Thrown Adrift

by Combs, Sasha

  As a sigh of relief settled over her much like a warm shower; she suddenly became aware of their current position. They were still laying on her sofa. She had not averted her eyes from his gaze and Hayford’s solid mass was beginning to feel welcomed. Linda felt the stiffness in his pants as it pressed into her thigh. She knew, at that very moment he wanted her just as much as she wanted him. She didn’t want to talk about Billings, Charlie or Elizabeth for that matter. What she and Hayford had to do to solve the murder case was old news as far as she was concerned. Today was a new day...and in the near future, she knew she’d be reliving the events of that night, in a court of law in front of the people that had murdered Elizabeth.

  Hayford was still looking at her. She had seen this expression before and she knew what he was about to say would be filled with thoughtful introspection.

  “Linda...about that article that I wrote... I never...that is...we never talked about it. We never mentioned it after the dust had settled.”

  “You mean after I was told I would have to wait five years to take the Bar Exam?”

  He could feel the sting in her words...but she had summed it up succinctly.

  Hayford nodded. “Yes...since then.”

  Linda released a long sigh. She didn’t want to talk about the article that had changed her life. She didn’t want to drudge up painful memories because in the end; nothing will have changed. She would still be waiting another three years until she could take the Bar Exam...and she’d still be working on a job that was more about the money than what she’d once dreamed she’d be doing for the rest of her adult life.

  Biting on her lower lip before talking, Linda’s mind went in another direction. Her eyes closed tightly as she imagined what she and Hayford had done on the floor in Elizabeth’s apartment. Once she had the memory in focus; in a soft voice she said...

  “Hayford...I can think of many things that we haven’t discussed but frankly, I also think that talking is a little overrated.”

  Hayford’s eyebrows knitted together for a moment because he wasn’t so sure what Linda was referring too. But when she locked their eyes in a stare, Hayford noticed that the brown that colored her iris was no ordinary hue. Her eyes were filled with wanton desire. When he spotted this, it was then that he understood what she was talking about.

  Lifting up to meet his lips; Linda softly kissed Hayford on his mouth. She could taste the faint flavor of coffee and for some odd reason the savoring of this had reminded her of her bed.

  Linda’s eyes took on a dreamy expression when she said...

  “You look awful tired Mr. Mead. You look like a man who could use a few hours of rest.”

  Hayford wasn’t tracking at first, then double quick, his mind was in-sync and his intentions weren’t far behind. He’d noticed since arriving at her apartment, how being near Linda had made him slow on the draw. Even when he’d been trying to state a point while carrying on the simplest of conversations; Linda’s nearness managed to muddle his thoughts. He was hoping this side affect would dissipate after time because he had every intention of spending as much time alone with her as humanly possible.

  His eyebrow rose as he pretended to weigh his options. Once he appeared to have truly considered her thoughtful observation; Hayford couldn’t allow himself to be outdone. So, instead of blindly accepting her suggestion, he offered up his own careful consideration.

  “You know...you look like a woman in need of rest and something else.”

  In a gliding fluid motion, he lifted his body off of hers, then he stood along the side of sofa staring down at her. Hayford offered Linda his hand, then she came to a standing position in front of him. Lifting up on tiptoes, she kissed him, while interlacing his fingers with one of her hands. Leading him in the direction of her bedroom, Linda felt Hayford’s hand as he rested it on the small of her back. She didn’t know where this relationship would take her...and she didn’t know how being with Hayford would affect her career while being a detective on the force. Currently Linda felt it best to take her life one step at a time. As she sat in her cubicle typing up her report; the police that morning were saying that Linda Gable had brought down the Commander without the aid of anyone else from her department. What had happened had not been that simple and the way they were telling the story made it sound like she held them captive with a semiautomatic until reinforcements had arrived. Their embellishments had been expected and she had noticed how they looked her in the eyes instead of ignoring her as they once had when she first came on the job. In less than twelve hours her life had done a complete and total flip flop but she wasn’t fool enough to believe this change wouldn’t come without rippling consequences. Her father had once told her when you’re given a bitter basket of lemons, instead of whining; get a pitcher and make a batch of lemonade. Linda had done that very thing when her dreams to become an attorney had been delayed. After passing the exam, she accepted the job to be a detective; even though her peers weren’t convinced that she’d earned it. She had endured their snubs as well as blazing behavior meant to cripple her psyche. No one believed that she was qualified to do the job. But after last night, that all changed.

  As Linda helped Hayford undress and they both fell into her bed naked; she allowed his strong arms to wrap around her...and his warmth made her feel safe and secure even though she was in her own home and in her own bed. As she felt his beating heart in his chest, Linda’s mind began to wander and she didn’t really care where this road would lead her. She had been so cautious in her life...looking twice before crossing life’s paths and always checking her back for perturbing knives. She could feel her body falling for the man that had changed the direction of her life...but she was willing to trust this time. Linda knew she could trust that he wouldn't be the cause of her failing again.

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