Interruptions
November 1966

Arianna and Barney settled into the back seat of the sedan as Rollin drove.  Truly curious, Arianna asked, Rollin, "And how is Cinnamon?"

Barney tried to conceal his smile. 

Rollin studied Arianna's reflection in his rearview mirror for a moment, wondering what she knew or suspected that had prompted the question of him.  "Cinnamon?"

"Isn't that her name?" She said innocently.

Rollin couldn't help but smile a bit as he tried to concentrate on the road ahead. 

"She's a colleague." He answered eventually.

"Hmm…" Arianna decided not to pursue it, but she felt there was more there. 

Rollin caught another look at Arianna in the mirror. "What could she possibly know," he thought to himself.

Barney smiled as he lit up his cigarette and gazed out the window.  He knew.

They reached the airport in Vienna in record time and took the next available flight to London.  From there they could be home in short order. 

Heathrow was busy, however; they could not book a flight until the next morning.  After a late lunch together, during which the subject of Cinnamon was not mentioned, they checked into a hotel and agreed to meet in the lobby for the six a.m. ride to the airport.  The threesome moved to the elevator to retire to their respective rooms for a well-deserved rest. 

Barney and Rollin left Arianna on the third floor as they continued in the elevator to their rooms on the fifth floor.  Finally alone with Barney, Rollin asked, "What did you say to her about Cinnamon?"

"Nothing, Rollin."

"Then how would she know?" 

"Know what?"  Barney smiled, knowing all too well "what."

"Maybe she read your mind?"

Rollin gave Barney's comment a thought as he followed his friend down the hall to their rooms, then shook his head.  'Impossible,' he thought.

"Besides, why should she be on your mind, anyway?"  He said, teasingly, as Rollin moved past him to his own room. 

Rollin sighed and turned to his friend with a frown.  'Easy for you to say,' he thought. 

Barney said "good night" with a wave of his hand as he moved inside his room. 

In his small hotel room, Rollin pulled the drapes closed.  He pulled off his jacket and tie, then his shoes.  He laid his pack of cigarettes on the bedside table.  He lit one and stretched out on the bed. 

She was on his mind.  He smiled, remembering their recent return from the "Willow Grove." Barney had been there for both of them on that one, and they for each other.  They both were lucky to walk away alive.

He had been disappointed when Dan had not needed Cinnamon for this recent assignment.  He knew they didn't always work together, but he certainly enjoyed
it more when they did.

He looked at his watch, quickly calculating the time difference between London and LA.  He wondered if he should call her.  It was early there and she would mostly likely be at work.  He crushed out his cigarette and decided that sleep would be best. 

As he dressed the next morning for the early trip home, he paused to make that phone call he had wanted to make the night before.  It wouldn't be too late in L.A.; only just before 10 p.m.

The phone rang twice.

"Hello." Came her familiar voice. 

"Hi beautiful," he said with a smile in his voice.

"Hi."  She sounded surprised. 

"Did I pick a bad time?"  He asked, surprised by her tone. 

Cinnamon looked across the room at the man standing at the bar.  "Actually, I am occupied at the moment." 

"I'll be home tomorrow." 

"Good.  I'll talk to you then." 

Rollin looked at the phone as he replaced it on the table.  "Why was she surprised?"  He thought, "Was someone with her?"  "Someone was with her," he concluded.  Rollin didn't know what to feel about that.

The memory of his brief phone call with Cinnamon gnawed at Rollin during the long flight to L.A.

Upon arriving at LAX, Barney, Arianna, and Rollin quickly said their good-byes and started their separate ways, but not before Arianna got one last knowing comment in: "Rollin, be sure to say ‘hello' to your ‘colleague' Cinnamon, for me."  She smiled, teasingly.  Caught off guard, Rollin paused in his step.  'Dammit,' he thought.  'How does she know?' 

Barney only smiled as he departed the group.

Quickly gathering himself, Rollin grabbed a taxi.  It was late afternoon and Rollin was tired from his long, restless flight.  He knew Dan would be calling in the morning to schedule the debriefing.  

The taxi made its way to Malibu in the heavy evening traffic.  His sunglasses shielded his eyes against the low November sun.  The sunset was just beginning.  He took in the cool sea air through the open window as he rested against the backseat of the taxi.  It felt good to be home.

Upon arriving at his small bungalow on the beach, Rollin was surprised to find a car parked in his driveway.  His recognition was immediate and his smile widened as he stepped from the taxi and walked past the blue convertible.  The hood was still warm.  

Moving through the back door and into the living room, he saw her on the deck.  She was wrapped in an overcoat, smoking a cigarette.  He moved to the glass door, unlatched it and slid it open.  She turned at the noise of the door. 

"Are you the welcoming committee?"  He asked with a smile. 

She gave him a sultry smile that matched his grin.  "I can be."  She said crushing out her cigarette.  

"It's cold out there."  He said, extending his hand to her.

She moved her hands up under the lapels of her coat and nodded.  She shouldered her purse and moved to join him. 

He took her hand as she passed him.  He slid the door closed, then drew her into his arms and kissed her. 

"How did you know?"  He asked. 

"I knew you'd take the first flight from London, so it was easy to guess."  She responded, his familiar touch electrifying her. 

"You could have been out there for awhile." 

She looked up at him.  "I was only going to give you an hour," she confessed with a smile. 

"Good thing I came straight home." 

"How was…wherever you were?" 

"Unusual." 

"Oh?" 

"Let's just say, I do believe in mind readers." 

She smiled.  "Can you read my mind?"  She asked, pulling the coat from her shoulders.

He grinned.  "I hope so." 

He kissed her firmly. 

When they parted, her hand went to his cheek.  "You're probably are exhausted."

"Not anymore." 

She smiled up at him.  "Was Barney with you?"  She asked, laying the coat aside. 

He simply nodded. 

"Then I bet you were both up to no good." 

"No time." 

"I bet."  She smiled, teasing.

His hands moved down to her backside, pulling her close.  "I missed you."

She pulled his cheek down to her and met his lips.

"I think I am kinda tired."

She met his eyes.  "I should let you get some sleep," she said sincerely, but still with feeling of disappointment

He kissed her cheek.  "Stay with me," he whispered as he took her hand in his, pulling her toward his bedroom.

She slipped into his bed while he showered.  She lay there contemplating their relationship.  Rollin was different from the other men she had known. He made her feel things that no other man ever had. There was an electricity between them. And they did share the same lust for adventure.  She remembered her previous night's date.  He had been very attentive, but she somehow could not make herself become interested in the banking world.  With Rollin things were different.  He had a way of making anything interesting and exciting.  

With his hair still wet from the shower, he emerged from the bath with a towel wrapped around his waist.  She smiled, remembering another one of the reasons she was attracted to him.  He was a wonderful lover. 

She watched him as he pulled the towel off and slipped in next to her.  He pulled her into his arms, rubbing his now smooth cheek against hers.  

"Much better," she said as he kissed her.  

Rollin sighed as she relaxed against him.  

"Did I interrupt something last night?" He asked. 

She chuckled.  "I wondered when that was going to come up." 

"I know it's none of my business." 

"No, it isn't." She agreed.  "We said ‘no questions'."

He sighed. ‘What could he say to that,’ he thought.  Although he had several questions, they had agreed, ‘no questions.’  He wondered to himself how much longer he could keep their agreement.

"I had a date."  She confessed, breaking the silence. 

"Who was he?"

"Steve Drake.  We've been out a few times.  We had dinner last night."

He pulled her closer and kissed her hair. 

She turned to face him.  "You're not jealous."

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Just curious."

She turned his face to hers and met his eyes.  "You're the only one who shares my bed."

He let her comment sink in for a moment.

"Yeah?"  He smiled pulling her a little closer. 

"Yes."

He pulled her to him, kissed her and rolled her onto her back.  "That is good to know."

They spent the next hours loving one another, until sated, then fell asleep in each other's arms.  

The next morning, she stirred as his warm hand moved slowly up her thigh.  She moved back against him.  "Good morning," she said.  

"It is so far." 

His hand went beneath her hair and he kissed her as his left hand moved over her.  His leg moved between hers.  

She could hear the surf pounding outside as his lips found her breasts.  She moaned softly as his gentle touch sent a quiver through her.  His nimble fingers found her and probed gently.  She was again lost in the sensation of his touch.  A shudder coursed through her and he claimed her lips.  "Rollin…" She was breathless.  

He smiled at the yearning in her voice.  He kissed her as he teased her breasts with his wet fingers.  

She opened her eyes to meet the blue eyes that she always found herself lost in.  

He saw her desire there and kissed her as he moved on top of her, settling his firm organ between her legs.  She wanted him inside her; to once again pleasure her as he had that night.  He drew his member against her moist folds, eliciting another moan from her.  She opened herself to him and he entered her.  She moved her hands down his arms as he began moving within her, creating the warm friction that would bring them the mutual satisfaction they both craved from one another.

She brought her knees forward, allowing him deeper penetration.  He rose on his hands above her, dropping his head to kiss her as he moved.  She arched against him as their tongues entwined.  

He churned his hips against hers and her hands went to his shoulders, pulling him closer to her.  Her head went back as he trailed kisses down her throat and eventually to her ear.  

"Oh Rollin…God…," she called as her hands clutched the sheets.  At that moment, she was completely, totally his.  

That passionate plea brought him to the edge; his thrusts became urgent.  He pressed himself above her.  "Jesus…," he called as he released inside her. Cinnamon convulsed in pure pleasure beneath his body.

Suddenly, the phone on the bedside table rang, startling both of them.  

Rollin was breathing hard as he looked down at her.  He then looked at the offensive ringing instrument, disturbed by its untimely intrusion.   He hesitated, not wanting to lose any more of the moment, but knowing too well that if he didn't answer, there would be questions later from this caller.  Finally, he kissed Cinnamon quickly and withdrew from her, then moved to grab the phone. 

"Hello," he said while still trying to catch his breath.  

"Rollin?" 

"Yeah, Dan."

"You okay?"  He asked.  

"Yeah fine.  You caught me in the shower.  I expected your call, but not this early." 

"Sorry.  Can you be here in about an hour for the debrief?" 

"Yeah, sure.  I'll see you then." 

 Rollin replaced the receiver in the cradle and looked over at Cinnamon as she lit a cigarette, blowing the smoke to the ceiling. 

Rollin sighed as he gazed at her.  "I don't like interruptions." 

Cinnamon smiled and handed him the cigarette. “Neither do I.”

"I'll have to make it up to you." 

"I expect you will."  She smiled again.

He grinned as took another drag on the cigarette and handed it back to her.  He moved back toward her.  "Oh no…you have a meeting, " she said, pressing her hand against his chest.  "I know how impatient Dan can be." 

He hung his head, then met her eyes.  "I suppose this part will not be in my report." 

"I don't think so, lover."   She lingered on the last word.

They looked into each other's eyes and they both smiled.  He gazed at her a moment longer, then kissed her quickly and moved from the bed.  

Fifteen minutes later he was taking a jacket from his closet.  

"Will you be here when I get back?"  He asked as he slipped on the sports jacket.  

She looked at him.  "No.  Some of us have to work." 

He rounded the bed and sat beside her.  "I think we work pretty well together." 

Cinnamon smiled, caressing his cheek.  "Yes we do.  We just shouldn't have to rush." 

He pulled her to him and kissed her.  

He then held her at arms length.  "I'm sorry."

She smiled in response.  "I know."

"Sure you won't stay?" 

She shook her head.  

He sighed as he stood to leave. 

He paused at the doorway and looked back at her.

"How ‘bout dinner?"

"I think I have an engagement." 

Rollin frowned.  

She moved from the bed, pulling the sheet around her to cover herself.  She moved to him.  

"Not ‘the date,'" he asked. 

"No."  She answered shaking her head.  "Tonight's date is a handsome, well hung actor who is fixing me dinner at his place on the beach." 

Rollin smiled at her description.  "Oh, he is?" 

"Mmm huh."  She simply nodded and moved toward the bath.  

Rollin smiled.  "Seven thirty."  He called as he headed out the back door.  "And no interruptions.  I promise."  

THE END
Elena Vorska
February 2002

<return to retirement universe>