23
Openness
New cases came and went as the months passed. Their partnership became stronger as their opposing styles and approach to the job balanced each other. Lucas, tough and unwavering and Maggie, compassionate and intuitive, made a dynamic combination. Their solve rate became the highest in the precinct. Their harmony also transcended to their private lives too.
Lucas, although he tried to force it aside, developed deep feelings for Maggie too. He didn’t just want to spend time in the bedroom or at work with her any longer and he began to contemplate, for the first time since Stacy, shifting his relationship with Maggie to a different level.
He enjoyed her company, found her extremely sexy, intelligent and witty. She possessed everything he would seek in a woman, if he wanted one of course, which he was beginning to think he was. Was it worth taking a chance? Instead of the obstacle being his reluctance to form attachments, it was now the consequences of bringing their relationship out in the open. They were partners and although not necessarily against protocol it was frowned on. Many partnerships had developed into more within the force, however, when they ended, so did the working relationship and this caused unwanted reassignment and tension. If they were to become more, if he asked her to move in with him as planned, would they end badly and have to dissolve their partnership too? This and nothing else held him back for now.
It was on a Friday when he decided to throw caution to the wind. His feelings for her were strong, though he didn’t believe it was love, well, not yet anyway, he still looked forward to their alone time together. He heard the key in the lock and raced to the door like an eager schoolboy full of lust. The moment she was in the door, he pounced, kissing her with fervour. She responded in kind and they tore at each other’s clothes, craving each other. They were enjoying each other hungrily when Lucas’ phone rang.
“Ignore it,” he breathed into her ear as he took her to the brink.
The phone stopped and they continued to explore each other, lingering close to the peak of their pleasure, they knew each other’s bodies, moans and groans so well they both knew how to prolong their release.
As they both cried out with pleasure the doorbell rang insistently and relentlessly which was also ignored. The ringing turned to persistent knocking as he kissed her tenderly, unhurriedly running his fingers over the contours of her body.
“Lucas,” Carrie called as the knocking continued. “Are you here?”
“Yeah,” he called out.
“Open the door.”
Reluctant to move, he glanced at Maggie before detangling himself and locating his pants. Maggie searched for her clothes too as they, along with his, had been flung around the apartment.
“Lucas!” Carrie called again.
“Yeah, give me a minute.”
“Do you want me to hide?” Maggie whispered.
“No, you can get dressed while I let her in and then you may as well come out and meet her. I was thinking about introducing you to her anyway.”
“You were?”
“Yeah.”
“Lucas, what are you doing?” Came the shout through the door again.
“Coming, Carrie.”
“What’s the urgency?” he asked pulling open the door.
“What were you doing in here?” She peered over his shoulder.
“I don’t think you really want me to answer that. Anyway, what are you doing here?”
“We haven’t seen or heard from you in two weeks and you know I worry when too much time goes by. Why didn’t you answer the phone?”
“I was busy.”
“Hi,” Maggie said as she came out of the bathroom.
“Oh, hi,” said Carrie. “This explains your inability to answer.” She said with an amused grin before turning to Maggie. “I’m Carrie.”
“Maggie, nice to meet you.”
“Maggie?” Carrie asked Lucas.
“Yes.”
“Your partner?” Carrie asked with confusion and surprise.
“Yes.”
“Oh, so you were working?”
“No.”
“What’s going on?”
“We’re kind of seeing each other,” Lucas mumbled.
“Oh, so Maggie is the girl?” Another grin. Lucas tried not to return the smile. She was questioning him like he would interrogate a suspect.
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“We haven’t gone public about it for the obvious reason that we’re partners. Well, not yet anyway.”
Lucas spied Maggie glancing at him out of the corner of his eye with a questioning look. They hadn’t discussed going public yet. He hadn’t got that far before becoming distracted.
“So you were going to tell me?”
“Yeah, actually, I was, but I was going to talk to Maggie about it first.”
“Does this mean—?”
“Don’t get excited, Carrie,” he cut her off. “We’ve been seeing each other for a little while now and I like her.”
Maggie was still staring at him incredulous.
“This is great! Will you both come for dinner tomorrow then?”
“If that will get you off my back.”
“Yes.”
He turned to Maggie and she shrugged.
“Alright, we’ll see you tomorrow.” Her amused smile remained and he didn’t know whether he wanted to smile with her or strangle her.
“I get the hint, I’m leaving.” She turned to Maggie. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
“Wow, that was intense,” Maggie said when he returned from seeing his sister out.
“Yeah. Um, I was going to talk to you.”
“I caught that.”
“I meant what I said to Carrie.”
“Okay...”
With a puzzled frown she sat down and waited for him to speak.
“I like having you around and I don’t want to hide anymore.”
“Lucas ...”
“Please, let me get this out.” He joined her on the sofa. “You know all about my baggage and how hard this is for me but for the first time in a long time ... I’m happy.”
“Lucas ... I think ...”
“Mags, please.” She nodded. “I want you to move in with me.”
“What?” Her blue eyes opened wide and a frown creased her brow at the bridge of her nose making her look sexy and edible.
“Don’t make me say it again.” He pleaded.
“Sorry ... I’m just surprised.”
“So am I.” He offered her a sheepish smile.
“Do you love me?”
“What?” He asked. She waited for more. “I like you a lot.”
“Lucas, as much as I want to say yes because I ... really like you too, I don’t think you can give me what I want. You don’t know this about me but I want marriage, kids, the whole lot. I don’t want to pressure you into giving me these things because I know it isn’t what you want. I’m like all the girls who want the fairy tale and as much as you’re sweet and wonderful, I don’t believe you can give me what I truly want. I don’t want things to end badly but if we go down this road it might. As much as I want to say yes right now, I can’t. I want us to be friends and partners and as much as we’re having fun, I don’t want to stay in a relationship where we’re on different pages. I wish it could be you but I can live with the fact it’s not.”
Stunned, Lucas stared at her for a moment as he tried to get his head around her adorable speech.
“Mags, a simple no would have sufficed.” He grinned. “You’ve been carrying that with you for a while haven’t you?”
“Yes, I guess I have. You took me by surprise. I never expected you to ask me that. I’ve been preparing myself to ... I met someone else.”
Now he was stunned.
“We’ve only been out once for drinks. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” Guilt creased her brow this time.
“It’s okay, I’m just surprised, Mags. I’m not upset, disappointed but it’s okay. I want you to be happy. You’re right, I can’t give you want you want. Asking you to move in would be my limit.”
“I know and I didn’t go out of my way to meet anyone. Steve came to me.”
Placing his hands on her upper arms he brought her with him as he stood up.
“I’m going to miss this.”
He kissed her fervently. She pulled back slightly to stare into his face.
“Please tell me we can still be friends and mean it.”
“I want to stay friends and partners. No hard feelings?”
“I think there are some hard feelings.” She said with a laugh as she ran her hand over his crotch.
“You’re a naughty girl.” He took her hand and guided her towards the bedroom. “Is it too much to ask for one last time?”
Her answer was a kiss.