27. Chapter 27

Okay, after last night's episode, I was kinda peeved at the lack of Linstead. I thought after the 1st episode Brett may be in a love interest for Jay and now I'm thinking it's a definitely possibility. I wouldn't mind her with Jay because I think he does need a love interest (Linstead won't be happen anytime soon...I can feel it) as then it means we might get a jealous Erin. However, I think there may be something dodgy in Brett's past (I can't shake the feeling she's dealing drugs) so I don't want our Jay with her yet. Also, I wasn't that impressed with Jay's attitude with Roman. I know he was angry but he was kinda an a$$! Just my opinion (don't hate me lol).

Okay, speculation over, I don't actually have much of this fic wrote in advance (I have a plan but no advanced chapters). I'm kinda finished with my advanced chapters so I'll be lucky if I keep to posting twice a week. It may just be once a week. As always, please read and review.

Chapter 26

Erin moved towards Jay, her eyes focused on the envelope. She finally looked up at Jay. "Well open it!" She urged.

Jay exhaled and pulled open the envelope. He slid out a black piece of card. He glanced down at the black piece of card, with silver writing. He could feel Erin watching him. He looked up at her. "We're in." He simply said. "We've been invited to enjoy a once in a lifetime experience tomorrow night."

"Tomorrow?" Erin's voice croaked.

"Yep." Jay replied, slipping the card back in the envelope. "It looks like things just got serious."

Erin paced around the darkened bedroom; interlocking her fingers and then unlocking them; her body fidgeting as the moment replayed in her mind.

"Erin..." Jay's familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

She spun around towards the bed, to find him sitting up on the bed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to waken you." She stated.

"It's 3am." He said before pulling back the covers on her side of the bed. "Get back in bed."

"I don't think I can sleep." She replied, before beginning her pacing again.

"Erin..." Jay sighed, pleading with her.

She stopped pacing and spun around to face him. "Are you not worried about what we're getting ourselves into?" She asked.

"Of course I am." Jay replied.

"So how can you sleep?" She asked. "We don't know who else is a member of the manor. It could be people we work with...or crooks that we've failed to catch."

"I can sleep because it is nothing we've never faced before...this isn't the first operation we've gone in blind." Jay replied. "We'll be okay."

"How can you be so confident?" Erin asked.

"Because it's you and me." Jay replied. "And no matter what, I know you always have my back and I hope you feel the same about me."

"Of course I do." Erin replied.

"So get back in bed." He ordered.

Erin walked towards the bed and slipped under the covers. "Just for tonight, can you hold me until I get to sleep?" She asked, looking over at Jay.

"Yeah of course." He replied; his voice ever so soft.

She manoeuvred herself towards Jay and rolled over onto her side so her back was up against his chest. Jay automatically wrapped his arms around her, fighting the urge to kiss her bare shoulder, exposed by her cami pyjama top.

Erin took hold of his hands that were around her waist; she entwined her fingers with his. She closed her eyes and within a few moments, she was sound asleep.

Jay sighed; his body struggling to fight his natural urges as he inhaled Erin's scent. He knew that he could release her from his hold but he didn't want to; it felt right holding her in his arms. He knew she was worried and scared; he was too; but he had to be strong for her and remember their boundaries because if they crossed them, he knew nothing would be the same; and that thought scared him more than anything.

Erin's eyes slowly flickered open; it took her a moment for her mind and body to register where she was; in Jay Halstead's arms; in bed. "If Voight could see us now..." She silently thought; a wry smile on her lips.

She didn't dare move; just in case Jay woke up and removed his arms from around her; so she lay there; her fingers slowly tracing patterns up and down Jay's strong, toned arms. She could feel his breath on the back of her neck becoming heavier and then she heard a groan; followed by "Hey."

Still he didn't move; he kept his arms around Erin; holding her close. Erin smiled. "Good morning Mr Kingston." She replied. She could tell he was smiling without even looking at him.

"I'm going to have to get up soon." Jay said. "I slept too long...I don't even have time for a run or a session at the gym."

"You never know, after tonight you may have worked up enough of a sweat to excuse you from your run." Erin joked.

"Oh? You mean when Poppy has her way with me?" Jay retorted. Erin rolled over to face him; still in his arms; centimetres from his face and thumped him right in the chest. "Ouch!"

"It's still too soon to joke about her." Erin muttered, her hands lingering on his chest. She felt Jay loosen his hold on her as he began to gently stroke her back.

He looked her right in the eyes. "I don't even know if it's a joke Erin." He said. "I mean, we don't know what will happen tonight."

"We're gonna stick together." Erin replied without hesitation. "We're stronger together."

"I couldn't agree more but what if our only way to find the killers is to branch out to other couples?" Jay asked.

"Not on the first night." Erin replied. "For the first night you are not leaving my side. God knows what weird people are in there, we're sticking together to do recon."

"And what if we have to perform some sort of sexual act?" Jay asked; a cheeky grin on his face as he watched Erin blush.

"Well, we'll just have to fake it." Erin shot back; her cheeks flushed with pink.

"Yeah, that's okay for you but for a guy, it's harder to fake." Jay stated.

"Excuse the pun." Erin teased.

Jay leaned into Erin, resting his forehead against hers. "You're so bad." He whispered before completely releasing his hold on her to climb out of bed.

"Hey!" Erin giggled, falling face first onto Jay's side of the bed. "Where do you think you are going?"

"Work." He shouted back as he headed into the bathroom.

Erin smiled and rolled onto her back. She was really beginning to enjoy these early morning conversations.

"Hey Erin..." She heard Jay's familiar voice say. She looked over to find his head peeping out from behind the bathroom door.

"Yeah?" She answered.

"Wear something loose tonight." He stated.

"Why?" She asked confused.

"Well, if we do have to fake something, wearing something loose and flared will make it easier to cover." Jay replied before closing the bathroom door again.

"Loose and flared?" Erin thought. "What the hell is he faking?"

Jay pulled up in front of the manor; he put the car in park and looked over at Erin. She was wearing a cobalt blue shift dress with a bejewelled neckline; her hair was pinned up. She was not sure how to dress for an underground sex club. Jay was wearing his navy suit with a white shirt and no tie; the first 3 buttons of his shirt lying open.

Jay slipped his hand in hers; gently grazing his thumb over her hand. "Are you ready for this?" He asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be." Erin shot back before reaching for the handle of the car door. She felt Jay pull her back. She spun around to face him.

"Remember...follow your instincts but stick to your limits...respect the boundaries." Jay said, staring her right in the eyes.

"I know Jay." She replied softly; squeezing his hand. "We're in this together, remember?"

Jay smiled and released her hand before stepping out of the car. He ran around to the passenger's side to open the door for Erin. He offered his hand as Erin stepped out. "Look at my hubby...the perfect gentleman." She teased.

"I thought it was the least I could do saying you let me drive." Jay retorted as Erin slipped her arm through his.

"Yeah well don't get used to it." She shot back. "That offer only exists while I'm still a Kingston."

"Don't give me another reason to want this operation to last longer than it has to." Jay stated.

"Another reason?" Erin asked, looking at him. "You have other reasons?"

Jay swallowed and forced a cough, breaking the gaze. He looked up at the building before them; it was purposely built to look like an old English manor; the type you would find in a Jane Austen film or Downton Abbey. "It doesn't look like an underground sex club, does it?" He asked, desperate to change the subject.

"I think that's the point." Erin replied; her eyes carefully watching Jay; her mind whirling; he had other reasons?

"I guess it's time we find out its secret." Jay said, leading Erin towards the building.

"I guess it is." Erin agreed, her mind already wondering what other secrets they were about to discover about each other.

To be continued...