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"Hey babe" Lucy says as she walks through the threshold of the door looking exhausted and defeated. It had been difficult for her to adjust to the night shift and since getting back together with Tim, the amount of emotional stress added to her plate had just upgraded. They've been trying hard to get things back to the way it was or at least just a little bit like how it was before all that stuff with Ray happened. But they both know better than that. They know that things will never be the same again and while they find that hard to accept, they think that they are in a really happy place right now. Or at least they hope so.
"So, what's for dinner Seargent?" Lucy says cheekily as she slumps over the couch. God her man, Seargent Bradford standing in her small apartment kitchen, cooking for her while looking so exquisite. It's so unfair, Lucy thinks to herself. He has no reason to look that good while doing something as simple as cooking. His forearms could start a war. With his long fingers that are so skilled at other things besides cooking, the way his jaw ticks when looking at her, and ohhh his eyes. Those dark dreamy blue ocean eyes that seem to have a personality of its own. Every piercing gaze, every glance seems to undress her. They send thrills down her spine each time and every single time, she can't help but love it. God help her, she even craves it.
"Dinner is going to be sea bass and veggie burgers tonight. You can pick out dessert or maybe pick me as your dessert" Tim stated with eyes still focused on the carrots. He's trying hard but he's barely containing his smirk. Lucy can see through this though. She can see his eyes briefly leaving the vegetable to steal glances at her and Lucy knows she shouldn't fall so easily into his stolen glances but gosh, he was making it so difficult. Sure, when she walked through that door her energy was pretty much depleted and she was so tired, but she wasn't that tired. She has time for some fun and right now she feels like she needs it. After dealing with the "Dream Team" all night, she feels like she needs to be entertained and appy.
"Mmhh" Lucy hums mischievously, "since you're graciously offering to be my dessert, I wouldn't dare decline".
She excitedly stood off the couch, eagerly closing the distance between them. Her hands reach for his chest before her mind could react and his to her waist equally matching her eagerness. And before they knew it, their mouths crashed. At first, it's push and pull, but it eventually blossoms into something hungrier. It turns into need. Their kiss is wet, slippery but most of all, it's intense. The way his tongue slips into hers like that's where it's always belonged and the way her hands settle on his jaw tracing every single facial movement he makes while kissing her. It's all just magical and messy. When they finally pull away from each other, it's not because they're out of breath. It's simply because they want to see the reaction of the other. To see if the need they feel for each other is mutual. To make sure that starting over wasn't a mistake. And with one look they, they both know.
They know. From the way his eyes consume hers and the way her hands cling to him like he's the only solid object that exists in this world. They know. When Lucy reaches out to bring his mouth back into hers again, a striking repetitive beeping shatters the glass of lust. They both look over to the kitchen counter to see the alarm for the sea bass going off. "Oh, damn it" Tim groaned, looking slightly annoyed and mad. Meanwhile, Lucy is standing there holding back her laughter and entertainment. She's entertained by the fact that the Tim Bradford is irritated by the fact that a timer interrupted their hot make out session and yeah, she would be lying if she said she wasn't slightly disappointed too but it's funny to see this side of Tim. The side that openly shows his feelings without always having to put on the tough macho man act. She finds it adorable and she loves this big softie side of him the most.
"Ohh sorry babe, guess you have to focus on the main course right now before you even think about dessert" Lucy says teasingly as she walks back to take her place on the couch. "Now make some food Bradford, I'm starving over here".
"Fine" Tim finallys blurts out, "but I will be getting that dessert later" he shoots back.
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Dinner is peaceful. They talk about work, Kojo who is at Genny's and how Tamara is doing at college. They also talk about how they'd like to visit Jackson together someday. And by the end of dinner, Lucy is heading to go shower while Tim is cleaning up the leftover and dishes. Tim scrubs the plate trying to get that one arrogant stain out but the time he's done and drying the dishes Lucy appears in the doorway. Wearing only his grey LAPD shirt and a pair of black lace panties. She's just standing there but fuck that's what makes it so provocative. Her eyes are slow blinking as if urging him to come forward. It's like she's a siren luring him off a ship or something. Hell, he can already feel his lower half twitching, and he knows he's not a teenage boy anymore but it's Lucy for god's sake. Everything this woman does makes him get overly excited and happy. She's standing in front of the doorway chewing her lips while fidgeting with her fingers.
"So...... are you going to come to claim your dessert or are we going to bed dessert less" Lucy says, her tone impatient.
"Yea, I am going to be claiming that dessert, but I do have to shower first baby. All that work in the kitchen just now has made me feel murky and I'd prefer for us to be both clean before "naked time". But it will be a fast shower, just letting you know".
Lucy chuckles at his statement "naked time" and it brings her back to their first official date where he said the same thing. "Fine but hurry up"
Lucy is heading towards their bedroom while Tim makes his way to the shower. He's eagerly shedding his clothes and slipping into the shower booth in no time. The water is kissing his skin as he scrubs his body so impatiently that he starts turning into a light shade of pink, but he doesn't care. He only cares about how he's making Lucy wait for him. He feels bad that she's waiting on him and a part of him regrets that he didn't get up and go shower with her earlier but it's too late for regrets now.
As he gets out, the bathroom is foggy, and he can barely see his own reflection in the mirror. His towel is barely hanging on to his waist, but he doesn't care right now. All he cares about is getting to Lucy. When he opens the bedroom door, her scent hits him first. The soft vanilla and floral fragrance invade his nose, and his eyes reach the bed. There, Lucy is sprawled across the soft marshmallow bed, her chest rising and falling in gentle rhythmic patterns. One hand rested lightly on her stomach while the other on her thighs. Her fingers curl like she's holding on to a fleeting dream while her brows furrowed tight and her features twisted a small grimace. Even in her sleep, her face held a face of thought, and the world just seemed to cave in. Outside nothing could reach them. It was only the two of them.
Tim changed quickly, then moved towards the bed, kneeling beside Lucy's bedside with quiet urgency. His eyes lingered on her. Counting her every breath, every little twitch and just observing her in general. He wonders what his life would've been like if he never won her back. What it would've been like if she never forgave him. He knows it's not guaranteed yet that she's always going to be with him forever but gosh he hopes that he spends his whole life loving this woman by him. He also hopes that he is finally able to be the man she deserves.
With every breath she takes, he just appreciates her even more. And with that, his fears grew stronger too. He's scared that he might lose her again. Might ruin what they have before it's even done fully healing. Afraid that he is never going to be half the man Lucy deserves. So, he does something he's never done before. He prays.
Still on his knees, now holding both of Lucy's hands in his, he prays.
He prays for her safety
for the world to guard her gentle soul from the dangers and darkness of this undeserving world
He prays for a lifetime together
each moment a thread woven in love
He prays to become the one she loves
one who is worthy and deserving of the light she carries.
He prays that life spills blessings at her feet
opportunities laid out like a flower path
He prays that his life be full of her
tiny versions of the woman he loves running around their house
He prays that his gratitude reaches her
to rekindle their lost connection and emerge stronger than before
Finally, he prays that she be happy
to thrive in happiness, free from his shadow.
By the end of his prayer, tears are falling out of his eyes. He's overwhelmed by how lucky he is to be in her presence. For her to look at him with such loving eyes he wasn't even sure he deserves anymore. Imagining a future with her is worth more than gold and diamonds. The future seems so close yet so far and even though he's not the man she deserves right now, he will become a man worth basking in her brilliance. Until then, he will just keep going steady. Doing all the work and fixing his broken soul along the way.