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 Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 1:33 pm
Brian smiled and shook his head. That was mighty flattering. If only!
"Well, I'm always here if you need me. As much as you may prefer I be the one ranting, you deserve it too." He paused then and rubbed her back with his thumb. Hm.
"How've you been since Louisiana? I know we both did the I'm-going-to-forget-about-it-for-now thing with the party and all, but I don't think I ever asked you how you're actually doing."
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 1:50 pm
If she needed him? Always? The thought lit a glow in the pit of her stomach. Then his gentle touch on her back drove whatever burgeoning in her head away and she sighed, eyes half-closing as she resisted the temptation to purr. It felt good. He felt good. "Since Louisiana?" she repeated. "I've been fine. Somehow that bayou thing was less awful than the birds." Except for perhaps, maybe, who knows? Killing someone. She pushed the thought away and angled her body to indicate wordlessly that he should continue petting her. She could not say anything about that. Not yet. Maybe later. "Maybe we're just getting used to it." Misha sighed. "There were moments, of course, but... It could have been so much worse." She looked at him, gaze thoughtful and soft. "How about you?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 1:55 pm
Brian continued to stroke Misha's back, turning in a few moments to an all-out rub. She seemed pleased by it.
"I'm fine. I mean, it wasn't nearly as bad as the birds, but there was a lot more... death. It was nice to be helping people this time. Maybe we're just getting used to it." That would be nice, to get used to the insanity. He wasn't sure it was possible. "I mean, you were turned for a long time, and if you aren't complaining, I sure can't. It was just the whole firing thing for me. I really-- the chief looked so confused. Upset, almost. He wanted a good excuse and I didn't have one. I just handed in my badge and left."
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 2:13 pm
"I'm sure he was confused. Probably upset, too." Her hand rested on his stomach, all but forgotten as she focused on their words. "I bet you were a great cop, Brian. He didn't want to lose you. Who would?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 2:39 pm
Brian shrugged. The "were" still stung, and he'd thought he was over that bit. Getting drunk and dancing the night away could only do so much healing, he figured. Misha's wandering hands weren't of any concern to him. She was a comfortable cuddle-buddy.
He pulled her further into his arms then, holding her close as he had so wanted to before. There was no harm in it, right?
"Now I just have to focus on classes and getting ripped." It was only half a joke. "I've had a job since I was eighteen. Earlier than that if you count training."
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 2:43 pm
Her breath of her soft laughter tickled his ear before Misha could better tuck her head down and snuggle into his hold. If she could spend the full night just like that, she thought, she would have no complaints at all. "So we'll just have to keep you out of trouble, Handsome," she giggled. "Want to join my dance class?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 2:49 pm
"Oh, yeah, I'm a lotta trouble," Brian said with a little snort. "Dance class, huh? What sorta dance? I might be able to knock a couple back at 10am and show up." He was smirking, though. He would not be drinking in the morning. Misha might just be enough to make him comfortable. He might actually do it. He was already considering yoga. There were a hell of a lot of different subjects to study here!
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 5:34 pm
Her slow smile should have been illegal; for all he knew, it was already outlawed in the contiguous United States. Too wicked, too cute, too insinuating by half! Her hand flexed slightly on his flat stomach. "Belly dancing. Mercy's fault."
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 5:46 pm
Brian gave Misha a look. Really?
"Do men belly-dance?" he asked. He was honestly curious, but like hell if he was going to bare his midriff in front of a bunch of women and wiggle his hips. Hm, but would he be any good at it? No, no, he couldn't. "If you ever want to start up a Latin dance, then you can hit me up."
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 5:56 pm
"Mmm, now there is an offer that a girl can't refuse." Misha barely managed to bite back here giggle as she shifted against him so that her hand slid from his abs and over to cup his hip teasingly. "No, I wouldn't suggest belly dancing for you, though... Damn, Handsome, you can move your hips something fierce. Don't think I didn't notice your moves during the party. It was hard reminding myself that I had other people to dance with."
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 6:03 pm
Brian laughed and slapped his own hand over his forehead. Ah, the Halloween party. He shook his head.
"I was so hungover." He didn't usually dance so openly, but he'd wanted to let loose. Dancing with Misha had been one of the grand highlights of the evening. "It's the Spanish blood!" He let his arm fall back around Misha.
"Well I'm glad to have pleased. You're not so bad yourself, Sweet Thing."
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 6:37 pm
"Why, thank you so much. I really do try." She threw in a little eyelash flutter to go with her demure smile. Then she sobered a bit and released his hip so she could reach up to touch gentle fingers to his temple. "How bad was the hangover?" she asked softly. "And do you forgive me for not checking on you right away? I didn't want to wake up you to clean the gym so I just went and did that first thing."
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 6:40 pm
"You know, I was going to come help," he replied. He had had every intention of helping, but Misha had gone and done it without telling him. "Not too bad. I had a hell of a headache but I didn't feel too sick. Why would I be upset with you in the first place? You're not my mother."
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 6:48 pm
"No. No, I'm not." Misha paused, considering this awkward turn of phrase. Then she wiggled her eyebrows at him. "And thank God I'm not or we'd be a total V.C. Andrews novel here and that is not at all cool." Almost absently, her fingers traced down his temple and along his cheekbones. He felt warm under her touch and she smiled in automatic response to the sensation. Suddenly, she pressed a finger to his nose and leaned in to kiss his cheek. "And I know you were going to help," she whispered directly in his ear. "But clean-up wasn't bad at all. I'm glad I let you rest." There was no reason to get so close or drop her voice like that; they were alone. She simply could not seem to resist any excuse to be close or to tease Brian.
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 7:01 pm
"If that was an incest joke, I swear to God..." Really Brian wasn't much of a reader, but Misha wasn't an intimidating force. She knew he didn't read often, and she didn't seem to mind. Maybe he should start now?
Then Misha came in close, and a shudder ran through him at the sensation of breath on his ear. His mind rushed back to their evening on the beach and he took a deeper breath than was perhaps necessary.
"I stayed in case you'd wanted to clean up that night," Brian whispered back. He wasn't sure why they were whispering, exactly, aside from the fact that Misha knew it was a terrible tease. He drew a finger up and down the length of her spine.
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