A/N: Warning, a few sexy scenes at the beginning.
Chapter 8 – The Tattoo
Lisbon woke first, her eyes glancing left to a naked Patrick Jane asleep beside her, covered from the waist down by a thin bed sheet. She grinned and thought of how often she had fantasised about this very sight. She had seen him sleep a thousand times but at work but he normally slept on his side, his back to the couch holding his arms in front of him. This time he was on his back, his head slightly tilted on his pillow facing her. His blond curls were tousled and a heavy stubble had begun to form on his face. Beads of sweat still dappled his face and chest from their earlier lovemaking.
She bit on her lip and thought of another fantasy she had, one she could finally fulfil. She began by dancing her fingers across his chest and moving closer so she could kiss it lightly, moving her lips up to his neck. He stirred next to her and absent-mindedly moved his right arm up so she could move closer. She moved on to his lips, at first gently kissing them then longer kisses as he began to stir and breathe deeper, moving his right arm around her waist. He opened his mouth allowing her to kiss him deeper again until he reciprocated drawing his left hand to touch her cheek. She reached down under the covers and heard him moan softly whilst she kissed him harder. After a few minutes, she moved the covers away and pulled herself on top of him, manoeuvring herself so that she sat asride him, making him inhale sharply. His hands were loosely on her thighs now and, for once in Teresa Lisbon's life, she thought of her own satisfaction before someone else's.
Meanwhile, Jane kept his eyes closed and concentrated on allowing her to completely fulfil herself as she moved rhythmically on top of him. Once he felt in control, he opened his eyes briefly to watch her. Her eyes were closed and she had the look of deep concentration she displayed at work when in the middle of some serious paperwork. He smiled at the thought and would never see her completing paperwork again without thinking of this moment, he mused to himself.
She was finally satisfied and fell off Jane back to her side of the bed. She was smiling over at him, a slight look of embarrassment on her face and he grinned back, moving towards her to take the opportunity fulfil his own craving.
Breathless, he fell back to his own side of the bed.
'You know we really should have done this years ago' he said, shaking his head, still catching his breath.
She turned to face him, a look of bemusement on her face. 'Oh really, you finally came to that conclusion, did you, took you long enough, didn't it?'
He looked at her and replied, 'Well, yes, I mean I was a much younger man then Teresa, I'm not sure I'll be able to match your high standards, I think I've already pulled a muscle in my side after just one morning with you.'
'I'd say you're doing okay for an old man with not much practice lately.'
'Just okay?'
'I think your ego is big enough without me massaging it any more for you.'
They both laughed and Jane took her in his arms again.
'You know I always knew you had a tattoo', he teased.
'Really? You noticed that, eh, so why haven't you ever mentioned that to me before now?'
'Well obviously I noticed it', he replied, winking. 'I was always trying to figure out what it was and where it would be, that I wasn't sure of. But obviously I knew it would be in a place not very many people get to see, you're not the type to have one on show to just anyone, you're much too private for that. I was right about that part.'
She laughed back. 'You're full of it, Jane. You just made that up, you had no idea and you can't stand that there was something about me you hadn't figured out.'
'Really! Are you doubting my powers of deduction once again? I would have thought you would have learned your lesson after all these years, Lisbon.' He thought for a moment then said 'Okay, if I can tell you when you got it done will that convince you?'
'Maybe', she replied smiling.
'All right then, it's a little faded over time so I would say you got it done in college, probably after some drunken episode with some classmates, maybe an end of term party or something like that, you probably all got one done at the same time, some sort of female bonding exercise I expect' he notified her.
She shook her head and then nodded. A look of triumph came across Jane's face. 'Actually, it was spring break but you're close enough.'
'Ah, spring break' he responded. 'So, why did you get a music note? Was it as simple as you and your little band mate friends all decided to get the same thing to commemorate some big band occasion?' he mocked. 'Please say no, Lisbon, because that's exceedingly boring if it's true', embracing her again, smiling.
As he said the words he felt her body tense against his slightly and knew instantly he had hit some type of nerve, had crossed over some kind of line. He was about to ask her what he had said wrong when she spoke first quietly, her head across his chest.
'Nothing like that, you'll be glad to know.' She paused, unsure whether to continue or not.
'You can tell me anything Teresa, you know that, right, you can trust me' he replied quietly, holding her close.
'I've just never discussed this with anyone before Jane, it's hard for me.'
He nodded. 'Well I recently got something off my chest and I have to say it was the best thing that ever happened to me, I would highly recommend it.' He looked down at her and smiled.
She smiled in return and bit her lip. 'I don't even know why I'm making such a big deal about this, it's only a damn tattoo, and I'm just being stupid.' She paused for a moment then continued, deciding that she had to start breaking down some walls of her own for him.
'I got it done because it reminds me of my mother.' She paused again then went on. 'When I was five or six the two of us began a tradition of sorts, I guess. Every Sunday we would go somewhere together for the afternoon, leave my brothers and father for a few hours. I think she was a little afraid of me becoming too much of a tomboy.' She laughed softly at the memory.
'Well imagine such a thing' Jane interjected quietly, smiling, rubbing his fingers up and down her arm, trying to relax her and coax her on.
She continued, smiling at reliving the happy memories now. 'Well, she loved music, didn't matter what type really, just loved it, she would often sing around the house and she even played a couple of instruments pretty well. So invariably our Sunday afternoons would revolve around going to see some type of musical event, from a symphony in a park to watching buskers for a few hours. We did it right up until she passed away.' She paused again and breathed hard, then went on. 'So, when I got to the tattoo parlour and they showed us the books with ideas in them, I just automatically went for the music note. Well, that's it really. I don't even know why I haven't told anyone that before, it's hardly a massive secret.'
'But it was for you and I appreciate you telling me' he said softly, pulling her up and kissing her gently.
'I meant to say thank you by the way, before' he whispered. His look turned serious and his eyes bored into hers. Lisbon was unnerved by the intensity in his eyes.
'You don't have to thank someone for sleeping with you' she teased, trying to deflect the seriousness of the look he was giving her with a joke.
But he didn't make a smart comeback this time. Instead, still staring into her eyes, he caressed her cheek and said softly 'Thank you for giving me a chance, giving us a chance.' She gulped and was trying to think of a response but he hadn't finished. 'I never thought I would be this happy again, that I would ever find someone else who makes me this happy.' A small tear formed on corner of his right eye. She found tears were coming down her cheeks too and they held each other close for a moment.
Jane wiped his tear away and tried to regain his self-control. 'I'm sorry, Teresa, I didn't mean to get so emotional.'
She looked at him smiling. 'Hey, you have nothing to apologise for.'
He looked back at her, smiling again. 'Well, that sure makes a change, doesn't it?'
He moved to get more comfortable and held his side for a moment, rubbing it.
'What's the matter?' Lisbon enquired, propping herself up on her elbow.
'I told you earlier, I think I've hurt a muscle', Jane replied seriously, still rubbing his side.
She laughed loudly then said seductively, 'Do you want me to rub it better for you?' coming closer to him.
He held up a finger warning her away. 'Are you kidding me? That's what got me into this predicament in the first place, control yourself woman, at least give me an hour to recuperate.'
'Well okay then, if that's the case, I'll take a shower in the meantime.'
She jumped out of the bed and headed into the bathroom. Jane smiled and thought to himself he might have to seriously think about going to the gym with Cho if he was going to keep up with her.