11:30am
June smiled to herself as she walked down the corridor, her mind filled with the memories of the time she had spent with Jim the previous evening. Her head was bowed as she read through the case file in her hand. She glanced up now and then, nodding at her colleagues as she passed them. Her mind was certainly elsewhere when she felt a hand grab her arm and pull her into a darkened interview room.
"What the..." She looked up. "Jim, you'll get me into trouble." She smiled, stifling a laugh.
"Not doing anything." He shrugged as his hands circled her waist. "I missed you."
"It's only been twelve hours."
"Twelve long hours. That's a lot of minutes you know." He pulled her closer.
"How many minutes exactly..." She smiled, touching his cheek, sliding her hand slowly down to his chin.
"Erm... a lot. I'm a police officer not a mathematician."
"Oh, OK." She looked up and into his eyes. "So, how's the flat hunting?"
"I've put some feelers out..."
"I bet you have." June's eyes twinkled as she regarded him.
"What has got into you Sergeant Ackland." He grinned.
June looked down and smirked.
"I don't know what you mean." Jim cast his eyes to the ceiling and tried not to laugh.
"Really?" June's voice deepened, becoming husky with desire.
"June! Stop it!" He laughed as her hand slid down his chest.
"Sorry, its just, now I've got you back I want to make the most of you."
"But not here... it's too risky." He leant forward and kissed her gently.
"Where then. And when? I need you, Jim."
"I need you too. But we can't, not here. When's your next day off?"
"Friday. Got a long weekend, back on Tuesday."
"Damnit I'm working both those days. And the weekend's out too." He sighed.
"Oh." June sighed harshly, moving away and perching on the edge of the desk. "Why's the weekend out?"
"Ben's birthday..."
"Oh. Right." June nodded to herself, then shook her head, folding her arms across her chest.
"I can't get out of that... I'm sorry. I've got tomorrow off."
June flickered a glance up at him with damp brown eyes, continuing to shake her head.
"I'm sorry." He kissed her forehead. "You're the Sergeant - got any bright ideas?"
"Why don't you play truant?"
"Me?"
"Yes, you. Like you just said, I'm the Sergeant, I have responsibilities."
"But..." He looked at her with puppy dog eyes. "Friday is ages away."
"It's only three days."
"I'll do it then... but only if I can see you before then." He pulled her closer to him.
"I'm working 2 till 10 the rest of the week. Come over in your lunch break."
"Sure that won't upset your routine?" Jim smirked.
"Since when did I have a routine." June smiled, standing. "Can you make it over after work?" She looped her arm round his neck, and leant in, kissing his lips, his chin, then nuzzling his neck.
"I can try - but Ramani is a real slave driver - she's worse than you."
"Cheeky..." June smiled. "Call me, let me know." She pulled back, sighed deeply. "Jim, there's something I meant to ask you, last night."
"What?" He tipped his head to one side.
"It's serious." She admonished him.
"When am I not? Go on then..." He arms slipped back to her waist, holding her lightly in front of him.
"Jim, are you...." She stopped, biting her lip.
"Am I what?"
"Are you still sleeping with Marie?"
"Only in the sense of sharing a bed - though I have spent the last few nights on the sofa."
"OK... are you planning to sleep with her again?"
He looked deeply into her eyes. "No."
"I'm just asking you, because... I'm not sharing... this... with anybody. If you slept with her, I don't think I could... stand having you touch me again."
"I promise..."
"Good. So... what are we going to do on Friday?"
"What do you fancy? How about we take a day trip somewhere? Somewhere we can be together without hiding?"
"Yeah... I'd like that. How about Brighton? I haven't seen the sea in so long."
"Sounds good. And it's summer so there might be a funfair." He grinned at her.
"A funfair?" June laughed. "You really are a big kid aren't you?"
"Me? Never! Candyfloss and ghost trains."
"OK then... it's a date. But you're not getting me on any roller coaster."
"Aww." He pouted. "Not even for me?" He looked at her with huge eyes.
"Stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?" He stared at her.
"You know... I've got work to do. And so have you."
"Can I have a kiss before I go? To get me through the afternoon." He grinned at her cheekily.
"As long as you promise to come round tonight."
"I'll do my best."
"Do better." She leant in and kissed him softly.
"Ramani might have me chained to my desk - my pile of paperwork is so high you can't see me behind it." He kissed her back.
"There's more to life, Jim." She stood, her tone unintentionally harsh.
He hung his head. "I can't promise anything. I'm in court again on Thursday and I've got tomorrow off so I've got to get it finished. I swear to you though, I will do my best."
"Yeah." June looked down, away then left the room, leaving Jim with his thoughts.
***
Friday Morning, 9:10am.
June Ackland's doorbell rang and she ran to the door, recognising Jim's familiar silhouette behind it. She flung it open. "I thought you weren't coming, we said 8:30."
"I'm sorry... I called in to get petrol and fill up a picnic hamper. Save us doing it on the way." He smiled at her. "Am I forgiven?"
"Course you are." She smiled. "Have you heard about the flat yet, you said you were hoping to hear back last night."
"No, they didn't phone. I'll try and call them later. You ready to go? You look really nice."
"Yes, just need to grab my jacket and my bag." She gestured to the banister at the bottom of the stairs. "As organised as ever, you see, I've even left food for Toto."
"You don't need your jacket it isn't going to rain." He chuckled. "And since when were you organised?"
"I'm always organised, don't be so cheeky."
"I'm not cheeky." Jim pouted.
"Yes, you are." June moved in closer to him. She looked up into his eyes, meaning to say something, but no more came out than a juddering breath.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. It's all just hit me - I could still end up spending the rest of my life with you."
"Is that why you looked so terrified? Come on then, we won't get there at this rate." He reached out for her hand.
"I wasn't terrified. And we've got plenty of time." She squeezed his hand, tried to pull him further into the house.
"What do you want now?"
"Do I have to explain?"
"You're insatiable." He laughed.
"No, I just love you."
"You'll give me a big head."
"I love you..." She moaned, breathless, pushing him up against the door of her dining room.
"You *know* I love you." He leaned back against the door stumbling as it fell open.
"Oops." June laughed. "This isn't what I call safe sex..."
"When's anything safe where I'm concerned?" He turned around pushing her back towards the large mahogany table.
"I know, you are so clumsy." June laughed as he pushed her back against the cool surface.
"And so are you, how convenient that you landed on the table." He lifted her onto it and bent forward nibbling her neck.
"You do know what we used to call you, don't you?" June laughed, fumbling with the zip of his jeans.
"Sexy... gorgeous... what?" He pushed her top up, kissing the smooth skin of her stomach.
"You should be so lucky." June giggled as she pulled down his zip and slid her hand inside.
"Ahhh... tell me June." He gasped as she teased him lightly.
"You're not going to like it... alright, we used to call you Catastrophe Carver."
"Charming" He pouted. "You'll pay for that." His eyes twinkled as he pushed her skirt up around her waist.
"No, Jim..." She placed her hands to his face. "You remember that time you were blown up by the booby trapped TV set, you spent four days in hospital... they weren't sure if you were going to lose the hearing in your right ear... I wanted to visit you so much, but..." She shook her head. "I couldn't face it."
"You should have done... I hate hospitals... I was all lonely."
"I cannot *bear* to see you hurt."
"You're a big softie at heart aren't you. That's what I love so much about you." He leant forward and kissed her softly.
"Something else we've got in common. Never leave me, Jim..." She clawed at his boxers, pushing them down.
"I'm not going to..." He slid his hands under the edge of her underwear, looking intently at June as he did so.
"I can't... live... without you." June arched her body up suddenly, gasping. "Jim..."
"What?" He laughed. "I'm not doing anything..." He slid her underwear down as her body arched. "God I love you June."
"I know, I know, stop telling me and just show me." She breathed.
He pulled her to the edge of the table, running his hands through her hair. "Are you sure about this?" He breathed.
"Why wouldn't I be..."
"Just checking..." He traced a line down her body with his fingernail, watching as she tipped her head back and moaned softly.
"Jim, don't tease..." She wrapped her arms around him.
"It's more fun this way." He breathed. "And I get to watch you like this..."
"Jim, I can't bear..."
"Shush." He placed his finger to her lips, pushing himself gently inside her as she tightened her legs around his waist. They began to move together, slowly at first, hands sliding up and down slick skin, as their pace increased.
"This is... bliss." She sighed as she regarded him. "Why did we ever let this go?"
"I was stupid... but let's not talk about that." He gasped as he upped his pace once more. "I've missed you."
"Let's not think about it." She sunk her head into the soft skin of his shoulder.
"It's... so much better than I remember..." He rested his head against hers. "You're amazing."
"Don't you forget it." June mumbled. They moved together as one, in perfect harmony, almost instinctively, knowing just what it took to bring the other to the peak and then bring them back, just a little, so this could continue for as long as possible. Eventually, June screamed out his name and dug her nails into his back, holding him as he shook.
"June...." He wrapped his arms around her, feeling how her body was still shaking as he struggled to get his breath back to normal. He buried his head into her shoulder as he breathed deeply.
"You sure you want to go to Brighton?" She laughed.
"Do you?" He looked into her eyes.
"Yes. I want to spend time with you, something apart from this... just talking, getting to know each other again."
"I'll be proud to have you on my arm... I want to show you off to the world."
"And soon we'll be able to announce it to everyone. As soon as you're free." June pulled her skirt down over her legs. "I need a shower now, you do realise that."
"Women!" Jim laughed. "We'll never get there at this rate. I could be tempted to join you."
June smiled, then looked up at him coquettishly. "Well, there's a certain place on my back I can just never reach on my own..."
***
It was just before midday when they arrived in Brighton. After spending twenty minutes looking for somewhere to park, they walked together hand in hand down to the seafront. The sun and the sea were a perfect blue, children played on the beach, and just as Jim had predicted, there was a funfair on the pier.
"It's beautiful Jim." June grinned squeezing his hand. "Thank you for bringing me here."
"I used to come here as a kid. With my brothers. I remember they came down once in '63 I think it was, I was too little and stayed home, ended up right in the middle of the mods and rockers riots."
"Just like the film?" June asked turning to him.
"What film?" Jim looked at her askance.
"Quadrophenia? You must know it."
"Heard of it... never seen it though." His eyes kept wandering over to the pier.
"There's an actor in it who really reminds me of you when you were younger. I've got it on video - we can watch it one night - see if it's like what they told you... Jim what are looking at?"
"Nothing." He smirked and moved his gaze back to the sea.
"Tell me!" She demanded.
"I wanna go to the fair." He muttered, almost inaudibly.
"Does little Jim want to go on the rides?" June laughed, ruffling his hair.
"I haven't been for years. I'll buy you an ice cream."
"An ice-cream? What about candyfloss, or chocolate popcorn... or a toffee apple."
"Whatever you'd like. And I'll try and win you a teddy bear for you to cuddle when I'm not around."
"I'd prefer the real thing." She rested her head on his shoulder. "They've got a big wheel."
"I'm game if you are." Jim started as his mobile trilled in his pocket. "Excuse me."
"Ignore it... you're ill remember."
"No... it's the guy about the flat."
"OK." June stepped away and leaned on the railing looking out to sea.
Jim took the call, muttering something just out of June's earshot. Then he moved back to her, tapped her on the shoulder.
"Sorry, I was miles away." She turned round to look at him. "So?"
"Yes." He grinned.
"That's brilliant." She jumped into his arms. "How many room has it got?"
"Kitchen, living room, bathroom, bedroom, just the bare essentials."
"Oh right..." June's eyes twinkled.
"I'll move in this weekend."
"I could help you... christen the place." She smiled.
"June Carolyn Ackland..." He reached for her hand. "I'll tell Marie tonight. My marriage will be... semi-officially over."
"Sounds good to me." She kissed his cheek. "Wanna go play?"
"Definitely." He followed her as she pulled at his hand, like an eager child. He was so lucky, he decided, to have her forgiveness and her love, god knows he didn't deserve it. And today, this perfect day would mark an end to all the pain, and confusion. From tomorrow, June would once again be his, and his life could start afresh.
................. on to Part Five
Back to Homepage Review Back to Stories