He pulled her into his lap and the proceeded with celebrating the next step in their relationship.
Peter was finally free of his air cast and could wear two shoes again. Monty insisted on a man’s night to celebrate. Peter decided it was easier to go with it in fear that his partner would show up at an inconvenient time again.
This led them to this point: Peter, Monty and Ben around Peter’s table, playing cards in their hands, piles of different coloured chips sitting in front of them, snack foods and beer bottles scattered about.
His front door clicked. “Peter? I’m leaving some things here for later. I… Oh. You three are adorable.” Hannah, in one of her work suits, stopped and grinned at them. They looked at one another, trying to figure what was ‘adorable’ about the situation. All of them had unlit cigars in their mouths. Monty hid his eyes behind a pair of sunglasses, Ben had tossed aside his green plastic visor; but other than that, this was serious business.
Monty broke the silence. “You know, Hannah, I’m the only one here who’s never seen you naked and that’s just not fair. I do not have plans to pay for the privilege because I wouldn’t do that to my very dear friend, not the least because he would hurt me. So, to make it not so scandalous: strip poker. What do you say?”
Peter watched her consider it and then take an empty chair across from him. “Deal me in.”
Peter turned to Ben. “Is this a good idea?”
“I’m not sure. I haven’t played poker with her since university and then she was okay. Sometimes good. Sometimes bad. Just average at it. Who knows what’s happened since then.” They raised their eyebrows at each other and turned their attention back to the game.
Monty grinned when Hannah dropped a stocking on the table a few minutes later. That was the last time he held that expression. A half-hour later he frowned at the sight of his cards and hers laid before them.
“You can leave your pants on, Monty.” Peter smirked at looked at Hannah with adoration and pride. While Peter and Ben lost a couple of items, Monty was certain his luck would change with each hand and kept battling Hannah and losing. Hannah had lost her other stocking and her jacket. She wasn’t a card shark by any means. She was just smart and could read people. Peter had a feeling she’d won a few hands on bluffs alone. How he loved this woman. “Right, always a pleasure, boys, but I really must dash.”
They collected their things. Peter had slipped his arms into his shirt when he caught Hannah slipping on a stocking. He watched as she stretched to pull it on her leg and stood and hitched her skirt to connect the suspenders. She caught his eye, smiled and winked. He grinned, then scowled as he noticed the rest of the company was doing the same. When they noticed him noticing, they discreetly looked away.
Hannah came around the table and rested her hands on his shoulders. Peter put one of his hands on hers.
“So you’ll be back after?”
“Yeah. I’ve got two appointments, so it will be later.”
“Just let yourself in. I’m not promising I’ll wait up but I’ll try.”
Hannah pointed to all of them with her free hand. “Now, you all play nice and clean up after yourselves. I don’t want to come back here to find feathers from your pillow fights and cotton wool from your mani/pedis.”
“No worries. We’re just going to plait each other’s hair, talk about Big Brother and where Brangelina’s next child will come from. Maybe some facials. Manly stuff.”
“All right then.” She leaned down and kissed him long and hard, letting her free hand drift down to caress his chest. When she pulled back she whispered, “Love you,” into his ear.
“Love you too,” he replied just as quietly. He watched her walk to the door and returned her wave was she left.
“That’s one hell of a woman you’ve got there, Peter.” Monty had redressed.
“Don’t I know it.”
“But she’s never playing cards with us again.”
“I don’t know. It was fun watching you go down in flames.” Ben popped a crisp into his mouth.
“Et tu, Benjamin? I don’t have to stay here and suffer these indignities.”
“So what kind of indignities will you suffer then?”
“Well done, Ben.”
“Thank you, Peter.” They shook hands.
Monty sat back down. “Just for that, I’ll make you suffer my apparently intolerable company.”
Peter sat back and balanced his chair on two legs. “Come on, Monty, you know you’re our mate. We wouldn’t bother otherwise.”
Once Peter got his guests out the door, he changed into his pyjamas and set up camp on the sofa to put a dent in the paperwork he’d let fall by the wayside while he was injured. Hannah returned to find him surrounded in files and crime scene photos. She joined him on the sofa and kicked off her shoes.
“Hey. Working hard I see.” She yawned. “I’m beat.”
Peter leaned over for a kiss. “Go to bed.”
“I’m going to shower first. You’re joining me, yes?”
“Eventually. Now go.” They kissed again and he went back to work. He vaguely registered the water turning on and off and the shuffling of feet crossing the hall. He kept working even though his eyes were beginning to cross and he had to fight to keep his head up.
The next thing he knew, the telly and lights were off, his glasses were set on the coffee table, he’d been moved to a reclined position, and covered with a blanket. He didn’t think on it and rolled over and went back to sleep.
He woke again, this time to a weight on his chest. He looked down to find Hannah asleep on top of him. He tightened his arms around her, which made her mumble, and drifted back to unconsciousness.
The next time he woke to the sun peeking in the windows and hitting his face. He looked down at the woman sleeping on him. He pondered how he reached this point. Of course he’d never followed a traditional path. Fall in love with Sally the sweet shop girl that lived down lane, get married, have kids and live an ordinary life. That wasn’t for him. His marriage was a mistake. Falling for a married woman was a mistake. But he didn’t regret any of it because it led him to this. To his younger escort girlfriend. The one he met because he was a client first. It wasn’t a fairy tale romance by any means, but he wouldn’t change it either.
True, her job wasn’t something he was thrilled with but he had no room to be judgemental on it. He knew he loved her and she loved him. She could have any man she wanted and she wanted him. He wasn’t going to take that granted. He brushed a bit of hair behind her ear which caused her to stir. She gave him a sleepy smile.
“I thought I told you to go to bed.”
“I did but you didn’t join me. So, I came out here to drag you there but you had crashed. I made you comfortable and covered you up and went back to bed. But it’s a funny thing; I can’t fall asleep in your bed without you there. The only remedy was to come to you.”
“It does seem to be a serious issue. Tell you what; I have a couple of hours before I need to get motivated. Why don’t we actually curl up in the bed?” They did move and curl together, quickly falling back asleep.
When his alarm went off, Peter reluctantly removed himself from Hannah and went through his morning routine. He went back to his room to grab a jumper and his watch and glanced at the figure in the bed.
Hannah had pushed the covers down to her legs. The Oxford she’d chosen had ridden up to display her hip. The couple buttons she’d done up stopped right above her navel. The shirt had moved enough to partially expose a breast. Her hair splayed over her pillow and her lips were slightly parted. Just the look of her was making his pants become constricting. With a sigh, he left the room to grab his mobile. He paused for a moment and then dialled.
“Monty, it’s Peter. Do me a favour and tell the boss I’ll be in after lunch.”
“Something wrong?”
“No.”
“Oh! Hannah came over last night. That’s just fantastic!” He heard Monty sniff.
“Are you crying?”
“I’m just so proud of you right now. Go forth, my friend, and bed your woman! Bed her well! Wait, what should I say about where you are if I’m asked?”
He walked back in the room where Hannah was waking up. “Say I’m seeing my therapist.” With that, he hung up.
Hannah raked her hair back and smiled. “You on your way out?”
“No, actually, because you, Miss Baxter, are causing trouble.”
She knitted her brow. “How? I was sleeping.”
“In my shirt. In my bed. Looking the way you do.”
“Oh, I see.” She nodded. “So, you’re just doing your civic duty.”
He crawled onto the bed and hovered above her. “Yes. It’s for the greater good that I take the morning off to shag my girlfriend.”
She reached up and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “Hmm. Better get to it then.”
The rest of the morning was spent naked and happy. Together they had found things they never thought they’d enjoy before then. Hannah was finding vanilla sex more enjoyable and Peter was trying new things. As such, police issue handcuffs had been making common appearances in their play. She’d always liked being put in light restraints and he seemed to get something out of it as well.
As they laid there recovering from the latest go ‘round, Peter looked at the clock and groaned. “Now I really do have to go. Thank you for a lovely morning. We’ll have to do this again some time.”
“Do you really have to go?”
“Yes. Now quit looking at me like that.”
“Maybe I don’t want to.”
He kissed her and got out of bed. “My little vixen. I love you and I have to go to work.”
A couple days later Peter was in court and asked to Hannah to meet him at the coffee shop during a break in the trial. They met outside and entered hand-in-hand. Shareece instantly brightened at the sight of Peter.
“Detective! I haven’t seen you in a long time. I hope every thing is okay. Oh.” Her face fell, as it usually did, when she saw Hannah and their joined hands. “What can I get for you?”
They attempted not to laugh as they put in their orders. They then found a table. Hannah took a sip of her drink.
“How’s it going? The trial that is.”
“Boring. A lot of hurry up and wait. Monty’s been silently chatting up one of the jurors. That’s where he is now. Listen, Hannah,” he took one of her hands, “While I was there, I heard something. Anthony Quince’s trial is coming up.”
She shuddered a bit and he squeezed her hand. “Will I have to testify?”
“I don’t know. I can see if you can just video your statement. Honestly, there’s enough stuff without your say to put him away.”
“I’m ready for whatever.” She shook her head to clear it. “Let’s move to better things. I can get us tickets to another West End show or a concert next week. A concierge owes me a favour.”
He gave her a genuine smile. “Let me know the choices.”
The weather was warming but there was still occasional chill. Hannah had removed her jacket. Underneath she had on a blouse, flowing skirt and knee high boots. When she would move and especially when she would cross or uncross her legs, a tantalising flash of skin would tease him. Peter realised he had no idea what she was saying.
He stood and announced, “Excuse me for a moment, would you?” As he passed her, he whispered in her ear, “Meet me in the broom cupboard in two minutes.”
Her eyes widened a bit but she nodded in agreement. He waited and as soon as she was in reaching distance, he pulled her in, slammed the door, threw the lock and pressed her against the wood, holding her arms above her head.
His lips attacked her mouth, cheek, neck, ears, chest, whatever he could reach. He let go of her arms to open her top and suck on her breasts. Hannah went after his shirt but didn’t get far.
“What brought this on?”
“Those damn boots. Don’t ever wear those without me around. Every man alive will try to do this to you.”
“I can handle myself. And you’re the only one I want taking me in cupboards.”
They grinned at each other. Peter fumbled in his pockets for his wallet to retrieve the condom he had there and wrestled it on. He didn’t pay attention to what Hannah did to her knickers after he saw her remove them while catching the action from the corner of his eye.
Soon her skirt was hiked up and her legs around his waist. He slid into her and set an unruly pace. They weren’t exactly being discreet between the continuous thumping against the door and their own noises. They came one after another. Hannah let herself slip her legs back to the floor and used Peter to keep herself upright.
“Like the boots then?”
“Fair assessment.” They laughed. Still breathless, they pulled themselves together. As they exited, they came face-to-face with a stunned Shareece. Her mouth was completely open and her eyes threatened to fall out of her head. The tray of mugs she was holding crashed to the ground, Peter and Hannah grabbed their things and ran out, laughing the whole way.
“I don’t think we’ll be welcome back there anytime soon!”
“You broke the poor girl’s heart, Peter!”
“I can’t help if the sexiest woman in all the world wore the flirtiest pair of boots around me. The fact that she’s my girlfriend and I have the honour of defiling her anytime I please is just a bonus.”
“Smooth talker.”
He kissed her. “I’ve really got to get back. I love you.”
“I love you too. And so do my boots!”
He groaned and kissed her cheek before heading back to the court house. He met Monty and their DCI outside the courtroom.
“Carlisle, do you have those notes?”
“Yes sir. In my pocket.” He reached into the inner trench coat pocket for his notebook while his superior turned to chat with a passerby. As he removed the pad, he watched in horrified fascination as a familiar scrap of lace made a gentle arc before landing on the ground.
Monty picked it up, smirked at him and twirled it around his finger. He raised his eyebrow and went to speak.
“For God’s sake, Pippin! How many times have you been asked to keep your private life just that?!” Their DCI glowered at them.
“Sorry, sir.” He let him pass. “You owe me.”
Peter grabbed Hannah’s underwear and shoved them into another pocket. “I’m aware.”
“Don’t have to ask what or who you were doing during the recess.” Monty clapped Peter on the shoulder as Peter tried to fight the blush rising on his face.
To celebrate the increasingly warming weather and the fact that Peter’s ankle was completely healed, Hannah announced they were taking the day off. And shopping. Peter was less than thrilled with this idea until Hannah said part of the excursion would be to lingerie shops where she’d model her purchases for him after and he could even pick a little something out she would wear (and then not wear) only at his. She also did some convincing with her tongue that made him absolute putty in her hands.
They walked hand-in-hand along the row of shops, Peter letting himself be dragged into whatever caught Hannah’s fancy. They were both carrying a few bags as Peter bought a couple of things for himself and did the good boyfriend duty of carrying her bags except for the pink ones. She laughed at him but happily took those on herself.
They grabbed lunch at a chippy as they knew they would most likely not be welcome back to the coffee shop anytime soon. It was mutually agreed that it was worth it.
A trip to an Agent Provocateur led to a quick, intense makeout session in the dressing room. They both decided it was too soon for another semi-public performance and stopped it there.
“Right, one more stop.” Hannah led Peter to another shop. He read the neon sign in the window.
“I’ll pass, thanks.”
“You sure? I’ll get you something special.” She was charming him and it almost worked.
“Hannah, I appreciate this is one of the places the tools of your trade are sold but some things are best left a mystery to me. So, if you must get something for us to both enjoy, surprise me. I’ll be out here when you’re done.”
“Fine.” She went up on her toes for a quick kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He smiled at her as she grinned and entered the sex shop. Peter adjusted the bags on his arm and shoved his hands in his coat pockets. He wandered aimlessly on the pavement. At one point he turned and paused at the person standing there.
“Hello, Peter.”
“Natalie.”
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Date: 2008-10-28 11:18 pm (UTC)Lovely chapter, as always. Pardon me while I go fantasize about Billie Piper in that lingerie for the next ten years or so.
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Date: 2008-10-30 12:46 am (UTC)I had fun "playing dress up" with the Billie doll in my head.