Shackled

[EklectikChik]

Emma lay still. She hadn't been quite wide awake, but conscious enough to feel Liam slide into bed. Her mind perked, knowing full well that he was going to be going through some changes with her present. But she remained calm and kept her breathing even and listened. When he finally turned and pulled her closer, she smiled and let him. His larger body radiated heat like a strong radiator and when he buried his nose against her hair she shivered slightly.

The squeezing tightened and tightened again until she finally squirmed against him, her bottom bumping against his lower belly and hips. “Easy.” She whispered softly, “I'm right here, Liam.”

She wasn't sure quite what to expect or what to do, but as she wiggled against him, his hold slacked enough to turn. Slowly she wedged her shoulder against his chest and turned, letting out a puff of air. Then his grip tightened again, the pressure so great that she turned once again to face him. Her face pressed against his chest as she slid her own arm around him, her hand sliding over his back and caressing him through his shirt.

“You're not alone,” She continued. His great body shuddered against her own and she gave him a bit of a squeeze, wishing she could see his face. Reaching she slid her fingers through his hair, his warm breath fanning against the top of her head and under her ear she could hear his heart beat beating strong and fast. Then the trembling began and Emma tightened her hold, using a little brute force to pull herself up higher against his body. She caressed his short cropped hair, “It's okay. Shh...”

His eyes once closed opened and held hers, looking a little glassy and out of sorts. Her heart went out to him, wishing she could take his pain away. Not the physical ones, but the deep seeded emotional ones that went a lot deeper.

 

[Fish_Tales]

Emma was awake, or maybe he squeezed her too tightly and awakened her. Either way, he didn’t care. He was holding her. He needed to hold her.

“Easy.” She whispered, “I'm right here, Liam.”

She was wriggling in the embrace of his arm. He loosened his grip a little and she rolled to lay flat on her back. He squeezed her more tightly again and finally she rolled fully around to face him. He knew he was squeezing her too tightly, but the pill was starting to affect him. His faculties and any sense of delicateness were disappearing. The Voice was struggling too.

Enjoy it, Hansen. Canoodling with your professor.

Come….to….say….goodbye….have….you.

Fuck her now before she’s dead.

Fuck….you.

She brought him back as she had always done recently.

“You're not alone.”

She was pressed against him and her arm was around his body, her hand caressing his back. He could still feel that, thank God. The Palanozol had to get rid of the Voice. If it didn’t, he didn’t know what he could do.

If you get rid of me you get rid of your edge.

I….can….hardly….hear….you….

Her hand was rubbing through his hair now. It felt good. She felt good. Smelt good. He didn’t want to embarrass himself, but there was nothing he could do. He was glad he had come to bed dressed because there would be no mistaking how good he thought she felt. The hard evidence was pressing into her belly.

Hard evidence?

He smiled to himself.

“I’m….sorry….” he said. “Irish.”

“It's okay. Shh...” she said. She even sounded good, better than the Voice.

He thought he was going to burn up. He knew the symptoms of the drug so he was not afraid. It was the same every time. This time was different though, Emma was with him. Usually, he was under the supervision of someone who knew him, like Laura or Bonnie or even Carl had been there before. He hoped he didn’t scare her. He hoped….

She hugged him more tightly and pulled herself up along his body until their faces were just apart. He could just see her face in the glow of light provided by the various appliances. He was aware of her breasts pressing into his chest. Of her legs against his. Of their groins together, the heat there making it almost unbearable for him.

He kept looking at her face. Actually, there were three faces, an effect of the drug, but he didn’t care.

They were all beautiful.

They were all her.

All Emma.

And she was alive.

He was shaking, he was hot and he was sweating. He gripped her even more tightly and kept staring at her. He could have closed his eyes, but he wanted to keep looking at her.

No point being embarrassed now. She was a woman. Surely she could forgive him being aroused by lying in bed with her, their bodies squeezed tightly together. There was nothing for her to worry about.

Was there?

Her face was so close to his and she looked so beautiful.

The middle one, that must be her face.

He ran his arm along her back and up to the nape of her neck. He pushed her head towards him.

I’ll feel which one it is.

He felt her breath on his face and his eyes tried to focus.

“Sorry, Irish,” he said breathing a little heavily, "but I have to take my chances....when I....can get them."

He followed the warmth of her breath and leaned his head forward, kissing her lips softly. It felt good, so good.... He pulled back to look at her.

He tried to smile, but he didn’t know what his feelings were. He ended up smirking.

“And they say I’m not romantic.”

He leant forward and kissed her again.

Fuck it. May as well make the most of it.

 

[EklectikChik]

He was so hot, the heat off of his body rolling over her own and making her own heat, dampening with sweat. But she wouldn't let him go or wiggle away, she told herself. She would be there for him, even if the press of his hard arousal pressed between them felt highly intimate. He was all male, she had to hand him that. Every part of him strong and hard as he squeezed her.

Holding his gaze was easy for Emma. His eyes, even glassy from the drugs were so attractive and then his hand was moving up her body, cupping the back of her head. The cool strands of her hair sifted gently through his fingers as he pulled her closer.


“Sorry, Irish,” he said breathing a little heavily, "but I have to take my chances....when I....can get them."

Her heart did a funny little flip, her nerves humming to life. Deep in her belly she warmed, her body reacting to his nearness, tingling until she shivered. And then his lips pressed to hers, his breath warm and good. She let out a little gasp of surprise, but didn't fight him. It felt good, his lips gentle despite his internal struggle.

Then he drew back, a small smirk playing on his lips.

“And they say I’m not romantic.”

She opened her mouth say something in return, but his mouth came back down and smothered whatever she had to say. She promptly forgot what it was as he stole her breath away. This kiss was a little firmer, his mouth drawing on her fuller bottom lip. She flicked it with her tongue, tentatively kissing him, torn between pulling away and easing the pressure or going for it. It had been many years since the last time she'd kissed a man and to Liam she would probably be considered a virgin compared to the likes of Laura. But she couldn't hold back with him.

Her mouth was soft and pliant, giving as much as he took. Shyly her tongue kept returning, tracing his bottom lip, tugging at it with her teeth and then slowly sliding against his own in a sensual slow dance as she opened up fully for him.

Her body pressed closely, aching as she tightened her hold. Without thinking she slid a thigh over his hips and rocked her hips against his, whimpering softly.

 

[Fish_Tales]

He was kissing her and it felt good. Damn good. He knew it would. His reserve was draining away. He was not “drugged” in the true sense of the word. His thought processes were gentler, more caring. He was still adjusting to the drug and his brain was whirring with images. Laura had described it as rebooting.

He was kissing Emma and she was returning his kiss, offering herself to him as he drew her bottom lip into his mouth. Her tongue was probing his mouth softly, shyly at first and then with added vigour as she seemed to grow more confident and willing.

He gently curled her long, brown hair in his fingers as he pressed her head to him. He looked into her eyes, brown he remembered, but he couldn’t see their colour in the near darkness of the room. He surprised himself, recalling the colour of her eyes.

I must have paid attention.

The fact that he was still fully clothed, coupled with the heat of their bodies pressed together and the effect of the drug, meant that he had a very light sheen of sweat on him. She was beautiful. She wasn’t his type of woman or so he thought. But then, what was his type of woman…..? He’d had many women, but now was not the time….

Her leg moved over his thigh and she pressed herself to him with more urgency. She was rocking her hips and making low, whimpering noises.

She only had the t shirt on and he could feel her body through it. If he hadn’t left his clothes on, she would be in danger of….

What? She’s an adult. If she wants to fuck….

He didn’t want to take advantage of her. He knew from experience that people who were scared were more likely to cling to the ones who were protecting them. It heightened all of their senses. He had no doubt that he was more attractive to her because he was helping her, protecting her.

He took his hand from her head, but continued kissing her. He then ran it down her back and to her practically bare ass cheeks. The t shirt had ridden up to her hips, so there was only her underwear between his hand and the smooth skin of her firm buttocks. He pushed her into him, responding with some small bucking of his own.

He rolled over a little, so that his weight was on half of her body. He could feel her breast pressing into his chest. Her leg was around his his and he moved his hand onto her thigh.

He paused from kissing her for a moment.

“I’m….not... sure….I’m in….such….good….nick….for….this….Irish,” he said.

But he continued to hold her and rock his hips. His jeans and underwear felt very tight now as he became harder.

I hope this is the right thing.

But he continued kissing her, pushing his tongue further into her warm mouth and driving his groin into her.

Hard to go back from here….

 

[EklectikChik]

She clung to him, even as he rolled and pressed his weight into her, his body solid and hot. She could feel the sweat of his body dampening his shirt, making it cling. Her fingers tugged at the material, wanting it off. Wanting bare flesh under her eager hands.

As he pressed and rubbed against her own tilting hips, she gasped and whimpered against his mouth. He swallowed the sweet noises as their mouths clung. His large hands kept on caressing the full tightness of her bottom. In turn, she pulled her thigh up higher, hooking her leg more firmly around as they ground together, dry humping like worked up teenagers. The rough texture of his pants was rubbing her all too sweetly and pretty soon she was having a hard time thinking all together.

"Liam." She whimpered, her body pulsing as heat spread through her core.

“I’m….not... sure….I’m in….such….good….nick….for….this….Irish."

She knew it had to be bad...but it felt so good. But he was under the influence of drugs. What if he resented them doing this in once it wore off. What if she couldn't look him straight in the eyes anymore because she was taking advantage of his weakness. What if he truly didn't want her?

His words seemed to cool her a little and she forced herself to relax, pulling her mouth away to suck in a long deep breath. His face dropped lower to her neck and she bucked under him, her fingers curling into the material of his shirt as she let out a yelp and shuddered under him as her nipples tightened painfully. "Oh!" Her voice hit the side of his ear, loud and clear, followed by a delicious little whimper.

Stopping was easier said than done. Her panties were embarrassingly wet. Never in her life had she felt so on fire! Her fingers tugged worked until she'd bunched up his shirt around his shoulder and kept on pulling. "For the love, Liam, take it off!"

 

[Fish_Tales]

He felt like he was going to explode. He was hot. He was sweaty.

And he was now as aroused as any man could be.

I’m supposed to be protecting you.

The Voice had gone, but now his mind was jumping around, the faces of different women coming into his mind for seconds and then being replaced by others. It was the risk with the drug. His mind would recall similar incidents of the same emotional tenor to whatever he was experiencing at the time. That was why he always needed supervision and why he couldn’t do anything for twelve hours as the drug took effect. If he was fighting, he would recall old missions and the results could be catastrophic. It could affect whatever he was doing either negatively or positively, depending on the previous experiences he’d had. It was reconstructing the memory of such experiences so as to shape his future behaviour. He thought again of Laura's rebooting analogy just as she popped into his head.

He tried to focus on Emma and she started to steady in his mind. There were a few more flicks of his mental Rolodex, but ultimately it was Emma’s face that both his eyes and his mind could focus on.

Just as well, I’m dry humping her like a dog on a football.

His mind cleared a little when she yelped in his ear.

"Oh!"

For a moment, he thought he’d hurt her somehow with his weight on her, but it didn’t sound like pain. It may have been pain, but it was pain borne of pleasure. She was making small whimpering noises now and nuzzling him.

If I keep this up, I'll have to go through with it.

He smirked to himself.

A man's gotta do, what....

He genuinely didn’t know if he had the strength or if his mind would allow him to make love to her, but the heat between his legs wouldn’t leave him now. The only way to relieve the pressure of his desire, of his lust was to take her the way she wanted to be taken.

His shirt was bunched in her fists and she was pulling it up his belly, over his chest and then she stopped at his shoulders. She was having a problem getting it off with his weight on her.

"For the love of God, Liam, take it off!"

Here goes. This is it. The protector becomes the hunter….

He couldn’t help, but use some humour to relieve some of his tension, both physical and emotional.

“Need a little help there, Irish?” he said. He was feeling better. The focus on their sexual excitement meant that his brain was thinking of only one thing: fucking Emma. It probably wasn’t sustainable in the long term, but for now it would do.

Pleasantly enough.

He rolled off her and onto his back. He then sat up as if doing a sit up and pulled the t shirt up and over his head and threw it on the floor. She was a lot smaller than he was, so he was easily able to put an arm under her and scoop her up so that she was now lying on top of him. He then ran his hands slowly along her thighs, up over her ass cheeks and hips and along her ribcage until he finally got to the bottom of her t shirt which had ridden up to just below her breasts.

Again, he sat up and felt his muscles ripple under her belly. He gripped the shirt and then pulled it up over her head and shoulders and threw that on the ground as well.

She was now lying on top of him, bare belly to bare belly. It did little to help him with his erection. He was harder than he’d been the whole night. He still had his jeans on and she still had her panties on. He put his arms around her and squeezed her into him and raised his head to kiss her. She was so small and light that he hardly felt her and his embrace felt like it was going to crush her.

As he kissed her, he ran his hand down her back and to the top of her panties. He slowly began to pull them down. He wanted this badly now, like nothing that he’d wanted for a long time.

I think I’m going to fuck the professor.

I'd better get an A....

 

[EklectikChik]

Emma loved the taste of him. His kisses seemed to drown everything else out until in the end it was just him and her. Skin on skin, mostly, finally. He felt so good, so solid that it was hard to imagine that at that point he wasn't exactly in the best of conditions.

His touch as making her rub against him, her small hands sliding against the hot skin of his shoulders and sides, caressing whatever bits of skin she could get to that wasn't pressed to her front as their tongues dueled. She curled hers around his, then flicked the roof on his mouth and nipped at his lips.

Big hands began to tug at her panties just as she slid her mouth over his chin and pressed kisses along his jaw line, dipping low to taste the slight saltiness of his skin before she nipped at his earlobe. She wasn't Laura, she wasn't smooth and experienced. She wasn't drop dead gorgeous. She actually surprised herself for getting naked and not being a complete mess about it. But he wasn't letting shyness take hold, instead driving her need further as those clever fingers dipped down the edges of her panties and squeezed her bare bottom.

From her position, straddled over his thighs and pressed against him, there was no way those panties were coming down. She smiled against his skin as he tugged and pushed and got nowhere. It struck her as amusing, through the haze of passion.

"Need a little help there, Liam?" She quipped breathlessly, smiling sweetly as she pressed her lips to his again, drowning whatever response he could have. Her hips kept rocking, rubbing against the roughness of his fly which was hitting her clit just right way through her panties and making her shiver. Moaning, she sucked in her already flat tummy and pulled her middle up every so slightly, even to drive her hands between them as she began to pop the button of his pants.

She should have been shy, but as the button gave, she slowly sat up, panting softly, her lips moist swollen from their kisses. All pretty and pale with her long hair drifting over her shoulders, she sat on his thighs and with trembling fingers began to unzip him jeans, the rasp of metal and on metal almost deafening. This was it. The panties came off after this and there would be no turning back.

 

[Fish_Tales]

It was easy.

Making love to her.

Her mouth covered his and her tongue was probing, looking for more of him. She was hungry for him and it was just as well because both of them needed to satisfied. His mind was well and truly focused on her alone. Maybe Emma had done him a favour. The workings of his mind under the drug could proceed in the background because he had something that needed immediate attention.

Her.

He could feel her soft hands sliding over his body, her touch making him harder and wanting her more. If their kisses grew anymore passionate, they would devour each other. She was lightly pulling on his bottom lip with her teeth.

Damn those panties. He wanted them off. Now.

She was kissing his face, running her lips onto his chin and then along his jaw, moving back to his ear. His fumbling with her underwear had at least got him to the stage where he could hold her smooth butt checks in his hands. He could almost hold a whole cheek in one of his hands, but he wanted….

….more.

"Need a little help there, Liam?" she said.

Touche, he thought. It only made him hornier that at this moment she could share his sense of humour. The rocking of her hips was driving him mad. He wanted to pound her. Use her. She was nothing like he’d met before and he wanted to release himself into her.

Careful, buddy. This is no one night fuck….

She sucked in her stomach and reached her hand down between them. Her hand found the button of his jeans and she opened it. He drew in his breath. Her hand felt good on the skin of his lower belly. Its coolness only made him want it more, wanted her hand to go lower, to take hold of him.

She slid back slightly and sat up so that she was sitting on his thighs with her legs folded beneath her. In the dim green light he could see her pale nakedness. Her breasts. Her hair trailing down over her shoulders. Beautifully dishevelled.

Her hands went down to the crotch of his jeans. He could feel them through the thick material and it made his cock twitch in anticipation. She found the zipper and slid it down and he felt relief at being free of the constriction. He placed his hands on her hips, watching her undo his pants. He couldn’t quite reach her panties now, she was too far down the bed.

“What about those, then?” he asked. His voice was hoarse now.

He’d never felt so alive. He was almost aching with desire now.

For her.

Emma.

All the other thoughts had left his mind.

Only she remained.

 

[EklectikChik]

She bit down on her lower lip as she concentrated on her task. Button, zipper, his wonderful hands touching the tops of her thighs as she wiggled back to giver herself some room to work. The further she backed away, his fingers slid down to her knees and then off.

“What about those, then?”

A small breathless laugh met his question and then flushed. "Patience is a virtue."

Only she wasn't very patient and neither was he. "Lets..." She tugged at his pants and was relieved when he lifted his hips for her. Cool fingers touched his skin as she dipped her fingers into the waist of his pants and underwear and pulled. "Get...these..."

She let out a grunt as she struggled a second and finally cursed and moved lower until she stood at the edge of the bed and pull. The jeans came off, tossed aside and her eyes hungrily took him in. Hooking her fingers into her panties, she kept her gaze focused on him and wiggled out of the flimsy material. Naked and oh so ready, she slowly crawled back up his body, her knees on either side of his body, pausing to dip down and kiss his beautiful cock.

He tensed, his hips rolling up and she smiled. Even in her inexperience, she wasn't a complete innocent. She knew he'd like it as she wrapped a hand around his hot flesh and stroked him as she peppered his lower abdomen with moist kisses, her breath fanning across his skin.

Teasing him was fun, but she wanted to be closer still. Wanted to feel him against her own aching body. Maybe next time he'd let her play. If there would be a next time. Maybe he could show her a thing or two. "Liam." She sighed as she slid up and pressed her bare breasts to his chest, her hot slick sex intimately nudging against his hardness.

All flushed and glowing, she tasted his mouth again and moaned as their naked bodies rubbed against one another. Reaching for more, her hips lifted to wiggle closer, her thighs flexing as his cock pressed lower, to the hot center of her. She gasped and squirmed, slowly sitting back as his fingers dug into her hips. "Oh yeees." She hissed out, closing her eyes to enjoy the sweet feel of him.

 

[Fish_Tales]

She slid down the bed, away from him so that she could remove his pants. He wanted to touch her, but he felt better when she ran her fingers into the top of his underpants and started to try and pull them and his jeans off in one motion. She was struggling a little and it wasn’t helped by both her weight and his own.

“Let’s….Get….These…..” she said.

She was mumbling and cursing to herself and moved herself down to stand at the end of the bed. He raised his hips and finally she was able to pull them off. She looked at his naked body and then pulled her panties down to stand there in her own glorious nakedness.

She wasn’t there for long. She placed her hands and knees on either side of him and slowly began to crawl back up his body. She paused with her head above his cock and he thought he was going to die from the anticipation. Then she lowered her head and he felt her warm breath on it. He felt her kiss it and he nearly erupted then, like a virgin teenager. He thrust upwards, but her lips were no longer there.

Emma was teasing him.

Her cool soft hand circled his shaft and began to slowly pump it. It’s small size only heightened his pleasure and he feel the precum oozing out of him. He had been in this state for what felt like an eternity and his body was crying out in response to her touch.

Now he felt her warm breath around the top of where his cock joined his body. She showered warm, wet kisses on his lower abdomen, all the while pumping his shaft. The head of his cock was becoming slippery with anticipation. The kisses were making his body tremble and he bucked in response to them, uncontrollably hoping to elicit further pleasures.

She sighed his name and then let go of his cock. He was disappointed for a moment, but then she began to further slide up his body. She slid all the way up until she could kiss him again. He looked into her brown eyes, the dull green light of the apartment bouncing of the golden flecks in them. For all their nakedness, their urgent passion, she was still Emma and that made him even harder. He gently kissed her again, looking into her eyes so that he would remember this. Drug or no drug, this moment would be indelibly marked on his brain.

And that’s the way I want it.

He could feel her breasts on his chest, the nipples hard on his skin. Their hips were joined together, and even in this position, he could feel her wetness on his cock. She was breathing hard and moaning and eventually the movements of their desire led to his cock being right at the entrance to her cunt. The promise of warmth. Connection. Release. That’s what he wanted and he was sure she wanted it as well.

He felt her hands on his chest and belly as she pushed herself and sat back up. Glorious, he thought, I can see her and fuck her. Her thighs would have squeezed a smaller man to death, but Hansen was not a small man.

He grabbed her hips and very gently lifted her. He didn’t have to lift her much as her slit was poised directly above his cock. He moved a little and then let her come down slowly. She was so wet that he slid in easily, and the head of his cock felt the warm embrace of her cunt. He felt his head sliding past her walls and his shaft rubbing on her soft swollen lips.

"Oh yeees,” she said, almost breathless.

It pleased him that she was enjoying it and he slowly bucked his hips to push his cock deeper and deeper into her warm depths. His cock felt so stiff that he felt like he was going to punch out the other side of her.

He looked at her, leaning back on his belly and thighs with closed eyes and impaled on him to her core. He took one hand off her hips and then gently ran his thumb to her slit, just above where his cock entered her. He gently inserted it into the slick gap and then ran it up until it rested on her clitoris. She was very wet and it only increased his desire. Then, as he pumped her with his cock, gently bucking his hips, he began to gently rub her clit, occasionally gathering some more of their juices so that it slid easily.

He didn’t how much of this he could take, but watching her above him, with his cock thrusting into her and his thumb working her clit, he thought this was as perfect as anything could get.

Anything.

 

[EklectikChik]

What had promised to be a rough night with Emma trying to comfort him now seemed perfect. It didn't take her sharp mind to realize that their connection went deeper than just the physical, but in that moment, everything seemed utterly amazing. He was like the other piece of her puzzle, fitting her so perfectly that her body sang. Every nerve ending seem to crackle with pleasure, awareness and need of him. Liam, her protector, her friend and now her lover.

Sitting up against his lips with her tight little bottom resting on his upper thighs, Emma met his thrusts with her own rocking and rolling hips. Her hands splayed against his belly and she moaned deeply. His thumb only added to the sensation as he toyed with her clit and made her gasp and whimper. Dropping her head back, she arching her back and changed her position to lean back, moving her hands to his thighs instead. With legs spread wider, she took him deeper, her muscles squeezing him tight as she rode him. Each thrust and roll made her full breasts bounce deliciously as she took him again and again.

His name passed her lips again and before long it wasn't enough, she needed the warmth of his body against her own. With a sultry moan, she pressed close again, her mouth grazing his chest, neck and shoulder, sucking and nipping at his skin. Her knees drew higher along his sides, riding him just that little bit harder. The pleasure that burst through her with every movement drew soft little sexy noises from her throat as she clenched all around him. “Ooh yes, Liam.”

 

[Fish_Tales]

Emma was lost in her own world. He didn’t mind that. It was the point after all. Pleasure. He kept thrusting into her, all sense of decorum or concern abandoned. She was moving so much, rocking on his cock, that he thought she would fall off him. She had her hands pressed to his stomach to steady herself, but it only made him crave her more. He could feel her wetness running down his cock, to where his thumb was playing with her clit. He held her steady with his other hand on her hip as he pumped his cock deeper. He was plumbing her warm depths, yet he still wanted more.

He couldn’t get deep enough.

He would never get deep enough.

He wouldn’t be happy till he could split her with his cock.

This would have to do.

The feeling on his cock as her cunt clenched around it brought gasps from him. She shifted further backwards so that her hands were now behind her on his thighs. He watched as she arched her back, her hair falling down behind her and her firm full breasts thrust out in pleasure. Her legs were now spread wider, so he could push into her further. He couldn’t believe there was a further, but her cunt clenched around his cock, making his thrusting even more pleasurable. He was trying to pleasure her clit, but she was too far back now and he allowed himself to enjoy the sensations – his cock sliding in and out of her.

She called his name and then moved back to cover his body with hers. He liked the feeling of her light weight on him. Her mouth was everywhere: his mouth, his chest, his neck, his shoulder. Parts of his body were stimulated that had never been stimulated before.

She drew her knees up beside his hips, granting him deeper access to her warm wet depths. Her cunt was spasming around his cock, almost hanging on to it when he tried to pull out. She was making soft purring noises.

“Ooh yes, Liam,” she cried.

He wanted to enjoy this for himself, to give her pleasure and watch it. He wanted to see that he could be good. Gentle.

She was light, too light for him. He held on to her knees at his hips and while she had her arms around his neck, he flipped her over.

Now he was on top.

He held her knees in the crook of either of his arms, holding her legs up and widening the access for his body. He looked down at her for a moment, lowered his head and brushed her lips with his for a moment and then began to pump his cock into her again. He watched her breasts bounce with each thrust and her face was framed by the splayed brown hair all over the pillow. He pushed into her so hard that his pelvic bone was grinding into her small body.

“Oh, Emma,” he cried as he kept pumping.

It was almost the first time he’d called her by her real name. He wouldn’t have noticed that.

He wouldn’t have noticed if the world had come to an end.

All he cared about was fucking her.

Emma.

 

[EklectikChik]

Emma let out a soft grunt as he flipped her followed by a squeal as he drove deeper. Her eyes widened and gazed up at him, reveling in the feet of him. His kiss was sweet, the sound of her name on his lips even sweeter. At least he knew, he was there with her.

“Yeeesss!” She moaned back, his hips grinding against her own and knowingly or not, pushing against her clit. She was pushing her further, his cock so hard and pulsing that every thrust was making her shudder. “Liam...” She breathed, her hands moving up his arms and shoulders, touching his chest as she tweaked his flat nipples.

The aching pressure was driving her crazy, but his weight made it impossible to do more than dig her shoulders back into the beg and thrust her chest up as her head tilted back. “Oh, oh, uuugh, Liam!”

She was there, the white hot heat pleasure crashing over her. She screamed, her legs tightening and tensing against his arms as her tight wet slit milked his cock, begging for him to fill her. She needed him to fill her, give her all that he had to give as she was doing for him.

 

[Fish_Tales]

Hansen was worried that he might hurt Emma, such was the force with which he was pumping his cock into her. She looked at him, but her face betrayed no pain, only pleasure.

“Yeeesss!” she moaned at him as he ground his hips into her small body, pushing deeper and deeper with each thrust. “Liam….”

Her hands were all over him now, sending further tingles through his body. She grabbed his nipples and gave them a gentle tweak. He could feel his nuts hitting the bottom of her ass crack as his cock bottomed out in her cunt. The muscles in there were milking his cock, searching for the nectar of his release.

She was tensing beneath him and he knew that she was close to cumming. His urge was so overwhelming, his desire so primal, that he was not going to slow. He didn’t want to slow. He couldn’t. He wanted to fuck her till he could fill her with pent up lust.

“Oh, oh, uuugh, Liam!” she cried.

Then she screamed in orgasm and her legs tensed against his arms. He held them there, keeping her legs spread as he continued to slam into her. She was writhing, dancing on the end of his cock as the climax washed over her. He ran his hands up her legs and grabbed her ankles to hold her legs even higher and wider, her small feet on either side of his face. His large hands encircled her ankles and held them tight. He continued pumping into her, grunting with the force of his own exertion.

He felt it coming. He wanted to cum now, with her. He was thrusting into her cunt, still spasming in the last throes of her own orgasm, when he felt his balls tighten and he knew he was going to cum. He wanted to fill her. Drown her. He looked down at her face, flushed and hot from the exertion of cumming and he could hold back no longer.

“Emma….fuck…!!!” he cried.

He smashed his cock into her one last time and held it there for a few seconds as he felt the liquid ribbons of his lust spurt from his cock into her. Again he thrust and more spurt out. He felt like it would never end, shot after shot of cum splashing into her cunt, coating the warm depths he’d been pumping. His breathing was ragged and he continued pumping his hips into her.

Slowly, he stopped pumping, but his cock continued twitching, only little droplets now, oozing out and into her. He slid his hands down her legs and they fell either side of him. He slowly lowered himself on top of her, careful to hold his weight with his forearms so that he wouldn’t make her feel uncomfortable. He swept a strand of hair away from her face, and then kissed her softly on the mouth, looking at her the whole time. He brought a hand across and gently cradled her chin in it.

“I could think of worse things than being shackled to you, Irish,” he said.

Again he lowered his head slowly, her chin in his hand. He kissed her forehead softly, then her nose and finally her lips. He stayed there for a few seconds before rolling off her and lying on his back, his breathing gettingback to normal. He felt for her body, slid his arm under her and then drew her towards him, so that she was on her side facing him and could rest her head on his arm and chest.

“I surely could do this every night,” he said.

And he meant it.

 

[EklectikChik]

“I could think of worse things than being shackled to you, Irish."

She smiled gently and felt her heart melt as he kissed her softly, his lips just brushing and lingering and then their lips meeting for a sweet kiss. She hadn't pegged him as tender. Passionate, yes, but never would have guessed this side of him. Small warning bells went off in her head as she lay boneless under him. She was warm and happy and completely satisfied. He'd exceeded any expectations she could have had.

As they rolled, she snuggled against his body, pressing her lips to his damp chest and sighed, then stifled a sudden yawn.

“I surely could do this every night.”

She nuzzled his skin and grinned, her eyes looking up to study his face. He indeed looked more relaxed and at peace. She was sure it was mostly due to the medicine, but she was sure the sex hadn't hurt the situation. She just hoped he didn't regret it the next day. "I'll take that as a compliment. I'm not exactly experienced in this field." She murmured softly, earning her a cocked eyebrow.

Slightly she shook her hand and hugged his waist, this time actually yawning.
"Don't worry, I wasn't a virgin." She let out a little snort and reached up to caress the stubble of his cheek. "Close your eyes...try to get some rest. We're going to need it."

Her mind was swiftly shutting down, blackness of sleep seeping in and taking over. Before she could formula more thoughts or anything else to say, her eyes closed and she slid into sleep. Her soft breaths fanned against his chest as she lay cuddled along his side, warm and safe.

 

[Fish_Tales]

Hansen felt good, better than he had in a long time. Shit, he felt a lot fucking better than he had in a long time.

She was snuggled against him and, at this point in time, there was nothing else he’d rather be doing. She was looking at him, he could feel it, but he didn’t want to look over. He felt self-conscious, in case he’d done something wrong. He hoped it wasn’t the Palazonol making him think that. He didn’t need self doubt and second guessing to creep into his makeup. Maybe it was just her. If he didn’t care, he wouldn’t be worried. Fuck and forget Carl used to say. He wasn’t like that normally, but he had done it.

His mind returned to the bed. To her. She was warm and she was nuzzling his chest.

She took a breath and spoke. Of course, he smiled to himself. She’d been quiet for a few minutes, getting her breathing back. He actually liked it now. Her voice, the way she made sure they were communicating.

"I'll take that as a compliment. I'm not exactly experienced in this field,” she said softly.

He felt like saying something smart. She had done very well. For him, anyway. Not that he was marking her.

Professor Hopson, you get an A plus in fucking. Let’s see what the next assignment is….

Fuck, his head was going mad with frivolities.

He shook it slightly. He hoped it was his feelings for her that took some weight off his usual cynical gravitas and not the drug, otherwise he’d be useless.

She hugged him a little tighter, her arm over him.

"Don't worry, I wasn't a virgin," she giggled, rubbing his face with her soft hands. "Close your eyes...try to get some rest. We're going to need it."

She let out a soft yawn as she spoke.

He smiled.

“Sounds like I wasn’t exciting enough for you, Irish,” he laughed lightly. Then his voice got softer and more serious. “I mean, Emma.”

He lay on his back and she was quiet, her breathing rapidly acquiring the regular rhythm of sleep. She felt warm next to him, comforting. All he wanted to do was protect her.

But he had wanted the same for his wife and daughter and he hadn’t been able to do that. She would have to find out about them at some stage. Later. He could tell her later. For now, they had to try and find a way to finish the vaccine and then get the formula either made or sent to places where it could be made.

For everyone.

That would fuck them.

And then….

He didn’t want to think about that. Not till the vaccine was finished and Emma was safe.

But then….

He lay there, one arm under his head, staring at the ceiling, thinking.

The story of my life.

Thinking.

He also had to do something about the shackles. If the shackles remained, then Emma would be in too much danger as she’d have to stay close to him. He didn’t want that. Especially not after tonight.

He hadn’t meant for this to happen. C’est la vie, the French said. Then again, those fuckers ate snails and frogs, so who’s to say it was a good idea?

He wasn’t going to spend time worrying about it. There were bigger fish to fry.

Or frog’s legs?

He rolled his eyes at himself.

I hope the drug hasn’t replaced The Voice with Robin Williams.

Who’s Robin Williams?

Forget about it.

He was sick of thinking.

But at least they were his thoughts.

For now, there was nothing to do, but stare at the ceiling and enjoy the warmth of the body of the beautiful woman next to him. He was enjoying it a little too much, he thought. He could feel the hardness between his legs. This time it wasn’t such a problem. It was less urgent, more a pleasant inconvenience than a hunger that had to be satiated.

He smiled to himself in the darkness.

I can live with that.

He tried not to think anymore and kept his eyes on the ceiling.

And let the drug do its job.

 

[EklectikChik]

Emma slept harder than she had in weeks. Every since she'd found out about the virus. Her mind took a moment to register her surroundings as she blinked sleepy eyes and felt the warm solid body beneath her own. A slow flush crept up her cheeks as realization hit. She was naked and sprawled out over Liam's solid form.

She took a deep breath and slowly shifted, biting back a moan of pleasure as his skin rubbed against her own. Memories of their night together flashed through her memory and she smiled. He'd teased her about it not being exciting enough for her. If he only knew! It had been more than amazing for Emma and truth be know, she wanted more.

As her eyes adjusted to the dim lightly, she gazed at his sleeping face. He looked good, relaxed and completely out of it. His breathing was steady under her cheeks, one big hand splayed across her bare backside. She fought the grin that threatened to appear and instead carefully shifted off his body trying not to wake him. She needed to take care of business and was extremely sticky in embarrassing places. A quick shower would solve that.

Off the bed, she located the shirt she'd tossed aside and pressed it to her naked front. Just in case. She didn't want to make it a habit of strutting around in the nude. On tip toes, she moved away, strangely not worried about the fact that she was still flashing him a view of enticing bare bottom all the way up until she entered the small bathroom.

She went through the motions, dreading the cold water as it hit her skin. Her gasp echoed in the stall. How did he get used to this?!

 

[Fish_Tales]

Hansen’s body might have slept, but his mind didn’t. It never did. He could think in his sleep and remember everything afterwards. It should have made him tired, driven him mad with exhaustion, but it didn’t. It was the way it was.

After being in Jimmy’s office with all the cameras monitoring the city, there had been something niggling at the back of Hansen’s mind. Now he knew what it was.

The cameras were not Jimmy’s, they were the SPF’s, used to monitor as much as was possible of what was happening in the city. Jimmy had tapped into the feed somehow. Hansen didn’t know how and it wouldn’t have mattered if it was all explained to him. The important thing was that he’d noticed one on the bar where he’d first met Emma.

Was it a coincidence or had they been watching the place because they knew he and Carl met there? Carl had pretended to work there for months, but then it would have been odd that they hadn’t apprehended him. Hansen himself was a frequent visitor there and they had made no attempt to try and get them. Maybe they wanted them all? It was a thought, but realistically, if they took out Carl and him, then it would be a major body blow to the team. They all had important skills, but they were the muscle. No muscle, meant the they couldn’t do as much damage.

He was still thinking about that, when he felt Emma slide away from him carefully, to not wake him. He felt a pang of loss as her warmth retreated, but he figured she was going to the bathroom so he let her go and pretended to be still asleep.

He had to break their electronic shackles. There was no way around it. He couldn’t knowingly place Emma in more danger than she was already in.

Especially after last night.

The shackles needed to be disabled so that she could work on the virus antidote and he could work on what he did best: roughing things up. To break the shackles, he would need to get into the SPF building that housed the main computer. That was easier said than done, but he could do it. He had breached a similar security system in South America once. It was messy. It was dangerous. But it could be done. Nothing was impossible.

With a little risk and pain.

He listened to Emma moving about in the bathroom and smiled when he heard her draw breath sharply.

Cold showers take a lot of getting used to.

He knew what he had to do. He would wait for Emma to finish in the bathroom and then he would clean himself up and have something to eat. He smiled again. She would insist on it.

He lay there with his arms folded behind his head, looking at the ceiling. He felt like whistling and he nearly did, but he was going to whistle an Elvis tune.

Shit.

They had a lot to do today and Hansen was always at his best when he had a lot to do.

Always.

 

[EklectikChik]

Emma finished up and toweled herself off, wrapping herself up before combing out her hair. She struggled a little to pick out the knots, but finally got it smoothed down and towel dried. She'd never been a huge make up lover, but she did miss certain essentials that added to her femininity. Now after their shared night, she wished she could look a little nicer. She wasn't sure she could pull off sexy, but looking pretty never hurt anyone.

She frowned slightly as she brushed her teeth and spit, rinsing out her mouth. She was worrying about looking nice for Liam when people were in serious danger. Shaking her head, she shoved away her silly thoughts and sighed. Returning to the room and noticing that he was awake. A wave of self consciousness hit and she once again was angry with herself. Was one night of sex...really really good sex...going to turn her into a silly girl? She inwardly groaned. Maybe.

Clutching the towel close she smiled and padded towards the bed, taking a seat on the edge next to him. “Morning. Shower is all yours, but I will bug you for some clean clothes. Sure will be nice when I can wiggle back into my own wardrobe.”

A cool hand slid over his forehead , down his cheek and neck. “How do you feel? You feel so warm...I'm really hating your shower. I'd kill for a hot soak in...and a shave. I'm beginning to feel like a porcupine and another week from now you'll be sleeping with a gorilla.”

She made a face and resisted the urge to continue touching him. She wanted to. To touch his stubble and lean down to kiss his mouth. To crawl close and absorb his heat. She wanted to lay in bed all day and forget about their problems. For one more day. Just one. But she knew that wasn't going to be the case. She doubted that Liam ever lay around in bed for a day.

“So...what's on the agenda?”

 

[Fish_Tales]

Hansen just started wondering about the Palanozol and what it was doing to him, when Emma came out of the bathroom. He remained lying down with his hands behind his head. She had a towel wrapped around her and her dark, damp hair hung loosely. The cold shower had freshened her up and she looked perky and….beautiful.

Yes.

Beautiful.

He smiled at her as she came and sat on the edge of the bed.

“Morning. Shower is all yours, but I will bug you for some clean clothes. Sure will be nice when I can wiggle back into my own wardrobe.”

She ran a soft, cool hand over his forehead and around his face.

“How do you feel? You feel so warm...I'm really hating your shower. I'd kill for a hot soak in...and a shave. I'm beginning to feel like a porcupine and another week from now you'll be sleeping with a gorilla.”

He smiled gently at her, but with a sly movement of his eyes to hers.

“A gorilla, Irish?” he said. “Seemed like a tigress was already in my bed last night,” he said, bouncing out of bed before she could do anything about it. He winked at her from the other side of the bed. “I don’t know about clothes, either. If you ask me, you look just fine without them.”

He laughed, grabbed a towel from the cupboard behind him and wrapped it around his waist to preserve some modesty.

“I was thinking, next time I need nursing, I’m requesting you as my personal nurse,” he said, pursing his lips to hold back more of a sly smile. “Yep, never been looked after so well….”

He looked over at her sitting on the edge of the bed. She looked so beautiful. He could have done with some morning relief, but there were things to do….

He slid slowly slid across the bed towards her. He lay on his belly, the front of his body held up by his arms and his face so close to hers his breath was on her cheek.

He whispered.

“This changes nothing, Irish, ok?” he said. “Well, I mean it does, but you have nothing to be ashamed of. We have nothing to be ashamed of. You’re young, smart and beautiful and I’m a man. If something hadn’t happened last night, then I would have been worried.”

He moved even slowly closer and then gave her the lightest of kisses on the cheek, leaving his lips there for a few lingering moments.

“Ok?” he said.

Then he pushed himself up and jumped off the bed.

“So...what's on the agenda?” she said.

He clapped his hands together loudly. He was back in his element, doing something. And no Voice. So far. It would come back.

It always did.

But for now….

“Well, first things first, I’m going to have a shower,” he said. “And a coffee might be nice if you’re willing, Irish. You can’t be taking liberties with me without earning your keep.”

He gave her another wink.

“Then….,” he said, “we have a lot to do. I have an idea, but we have to go back and visit Jimmy again. We can talk as we walk.”

He flashed her a quick look to see her reaction. There would be more walking today, lots of it. He did have a car, he hadn't told her that yet, but they drew attention, so foot power it would be for now.

He gathered his pants off the floor and grabbed some fresh clothes for himself as he made himself ready for the bathroom. He paused.

“There should be some clothes for you in that cupboard there,” he said gesturing with his chin, “that’s where I keep the wardrobe for all my naked damsels in distress.”

He gave her another wink and then made an exaggerated motion of making an imaginary notch in an imaginary belt.

“Yessireee,” he said, putting on a fake Southern accent, “I never did bags me a professor before, and real goodun she was too.”

He jumped the bed and scooted into the bathroom before she could do anything about.

He poked his head back around the corner and winked.

“A reeeaaal goodun.”

 

[EklectikChik]

Emma was a little taken back by his energy. He was still Liam, only seemed a little less brooding and a lot more teasing. She smiled softly as he kissed her cheek, her pulse skittering as he spoke to her, teasingly and easing her worries. A startled giggled passed her lips as he called her a tigress.

The pretty flush made her skin glow as she watched him move around, getting an eye full of firm pale bottom before the towel came into place. Damn...she was enjoying that! She thought to herself and grinned.

“Well, first things first, I’m going to have a shower,” he said. “And a coffee might be nice if you’re willing, Irish. You can’t be taking liberties with me without earning your keep.”

She laughed as he winked. “Well, I suppose I could do that. I might even make you breakfast if you play your cards right.”

“Then….,” he continued, “we have a lot to do. I have an idea, but we have to go back and visit Jimmy again. We can talk as we walk.”

She groaned, but was still smiling. “Well, I suppose that's alright. Saving the world is a dirty job, so I won't complain too much.”

His next comment about damsels in distress made her laugh and roll her eyes. Grabbing a pillow she tossed it his way and stood, moving towards where he had indicated. “Go take a shower.” She grinned, “If I had know that having sex with me would make you this perky, I would have controlled my desire to take advantage of you while you were down.”

She shot him her own wink and watched him pop his head back into the bathroom as she started digging out some clothes. Minutes later she sported a pair of hip hugging jeans and a simple plain tshirt that hugged a curves a little more generously than the previous ones, but beggars couldn't be choosers.

Padding barefoot into the kitchen, she began preparing the coffee, thankful that he liked it as strong as she did and then fished out a couple of eggs and scrambled them up to go with some toast. It was simple, but she needed food and Liam was going to learn to enjoy it as well. If anything, they needed the energy. All the walking always left her starving.

“You better hurry up in there. Make yourself pretty and come eat up if you want to get anything done today.” She hollered out, setting his plate on the bench with his coffee along with her own before pulling on a pair of socks and her shoes.

 

[Fish_Tales]

He smiled as he heard her from the kitchen to make himself pretty.

Yeah right.

He looked at himself in the mirror. He hadn’t felt this good in a long while, months actually. The constant debating with The Voice left him tired and drained and he felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. It could have also been due to the fact that he and Emma had made love last night.

He smiled crookedly at his reflection.

Yeah, maybe that too.

The drug would still be working through his system. Besides losing The Voice and feeling more chipper than usual, there didn’t seem to be any negative effects. His temperature from last night was gone, but even that could have been attributable to Emma.

He quickly got through showering and dressed himself in the bathroom. Jeans and a black t shirt.

Fashion plate you are, Hansen.

He walked back out into the living area. The food smelled good. He’d hardly touched his dinner last night even though Emma had done a fine job of cooking. Eggs and toast.

And coffee.

Need coffee.

He threw his towel onto the bed and walked barefoot back over to the kitchen bench and sat next to her. She was fully dressed and ready to go and had started on her breakfast. He grabbed the coffee cup, tilted it towards her and took a sip. It was good, just how he liked it. Strong.

“Thanks, Irish,” he said. “This is just what I needed.”

She nodded.

He started to eat his breakfast, cutting very small pieces of both egg and toast and then chewing on them slowly. Food had never really interested him. He liked good food, for sure, but he viewed it more as a fuel source than something to be enjoyed. Eating always seemed to be getting in the way of doing something else, a waste of time.

After a few bites, he turned to Emma. He just needed to get it out and be over with it.

“Er, about last night. It doesn’t change anything. Not for me,” he said. “I’m not embarrassed and I won’t apologise. It felt good to me. How we proceed from here is up to both of us, but the most important thing is that we do this job. Ok?”

He took another sip of his coffee. He leant over and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

What’s with all the kissing, lovely-dovey stuff?

He felt good, that was all. He had someone to look after, something to do and it made him feel good.

He always needed something to do. Something to plan. Something to save.

Or someone.

Maybe this time I can get it right.

“Plus,” he said, cutting some more small pieces of food, “for breakfast and coffee like this, heck, you can stay around for as long as you like!”

He looked over at her and smiled again.

“Now,” he said, “We’re going to see Jimmy again today. He might have footage of the bar the night we met. I didn't think of that before. It might give us an idea of who is actually chasing us.”

He anticipated her question.

“It will definitely be the government and their SPF cronies, but if we know who it is they’re sending after us, then we will have a better idea of how to fight back or even stay clear of them until we can cause the maximum damage.”

He put some more food in his mouth, took a gulp of the quickly cooling coffee and swallowed. He was getting bouncy. His body was coursing with energy. They’d have to leave soon.

“Carl will meet us there,” he said, “I’ll call him on the way. Once we see what we have, we’ll have a better idea. Also….”

He looked across at her directly now.

“…. we have to do something about the shackles. It just won’t work with us having to be so close to each other with all the things we have to do. I think I know what to do, but I need to talk it over with the others. It’s dangerous and it’s only courtesy to find out if they want in or not.”

He finished his coffee.

“Now, just because I want to get the shackles off, doesn’t mean at night….”

He laughed at her and jumped off the stool. He went to the bed and picked up his shoes and then fished a pair of socks from the drawer beside it.

Once he had those on, he grabbed a light jacket. He sensed her looking at him.

“It’ll be warm enough for you with a t shirt,” he said. “especially with all the walking we’re going to be doing. I have to wear the jacket.”

He reached over to the drawer again and pulled out his gun. He popped the magazine from the handle, checked it and then popped it back in. Then he stood and stuffed the gun down the front of his pants, only the small handle poking out. Then he zipped the jacket hallway up his chest. He was dressed in black. All black.

“That’s why I need the jacket,” he said, softly.

He walked over and stood next to her adopting a mock parental tone.

“We can’t just sit here eating all day,” he said. “Let’s get going. Jimmy first, then we’ll see after that.”

He didn’t wait for her reaction. He turned and went to the door and held it open for her.

“Hurry, dear,” he said with a smile on his face, “we’re going for an excursion.”

 

[EklectikChik]

She watched him eat his breakfast between her own bites of food. Strangely enough, it felt good to be able to take care of him. She told herself it was because he was also taking care of her. Keeping her alive for as long as they were together. Still, she enjoyed the fact that she could do a little something in return. “You're welcome. I figured a little food couldn't hurt. We wouldn't want you getting too skinny, now would we?” She teased softly.

Sipping on her own coffee she flushed as he mentioned their night together again and sweetly kissed her cheek. His stubble tickled her cheek and made her skin tingle. She liked it, a lot. She turned to face him more fully, wanting to kiss him back, but a little too conscious of the fact that he was not only watching her, but gearing to go.

“I'm not embarrassed or ashamed.” She assured him, smiling back at him even as her cheeks colored. “And I understand that our job is important. I think I can restrain myself a little as long as you keep yourself covered at all times. Flash me those buns again and I can't be held accountable for my actions.”

She wiggled her brows and drained the rest of her coffee as she listened to him continue, his gaze warm, his eyes intense and full of intelligence and energy as he filled her in on their day. He was right about the shackles of course. As much as she enjoyed being near him, it was dangerous for both of them to be 'stuck' together.

“Makes sense...I'm okay with all of this. As long as we're careful, which I know you always are.”

He finished his own coffee and added.

“Now, just because I want to get the shackles off, doesn’t mean at night….”

She shook her head and laughed softly, standing to clear up their little mess as he got ready. When she returned, she couldn't help to watch him. He loved efficiently, conserving as much energy as he could with each action. He also looked good. Rather sexy in his black on black outfit. It was mildly irritating that men didn't have to put forth as much effort as women in the looks department.

She smiled as he playfully chided her and resisted the urge to smack his ass as he turned and walked away, opening the door.

“Hurry, dear,” he said with a smile on his face, “we’re going for an excursion.”

She paused a moment, then sauntered forward and tip toed up to press a soft kiss to his stubbly chin before bounding up the stairs. “I hope you plan on feeding me later on. All this running around sounds tiring and I get cranky.” She teased and laughed. “Come on slow poke, quit staring at my ass and lets get a move on. I have to work out some soreness in my thighs anyway.” She added and winked.

 

[Fish_Tales]

They were heading straight to the theatre so it would be a shorter walk today. As they walked, Hansen pulled out his comms unit and typed into it.

Casablanca.

He hit the send button, waited for the delivery beep and then put it back in his pocket. They were only about ten minutes away from the theatre. It was a warm day, warm enough to not wear the jacket, but he needed the jacket to conceal the gun. The sun was out, filtered by the smog of the city, sitting red in the sky. It was still only morning so it would get warmer. It didn’t look like rain, but what did he care anyway? No rain delays in the work Hansen did. Emma was doing a good job of keeping up with him today.

“Never had personal training like this, I bet, Irish?” he asked her softly as they walked.

Again, they kept to mostly the main streets and some secondary streets when he actually spotted SPFs. His pace was relentless.

No point getting somewhere slow, when you can get there quickly.

They stayed in the busiest sections, blending into the constant streams of workers and commuters.

Hide in the crowd.

It was the person who tried to hide who was usually the most obvious. The person hanging back from the group, slinking around. They didn’t realise how obvious they looked to the trained eye. Predators always took out those hanging back from the group. They looked for them.

They were across the street from the theatre and Hansen stopped. He took Emma gently by the forearm and stopped her too. “Wait, Irish, someone’s coming in with us.”

He looked up and down the street. He’d be here soon.

He always was.

“So, have you thought about what we can do once you can get working on your drug?” he said. “Bonnie is looking for somewhere quiet we can work on it. We’re assuming you’ll need some specialised equipment for a small manufacturing run to see if it works. We’ll get that friend of yours and….”

Hansen stopped talking. He was coming up the street from the opposite side. He crossed the street and walked up to them. Rhinos may have been extinct, but Carl was the human epitome of one. He was only as tall as Hansen, but twice as wide and his arms were the size of most people’s legs. He'd developed a bit of paunch lately. Too much time at the bar.

If you mistook him for cuddly, it'd be the last mistake you made.

He walked up to them.

“Liam,” he nodded and then turned towards Emma. “Emma.”

“Carl,” he said, “I have an idea about the night at the bar.”

Carl nodded.

"Oh, nice to see you too," he said. "No, 'how's the wife' or 'what about the kids'?"

Hansen shook his head with a smirk.

"You have neither of those," he said.

Carl grinned. He took a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it. He noticed the way Hansen looked at him.

“Tut, tut,” said Hansen.

“I know, I know. I gave up,” he said. “But the stress of being with you….”

Hansen smiled.

“I know, the stress of being with me. It makes people do all sorts of funny things, doesn’t it, Irish?” he said with a wink to her. “Well, you better finish it then, mate, we have a movie to see.”

“Can’t smoke in the movies,” Carl smiled. “All that passive smoke might kill someone. Wouldn’t want to do that….”

Carl dragged on the cigarette a few times and then threw it on to the ground and ground it with his shoe. He picked it up and then tossed it into the bin.

“Shit, Carl, if I saw you coming towards me, a cigarette would be the least of my problems,” said Hansen.

He gripped Emma’s hand and nodded at Carl. The three of them walked to the kerb and waited for a break in the traffic. When they got to the entrance of the theatre, Carl walked up to the counter to speak to Paul while Emma and Hansen waited by the lounge area.

“If we can see who’s after us,” he said to Emma, “then we’ll have a better handle on what to do. Jimmy might just have it on his archives.”

Carl walked back to them with a grin on his face.

“Jimmy will be ready soon. I guess we should wait,” he said. “Any small talk?”

Hansen smirked.

“It won’t be about you then, Carl, will it?”

 

[EklectikChik]

Liam's fast pace was tiring, but Emma kept up, moving through the crowds and sticking close relatively well for a novice. She wasn't sure how he was able to remain so cool or give up the appearance that he was with that jacket on. She herself was already feeling the effects of the quickly warming morning. When finally the reached the theater, she stopped and turned as he gently held her back.

“So, have you thought about what we can do once you can get working on your drug?” he said. “Bonnie is looking for somewhere quiet we can work on it. We’re assuming you’ll need some specialized equipment for a small manufacturing run to see if it works. We’ll get that friend of yours and….”

As he stopped talking, Emma glanced in the direction of his gaze and saw Carl moving towards them. For a big man he sure moved swiftly and fluidly. His impressive size would make anyone think twice about crossing his path, but Emma harbored no fear or nerves when it came to Carl. He'd help save her life and for that she was thankful.

“Liam,” he nodded and then turned towards Emma. “Emma.”

She nodded back and smiled softly, standing between the two of them.

Liam began again and she grinned as Carl's sense own sense of humor came into play. You could definitely tell that they two had a good friendship. They exchanged banter, much to her amusement. Simon was probably her only true friend at work and outside of that, well...she was almost ashamed to say that she had no real relationships other than her family. Thankfully was was relatively close to her sister and parents. Her mind drifted a moment, wondering how they were and if they were safe. She suddenly began to worry, wishing she could send them word.

“I know, the stress of being with me. It makes people do all sorts of funny things, doesn’t it, Irish?”

The sound of her nickname snapped her back to reality and she punched him lightly in the arm, “Hush you.” This earned her raised brows from Carl, who smiled and let it go.

She gave Liam's hand a squeeze as he took hers and led her to the lounge.

“If we can see who’s after us,” he said to Emma, “then we’ll have a better handle on what to do. Jimmy might just have it on his archives.”

She nodded slightly, “Makes sense to me. As for your earlier question, the sooner I can get work, the better. If I have Simon with me, well...we'll probably be able to whip something out sooner than later. The faster the better. I just hope that he's alright...” Her voice trailed off as Carl walked back towards hm with a grin.

“Jimmy will be ready soon. I guess we should wait,” he said. “Any small talk?”

Hansen smirked.

“It won’t be about you then, Carl, will it?”

“You should talk.” Emma quipped and Carl laughed.

“She's got you there.”

Emma wiggled her brows and sat on the couch they had occupied on their first trip. Propping her elbows on her knees, she clasped her hands together and studied the dingy carpet. She mind seemed to bounce between the idea of having the shackles removed and Simon. She was worried about her own family and his. Worried about getting everything done in time. It was quickly giving her a headache and making her nauseous. Before she'd been more worried about staying alive long enough to figure it all out. Now she was, it seemed overwhelming trying to put it all together.