The Next Morning…

Rachel didn’t know how but she managed to wake up when her alarm went off. It was such a rarity. But as she stumbled through her shower and managing to get back to her suite she finally awoke from her sleepy haze, she was going to see Gordon in about a half an hour. She had no idea, what she should wear. Tempted she thought she could dare wake up Harley and ask her advice when she noticed that she was already gone.

 Finally, she chose her favorite maroon, cashmere turtleneck sweater and a pair of black leg hugging slacks. She always felt she was going to go on a heist when she wore the outfit since it was so streamline and extremely flattering. She just had dapped some perfume on her neck, when there was a knock on the door.

Unease caused a painful knot in her stomach, what if it was Harley’s beau was looking for her. What if it was the person, who had been making those phone calls to them? Taking a deep breath, she looked in the peephole.

Shock, almost knocked the wind out of her, it was Gordon. She had to suppress a giggle; his exaggerated features because of the glass of the peephole made him look adorable.

“One moment,” She hollered. Quickly she looked over the suite, like always it was neat as a pin. However, her bed was a bit of a mess. Luckily, since she was constantly in a state of exhaustion, she tended to not to move around as much, so her blankets were never in too much of a disarray but she still wanted everything to look good. In a speed she never thought feasible for her that early came out and made her bed look just as neat as Harley’s. She tossed her reflection in the mirror a glance; she realized her hair was down. Brushing it, the waves came through, she wanted to put it up but she didn’t want to keep him any longer. She took a deep breath and opened the door.

“Good morning,” She smiled broadly, was it possible that he looked even better than he did the day before, she wondered idly. 

“Good morning,” He remained in the hall, even though he gave her a very warm smile.

“Oh, I’m sorry please come in.” She shook her head. “How did you know, I lived on the second floor?” Her curiosity got the better of her and had to ask.

“I looked up your file.” He said simply, as he walked past her, as the smell of his cologne hit her, her heart, which was already racing, picked up speed.

She mentally kicked herself, how could she have forgotten that. “That’s right. Never mind me. It’s too early for me.”

“I hope you don’t mind.” His face took a concerned expression, as he turned to look at her after she closed the door. Oh, how much she wanted to hug him hello, but she retrained herself. She wondered if she should tell him that she knows about his separation. How could she possibly bring that up casually?

“Not at all, why would I mind?” He took a step towards her.

“I’m glad. I wanted to surprise you.” He gave her one of those half smiles; any concern was gone from his face. She could feel her knees, getting wobbly.   

 “You certainly did. I didn’t even get a chance to put my hair up yet.” She smiled and gestured to her hair falling in waves about her shoulders.

In the span of breath, he was right in front of her. She was looking up into his deep blue eyes. Before she could utter a word, she could feel his hand graze her cheek, before immersing it in her hair, tilting her head up, she could feel his breath, warm on her face before she felt the softness of his mouth. His moustache didn’t even tickle her this time. She could feel his other wrap around her waist, as he drew her closer to him. It was a good thing or she was sure her knees would have buckled. She wrapped her arms around him and gave herself into the kiss. Distantly, she felt his warm fingers; slip under the hem of her maroon sweater, his fingers caressed their way to her back where he held her firmly to him.

 Slowly, he broke the kiss “It looks very nice down,” he said huskily before he kissed her again.

Everything in her tingled all that mattered was the two of them. It felt so good. Mmm, he tasted so good, better than anything she could be nibbling on for breakfast, she thought wickedly.

She felt, him begin to break off the kiss again; she desperately didn’t want him too. Rachel was almost positive that she could feel his hesitation in ending the kiss, opening her eyes; she looked into the dark blue pools of his. She felt like she could swim in them always.

“I have to tell you something, can we sit down on your sofa.”

She simply nodded, she could find her voice, and Rachel was struck by the power of their kiss. Delicately, she could feel him let go of her. She wanted to take hold of his hand but she wasn’t sure if it would be the right thing to do. Rachel was sure that, he was going to tell her about his separation but still had no idea how she could bring it up.

A sigh escaped him when he sat down; he draped one arm around the back of it. A part of her yearned, wanted desperately to curl up in his lap and kiss him. His presence, something about his demeanor did something to her. She had not felt in far too long of a time. “Wow that is really soft sofa. Much better than the one I have in my office.”

“Alfred insisted on it.” She smiled, sitting beside him. “He knew how many times, I had fallen asleep studying on the ones up at the ones at the mansion when I was little.” His hand dropped from the edge of the sofa, he squeezed her shoulder gently. She almost lost all train of thought, when he touched her. She felt breathless. “So when he got word, I was going to have a suite to furnish he made sure, I would have some nice things.” She knew she was rambling out of nervousness; she looked around the room a moment before looking back at him. Then she got serious, and quickly composed herself. “You have something you need to tell me.”  

“Yes, yes I do.” He sat up straight. “I should have said something yesterday.” He cleared his throat. “I want you to know, that recently, well two months ago my wife, Barbara and I separated.”

She wanted to tell him, that she knew already but somehow right now, it just didn’t seem right. “Oh.”

            “In reality, we were separated a long time ago.” He looked away for a moment.

            “I’m sorry to hear it.” She had to be honest, with herself; she hated to hear when things like that happened to people.  

            “It’s better this way. We’ve been separated emotionally for quite awhile and this way, she also doesn’t have to be concerned with the hours I keep.”

            She really didn’t know what to say. “Yeah, the hours can be tough, just from my internship I know what you are talking about.” She smiled, though unease tightened in her stomach. She wondered if she should ask him what that meant for the two of them. As if feeling her concern, he squeezed her shoulder. “So I have to ask,” she placed her hand over his on her shoulder. She noticed for the first time that the gold band that she has seen months ago was on his finger.

“I want you to know that there is nothing I would love more than anything to continue seeing you.” Her stomach did a flip-flop, the excitement that surged through her stole her ability to speak. “That is if you feel the same way and don’t mind being with a man who is separated.”

“Oh James,” She could hear her voice trembling. “I don’t mind at all. There is nothing I would enjoy more than spending what time we can share together.” Her anxiousness was still there. Looking away, not focusing on anything in particular. She was worried she had said too much.

“Rachel,” She turned to look at him. “That sounds wonderful to me.” Sitting up he wrapped his arm around her and placed his hand on her knee. Before she knew it, she was in his arms. She wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her chin on his shoulder. They stayed like that for some time, now she felt like it was official between the two that they were an item or sorts. Feeling him pull back gently, she looked at him. Together they leaned in for a kiss. It was not long before she could feel the passion from their earlier kiss envelop the two of them. Their tongues did an elaborate dance of love. Feeling both of his hands, slips under the hem of her sweater once again made her gasp and arch into his hands. From her heavy lids, she could see the mischievous smile that was across his face and she could hear a masculine groan come from his chest. In a rush of the fluttering of her stomach and racing heart, she gently pushed him into the cushions of the sofa. Holding him desperately with one arm, she let her other free hand delve into his feather soft hair. She lost herself in their kiss, in his taste, cologne it made for a dreamy haze in her head.

Distantly, it dawned on her that as much as she didn’t want to; she knew she had to start their day. Well, she had to start hers at the very least. Their kiss started to slow down, but she didn’t lesson her grasp on him and she felt that neither did he.

“As much as, I would love to kiss you, touch you all day, I better get you over to the DA’s office.” He said some time later into her hair, after she had curled up to him. She idly traced the shape of his tie with a finger.

“You’re right.” She sighed. “But it would be nice, but I know Carl would hunt me down. Right now, he’s most likely lost in his preparation for the court hearing on Monday.

“He’s lucky to have you.” He squeezed her.          

 “Thank you, I like to think so,” She gave him one of her half smiles.

Quickly she sat up and sneaked in a soft kiss on his throat, she could feel his surprise, as he gripped her even tighter.

“We were supposed to get going.” He said.

“I know,” Now it was her turn to give him one of her mischievous smiles. “That is just to hold you till...”

He silenced her with a kiss, it overwhelmed her more than the others had, yet he broke it off just as quickly as it started. “Now, that is to keep you till we see each other.”

She couldn’t resist playfully smacking him.