Chapter 20 - Truths

She turned around in his arms and kissed him deeply, his lips parting quickly to allow her tongue admittance. He stifled a moan and put his hands on either side of her face and kissed her back, slowly moving his tongue around her lips before darting it inside. She held him around the waist and moaned softly as his lips trailed down to her neck. Her head fell back, giving him utter control to continue to plant searing kisses. His heart thumped in his chest as his lips made their way back to hers for another lingering kiss. They took a breath and gazed at each other, both somehow aware of a sudden shift in their relationship.

He ran his hand through his hair, the emotions he was feeling a little overpowering. She swallowed and moved back a little, blinking. Before she backed away too far he reached out and took her hand again and forcefully pulled her swiftly back into his arms for another kiss, a more passionate and lustful one as his other hand took hold of her waist. She let go of his hand and put her arms around his neck and nestled her breasts against his chest. He could feel her heart pumping and the heat from her was intoxicating as they kissed again. The pulse point in her wrist beat wildly against his neck. They were both in danger of passing out from lack of oxygen if they continued much longer. "God, Teresa," he managed to whisper in her ear as she rested her face on his chest as she caught her breath. He wanted to tell her he loved her but knew he couldn't. Not yet. She certainly wasn't ready for that. But he had to say something. "I'm...I'm..."

"Don't," she replied quietly.

He blinked and pulled away so he could look her in the face. "Don't what?"

"Don't say...don't say too much."

He nodded. Some conman he was, she could see right through him. "Actually, I...was just going to say I'm hungry, let's order some dinner in, shall we?"

He managed to get the words out with bluster and a smile. He gave her a peck on the forehead and went back inside to call a local food delivery service.

She followed him inside and watched as he made the order, his back to her. When he turned around the confidence was back in his face. "Okay, all ordered. I got a selection so should be something there you'll like. Should be here in about forty-five minutes."

When he saw the tight expression on her face it was obvious she wanted to explain what she had said.

"Patrick. I don't want you to think I'm leading you on or not being honest with you. It's just with everything going on in my life at the moment, I'm not sure what I can give you. I'm not sure how much of myself I can give to you." She looked down. "And we both lead vastly different lives even if I could. You know I like you. I'm afraid of liking you too much."

She shrugged and looked back up at him. "I should have told you this back to Sacramento. I should have thought through coming here and what it might say."

He walked towards her again. "I like you too, Teresa. I like you a hell of a lot. As you've no doubt already guessed I'm not usually like this with a woman. So...unsure of myself and feeling out of control. I'm a selfish bastard at heart, I'm not used to caring about anyone else but myself and my dog and I'm used to having things my own way. And to be perfectly honest it's a pain in the ass that you don't want to rip the clothes off me right now and profess your undying love for me."

He saw her eyes sparkle a little again as he continued. "So, how about this? No thoughts on where this is leading until we get back to Sacramento. Then we talk. See if spending some time together will change your mind. See if we have a chance of this working out away from all other distractions. You need rest and relaxation so you will have it here. Let's have some fun, not more stress. You've had more than enough of that lately. You are free to share my bed but I have three spare bedrooms if you're not inclined."

She raised her eyebrows.

He bit his lip and prayed to a god he didn't believe in that she wouldn't take him up on that particular offer.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed him softly. "Okay. Sounds good."

He kissed her back quickly. "Okay. But just so we're clear, staying in a spare room doesn't sound good, though, does it?"

She appeared to think for a moment then shook her head slowly. "Doesn't seem to fit the brief you've outlined. Not much fun to be had on a bed on your own."

He grinned slowly in return.

After takeout, they took Victor for a moonlit walk on the beach. He took her hand and they took it in turns to throw a stick for his dog. "He loves it here, doesn't he?" she said, pointing to Victor who was skirting round the waves lapping onto the shore ahead of them.

"Yeah, when I found him he was in a terrible state. It's good to see how much he's come on. He's great company."

"Why? What happened? I'd imagined you just bought him."

Jane shook his head. "A few years ago I was doing a reading for a widow in L.A. She was a nice enough woman but when her husband died things had gone downhill for her. When I got to the house it was obvious she wasn't going to be able to pay me my normal rate. She had a golden retriever who had just had puppies but they were malnourished and uncared for. This one. Him," he said, pointing to his dog, "looked at me with those big brown eyes and I felt my heart melt instantly. It came as quite a shock, I had almost forgotten I still had one by that stage." He stopped walking and looked into the waves, chuckling faintly.

He paused and shrugged. "So, I took them off her as payment. She was glad, I think, the dogs were her husband's concern, not hers. I got the rest of them adopted but when it came to him I couldn't give him up. Told myself owning a dog might be a mess but it would get me plenty of women too." He smiled and looked back at her as she blushed at his words. "Seems I was right on that score."

She took his hand again and they continued their walk up the beach. "So, the name? You ready to tell me why Victor yet?"

He smiled and picked up a shell, giving it to her. "It's no big deal, really. I named him after Victor Lustig."

"Who?"

"My favourite con man of all time. He managed to sell the Eiffel Tower, twice, well almost. Amongst other scams. Look him up."

She began to chuckle. "I should have guessed it was something like that. Poor dog being named after a con man."

"Hey, there's more to us than just conning people."

She stopped and wrapped her arms around him. "I think I'm beginning to realise that."

Lisbon came out of the bathroom and bit her lip. Jane was already in bed and he grinned back at her. She was wearing an emerald green slip that accentuated her eyes, not to mention her bosom and her legs. She was nervous as he pulled the covers away and she got into bed. He, of course, was naked already. He propped himself up on one elbow and moved a finger down the strap. "This is nice. Not your normal bedtime attire, though, is it? I'm flattered." He moved the strap down slowly and kissed her shoulder, moving his mouth down towards her satin clad breast.

He immediately noticed a tension in her body and stopped and looked at her. "What is it?"

"It's different now. This isn't just sex anymore. I'm not quite sure how to act." The words came out quietly and she was looking at the ceiling. Sex she could do well but, making love, if that's what this was, that was unfamiliar territory for her.

He pulled her face towards him. "It's as much as a change for me as it is for you, maybe even more so."

"Aren't you afraid?"

He nodded. "Absolutely terrified. I haven't felt this way about anyone in a long long time."

She nodded and thought for a second. "What was she like?"

He pulled the strap back up and put his arms around her instead and sighed, looking up at the ceiling. "Her name was Angela Ruskin."

A/N: I know, I'm cruel leaving it there, haven't had a cliffhanger in a while so thought it was time to throw one in! By the way, Victor Lustig is a real person, thought it was someone Jane would admire.