Let It Snow (Sue Thomas FBEye)

Chapter Four

In front of the living room window, Jack bounced Abigail on his shoulder.

Sue approached them, and as soon as she placed her hands over the little back, she felt her sobbing. "Has she been crying the entire time I was taking my bath?"

"No, but that late evening feeding doesn't seem to agree with her." The infant's temper in his arms rivalled the snowstorm that still raged outside his apartment. "She's been fussing ever since she finished her bottle."

"You give her to me and head for the shower, Jack."

He placed the infant against her chest and a kiss on her parted lips.

"I will, but first, I need to get those boxes outside. I don't want either of us to bump into them in the middle of the night."

After each trip he made downstairs, he returned to find a barefoot Sue pacing the living room in a yellow and blue teddy bear pyjama while rocking a little girl who became quieter and quieter.

When he came out of his shower, the apartment was dark and silent. Sue was fast asleep on the couch. Where she found the pillow and the blanket he could only guess. And the drawer was on the floor, with Abigail and Levi resting peacefully side-by-side.

Jack sat at the edge of the couch, his hand softly stroking her face. She moaned in her sleep.

"You were supposed to take the bed." Even though she couldn't hear, he whispered. "Don't go anywhere."

Determined to rectify the situation, he lifted the makeshift crib.

"Levi, come with me."

The dog tagged along as Jack carried the drawer into his bedroom.

"Tomorrow afternoon, we're going shopping, missy, and getting you a real bed. You may be with us for a while." He smiled at the infant as he lowered the drawer near the heater. "Levi, you keep an eye on her, buddy."

Without having to be told twice, the well-trained service dog resumed his guard by the small human.

Sue barely woke up when he carried her to bed, her eyes fluttering just long enough for her to murmur his name. When he pulled the blankets over her, she unconsciously grabbed his arm, pulling him to her. "Stay... please."

The request, barely made above a whisper, tugged at his heartstrings. Hard.

"You have no idea what you're asking, Sue."

Something had weakened his willpower and he'd become powerless to refuse her anything.

***

Slowly rousing from her slumber, Sue fought to hold on to the vivid dream.

Cuddled against him, his arms wrapped around her, she could feel him, smell him, touch him...

"I love you." His breath caressed her ear.

She kissed his shoulder blade as she let her hand roam freely over his bare chest. Jack cupped the side of her head with his palm as he sought her lips, pushing reality further away.

Awareness stirred her mind when he rolled her on her back and leaned over her. Images of last night mingled with the sensations of the moment. He'd stayed with her and she'd fallen right back to sleep in his arms, dreaming of him.

At a subconscious level, Jack sensed when Sue became fully aware of his presence. She uttered small gasp, which he quickly swallowed whole. He hungrily devoured her as she turned into an equally eager and willing participant. Her tongue danced with his while her hands ran from his hair to his back, her fingernail leaving scorched mark over his bare skin. He pulled her closer, their body betraying their longing for each other.