A/N: Just to let you know there is a small M rated scene towards the end of the chapter. I've marked it for those who want to skip it. Thank you!

Chapter 17 – Secrets & Seduction

After lunch they went for a walk on the beach in front of the restaurant. "This is nice," Jane said, as he removed his jacket and rolled his shirtsleeves up. He breathed in the warm sea air.

"You really love the ocean, don't you?" Lisbon replied at his side, her sandals in her hand.

"What's not to love about it?"

"Um...sharks, manta rays, drowning-" she began, stopping when Jane started to laugh. "You really are a little ray of sunshine, aren't you?"

She smiled back as he stopped walking and laid his jacket on the sand, gesturing for her to sit on it. He took up a position alongside, stretched his legs out in front of him and raised himself up on his elbows, his eyes out to sea. Lisbon sat down and pulled the skirt of her dress over her knees as she too watched the ripple of the waves in front of her. For a few moments neither of them spoke and a comfortable silence washed over them.

Finally Jane said, "You know we haven't really made much progress on the sharing we promised each other."

Lisbon nodded. "Oh, this is the I tell you one thing I consider private and you tell me two in return?"

"The very thing. So let's make a start. An easy one for you to begin with."

"Okay," Lisbon responded, a little suspicion in her tone.

"What instrument did you play in high school?"

Lisbon turned her head to find him grinning at her. "That's the first question you have for me?"

"You know I've always been curious."

She rolled her eyes and breathed out. "Fine. Your first guess was actually correct. Clarinet."

He moved to a sitting position, studying her face. "But you told me it wasn't."

"I lied," she smiled and a look of victory swept across her face.

He frowned for an instant and then nodded, smiling back. "Yes...you did. Quite effectively. Mmm...I see I'm going to have to be on my toes with you from now on. Who knows what other secrets you have stashed away from me after all?"

His tone was teasing and he lay back on the sand and closed his eyes, pulling his hands up to rest his head on, a smile still playing on his lips. Guilt rushed over her at what else she had been keeping from him in more recent times. Her mind told her this was the time to tell him. Now when he was relaxed, comfortable and before they complicated things between them any further. She opened her mouth to speak and found the words stopping in her throat.

"What made you choose the clarinet?" he asked, his eyes still closed and unaware of the inner turmoil she was going through.

"Umm...I didn't really. It kind of picked me. My mother was keen on me learning an instrument and it was the only one we could afford to buy in the pawnbrokers near our house."

"Ah. Interesting. Were you any good?"

She knew the moment had passed again and chastised herself for the relief that flooded her body along with that realisation. "I was okay I guess. Could hold a tune at least. Haven't played in ages." She took a deep breath. "How about you? Play anything?"

He opened his eyes a crack and grinned. "You mean apart from people?" He shrugged. "Meh, not really. I know the basic chords; guess enough to get by in fairly mediocre company but would hardly call myself an expert in the field." He took a breath as if to continue but then closed his mouth and licked his lips slightly, struggling with how to carry on his train of thought.

"What else?" she prodded as she lay down and faced him.

He turned towards her, ran his fingers through the sand in between them, his gaze following the patterns he created. Softly, "Angela played piano. She was quite good."

He chanced a nervous glance in her direction, ascertaining if talking about his wife made her feel uncomfortable. While momentarily surprised at his broaching of the subject she nodded and smiled, encouraging him to go on.

He swallowed and added, "She was teaching Charlotte to play before..." He swallowed again and a ragged breath escaped his lips. Lisbon touched his hand, tears pricking her eyes. He patted it and took a deep breath. "She was teaching her a tune to play for my next birthday. But obviously I never got to...I never got to hear her play it for me."

Lisbon nodded, just holding back her tears. "I wish I knew what to say," she admitted. "I'm...I'm so sorry, Jane."

He shrugged, averting his eyes from her that were glassy now and sniffed. "Nothing anyone can say. It's just another moment in a long line of others that he took away from me having."

She saw his expression grow cold instantly at the thought of Red John, the hatred he still had for the man blatantly evident. She could see him battling his mixed emotions, the draw of vengeance and darkness beckoning him. "Sorry," he said after a few seconds. He laughed half heartedly. "I promised you fun and romance, not these melancholic ramblings."

She spoke sincerely. "You also promised me you. 100 per cent. I'm pleased you feel able to talk to me about this stuff now. I don't need the red roses and caviar."

He lightened the atmosphere. "Just as well. Besides you hate caviar and white roses are your favourite, not red."

She grinned at him, leant over and pecked his lips quickly. "Know it all." She noticed him freeze almost instantaneously at her touch as his eyes darted from side to side.

"Jane, there's no one here. Beach is empty. You're being paranoid."

"It's better that I am," he responded, clearly frightened for her safety. Before she could respond he got to his feet and pulled her to hers, his tone light again. "Come on, let's dip our toes in the water and then find a B&B for the night. Think we passed one on the way. Too long a drive back to Sacramento tonight."

Lisbon met Jane and Rigsby as they exited the elevator, a stack of brown folders in her arms. She knew immediately the day had been fruitless once again without having to ask. "Got a progress meeting with Wainwright. I'm guessing we have nothing further on the Walker case?"

As she caught Jane's torrid expression she held a hand up. "I'm not trying to pick a fight with you, Jane. Just asking a question."

She glanced at Rigsby who was clearly uncomfortable to be caught in the middle. "Give us a minute, will you Wayne?" she asked.

"Sure, boss," he responded, quickly moving away.

Her tone was quiet but determined. "It's time you told me the truth where this case is concerned, Jane. I've let you run things your way long enough and it's clearly not getting us anywhere."

"That's your opinion," he retorted frostily.

"Yeah, it is," she hissed. "And as your supervisor I want to know what the hell you're actually doing to solve it."

"You know what I've been doing. You make sure to send one of your little spies with me to report back to you every time I'm out of your sight."

"They're my team, Jane. And all they've told me is that you basically question these people yourself and look around their houses. You've shared absolutely no insight with them at what any of them might be hiding or given them any indication if we're getting close. You might as well be investigating on your own."

He shrugged. "I can go to those remaining on the list on my own from now in if you would prefer."

As people were coming and going past them, visibly aware of the conversation becoming more heated she directed him into her office and closed the door behind her, slamming the files down on her desk. He sat on the couch and crossed one leg over the other, a picture of serenity.

"Why did you even want us involved in this? Tell me that."

"I thought you already figured that out in San Francisco. You're good at what you do," he replied calmly.

"Yeah, that was before you got here. If all you needed were for us to run some background checks then I'm sure you could have manipulated Morris into doing that for you. Used your closure rate at the CBI as leverage to help him with his. Instead you dragged me and my team back into whatever petty game you're playing."

At that instant her cell phone rang. She quickly dug it out of her pocket and glanced at the name. She pressed decline and glared at Jane for a response to her question.

"You shouldn't have done that, Walter's not a man who likes to be kept waiting," he smirked.

She drew her head back in surprise. How the hell did he know it was Walter on the phone?

"You glanced at the flowers quickly when you noticed the name," he told her without her asking. "Nice display by the way."

The phone in her hand rang again.

"See?" he said smugly, leaning back like he was getting comfortable on the couch. "So, what are you going to do about it?"

"Stay here," she ordered him and went outside her office to take the call.

He watched as she talked on the phone, reading her lips through the glass. So, he'd asked her out Saturday night. She was wavering, blaming work. Then Mashburn must have said something mildly amusing and she smiled. His face fell at the genuineness of it and he puffed out a breath, annoyed she could instil that base reaction from him. She nodded, laughed softly and he knew she'd agreed to go out with him. He saw her mouth the words "just as friends" and he couldn't stop a genuine smile of his own. She wasn't the type to play games, to make him jealous by going out with Mashburn. She was going out with him because she liked him. But only as a friend. He smiled again.

Coming back into the room she saw Jane drop his head and thought she noticed him smiling just before he did so. She frowned, wondering if she had imagined that.

"So, hot date set up, then?" he prodded.

She ignored the question, knowing he was trying to rattle her. She crossed her arms across her chest and leaned with her back to her desk. "What's your end game here, Jane?" she asked quietly.

"Mine? None. Up to you who you decide to date."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm not talking about Walter Mashburn and you know it. The Walker case."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Same as yours. Catch Janet's killer."

She bit the inside of her cheek, looked away to centre herself before approaching the subject again. "And then?"

"Then?"

"Say we catch him or her. What then?"

"I don't understand where you're going with this, Lisbon."

"Do you plan to kill them when we do?"

He locked eyes with her but said nothing, stalling for time.

"Because you seem to be acting like you did when you...well when you were hunting...-"

"You can mention his name, Lisbon. Red John."

She nodded. "Does he have something to do with this?"

Though he tried to hide it she saw him react that she was correct in her guess. Suddenly pieces of the jigsaw puzzle began to fall into place.

"Why makes you think that?" he asked.

"I've just told you. You haven't given up, have you? When you left you said-"

"I know exactly what I said back then," he bit back.

She sighed loudly. "You know the only thing positive about you leaving was that I thought at least you had stopped hunting him. That you were done with him as much as you were done with me. A small part of me hoped that you were off having a fresh start someplace else. Even if it didn't include me I was happy for you if that had been the case."

He said nothing and she continued, her voice strangely quiet. "But you never were, were you? You were never done. That's why you came back here. Not for me and my team or any help we might give you. But because we have the Red John case and you've found a link between him and Janet Walker."

The B&B was a small family run establishment that stuck out on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Jane checked them in as Mr & Mrs Smith and paid cash, winking at Lisbon as he did so. It was partly a joke but it was also his way of protecting any records of them staying here. The owner, a well rounded woman in her late fifties looked at them with a knowing glint in her eye, smiling at Jane when he dazzled her with one of his own. The key was large and made of bronze and Jane slipped it into the bedroom door, pushing it open and gesturing Lisbon to enter first. The bed was high and small, covered in a duvet full of flowers to match the accompanying over the top decor in the room. Flowered wallpaper adorned every wall, making it appear noticeably smaller than it probably was.

"Wow, this is quite something," Lisbon smiled. "Reminds me of my grandmother's house."

She moved to the large window sill and sat in its alcove, the walls thick enough for her to lean her head against the side as she looked out. A beautiful sunset was just beginning. "Jane, come here and watch," she grinned.

Jane put the bags beside the bed and walked over, standing beside her and for a few moments they watched the orange tones together. He glanced down and saw her mesmerised by it. He loved a sunset (but then again, who doesn't he supposed) but at this second was enjoying watching her more. Soft golden rays fell over her cheeks, shadows crossing over them as the sun began its descent. He kissed the top of her head and sat down beside her, moving her legs onto his lap.

"You're missing it," she said, as he faced her and not the direction of the sun.

"I've seen sunsets before. Will again. But I'll never relive this moment."

His tone was soft, almost reverential and she swallowed. "Keep watching it," he added as he gently removed her sandals and concentrated on the leg furthest from his lap, drawing his fingertips slowly from her ankle to her kneecap. Her breathing hitched but her eyes remained on the sun in front of her, afraid that if she looked at him she would lose her resolve not to push him further than he was ready, to allow him to set the pace.

"I appreciate you shaving these last night," he smiled, his voice amused but light. He continued to caress her bare leg, smooth strokes leaving trails of fire in their wake. "Have I told you how much I liked this dress?" he stated, moving his fingers to the hem that sat at her knee.

"You almost burned my kitchen down because of it," Lisbon replied, surprised how even her voice sounded as her heart hammered.

He chuckled lightly and raised her leg, kissing her ankle with the barest of touches. She closed her eyes, wondering what sex was going to be like as she almost lost it by that touch alone. He kissed it again, trailing kisses where his fingers had just been, each one fanning a fire in her belly. She opened her eyes, chanced a glance as his golden locks shone as the last remnants of sun hit the day, curls tumbling slightly as he moved his head to kiss another patch of skin. She concentrated on the sunset again, trying to stop herself from dragging his lips from her leg to her mouth, to push him against the opposing wall and seduce him. He reached the hem of her dress again and pushed it up slightly, kissing a spot just above her knee before sitting up again. Then he turned his attention to her other leg, providing it with the same ministrations. Lisbon could barely see the sunset as her vision became cloudy with lust.

M rated scene

He stood up from the window sill and she looked at him, asking him silently if he was finished, sure there was disappointment in her face. He shot her a smirk and moved her right leg against the window, settling himself back on the sill again in front of her. He moved closer to her, his hand on her left thigh that was now hanging over his thigh and began to kiss her neck, slowly and languidly. Her breathing increased as he pushed the fabric of the dress further up and she arched into him, her head leaning against the cold wall behind her, her eyes were tightly closed now, her breathing ragged as he moved his fingers higher. He kissed her lips, desperately and passionately and she moaned in delight, one hand attaching itself to his curls and the other its palm pressed against the window as she kissed him back. He inched his fingers closer to where she wanted them, almost begging him to give her what she needed in this instant. Reading her thoughts he moved his hand higher and pressed his thumb against the soft cotton of her panties, circling it slowly and deliberately. She gasped, grabbing his hair tighter in the process, kissing him like it was her dying wish, grinding against his hand. He moved the cotton aside and added a finger, felt her muscles contract almost immediately.

"Jane!" she gasped, as erratic breaths took over. He devoured her neck at the sound of his name, groaning as he continued to arouse her further. She opened her eyes, saw the last rays of sun sink into the sea below and as he pushed her over the edge she shuddered, biting her lip to stop herself crying out, the sunset suddenly becoming unimaginably clear as she watched it, the side of her head pressed to the window, the coldness of the glass contradictory to the heat rushing through the rest of her body. As her body began to come down from its high he moved his kisses to her earlobe, kissed the skin behind her ear as he unexpectedly pressed another finger into her. This time she was unable to hold back a scream as another wave coursed through her as his tongue ravished the sensitive spot at the back of her ear. Finally he dipped his head to her shoulder, slowly removed his fingers and breathed heavily.

M scene over

He kissed a spot on her neck quickly as he drew back from her. She turned her head towards him, blinked rapidly. He grinned as she became embarrassed almost instantly. He took her hand and kissed it. "Okay?" he asked quietly.

She frowned for a moment, unsure of the question he was asking. Was he asking if she was feeling okay or if what he'd just done was okay? When she saw the look of apprehension cross his features she forgot about her own sense of shyness that he'd witnessed her act in such an intimate way. She laughed and leant over to kiss him. "More than okay," she grinned.

He puffed out a breath. "Well, it has been a while," he shrugged.