Chapter 14: The Quiet Return

The air in Rhys’s office was thick with the scent of ozone and the faint hum of servers, a stark contrast to the sterile, institutional feel of the police station. The room was a cluttered sanctuary of high-tech gadgets and neon lights, a testament to Rhys’s genius and his obsession with technology. Sarah stood in the doorway, her eyes scanning the room, taking in the chaos of wires and blinking screens. She felt a sense of unease, a prickling at the back of her neck, but she pushed it aside. She was here for a reason, and she wasn’t about to let her nerves get the better of her.

The room was filled with the soft hum of computers and the faint glow of screens. Rhys’s desk was a cluttered mess of papers and gadgets, but there was a method to his madness. She could see the way his fingers danced over the keyboard, the way his eyes scanned the screens with a practiced ease. He was a master of his craft, and she had to admit, she was impressed.

“Rhys, this is ... impressive,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. He looked up, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

“Thanks. I’ve always been a bit of a tech geek. It’s just how my mind works.” Sarah nodded, her eyes scanning the room again. “I can see that. But we need to focus. We have a job to do, and we can’t afford to get distracted.” Rhys’s smile faded, and he turned back to his computer. We need to get this done. Let’s start by going through the evidence we have. We need to make sure it’s solid, that it’s going to hold up in court.” Sarah walked over to the desk, pulling out a chair and sitting down next to Rhys. She leaned in, her eyes scanning the documents spread out before them.

“Alright, let’s see what we’ve got. Rhys, have you been able to enable all the evidence and sort it?” Rhys nodded, his fingers already flying over the keyboard. “I’ve encrypted everything, sorted it by type and date, and made sure it’s all ready to be presented. Here, take a look.” He turned the screen towards her, revealing a neatly organized digital folder filled with documents, images, and videos. Sarah’s eyebrows raised in impressed surprise. “You’ve been busy. This is ... thorough.” Rhys grinned, a hint of pride in his eyes. “I told you, I’m not just a pretty face. Now, let’s get to work.

Rhys had sorted all the evidence, and Sarah had mailed it to the police department. She had also sent a copy to the DA’s office, just to be safe. As they sat in Rhys’s office, the weight of what they had done settled over them. They had taken a huge risk, and they knew it. But they also knew that it was worth it.

They had taken a huge risk, but they had done it. They had gathered the evidence, they had sent it to the right people, and now, they could finally relax. They had done their part, and now, it was up to the system to do the rest. They sat back in their chairs, the tension in the room finally dissipating. The air was thick with the scent of ozone and the faint hum of servers, but it was a comforting sound now, a reminder of the work they had done. Rhys leaned back in his chair, his eyes closed as he took a deep breath. “We did it, Sarah. We finally did it.” Sarah nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “We did. And now, we just have to wait and see what happens.” Rhys opened his eyes, his gaze meeting Sarah’s. “You know, I’ve been thinking. We should celebrate.

We’ve earned it,” Rhys said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Sarah, still buzzing with adrenaline, felt a smile tug at her lips. She reached up, removing her police cap and running a hand through her hair. But let’s not get too comfortable. We still have to be careful.” Rhys’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, a softness in his eyes that made Sarah’s heart skip a beat. “I know. But we can’t let this go to waste. We’ve worked too hard to just sit around and wait.” He stood up, walking over to a small fridge tucked away in the corner of the room. “I have some champagne. It’s not much, but it’s a start.” Sarah raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth. “Champagne? Really, Rhys?

Red wine? I thought we were celebrating.” Sarah raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on her lips. Rhys chuckled, pulling out two glasses from a cabinet above the fridge. “I’m sorry, Detective. I didn’t realize you were a champagne kind of girl.” He poured the wine, the deep red liquid swirling in the glass. “Besides, red wine has its own kind of elegance. It’s not as flashy as champagne, but it’s got depth, character. Just like you.” Sarah felt a blush creep up her cheeks at the compliment, taking the glass from Rhys. “Well, when you put it that way...” She took a sip, the rich, velvety liquid coating her tongue. “Mmm, this is actually quite good.” Rhys grinned, clinking his glass against hers. “To us, Sarah. To finally getting one step ahead of Thorne.” Sarah nodded, her expression turning serious. “To us.

To finally getting one step ahead of Thorne,” Rhys said, raising his glass. Sarah mirrored his action, her eyes sparkling with determination. “To us,” she echoed, taking a sip of the rich red wine. As she set her glass down, she reached for her gun, placing it on the table beside her. Rhys’s eyes flicked to the weapon, a hint of concern in his gaze. “Sarah, are you sure that’s necessary? We’re safe here, aren’t we?” She offered him a small smile, her hand resting on the gun’s grip. “Habit, Rhys. I’ve carried this thing for so long, it’s like an extension of me. Besides, better safe than sorry, right?” Rhys nodded, understanding her need for caution. “I suppose you’re right. But we should also enjoy this moment, Sarah. We’ve earned it.” He reached out, gently taking her hand in his. “We’ve been through so much together.

Let’s celebrate, Sarah,” Rhys said, his voice low and husky. He stood up, his chair scraping softly against the floor. He reached for the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head in one smooth motion. Sarah’s eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t look away. She had seen him without a shirt before, but there was something different about this moment. Something more intimate. Rhys’s chest was lean and muscled, a testament to his active lifestyle. He tossed his shirt aside, his eyes locked onto Sarah’s. “I want to be closer to you, Sarah. I want to feel your skin against mine.” He reached for his belt, unbuckling it with a swift, practiced motion. Sarah’s breath hitched as she watched him push his pants down, revealing his boxers. He was already hard, his desire evident. “Rhys,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

“We should be careful.” But her words were cut short as he leaned in, his lips capturing hers in a fierce, passionate kiss. His hands found the hem of her shirt, pulling it up and over her head in one swift motion. She gasped, her back arching as his mouth left hers, trailing hot kisses down her neck. He pushed her gently back onto the desk, his hands roaming over her body, exploring every curve and contour. She could feel the heat of his skin against hers, the hardness of his muscles beneath her touch. He removed his boxers, his arousal pressing against her thigh. She wrapped her legs around him, pulling him closer, feeling the heat of his desire. He kissed her again, his tongue exploring her mouth, his hands cupping her breasts. She moaned, her fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer. He broke the kiss, his eyes locked onto hers.

He reached for the hem of her shirt, pulling it up and over her head in one swift, practiced motion. Sarah’s breath hitched as she felt the cool air against her skin, her breasts heaving with anticipation. Rhys’s eyes darkened as he took in the sight of her, his gaze trailing down her body. He reached for her belt, unbuckling it with a swift, practiced motion. He pushed her pants down, his fingers brushing against her skin as he removed them. Sarah shivered, her body aching with desire. She could feel the heat of his gaze, the intensity of his need.

He reached for her bra, his fingers deftly unclasping it, and she gasped as the cool air hit her skin. Her breasts were exposed, her nipples hardening under his gaze. He leaned in, capturing one in his mouth, his tongue swirling around the sensitive peak. He broke the kiss, his eyes locked onto hers as he reached for her panties. He hooked his fingers into the waistband, slowly pulling them down, revealing her most intimate place. She felt a blush creep up her cheeks, but she didn’t look away. She wanted this, wanted him. He tossed her panties aside, his eyes dark with desire as he positioned himself between her legs. She could feel the heat of his arousal, the hardness of his length pressing against her. He leaned in, capturing her mouth in a fierce, passionate kiss as he slowly entered his tongue in her.

Sarah gasped into his mouth as she felt the first touch of his tongue against her clit. She arched her back, her hips instinctively pressing up to meet him. He was skilled, his tongue soft yet firm, exploring every inch of her with a thoroughness that had her moaning into his mouth. She could feel her orgasm building, her body tensing as the pleasure became almost too much to bear. “Rhys,” she gasped, her hands gripping his hair tighter. He broke the kiss, his breath coming in ragged gasps. “Not yet, Sarah. Not yet,” he whispered, his voice husky with desire. He went back to work, his tongue licking, sucking, and flicking against her clit. Sarah’s breath hitched, her body trembling as the pleasure intensified. She could feel herself getting closer, her body tensing as the waves of pleasure threatened to consume her.