A/N: This one is the continuation of the Christmas story I posted during the holidays, which was a Complete story, but since it was indeed Super Bowl weekend, I thought I'd try my hand at letting us see if Joss agrees to let Taylor and herself go away with John to California for the big game. John's a good dude, huh?
I hope you guys enjoy this, and were able to get something fun out of the game, if you watched. Best!
Three weeks had passed since the whirlwind of the holidays for Joss. She and John were in a completely different phase of a relationship that had actually begun in her interrogation room several months before. Never in her wildest dreams could she have predicted how important that grungy, mysterious bum, who had singlehandedly taken on five or six guys on the subway, would become in her life. Now, he was the mysterious Man in the Suit—and her new boyfriend. If someone had told her that her life would be where it was now she'd have laughed at them and called a shrink in due course.
But, as they spent the morning after their latest interlude in her dining room over breakfast, the conversation now focused on that amazing Christmas present John had gotten for Taylor, for all of them, really, that present that Joss had been hedging her heels on allowing to happen up to that point: the Super Bowl trip to California.
Taylor, to his credit, didn't want to push too hard so as to make his mother crazy and then lose out on the trip all together. But she knew it was never far from his mind. Indeed, it was the most prominent thought in his mind, this trip and what it would mean to him, not only from a fan and spectator's perspective, but also in the amount of cool points he'd get when his friends and classmates found out that he, of all people, was going to the most sought-after sporting event of the year. She knew how important that was to a kid his age, and now that it was on the table, all expenses paid, she was loathe to keep it from him. After all, Taylor was a good boy, an excellent and conscientious student, and they very seldom, with her job on the force, got to really go anywhere like this as a family. Trips down south to see his cousins during the summer-alone-and weekends at the Jersey shore somehow didn't quite measure up to San Francisco and the Super Bowl.
"You know, Joss, there isn't much time to make a decision about the trip out west," John said over his cup of steaming black coffee. "What do you say, honey? Are we going to California?"
"What do I say...what do I say? Jesus, John, what can I say? Taylor has his heart so set on this, and he's been so good not to nag me about it, the poor thing. Hmm, how much time do I have to decide?"
John smiled brightly. "Well, within the next day or so would be good. The seats for the game are set and paid for—but if we aren't going to use them, I'll need to let Finch know so he can fence them to someone else."
Joss sighed. Fence them to someone else. Taylor would never forgive her. And truth be told, a vacation sounded nice this time of year. Besides, she'd score her own cool points at the precinct for going to this game. Lionel would be green with envy for sure.
"Okay," she said, batting her eyelashes and affecting a mock pout. "We can go to the Super Bowl."
John started to smile, a big, beaming smile that warmed her heart. "Oh, babe. You are wonderful. And we'll have a fabulous time. You'll see." John had hoped that she'd see things his way, almost as much as Taylor had.
Suddenly, a whoop erupted behind them from the stairwell. It was Taylor, and he'd obviously picked up his mother's detective skills without fail, because he hadn't missed one word of what they thought was at least a semi-clandestine conversation.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! Yeeeeeeeeaaaaah! Ma, ma, thank you! Thank you! I love you, ma! I love you so much! You are THE best mother in the whole world!" Taylor jumped up and down in his pajamas, and kissed his mother profusely.
"Okay, boy, settle down now," Joss said, laughing. "Don't make me regret this."
"Oh, ma, you won't. You won't! I'll do all my chores, and I won't blast my stereo, whatever I have to do! Wow, I'm going to the Super Bowl!"
"Umm, excuse me? What do you say to John, Taylor? It's his present to you, not mine. My present was those video games and those Jordans you've worn once. Hmph."
Taylor stopped the profusive love-up of his mother and looked in John's direction. Suddenly, he was quiet, bashful even—but he extended his hand to John in thanks.
"I'm grateful, John. This means so much to me. I can't believe it. Thank you again." Tears welled in his eyes, though he didn't want to be seen to shed them.
John fully understood, and took the offer of Taylor's hand, grasping it in a slow, yet hearty shake. "You're welcome, Taylor. And you deserve it, son. I hope you enjoy it all."
"Oh, I already am, John. I gotta call the guys now and rub it in all the way live! Okay, see you guys soon. California, here I come!"
John and Joss both laughed at the retreating teenage boy in their lives whom they had just made the happiest kid on earth, before Joss somehow ended up on John's lap, offering him a big kiss and a hug for all his trouble and fuss over her and her son. It was a good morning indeed.
##
Both Corrine and Jimmie Clyde were at JFK to see the trio off on their adventure to California. Why Jimmie Clyde wanted to come was beyond Joss, since all he did was side eye John for the duration. At least he didn't make a scene, nor jump into another one of his Message to the Black Woman speeches. Unca Jimmie didn't even live in New York—he was on an extended visit to the boroughs himself from DC—but now that he was there he decided to involve himself as much as he could in the life of Corrine and her daughter, especially now that she was seeing John. Joss reminded him that he had two grown daughters of his own, and he should have been more concerned about them, but then, none of them were dating tall white men with "sugar daddy" tendencies. He was such a pain in the neck. But he was her Unca Jimmie, and despite his ways, she loved him. In all truth, his behavior made her laugh as much as wince.
"Now you got everything, Jocelyn? Taylor? Tickets, enough underwear?" Corinne fretted over her only daughter and grandson, which John thought was sweet. He knew exactly where Joss got her nurturing spirit from, coupled with her toughness.
"Mama, we're good. Bags and all packed with lists. Thanks for watching out at the house for us. I really appreciate it."
"Oh, girl, what else would I do? You all just be sure to have a wonderful time and take lots of pictures."
"Grandma, I'll be sure to get you some souvenirs, okay? You too, Unca Jimmie."
Jimmie Clyde cleared his throat. "Yes, well, so long as you're spendin' your own money, Taylor," he said, once again side eyeing John, who smirked bemusedly at him in kind. John didn't consider Joss' uncle to be more than an old school busybody, so his opinion of him didn't really sting the stalwart vigilante, but he was concerned about Joss' feelings, knowing that Jimmie Clyde could be a source of minor pain for her. He, too, wasn't sure why the old man wanted to be there to see her off, when he knew full well who she was going with, who was footing the tab—and how their relationship had progressed over the past weeks.
"Well, we need to get to check-in soon,: John said. "Corrine, Jimmie Clyde, thank you for coming to see us off."
Corrine beamed at John. "Oh, of course, John! Have a lovely time, like I said, and be sure to take good care of my little girl and grandson. But what am I saying? I know you will. I couldn't ask for my kids to be in better hands than yours."
"Really, Corinne," Jimmie Clyde sniffed with an eye roll. "Well, yes...you three have a good time. Say hello to Cam Newton for me. I hope he whoops that Peyton Manning but good."
Taylor laughed. "I'll be sure to tell him, Unca Jimmie. I got a bet riding on this game that he will!"
Joss glared at her son. "Taylor Carter, you had better not!"
"Ooops, sorry, John."
"On that note," John said sheepishly, looking at Joss, "see you in the stands!"
##
The hotel, just outside of the main city of San Francisco still offered the trio many of the delights they would have experienced in the central city, but because of the crowds, wouldn't be able to access directly. Taylor couldn't help comparing the Golden Gate Bridge to the Brooklyn Bridge back home, even though Joss flat out told him, from the passenger seat of John's rented SUV, that there was no comparison, with such stunning views as they were seeing. John, bedecked in his shades, jeans, workboots, and green lumberjack shirt, laughed heartily at the banter between mother and son. They were happy, and so he was happy, honored to be able to do this for the two most important people in the world to him.
And he was happy that Joss took him up on the offer. This was big, a signal to them both that she was comfortable and ready for what being in a romantic, intimate relationship with him could mean, would mean. Essentially, whatever she and her son wanted or needed, they'd get. Even if they didn't know they needed it—like this trip—they'd get it. He was a man of means now, his work with Finch both intrinsically and extrinsically rewarding. Though she might protest some, independent woman that she was, she had become used to the idea of him, little by little, making a place for himself in her life and the life of her child.
It was all new still for him, too, being concerned about the welfare of two people like this, feeling so responsible and loving toward them. But it was a feeling he'd waited his whole life to experience. And yes, he liked it very much. In fact, he reveled in it.
He glanced over at Joss, laughing away at some joke Taylor told her from the back seat, her hair in a loose ponytail, blowing in the breeze, her lip gloss making her mouth dewy and moist, just perfect for kissing, and more. John's face felt warm all of a sudden, the blush accompanying his embarrassment of thinking the thoughts he was, with her son just behind them. But he couldn't help it. The love he'd been recently sharing with Joss was wonderful, a heady, sexy, uninhibited love. And he couldn't get enough of her.
But it was probably best to hold off on those thoughts at the present time. Dealing with California traffic was a bear of a task, and concentration was critical.
"Penny for your thoughts, John," she said. "You've been awfully quiet."
"Hmm," he murmured, his poker face betraying nothing. "Come on...Panthers." he said, smirking.
"Yeah," Joss replied, not convinced. "Come on, Panthers."
##
The morning of the game, they took advantage of the area. Taylor got quite the education on Haight-Ashbury and its history of counter-culture and fashion. He and his class had studied the period in school, and while it didn't resemble the hippie lifestyle now as then, he was still quite taken with the landmarks he found. Then, there was lunch in the afternoon, in which both of the men in Joss' life consumed several small plates of burger silders and fries, washed down with vanilla and chocolate shakes, topped off with dessert. Meanwhile she, with her plate of pasta and salad, washed down with ice tea, marveled at just how much two guys would eat in one sitting. She knew John and Taylor could pack it away, evidenced by the way they inhaled the slices from two large cheese and pepps on Friday Pizza Night back home—but this was a record, even for them.
The men in her life. That's who they were. Her son, whom she loved more than life itself, and her boyfriend. She had to admit it sounded silly to call him that, at their respective ages, and after everything they'd been through as just friends, but that's what he was now: her boyfriend. Her lover. And what a lover! It had been a long time since she'd felt anything like she did in his arms, in her bed, with any other man she'd half-heartedly dated and then broken up with over the past few years since divorcing her husband. But John knew what to do and how to do it, expertly, rocking her socks off and making her toes curl at the same time. Of course. The tall, silent types were always the kinky ones. He most certainly was. And considering his line of work, what wouldn't he be good at when it came to his hands? Throw in his mouth and his stiff pole, and she was on Cloud 50,000.
She would never complain. Not her. Not ever.
"Game time, folks," John said, looking at his watch and breaking her reverie. "Shall we head off?"
"If you two can walk after all that food, sure," she said grinning.
"Aww, ma, we got it covered. Right, John?" Taylor boasted, putting his arm around John's shoulder.
"Sure thing, T. Teflon stomachs. Let's go."
Check paid and a quick stop to the sports store for a game jersey for Taylor, and they were off. Super Bowl 50 awaited. Taylor had a good feeling about his Broncos. He didn't know why, since he rooted for the Giants during the regular season, and the Panthers were the favored to win. He was just feeling lucky.
##
"Good night, Taylor. And we'll talk about you gambling with John on the way home, young man."
"But ma, the Broncos won! That was a great, great game, ma! And I won the bet! John doesn't mind; after all, he's the one losing a hundred bucks. Come on!"
"That could have been you, Taylor Carter. And where were you going to get a hundred dollars from to pay your debt, hmm? You know I don't like gambling, even with John. We'll talk about it when we get home. Good night. Enjoy this room while you have it."
"Okay, ma. Good night. See you in the morning for check-out. Man, we just got here and we have to go home tomorrow night. So lame."
"We'll try to come back some day, for longer next time. It's a good city. Lots of energy, like home," John promised.
"Mmm," Taylor murmured. "Yeah, that'd be cool. Well, good night, Ma. Good night, John—and thanks again. So awesome! Wooooo!"
They left Taylor in his room , hand in hand, to return to their own. Each of them had their own room in the interests of propriety—but there was no way in hell either of them planned on sleeping alone. They were, however, mindful enough to make small talk before jumping each other's bones.
"He's a good kid, Joss. You've done well with him."
"Yeah, he is. I try."
"You a great job. Yeah...great..."
"Mmm hmm..."
Suddenly, John grabbed Joss by her ass and lifted her into his arms, backwards into his room and lightly bounced her on the bed. Before she knew it, he was out of his shoes, his jersey, his jeans and his underwear, naked, erect, half-crazed with desire, a desire that was for her alone. Likewise, she couldn't wait either, and they both frantically pulled and tugged Joss' clothing until she was as naked as he was. It was as if they'd saved all their love for this moment, when of course, it was merely them never being able to get enough of one another since becoming lovers.
"Ohhhh, baby," he purred. "Alone at last."
"Yes...make me feel good, John..."
So, he proceeded to do just that, with Joss losing her mind in orgasm over and over, John's loving never letting up, never stopping in its intensity, its need of her. He licked, nibbled and sucked her sensitive areas, and pressed and drove her to heights she didn't think she could climb, but he always managed to get her there. He always knew how to make her body blast in ecstasy, only to come down the cloud on a drift, lighter than air, and free. She didn't have to pretend with him. She could be wild, wanton, uninhibited. All the things he was proud and privileged to share with her. She was his lover, his best friend. She was everything he'd always wanted.
"Spread wider for me, Joss. That's it," he said huskily. "Aaah...aah, yeah..." Her heat pulled and squeezed him, the walls wet and hot. His own release, which he'd held back to give her pleasure first rumbled and throbbed in his loins. She watched the passion play over his face, and when he got close, she smiled to herself as much as she could, knowing that when his eyes closed shut and he bared his teeth, the release was coming.
"Aaaaaaaaaaahhh, Jaaaaaaaaasssssss...damn...damn...aaaaah..." The bed springs groaned with the weight of their bodies entwined, in lust—in love. He rode out his release until he was fully spent, and scooped her up in his arms with a grin. Joss joined him in laughter, as he showered her with slow, deliberate kisses.
"Touchdown, Detective.", he said breathlessly.
"Mmm hmm, no recall on the play necessary," she teased.
Sleep came blissfully for the two lovers, and they gave in happily to the sandman's call after such an eventful day and climactic ending. But before that could happen, a declaration:
"I love you, Joss Carter," John murmured against her forehead. "Good night."
"I love you, too, John Reese. And thank you for loving me and my boy."
He hadn't heard her, she realized, as his soft snores told her all she needed to know. Snuggling in closer to his chest, his arms closed around her tightly in his dreams. Contentment. It was a wonderful feeling, and now that she had it, she'd never let it go.
A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed this after-Christmas addition to "The Gift." I want a boyfriend like John. Spoil me, please, haha. And he does have a rapport with Taylor that both of them really value. Joss is a lucky lady. Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!