Sigma Division

Chapter 16

Spicer was starting to thaw from his day on the golf course and there was only one thing that he really wanted. He left his place and went to the apartment next door. He took a deep breath and knocked.

“Hi!” Esther said cheerfully when she found him on her doorstep.

“I’ve had a really, really bad day. The thought of you somewhat made it bearable though.”

He looked at her from head to toe. She was wearing baggy flannel pajamas but to him it made her look drop-dead gorgeous.

“Are you trying to be charming?” she asked.

“Is it working?”

She opened the door wider and moved aside to let him in. He didn’t go far. His hands were on her and he slammed her body against the wall just as his lips crushed against hers. The kiss was feverish and it awakened something within the both of them.

She escaped his grasp just long enough to reach the door and push it closed. Spicer didn’t let go of her. He was feeling a need he hadn’t felt in years. It was beyond physical. He cradled her face in his strong hands and caressed her skin, so creamy and inviting.

He paused for a moment, giving her a chance to turn him down. She didn’t. He could see in her eyes she was on board with this. No, she craved this as much as he did. He leaped forward again, planting his mouth on hers and all but shoved his tongue down her throat. She moaned in response and he grinded his body against her small frame.

His hands slithered down to her chest which he pawed without mercy. She didn’t resist, didn’t even recoil. In fact, she was doing the same to him. It fueled his desire and without wasting another beat he proceeded to unbutton her shirt.

“Gene…”

“Don’t tell me to stop. I won’t. I can’t.”

“Good,” she whispered.

She undid his pants and Spicer took her right there against the wall. Neither lasted long but the intensity more than made up for the speediness. In fact, as soon as they were done Spicer was ready to start again.

He kissed her tenderly before lifting her up and carrying her to her dark bedroom. The rest of their clothes came flying off and they settled in for one hell of a night.

The room was bathed in an orange glow as the blinds struggled to keep the rising sun out. Esther strained to open her eyes, rubbing them gently while shifting under the covers. She finally took a look around and found the bed empty.

She sat up and spotted her neighbor standing at the window. He was only wearing his pants and he was looking through a crack in the blinds, clearly lost in thought.

She said, “You’re an early riser, uh?”

He looked back to acknowledge that she’d woken up and then returned to staring outside.

“Esther, I’ve…”

“What is it?”

“I want to tell you something.”

“Yes?”

“I’m not allowed though.”

She frowned. “Who doesn’t allow it?”

“Esther, I’ve done some terrible things in my life.”

“The war?”

“No,” Spicer said, shaking his head. “That was just the easy part.”

He spun around and went to the bed, sitting next to her.

“You didn’t beat your wife, did you?”

“No, never.”

“Then it doesn’t matter. It’s in the past, right?”

“Absolutely.”

He liked how Zen she was about this. Maybe he was the one stressing out over nothing. For the first time in months he saw the future as something bright and inviting. He took her in his arms and hugged her.

Ned had a small — though massively overpriced — bungalow just outside of Arlington. It was freakishly decorated with an aviation motif. On most walls were framed photographs of fighter jets, biplanes, and even airliners. There were posters from air shows. Over the couch in the living room was a life-size wooden propeller.

And Ned was looking forward to adding to the collection. He walked into the kitchen, still in the process of knotting his tie. He bit into a piece of toast that was already getting cold and went to pour himself a second cup of coffee.

“You’re out of milk,” a voice said.

He almost dropped the pot of coffee as he turned around toward the intruder.

Spicer was standing next to the fridge, dressed casually in jeans and a sweater.

“Goddamn it, I’m gonna need to change underwear.”

“Morning, Ned.”

“What the hell are you doing in my house? How’d you get in?”

Most importantly, why had he broken into his house with his little red gym bag?