Nat, thanks for the review and the heads up. Sometimes things I know are wrong creep in because I get too involved writing the story in my head and I need a reminder. ~Calla
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Who'd have thought Jane had a black leather and mahogany sleigh bed large enough to accommodate a small herd of…something…she hoped didn't bite...complete with claw feet and an upholstered bench at the foot? Well, he did, and Lisbon was enjoying the view through the large picture window from the end of that bed. She was lolling on her stomach with her head resting on her arms waiting for Jane to wake up. He was sleeping so peacefully she refused to wake him though she knew he'd already been downstairs earlier as she'd roused slightly as he slid out of bed. But, he'd returned a few minutes later to hold her as they both slipped back into slumber so she hadn't thought much of it.
Wallowing more comfortably into the mattress, Lisbon let her thoughts wander. Did Jane ever know what to do in his big sleigh bed. She'd enjoyed every moment of it. And though she'd never whisper such a thing around the water cooler as some of the trashier gals did, what he had under those pajama bottoms was pretty darned impressive if she said so herself. Or maybe it was what he'd done with what he had under those pajama bottoms she'd found so impressive. Suffice it to say, Jane was a talented lover approaching intimacy with as much diligence as he did a case that caught his interest. No that she expected him to do otherwise. He was Patrick Jane. Then again, it had been a long time. He could have forgotten a lot along the way. But, he hadn't.
And, no, that other brunette did not count. Lisbon wasn't going to think about her. If she did, she'd want to get dressed, drive down the jail, and smack her a good one for sampling what was hers. Lisbon didn't stop to think she sounded like a lunatic. Actually, she was thinking like a lunatic; but, who really cared? Now that she'd let Jane in her pants, he wasn't going anywhere. Not unless she cut him loose and she didn't see that happening. Not any time soon. Not since they'd crossed into forbidden territory and they'd both liked it. Had they ever. Closing her eyes, Lisbon allowed her memories to flow over her.
She hadn't paid much attention to the bed Jane laid he on last night preferring to shimmy out of her shorts and toss her tank top across the room. She remembered crawling across the bed to kneel before Jane and press her lips against his. She'd run her hands across chest and shoulders enjoying the play of muscle beneath her palms. She'd known Jane worked out for years. Sporadically at times; but, he did. He'd even gone with her a few times to the gym. She knew as well that he snuck off to surf. From what she was seeing and feeling, the exercise was paying off.
Jane hadn't protested when she'd shoved his pajama bottoms down lean hips, only kicked them away when they slithered to the floor. Lisbon hadn't been surprise a few moments later to find herself flat on her back with Jane nuzzling her neck and she'd welcomed his roaming fingers. Jane had known exactly how to make her hum and exactly how to make her scream. Lisbon had been glad to let him as she'd enjoyed doing a little roaming of her own. It hadn't taken long before she'd bent her knees and invited him inside. Her lover had been more than happy to comply.
Jane had surprised her in that he wasn't the gentle lover she'd expected. He'd willingly followed where she'd led and given her what she'd wanted. Had she desired gentleness, Lisbon was sure he'd have given it. But, she hadn't. She'd wanted expressions of the emotions and passions they'd kept under wraps for almost a decade. She'd wanted the nuances and the intensity. She'd wanted the anger and tempestuousness. She'd wanted the dam to break and she'd gotten it. Until they'd fallen into an exhausted slumber each intertwined within and around each other like wriggling puppies in a pile. They'd broken apart some time in the night each to seek their own pillow.
Reaching out her hand, Lisbon absently flicked one of the gold rings in the mouth of the lions' head medallion decorating the bed post nearest at hand. Those fancy little lion's heads were scattered throughout the room adorning the drawers on the nightstands, the dresser, and the chest of drawers, too. She thought they were on the china cabinet and buffet in the dining area as well. They were cute. Actually, they were sophisticated; but, she still found them rather cute.
"Lisbon, what are you doing?" Lisbon started as Jane flopped down on the bed beside her. She'd been so preoccupied playing with her new toy she hadn't heard him prowling silently up behind her.
"Thinking." She said automatically.
"About what?" Jane wasn't sure he really wanted to know. Hopefully not regrets.
"Well, your neighbor on the left just broke up with his girlfriend. Actually, I think she just broke up with him when she walked out on the balcony to find him kissing another woman. I think a coffee mug or two hit a tree if I'm not mistaken. A couple of birds flew out of there like bats out of hell so they must be making quite a ruckus. Oh, and she took the yipping little fluff ball when she left." Lisbon purred as Jane stroked her naked back. "The old lady on the right is watching whoever lives in the condo below you with binoculars. She isn't shy about it either. I honestly don't think that's legal in any state." Lisbon volunteered.
"So you're spying on my neighbors now?" Jane turned Lisbon slightly as he continued massaging her back.
"Yeah, I guess I am. You were sleeping. What else was I supposed to do?" Lisbon wiggled into a more comfortable position.
"I wouldn't have minded you waking me." In any manner she wished.
"I would have, Jane; but you looked so peaceful." She'd never seen him sleep so deeply and she wasn't about to disturb him. "You don't rest that well."
"I suppose I should say thank you; but, I'd rather have spent the time with you. As for my neighbors, that's Sammie and Cal going at it again. The Maltie is Fluff-A-Poo or some such nonsense. The other woman is Sammie's sister, Amber, trying to rile her baby sister so I suspect she was kissing Cal and not the other way around. Beyond that, your guess is as good as mine." Jane explained.
"Well, from what I could see, she was doing a pretty good job of it." Lisbon was glad she only had brothers.
"She usually does. The old lady's name is Gertie and the old geezer in the apartment below me is her estranged husband Earl. Well, it's Earl and the hoochie mama he took up with after he packed his bags and deserted Gertie a few weeks ago.
It's not as tragic as it seems, Lisbon. I'm reasonably sure Earl will end up back home where he belongs about the time that sweet young thing who's all of 50 and looks older realizes most of his assets, including the condo she's now sharing, are in his wife's name. She'll pack her bags and leave.
Gertie will take Earl back like she always has though she'll make him pay dearly before she's done. It seems he pulls something foolish like this about every 15 years or so. Never stays gone very long. That's how she ended up with everything in her name in the first place. Earl wasn't going home after the first time he pulled this stunt unless he did and it's obvious he wanted to go home." Jane volunteered.
"So that makes it all right? How many times has he done something like that?" Not that Lisbon really cared. They were Jane's neighbors.
"If I remember correctly this the third time and Gertie was expecting it. They've been married 46 years." Yep, old Earl had his mid-life crisis for approximately four to six weeks about every 15 years and got it out of his system.
"Sounds like a soap opera." Lisbon was doubly glad it was him and not her. She really didn't want to know.
"They're pleasant enough people, Lisbon. I'm sure you'll meet them eventually." She likely wouldn't have a choice since Gertie had taken a liking to Jane soon after he'd moved in the complex.
"I can't wait." Lisbon rolled her eyes as she flipped on her side to glance at him. "Oh, just so you know, the first time you pull a stunt like that, I'll shoot you." There was a dangerous gleam in her eyes making Jane think she meant it before she rolled back over on her stomach.
"Not going to happen, My Dear. I'm a one woman man. I always have been." It had taken them the better part a decade to get to this point, why would he blow it now?
"Oh, I told the guys to make it a late morning. We'll make it up tonight if we need to. We've gone in early every day the past couple of weeks and we need a break." It had nothing to do her wanting to spend an extra hour or two with Jane, nothing at all. Lisbon would swear to that.
"I'm certainly not complaining." Jane dragged a finger languidly between her shoulder blades smirking at the sharply indrawn breath. It didn't take much to ignite a Lisbon and have her squirming. Her dilated pupils and flushed skin gave her away without the heavy breathing. Not that he could see her eyes, but he knew exactly what he would find if he did.
"I didn't think you would." Not to mention the wobbling voice.
"You knew I wouldn't." Jane said as he crawled up her body and kissed her neck. He smirked devilishly at the way Lisbon's bottom pressed instinctively into him. It wouldn't take much to lift her hips just so and slide home.
Hearing Lisbon's contented purr Jane decided, if he had his way, they'd be late to the office before they were done.
He was sure he could persuade his boss to forgive him.
#
"Hey, Lisbon?" Jane looked up as Lisbon returned from brushing her teeth. He hadn't succeeded in making them late though he'd given it his best Boy Scout try. A certain female had thwarted him at every turn while nearly loving him to a heart attack. Although she'd kept one eye on the clock, Lisbon had been a most enthusiastic lover.
"Yeah, Jane?" She wasn't fond of that look in his eyes. It usually meant he was up to something and not something good.
"You missed a button." Lisbon knew better as she'd checked her reflection one last time.
"No, I didn't. What's that?" She stared at the key suddenly materializing on his palm like a magic trick.
"Exactly what you think it is." He'd had the key made about the time she'd agreed to go out with him.
"Don't you think it's a little early for that?" Jane snorted at the thought that only Lisbon would think such a thing.
"Obviously I don't or I wouldn't be giving it to you. Use it any time you like. I have nothing to hide." Already anticipating coming home to Lisbon on a regular basis, Jane smiled as he dropped the key in her jacket pocket.
He had no doubts, after the first awkward unplanned visit or two; Lisbon would end up here most days instead of home as the weeks went by for a number of reasons. She liked his place, the traffic was lighter, and it was much closer to the CBI than her apartment. It also didn't hurt the woman liked him. Jane was rather fond of her, too. He was looking forward to finding more and more of her things creeping into his closets and drawers with the passing of time.
"Thank you, I guess." Lisbon had no intention of reciprocating any time soon.
The sneaky-so-and-so would know all of her secrets in the first five minutes if she did. She wasn't quite ready to go there with Patrick Jane. Maybe once she was completely used to all this togetherness she'd be more willing to share the little things he had no right to know. Things he probably already knew; but, she could pretend he didn't.
"Lisbon, I don't expect a key to your place any time soon. I can get in any time I'd like anyway." Jane gently reminded her.
"Yeah, I guess you can." She'd conveniently overlooked that.
"I can; but, I won't. Not unless you invite me." He wouldn't betray her trust like that.
"I know." She still felt weird; but she wasn't ready to give him that key. Not when she'd spend entirely too much time wondering what he was plundering through. Maybe she'd give him one later when everything wasn't still so new. Maybe she'd feel so guilty about having his she'd give him one anyway. She'd have to think on it.
"Lisbon, it's alright. If it'll make you feel better, I've had a key to your place for years that I've never used. I had it made the second or third time I slept on your couch. I wanted to be able to get to you in case of emergency." Neither of them was willing to say what Jane really meant as Red John had been particularly active during that period. "You never even knew I lifted your keys and returned them."
"I want to be mad with you; but, I can't. Just don't use that key unless I invite you. I mean it, Jane." Lisbon growled.
"I never have, Lisbon. There's been no need. As I've already said, I can get inside your apartment without them." Jane reminded her.
"Is that your way of saying you've been in my apartment without my permission?" Lisbon gave him a quirkd brow glare.
"Maybe." Jane resisted the urge to link his hands behind his back, stare at the grond, and shuffle his feet from side to side. There was something about that tone of voice they made him feel three years old.
"When?" Lisbon poked her finger in his chest.
"Maybe when you went out of town that weekend a couple of years ago and didn't tell anyone." Jane said.
"I told Hightower I was taking a long weekend and I'd be back on Monday. I know she told all of you." Lisbon reminded him.
"Yes, she did; but, that wasn't enough. She couldn't tell us anything else and we were worried." Jane defended their actions.
"So the guys told you to break into my place?" Lisbon wasn't buying that.
"Well, no, but I did promise to find out where you were. The first place to look was your apartment. Since I left your key in my drawer at the office and didn't want to drive back, I picked the lock." So, he hadn't been lying when he said he'd never used the key. Not in Jane logic.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" Lisbon's tone was scathing.
"Actually, I did. You'd left that map you'd printed to Tommy's new place with all those notes scribbled on it." Lisbon knew she should have thrown that scribble sheet away from the early days of making plans. She'd kept it in case she forgot something and forgotten to throw it away. Not that any of that really mattered as she'd not been expecting a visit from Jane. "I filled in the blanks from what I saw and reassured the guys you'd only gone to visit your brother and niece. They were fine with that."
"What about you?" Lisbon asked.
"Yeah, Lisbon, I was fine with that, too." Jane innocently said.
"Jane, you are so dead if you ever go in my place without permission again. I also think I'd like that key." Lisbon held out her hand imploringly.
"I don't think I can do that, Lisbon. I seem to have misplaced it in the move." Lisbon rolled her eyes at the blatant lie deciding to abandon the fight. It wasn't worth the effort when Jane could get in anyway.
"We need to get to the office. I'll go first. You follow in fifteen or twenty minutes. The guys should all be there by then." They'd be following their usual pattern of Jane either being there before everyone or being fashionably late.
"Sounds like a plan." He thought he'd be late today.
"Get that look out of your eye, Mister. We are so not being late. Not together." She smiled slightly realizing Jane seemed to find their tiffs invigorating. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she gave a kiss and a promise before walking out the door.
Watching her head for garage, Jane closed the door and meandered into the kitchen with that degenerate glint in his eye. It seemed Lisbon was still the boss, even at home, and he liked it. Turning the burner on under the half filled kettle, he reached for the familiar cup. Jane decided his ploy had been worth a try even if it failed so desperately. His motto of the moment was nothing ventured, nothing gained. In this case, nothing was gained unless one counted that pathetic excuse for a kiss. Lisbon owed him one.
For now, he'd settle for a pleasant cup of tea. Later, they'd have to see.
He'd be at the office in another half hour where he fully intended to collect on Lisbon's promise before the day was over.
Maybe he could maneuver her into the west wing supply closet. Or maybe he'd really be reckless and close the blinds in her office.
And maybe he had a serious death wish.
Taking a sip of tea and pronouncing it perfect, Jane decided living dangerously was the only way to be.