And so we reach the final chapter – please be aware that this also carries the language & sex warning mentioned earlier (Jacob made me do it!!)

The soundtrack for this chapter is the song that Jacob would have written for Rachel if he indeed played the guitar and wrote novels and rode a white stallion bareback down the beach. But we know that he doesn't do those things so he had to rely on James Taylor to write it for him!

Soundtrack: Something in the Way She Moves – James Taylor

"There's something in the way she moves

Or looks my way or calls my name,

That seems to leave this troubled world behind.

If I'm feeling down and blue

Or troubled by some foolish game,

She always seems to make me change my mind.

And I feel fine anytime she's around me now,

She's around me now, almost all the time.

And if I'm well you can tell that she's been with me now,

She's been with me now, quite a long, long time and I feel fine"

Rachel stood in front of the candy display in the gas station trying to work out what it was she really wanted. They didn't have her favourite licorice and she couldn't decide whether she wanted soft jellies or chewy fruits.

"You do realise that sugar is as addictive as nicotine, don't you?" Jacob whispered into her ear. He came up behind her and slipped his arm around her waist.

"Well at least it won't give me lung cancer," she purred. She hadn't realised he was there and the feel of his body took her by surprise. It had been several hours since they had originally left the house to have lunch, swapped the cars over and then started the long drive back to DC, and she realised that she had already begun to miss the feel of him. She closed her eyes and luxuriated in his warmth for a few moments. There was an unmistakable heat developing in her groin and she pushed slightly back into him.

"Mmmmmm, you're just teasing me now" he growled quietly and his hot breath in her ear had her imagining him gripping her hips and and thrusting into her where they stood.

"I'm going to let go of you now" he whispered, "before I'm too embarrassed to walk out of here. I'll meet you in the car. And don't forget I'm driving the next leg so you can rest".

She avoided looking the station attendant in the eye as she paid for her candy, sure he must know exactly what they had been saying. As she walked back to the car she pondered the effect Jacob was having on her. She wasn't normally prone to erotic fantasies, but since she'd met him in that bar on Friday night, she could think of nothing else but his mouth and his face and his body. Good god, she'd sat next to him, worked with him for all these months completely oblivious to anything but friendship and respect, but all it took was a word from him to have her in a puddle on the floor.

As he drove, she looked at his face from the passenger seat. It was strange seeing him from a different angle, but at the same time, everything about him seemed so very familiar, so very safe, as though she'd always known him, always loved him. Maybe she hadn't realised how close they'd grown over that time, they'd certainly been through a lot together, spent a lot of time in each other's company, come to rely upon each other. He'd refused several times to get a new handler and perhaps she should have read more into that than she did. But she'd been trained to keep her mind solely on the job, to push away personal feelings lest they interfere with her work. He obviously hadn't.

"Jake, why did you call me on Friday afternoon?" she finally asked.

He raised his eyebrows and considered his answer for a few minutes. The setting sun on his face gave him a warm glow and when he spoke, his velvet voice was low and quiet.

"I called you because I missed you. And missing you was like a pain in my chest that there was no relief from. An ache with no end. I didn't need to drink Rachel, I was drunk on desperation."

"It was just so unlike you though Jacob. I could barely believe it was really you speaking to me".

"Desperate men do desperate things Rachel. And, well, you needed to see me differently."

"What would you have done if I'd just slapped you on the face and walked out though?"

"I would have gone home & got really drunk," he said simply.

They drove in silence for a few minutes as she tried to digest his words.

"What did you really mean when you said that life isn't about love & romance & happy endings though?"

He looked at her briefly, concerned by her question. "Rachel, one thing I know by now is that life is a day to day proposition. I used to think it was about love & romance & happy endings but not so much anymore. I think maybe I'm a little scared of thinking too far ahead. Maybe I'm ok with the love & romance, but not so big on the happy endings now".

"You don't need to be scared with me Jake, you know that don't you? I'm not going anywhere".

He smiled.

"Anyhow, have you thought that maybe your happy ending just hasn't happened yet? Maybe you're still in the middle of the story".

He raised his eyebrows thoughtfully, "Ha, I've never thought about it like that. I like it"

After a few minutes, she spoke again.

"Had you really wanted me for all that time though?" she asked.

"Every minute, of every day, since the first moment I met you" he replied. "You don't really think I sat on that panic button by accident do you?"

She dug him in the ribs.

"Do you know that I had to keep my hands in my pockets to stop me from reaching out and touching you sometimes" he said.

"But why did you wait so long then?"

"Because I thought you'd just ask for a transfer away from me. And I didn't want any other handlers. If all I could do was work next to you for the rest of my life, I'd choose that over losing you".

She leaned over and kissed his cheek.

"I think that's the single nicest thing anyone's ever said to me, Jacob Hood."

She ran her hand down his chest and belly until it rested on his thigh. "Pull over somewhere. Somewhere secluded," she whispered in his ear.

"Why, what's wrong?" he asked

"I'm thinking about what else you told me that night," she said. "Desire………..lust………..want………..." She slid her hand into his crotch and started undoing the row of buttons on his jeans.

"Jesus Rachel, I will crash the car if you start doing that".

"Pull over then".

A few minutes up the road they started to drive through State forest and when they came to a rest stop he pulled in, then took a track leading into the forest. He stopped the car in a thick grove of trees.

By this time she had his pants completely undone and was winding her tongue into his ear.

"In the back Jacob" she said seductively, "now".

She scrambled into the big backseat of the SUV, and pulled him into the back with her, her mouth desperate for him. She pulled his t-shirt over his head, pushed his jeans and trunks down and straddled his lap.

His hands slipped under her dress to her hips and when his hands felt her bare buttocks his eyes narrowed. "Have you had nothing on under this dress all day?" he asked slyly.

"I took them off at the gas station," she replied, sucking on his earlobe.

He moved one hand between her thighs and she melted at his touch.

"I'm so glad you're not obsessed with this brazilian business," he murmured. "I want to have sex with a woman, not a 12 year old girl. Pubic hair has a biological purpose you know, it's………."

"Stop talking Jacob," she whispered and she filled his mouth with her tongue, tasting him deep and long. He kicked his pants off of his feet and started to move on top of her. She stopped him.

"No, I want to stay like this" she whispered.

"But I can't do anything like this" he replied.

"Oh, I don't want you to do anything" she murmured, "this one is all me". She knew exactly what she wanted to do to him and started moving her hips, caressing him with her thighs. His erection was pressed between their bodies but she didn't want him in her just yet.

"Let me fuck you," he whispered.

"No, no, no" she said, "what was it you told me - you're not letting me go off like a firecracker after two minutes? Well now you're going to suffer just like you made me". She bit his neck gently, nipping the skin with her teeth and then running her tongue up to his ear.

"But you're so wet" he murmured.

"All the better for torturing you, Jake". She moved his hands back onto her buttocks letting him feel her movement. His tip was perfectly placed to rub against her hot nerve endings and she gripped his shoulders tightly as she enjoyed the feel of his hardness caressing her.

He groaned as her fingers dug into the welt on his shoulder but when she moved her hand away, he put his hand over hers, keeping it there. "Don't stop, the pain feels good," he whispered.

Her breasts were at the level of his mouth and she brushed her nipple gently across his lips. She needed him to lick her and when his hot tongue touched her nipple, she almost lost herself. One of his hands came up her back, pressing her breasts into him.

"You're killing me," he murmured.

"Good" she replied. She was so close to coming but didn't want this delicious moment to end, so knew she had to change. She moved her hips away from him, breaking the contact and freeing his erection. Both of his hands moved back to her butt and she knew he was trying to take control.

"You can put your hands on my ass," she whispered "but don't you try getting inside me just yet". She raised up on her knees so there was some air between them and slipped off her dress. Now she was completely naked and he ran his hands up her back and down to her hips.

"I cannot get enough of your body," he whispered and his words made her shiver. She was driving herself crazy now, desperately wanting him to fill her but not wanting this moment to be over. She raised up as high as she could on her knees and stretched her hands above her head touching the ceiling of the car.

He licked her belly and she stayed like this for a few moments enjoying the feel of his tongue. As she lowered herself onto him, his tongue ran upwards and he took her breast into his mouth just as she took the full length of his erection into her body. She gasped at the feel of him sliding into her, it always surprised her how good he felt, and she rocked her hips in a circular motion.

"Jesus Rachel," he groaned "I don't know about going off like a firecracker, I'm going to blow like the fourth of fucking July if you keep this up".

"Oh, I'm going to keep it up" she whispered back "and you're going to enjoy every second of it". She ran her hand down between her legs, touching herself exactly where she needed to and maintained the circular motion with her hips. He made a guttural sound in his throat, not able to express the words that he wanted to say.

Their bodies were pressed together without a millimetre of air between them and when she felt herself beginning to lose control again, she moved her hand away and whispered to him, "turn sideways, I want to put my legs out behind you".

He turned, putting his legs up on the car seat and leaning slightly sideways against the back of the carseat to give him some stability. She was sitting fully in his lap, her legs on either side of his hips and she stretched them out behind him on the seat and changed her motion to a long, slow, back and forward.

He tipped his head backwards, eyes closed, mouth slightly open, "what the hell are you doing to me?"

She was totally in control now, she had control of the speed, the depth, the intensity, and as she took him deeper and deeper with each thrust of her hips, she could see him beginning to lose control. He had started to sweat and his breathing had grown hoarse, rattling in his throat.

She was usually swept up in the heights of her own bliss when he came, but this time, with his face right in front of her and all the control in her hands, she wanted to watch him, wanted to watch the effect that she had over him. She bent her knees with each stroke taking him all the way from tip to base with each long movement. His hands were pressed hard into her back and she could feel his fingernails starting to dig into her skin. She ran her hands down his back. His strong muscles were tense and taut and she feathered her fingers lightly all the way back up to his neck.

He shivered, and she whispered gently in his ear, "I want to watch your face when you come".

His hands ran down to her hips and he gripped her tightly. He moved one hand to her upper thigh, his long thumb between her legs caressing her exactly where she didn't want him too. She wanted this to be all about him, and she tried to move his hand but he whispered, "I want you with me, you know I'm not ever leaving you behind".

His touch was all she needed to tip her over the edge and she felt the beginnings of her orgasm sparking through her like an electric current. His other hand went up her back pressing her body tightly to his. She wanted to see his face but his head was buried in her shoulder and as she felt him come, thrusting his hips up into her, he bit down hard on the side of her neck. The pain was exquisite, matching the intensity of feeling he was eliciting in her groin and as her world exploded she held his dark head tightly to her chest, wanting neither pleasure nor pain to stop.

They stayed like this for a few moments, breathing heavily before he flopped down flat on his back on the car seat. "You can't be doing this to me Rachel," he gasped.

"Why?" she asked innocently, laying forward on his chest and running her fingers through the soft hairs on his belly. "I thought you'd enjoy a happy ending".

"Jesus Christ" he murmured into her hair.

******

The drive back to DC took almost an hour and a half longer, because of the Sunday afternoon traffic and their little detour into the forest. By the time she pulled up in front of his house, they were both tired.

"I won't stay," she said to him gently. "I need a little time to think. I'll pick you up at 9am for court tomorrow".

He nodded and got out of the car, leaning in the drivers window to kiss her. His mouth hovered over hers not wanting to break away, his lips feathering her mouth. He still tasted like the ocean. She touched his cheek gently and he rested his face on her hand. He closed his eyes and rubbed his cheek slowly on her open palm. His eyes opened and he looked at her.

"You know I love you, don't you Rachel", he whispered gently. "With all my heart."

"Yes" she murmured. "Yes I do". Her natural defences wouldn't let her say it, she couldn't be as open as him just yet, but as he gazed into her soul with his eyes as deep and green as the sea he loved, he smiled. She saw that he didn't need her to say it, that he just knew.

"Come inside" he whispered. "I'll show you my seahorses."

"I've seen enough of your bare ass for one weekend" she teased him gently, and he laughed.

She started the engine, and after one more lingering kiss she pulled the car away from the curb. As she drove down the street she watched him in the rear vision mirror, standing there, thumbs tucked into the pockets of his jeans, until she could see him no more.

"I love you too Jacob Hood", she whispered to herself.

******

This is short epilogue to the story. It wasn't long enough to include as a whole chapter, but I wanted it to have it's own soundtrack.

This is Jacob's happy song – again, please have a look on youtube if you're not familiar with it. It's just about the happiest song I know!

Soundtrack: Pencil Full of Lead – Paolo Nutini

"Best of all, I've got my baby

Oh, best of all I've got my baby

She's mighty fine and says she's all mine

And nothing's gonna bring me down!!"

The next morning, they arrived promptly at the District Courthouse at 9.30am. Jacob had been called as an expert witness in a local case they had recently completed, and Felix & Rachel were to appear as the arresting officers.

Jacob had been unbearable in the car on the drive in, looking like the cat that had got a very large dish of cream. He was dressed in a conservative button down shirt and jacket, and she felt a little wistful that she could no longer see his bare brown arms. He obviously felt the same.

"Back into long pants I see, Agent Young," he said to her smiling.

"You will have to stop that smiling when we get there," she hissed at him.

"What, I can't even smile?" he said with raised eyebrows. "But I've seen you naked Rachel. What am I supposed to do? We've had sex in the back of this car".

"Just get a grip Hood," she snapped at him. "Don't you forget that I know what you have tattooed on your pretty ass and I won't hesitate to use it against you if I have to."

"Aaaah, but using it against me will only incriminate you" he replied with a wink. He turned his head and looked out of the window studiously, but was unable to stop smiling.

"We will need to talk about this," she said frowning at him. "We're going to have to decide how we're going to handle um, things."

"Don't start getting crazy on me Rachel, we just need to be discreet for now. We'll work it out – I'll work it out."

"Well while you're working it out, you need to stop grinning like the freaking Cheshire Cat"

They met up with Felix outside the court. "Well, how was your weekend Dr Hood?" he asked cheerfully. "Warm wasn't it?"

Jacob stood with his hands in his jacket pockets staring at the ground, scuffing his shoes on the footpath.

"Yep, yep, it was certainly warm," he said nodding. "Same old weekend for me though. Little accident in the car on Friday evening but otherwise, you know,……………."

He shrugged and looked away, trying to hide his irrepressible grin.

"Ah yes, that reminds me. I have some news about your car" Felix said pulling a phone and a piece of paper out of his inside jacket pocket. "The towing company contacted me on Saturday morning. Here's your cell phone, they found it next to the car – called me because they couldn't get in touch with either of you".

Rachel glanced at Jacob swiftly.

"The car needs the side panel & roof replacing – will be about 3 weeks. Do you want me to arrange a hire car for you?"

"Thanks Felix but that's ok, I'll look after him," Rachel cut in. Felix turned to her.

"How about you Agent Young, how was your weekend?" he enquired enthusiastically. "You're looking very relaxed I must say".

"Oh, I managed to get away to the beach for a couple of days" she said casually.

"Nice" replied Felix, "although I thought the sea wasn't really your thing?"

"Oh", she said with a shrug, "It's growing on me. It's a little salty though."

The End – thanks for sticking with me!!!!