Every step you take

[Tigerjaw]

Closed for Redhairedandfriendly.

PROLOGUE

It was a late saturday night in New York city.

"Well, i have to go. Erica will be pissed if i don´t get back soon."

"Yes please go. A woman without her smokes is not a pretty thing to see."

John Edwards chuckled at his friend Robert Zenetti´s remark. They parted ways. Robert on his way home and John to the night open store in the neighbourhood. It was a quiet night. Not like most nights in the big city. John whistled a little tune as he walked down the street. It was a pretty good night and it had been a good week. John and Erica´s marriage was on the right track again. Last night they made love for the first time in a very long time and he suspected it would be repeated this night. If he just came home with her cigarettes. He opened the door to the store and smiled to the Korean owner.

Robert Zenetti was just about to steer his car into the street where he lived when the police radio announced. "Shots fired! Possibly a 10-8 Need assistance immediately at" A short pause. "14 East 60th Street." Robert cursed and turned the car around. He drove as fast he dared to without risking to hit into traffic. "Damn it." He cursed again when he got stuck behind a slow car. He skillfully steered his car around the moving obstacle in his way and ignored the angry horn from the other car.

Finally he arrived at the scene. Stepping out of his car he drew his pistol and carefully entered the Korean store. Inside there was a mess. Blood where sprayed on the wall behind the counter and when he looked down he saw the lifeless body of John Edwards on the ground. He leaned down and looked for the pulse of his longtime friend. It was weak, but it was there. He saw the blood on John´s shirt and quickly went out to his car. "This is detective Robert Zenetti. Officer down, send an ambulance immediately. Officer John Edwards have been shot!"

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Erica Edwards

Erica wasn’t sure what woke her up from her slumber on the coach, but something had. She looked at the clock on the DVD player and wondered where John was. He was supposed to be home by now; the iridescent numbers screamed three a.m. She sat up, stretched and reached for her cigarettes. It was then that she remembered she was out. “Damn it,” she muttered and stood up, stretched again and headed to the kitchen.

She stopped when she noticed two figures passing under the street lamp outside her and her husband's home. The two story home, a tall rectangular structure, was squeezed between other brick rectangles. However, theirs looked more "homey" than the others. She’d taken great pains in keeping the front steps covered with flowers during the warm seasons and pine garland during the winter season. The two figures turned toward her steps and she recognized one immediately. A sense of dread filled her.

The door bell rang.

She refused to answer it.

It rang several more times and then he knocked and called her name. Erica Edwards knew what lay behind the door. Each step she took was one that would change her life forever. Her fingers reached the deadbolt and she released it. It ran up and she released the remaining two her husband had installed. She took a deep breath and opened the door. Her lips trembled; her fingers ached for a cigarette to hold as she stared into the features of her husband’s friend and fellow Officer Robert Zenetti and another Officer, one she knew, but wasn’t friendly with.

Robert’s lips started to move and she tried to listen as the beating of her heart drummed in her ears.

 

[Tigerjaw]

John Edwards

John went in and out of conscience. One time he woke up for a couple of minutes he was in the ambulance with two men very close to his face. His vision was blurry and the pain in his chest was intense. He could hardly breath. He was thirsty but at the same time so dry in his mouth that he had no saliva to ease it. His shirt was completely soaked with blood and he was afraid he wouldn´t make it to the hospital. He passed out again and was once more free from the pain.

When he woke up again it was in the surgery room. The greenclad male surgeon looked down at him. "I am Doctor Stevenson." John just nodded. In to much pain to respond. the surgeon looked very seriously at John. "You know what happened to you?" John shakes his head. "You have been shot twice. One bullet went straight through your left shoulder." Stevenson looks up and nods to a person John can´t see and then looks back down. "It is the second bullet that worries me. It is still in your chest and we need to dig it out." John just nods before he passes out again.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Robert told her about the suspected robbery and how the owner of the little shop was killed and John was injured. They took him by ambulance to the Hospital and once Robert knew John was going into surgery he insisted on being the one to inform Erica. In a haze of teary relief that her husband lived, she gathered up her jacket and slipped on a pair of pumps. The other Officer drove back to the station, or so Erica assumed and Robert helped her to her personal vehicle. He explained his was at the hospital and the station and he’d drive her. She didn’t really say anything to him. Her mind was full of the memories of her and John’s last day together.

They’d made love, slow, torturous love, and then they had sex, wild, no holds barred sex. She was planning on tackling him when he got home, but he never came home... Robert came, he came with the news that her husband was bleeding and was going to have some doctor cut into him. The more her mind wandered the more horrific she felt. When they reached the hospital she found herself full of nausea that threatened to present itself. She took several breaths and let Robert lead her to the Nurse’s station.

“Misses Edwards is here,” he said introducing her to the woman in a stiff white uniform.

“Oh, the Officer,” the woman replied.

“Yes, John Edwards,” Erica took over and stepped closer to the monotone voiced woman. “Where is he?” she asked. “How is he?” she added.

The woman looked over her charts and for Erica everything worked in slow motion as the Nurse read her chicken scratching. “He’s in Surgery right now, take a seat over there and when we have something further to tell you, we will.”

Erica wanted to reach across the desk and shake the woman. Surgery? Who was the Surgeon? How serious was he hurt? Was he going to make it? But something told her she’d get nothing from the stiff faced woman. A groan of acceptance left her throat and she headed to the waiting room where other people waited for words of either death or salvation from crisp wearing professionals that played God in a sterile room. Erica sat down and reached for a cigarette, cursed when she remembered she had none and she wouldn’t be allowed to smoke in public in the first place.

 

[Tigerjaw]

It was dark in the room when John woke up. Feeling dissoriented he tried to sit up but the nausea that hit him convinced him otherwise. Feeling totally drained of energy he felt no other choice than to stay put until a nurse came looking at him. Not until now he saw the machine next to the bed. It monitored his lifesigns. He shrugged when he looked at the wires that connected him to the machine.

Feeling thirsty he tried to produce some saliva, but with no success. Just then the door opened. A black nurse walked in with a gentle smile. "Ah Detective Edwards. Good to see you awake. I will inform Doctor Stevenson immediately." With that she was gone before John had a chance to ask for something to drink. With no other option he lay down his head on the pillow to wait for the doctor.

"You where lucky Detective Edwards. None of the bullets hit any vital organs or any bones. Except in your shoulder where some muscles where damaged. There is no sign that you won´t heal to perfect health though." With a smile the doctor continues. "Your wife is here but before you meet her there are two detectives wishing to hear what happened. Do you feel well enough to see them. John´s voice was very low. "Send them in but after that i wan´t to see Erica." Doctor Stevenson nodded and walked out.

A few minutes later the detectives Miller and Rodrigues entered the room. "How do you feel?" the question came from Jaime Rodrigues as he looked in sympathy at John´s bandaged shoulder and chest. "Well... I´ve been shot. How you think i feel?." Jaime looked down as Sarah Miller took the word. "We are sorry we have to ask you this, but you know we have to." John simply nodded as he knew perfectly well. Two peaple shot, one killed and the other a police officer.

Sarah sighed. "What happened John?" John looked her straight in the eyes. "It all went so fast. First i talked with the store owner, Kyung. Then i saw his head splattering blood everywhere. I turned around and got shot. I never saw who did it."

After some additional questions. Mostly about cases he worked with or recently had solved and if he had any enemies. The questions he answered as truthfully he could. No enemies he could recall. Fanally satisfied the two detectives left and John slumped back in the bed, waiting for his wife.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Erica wasn’t sure how she made through sitting there watching Doctors come and go, none of them stopping to address her, then again she hadn’t moved from her seat to drag them down. Instead she’d sat there tearing at a tissue and shredded it into tiny little pieces. Eventually a man in fresh scrubs came up and stared down at her. She didn’t want to look up at him; she didn’t want to see the look of death on his face. In time she did and in his eyes was not the look of despair, but instead there was a look of relief. She closed her eyes and thanked the God she’d been getting in touch with again, though prayers and curses.

She stood up and took the offered hands of the man that had saved her husband’s life. He explained the injuries as well as the surgery going well. He said he’d make a complete recovery and she could see him, her face grew into a wide grin. “Thank you,” she said and pulled him into a hug. She left him there, a smile on his face and a look of wonder, wishing he had had someone like that waiting for him when he got home.

Erica made her way to the room that had her better half safely tucked away. She knocked and slipped inside. Shutting the door behind her she stared at the figure in the bed. His arm was bandaged. His chest too. The monitors were beeping and displaying the bright colors of life. Erica didn’t see all of that though, she saw only John. Everything rushed back to her. Their happy marriage, the bad times, the mistakes she’d made, the ones he’d made too. All of those melted though when she closed the distance and took his injury free hand and fell to her knees.

Tears fell and whispered words of love filled her heart. “Oh God, John. I was so scared. I love you...” She cried hard and held onto him tightly, afraid to lose his touch, meant to lose him.

 

[Tigerjaw]

John Edwards

John held her close with his uninjured hand. He felt a tear fall down his cheek. He had been very lucky. He could lay his eyes on her beautiful face once more. He gave a silent prayer. It had been so easy for him to die in that store if one of the bullets had pounded him a little differently. The first words he said to her came out a little hoarse. "I was a little worried there myself." He tried to joke but it was not a very successful one. He took her hand in his and kissed first her fingers and then the soft skin on her palm. He tried a smile. "The doctor say i will be allright, but not able to work for some time." He looks her in her eyes. "I love you more than life itself." With a sigh he closes his eyes and falls asleep out of exhaustion.

In another part of the city

The two hitmen glanced nervously at the surroundings. The warehouse was dark and abandoned. They knew their contact should arrive shortly. Hunter Marsden looked at his companion with caution written all over his face.

Tim Donaldson shared that look but shrugged it of. "He will be here, he said so."

Hunter laughed nervously. "And you trust him."

Tim smiled faintly. "He will be here, i bet my money on it." Hunter nodded slowly. He knew his companion was right.

"Hello gentlemen." The voice came from the shadows to the left. Tim and Hunter almost jumped out of their skin at the sound.

"The job is done? John Edwards is dead?"

Hunter smiled confidently at the shadowed figure. "He is dead." He confirmed. "We shot him twice at close range."

The shadowed man nodded. "One shot in the head as i said?"

Hunter and Tim shared glances. "well..." Tim said.

"Obviously not as Edwards still draw breath." The voice had grown cold and the both hitmen felt their skin crawl. "I told you specifically to shoot him in the head and blow his brain out. But no matter. I am not upset."

Two flashes lit up the warehouse, revealing the grey trenchcoat and the gun with silencer and both the hitmen was dead in a heartbeat.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Erica watched him sleep for several hours. A Nurse came, smiled at her, checked his vitals and then told her that if she wanted, a cot could be brought for her. Policy allowed them to house one family member if they had spare cots. They happened to have several. Her meals would not be free, but she would be able to sleep in the same room with John. She smiled and thanked the woman. Within an hour of hearing she could stay, the sun was making its way across the horizon and she was laying on a cot near the window, under a simple white sheet and blue blanket.

She lay there several more hours, while her husband rested. A noise called out to her and she shook her head, not realizing she had fallen asleep after all. She slipped out from the covers and dug through her purse. Her cell phone was chiming, so she quickly answered it and whispered, “What?”

“We need to talk?” the voice said.

“John’s been shot, I’m at the hospital,” she whispered and slipped her shoes on, checked on John. She saw his eyes were closed so she quickly walked out to the hall to carry on her conversation.

“Why are you calling me?” she asked.

“I know about John,” the voice answered.

“Yea, I figured you did. Still doesn’t tell me what you want or why you are calling,” she growled into the phone.

“I want to talk to you,” the voice answered.

“We’re through talking. I’m staying with John and that’s final.” She ended the call and leaned against the hallway’s white painted wall. Her eyes closed as she shuddered at the memory of his words of possession the night she told him he had to release her. She’d played a dangerous game with him and allowing him to control such a big part of her life was the biggest mistake she ever made.

You never screwed over Darien Salado without paying a price. She was scared that price would be her marriage, but he said she’d come to her senses and come back to him...his call only meant that he’d been wrong and now he was pissed. He might just tell John about the affair and then where would that put their marriage... back in the mess it was when he found out about the other affair, the one that had actually ended months before the one with Darien.

“Are you alright?” a passing Nurse asked.

“Huh? Oh yes, I’m fine. Just tired.”

She went back to John’s bedside and pulled the chair back up to him. Her fingers slipped into his hand and she held it close to her heart.

 

[Tigerjaw]

John Edwards

His sleep was uneasy. Filled with nightmares and emotions. The pain and knowledge that he had been shot. The dreams was so real but still very surreal. The moment he was shot repeated itself all over. The sight of Kyung being shot in the head, followed by the pain of the bullets in his shoulder and chest. The nightmare haunted his sleep and he moaned silently in his sleep.

Suddenly he awoke with a grunt. Dissoriented he looked around the room. The nightmare still lingered in his mind as he felt a small hand in his own. John looked down at his wife that stared at him. "Sorry." He mumbled.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Two weeks past before Erica was allowed to take her husband home, even then his activity level was limited, so he was pampered and spoiled by her. She’d changed her cell number, explaining to John it was because she’d forgotten to pay the service because of the chaos, so they had to assign her a new number. The truth though was because Darien wouldn’t leave her alone. He kept insisting he speak with her, but she refused his requests and then she just changed numbers. She hoped that would be enough for her. He had not yet approached her publicly, she hoped he never would.

This particular morning now three weeks into his at home recuperation, she woke up and snuggled closer to her sleeping spouse. Her fingers wrapped around his wrist and she checked his pulse, while she watched him breath. It was something she’d started doing the minute he came home. She was worried she’d wake up and he’d be dead. Nightmares had filled her. Mixed up ones that shifted from his loving her to him lying bleeding on the floor. Others were mixed with him walking out on her and entering the park, being shot down in cold blood. More dreams were full of arguments that made her wake up crying out that she was sorry.

Once she was assured he’d not left her in the night, she wrapped her arm around him and snuggled against the heat of his frame. The wrapping for his stitches were gone as were the stitches themselves. Now a scar remained on his chest and his shoulder, every day reminders of what had happened to him. How close she’d come to losing him.

 

[Tigerjaw]

Detective Sarah Miller

Detective Sarah Miller looked at the report again. Her mouth got that expression that told her co-workers to stay back. She looked over at Jaime Rodrigues who sat at his desk. "When did this report arrive?"

Jaime looks up under his bushy brows. "What report is that?" He asks as he walks over to her. looking over her shoulder at the paper in her hand. "I can´t say i know." He says with a puzzled expression.

Sarah sighs deeply. "it wasn´t here when i came in today." She takes a closer look at the faces of the two dead men, staring at her from the photos attached to the report. "It says that they where shot from close range, one shot each. Both in the head." She places the photos on her desk and read the report again.

Jaime looks at the photos. "That one looks familiar." He points at the photo of a redhaired man in his late twenties.

Sarah nods, not taking her eyes from the tesxt she is reading. "According to the finger prints they took, his name was Hunter Marsden. The other one was a Tim Donaldson. Both are connected with the maffia as independant killers for hire. No proof though." Her eyes stops at a part of the text. "This was interresting." She mumbles. "Both where carrying 32´Calibers Smith & Wessons. None of them had the gun drawn when they was shot." She looks up at Jaime. "Remember when John was shot. What kind of weapon was used and what kind of ammunition?"

Jaime looks at her in amazement. "32´Calibers Smith & Wessons. He was shot by two different weapons. Are you saying this was the fellas who shot him."

Sarah smiles widely at him. "Bet ya. This is our first lead. But why would two contract killers try to kill him?"

Jaime just looks at her. "That is the big question."


John Edwards

The life was slowly getting back to track for John and Erica. It was almost as when they where newly wed. Erica showed him more attention than she had in months. Except from that fatefull evening when he was shot. His injuries did not hurt anymore, not if he didn´t do any demanding physical exercises at least. One strange thing he had noticed in Erica that wasn´t there before was the tension in her. As if she was worried about something. He was afraid of asking her of what was bothering her. He was afraid it would start the old fights they had in the past.

He used to observe her whenever the phone ringed and saw the tension in her body. She tried to hide it but to him it was obvious she was worried. After dinner the phone rang and John went to answer it. After a few minutes he came back and gave his wife a kiss on her cheek. "That was Sarah, they think they have some news about when i was shot."

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Erica lifted her head, a look of relief filled her features. Darien hadn’t called her again. The thought filled her with a sense of relief. “I hope it is good news. Did they get the bastard? Or are you needing a ride to the station?”

The idea that they caught the guy that shot her husband and the store owner sat well on her shoulders and she waited to hear what news he had or where he wanted to go. Since she’d not heard from Darien, she was no longer going to worry about him. That chapter of her was closed.

She smiled up at him, this time she felt at peace Darien was a closed issue and she was free to go on loving Eric. They had an appointment later that afternoon with the doctor to get a final bill of health or what they thought would be a final bill of health.

 

[Tigerjaw]

John was slightly nervous. Sarah had not told him what news they had for him. He had to drive down to the station to find out. He had tried to not think of the night he got shot. the memories was to fresh in his mind. He smiled to Erica. A smile he hoped showed no worry and concern. John had decided that she had no need to understand what he was going through. The fear and the anger he felt whenever the thoughts around that night surfaced. He just hoped that the criminal that shot him was apprehended. Maybe then his inner rage would go dormant and eventually dissapear. None knew of his everyday struggle to keep control over his life. The psychiatrist he went to on a weekly basis did not know and neither did his wife.

"She did not say. Only that i needed to go down to the station and she will fill me in." He leans down and kisses his wife softly on her lips. "A lift would be mostly appreciated. When we come home i will take care of the dishes." He was afraid of the news Sarah would bring and would count on Erica to drive them home safely if he was about to loose control.

They walked to the hallway and took on their jackets. John was heading towards their car when he felt the cold sweat break out over his body and he got a chilly feeling all over his body. "You drive sweetie." He said with a shaky smile and gave her the car keys.

He opened the car door and seated himself in the passenger seat. He rubbed his hands together to get the numb feeling to dissapear while he waited for Erica to enter the drivers seat. She gave him a worried look. "Are you alright?"

John nodded. "I am just cold. I will be fine." Erica started the engine and of they went.

Fifteen minutes later they arrived at the police building where John worked. On the third floor. Where the homicide detectives worked. Sarah and Jaime Waited for their fellow homicide detective to arrive.

John and Erica took the elevator up to the third floor. The elevator doors opened and they where greeted by the sound of men and women that worked furiously to solve murders of all kind.

Sarah Miller looked up from her desk to meet the eyes of John and Erica. She smiled and walked towards them. "Hello Erica." Sarah gave Erica a short kiss on her cheek. "You mind if i steal your husband?" She grinned slightly. "Don´t worry, i won´t keep him permanently."

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Erica watched them take her husband back to a series of rooms. Several officers stopping him and checking on him. No one said much to her. She wondered if John had shared their problems with folks at the station and they knew of her affair... or the affair John knew about.

An hour passed and still she sat, having only gotten up when she was driven to boredom and used the water bottle in the corner to relieve her agitation. She looked at the time and took a deep breath. Deciding she wasn’t doing herself or John any good just sitting there she approached the Desk Sargent and told him she would be outside waiting for John and to please let him know.

Once outside she pulled out a cigarette and drew deep the nicotine that had kept her solid for the past few weeks. She’d stopped smoking in the house, wanting to help with John’s recovery. She didn’t want to have his chest incisions opened by sudden fits of coughing brought on by her habit.

“Hello beautiful. I wasn’t expecting to run in to you,” a voice caressed her ear.

She jumped back and spun around. She dropped her cigarette and stomped it out. “John was called. Seems they have information on the guy that shot him.”

A look of curiosity crossed Darien’s face. “Oh? I wasn’t aware of that.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know what they know, but I’m sure you can learn all you want if you go in there. In the meantime goodbye.”

Just as she turned, he reached out and grabbed her arm. “What’s the hurry?” Darien asked.

Fear shot through her as she felt the grip he had on her. She jerked back and glared at him. “Don’t touch me.”

“We need to talk. Come on there is a coffee shop around the corner and we...”

“No, I have nothing left to say to you.”

“Really?” His brows rose in mocked amusement. “Oh just wait till you hear about your husband’s accident. Then you’ll be calling me... then maybe... maybe if your good, I’ll answer your questions.”

He turned and left her standing there with a look of confusion on her face. She watched him go and then shook of the fear his stare had instilled in her, before pulling another cigarette out and with shaky hands lighting it.

 

[Tigerjaw]

"You are kidding right?" Johns voice was in disbelief of what he just heard. Sarah and Jaime looked at each other. They did not like it more than John.

"Afraid not." Sarah said. "Marsden and Donaldson was hitmen for the Maffia and Darien Salado was the agent handling the case."

Jaime smiled without any humour. "Knowing Salado. The key witnesses just dissapeared."

John nodded. "Yes, i know how the bastard work. Remember i worked with him a couple of years ago. Salado is a slippery and corrupt bastard. No wonder DEA accepted him."

Sarah looked questionly at John. "Seems he have higher thoughts of you than you of him. He told me that he will only discuss this with you John." She gave John a card, holding Darien Salado´s phone numbers.

John eyed the card with distaste. Sarah looked uncomfortable. "And John please keep this from the chief. If he find out we handed you this information he will have our badges."

John smiled at Sarah and Jaime. "Don´t worry Sarah. He won´t know."

More than an hour later John stepped out from the office. He looked for Erica but could not see her anywhere. He walked over to the Desk Sergeant. "Hello Don. Have you seen my wife?"

Doon look up from the paper he was currently reading and smiles towards John. "She headed outside to wait for you." John nods and smiles back and heads for the exit.

He immediately spots his smoking wife and leads his steps towards her. "That was that." She jumps at his voice as she did not hear him come up behind her. "Did not mean to scare you hun." He smiles to her."

They seated themself in the car. She once more in the drivers seat. John turns to her. "Seems that i was shot by two peaple. Both are dead now. Shot by a third." He shruggs. "Now i must call a guy that i always have disliked. A slimy ex cop that now belongs to DEA." The distaste is written all over his face. "His name is Darien Salado and he was handling a case one year ago, involving those men that shot me." John Takes up the card and looks at it once more. "I just´hope that the bastards filth don´t rub of on me."

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

His words were like a punch in the gut and had it not been the fact they were still parked she would have probably hit anything or anyone on the road. Her face paled and she felt as if she were going to lose her morning meal. “Two people?” she asked, hoping that alone would explain her reaction away.

Her palms were sweaty and she turned to face him. Not ready to pull out into the busy street. “The DEA? That’s the drug enforcement group, right? So it was two drug dealers. Wow... they were probably after the money, weren’t they?” She took a deep breath.

She reached out and touched his cheek. “So this Darien. He knows these guys? Well I’m sure he’ll be glad to know a couple of dealers are off the street.”

She took back her hand and tried not to think of Darien Salado and the fact she’d just seen him moments ago. “We need to head to the Doctor’s and let him check you out, then you can come home relax and make your call... but only if the Doctor okay’s it. I don’t want you over stressing.” She kissed his lips, lingering a little and closed her eyes.

“I love you...no matter what I love you.”

She sat back and gripped the wheel. Pulling out into traffic she forced herself to concentrate on the ride to the Doctor’s.

 

[Tigerjaw]

John kissed her back. "I love to to hun." He noticed that she was upset and regretted what he had told her. It was really more than she needed to know. "I don´t know what Salado thinks of that. there are two things i know of him. I don´t like him and he don´t like me." He tried to smile comforting at Erica to ease her worry. "I will just contact him to hear what he have to say. Sarah told me he only deals with me in this matter. You do not need to worry."

He looks out the car window. "Other than the call i will not be involved in the case." They stayed quiet until they reached the Doctor´s. She parked the car on the side of the street.

After John´s recovery he had regular checkups with a local Doctor. No need to go to the hospital as he felt fine. So far he got better in between every visit.

As he had expected his health was good but Doctor Klein advised him to take it easy. Klein told John and Erica that he should not work again in at least one month. After that month if John felt physically ready and the checkup went in the same direction it was up to the Psychiatrist to decide if he was ready. John himself felt he was in great shape, except for some pain in his shoulder but he agreed with the Doctor´s advice.

A little while later they where back in the car, heading home. John was pleased with the diagnose that he was on his way to a full recovery. He did feel great. More alive than he had since he was shot.

Erica steers the car into their garage and turns of the engine. John turns to her. "Thank you for your support Erica." He leans over to her and meets her lips with his as his hands nestles in her hair.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

She hung to his kiss, not wanting to let go, worried that if he did he would know everything. He would know she’d been involved with Salado. The thought of it killed her. She could come clean now... no... she couldn’t he had said he hated Darien... he’d hate her too.

Her tongue slid against his and she held herself closer, letting him cleanse away the fear that edged its way into her veins. When they parted her breath was ragged and her skin warm and tingling. “We should get inside.”

She kissed him again, once more getting lost in his taste. When she pulled away this time, she eased her way out of the car and shut the door behind her. She wasn’t going to let Darien ruin her life. She wasn’t going to allow it.

Giving herself a mental shake she rounded the car and looped her arm around her husband’s. “John, let’s go inside and I’ll make an early dinner and then perhaps we can enjoy some special time. Just you, me and a bottle of wine.”

Her lips pressed against him again.

 

[Tigerjaw]

John was more hungry than he thought. "Dinner sounds good." They hold hands as they walk towards their house. He smiles to her as he searches his pocket for the house key. Finally finding it he fishes it up with his fingers and unlocks the door.

With a kiss he leaves her to make dinner and John walks upstairs to make the phone call. Better to have it over with. He enters the bedroom and goes straight for the phone. He looks at the card in his hand and dial the number. His pulse accelerate while he are listening to the signals. After 20 signals and no response he hangs up.

He sighs and walks down to the kitchen. He takes a seat at the kitchen table and smiles to Erica. "I try calling him tomorrow. Today and tonight you will have my total attention." It was a very long time ago they had a romantic evening together. Before John was shot it was his job that stood in the way. He worked to much. He decided to change that even when he started to work again.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

“You have a seat, relax and I’ll have dinner ready in no time.”

The weight on her shoulders was lifted for the time being and she quickly gathered up the sauce and spices to make spaghetti. Noodles boiled and ground beef browned as she scurried about making garlic bread and a tossed salad. She wasn’t going to let Darien ruin her night.

She went upstairs and quickly changed into a pink summer dress with straps that tied over her shoulders. She put on pink pearl earrings and a matching necklace. Erica even took the time to slide on a pair of pink sandals and a dab of perfume.

When she called John to dinner, steam was rolling from the sauce and the noodles. Freshly grated Parmesan was on the table as well as dressing for the salad. Garlic bread lay hidden under a napkin and goblets of sparkling white grape juice rested in crystal stem ware.

John appeared and she giggled. “I didn’t know if you took any pain medication today, so I didn’t pour wine.” She took a seat and dished out her spouse’s meal.

She was giddy with the evening ahead. It had been a long time since they had been intimate. With a clean bill of health, she hoped he was looking forward to the evening, just as she was.

 

[Tigerjaw]

John gave an whistle of appreciation when he noticed her appearance. He sat down and she dished out his meal. He could not take his eyes of her. She was stunningly beautiful and seemed very happy. It was a long time since he saw her really happy. Content but not happy. "I do not need wine to make me dizzy. I only need to watch you." He says in a flirtatious tone. His smile says he like how the evening seem to go. "If the dinner had not been ready i would have been tempted to eat you."

They start to eat the dinner but John have problem to focus on his meal. All his attention is drawn towards Erica. Even though it tastes great he only can think of her. How adorable her pink summer dress are and his only thoughts are of how to take it of her. He takes another bite of the delicious garlic bread as his eyes are drawn to her cleavage and the necklace, resting between her breasts.

He tries to concentrate on the meal but he feel his attention keeps on returning to her. Finally he puts down his fork and knife as he give up. He look down on his plate and notice he have emptied it without even being aware of it.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Blushing all through dinner, she didn’t even ask him if he wanted dessert. His statement from earlier would have been repeated. She slipped from her chair and stood up. Her eyes filled with desire and her fingers gently glided over his cheek.

“It has been a long time. I know we were starting over... before the accident... and I’m sorry I ever asked you to go out for cigarettes.”

She stood up on her toes and pulled him to her. “I’ve missed you.”

Her lips met his and her tongue slid over the seam, she tasted the meal, the juice and him. Slim fingers, gracefully moved through his hair and down to the nap of his neck. She pressed against him, not wanting any barriers to keep them separated.

 

[Tigerjaw]

John came willingly into her embrace. It was so long since they shared the most intimate experience a man and a woman could have. He invited her tongue with his own as her fingers curled in his hair and moved down to his neck where they rested. He groans into her mouth with untold desire.

His hands are at her back. Following the curve of her hips. The soft fabric of her dress with smooth skin underneath fuels his desire as his tongue plunder her mouth.

He slowly moves forward towards the wall. His hands cups her buttocks and presses her to him. his tongue play with hers as he can´t get enough.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

She trembled. “John,” she whispered against his lips. She felt the rush of desire sweep through her when he’d grabbed her ass. His need was apparent from the direction he was pushing her back. She ran her fingers down his arms and then to his chest, where she pulled on the fabric, desperately wanting to rid him of it.

Her mouth moved to his neck and in time she felt the wall behind her. She growled when he left her there. She took the opportunity and grabbed his shirt, lifting it over his head and finally freeing the warm flesh she’d been missing.

Quickly she licked the scar on his arm and then the one on his chest, before splaying her hands over his chest and bringing her hot tongue to his nipple. She teased the hard center, flicked it with her tongue and nipped it generously with her teeth.

Her sex grew thick with juice and her muscles clenched. The nectar escaped on the outer folds of her pussy and she shuddered from the feeling of it. “John,” she whimpered. She needed him desperately.

 

[Tigerjaw]

Her mouth and tongue on his body made him shiver of desire. He wanted more. Now that his shirt lay in a puddle on the floor he wanted her dress gone. He need to feel her naked body against his.

He lifted the hem of her dress upwards. Revealing her thighs, panties that was a little moist in the center and no bra. "Erica." His voice was thick with need as he drew the dress over her head. Dropping it next to his shirt.

His mouth examined her exquisite neckline. His hands cupped her breasts and he felt the hard knobs against his palms. As his mouth and tongue moved downwards so did his hands. His tongue lashed over the hard nipple and he closed his lips over it. His teeth gently nick the nipple and then a quick lash with his tongue over the sensitive knob.

With one of his hands still cupping her other breast the other one travels down between her thighs. He places his hand over her panty covered sex. Two of his fingers gently starts to massage her through the very thin fabric.