Chapter 16

They’d walked around her whole neighborhood. Hardly speaking. For a moment, she’d wished she could hold his hand. That was the first time in her life she’d ever wanted to hold someone’s hand.

“It’s quiet here.”

She looked up at him. “Yeah, I love it here.” She glanced through the fence at the quiet grassy park. “I don’t do well in apartment buildings filled with people, this place may cost me more, but the peace makes it all worth it.”

“You make enough with your work?”

She grinned. “Sometimes, not so much other times.” She put her hands in her pockets, keeping her eyes on the faded sidewalk. “I’ve been thinking about finding a different office.”

“You don’t like your closet office?

She smirked at him. “No, not particularly.”

“Such a shame…” It surprised him when she reached over, giving him a playful shove. He stopped and leered down at her. “That is not fair at all, and you know it. I’m completely afraid to touch you in case I make you, I don’t know what exactly.”

She laughed at him. “A casual touch from someone I know, as long as they’re not mad, doesn’t hurt or cause anything.”

He stood there studying her. “Really?” She nodded. “And when I kissed you in the closet, okay, that does sound funny. It didn’t bother you?”

She smirked at him again. “I don’t think so, it was so brief I really couldn’t tell.”

He grinned down at her. Her brown eyes seemed to be taunting him. He stood there in front of her for a moment, then smiled. Slowly he reached out to gently cup the back of her head. Her eyes didn’t leave his as he lowered his mouth to brush against hers slowly. He lifted his head and looked down at her for a moment. He didn’t want to scare her or harm her in any way, but he had to have a taste.

When his mouth touched hers again, he felt her hands move up to his chest. Her mouth was warm and welcoming. He wanted to crush her against him but didn’t know what he could and couldn’t do as far as she was concerned. He lifted his head, resting his forehead against hers. Those brown eyes looking at him were hazy. “I’m not going to cause you to have a seizure or something, am I?

She stood there looking at him and then smiled. “Just don’t think of the last person you shot or anything like that, and we’re good.”

He grinned and lifted his head to look down at her. “You make it sound like I go around shooting people.” He was enjoying the feel of her hands against his chest more than he thought he would.

“Don’t you?” She smiled at him in a teasing way.

He reached, putting a hand behind her waist, and pulled her closer. “No.” Running his hand down the back of her silky hair, he smirked. “You can be sure when I’m kissing you that you will be the only thing I am thinking about.” Her smile was inviting, her eyes told him…

“Does this mean we’re done working for the day?”

They turned to find Brent standing and leaning on the roof of his car, stopped in the middle of the street. Grinning at them like the proverbial cat that caught the canary.

Reid cleared his throat. “We are.”

Brent frowned. “You could have let me know. I tried calling, and when I got no answer, I lit out of the office so fast I’m not sure if I closed a single door behind me.”

Reid released her but kept a hand loosely around her waist. “We needed to get out of there for a bit.”

“Uh-huh.” Brent winked at Jac. “At least he’s not dragging you in closets now.”

Jac looked down at the ground, blushing. “No, he’s not.”

Reid smirked. “The reason you were calling was?”

Brent straightened. “To tell you I’ve had it, and I’m going home to sleep.”

Reid nodded. “Okay. See you at the office in the morning.”

Brent nodded, then grinned at Jac. “Are you coming in tomorrow?”

She nodded. “Absolutely. Tomorrow is the day we find him.”

“I hope so.” He nodded once abruptly, then got back in his car and drove away without another word.

“I should get going too.” Reid looked down at her. Still a little speechless that she blushed.

She smiled. “Yeah, believe it or not, I’m starting to feel kind of tired.”

He stood back and studied her. “Are you all right?”

She leaned closer to him. “Yeah, I think I’ll be up and running by tomorrow.”

He casually put his arm around her, walking back the few houses to her place.

Neither spoke when he came in with her to get his phone and keys.

He stood at the door for a moment. She stood looking up at him, saying nothing that helped him know what she was thinking. Stepping closer, he grinned down at her. “This is breaking my number one rule, with us working together, but …” He lowered his head and gently brushed his mouth over hers. Her hand moved to rest on his chest again. He lifted his head and smirked. “I’ve never been good with rules.” He cupped the back of her head in his hand and pulled her so her mouth was against his again. With his other hand, he pulled her hips so her whole body was nestled against his. And dammit it, she felt so right against him.

His tongue tasted every dark corner in her mouth, when her hands went up into his hair, he was ready to pick her up and push his own restraint to the limit.

Resting his forehead against hers, he stood there with his eyes closed for a moment, willing his breathing to calm down. “Are you all right?”

“Mmm, more than.” She whispered against his mouth.

He almost groaned as the raspy words brushed against his lips. “I’ll pick you up in the morning, we’re going to get this guy, then we’re going to see where this goes.” He lifted his head and looked down at her. Seeing her eyes half closed and looking up at him made him want to throw away all the rules and stay here.

She smiled up at him. “Okay.”

He took a deep breath, starting to let go of her, then pulled her against him again and kissed her hard, not giving her time to object. Her mouth responded to his with abandon, making him wonder what the rest would be like. Pulling his mouth away, he held her, his face in her hair, breathing in her scent. He began kissing the soft skin on her neck gently. Groaning, he lifted his head. “I have to go.” He squeezed her against him briefly and then backed up. “Get some rest. I’ll see you in the morning.”

She couldn’t find any words, so she just nodded and smiled at him.

He backed towards the door, turning before he hit it and left quickly. Standing outside for a moment, he shook his head and went to his car. As if he didn’t already have enough motivation to find this killer, with a smirk as he climbed in and quickly headed home.

Jac stood there looking at the closed door. She’d never felt that way when someone was kissing her. Her head was spinning, her knees actually were weak. She hadn’t wanted him to stop. His strong arm around her made her feel completely protected, his mouth teased in a way she didn’t think she’d ever felt. She ran a shaking hand over her mouth and smiled. Didn’t see that coming, did you, mystic one? She grinned to herself and walked around, turning the lights off. She was sure there would be no bad dreams tonight.

***

She was wrong. Twice she woke up to find herself panting and soaked in sweat. The nightmares didn’t usually continue after the first day. She lay there staring at the clock, afraid to go back to sleep. Sandy would have a fit if she called her at this time of night. Of course, she’d insist on coming straight over, but Jac didn’t want to do that to her. She’d already done a twenty-seven-hour day or more, as her sense of time was all out of whack from sleeping so much.

Jac turned her head and looked at the card she’d set on the table when she’d had her nap. What would he think if she woke him at this time of night? His concern was genuine, she knew. She could feel it when he kissed her; his fear of causing something to happen was right up front. Of course, she hadn’t felt it long, or hadn’t been focused long enough to feel it, she wasn’t sure which. Sighing, she picked up the card. Always better to find these things out in the beginning, she thought, as she reached for the phone. She felt guilty when his sleepy voice came out of the phone.

“Hey, sorry to wake you.”

“Jacinda? What’s wrong?”

The concern in his voice made her feel better. “Nightmares.”

She heard him move, probably sitting up. “Do you want me to come over? Are they as bad as last night?”

She shook her head. “No, I’m able to get out of them, just afraid to sleep now. You don’t have to come over; I just needed someone to talk to.” She sighed. “Sorry, I woke you…”

“Don’t be.” He sighed. “It’s fine.”

“But you sound so sleepy.”

He laughed. “I sound sleepy until I’ve had at least a full pot of coffee, which is why I don’t talk in the mornings.”

Just hearing him was soothing. “I would have called Sandy, but she tends to yell when she’s awakened, and I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t help.”

“It’s okay, I don’t mind, really. I’d much rather talk to you…” He paused. “At two in the morning, then Brent, he mumbles.”

She laughed. “I never really thanked you for everything…”

“Hey, it’s fine. If I was half the cop, everyone keeps telling me I am, I’d have caught this guy a while ago, and you would never have had to do what you did.”

She pouted at the phone. “But then we wouldn’t have met.”

“Good point. Okay, I’m glad I’m a poor cop.” She laughed again. “We’re going to get him, Jacinda, very soon, you’ve been a monumental help with every good lead we’ve got.”

“More flukes, really.” She played with the trim on her comforter.

He laughed. “I don’t think so, but my ego appreciates your saying so.” She yawned. “You really need to get some rest, or I’ll take you to see a doctor.”

She sighed. “That would be mean. I don’t like being a guinea pig.”

He was silent for a few seconds. “Nah, I’d tell them you had a big scare or something.”

She smirked. “I didn’t think officers lied…”

He laughed deeply. “Oh, right, we’re perfect all the time.”

“I guess I should let you get some sleep so you don’t growl at people tomorrow.”

He groaned. “I don’t growl.”

“Oh yes, you do.” She smiled to herself in the dark. “I do feel better, Reid. Thank you.”

“Call if you need me again.” His voice was a soft whisper.

“I hope not, but okay. See you when the sun shines.”

“Yep.” She waited. “Good night, Jacinda.”

She closed her eyes and smiled. “Good night, Reid.” Hanging up the phone, she kept her eyes closed so she could keep his voice inside her head. Maybe that would be enough to keep the nightmares at bay.