Chapter 11

It was indeed a quality time, a time that was dedicated solely for touch and contact. Jack ended the kiss with a soft sigh, amazed that they were still laying face to face on her sofa and that they haven't spoken or signed a word since the moment they arrived at her place. They tumbled to the sofa the moment Sue set her keys on the table and he wondered how they managed to survive the lack of oxygen. He trailed his knuckles on her cheek, smiling when she opened smoky eyes to look at him. His smile froze, his eyes turning a darker shade at the possibilities he saw in her eyes, images flashing in his mind, erotic and heated with their vagueness…a strand of blond hair, a touch of creamy skin…

He hurried to place his lips on hers again, their breathe mingling together as a wave of passion possessed them. He clutched at her hair, angling her face to a better angle, one that allowed a deeper exploration that was hardly enough. Sue held on to his shoulders, clutching tight when a sigh escaped her mouth and she felt the vibrations when he echoed the sound, slowly breaking the kiss, replacing the heated touch with a shower of gentle kisses and caresses, beckoning her to open her eyes again.

When she did, he finally spoke. "Nothing could ever compensate the time we wasted circling each other." He whispered, his hand caressing her cheek, his eyes dark and wide as he stared at her.

"But we're here now." She whispered in return. "No going back to where we used to stand."

"No going back." He promised. "But I think I do need to head home and maybe tomorrow we can spend our evening together?" He offered, his eyes hopeful.

"I'd like that." She breathed, smiling when she pulled him to another kiss, one that was long and promising. He trailed his hands down her forearms, grinning when she shivered, ending the kiss with a sigh.

Jack waited for her to focus on him again before he slowly got to his feet and helped her to stand, walking towards the door. He wrapped his arms around her, kissing her softly. "Love you, Sue, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Love you too." She whispered, watching as he walked down the stairs and then locking her door and heading towards the living room window, a chuckle escaping her lips when she watched him doing a little happy dance next to his car. As if he knew she was watching, he looked towards her window and smiled, entering his car and slowly easing into the light traffic.

Sue hugged herself and headed towards the bedroom, cuddling with the Jersey he bought her and a few of the chocolates he left her. Tomorrow will be a fresh start, no more backpedaling and no more eyeing Jack Hudson from afar…she intended to enjoy and embrace every second.

She dreamt about him that night but for the first time since she met him, her dream wasn't so far from reality.

She couldn't stop laughing despite his attempts to silence her with his kisses. She would sigh into his mouth and mold their bodies together but then when they would stop to breathe she would giggle all over again. Bobby didn't mind kissing her senseless every minute of their walk home, he even enjoyed it and after all, he had to admit that the drugstore incident was hilarious.

He browsed quickly through the store because they were, after all, in a hurry and when he got to the cash register the young woman searched the barcode for ages while they both fidgeted in front of her, desiring to get this over with. When the clerk waved the package in the air and asked one of the employees to check the barcode Jay broke into hysterics and Bobby shook his head helplessly, wondering how such an incident could happen twice in a life time.

Jay tried to stifle another giggle when she felt Bobby pausing besides her, recognizing his apartment building before he pulled her into his arms and kissed her again, hungry and desiring her touch. She anchored her hands around his neck and held on tight when they stumbled forward, kissing passionately. Bobby wasn't quite sure how they made it to the elevator and he resisted the urge to press the 'stop' button and consume her right there. He groaned at the thought, surprised when her lips met his again and he pushed her until her back hit the wall of the elevator, his leg sneaking between hers, arching against her. She sighed into his lips. "Don't press the stop button."

"I wasn't going to." He trailed his lips down her neck, scorching the tender flesh with his teeth.

"Liar…" She chuckled.

He chuckled into her neck before pulling her after him towards his apartment door, wasting no time in opening it and practically running inside. He pulled her after him towards his bedroom, tumbling to the bed together. Jay locked her mouth with his, his hands tailing patterns under her shirt and he stopped the kiss for a second to remove their shirts. Covering her body with his, Bobby allowed himself to forget any logic or reason and simply enjoy the way she felt under his touch. Her body arched to fit his and he moaned into her skin, raising startled eyes to meet hers when she asked him to stop.

"I…" She was having trouble in forming the words. "I need…a moment."

"Sure." He breathed, moving his body from hers.

She fled to the bathroom, taking her backpack with her. Pausing in front of the mirror, she sighed softly before removing her bikini and reaching for her set of undergarments. If she was actually going to fall into bed with a man she only just met she might as well make it last more then thirty seconds. She eyed herself in the mirror, wondering about breast implant and if she should brush her teeth or maybe she should give up the entire seduction idea and just go back to his bedroom. She wasn't sure about anything anymore, but his touch made her forget her doubts.

She chose to brush her teeth and then slipped on her white panties, picking up one of his dress shirts from the folded pile in the corner and slipping it on, folding the sleeves and leaving the top buttons open. The wine-colored shirt reached to her knees and as she looked at her reflection in the mirror, untying her curls and letting them fall on her shoulders, she finally decided. "That's it." She whispered. "I'm going to enjoy every second and tomorrow morning I'm going to start over…no regrets and no more Jack Hudson…"

She opened the bathroom door with determination, the shirt cool against her skin. She stopped abruptly at the bedroom entrance, her shoulders slumping at the sight in front of her. He opened one of the fans and was laying with his face turned towards it. His shorts were on the floor and she smiled at the colorful boxers he wore. His eyes were closed and his regulated breath confirmed that he was really asleep.

Jay bit her lips with frustration and approached him slowly, sitting on the bed beside him and reaching out for his hair, caressing softly. He sighed in his sleep and she sighed in return, moving to lie beside him on the bed, closing her eyes when he moved to wrap her in his arms, tangling his legs with hers, moving one hand to caress her stomach under the shirt.

"Bobby?" She whispered, her breathe catching when he pulled her closer.

"Darce." He mumbled softly, planting a kiss in her hair before sighing, his grip loosening as he surrendered to sleep.

Jay closed her eyes tightly, fighting the tears that were suddenly in her eyes, wondering if she could get up without waking him. Facing him now would only cause her more sorrow but she also had no idea where to turn to. The hot sting of moisture on her cheek startled her and she bit her lips, trying to stop her body from shaking.

Somehow, sleep found her as well and she didn't fight it, embracing it with relief.

The soft rays of the sun hit him straight in his eyes and he blinked at them, suddenly awake and alert, all too aware of the empty space beside him. He frantically searched his memory, wondering what happened last night and where was Jay. His memory soon returned, right along with a sense of anxiety and fear that pierced his heart. Where was she?

He jumped from his bed, bumping his toe painfully while he dashed towards the living room, freezing when he saw her standing at the door, holding her sandals with one hand and her backpack with the other. "Jay." He spoke quietly, startling her.

She turned to face him slowly. "Bobby."

"You're leaving." It wasn't a question, but he couldn't think of anything else to say, his mouth suddenly dry.

"I have a flight to catch." She responded, averting her eyes from his.

"I'm sorry about last night…I didn't mean to fall asleep."

She shrugged her shoulders. "It's alright…thank you for letting me stay tonight."

He swallowed. Twice. "Maybe…maybe I can have your phone number, or something."

Her smile was bitter when she answered, shaking her head slowly. "No." He seemed surprised and Jay bit her lips. "You're not over her, Bobby…just like I'm not over him."

"That's ridiculous." He stomped his foot. "I moved on a while ago…I was just shocked that she was getting married."

"Really?" She bent to put on her sandals, effectively hiding the moisture in her eyes. "Then why did you call me Darce last night?"

Bobby opened and closed his mouth sever times and she averted her eyes from his hurt expression, his eyes sad and bright. "I'm sorry."

"You couldn't help it, I suppose." She shrugged her shoulders, but her voice shook. "Look, we had fun but we both knew it was a one-night thing…you know…no strings attached." She chuckled a little, turning her head towards the door again.

"Then why are you crying?" He asked quietly.

"I have a lot of things on my mind too, Bobby." The tears flowed freely when he pulled her into a hug. "I'm not ready for someone new in my life yet."

"But you will be someday." He whispered, disappointed when she pulled away from him.

She bit her lips before pulling her purse and handing him a small card. "It has my e-mail address, you can contact me there." He expected more and she knew it. "I'm sorry but it's all I can give you right now."

Bobby nodded his head. "Do you need a ride?"

"No, I'll catch a cab." She shook her head. "Just…Bobby, give me some time, please. Give yourself as well…" She motioned towards the card and he nodded his head slowly.

He reached out for her hand, squeezing it. "Goodbye, have a safe flight."

"Thank you." She whispered and he watched her as she slowly walked away, waiting until the elevator doors closed behind her before folding the small card and locking the door behind her.