A/N: I feel like I'm on a roll haha
Enjoy :)
Reasonable Doubt – Chapter Nineteen
Erin POV
"Oh my god, that was so hot." Jay's lips are on mine before the front door closes.
"I love watching you in action."
"That was nothing. I'm just getting started." A giggle escapes my lips as Jay hoists me into his strong arms.
Our lips mesh together, seeking each other's tongue as he walks blindly towards our room.
A moan slips past my lips and I'm so grateful to feel the tension dissipating between us.
As he drops me to the bed, I feel my guilt creep back up, Jay's shirt comes off distracting me from my thoughts.
My thoughts melt away as I sit up and pull my shirt off, reaching forward and tugging at his belt.
He chuckles before stepping out of his jeans, and moving to rid me of my pencil skirt.
"God you're so beautiful." His whisper blows against my neck, his soft hands caressing my body in a way no man ever has before.
"I love you." I whisper, bringing his lips back to mine.
"I love you too Erin." His fingers make quick work of my bra and panties, my hot breath mingling with his as he tests my warmth.
"I need you Jay." My nails dig into his shoulders, pulling him firmly between my legs.
My hand trails slowly down his stomach, scratching along the way as my eyes stare into his.
He moans as I wrap around his length, pumping a few times before guiding him to my entrance.
Our moans are cut off by our lips touching, I savor the feeling of having Jay moving inside me, needing to get my release.
I move my hips faster, Jay's teeth scraping down my neck before sucking on the spot he knows will have me gasping with pleasure.
Jay's breathing hitches and I know he's close, reaching down between us I play with my clit bringing me over the edge right behind him.
We lay there for a few moments, basking in the afterglow of our lovemaking.
"I'm so hungry." I groan within minutes of waking up from our post sex nap.
Jay's lips are on my neck, a giggle slipping through my lips.
"For food Jay." He grumbles before pulling away to brush my hair back.
"Thank you for today." His voice is quiet but his eyes not shying away from mine.
"Of course." I whisper, tears stinging my eyes, bringing my hand up to caress his wrist.
"I don't know how I would have gotten through it without you. Any of it." I turn my head to kiss the palm of his hand.
"Well that's something you don't have to worry about. I'm here for as long as you'll have me." He frowns for a moment.
"Always. I'll want you always." A sad smile stretches across my face.
"Okay."
"Erin, what?" I give him a quick kiss before moving to get out of bed.
His hand grabs my wrist, pulling me back into the bed, landing on his chest with an 'oomph'.
"Jay, I'm hungry."
"No, what was that? Why have you been looking so… on edge lately?"
"Maybe because the man I love is on trial for murder." The snark slips out before I can contain it.
"Erin, babe please don't deflect with sarcasm this time." I swallow thickly, burying my face in his neck.
"I guess I'm just worried what this trial will do to us."
"It could never make me not want you though. If anything, it will turn you against me." I'm shaking my head.
"Not possible. I know who you are."
"And I love you. Always." I nod against him, not wishing to have this conversation now.
"I love you too. Now, can we eat?" I give him a quick kiss, successfully crawling out of bed this time.
"What do you want?" He gets up too, slipping pants on.
"Chinese." I smile over at him, slipping into one of his shirts and heading towards the bathroom.
"Alright, I'll order."
"Jay, today went really well. But, don't set your expectations that high everyday." I push my empty plate away watching Jay frown.
"Okay…"
"It's just… they are going to put Allie's parents on the stand… and the detectives, and coroner… and a whole bunch of experts. I'm not saying we didn't have a win today, because we did, but just don't get too disheartened on the bad days. This is a long battle, the endgame is what we are after."
"I trust you." He reaches for my hand, and I briefly look away in shame.
"The government didn't pay your roommate to testify. They dropped some charges for co-operation… but they didn't pay or coerce him into giving that testimony."
"What are you saying?"
"You have to think who has the means and motive to do that. Who also had the motive and means to have you attacked in jail. Who is involved in the case and has everything reason to let someone else take the fall…" I see pieces starting to fit.
"Allie's killer."
"Bingo."
"You ready?" I whisper to Jay, giving his arm a quick squeeze.
"No, not really."
"Well, pretend to be."
"Prosecution calls Brody Callahan to the stand." I perch my chin on my hand, eyes flickering over the jury and then behind me to Jen.
"Anything?" I mouth, she shakes her head sadly.
"Mr Callahan, thank you for your time. Can you please tell the court your relation to Jay Halstead?"
"We went to high school together, it was my party the night… the night Allie was killed." He swallows nervously, throwing a furtive glance towards us.
"Do you remember seeing the accused and Allie that night?"
"Yes, they went upstairs at one point. After we saw them fighting in the back yard." Jay's tensing up beside me, eyes on the table.
"Stop looking down, makes you look guilty." I whisper, gently nudging him.
"Was Mr Halstead angry?"
"Yes sir, seemed so."
"Objection, calls for speculation." The judge pauses for a moment, weighing his options.
"Overruled, I'll allow it."
"Did you see Mr Halstead at the party all night?"
"No, he left for over an hour before coming back."
"Was there anything unusual about his appearance?"
"He was covered in blood." There is a small gasp from the jury, and Jay tenses beside me.
"Did he say how he came to be covered in blood?"
"He said he got it helping clean up a smashed window, but I cleaned up that window. He wasn't there helping." I watch the jury turn suspecting looks to Jay.
"Mr Callahan, was the defendant and victim known for their rocky relationship."
"Yes."
"Lastly, Mr Callahan – are we offering you anything in exchange for your testimony?"
"No sir."
"No further questions." He's smirking as he walks back to his desk.
"Mr Callahan, you testify that their relationship was rocky." I raise an eyebrow, before rising from my chair.,
"Yes, that's right."
"What were your relationships like back then?" I approach him, turning to face the jury.
"Objection, relevance."
"I believe if he answers the question you'll see it your honor."
"Overruled, but your on a short leash today Miss Lindsay."
"I guess the same." He shrugs looking uncomfortable.
"I take it your rocky relationships didn't end in murder, seems like an overreaction right?" A few jury members cannot hide their chuckle.
"Objection, counsel is testifying."
"Sustained, Miss Lindsay." The judge sends me a warning glance.
"I just mean what teenager doesn't have a dramatic relationship? Hell, I've had my share… and I'm no teenager."
"We get the point counsellor, move it along."
"Moving along. You testify that my client was covered in blood?"
"Correct."
"How much was covered?"
"I don't know." He sends me a confused look.
"But you wrote the statement."
"Well he had blood on his hand, and some on his sleeve."
"His shirt sleeve?"
"Yes."
"This may help." I pull out the photo taken of Jay the next morning. His hand and shirt showing blood stains.
"Would you classify this as 'covered'?" I move towards the jury, showing them the photos and they shake their head.
"No, I guess not." Mr Callahan finally answers.
"Did you know that it was only Mr Halstead's blood on his clothes? No trace of Allie's blood."
"Um, no I didn't."
"If he was really covered in blood, having just murdered someone… you'd expect her blood."
"Objection, counsel testifying. Also, witness not a forensic expert."
"Sustained."
"Can you tell everyone what this is?" I place a file in front of him.
"Emergency room report."
"What does that say there?"
"That glass was found in Jay's cut hand." He closes his eyes briefly, in what appears to be shame.
"Allie wasn't killed with glass."
"Objec-"
"Withdrawn, no further questions."
"You've had a good couple days."
"Hmm. But Jays' not prepared for when shit hits the fan." I lean back against the basin, looking over at Jen.
"Especially not for when you throw shit at the fan." I glare at her.
"You should tell him, he's going to be blindsided."
"Yeah, but I want his reaction to be genuine in court." She scoffs.
"No, you just don't want him to know."
"You're right, because if he knows he won't allow it, or he'll try and stop it… waste my energy fighting with him about it. So…" I shrug, pinching the bridge of my nose.
"So you're prepared for him to hate you over this?" I shake my head, struggling to find words.
"I can't prepare for that, but this is his life we are talking about."
"I haven't known him long but he's not going to take this well, not if you don't be honest with him."
"I know you're right." I look down at my shoes, avoiding her eyes.
"Well you better prepare to lose him over this." I brush away the tear, knowing I can't be angry with the messenger. It's all things I've been thinking.
"I know." I whisper quietly before composing myself and walking back out into the hall and finding Jay.
"Okay, you two better go, you've got some investigating to do."
"You okay?" He asks quietly, reaching for my arm.
"I'm fine."
Jay POV
The car is silent; my mind too wrapped up in Erin's constant mood shifts lately. While the trial has been stressful, my instincts telling me there is something more between us adding to the tension.
Before we left the courthouse I could sense that once again she's struggling with something, my brain rationalises that she's carrying all the pressure for our future.
I turn to glance at Jen, not really having spent much time with her.
"She really loves you, you know." She speaks before I can,.
"I know."
"I've known her for a long time, she's never felt this before. She's been hurt before Jay, a lot."
"I know." I'm quiet.
"You don't know the half of it. Don't hurt her." The threat is clear as day in her tone.
"I won't." I turn to find her eyes on me after she pulls to a stop.
"I mean it, I don't care if you're feeling hurt. Don't hurt her."
"Why would I be hurt?" She ignores me, looking away briefly.
"If this doesn't go well, she will stand by you."
"I don't want her to waste her life on me if that happens."
"It's not your decision, and she's never going to love anyone else."
"She is pretty stubborn."
"Just so you know, she's never going to stop fighting for you." There's an edge to her tone I can't put my finger on.
"She once mentioned trying to get a mistrial if I… use the fact we were in a relationship… like it was some disservice to me."
"She'll do it too."
"She'll get disbarred."
"Probably."
"Then I guess we better find this old lady."
"Yep, okay you think it was on this block?"
"Yes." We get out of the car, looking around. My mind is cast back to the night of Allie's murder, feeling anger and shame at myself again.
We walk the street, my eyes running over the houses trying to find one familiar.
"Anything?"
"No… it was so long ago. And dark… and I was upset." She nods, checking her phone before slipping it into her pocket.
"What about anything else you remember?"
"I remember hearing music… and walked past a few drunk guys." She pulls her phone back out.
"I wonder…" She types away.
"Yeah, there's a bar two blocks that way." She indicates.
"I think we're on the wrong block."
"Let's check it out." I suggest as we turn a corner and begin the walk.
"Where's Erin?" I ask as we walk.
"I don't know. Working. She doesn't tell me everything." She's blunt with no nonsense and I like that about her.
"I highly doubt that. It's me she doesn't tell."
"You're not wrong." She concedes.
"So where is she?"
"Prepping a witness." I frown at that.
"What witness?"
"An expert on forensics."
"Oh." She strikes me as such a cool liar that I can't be sure if it's the truth.
"Shit," I stop walking, "this is it."
"This is the block?"
"Yeah. Let's go." We walk down the block and the night comes back to me in flashes.
"That's it, that's the house."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I remember that moon on the front door. I wouldn't forget that."
"Well let's hope she still lives here." We walk up the steps, and knock on the door.
A few minutes pass and I start to worry no ones home, when the door swings open.
"Hello Miss, how are you?" Jen takes the lead, having experience with this sort of thing.
I'm disappointed to see the lady is too young to be the one I saw.
"Who are you?" She asks with attitude, eyeing us warily.
"Callie, who is at the door?" An older lady with greying hair comes to the door and I'm relieved to recognise her.
"You." She points at me letting me know she recognises me too.
A/N: I hope you liked it! Please leave a review and let me know what you think.
Also I promise Erin's secret will soon be revealed. Also it's been so long since I had to write any sexy time... but figured you deserved some before 'shit hits the fan' hahaha
:)