Chapter 9

She watched him as he cleared his throat and then squeezed her hand. "For a long while, actually, from the moment I met you, my biggest nightmare was to lose you to a case, to watch you when something happens to you. My nightmare was close to come true many times and after each and every one, I struggled to maintain professionalism. This morning I realized that I should have been afraid from something else, should have been afraid that one day you wouldn't be there for me." He hesitated. "When Jay walked away today, I saw the hurt and the pain and the sudden realization that things changed. I realized that one day the same thing can happen to me."

"So, you came to see me." Sue said softly and Jack nodded his head.

"There is no way to say it other then the direct way and considering my history maybe its better that way." He chuckled. "I think I loved you for a long time, I still do, of course." He watched her sharp intake of breath and continued. "I don't know if it was love at first sight, but I remember one clear morning that I woke up and you were the first thing in my mind." He took a long breath. "The feeling was incredible, so powerful I couldn't believe it happened to me and after I realized what it was I tried to fight it, using career as my main reason, cowardly trying to keep things the way they were." She was staring at him with wide eyes and he smiled. "That's it really…all I wanted to say. I love you and I want things to move forward with us."

She pursed her lips. "I waited for a long time to see you saying those words."

"But…"

"There is no but, Jack, other then the slightest fear that you will back away tomorrow in fear that something will happen."

His eyes were serious when he spoke, heating her with their intensity. "It's up to you, Sue…you say the word and there is no going back…ever."

She smiled a little and the small gesture warmed his heart even more. "I love you too, Jack." She released a breath, surprised when he gathered her in his arms.

"Are you feeling as relieved as I am?" He wondered, a grin forming on his lips.

Tears sprang into her eyes and clear laughter mixed right along with them. "Yes, I do."

He found her soft lips with his, kissing her gently, his hands creating shivers down her spine. The kiss deepened and she met his tongue with hers, answering his every demand, taking and giving, her hands moving to caress his chest, smiling when he groaned into her mouth, not bothering to hide the shudder that racked his body.

He caught her wandering hands with his, lacing their fingers together, trying to rein his response to her, every desire he had in store for her rising to the surface now that they finally admitted their feelings. Planting a kiss on her cheek, he halted their explorations. "I love you, Sue." He whispered to her skin, feeling her shuddering in his arms.

"It feels good…" She whispered. "Why did we wait for so long?"

"We were stupid." Jack tilted her face so that she could see him.

"Very stupid." She nodded her head.

"Not to mention blind."

"And deaf." She teased him, grinning when he pulled her into a kiss, one that was passionate and consuming and left her panting and desiring more. He leaned his forehead against hers and she felt him chuckling.

"We should go or we'll miss the fireworks." He pulled her after him to a standing position. "But afterwards, we're coming back here for some quality time."

Sue nodded her head. "Absolutely, after all you have four years of not kissing me to compensate for."

He watched her with wide eyes, a wicked smile forming on his lips when she wore her sandals, her back turned to him. "Your wish is my command, Miss Thomas."

Bobby stood in the middle of the pool, pressing her closer to him, his hands firmly grasping her waist, her legs enveloping his waist, the position sensual and passionate and yet he found that he needed to have her closer. He broke off their kiss, moving his lips along her neck, nibbling on the sensitive flesh. He traced her skin with his teeth, smiling when she arched closer, a sigh escaping her mouth, her hand grasping his hair tightly.

They both jumped when a loud explosion startled them, staring at each other as another explosion hit, lighting the dark sky with colorful lights. They both chuckled, raising their heads to the sky and watching the display of light. "Great view." Jay whispered, leaning her head against his shoulder, sighing when his hands trailed lines across her back.

"Beautiful." He agreed, moving his mouth to her wet hair, inhaling her scent as he walked towards the shallow edge.

Jay moved her head, her lips settling close to his ear lobe, kissing sensually, trailing lower to his throat, enjoying when his arms tightened around her and he groaned deeply, lifting her in his arms and heading out of the pool. She squealed when he lowered them to the grass, laughing when he pulled her on top of him.

He silenced her with his lips, wasting no time in deepening the kiss, hungrily tasting her, his hands tracing her exposed flesh, moving from her shoulders to her forearms and then finally to her cheeks, cupping her face with his hands, deepening the kiss even further. A small voice in his head urged him to slow down but a distinctively louder one told him that it's been quite a while since he desired a woman so much.

Jay shuddered, his touch warming her cool body, the fireworks above them only adding to the molten desire that flowed between them. She aligned her body with his, straddling him and grinning into the kiss when he arched beneath her. His hands flew to her back and his initial intention was to halt the delicious movements and the havoc she created in his mind but then, his fingers met the fabric of her bikini and he was distracted for a second, snapping the clip easily.

She tore her lips from his, their eyes meeting as his fingers trailed patterns on her back, unsure if he should continue. She made the decision for him, lowering her mouth to his chest, kissing patterns and flattening her palms against his muscles. Bobby moved his hands higher, moving her hair away from her neck and slowly opening the knot that held the top of her bikini in place.

Gently, he moved to a seating position, tossing the black garment away, chuckling when they both heard it hitting the water. "Right where it belongs." He whispered, his eyes not leaving hers, aware of the sudden shyness that seemed to halt her bold movements.

She smiled a little, her hand tracing his cheek. "The fireworks stopped."

"We should start new ones, don't you think?" He winked.

Jay laughed, her shyness easing a little when he pulled her down with him, turning and covering her body with his, exploring the newly exposed flesh with his lips. She arched into his touch, surprised when his name came out of her lips in a breathless whisper. He halted his movements, gazing at her seriously.

He was about to speak when a ringing of a cell phone startled them. "Yours?" He asked, knowing that he left his at home.

"Let it ring." Jay said quietly. "Or toss it into the pool as well."

Bobby laughed, lowering his head to kiss her again when they heard voices approaching them. They both froze when an elderly man approached them, making sure he didn't look directly at them. Bobby held her closer, hiding her as much as he could.

"Hey, Bobby." The older man spoke, a hint of laughter in his voice.

"Russell, mate, how are you?"

"Fine, fine." Russell waved his hand in the air. "It's been a while since I saw you around the pool."

"Yeah." Bobby answered, tightening his hold when Jay whimpered quietly.

"We received a fine donation last month." Russell said quietly. "The management bought nice surveillance cameras and placed them all around the country club." He paused dramatically. "They placed two in the pool."

Bobby's jaw dropped.

"You're kidding." Jay moved a little so that she could see the security guard and he immediately turned away from her.

"No, Ma'am, I'm not kidding."

"Great." She mumbled, burying her head in Bobby's chest again, fighting to keep her composure.

"But the good news is that the cameras don't record anything so…no damage is done, right?"

Bobby nodded his head slowly. "Thanks, Russell, we'll let ourselves out."

"Sure thing, Bobby, have a great holiday."

"You too."

"Ma'am." Russell grinned when she waved her hand at him, her body shaking.

Bobby waited until he could no longer hear Russell's footsteps before talking. "I am so sorry." He whispered, becoming concerned when her body shook harder. "You have to believe me, I didn't want to put you in a compromising position…actually, I really did want to do that, but I didn't want anyone else to see it either…" She didn't reply and he closed his eyes with frustration, angry at himself. "Jay, are you alright?"

She finally raised her head and his jaw dropped again when he realized she was trying to stifle her laughter. "You have good friends, Bobby." She giggled. "Now, if you excuse me, I think I see my bikini at the middle of the pool." Covering her breasts with her hands, she marched purposely to the deep end and dove inside, swimming to get it and waving it in the air before securely tying it around her body.

He pulled her into his arms when she walked out of the pool. "We're banned from the pool, but I'm sure after that last show of yours they wouldn't mind letting us back in."

She laughed, burying her face in his chest again, the hot flesh becoming a source of comfort. "Where are we going next?"

"Dinner?" He asked, handing her a towel.

"Can you really eat after all that chocolate?" She chuckled.

"A small dinner, maybe?"

"Okay, let's go."

Getting dressed, they headed outside together, locating one of the cameras and making sure to wave at it before leaving.