Part 9

Part 9

He woke up early with her face nuzzled up under his chin. He could hear her breathing softly. He rubbed her back lightly and she shrugged her shoulders and firmed her grip, one arm across his chest the other behind his head. He didn’t want to move. He felt so protective, so loving of this young woman, he wanted this moment, this feeling to go on forever.

After a few minutes she yawned, and opened her eyes. She looked up at John and smiled. “Good morning sleepy head, “ he said. “God, that’s the best sleep I’ve had in years. I just felt so…safe.” She nuzzled her head into his cheek. “God I don’t want to get up! This is too nice. We can’t lay here all day though?” Slowly, ever so slowly she sat up, her legs dangling over his on the couch. He put his hands behind his head. “You know, you’re even beautiful in the morning when you wake up,” he told her. “Yeah, right, a vision of loveliness. Want to smell my morning breath? She inquired. “Tell you what,” John said, “I am willing to risk it for a kiss. Nothing elaborate, just a quick little kiss. Just promise me you won’t blast me with a full on breath bomb.” She laughed and took his head in both her hands, looked deep into his eyes, and gave him the warmest kiss he had ever received. Her soft lips on his. He felt the warmth of them, and the coolness of her tongue as she ran it across his mouth, the slight suction and the breaking away. The chill ran from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet.

She put both hands on his chest and pushed herself up to a standing position. She was still looking at him. She couldn’t take her eyes off him, he could not bear to take his off her. She was just too god damn beautiful.

John looked at his watch. “Shit! I have to be at work in an hour.” “Can’t you call in sick?” she asked. “I wish I could, big project coming due at the end of the week.” “Can I see you later, maybe? he asked, then remembered his promise to see his big brother. Why did he feel guilty, like a spy, betraying this woman he just met, to provide intelligence for his brother the cop? But the news was good, she was not the killer, and she knew who it was, even better. Maybe he could convince her to come forward. But not now, not yet.

“Shit, I almost forgot,” he told her. “I promised my big brother I would have dinner with him and his wife tonight. His kids are expecting to see their favorite uncle.” “Tomorrow? “

“Uh, yeah, I guess,” she looked distracted, more than a little disappointed. He definitely felt conflicted, but he could help her by filling in his brother the cop. Still he wasn’t ready to share that little bit of information with her. “Oh by the way, prime suspect in a murder investigation, do you mind if I fill in my brother the cop?” He’d keep that to himself for the time being. “Call me later?” she asked. “I will.”

She walked him to the front door, and he grabbed the knob pulling the door toward him. He turned and she put both her hands on his shoulders, stood on her tip toes, and kissed him on the lips. It was a quick kiss, but one that was warm, and comforting and communicating both a longing and a contentment. She was home with him, and he was home with her. Despite all their rocky beginnings, this was something special. Real special.