Chapter 10b

They hardly spoke on the ride home, flying through the spring night air. Scully rolled down the window of Daniel's Lexus and let the wind touch her skin. His hand was resting possessively on her thigh as he steered the car deftly with his free hand. She liked to watch the movement of his legs on the pedals, the ease with which he controlled the powerful car.

She had spent so much of her professional life in the passenger seat of a rental car, much of it resenting that she was not in the driver's seat. But tonight, she was content with her position. She wanted to be free to lose herself in her own thoughts and not have to concentrate on the road. They had pulled out onto the road before deciding whose place they were returning to. When they had neared the exit for Daniel's neighborhood, he had glanced toward Scully, asking for confirmation, and she had squeezed his hand.

The car was slowing now, winding through the narrower streets near Daniel's building.

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Daniel shifted into park and slipped the keys from the ignition. Then he turned in the yellow lights of the parking garage and kissed her again. Scully lifted her hand to cradle his cheek as she returned the favor, thrilled anew at the touch of his lips, the sweet welcoming warmth. Their kisses were gentler now, but still with an edge of hunger that made her shiver. She turned and got out of the car. Daniel kept his arm around her shoulders as they made their way across the parking lot. At the building entrance, Scully reached out and tapped her own name into the security pad, and Daniel kissed her temple.

At Daniel's door, Scully leaned against the wall as Daniel fingered through his keys. She spread her silk shawl wider over her bare arms as the building air conditioner came to life and she adjusted to the brief loss of Daniel's body heat.

Daniel pushed the door open for her and motioned for her to step inside. She smiled softly and stepped over the threshold. Ahead of her, out of the shadows of the dining room, bounced an oversized Golden Retriever, tail wagging and nearly knocking lamps off tables as she came.

"Tasha!" Daniel said, stepped forward as if to hold her off, but Dana had already stooped down to doggie eye level.

"Hi..." she said sweetly as the gently clumsy animal came up to lick her nose. "Who are you? Oh, my God, Daniel, is she yours?" Scully asked, looking up at Daniel with a childishly delighted smile. She kept massaging Tasha's ears as she waited for a reply.

Daniel was smiling down at her, almost surprised by her response. "Oh, yeah, she's mine. Had her since she was 8 weeks old. She'll be six next month."

"Well where was she when I was here the other night?"

Daniel stooped down beside her, reaching out to stroke Tasha's back. "She was with my sister. I had just gotten back from a medical convention in Chicago about an hour before you called. I had been about to drive out and get her."

Scully winced. "I'm sorry. You should have told me, you could have gotten her first."

He smiled. "I didn't know you were such a dog person."

"Are you kidding? I'd give anything to have a dog again." She touched her nose to Tasha's, elliciting another wet kiss.

Daniel laughed. "I'm glad you two hitting it off so well. She does seem to like you. She's hardly noticed me."

"Oh, she can see you anytime," Scully said teasingly, her focus still on Tasha. "She's beautiful. Scully pushed to her feet, one hand still strokign the animal's head.

"Can I offer you a drink?" Daniel asked, moving toward the kitchen. "That would be lovely, yes."

Scully stepped leisurely along behind Daniel and Tasha hung close at her heels.