John groaned in agony as he cracked an eye open. "You're sadistic, you know that, Shaw," he grumbled as he grabbed his pillow, tugged it out from under his head and put it over his face.
Shaw snickered at his pain. "There's no rest for the wicked, Reese," she said, unapologetic for goosing him. She poured water on his face again but he just rolled over and ignored her, so she had to get inventive.
John slowly rolled off the couch. The next time it was his turn to take the couch or floor; he was choosing the floor. It would be better than trying to squeeze his body onto the damn miniature couch. He had a rough night while Shaw snored loudly; she rivaled a roaring semi-trailer, but he couldn't even blame her for his rough night. It was thoughts about Joss that kept him wide awake.
John had resorted to going up to the 24 hour gym, spending over an hour on the treadmill at max speed trying desperately to run off some of the tension coursing through him. His hair was matted to his scalp and muscle tank plastered to his chest from sweat before he finally quit. It didn't help him release the tension but the run on the treadmill did make him so tired he was ready to drop. When he arrived back to the stateroom Shaw pulled a gun on him before realizing who it was, cussed like a little sailor, and fell promptly back to sleep and the snoring commenced all over again.
He took a lengthy ice cold shower before giving into the desire to find release. Thoughts of Joss plagued him: her cry of his name, her soft moans wishing for more than his finger buried inside her. He did too. He wanted to bury his mouth there and then his aching cock. It hadn't taken very long to come with thoughts of Joss and just how perfect she felt in his arms after all this time and how amazing she felt, but once he found release, he climbed out of the shower and dropped onto the couch contorting his long frame into a half comfortable position and drifted to restless sleep.
They had talked about what happened. He felt better about it for the first time since leaving Joss that morning after because she understood and he had gotten it off his chest about Jessica, about being a coward when it came to his intense feelings for her that he didn't understand, and he finally could move on. Now he could make it up to Joss and their daughter for having to spend five years alone. He even told her he wanted a future with her which was a big step for him. Generally, speaking with women wasn't one of his strong suits which seemed to amuse many. Grace joked that it made him even more desirable to women. But if there was one thing he did worse than speaking with women; it was speaking about his feelings.
Although it was different with Joss, she made it so easy to speak and be honest with her and himself too. She was so well versed in many topics that conversations flowed and never lulled. From the moment he met her at The Bean, to their evening and night together and now; she interested him, intrigued him, and never bored him. Their first hurdle to conquer was talking about the past and what had happened and why he stayed away; which was quickly checked off. Though any previous couple finding each other again after a few years apart typically needed to find out if they still had the hots for each other; well he could say for absolute certainty that wasn't something they had to worry about. He had been so close to jumping her and to hell with the fact that they were behind a simple curtain. The only thing that saved her from him fucking her there and then was talking about the upcoming season for the Yankees and desperately pressing the call button for a server when Joss had looked too enticing as she sat there and looked at him.
But before they could hammer out any future plans together he needed to get through this cruise from hell. Including today, they had four more long days left and he wasn't quite sure if he was going to make it.
John forcefully shelved thoughts of Joss away and looked at Shaw who was smirking at him. "What?" he muttered a little defensively. He was really not in the mood.
"Nothing except for the fact that I just told you that I was texted by Selma and I invited her and her husband to our little beach outing and you totally were in la-la land or more accurately; thinking about plowing Carter," Shaw answered.
"That's the first time Selma texted you," he pointed out, ignoring her last comment. Shaw always had sex on the brain and naturally assumed everyone else did too. This time she was right but he wasn't letting her know she was right, then she'd never shut up. Or provoking him into doing something and 9 out of 10 times he could ignore her and her 'suggestions,' but if she suggested he'd go take Joss so he could concentrate: he might actually listen.
"I know. She said she wanted to talk to me about something and that it's important," Shaw admitted, eyeballing the text with disgust. Oh god, if what she deemed was important was some celebrity gossip she just might kill Selma Gordon-Wixom herself. There were two things in this world she couldn't stand: listening about celebrities' stupid ass lives and someone leaving a half-eaten steak on their plate. Just finish the steak, otherwise it's a waste!
John felt renewed hope. "Do you think she'll tell you something useful for our case that might lead us to closing it sooner rather than later?" he asked hopefully, because then the need to keep their cover from being blown was gone and he could see Joss and Maddie whenever he wanted.
Shaw snorted. "Doubt it; so cool Little Reese down a bit. You went this long without real sex; because sex between you and Iris doesn't count. Mediocre sex doesn't count, EVER."
He exhaled. "How do you even know I had sex with Iris?—you know what, never mind. I prefer not to know how you know. Iris was a mistake," he said with a shake of the head. He had a feeling Shaw had gone to Iris's office before he sat her down to explain about boundaries and when she stepped over them.
"Duh, your worst mistake ever, besides not buying me that steak before our sting op that one time," Shaw agreed.
"Shaw, there was no time to go get you a steak! And you really didn't have to break that woman's leg," he commented with a roll of the eyes as he opened the dresser and found his swim trunks and a white tank-top to wear.
"She came at me with a plastic fork, Reese! Seriously, what the fuck was that druggie going to do: poke me to death?! I was angry that she was coming at me with something so damn lame and I was hungry!"
John sighed. "We better get going or we'll be late," he murmured, not about to argue that the woman had been higher than a kite and that a plastic fork to her had looked like a viable weapon choice at the time. He walked past Shaw towards the bathroom.
Shaw pointed at her bikini. "I'm ready to go Reese; I'm not the one that slept in so I could get some fantasy pussy."
John smirked. "Sorry mom, I'll get going." he stated as he slid the door shut and heard her curse.
This had to be hell. It just had to be; being this close to a scantily clad Joss and not be able to do a damn thing.
John walked in between Shaw and Joss on the beach with Maddie hefted on his shoulders as they looked for the perfect spot on the beach. Maddie had practically climbed up his body with her wish to be on his shoulders.
"Hi people!" Maddie exclaimed as she waved at the other beach dwellers that were already out and about. Many waved back to her while others chuckled.
As they walked the length of the beautiful beach with soft sand they found a nice patch of beach to settle and enjoy their outing.
His eyes drifted to Joss, not for the first or second or even the third time, and peeked down her bikini top that was held together by ties only and felt surly as he was jealous of the fabric clinging to her breasts and also the bottoms too. He sure wouldn't mind settling between Joss's legs. But not only was he jealous of an inanimate object that got to touch Joss more than he got too: but he had to share her with an overly talkative Shaw who was gabbing it up with Joss about guns. He should be happy that Shaw was showing signs of actually liking Joss. And he was, but after last night he didn't want to share Joss with anyone, including Shaw. But being alone with Joss would test his willpower and he was better off having Shaw, Maddie, and the Wixoms around to keep him under control.
"Right here is nice." Joss murmured as she looked out to the ocean and then dropped the tote bag down and proceeded to bend in front of him to tug out the beach towel.
John eyed Joss's ass. Yep, this was his hell.
Shaw smirked at Reese as he eyed Carter's ass before noticing the Wixoms were walking down the beach towards them. She pasted on a smile which was beginning to hurt her face as she greeted them. "Hi Selma, Nigel,"
John turned to smile at them and Maddie waved. He noted with curiosity that Selma didn't even look him in the eye. "Er…hello," she managed before scurrying past him and hugged Shaw. He clenched his teeth together to stop laughing at Shaw's look as she stood stiff as a board.
"What the f—okay, yea, sure, hug me. I don't mind hugs," Shaw agreed as she awkwardly patted the woman's back.
"We need to talk," Selma whispered in her ear before pushing free of the hug. Shaw eyed her and then Nigel, who shrugged.
Shaw nodded. "Sure, in a little bit," she agreed slowly, unsure of what the hell was going on; but her job description didn't include people hugging her and she barely kept from threatening to cut her arms to stubs for doing so.
John again noticed that Selma wouldn't look at him and she sounded off as Joss greeted her and she responded back monotonously, definitely without her usual zip. She looked close to tears and Joss shared a look with him as Joss tied her hair up high in a bun. He shrugged; understanding women was a skill set that he wasn't gifted with. He hefted his daughter up and over his head and set her on her feet as they all squeezed onto Joss's giant red beach towel together.
Maddie stood at his and Joss's feet looking out to the ocean, hopping from one foot to the other in desperate excitement to go swimming as Joss sat on his one side and Shaw was on his other.
Shaw leaned close to him. "What the hell is up with Selma?—she looks like someone ran over one her endangered animals," she muttered quietly as they eyed the couple who were a good twenty feet from them, setting down a beach towel and umbrella, looking like they were arguing gently. Perhaps there was trouble in paradise already. So not only did the sex stop like directly after the 'I dos' but the fights commenced before the honeymoon finished too. So marriage blew hard as she figured.
"Not sure but it looks like she wants to tell her new BFF," he teased quietly as Maddie's attention was on mommy who was speaking to her.
"My life sucks," Shaw complained.
"It does," he agreed, earning a giggle out of Joss, who was listening while she began putting sunscreen on Maddie. "But pretend you care about what it is and you should get through it," he instructed.
"I need to stop being so damn irresistible to people," Shaw muttered.
Joss snorted at that comment as she covered her baby from head to toe in sunscreen. Shaw…irresistible to people?—maybe to deaf people that couldn't hear the obnoxious words that came out of the filthy mouth she had. "You know the meaning of 'irresistible' right, Sam?" Joss questioned jokingly.
Shaw glowered before saying, "Yea. So pipsqueak: where do babies come from?" Shaw wondered with a dark smile as Maddie looked at her immediately.
Joss narrowed her eyes on the smirking woman before glancing at Maddie who looked confused. "I dunno," Maddie answered before looking back to Joss. "Mommy, where do babies come from?" she asked innocently.
John glared at Shaw while Joss thought quick, "John is going to help me blow up your arm floaties so you can go swimming with him and mommy," she said quickly, sidetracking her daughter with John, which worked like a charm as Maddie was easily diverted as she clapped in delight.
He caught an arm floatie flung at him from Joss and their daughter all but pounced on him. Joss looked at Shaw and flung the sunscreen at her wishing to clunk the brat in the head. Never float a question like that around a little four year old! Or never tell a little four year old that Santa wasn't real! Once the arm floaties were blown up and shimmied up their daughter's skinny arms, Maddie was practically bouncing to get into the ocean as she tugged on mommy and John's hands trying to drag them to their feet.
Shaw shared a look with Reese and looked past him and saw Selma eyeing them while Nigel must have gone into the water. Shaw looked back at Reese and at the prospect of having Reese put sunscreen on her back to make it look good. It made her sick.
"I'll burn," she muttered to herself as she rubbed sunscreen on her arms, shoulders, legs, and mid-section before flinging the bottle to Carter.
"Mommy, John, I wanna go swimming!" Maddie cried, dropping their hands when it wasn't working, reminding them she was bouncing around in need to get in the water.
Joss glanced at her baby, knowing they were killing her with going adult speed and not kid speed. "In a minute baby: mommy needs sunscreen too." she murmured before looking at John with a coy smile. "If you wouldn't be so kind?" she requested.
He eyed the sunscreen, then her, and she felt a little warm as his eyes lodged on her breasts. She was hoping her nipples wouldn't respond but that was like hoping the day wouldn't end: it was going to happen. She just had to hope that no one would notice her body responding to John's every move, touch, and look.
John's eyes lifted and he shook his head. "No," he said softly. Was Joss mad?—she wanted him to run his hands all over her body with Shaw, their daughter, and the Wixoms watching? How was he supposed to pretend he didn't enjoy the feel of his hands gliding over her hot skin? How was he supposed to not respond to the touch? "Sam can do it," he blurted out, sending Shaw a pleading look.
It went unnoticed. "Hell no!—I'm not touching her!" Shaw complained.
Joss frowned. "I don't have a disease, Sam!" She turned to John, "besides I don't want her touching me, I want you to do it. You do me: I'll do you," she purred as Maddie plopped onto her butt and ran a finger through the sand, apparently done with the adults around her.
John's eyes widened. That was even worse than running his hands all over Joss's body: having hers run all over his and not be able to do a damn thing about it.
He swallowed hard. "Joss I can't have you touch me any more than I can touch you," he said softly.
Shaw rolled her eyes. "Not in any of the good places," Shaw commentated, earning her a tight glare from Reese. She exhaled before ripping the sunscreen out of Carter's hand. "Fine: I'll take one for the team since touching Carter's back will make little Reese too hard to handle," she snapped as she squirted a healthy amount into her hand. "Lay down," she barked.
Joss grumbled as she did as she was told and she was waiting for the abrasive touch. But surprisingly, Shaw was gentle as she rubbed the sunscreen smoothly into her back. It still wasn't John's touch but at least her back would be protected.
"Wow you have soft skin," Shaw muttered.
"Thanks Shaw…."
After Shaw was done she smirked. "I could do your front too," she suggested, which Joss rolled her eyes at and John grunted in annoyance.
"I can handle that," Joss assured her.
"Or John can," Shaw winked before glowering as she realized Selma was waving her over. "Great, she's waving me over now. I think I'd rather drown," Shaw sneered as she got to her feet, better get this over with. She started over for Selma.
"Now can we go swimming mommy?" Maddie begged as she stood up with renewed hope that mommy and John were ready.
John sure wouldn't mind a cool off himself as he grabbed his tank-top hem and whipped it over his head, not seeing Joss's look.
"Not yet baby, John needs some sunscreen too." Joss said as she quickly reached out and proceeded to cease his movement up. "And by process of elimination: I'm the only one left to help," she purred with a wicked gleam in her eye as she stared at his hard muscular body. Too bad they had company around them. "Want to help me, Maddie, so we can get in the water quicker?" she asked, finally managing to stop staring at John's chest.
"YESSSSS!" Maddie shouted as she cupped her little hands out and Joss squeezed a small amount so their baby could help rub sunscreen on John. She rubbed his shin.
John grumbled lowly as she squirted some sunscreen into his hand so he could do his arms so they didn't kill their daughter with how slow they were moving. To kids a few minutes were a lifetime!
Joss rubbed her hands together as she tackled his shoulders, his very tense and warm shoulders. She sighed as she ran her hands down his back, trailing her thumbs alongside his spine and nearly groaned at the soft feel. John was all hard male yet had the softest skin imaginable.
He tried to ignore the feel of Joss's hands running across his back and in a non-sexual way and yet it felt too sensual. This was why he couldn't have her touch him, it was too much. John jumped a little as Joss's hands slid around his body and rubbed his chest while her fingers knowingly and teasingly brushed his nipples.
"We have a kid present," he muttered.
She giggled. "I'm just trying to keep you safe from the sun," she purred in his ear as Maddie was intently focused on his other leg. Joss let her hands toy with danger as she dragged her hands down his ribcage feeling him shift and let her fingertips dip past the elastic of his swim trunks.
John scooped Maddie up into his arms, earning squeals and giggles as he desperately needed to get away from Joss and her touch. "Come on, Maddie, let's race your mommy to the ocean!"
Maddie laughed joyously as John ran with her across the beach. "I'm gonna get you!" Joss shouted as she gave chase.
Shaw dragged her feet as she headed over to where Selma was seated on a beach towel under an umbrella. She looked positively green. Shaw slowly dropped beside her and watched Reese, Carter, and Maddie together. She wanted to snort as Carter discreetly was all over Reese but looked innocent enough. She liked how Carter got under Reese's skin. Plus the woman had amazing skin. She was going to raid her bathroom the next time she was in New York and find out what she used!
Shaw's gaze quickly slid from them to Selma. "What's up, Selma?"
Selma looked at her and tears rolled down her cheeks. "I have something to tell you and I don't know how, Sam," she admitted. "Nigel told me not to say anything, that it was none of my business and he's right, of course. I really shouldn't have looked behind that curtain but…" Selma trailed off wiping at her eyes. Both of them looked up when they heard infectious young laughter as John ran across the beach with Maddie in his arms with Carter hot on his trail.
Shaw looked back at Selma. "Okay, what do you have to tell me?"
"I saw your husband and Joss kissing. They were alone in this private seating behind a curtain and I thought you were there and I wanted to say hi so I pulled back the curtain and saw them."
Shaw looked up. "Any tongue?" she demanded.
"Excuse me?"
"Tongue!—Selma, was there any tongue?" she demanded.
"Yes lots of tongue!" Selma said outraged.
"Atta boy, Reese," Shaw said under her breath then looked up and realized Selma was waiting for something. "What?"
"Aren't you mad?—I found your husband kissing another woman and quite passionately! Didn't they just meet? And she has a daughter to think about."
Crap, she forgot all about her fake marriage to Reese! Shaw thought fast. "John and I have an open marriage," she said the first thing she could come up with.
Selma's eyes widened. "Oh, you're swingers?"
Shaw rolled with it. "Yea, my husband totally wanted to bone Joss the first second he saw her. I mean it was so obvious wasn't it? He was totally hot for her. John and I both like it this way; keeps things fresh for us. As you know my husband has a very healthy sexual appetite and I prefer him going with women I approve of. In fact we are going to ask Joss into a threesome," Shaw said now finding her groove, pretending she wasn't shocking Selma while covering for Reese's ass and having a little fun, all in one.
"Oh, well, that changes everything," Selma admitted, relaxing immediately and looking less pale and upset and, for the first time since arriving on the beach, she smiled.
"John and I find monogamy boring. But we love each other so we tied the knot. And I have no interest in kids and it's clear that John loves Maddie already; he's practically her dad so I wouldn't be surprised if you see him hanging around her suite," Shaw added to help Reese out a bit. He was dying to spend more time with Maddie.
Selma nodded thoughtfully before glancing at her in worry. "Nigel and I aren't…"
Shaw waved her hand at her. "John and I know that from the first time we met you. You two clearly have eyes only for each other."
"Not saying that John isn't quite possibly the sexiest man I have ever seen, but Nigel is my one and only," Selma admitted. Shaw's lips twitched as Selma's cheeks burned bright red from admitting she found Reese sexy. "But now knowing that you have an open marriage I am relieved. I thought he was cheating on you."
"Nope, not cheating as long as it's Joss, then I'm alright with it," she agreed and in part it was truth. Carter wasn't bad, she liked guns, treated Reese well and the kid wasn't bad either. Shaw turned to look out in the ocean and saw Reese, Carter, and Maddie all playing in the water.
Selma followed the look. She didn't know how John and Sam could handle such an arrangement, but if it worked for them so they could remain together, then so be it.
Shaw leaned back on Selma's blanket and imagined the amount of steaks Reese was going to get her for this one and smirked.
John rushed into the water, running with Maddie as she laughed with Joss hot on his trail and he didn't stop until he was thigh high in water, not wanting to take Maddie out too far. He crouched down and set the little fish in the water as Joss caught up and she pinched his butt as he was angled away from Shaw and Selma.
"Cheater!" she said laughingly.
John shrugged as he dove into the water desperately needing to cool off. Joss slowly settled into the water careful to not get her hair wet and soon they slowly swam with Maddie. John grabbed Maddie under the arms. "On the count of three, sweetheart, I'm going to fling you into the air and you're going to make the biggest splash ever," he promised.
Maddie began bouncing in the water, smiling wide. "Yes, yes, yes, yes!" she chanted happily.
"Count me down, Maddie," he instructed.
Joss smiled proudly as their daughter, who had already learned how to count to a hundred, counted up to three and on each number John raised and lowered Maddie up and down a bit in the water. "Three!" she squealed and John lifted Maddie up and shot her up into the air, not as far as he could lift their precious cargo, but high enough that had Maddie letting out a scream of utter delight as she fell into the water with a splash. Laughter was greeting their ears and John was looking mighty proud of himself at bringing their daughter so much joy.
"Go again, go again!" she demanded as she thrashed over to John to throw her in the air again. Joss gently waded near them as they did the countdown, listening to Maddie's excitement in her number counting as she went from one to three so quick, and then squeals of absolute bliss as she was tossed into the air and fell into the water. John got her up higher and higher but stopped well belong how high she was sure John could toss their baby.
"Careful, John, you're going to be her favorite swim toy," Joss teased.
"Mommy's turn!" Maddie begged and John immediately looked at her.
"Mommy doesn't need or want a turn, Maddie. I can't get my hair wet." Joss assured as John's grin turned wicked.
"I think Maddie is a little genius," he purred as he reached for her.
Joss danced out of his reach as she swam away from him. "Oh no you don't!" Joss swam from them.
John grinned at Maddie. "Come on Maddie, let's go catch mommy." he said with a co-conspirator grin that their daughter matched. He stayed close to Maddie to make sure she felt like she was in the race of catching mommy and after a few moments, Joss let them catch her.
"Gotcha mommy!" Maddie cried victorious as she grabbed a hold of Joss.
John grabbed Joss's hips. "Yea, mommy we got you," he purred as she mouthed 'you're dead' at him as Maddie let go of mommy and John lifted her up high and tossed her not as high as he could their daughter but Joss did get some hang-time; Maddie watched with giggles as mommy landed back into the ocean with a loud splash. Joss broke the surface of the water sputtering.
"Get daddy," Joss cried, it was war now! John's eyes widened but neither Joss nor Maddie seemed to notice what she exclaimed as they swam towards him predatorily.
He dove into the water and swam from them. "Maddie, you're Benedict Arnold-ing me!" he joked.
Maddie had no clue what that meant but she just laughed at daddy anyway as she swam with mommy to catch him. John dipped under the water as he stopped and broke the surface facing them and splashed them.
Joss and Maddie splashed back, neither side backing down, and before long Joss sent in Maddie to distract John and began shoveling water his way. The splash war continued on but with it being two on one and Joss gaining the upper hand, John graciously met defeat.
"I'm out. I bow to the Carter ladies!"
After Joss and Maddie celebrated their splash war victory; they swam together sharing a nice time together until Nigel swam over. John immediately slipped back into his cover as he looked back to the shore and saw Shaw was sitting with Selma and they looked like they were talking.
"Hey guys," Nigel murmured.
"Hey Nigel," John responded. "Sam wasn't in the mood to swim so I went with Joss and Maddie…"
Nigel shifted his gaze around before looking at him directly. "I know John."
"You know what?"
Nigel looked back at Selma and then back at him. "I know that you're John Reese and that woman sitting with my wife isn't your wife but rather your partner. You're here to protect Selma."
John and Joss shared a look. Maddie didn't seem to understand what was going on as she climbed on John to toss her in the air. "You know?" he repeated slowly. Did he blow his cover somehow? Did Shaw? He threw his daughter into the air at her insistence.
"Yes, I was in on the meeting with Harold and my new father-in-law and it was Selma's father's idea of having her not know that he wanted additional protection on our honeymoon, not mine. Sel wouldn't have been happy but she would have agreed to make Richard and Harold happy." Nigel explained and John quietly fumed.
"So you knew this entire time?"
"Yes. I didn't want to pose as any problem with your investigation and protecting Selma."
Joss looked at Maddie. "I think it's time we head back to shore and have some snacks Maddie?" Joss said.
"I wanna swim more mommy!"
"And you will after we take a break." Joss assured her stubborn baby who thrashed over to John wrapping her arms around John's arm.
Maddie looked up at John. "Can I sit on your shoulders so I can be tall?" she asked sweetly.
John smiled as he lifted his daughter up onto his shoulders. Nigel smiled. "If we could talk alone at some point I need to speak with you or your partner, John?"
"Of course, I'll meet with you later after we are done being at port," John agreed as he slowly walked through the water with Joss by his side, Maddie on his shoulders as they headed back for the shore together. John's eyes searched out Shaw and Selma. He saw that Selma was smiling at them, apparently whatever was upsetting her Shaw had soothed over.
John looked at Nigel who nodded. "Sounds good, and it's nice that the bureau let you bring your daughter and wife with you." Nigel said and Joss froze as John did. "Sorry that you guys can't spend too much time together. We'll talk soon, John; I have to tell you something that my wife witnessed," Nigel said and with that he broke apart from them.
"Mommy?"
Joss looked at Maddie in desperation wanting to ward off the question she knew was coming. Her daughter was inquisitive and Nigel said that in front of her. "Let's go eat snacks!" she tried to distract her daughter.
"Is John my daddy?"
AN: Poor John he just can't have Joss touching him ;D And I know a small little cliffie happening again I'm sorry. Next chapter:
Ch 15: My Daddy?
Thanks for reading! Oh and Bring Me to Life will get an update but not sure if it will be next week or not. I am holding off because I want to make sure it's how I absolutely want it to be. But I have a small goodie to sidetrack you guys with :)
