"So we are." She looked up at him shyly. "Fancy a coffee... or a hot chocolate... or a cocoa... or maybe a bowl of strawberries?"
"You've got strawberries?" He looked up and smiled.
"I love strawberries... with cream."
"Me too." His eyes twinkled at her as he got out of the car, waiting as June got out before locking the car by remote. He opened the gate. "After you."
"You're such a gentleman." She unlocked the door with a shaking hand. "Make yourself at home."
"I thought I'd sort out the dessert, while you go and get out of those shoes." He hovered round the doorway to the kitchen.
"Won't take me more than a couple of seconds to slip these off... I could help you."
"I know my way around a kitchen... go on, I'll be fine."
"You'll find it all in the fridge... bowls in the cupboard next to it, spoons in the drawer... I'll be right back... just going to the bathroom."
"OK..." Jim opened the fridge and pulled out a large punnet of big juicy strawberries. The cream was in the door, it was the whipped kind that came in a can. He found the bowls, the spoons and a knife, and began setting about cutting up the strawberries. He picked up one and winced as his finger went straight through it - it was rotten. He grimaced, and located the bin, opening it. He was just about to throw the strawberry in, when he noticed something that made him grin broadly.
"I'm back..." June stuck her head around the door. "Find everything OK?"
"Um... yes..." Jim shot up, clutching something behind his back, his voice full of barely concealed laughter.
"What's so funny?" June frowned and stepped barefoot into the kitchen, walking towards him.
"Can I... give you some... handy household advice?" He grinned, backing away slightly.
"Erm... if you insist."
"You really should... recycle old carrier bags."
"Since when did you become Mr Environmentally Friendly?"
"Well, it helps destroy the evidence." He brought out the crumpled Ann Summers bag from behind his back.
June gulped. "Do you always root through people's rubbish? Or is a rubbish fetish another one of your hidden sides?"
"I was throwing in a rotten strawberry." Jim looked indignant. "And I can't help it, I'm still a detective at heart."
"How do you know it's mine? I could have picked it up out of the garden."
"Well... this receipt..." He pulled out his out his other hand from behind his back. "Has your signature on it." He grinned from ear to ear.
"Give it back..." She went to grab it.
"Make me..." Jim laughed his deep throaty laugh, ducking away.
"You'll be sorry." She grabbed his wrist. "That's mine."
"And so are the bra, knickers and stockings...."
"Isn't a girl's rubbish sacred anymore?" She grabbed the receipt from his, suddenly becoming aware of just how close together they were standing.
"Sorry..." Jim looked down at her. "June..."
"Did you sort the strawberries out?" She stepped back, visibly nervous.
"Um... yes..." Jim stuttered, suddenly downhearted.
"Only one bowl?" She grinned up at him.
"Thought we could share. June..."
"Sounds good to me. What is it?"
"June, can I..."
"Can you what? Before the cream goes warm..."
"June... can I..." He stopped, flushed, shook his head. "What's wrong with me?"
"Come on spit it out..."
"Can I kiss you?"
"I... I... I don't know what to say..." June smiled. "But seeing as you did ask so nicely." She stepped towards him once more.
"I asked stupidly, I sounded like a teenager with his first crush." Jim rolled his eyes.
"It was sweet... so sweet." She placed the palm of her hand on his cheek. "Just like you are..."
"Its been a long time since anyone called me that..." Jim breathed, his skin goosebumping as June drew closer.
"Then you've been talking to the wrong people." She looked deeply into his eyes, her face only centimetres away.
"Apparently so." He leant forward, hesitantly, quaking slightly.
"So are you going to kiss me then?" She asked coyly, without breaking the intense eye contact. "Only you did ask... and it's not fair too keep me hanging on is it?"
Jim nodded slightly, then brushed his lips gently against hers, pulling back to regard her expression.
"Is that all I get?"
"I..." Jim's eyes widened.
"Or do I have to do it myself?" She tilted her head towards his, kissing him softly, and looping her arms around his neck.
"Well... you did say you were in control..." Jim tipped his head to the side and captured her lips with his, his tongue nudging gently against her lips, as if requesting permission to take this further.
"By in control I meant sober..." She breathed, meeting his lips again.
"I see..." Jim smiled against her skin, then forced her lips open with his tongue, deepening the kiss, feeling her grip around him tighten as she pushed her body closer.
June's hands moved up to his hair, the room silent apart from their breathing and the material of June's dress rustling against his suit. She pulled closer to her, their kiss deepening further and becoming more passionate. Jim felt his body responding to her, almost involuntarily his hands slid down the smooth line of her back. June moaned slightly as his hands slowly caressed her body, pushing herself closer and closer to him.
Jim stilled suddenly, removing his hands and pulling away from the kiss.
She looked up at him. "What... what is it?"
"This isn't right."
"It certainly felt right to me."
"We said we'd talk."
"You wanted to kiss me." June shrugged.
"Just kiss." Jim nodded. "That... June, my body wanted to... but my brain... just... it was saying no. Do you understand that?"
"Not really." She picked up the bowl of strawberries and took Jim's hand. "Grab the cream then."
"Yes ma'am." Jim followed June into the lounge, noticing first the large blue sofa and then a grey furry ball sitting in front of the fire. "I'm guessing that's Toto."
"That's why you were such a great detective... amazing powers of deduction. So are you going to sit down?"
"Sure..." He sank into the sofa. "Wow." He smiled. "Look, June... I hope I didn't disappoint you just now."
"That kiss certainly wasn't disappointing... better than I'd imagined..." She blushed. "And we did say we'd take it as it comes. Not rush anything... no expectations."
"Thanks. I just... sometimes I think I project my insecurities onto other people... I don't feel right so I think they feel the same way."
"Like I said... no pressure." She sat down beside him, curling her legs up beneath her, pulling at the hem of her dress in vain as it slid up her thighs. She placed the bowl between them. "Strawberry sir?"
"If you're offering." He smiled. He picked one up and bit into it. "Yum. Where did you get these?"
"The supermarket. So they're good are they?" She looked at him expectantly.
"The best... they're not organic are they?"
"I have no idea." She watched as he put the rest of the strawberry into his mouth. "Does it matter?"
"Not at all." Jim picked up another strawberry and held it out to June. "Taste it."
She leant forward and bit into it, her lips brushing against his fingers. "Mmmm lovely."
"Be better with cream." He picked up the can, shaking it, with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Be careful."
"Why?" He continued to shake the can.
"Because this dress is new."
"Oh... OK." He took off the lid of the can, accidentally depressing the top with his finger. Cream spurted out of the can into his face and down onto his shirt.
"Oops." June giggled. "Come here..." She reached out and grabbed his tie pulling him closer to her. "You always this clumsy?"
"You've known me for nearly 20 years and you hadn't noticed?!"
"It makes you more appealing." She leant forward and kissed the end of his nose, removing a splodge of cream before pulling away and licking her lips. "Shame to waste it."
"That's my motto, never waste good food." Jim removed some from his shirt and placed it on her nose. "There you go, I'm not going to be the only one decorated."
"Gee thanks Jim." She laughed. "Does it suit me?"
"You look adorable." Jim laughed. "And very funny." He started to chuckle.
"This coming from the man with cream all over his face."
Jim shrugged, looking at her then dissolving into laughter once more. "I'm sorry..." He gasped for breath between chuckles.
"Are you going to get rid of it then or do I have to wear it all night."
"I... I..." He straightened, wiped his eyes. "Should I get a cloth?"
"That's no fun." June pouted.
"OK... is this more fun?" He leant in and licked the cream from her nose.
"Mmmm definitely."
"Good." Jim pulled back. "I should get a cloth really, this stuff is freezing."
"Whatever." June looked up at him and grinned.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Don't do that, I know that look."
"So what does it mean then?"
"It means... you've got something else on your mind."
"Wonder what that could be." She looked around the room.
"June..." He shifted a little closer, placed his hand almost imperceptibly on her thigh.
"Don't move a muscle." She reached out to the coffee table and plucked a tissue from the box, gently wiping the remains of the cream from Jim. "This dress cost too much to ruin." She smiled as she discarded the tissue to the floor.
"June... I..." The awkwardness was back. "June, does this feel real and natural to you?"
"Does it not to you?" She traced a line down his face with her finger. "Missed a bit."
"It feels 100% real, 100% natural, and I'm 100% sure."
"So what are we going to do about it?"
"Well..." The hand was back on her thigh, his thumb stroking her inner thigh lightly.
"I thought you wanted to talk." Her voice was husky.
"If that's what you want..." His hand slid up a little higher.
"I want what you want."
Jim's eyes twinkled. "I think you know what I want..." His hand creeping up under her dress, pushing the material with it.
"Hmmm, still not sure really..." She teased. "A coffee maybe?"
"June..." His hand reached its goal and he waited for her reaction.
"Jim..." She gasped.
"You get me now?" He asked.
"Perfectly." She exhaled quickly, as his fingers roamed over the silky material.
"Good...." He removed his hand, moving closer to her, pulling her close and kissing her. He pushed her gently down toward the sofa, knocking the bowl of strawberries to the floor as he did so.
"Clumsy..." June laughed, pulling his head down to hers and kissing him once more. "Hope that doesn't stain the carpet."
"Of all the things to think of at a time like this..." He pushed her dress up towards her hips.
"Then take my mind off it..." She muttered against his skin.
"How do you suggest I do that?"
"Use your imagination."
"I haven't got one." He slipped his finger under the elastic of her underwear and tugged lightly at them.
"Well I'm not going to tell you..." She gasped. "And don't you dare rip these, they cost too much."
"And worth every penny..." He pulled her underwear slowly down her legs, and off. He laid them gently down on the floor. "There." He looked back up at her. "That's a new dress, isn't it...."
"It certainly is... why'd you ask?"
"I know what you women are like about clothes. Turn around, let's take this thing off properly. June turned so her back was facing him, he could see her body quivering. His fingers fiddled with the small zip, and he cursed lightly as it snagged on a thread.
"Gently..." She muttered, snaking her hand out onto his thigh.
"I think it's stuck... stand up for me."
June stood slowly, her legs shaking as she turned her back to Jim.
He turned his attention back to the zip, pulling it back up slightly before finally managing to manoeuvre it down, slowly. As he pulled the zip down, he dotted kisses down her spine.
June slid the straps down her shoulders as Jim pushed the dress to her waist, moving her hips slowly as the dress slid down her to the floor. She turned round to face him. "This is rather one sided isn't it..."
"Is it?" Jim smiled, pushing her bra straps down over her shoulders. "What are you going to do about it..."
"This..." She pushed his jacket off his shoulders watching as it fell to the floor before turning her attention to the buttons on his shirt, sliding her hands through the gaps onto his chest.
"Sounds good to me..." Her bra now removed, he pushed her gently back down onto the sofa as she fumbled desperately with the buckle on his belt.
"Owwww." June squirmed, sitting up suddenly and reaching out behind her. "That hurt." She produced the can of cream from behind her back and threw it across the room. There was a loud clunk as it bounced off the coffee table.
The clunk was followed by an indignant "Meow" as it just missed Toto, who until that moment had been sleeping peacefully by the fire, completely unaware of what was happening. Toto jumped to his feet, looked over at Jim and June, then bolted from the room. A second later they heard the cat flap shutting as Toto departed the house. Jim looked down at June, fighting back laughter. "Oops."
"He'll not be talking to me tomorrow." June laughed as she undid Jim's tie and cast it aside, returning her attention to his shirt.
"I will..." Jim began to devour her neck with kisses, while trying to kick off his shoes.
"Glad to hear it..." There was a ripping noise as Jim leant too far forward, whilst June was fumbling with the buttons on his shirt. "Oops... it wasn't a favourite was it?"
"Well, it was, but..." He shrugged. "Take my mind off it."
"Come here then." She pulled him down on top her off, one hand on his back, the other undoing his trousers and she kissed him deeply. "Is this helping?" She breathed.
"Mmmm... a bit... what else can you do?"
"Erm... what do you want me to do?" Her head moved down slowly, nipping the skin on his neck.
"I..." Jim's eyes widened as her hand slipped down inside his blue boxers. "That... is quite..." He swallowed.
"Nice?" June breathed, attempting to push his trousers down with her free hand.
"Very." Jim tried to wriggle out of his trousers.
"This might be easier if you lift yourself up." June laughed. "Too many limbs in the way."
"Good idea." Jim sat up and pulled his trousers off, then looked down at his feet. "Socks on or off?"
"You old romantic you... get them off... and your boxers... what about these though?" She ran her hand along her silky stockings.
"Those... you can keep on..." Jim winked at her, slipping off his socks and throwing them behind the sofa, then pulling down his boxers. He turned back to face her, leant forward, kissed her once more, again pushing her back toward the sofa, trying to manoeuvre himself so he was on top of her.
June shifted her legs allowing Jim to position himself above her, his face only millimetres away. "So what now?" She asked coyly.
"Well..." Jim moved down towards her... and suddenly felt an odd sensation, like he was tipping inexorably sideways. "Er... June..." He managed to say, just as the sofa cushion slipped to the floor, taking them with it.
"Ahhh." June laughed, landing on top of him. "Ooh, soft landing... how convenient."
"Thanks a lot..." Jim rolled his eyes. "We could get back up, fix the sofa, or..." He rolled her over onto her back. "We could..." He slid his hand up her thigh, gently but insistently pushing her legs apart.
"We could couldn't we?" She gasped suddenly as Jim's hand reached its goal once more. "How about now?"
"Right now?" He pressed his body closer to her, kissing her nose, her chin, and allowing her to feel him pressing hard up against her inner thigh.
"Are you going to make me beg?" Her hands moved up and down his back, tracing patterns with her fingernails.
"That might be nice..." Jim's mouth moved down, kissing her breasts, taking a nipple into his mouth, smiling slightly as he felt her body arch up toward him.
"I... refuse... to beg." She gasped. "Jim..."
He looked up to her, the laughter in his eyes fading, his voice deep and thick with desire. "You're sure..."
"Of course I'm sure..." She squirmed suddenly. "What's that..." Her hand slid to the floor. She lifted it back up. "Eww... I'm in the strawberries... Jim..."
"What... do you want to move... you're worried about the carpet?"
"I'm rather comfortable here..." She wiped a blob of strawberries onto his nose and licked it off. "You could take my mind off it."
He moved closer to her, then placed his hand to her face. "No going back..."
"I don't want to go back... do you?"
"No..." His voice was deathly serious. Then he laughed. "I don't think I could right now even if I wanted to..."
"So Jim..." Her voice was husky with desire as she reached up to kiss him.
"June..." Their lips parted, their tongues clashed together, and as they kissed, Jim slid gently inside her.
"Ahhh..." June arched her back to him, pulling him down to her and planting kisses on his neck. "No going back."
"Never..." Jim began to move inside her, gently, tenderly. "I... I love you, June..."
"I love... you too." She breathed.
"Even... though... I've ruined your carpet..." He nibbled at her neck.
"You can scrub it clean later..."
"It's a deal..." Jim smiled, his eyes falling shut as he began to move faster, a little harder.
"Good... ahhhhh Jim." June gasped, digging her nails into his shoulders as she pulled him closer.
"Owww." Jim grumbled, opening his eyes to look at her. "You should... cut those... more often..."
"You love it really." She ran her nails down his spine more insistently, smiling at his reaction.
"Ah-huh...." Jim nodded, unable to speak anymore as gasps and moans emanated from his mouth. June had her hands on the base of his spine, pushing him into her, setting the pace, which was fevered, fast. "Ju..." He moaned.
"Jim... I..." She stopped as her words caught in her throat, her breaths coming out in spurts. Her head tipped back and her eyes closed as she became consumed in the sensations running through her body.
Jim's movements began to slow a little, while his breath became more ragged, faster. He placed his hands onto June's face, stroking her damp skin lightly and making her look up at him.
She gazed deeply into his grey eyes. "Jim..." She moaned, a slight scream slipping past her lips. "Please..."
Jim swallowed, then thrust hard and deep inside her. His entire body tensed as he reached his peak, coming inside her, feeling her hands and nails digging into his skin. June gripped his shoulders tightly as her muscles contracted, her body tensing under him. Her head fell back against the carpet and she moaned lightly, her eyes closing.
Jim collapsed against her, holding her tightly as her body continued to shake. His breath was still coming in gasps, he still couldn't speak although there was so much he wanted to say.
June looked up at him, cupping her hand against his cheek. "Kiss me again." She breathed.
He mustered a smile and kissed her. "Thank you..." He muttered breathlessly.
"No thank YOU... that was..." She shook her head. "Indescribable?"
"Incredible..." He stroked her face, a solitary tear sneaking down his cheek.
She wiped the tear away. "I love you so much."
"Not more than I love you..." He gulped back a sob. "What's wrong with me?" He laughed through his tears.
"You're a big softie?" June laughed, stroking his hair.
"Or... I'm happier right at this second than I ever... ever have been."
"You can't be any happier than I am... why did we wait so long?"
"I wish we didn't..." Jim shook his head. "June... can I..."
"Can you what?"
"Can I stay the night?" He looked at her with utter seriousness.
"I wasn't planning on letting you go anywhere..." She smiled.
Jim smiled, and it bloomed into a grin.
***
00:15 am.
Jim captured June's lips in his, running a hand down her cheek, which was wet with sweat, and glowing pink. "Is it just me... or is this getting better."
"Well you know what they say, practice makes perfect."
"You mean that wasn't perfect?"
"I thought the first time was perfect..."
"So did I..." Jim shook his head. "I'm still not tired, I feel so energised... I can't bear to go a minute without touching you."
"It's incredible... I never thought I could feel like this." She rested her head on his chest, her arm slung lightly across his body.
"Glad to be of service..." His hand slipped down her back, slowly and tantalisingly.
"You can't have got your energy back already."
"You'd be surprised..." He leant down to kiss her... but was interrupted by a tinny version of the 1812 overture. "What the...?"
"My mobile..." June muttered. "Ignore it."
"It might be important - you know what's been going on at work, with Vik Singh and everything..."
"But I'm so comfortable." She moaned. "I suppose you're right though." She sat up and swung her feet to the floor. "Do you know where it is though?"
"Um... sounds like it's coming from over there..." He pointed to the far corner of the room. "Underneath where we dumped all our clothes... I thought that dress was new and expensive?" He smiled.
"I'll get it dry cleaned." She walked over to the pile and dropped to her knees, hunting through it until she eventually found the phone. She answered it speaking in lows towns, her body tensing. A moment later it dropped to the floor and when she turned to Jim the colour had drained from her face.
Jim shot up immediately, recognising something was wrong. "What is it? June - what is it, what's happened?"
................. on to Part Seven
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