Bounce – Chapter 2

"Sometimes I really hate being a cop, you know?"

They'd walked about two blocks when Alex broke the silence. "The hours suck. You have no personal life. And almost every day we get to visit the dark side."

A breeze lifted Alex's hair in front of her eyes and Bobby's fingers itched to reach out and tuck it behind her ear. Instead, her own hand came up to sweep it out of the way and once again reveal the line of tiny earrings studding the delicate curve.

"And just when you think it can't get any worse … it does," she interrupted him contemplating the taste of the soft skin just behind her ear. "No wonder guys don't hang around too long."

"Eames … unless you've been lying all these years, it seems to me you're the one always telling them it's over."

"Yeah … but they usually look relieved when I tell them."

"Oh, come on," Bobby groaned. He found it hard to believe that any of the jerks Alex tended to date would willingly let go of her.

"No, it's true. It's different for you, Bobby." She started walking backwards so she could face him. Guess she didn't have as much to drink as I thought. "I'll bet all the women you date think it's wonderful that you're a cop. It fits the whole 'hero' thing – some big, strong man to protect them." When Alex turned around to walk beside him her hand accidentally brushed his thigh, further encouraging the rebellious arousal he'd been battling since they left the club. Fortunately his moan came out sounding like a strangled cough.

"Men may think it's kind of cool when they first find out what I do for a living," she glanced at him to make sure he was okay, "but they don't really want to know much about it. The more they find out, the more uneasy they get …" Alex paused, distracted by a '69 Camaro parked at the curb. She walked to the car and bent over to peek in the windows. Bobby stayed where he was and enjoyed the view.

"Nice car," he commented as they started walking again.

"Lewis would love it," she smiled. Now why did that comment combined with her smile make him think she knew exactly what he had been looking at?

"You know, I've actually met some guys who like that I have my own handcuffs and carry a gun every day," Alex was back on topic. "But they're kinda scary."

Bobby chuckled. "When the right guy comes along, it won't matter what you do ... what will matter is who you are."

A flash of irritation replaced her smile. "Nice sentiment, Bobby … you should write greeting cards," Alex muttered and started to walk away from him.

"Eames." Bobby grabbed her arm and stopped her. His hand rested there longer than necessary. Her skin was soft and warm beneath his palm, and Bobby couldn't resist leaving a caress with his thumb before removing his hand. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to … trivialize what you're feeling."

Alex swallowed hard and quickly looked away. "Forget it," she shrugged, the movement drawing his attention to the line of her collar bone where it disappeared beneath her sweater. Another area his tongue would like to explore.

Stop thinking about all those warm, fragrant places on her body and pay attention here! Something beyond his ill-timed bad advice was really bothering Alex. She caught her bottom lip between her teeth and wouldn't quite look him in the eye.

"Eames …?" he hesitated, not sure he wanted to know the answer to his question. "Is this … about Sullivan?"

She shook her head, squinting off at some point beyond his shoulder. "Bobby, I think I had it right the first time," she spoke quietly to the night air. "The only type of man who's ever going to understand and accept what I do is another cop." Her eyes finally met his – pensive and questioning – before once again sliding away.

What are you saying, Alex? Bobby frowned. What do you want me to say? He could read people so well – was legendary for it in some circles. But Alex could mystify him. All these years of working together, she'd learned his tricks and knew how to hide from his perception.

What he could figure out was that she blamed herself for her failed relationships. And although Bobby would confess to a bias on the subject, she really did make some pretty sketchy choices in men. Not that they were criminals or anything, usually … just not right for her. She needed to understand that.

"Alex," his rare use of her first name felt good on his tongue – intimate. "What you said earlier … about this job taking a toll on our personal lives … that's true. But at the risk of sounding like I work for Hallmark," Bobby dipped his head to catch her eye, "the type of man who'll understand and … accept what you do … will be the man who loves you no matter what. Being a cop would just be … incidental."

A moment – no more than a few seconds. Alex's eyes revealed a range of emotions. Doubt … uncertainty … hope. Those he understood. Those he could deal with. But there was something else, something he recognized because he knew it for himself. He just didn't think he could share it with her – yet.

Alex must have seen something in his face, because suddenly she relaxed and the corner of her mouth curled in a tease. "So … someday I may hear the words, 'I love you ... and incidentally, I'm a cop.'"

Bobby sighed with relief, knowing that she had just given him an easy out. "Something like that," he smiled. "C'mon, the coffee shop is just up the block."

They'd almost reached the shop when out of the blue Alex asked, "So … have any more personal care advice?"

"Wha-what?"

"Perfume." Alex raised her hand to rub her thumb against her index and middle fingers.

"Oh … ah … no." He had to look away to hide the flush of heat that would surely show in his eyes.

Bobby vividly remembered that night in the squad room. The whole 'perfume lecture' had come about because he needed a distraction from the boredom of endless paperwork. And Alex seemed desperately in need of some teasing – or so he told himself.

So he'd made shit up as he went along. Although there was probably enough truth in what he said to make it seem plausible, Bobby had no idea what may or may not be taught in courtesan schools in France.

But what started as teasing had quickly turned … provocative. Almost immediately Alex reacted to his suggestive words and gestures. And, in what seemed to be a pattern lately, Bobby's body reacted to her.

He'd been fascinated by how easily his hand held her attention. He'd seen the slight tremble in her fingers before she had a chance to lace them on her knee. Leaning close to her, he smelled her scent – the one he now always sought beneath her shampoo and perfume. When he purposely drew her gaze to his mouth, her eyes had darkened and in them was the reflection of his own longing. The pulse at the hollow of her throat raced and he'd felt a dangerous tightening in his body. Alex's tongue darted from her mouth to lick her lips then disappeared, and Bobby knew he just had to find it with his own. And then the phone rang, bringing reality with it.

He couldn't go on like this. Sooner or later he would have to jump to one side or the other of this fence he'd been walking for far too long. Should he talk to her and confront his feelings? Find out if she had the same of her own? Potentially risk everything they currently had? Or should he keep everything locked inside and stop playing with fire?

And then there was another question hanging in the air. Why did she even mention that night in the squad room? Interesting.

"You know Eames …" Because it's always fun to dance a little too close to the flame. "Keep yourself open to possibilities. The guy you're looking for may already be hanging around … just waiting for the right time."

Bobby took a few steps before he realized Alex was no longer beside him. He turned to see her stopped dead in her tracks, head tilted and an unreadable expression on her face.

"And when might that be, Bobby?"

Burned.

She knows. Or at least suspects. And why wouldn't she? In the past couple of months he'd done everything short of pinning her against a wall with his body and doing all those things he'd imagined would make her move beneath him and moan her pleasure.

He licked his lips with a suddenly dry tongue and felt a bead of sweat trail down his side. This time it wouldn't be so easy to bounce back from the heat of the flame.

You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo

Ah, hell! Now he had to decide whether to take his time and ease himself over the side of the fence or jump in feet first.

"Soon, Eames. Very soon."

End