UNDERCOVER {Competed} 😌

chapter 12(ii)

Mercy
Joshua was concerned. Possessively concerned. I felt a rush of panic. That's how it started with Edwin. First he'd began advising me on my career. Before I knew it, he was controlling my life and running it as if I was left at home. I hadn't realized the cost until I had turned down an overseas assignment. I never got another offer.

Here was Joshua. Too concerned. He even made an ice bag just for me. Tears had filled my eyes. He was being good to me.
When he clicked the bathroom door shut I closed my eyes waiting for a good night sleep. But it didn't come. A light switch snapped after a few minutes,and I heard him arrange the blankets. As the cool pack soothed my bruise,I thought about how uncomfortable he was on the floor.

"Joshua," I whispered. "Why don't you bring your blankets up here."
He didn't answer,but his blankets stirred the air and soon I felt the mattress shift from his weight.
"Goodnight Pepper." He said softly
"Goodnight."
I lay very still,my back to his. Still haunted by his impulsive kiss and the unwelcome dream, I wondered if I'd sleep a wink with him so near. I wanted to put both incidences at the back of my mind

Forgetfulness was hard to come by,though and as I drifted in and out of a fretful sleep,I fought an ever increasing desire to slide over and cuddle against Joshua's long body.

Sometime during the night,my desire won. I awoke pressed against Joshua's hard body. One hand on his bare chest.
I jerked away and was stopped short by my bruise. Stifling a groan,I eased and tried sitting which I miserably failed. Looking at Joshua,since he had thrown off the blankets I couldn't help but stare.
His dark lashes fluttered against his cheekbones and his lips,softened by the sleep parted with a sign. I gasped and looked away. I shifted then settled down again. Few seconds passed before I dared to look at him again.
I have never seen Joshua this way before.
Half naked
I reached out, my hand hovering millimeters away. Was his skin as smooth as it looked? Were the muscles hard? If I gave in to the urge to touch him,would he be delighted with the sensations my fingers would have created?
I jerked my hand away.

What nonsense,I told myself,angrily throwing my legs over the bed.
Later,fresh from shower and wrapped in my robe,I rummaged through my drawers,looking for socks matching the one on my hand. I needed to get organized. Joshua never had this problem,and at times I admired his tiresome orderliness.

As I struggled with the shirt that was slipping from my grasp,I saw the piles on the floor. Not that I hadn't seen them before,but I usually just damped them in a heap.

The last time he sorted them. Whites with whites,delicates with delicates and so on. So I did it how he had shown me.

I thought about his thoughtful ways, the coffeepot and all the goodies he'd brought in the room. The Icebag he made last night. I had tried being so independent that I had forgotten how sweet little tenderness felt

Lifting my eyes towards Joshua sleeping form. I somehow felt like I was caressing him,playing with strong muscles.
A sweet warmth rushed through my body,and all wanted was to cross the room and finish the kiss he had started. With a thrust of will I didn't. But I felt the warmth.
So today instead of leaving my towels on the floor,instead of leaving the pajamas in the corner,I picked them up,carried them to the piles I had sorted.

Joshua
As the door clicked shirt,my eyes snapped open. Had Pepper really been devouring me with her eyes? I shook my head with an amused smile. Of course not. I'm just being dreamy.

I lay there for a while, starring at the ceiling. What was going on in my sleepy mind? I only came here for on purpose,just one. I can't afford to let her get under my skin. At this point of my life I didn't need any distraction.

Veronica had shown me how difficult relationships could be. Not that Pepper could be compared with the devious Veronica,but its because of her I haven't gone through the tapes last night.

Maybe later. When shakers had gained some ground I'd look for Pepper...

No way I told myself. Put it out of your mind.

I combed my hair with my fingers and headed to the shower. When I finished my morning routine I began playing the tapes.

Mrs David remained a promising source,but tended to claim up when asked for details. Who knew how long it will take to loosen her up. My best chance was Joe Piper- but being a cook I had no chance.

As my chances run through my head,I listened to my recordings making notes until the end. After labelling the tapes I put them in the jacket which I also labelled.

I then filled a black case which had already dozen of tapes.
Glancing at my watch. Damn! I was late.

I forgot to secure the lid. Despite his clumsy attempt to stop it,the base swung loose and all the tapes fell on the floor. I scooped them as quickly as I quickly as I could. But I was out of time. The sorting have to wait.

This time u carefully closed the lid,then carried it to the dresser and his it below the underwear.

Soon I was speeding to the main house as quickly as I could. Entering the kitchen seconds before my shift began.
Damn!
I left my recorder on the table.

Unedited
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Kisses
Teenie Bee