chapter 13
"What are you doing here?" They asked each other at the same time, pausing simultaneously and waiting for reply.
"Jay?" Jack's voice startled them and they turned to face him, watching as he strode towards them, pulling a smiling Sue with him. "I thought you wouldn't make it." He grinned at her, hugging Sue closer and turning to face her. "Sue I want you to meet Juliet. Jay this is Sue…my wife." The last two words were filled with so much pride that Jay forgot all about her red wine covered dress and moved to shake hands.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, I heard a lot about you in the last couple of months."
"Me too." Sue grinned. "I do think we need to meet sometime for coffee, you can give me some insight on my husband." Sue paused as the word slipped easily off her lips; she shared a look with Jack, his expressive eyes unable to contain his desire for her.
"Your name is Juliet?" Bobby found his voice suddenly, reaching out for her.
Jay flushed a little. "Thanks a lot, Jack." She mumbled to him.
Jack's features showed his confusion. "Do you know each other?"
"Yes…" Jay trailed off, turning to face Bobby again, her face reflecting her confusion. "Bobby, what are you doing here?"
He was quiet for a moment, his eyes trailing between her and Jack, shifting back and forward. "He's your Jack." He said quietly, turning to face his friend. "You broke her heart."
Jay swallowed, glancing between the two men and then averting her eyes to meet Sue's, noting the confusion in her features. "He's not my Jack." She hurried to explain. "He's your Jack; obviously since…he married you…he was never my Jack…"
"I broke your heart?" Jack asked quietly and Jay sighed, rolling her eyes.
"And thanks a lot, Bobby." She sighed. "Obviously, it is a small world after all." She turned to face Jack and Sue. "I met Bobby three months ago on Independence Day."
Jack raised his hand, stopping her mid sentence. "You didn't tell me about it. I asked you how you spent your day and you said you just traveled around and did nothing special."
"Oh…nothing special, ha?" Bobby faked insult and watched with amusement when she stomped her foot.
"What was I supposed to say? I literally ran into a guy and spent the night at his place?"
"You did what?" Jack's protective mode went into immediate action, but Jay deflected it with ease.
"Lay off, big brother, it seems I can't even do a rebound right…nothing happened."
"Yet…" Bobby winked at them.
"Exactly how do you two know each other?" She directed them with her best glare, noting that a few other people gathered around the small circle that they formed.
"We've been best mates since Quantico." Bobby said quietly, watching as understanding slowly sank in.
Jay smiled a little. "How stupid can we possibly be?"
"It's all Jack's fault." Bobby summarized. "He should have introduced us sooner."
"Yes, why haven't you introduced your two best friends to each other?"
Jack waved his finger at them. "You really are a match, ganging up on me already…"
"Hold on for a moment." Tara waved her hands in the air. "Hi, I'm Tara." She introduced herself before turning to Bobby. "So back on the fourth when you missed the fireworks…"
"I didn't miss the fireworks, Sheila." He grinned cheekily, satisfied when Jay's flush turned a darker shade of red.
"I really need to change clothes." She mumbled, excusing herself to the ladies' room.
The team shared amused looks before slowly heading to get some food; they took the happy bride with them, leaving the best friends to stare at each other.
"Is it strange for you?" Jack was the first one to break the silence.
"It might take a while to get used to." Bobby shrugged his shoulders. "I guess there is still a lot we need to learn about each other…me and Juliet."
"Don't do it, she hates the name."
Bobby grinned. "Really?"
Jack chuckled in reply. "Is she the one you told me about last night?" Bobby nodded his head, smiling when he caught her eyes as she walked out of the ladies' room with a pair of black pants and a silk shirt. "Take good care of her…" He tried to warn, smiling when his friend grinned.
"I will, Spark…but I think we still have a long way ahead of us."
He noticed her slowly getting tired. They had a light lunch and made small talk, both realizing that this wasn't the time for the deep conversation they needed to have. They even shared a dance and managed to impress with their moves, but he noticed that she was tired and offered her to leave a little early. Jay agreed and followed him to his apartment with her rental car. By the time they got there Bobby thought she was looking much worse and it looked like she was developing a fever.
He made her some hot tea and practically threw her on his bed, ordering her to take the medications she brought with her and get some sleep. She merely nodded her head and he waited for her to change her clothes before sitting beside her on the bed and keeping an eye until she fell asleep.
Now, he considered just letting her sleep until morning. She seemed peaceful and content and he was reluctant to wake her up. Sitting beside her on the bed, he placed a gentle hand on her forehead, relieved when he felt that she had no fever. She stirred and opened her eyes slowly, wincing as she swallowed. "I'm so sorry." She whispered and he shook his head, smiling and moving to lie on his side beside her.
"What are you sorry about?" He asked.
"I'm ruining our date." She whined. "It's not fair. I wanted to look good in my dress and got wine all over it and I wanted to spend a nice weekend with you and now look at me."
"Its fine, I like taking care of you. Should I cancel your hotel reservations, cause you're not going anywhere until you feel better." She flushed a little and averted her eyes. "Jay?"
"I just…I wasn't sure what to do so I didn't make any reservations; I thought I could stay on your couch. Only on the way here, I realized that it might send you mixed signals." She sighed.
"You know, I wasn't going to sleep with you today." He said softly, amused when she frowned at him.
"No? And what if I seduce you?"
"I would resist." He winked, turning serious. "I know I already told you that, but it seemed important to say it again. I'm glad nothing happened between us that night…it would have been amazing but then I wouldn't get the chance to know you better."
"I'm glad we got this chance." She smiled. "I agreed to take the Maryland contract, I still have a few things to wrap up in New York, but I think I could move in a month or so."
Bobby's smile broadened. "This is great, Jay. It's a great opportunity."
She grinned, etching closer to him on the bed. "Just that?" She teased, moving a finger to poke at his chest. "You're not at all happy that I'll be a little closer?"
He wrapped his arms around her, surprised by the sigh that escaped his lips, he wasn't even aware of his desire to hold her in his arms and was relieved when she cuddled in his arms, resting her head on his shoulder. "I'm very happy and you know it…" He chuckled. "Didn't I lobby for Maryland?"
She laughed. "Speaking of work, how is it possible that we had no idea about Jack?"
"Because we talked about ourselves, I can't talk much about work anyway and I enjoyed hearing about your advertising projects and just talking about anything and nothing so…it just never came up."
"I even mentioned his name once." She raised her eyes, smiling. "But I guess it's a fairly common name."
"Do you want to eat something?" He trailed his fingers in her hair. "I made some salad and pasta, simple things."
"Let me grab a shower first." She said, stretching when he slowly got up and helped her to sit. She stopped him before he left the room. "Bobby…is it really okay? Me staying here tonight?"
He smiled, handing her a towel and bending his head to touch her lips with his. The contact was short but it still sent butterflies to her stomach, he placed another kiss on her cheek, his breath tickling her as he spoke. "More than okay."
She watched her reflection in the mirror, critically straightening her silk nightgown. She knew he was waiting for her, but he wouldn't expect her to show up…like this. They just returned from a romantic walk by the lake and a bottle of champagne with some appetizers waited for them in their small cabin. She excused herself for a moment and he poured the champagne and told her that he would wait for her on the porch.
Sue moved her hands along her gown, her body tensing as she imagined him touching her. Biting her lips, she opened the bathroom door, heading outside with nothing but her white gown. Pausing at the entrance, she took a moment to observe him. He removed his jacket and tie and had the sleeves folded, he also removed his shoes and she was mesmerized when his fingers curled around the glass of champagne.
A wave of sudden awareness washed over her, its intensity threatening to drown her. He was her husband, she was his wife, and that sudden awareness aroused her so much it shocked her, sizzling fire burning through her veins.
He knew she was standing behind him, hearing her quiet steps as she slowly advanced towards him. He swallowed, his fingers curling around his glass, tempted to feel the burn of the drink in his throat, wondering if it could help him restrain his desire for her.
Jack moaned softly, feeling her drawing closer, her scent engulfing his senses. He slowly turned to face her, his breath catching at the sight of her in her white satin, her hair cascading on her shoulders. He placed the glass on the table, reaching a hand to stroke her shoulder, trembling fingers traveling lower to the swell of her breast, stopping to caress before lowering his lips to hers.
She tilted her head upwards, matching his delicate movements as he cupped her face with his palms, his mouth warm and demanding against hers. He bit her lower lip with his teeth, sending waves of anticipation that cursed through her body, settling in her womb as her anticipation rose higher. She opened her mouth, deepening the kiss, surrendering to his demands and making some of her own, their bodies seeking further contract.
He picked her up, nearly loosing his balance as they both started to giggle, the tension disappearing, allowing compassion and desire to take control. He lay beside her on the bed, allowing her wandering hands to slowly open the buttons of his shirt, enjoying her attention. The world slowly disappeared as she focused on him only, on them…while they loved each other.
"So…" Bobby chewed the pasta, his expression thoughtful. "Juliet, you say…"
Jay groaned loudly, reaching out for her tea. "There is no possible way you could…forget that Jack called me that, right?"
"It's a beautiful name." He grinned. "And I don't think I'll forget."
"Is there anything I can give you in exchange for you forgetting my annoying birth name?" She batted her eyelashes at him, leaning closer to him on the sofa.
He chuckled. "I might be persuaded to temporary forget…"
"Temporary?" She laughed, raising her eyebrow at him. "Not good enough, Bobby."
"Did you like the food?" He changed the subject, taking their plates and heading for the kitchen.
"It was good, considering I lost the ability to taste." She grinned when he chuckled.
"Now I understand why you used so much salt."
She reached for a tissue, knowing that after her sore throat came the running nose and the splitting headache. "I'm sorry I ruined your plans."
"You apologize too much." He returned from the kitchen with a new tea. "Mixed with honey, it should help your throat." He sat beside her, enveloping them both with a blanket. "For your information, I did plan for us to eat here although I wanted things to be a little fancier. After you told me you were sick, I figured you wouldn't appreciate fancy so I settled for simple things." He smiled, tucking a curl behind her ear. "Now will you stop apologizing?"
She pursed her lips, her eyes twinkling. "I can try."
"Juliet…" The name rolled easily from his lips.
"Alright…alright…" She rolled her eyes. "Now what are we doing?"
"We can watch a movie." Bobby offered. "Or we can give you the drowsing medications and put you to back to bed."
"A movie you picked?" She made a show of considering her options, tapping her lips with her finger. Bobby smiled a little, tempting to take hold of her finger and slowly kiss the tender flesh. He closed his eyes for a moment, shaking his head. "Am I in for a three-hour marathon of Rambo or something?"
He rolled his eyes. "You have to take your chances with this one, Jay. Movie or bed?"
"Well, when you put it that way…" She raised her eyebrows suggestively and he threw a pillow on her. "Hey, I'm sick!" Jay faked an unsuccessful cough for good measure. "Alright, a movie, but I might just fall asleep in the middle."
He pulled her closer, their knees touching under the woolen blanket, his arm enveloping her. "I'll keep you awake and warm, how's that?"
"Sounds good." She cuddled closer, her head resting on his shoulder. She laughed when the opening credits showed up. "Ice Age Two?"
"Well, we never saw the ending." He chuckled. "If my memory serves me right, we were…occupied."
She smiled a little. "I think it was well worth it…missing the ending of the movie."
Bobby nodded his head, tilting hers so that their lips almost touched. "So…considering the fact that we already saw the beginning of the movie…" He trailed his fingers along her forearm, her skin warm against them.
"I'm sick…" She breathed, a shiver running down her spine. "You might catch something."
His eyes were very dark and very serious, just a hint of mischief that she picked up beneath layers of something she couldn't place and wasn't sure she wanted to just yet. "The way I see it, Jack and Sue got themselves a week off while I have lots of vacation days I never used…that way, I can spend more time with you…"
"Oh, I can see it already, both of us consuming industrial amounts of Advil and tissue paper…such a romantic scene…"
He captured her lips with his, relief spreading in his veins when she responded immediately, welcoming the pressure of his lips, tangling her hand in his hair. He deepened the kiss, his body responding to her closeness, to the way she felt beside him, reacting to her wonderful taste, knowing that he was already growing addicted.
She arched closer, practically straddling him, the blanket falling to the floor. Surrendering to a wave of delicious sensation, she wondered if he was really such a good kisser or was it simply the electrifying attraction that seemed to pull them together. His hands sneaked under her T-shirt and the slow caresses slowly halted their heated exploration.
Jay leaned her forehead against his, sighing softly. "Bobby…when I'm well enough…"
"We won't stop." He breathed, moving his head so that he could see the small smile that traced her lips. "But for now…it's a start…" He frowned a little before sneezing loudly.
Jay giggled, kissing his lips and handing him a tissue. "It's a start of something alright…"
Bell ~2006
A 3 chapter continuation will be posted soon!