Jake froze, thinking for a moment about a cover story. Jones will just see through it anyway. This is about you and Cassandra and it's none of his business. Just grab the damn condoms and go.
Jake snagged the package and faced his colleague. "Hello Jones."
Jones popped his gum. "Practicing safe sex, good for ya mate."
Jake glared at him, the type of glare that might have made an Okie barfly back down. But they weren't Ezekiel Jones.
"So, sounds like you're having a better weekend then me."
"Shouldn't you be, I don't know, out . . . ."Stone gestured wildly. "Anywhere but in my face?"
"Hey, I'm just here getting snacks," Jones gestured to the bag of pretzels in his hand. "I thought I saw you."
"Well you saw me, now can you just go now?"
"Oh, So," Jones winked, "The lucky lady is here then."
Jake started mentally counting to ten, he'd barely gotten to six when what he was afraid of happened.
"Jake? Are you done? Oh . . ."Cassandra's voice trailed off when she saw Ezekiel. "Oh hi Ezekiel. Um. . . ."
Ezekiel just started laughing. He nearly doubled over, then he pointed from one to the other. They were both having a blushing contest.
"Yeah, just laugh it up fuzzball," Jake muttered.
"Star Wars reference for the win there mate," Jones said catching his breath. "Oh my, your FACES. Priceless. We all know about you two."
"You do?" asked Cassandra.
"Not that you're not really obvious, but Baird won 50 bucks in the pool after that sculpture case."
"You had a POOL?" Now Jake's voice had gone from irritated to 'you have one second before I punch you in the throat'.
Jones picked up the pretzels he'd dropped while laughing and scampered up the aisle, "See you on Monday love birds!" He yelled over his shoulder.
Jake turned to Cassandra, anger flushing his features. But it changed when she just shrugged and quietly laughed. He shook his head.
She laid her head gently on his shoulder for just a moment and he smiled down at her, appreciating the gesture.
"Let's get out of here sweetheart."
"I guess I should have realized that if Baird knew, Jones would." Jake grumbled back at his apartment.
"Well, on the plus side, we don't have to worry about running into him anymore."
"Good point," Jake sighed, "I'm sorry, I'm just frustrated. I thought they were our friends." He sat heavily on the couch.
Cassandra shook her head and bit her lip. "They are. They were just having fun."
"You knew!"
"About the pool? Yeah, I heard Ezekiel and Baird making a bet, then Jenkins threw in some money. And Flynn too. Oh and I put 5 bucks on . . ."
"Cassandra Cillian!"
She giggled. Then she crossed the room and straddled his lap. She heard his breath suddenly come a little heavier. His expression changed from annoyance to interest.
"So exactly when did you put money on?"
"Your birthday, I only missed it by a week."
"Hmm, well that was a really good birthday . . . ." He tugged her head down so he could kiss her.
As the kiss deepened, Jake found himself completely forgetting about his co-workers. All he was aware of was the woman in his arms. Between kisses, both heavily breathing, Cassandra was working the buttons on his shirt. The hand that wasn't bracing her on his lap was edging its way up her skirt, gently caressing.
"Cassie," He muttered as she worked his shirt free of his jeans. "Bedroom right now. We're not gonna do this the first time on the couch."
One last kiss, she slid off his lap, grabbing the box of condoms off the table. She walked slowly down the hallway, hips swaying, him following his eyes riveted on her. Cassandra had learned her power over him this weekend and he let her enjoy herself. He was certainly enjoying watching her embrace her sensual side.
He'd thought he'd been in love before, thought he'd seen sex be a beautiful as it possibly could be. But he'd never trusted someone with all of him, every inch of himself until Cassandra.
Now she knew why it had been a slow process getting to this point.
And she knew what he meant about how beautiful sex could be when you were in love.
She gasped something about chocolate and roses and he wished just once he could experience things like she did.
But when she'd cried out, "I wish you could see all of the colors . . . ." right before she lost the ability to do anything but moan and feel, he whispered, "I can, Cassie, I can." And then he joined her in a free fall of color and light and sensation.
A while later, she asked him, wide eyed and confused, "Did you really see all those colors?"
He nodded. "Yes and I can honestly tell you, that's never happened before. But I hope to hell it happens every time."
"But I'm the one who . . ."
He cradled her head tenderly in the palms of his hands. "Magic, Cassandra, magic." Then he kissed her.
This brings the story of Jake and Cassandra's weekend off to a close. But don't worry, there's more to this tale, glimpses of their attempts to balance a relationship with saving the world.
