Chapter 19: Make love under the stars
1 weeks and 6 days until deadline
Jess wondered around her apartment getting ready for work, it was her first day back and she was looking forward to getting out the house. Ever since the Check incident almost two weeks ago, she had not been allowed out of her apartment alone. Not that she would really be alone today, Tommy had talk to her into taking a guard with her. She didn't really want a guard with her every single day but if it made Tommy feel better then she would put up with it for him and at least her guard was somebody she liked.
Jess looked over at her guard and smiled. He stood next to the window in the living room with his arms folded as he waited patiently for her to get ready. Her guard Jay Anderson was a good man with a quite nature and good heart.
Check with the help of Lucas Grant, Katie's older brother and new DA of Starling City had managed to keep Tommy's identity a secret and everyone around him safe. But it had been a close call for everyone.
Jess sighed as she thought of Tommy. He was being so gentle with her, terrified that he might hurt her and even though all of her bruises were almost gone he still touched her like she might break.
"Ok you've been sighing all morning what the hell is going on?" Sara asked from the breakfast table.
Jess looked over at her friend.
"It's nothing." Jess reasoned.
Sara scoffed.
"If that was true then you wouldn't be sighing every ten minutes." Sara argued.
She risked a quick look at Jay, as much as she liked the man she did not want him to no about her personal life. She wasn't sure Tommy would be too happy with it either.
Sara sighed and got up from her seat.
"Look if your worried about telling me in front of Jay then don't be. All Dad's men are taught that they don't hear anything that there not meant to." Sara informed her.
"Right Jay?" She added looking over at the man in question.
Jay said nothing, as if backing up her point.
"See." Sara said a smug smile of her face.
Jess sighed, she knew Sara was right besides it wasn't like Sara was going to give up any time soon.
"It's Tommy." Jess started and Sara rolled her eyes as if that part was obvious.
"What's has he done this time?" Sara asked.
Jess shook her head.
"Nothing like that." Jess reassured her.
Tommy was treating her like she was crown jewels and that was the problem.
"He keeps treating me like I'm this fragile little thing." Jess complained.
Sara put her arm round Jess shoulder.
"You can't really blame him hun, he almost lost you." Sara whispered to make sure Jay didn't hear. He may work for Dig but that didn't mean he knew about the Arrow life.
Jess sighed.
"I know and I understand that, I really do." Jess argued.
She moved out of Sara's arms and walked towards the kitchen she needed more coffee for this conversation.
"But?" Sara probed.
"But its been almost two weeks and I am much better and I just..." Jess stopped lost for words.
She poured three cups of coffee and handed one to Jay and Sara before sipping her own.
"Just what Jess?" Sara asked.
"Clearly you want something." she added.
"I just want him to touch me." Jess yelled in frustration making Jay spit his coffee out in complete surprise.
Sara bust out laughing. Jess glared at her friend before taking a cloth over to Jay.
"Sorry." she muttered to him.
Jay shook his head as he looked at her.
"It's ok." He promised.
Jess looked over at Sara who was still laughing.
"Its not funny." Jess argued but she couldn't help but smile.
Sara shook her head.
"I'm not laughing at your problem I am laughing at Jay's reaction." Sara promised.
Jess laughed a little then too. It was rare to see Jay lose his composure like that.
"Just talk to Tommy." Sara suggested.
Jess shook her head.
"I've tried that already he just think's I'm not ready yet." Jess argued.
"Then show him you are." Sara pointed out.
It was simple and yet she hadn't thought of it.
"Your right." Jess told her.
"But how?" Jess asked frowning.
Sara tapped her finger to her chin as she thought.
"What about your list?" Sara said.
Jess frowned, not sure what she meant. There were only two items left.
"Make love under the stars." Sara reminded her.
Jess smiled, that was perfect.
Tommy knocked on his mum's office door.
"Come in." her soft voice called.
Tommy opened the door and walked in, his mum sat at her desk looking down at paperwork on her desk.
"Hey mum." he said and she immediately looked up.
"Tommy." she called happily.
She stood up and made her way over to him. His mother kissed his check.
"Are you ok?" she asked.
Tommy knew he looked bad. He was having trouble sleeping, all he could think about was what happened to Jess. He was hoping his purpose here today would changed that.
Tommy nodded but they both knew it was a lie.
His mum sighed.
"What can I do for you?" she asked.
"I was hoping you could help me with something." He said.
His mum titled her head in interest and waited for him to continue.
Tommy pulled on the jewel box he had picked up earlier today.
"A couple of weeks ago I saw this necklace in a shop window and all I could think about was how much Jess would love it." Tommy told her.
He opened the box and showed it to his mum.
"Tommy is beautiful." His mum replied taking the box from him.
Tommy smiled glad his mum like his choice.
"And you had it engraved." His mum added.
Tommy nodded that was what had taken the jewellers so long.
"So when are you going to give it to her?" His mum asked closing the box and handing it back to her.
He took a deep breath this was part he was afraid to ask. His mum had a great sense of privacy and he was afraid that she would think that what he was asking was wrong.
"I won't you to put a tracker into the necklace." Tommy told her.
"What?" his mum demanded her eyebrows raised.
Tommy held up his hands in surrender.
"Just hear me out." he begged.
His mum nodded as she waited for him to continue.
"I almost lost her mum because we couldn't get to her quick enough." Tommy reasoned.
"If she had a tracker on her, she wouldn't have waited so long." Tommy added.
His mum sighed and Tommy could tell he was winning her over.
"I'll do it Tommy on one condition." she told him and Tommy nodded for her to continue.
"Jess has to no about the tracker." His mum ordered.
Tommy nodded, if he didn't tell Jess and she found out she would never forgive him.
"Of course." He promised his mum.
Connor was a busy man not just with Arrow work but with QC work also, which was why Connor tended to live by a day to day personal itinerary. His body was so used to it that when Jenna hadn't come into his office with there usually mid-morning coffee Connor could help but feel distracted. Now he knew she was safe because every time he looked up she was at her desk on her phone but something was definitely off with his favourite QC employee.
For a solid hour Connor resisted the erg to go out there and find out what was wrong but when Connor noticed Jenna wiping her eyes all bets were off and before Connor could talk himself out of it his feet were already moving towards her.
As he stepped out of his office door Jenna looked up. Her eyes red from crying her cheeks flushed.
She stood up.
"I'm sorry I forgot your coffee." Jenna said refusing to meet his eyes. Even in her upset state she still knew more about his day to day life than most people.
She went to walk past him but Connor stop her. He gently but firmly grabbed her hand.
"I don't give a dam about the coffee Jenna what I care about is you." Connor told her honestly.
When she still didn't turn to look at him he added,
"You once said to your my friend well that works both ways Jenna."
"You are my friend and I will also be here for you." Connor promised.
Jenna turned slowly then her eyes met his and he was taken back by how much sadness he saw in them.
"You ok?" He asked.
Jenna shook her head.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked and again Jenna shook her head.
A lone tear sliding down Jenna's face is what had him pulling Jenna into his chest to hold her. At first Jenna tensed in his arms but after a moment she relaxed and hugged him back.
After a while Jenna pulled back and Connor found himself missing the feeling of her close to him.
He shook his head. She need him as a friend right now and that was what he would be.
He took a tissue from the box on Jenna desk and gently wiped her face with it.
"Whenever you need me you know I'm here right?" He asked and Jenna nodded.
"Thank you." she whispered.
She stepped away from him and Connor watched as she straightened her shoulders.
"I'll go get your coffee." She told him and before he could reminded her that he didn't care about the coffee she was gone.
Connor turned to watch her walk away when he spotted Jess standing by the elevator with Jay next to her looking incredible uncomfortable.
"How much did you hear?" he asked.
He hadn't even heard the elevator ding.
Jess held up her hands.
"Not much." she promised.
"Is Jenna ok?" She added.
Connor sighed and shrugged his shoulders.
"I honestly don't know, but I will make sure she will be." He promised.
Jess smiled.
He turned to walk back to his office and Jess followed, while Jay waited just outside his office door.
Connor was honestly impressed that his brother had got her to agree to have a guard.
"I see Tommy got you to agree to the guard." Connor commented remembering his brother's plan but honestly not thinking she would agree to it.
Jess sighed heavily.
"He said it would make him feel better knowing I was with someone who could look after me." Jess told him. Clearly she was not happy about having someone follow her around all day.
"Why say yes if you don't want someone following you around all day?" Connor couldn't help but ask.
Jess shrugged.
"Because I love him." she replied simply.
"And if he needs me to do this so he can feel better about my safety then I will do it for him." Jess added and Connor couldn't help but admire her for it.
"Besides as guards go Jays pretty cool." Jess told him.
Connor smiled. Jess and Tommy would do anything for each other. Once upon a time he thought he had found that in Katie but he had been wrong. He wanted to find his own someone who would do anything for him like he would do for them.
Connor cleared his throat.
"Anyway what can I do for you?" He asked.
Jess cringed.
"I need you help with something." She stated slowly clearly it was making her uncomfortable to talk about.
Connor nodded for her to continue.
"I want to complete number 25 of my mums list." Jess told him and Connor cringed.
He really did not want to think of Jess and his brother making love under the stars.
Connor coughed.
"What do you need from me?" he asked eager to get this conversation over with as soon as possible.
Tommy frowned as he looked down at Jess's text once again.
Meet me at the Queen Manor when your done at work, Connor and Andy have everything covered for tonight. Love you. J xx
Tommy had no idea what Jess had planned and it made him a little uncomfortable, she was still recovering and he didn't want her to overdo it. He sent Jess questioning text all afternoon but she simply told him he would have to wait. Tommy even question Andy and his brother but neither of them would give anything away and it was only the fact that Jay promised to stay with Jess until he got to her that Tommy let it go.
He drove straight to his father's old family home from work. The Queen Manor had been in his family for generations and although neither his parents nor his aunt lived in their old family home neither of them could bare to get rid of the place either. When he was younger Tommy remembered spending Christmas here, everyone gathered around the great dining hall to celebrate Christmas together and as they got older the Queen Manor became a place of sanctuary whenever things in the arrow world got to difficult. But most of the time the old house stood empty with no one but its caretakers walking the halls.
As Tommy walked towards the door he was surprised and slightly alarmed to see the front door opened. He walked quicker but froze when he saw a note pinned to the door.
Don't worry I'm fine, come find me in the garden. Love you J xx
Tommy took a breath of relief before walking towards the garden.
Tommy reached the back door and froze. There was a line of candles leading up to the Gazebo in the middle of grounds. Where Jess stood leaning against a table. Even from where he was standing he could see how beautiful she looked and he wanted nothing more than to go over to her.
Someone clear there throat, shaking Tommy from his thoughts. Tommy turned his head to find Jay standing next to him, with a knowing smile on his face.
"I'm going to head home now." Jay told him.
Tommy nodded.
"Thanks Jay." Tommy replied before turning back to look at Jess.
"I'll lock up on my way out." Jay said before disappearing.
Tommy took a deep breath before making his way towards Jess.
She looked stunning in a dusty green summer dress that hugged her curves wonderfully. They hadn't had sex since the Check incident because he was terrified to hurt her and not matter how much he wanted her that wouldn't change until he was sure she was ready.
She smiled when he reached her.
"Hey." he said stopping inches in front of her.
She tilted her head to the side and looked at him. She smiled.
"Hey." she whispered back.
He looked around. There was a table set up with a bag of big belly burger in the middle of the table. Before the table was a blow up mattress behind covered with blankets and pillows.
"What's all this?" He asked her.
Jess stepped towards him.
"I know things have been different between us since Check and I want to change that." Jess said.
She reached up and gently caressed his cheek.
"Jess." he gasped before her lips captured his.
Her lips moved over his with a determination that he was taken back. It wasn't that they hadn't done anything in the two weeks they had but each kiss, each caress had been so gentle but this was so different.
They pulled back breathless and Tommy panted as he rested his forehead on hers.
"Jess are you sure about this?" he asked, part of him still afraid that he might hurt her.
Jess step back.
"I was going to suggested dinner first but I don't think I can wait." Jess told him breathless and before he could reply she pulled on the zipper of her dress and let if fall to the grounding leaving her completely naked.
It drove Tommy insane knowing that she had been wearing the dress with nothing underneath it.
"God you are so beautiful." He told her.
Jess smiled.
"Make love to me Tommy." she begged and Tommy was happy to oblige.
