Whoo! Just in time for Valentine's Day, a lovely BoaDoza bit... this chapter is why it's rated T. Enjoy!
"Make yourself at home." Jesse said as he unlocked and opened his front door. Natalia made her way to his couch and sat down, peering out the living room window. The sun was setting, and Jesse's apartment had an amazing view of it.
"Do you want anything?" He called from the kitchen. Just as he opened the cabinet, a box of popcorn fell on the counter with a thud. "Like popcorn?"
"You can come sit with me." Natalia called back. Hearing her request, he obliged, sitting close.
"So, when did you want to get this movie on the road?" he asked her.
"Jesse, look at the sun. See? It's beautiful."
This was his perfect chance. He hoped what he was about to say would make her fall in love with him, "Just like you."
"Jesse," she whispered, flattered, "You sweetheart." She gave him a smile that pulled him in even more. He slid his arm around her torso, pulling her to lie her head on his shoulder. Together, they watched the sun sink down, out of view. The living room was dim, but Jesse could still make out every detail of Natalia's beautiful face. He knew what he wanted now, her.
"Jesse," she said, breaking the peaceful, evening silence.
"Hm?" Jesse responded. Natalia sat up from leaning on him. She looked him directly in the eyes, letting him look back into hers.
"Can you tell me now? Please, I promise, I'll do my best to understand."
"I... I don't know just how I'll word it yet. Tomorrow." he answered, leaning in to kiss her forehead. This gave her an idea. Natalia got up on her knees, pushed Jesse up against the headrest of the couch, and kissed him, passionately. She then reached down to untuck his work shirt, sliding her hands up into the back of his shirt, letting them come to rest on his back.
"Come on, please?" she begged him. He shook his head, unsure of what to say. She brought her hands away from his bare back, and out of his shirt. Natalia then re-attached her mouth to his, this time, letting her tongue taste his. Quickly, she unbuttoned his top collar button. He wasn't sure this was what he wanted, or if it was too soon. As she continued to mercilessly kiss him, he pieced together everything, ready to tell her, and give her his trust. He broke away from her kiss.
"Okay. I'll tell, but..."
"But what?" she teased unbuttoning the second button.
"Okay, okay. The girl... she's in danger. That's why I couldn't make it. I had to..."
She unbuttoned the third button, "Go on."
"The guy she's with... He killed his wife back in LA... slit her throat..." Jesse spoke quickly, not wanting Natalia to get very far. This was also a painful memory for him. Fourth button... most of his chest was exposed. She began to rub his chest, sweetly prompting him to keep talking.
"The guy had a good lawyer, he walked. Then our lab got put under investigation."
Natalia could tell he was keeping from the point. This time, both the fifth and sixth buttons were undone.
"Okay, okay, so he's here in Miami now... I have to protect her because..."
Seventh button...
"I can't say anymore!"
The final button came undone, completely exposing his torso. Natalia threatened to remove the shirt all together, holding both sides of his unfastened dress shirt in her hands.
"Because he also killed my wife!" Jesse blurted, his eyes becoming glassy. Natalia dropped his shirt, letting her hands fall.
"What?" she asked, blown away.
"My wife. Back in LA. He killed her, and now he's on to his next victim. I can't do anything about it either."
"Jesse, I'm sorry. I had no idea... Come here." she said hugging him to her. She felt horrible now, all the thoughts about him just ditching her... And now she understood. It was her turn to tell him now.
"Sweetheart, I need to tell you something too."
He raised his arms to hug her back. "Okay."
"My ex-husband, Nick, after I divorced him, he was killed too. Murdered, actually."
Jesse couldn't believe what he was hearing, he almost thought she was making it up.
"Why did you get divorced?" he asked, listening like a child to a bedtime story.
"He was... abusive. A lot. I couldn't get away, not even after the divorce."
"Your safe now," Jesse said, pulling her into his chest, "Because I've got you."
Natalia stayed lying on his chest for a long while, with his arms wrapped lovingly and protectively around her.
Finally Jesse suggested they go to sleep, offering for her to stay the night.
"Okay, back here." he said, taking her hand and leading her down the hall. Within the following hour, not much of it was spent sleeping. The hour was spent doing what people that love each other do, even though 'I love you.' never passed their lips.
Until the morning...
Jesse had set the alarm extra early so Natalia could run home and get dressed. Before Jesse could shut the alarm off, Natalia smacked the snooze button and lied her head back down on Jesse's chest. He smoothed her hair with his gentle hand, whispering, "Nat, we need to get up. We have work and all."
"I love you, Jesse." she said back, not moving at all. Jesse pulled Natalia up from his chest so their heads were at the same level. He kissed her softly.
"I love you too." They cuddled for just a few minutes longer, until the snooze alarm went off.
"Now, we really net to get moving, sweetums." Jesse said, this time getting up to start getting ready.
Natalia got up and got dressed to drive home. Just as she was about to leave, Jesse stopped her to let her know that he'd have breakfast for them in the break room. She pulled him in and kissed him one more time before making her exit to go home and actually get ready for work. Last night could have been the very best night of her life, certainly better than her wedding night with Nick. All she could think about while getting ready was looking forward to seeing her sweet Jesse at work again.
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