Chapter 19

She whimpered into his mouth and dug her fingers into his forearms, whether to stop him or encourage him, Lee didn't know and didn't care. All he knew was that there was a balm here. Here in her mouth, pressing against her body, Lee's pain eased. He let go of her arms and Jessica nearly sagged onto the floor but Lee gripped the sides of her face and held her still as he thrust his tongue into her mouth, drinking. Drinking forgiveness, relief. Jessica was pressing back against him, her tears wet against his face, her hips snug against him. Lee couldn't breathe and didn't care. Here was salvation and here he would stay. Jessica reached her fingers up into his dark hair and met his tongue with her own. Pain, anger, rage all fell away as his mouth claimed hers deep and warm. She was making deep moaning sounds in the back of her throat that made his blood race downward and settle deep and thick between his legs. When she was shifting her hips against his arousal warning bells went off in his head that he had to stop before he went too far.

Her fingers were stroking down into the collar of his flight suit dancing against the warm skin and Lee gave a low whimper of reluctance that Jessica echoed when he began to pull away. When he finally broke the kiss Jessica shook her head.

"Again." She whispered wet against his mouth as she pulled him back to her. Lee allowed her to claim his mouth again in a last dizzying kiss before regaining his senses and pulling back again. "No..." She moaned trying to kiss him again but Lee shifted his mouth away from hers so she settled for running her mouth against the thick column of his neck.

'Oh Gods...Jess...Jess..." Lee sighed at the heat of her mouth. He gave a low grunt and cleared his throat. Then he firmly pulled away from her. "Stop...I'm sorry..I shouldn't have...I'm sorry." Lee insisted shaking his head stepping away from her.

"I'm not. I wanted you to do that. I want you to do it again," Jessica reached for his arms but Lee stepped out of her grasp. Slowly Jessica seemed to understand his regret and her cheeks colored.

"We...shit...I'm sorry."

"You can stop apologizing." Jessica insisted. He looked into her eyes but saw no anger there. Just understanding.

"If I hurt you-"

"You didn't. Much" Jessica admitted to him, her hand raising to the back of her head. Jessica wrapped her arms around herself to stop her trembling and give herself a moment to catch her breath. "You needed to get it out. I understand."

"But it wasn't fair to-"

"Lee. Shut up. I'm as much to blame as you are. About everything." Jessica explained.

"It was them or us." Lee rationalized trying to convince them both.

"That doesn't make it any easier." Jessica countered, her eyes filling with tears once again.

"No. It doesn't." He agreed. Jessica looked away, blinking back tears.

"Lee...could you...I just need..."Lee wrapped his arms around her before she asked and held Jessica while she cried. His mind still churned with guilt but his rage was easing, not to mention his blood was slowing its race through his veins. Lee sighed against her. Frak. What was this? What was this thing about her that penetrated his carefully constructed wall and probed at the vulnerability there. Made him want to let her in. Shit. Lee pulled back when her crying lessened. Nervously he disengaged from her and gave them a good foot of space. He avoided her gaze and cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry I took advantage of you. I hope you'll accept my apology. " He repeated. "This was the worst kind of mistake and I assure you it won't happen again. I apologize also for thinking you were a Cylon. The stims frakked my judgment as you can tell." He concluded with a nod as he stiffened his spine. When Lee risked a glance at her she looked as if she wanted to deck him.

"You're an idiot, Captain Apollo. But fine. I can't lie to you and say I regret kissing you. I don't. But if you do I can only, well. I can't do anything about it can I? Just do us both a favor huh? Next time, keep your mouth and your hands to yourself." Jessica seethed; her face red with what Lee first thought was anger but now figured was embarrassment. Damn. He hadn't meant to humiliate her.

When Jessica turned to leave they both froze. His father stood in the doorway with an expression of irritation.

"Back to your room, Ms Talbot. There will be a guard posted there." Lee turned away, sure that his own face had turned crimson as well. How much had his father heard? Or Gods forbid, seen? He felt Jessica's eyes on him one last time before she followed the guard out of the room.

"Looks like you busted your hand again." William said simply.

"I'll have Salik patch it up." Lee said dismissively as he turned to leave but his father caught his arm.

"Good. Now this was my responsibility gave the order. Do you understand?"

"I pulled the trigger. That's mine." Lee countered refusing to meet his father's eyes.

"About what happened before I came in-"

"Nothing happened, Commander." Lee snapped meeting the older man's gaze firmly.

"Good. See that it stays that way, Captain Apollo." William ordered. "Ms Talbot needs to have her mind focused on weeding out Cylons. Not on someone who will only scratch his itch and move on." Lee's eyes flashed angrily.

"Excuse me?" How dare the man think he could comment on Lee's love life or lack of one for that matter? Lee gave a bitter snort. If anything, it was true to form. Commander William Adama wasn't happy unless he was passing judgment on every single aspect of his eldest son's life. Lee had the most absurd urge to grab Jessica back and frak her right under his father's nose just to prove William Adama had no right to think he could say a word about how Lee ran his life.

"You'll never let her in. You don't let anyone in."

"Takes one to know one, doesn't it?" Lee snapped and felt a sick satisfaction knowing the shot hit home. Oh yes. He may have been only a child when his parents split but Lee had not been oblivious to the tears his mother had cried through out the marriage. He remembered them well cause it was he who comforted her. He and Zak who kept her company while Daddy had been too busy flying his planes. He vowed he'd never. Ever, do that to a woman so Lee kept himself free of any emotional attachment. He'd never allow himself to be the cause for the anguish echoed in another woman's face that he'd seen so often on his mother's. Commander Adama stiffened and Lee saw his fist clench at his side. He smiled in goading.

"Get that hand taken care of. You're off duty for the next 6 hours barring anymore Cylon sightings. Dismissed Captain." Commander Adama said. Safe behind the barrier of protocol, Lee saluted and left the room.

A.N:

Just one more to go after this one!

Mae: I'm giddy that you're enjoying this story and hope you'll follow Lee and Jessica into the next books! Lee feels the same way you do! (laughs)

Sweet A.K: Thank you so much for always giving me such sweet feedback. Your comments make me all warm and giddy! And thanks for your comment on the sexual tension. I try! (laughs) I can promise that when these two finally do get to it it'll be pretty amazing. The John Cougar Mellencamp song "Hurts So Good" comes to mind. (winks) And yeah, poor Crumpet does need to get some BAD! (laughs) This chapter will only whet the appetite though. (smiles)