29. Chapter 29

Hey guys, sorry it took me a while to post. I've been super busy this week at work and I also have a big job interview coming up (which I should be prepping for but instead, I spent last night and this afternoon writing). I am such a procrastinator!

Anyway, I really enjoyed the latest episode and next week looks great but can someone tell me what a 'C' note is? How much money is that? Thanks!

Please feel free to read and review. I really appreciate the response, especially since the undercover operation began. It makes writing so much easier!

Chapter 28

The rest of the night at the manor had been uneventful. After faking an orgasm; Erin had told Amy that Jay had wanted to go home; he didn't want anything else to be carried out in public...yet. Amy seemed to accept the explanation.

The car ride home had been silent; only the sound of the radio filling the silence. Occasionally, Erin could see Jay glancing at her as he focused on the road. She knew he wanted to say something but nothing came out and she didn't press him. She wasn't in the mood to talk; there was still a fire between her thighs from his touch earlier.

They never spoke during the ride up in the elevator to the apartment either. It was only when Jay opened the door to the apartment that he finally spoke. "Do you want me to make you something to eat?" Jay asked. He had noticed earlier that Erin had not eaten much due to her nerves.

"No, I'm fine." Erin replied, kicking off her shoes. "I just want to get to bed." She reached behind her, struggling to locate the zip of her dress. Jay stepped behind her and pulled down the zip. The dress began to slip off her shoulders, exposing her back. She wrapped her arm around her front to stop it slipping further. "Thanks." She muttered before heading into the bedroom.

"I think everything worked well tonight." Jay called from the sitting room; he didn't want to walk into the bedroom as he knew Erin was changing.

"Uh huh." Erin muttered as she slipped on her pyjamas.

"You really followed my lead." Jay called. He gave a small laugh. "And I'm guessing that wasn't your first time faking it."

Erin gave no response; instead; she focused on removing her makeup at the dresser mirror. She noticed Jay at the bedroom door.

"Are we okay?" He asked. She could hear the concern in his voice. She looked up at him; she could see the concern in his eyes.

"Of course." She replied, her eyes meeting his. "It was a good idea. I think our first visit went as well as we could have expected."

Jay nodded before locking eyes with her again. "As long as everything is okay?"

"It is." Erin replied. "I'm just really tired."

He nodded again before disappearing into the bathroom.

As soon as he left; Erin hung her head and sighed. She wasn't sure everything was okay. She walked towards the bed and removed the excess pillows. She climbed into the bed and rolled onto her side, facing away from Jay.

Within a few moments, she heard his footsteps enter the room but she stayed where she was. She could feel him climb into bed and roll over so he was facing her back. She braced herself; waiting for him to speak; instead, he sighed and she felt him roll over so he was no longer facing her. The room disappeared into blackness as he switched off the bedside lamp.

Erin slowly opened her eyes; adjusting to the small rays of sunlight filtering through the blinds of the window. She almost didn't want to roll over to check if Jay was still sleeping; she was silently hoping he had already left for work.

The heat between her thighs had plagued her all night; she hoped she hadn't shouted out anything in her sleep. She needed a nice long soak in the bath and time to herself to relieve the sensation. She heard Jay clear his throat and she inwardly sighed; he was still here.

She rolled over; finding Jay sitting on the edge of the bed; showered and freshly shaven; dressed in his suit. "Hey." He simply stated.

Erin sighed. She knew he wanted to talk; his eyes gave him away. She pulled herself up into a sitting position, leaning against the headboard. She wrapped the blanket around herself; fully aware that she was braless. "What is it Jay?" She asked.

"I think we need to talk about the Manor." Jay replied.

"Jay...it is seriously too early for this." Erin sighed; running her fingers through her hair.

"Erin...I have to say this." He retorted; his voice firm.

Erin knew by the look in his eyes and by his tone of voice that he wasn't going to give up. "So say it." She shot back; bracing herself for what was to follow.

"I think we need to agree that what happens in the Manor stays in the Manor." Jay said.

"What?" Erin questioned; confused; this was not what she was expecting.

"I think we've been in a good place lately...we were almost like we used to be when we first starting working together." Jay tried to explain. "I didn't realise how much I missed hanging out and spending time with you."

"I agree Jay but I really don't know where you are going with this." Erin simply stated.

"We're going to have to do some things in the Manor that will push the boundaries of our professional relationship." Jay said. "I mean, we may even have to hook up with other people...or each other..."

"Jay..." Erin began but Jay cut her off.

"I think that we just need to remember that we're playing a role, especially in the Manor and I don't want that to affect us...and our relationship." Jay stated. "So I think we should agree that whatever happens in the Manor stays in the Manor."

"Of course." Erin replied; her eyes studying Jay.

"Good." Jay sighed before standing up. "Well um...I guess I'm going to go to the office. I'll be home for 6pm."

"Okay." Erin replied, watching him back out of the bedroom. As soon as he left, Erin threw herself back down on the bed and groaned loudly. That had been intense; but on the plus side, the burning sensation had suddenly left her.

Erin was sitting, curled up on the couch, a laptop on her lap. She had her hair pulled back in a ponytail; her face makeup free; she was wearing jeans and Jay's black hoodie. It was particularly comfortable on her and she liked the feeling wearing it gave her; it reminded her of being back at the district; and Jay's scent was permanent reminder around her; giving her more comfort of home.

She had been working on the laptop all day; trying to locate the faces herself and Jay had spotted at the Manor. They were particularly easy to find online as many of them were high profile society people. She had already located 2 judges, 4 lawyers, a Dean of a university, 4 university professors, 3 principals of schools, 4 high profile business entrepreneurs, 4 doctors and 2 engineers.

She had just finished emailing the names of the people she located to Olinski for the intelligence team to check out when the apartment door opened. She looked at the clock; it was a few minutes after six pm. She jumped up; she didn't realise home much time had passed; she had wanted to get showered and be ready to go to the manor when Jay got home.

"Honey, I'm home!" Jay joked, already pulling off his tie as he entered the living room. His eyes fell on Erin and his hoodie and he couldn't help but smile. He loved how she looked in his clothes. "Are we going for the super casual look tonight?" He asked. "If so, I'm down for it. I was going to wear jeans tonight anyway."

"I didn't realise the time." Erin replied. "I was locating some of the guests of the Manor to pass the names onto the unit to run background checks."

"Great." Jay replied, flopping down in the arm chair. "Did you locate everyone?"

"Almost." Erin replied. "I've done a few sketches of the others I couldn't find. I couldn't email them so do you want me to arrange a meeting with Burgess or ..."

"I'll take them with me when I meet Al during my morning run tomorrow." Jay interrupted. Erin nodded. "Thanks for putting in all that work today. I kinda feel like I'm slacking off."

"You had to maintain cover. I mean, what else was I going to do today apart from shop?" Erin replied. Jay nodded. There was silence. "Well, I um...I guess I'll go and get ready." She said. She began to walk away.

"Do you think we should maybe have a plan of action for tonight now we have an idea what to expect?" Jay asked.

Erin stopped walking and turned to face him. "I guess." She replied. "Have you any suggestions?" She knew that he proposed the question because he already had an idea for a plan."

"I was thinking maybe I should seek out Poppy." Jay replied. "Maybe she'll share something with me if she thinks she's getting what she wants"

"Other than sharing an S.T.I. with you?" Erin shot back sarcastically.

"It was just an idea." Jay replied. "It's not exactly something I want to do but..."

"You'll take one for the team." Erin added; her tone still sarcastic.

"Well have you any ideas?" Jay retorted.

Erin knew it made sense; Poppy could provide some inside knowledge without realising what she was doing; Erin just didn't know what she was meant to do while Jay was doing Poppy. She didn't particularly like the idea of being alone in the Manor; but, she is a detective and she's there to get answers so if this was a way to get answers, she'd grin and bear one night alone.

"No, you're right." Erin admitted reluctantly. "She could know something without even realising it." There was silence. "Do you um, think you'll have sex with her?" Erin looked at Jay right in the eyes after she proposed the question. She could tell he was uncomfortable.

"Honestly, I hope not." Jay replied. "If I'm lucky, she'll be happy with little groping...at least tonight."

Erin nodded. "Well I guess I better go and get ready." Erin said.

Jay nodded in agreement and watched her walk away into the bathroom. His mind already spinning; wondering how he could keep someone as horny as Poppy satisfied without offering too much.

To be continued...