31. Chapter 31

Hey guys, sorry I am not posting as regularly anymore, I just have very little time to write at the moment as my work is so hectic lately and I'm too tired to write when I get home. I've had a few family social events at the weekend lately too which has left me short on writing time. Anyway, I hope you enjoy! Please read and review!

Chapter 30

As soon as Jay came back, he headed straight for the shower. Erin stood in the bedroom, dressed in her pyjamas; removing the excess pillows off the bed. The shower was running in the background. The shower stopped.

Jay stepped into the bedroom; wearing only a towel around his waist; beads of water running down his bare torso. Erin looked up and froze; her eyes fixed on his torso. She had seen it may times before but with only a towel around him, he was practically naked.

"Sorry, I um...forgot to take my clothes in with me." Jay explained, searching through the chest of drawers for a t-shirt and boxers.

"Oh yeah right." Erin muttered, realising she was staring, she focused on the bed; a pink glow spreading across her cheeks. Jay grabbed his clothes and headed straight into the bathroom again. As soon as Erin heard the bathroom door close she looked up and exhaled.

She pulled back the covers of the bed and climbed in; getting herself settled; leaning against the headboard; waiting to hear what Jay had discovered in the manor.

Within a few minutes, Jay returned; in his t-shirt and boxers.

"Feel better now?" Erin asked as she watched him climb into his side of the bed.

"I don't know if I'll ever feel clean again." He replied. He was sitting up, also leaning against the headboard.

Erin nodded. She knew the feeling. It was never nice lying to someone; making them believe you care about them to get answers. "But it was worth it for the intel right?" Erin pressed, her eyes focused on Jay.

"I think so." Jay replied. "I mean, she more or less confirmed that Amy was the person responsible for getting us into the manor."

"Wait! Amy?" Erin exclaimed. "How? Why?"

"I'm not exactly sure on the how." Jay replied.

"Do you think it's through Tony?" Erin asked.

"No...he seemed genuine when he told me about his initiation." Jay replied. "I think he's in the dark about her. I think she set him up...I don't even know if the engagement is genuine on her part or if she's just a society climber."

"But how would she have the power in the manor?" Erin asked.

"I'm not sure but I think Joel Dunn may be a link too." Jay stated. He could see Erin was about to protest so he continued. "Just hear me out...Joel seemed to know about 'our' marriage difficulties when he met you...and he was part of the initiation."

"So how does this link to the murders?" Erin asked.

"I'm not sure it does." Jay replied. "But at least we have an idea about the admittance committee now. We can see if there is a link to the victims and if not, we can rule them out."

"But why would Amy push to get us into the manor?" Erin asked. "I mean, is she really just being a friend trying to help us save this 'marriage'?

"That's the thing...Poppy mentioned that she wanted to get with me before Amy got her claws into me...like I was a prize." Jay stated. "Apparently the manor allows things to happen without breaking the society wives' code."

"Okay...I don't know who I should be more pissed at!" Erin fumed. "You for the bragging about being the prize or my so called 'friends' for lusting after my fake husband?"

"I'm not exactly bragging, just relaying the conversation." Jay replied, smiling smugly. "I can't help it if I'm the one all the ladies want." He felt Erin whack him directly on his chest.

"That was a definite brag!" She hissed.

"Okay..," He laughed lightly, rubbing his chest. "In all honesty I don't think I'm the prize for Amy...she hasn't once shown an ounce of interest."

"So why get us in?" Erin asked, confused.

"Because she wants you." Jay answered.

"What?" Erin exclaimed, before a nervous laugh slipped out of her mouth. "That girl is straight...I've seen her in action. Alright, we may have had a little make out but what girl hasn't when they're a little drunk?"

"Erin...I'm just going with my gut." Jay replied. "Amy and Joel seem to be circling you and I don't know why."

"Apart from the fact I'm irresistible?" Erin teased.

"Of course...apart from that." Jay teased back.

Erin slid down the bed, lowering herself down to snuggle under the covers; she had enough of the conversation; she didn't want to think why Amy or Joel would have an interest in her. Unfortunately, the thought would not leave her.

She could feel Jay's eyes on her. "I'm sure we'll figure it out soon Erin." Jay stated, trying to reassure her; as if he could read her mind.

Erin nodded. Jay reached over and switched off the bedside lamp before sliding down under the covers himself. Instinctively, Erin moved towards him. Jay reached out his arm; draping it around her; inviting her into his hold. She rested her head on his chest as her fingers nestled into his t-shirt; she could hear his heartbeat; the rhythm soothing her. Jay's fingers gently traced up and down her arm; his body needing to react in some way; to ignore the urge to kiss the top of her head.

"Maybe I've over thought this." Jay continued. "Maybe Amy really is just being a good friend."

"Jay...can we just sleep?" She softly asked; not moving from his chest.

"Of course." Jay replied; knowing to drop the subject.

A continuous beeping that was growing louder filled the bedroom. Erin opened her eyes; adjusting to the light but she didn't move; her head resting on Jay's chest; her fingers gently gripping his t-shirt. She could feel his body shift slightly as his free arm reached his bedside table to grab his cell phone to stop the beeping.

"You set an alarm?" She stated.

"I have to meet Olinski during my morning run." Jay replied; his free arm returning to wrap around her. "Remember?"

She nodded but she did not move her head off his chest. She could feel his fingers softly tracing patterns on her bare arms as they lay in bed; neither one making the effort to get up. She was enjoying being in his hold too much; she couldn't explain it; it just felt right.

"How long until you have to meet him?" She asked.

"I guess in about 45 minutes." Jay replied.

She nodded. Again, neither one made the effort to move or get out of bed. "Jay?" She softly asked.

"Yeah?" Jay asked.

"How do you wake up every morning without a...you know?" Erin asked.

"You know what?" Jay asked, confused.

Erin raised her head off his chest and looked at him, before her eyes glanced at his crotch and then back at him. "You know." She stated.

"Geez...Erin!" Jay exclaimed; a sudden flush spreading across his cheeks. He sat up on the bed; causing Erin to readjust her position. "I wasn't aware you were keeping track of my morning glory."

"Well I didn't mean to but well...we've been sharing a bed for a few nights now and I'm beginning to wonder if I should be taking it personally." Erin replied. She watched him, his mouth twitching as he struggled to find the words.

"You should definitely not take it personal." He stated. "I'm just trying to be a gentleman and I have great self control." God knows his self control was amazing...he'd been working with her for just over a year and had still managed not to cross the line. Granted, lately, his self control was seriously being tested.

Erin felt a flush of heat spreading to her own cheeks as she suddenly realised how awkward this conversation was. She was making herself sound needy and desperate; wanting to know why she didn't turn him on. She needed to turn this conversation around.

"I was just wondering what your trigger for self control is." She said. "I mean, just in case you get a little excited in the manor, maybe I should know what works for you so I can help remind you."

"Oh, so you're just asking these questions for the operation?" Jay teased, not believing her for a moment.

"Of course!" She shot back. "Why else would I ask?"

"Well, if you want to know how I control myself I think you should let me in on your methods first." Jay retorted.

"What?" She exclaimed. "Why should I share?"

"Just in case you get a little excited and I have to remind you." Jay stated, throwing her own reasoning back to her. He smirked; he knew she had no comeback.

She bit her lower lip; there was no way out; he had backed her into a corner. "Well to be fair, I don't think you could tell if I was losing control as it very rarely happens." She began. "But, nine times out of ten, thinking back on the time Voight walked in on me and the quarterback of the high school team is pretty effective...or mashed up bananas. That texture is gross!"

Jay laughed lightly. He could feel Erin's eyes on him, waiting for him to share. "Voight is actually one of my triggers too...nobody kills the mood like him." He stated.

"And what else?" Erin asked, her eyes never leaving Jay's.

"I guess slobbery grandma kisses are pretty effective and if the worst comes to the worst...thinking back to some of things I saw in Afghanistan." Jay replied. "Feel better now?"

Erin nodded. There was silence. "So um...what did you call the quarterback Voight caught you with?" Jay asked, trying to fight the urge to laugh.

"Shut up!" Erin shot back, also fighting the urge to laugh as she smacked his arm. "I told you that information for operational purposes only...I know plenty of grannies...you've been warned."

"I'll take it to the grave." Jay replied, smirking as he held up his hands. He slipped out of the bed and began to back off towards the bathroom. "It is nice to know you had a thing for high school jocks though."

"Shut up!" Erin exclaimed; tossing a pillow after him; a pink glow returning to her cheeks as she remembered Jay's high school past as a jock. He dodged the pillow and headed into the bathroom, laughing lightly; Erin couldn't help but smile too as she watched him leave.

Jay jogged along the river walk. He stopped just before the bridge and checked his pulse before completing some stretches, waiting for Olinksi to join him. Within a split second, Olinski was beside him.

"Good to see you Mr Kingston." Olinski said, not looking at him; his focus staying on the view of the bridge.

"Hey Mr Thorn." Jay replied, also focusing on the view. "I'm sure everything is going well back at base."

"Everything is ticking over." Olinski replied. "Hank is beginning to realise his girl may still be deployed over Christmas."

"Let him know she's doing everything to make it back." Jay replied. Jay slipped a flash drive into Olinski's hand. "Erin did sketches of the ones we couldn't locate. I've also included a plan of the manor itself. Some rooms are still off limits but..."

"No, this is great." Olinski replied. "And I'll let Hank know the message. Everything else okay?"

"Yeah...can you just check if there is any link between Amy Stimson, Joel Dunn and the victims?" Jay replied.

"Should there be?" Olinski asked.

"We think Stimson and Dunn may be the ones who got us admitted to manor." Jay replied. "Just want to rule them out as suspects."

"We'll get on it." Olinski said. "We miss you two. Stay safe."

"Thanks Al." Jay replied and within a split second, Olinski was gone again. Jay finished his stretching and began jogging again.

To be continued...