(Un)masked
Chapter 3. Silent communication
Fortunately, the stir-fry needed attention and Jubal pulled away before Isobel couldn't help doing something inconvenient. Pretending to be mired in a more comfortable silence than it actually was, Isobel set about preparing the sauce while Jubal busied himself with the pasta.
They helped themselves to two plates and sat on the couch to eat. Turning on the TV, Isobel tuned in to a program to which they paid the slightest attention.
Jubal could tell Isobel was tense. She was very good at undercover work, no one else would have noticed, but it was crystal clear to him. After a moment's thought, he sincerely praised the vegetable sauce, and got a smile from her, which Jubal wished with all his heart was genuine, however unlikely this was.
Still trying to distract her, he started a light conversation about a stand-up show he went to see with his children. Isobel mentally blessed him and managed to relax while talking about well-known comedians, laughing at some of their jokes.
After dessert, they paid more attention to the TV because they found "The Sting" was playing on a classic movie channel. It was a movie both already knew, and they loved it.
However, for some reason Isobel, in addition to the disturbing messages and lavishing from the stalker, now couldn't get David Owen out of her mind. She slowly and unconsciously was turning her wristwatch around her wrist. Without taking his eyes off the screen nor making a fuss, Jubal slowly reached out and gently caressed her hand, stopping the incessant movement.
Under the delicate touch of Jubal's fingers, Isobel's anxiety -only a moment ago rubbing like sandpaper against her subconscious- lessened more and more until it dissipated as a mere wisp of smoke. Suppressing a sigh, she marveled again at how easily Jubal's gentle touch was able to soothe her.
Then he slipped his other arm around her shoulders. Isobel grasped at once what Jubal intended. She snuggled up against his side without hesitation, relaxing at last and enjoying the movie. She knew all this was part of the charade, but it was very enjoyable, she had to admit. Something she could get used to...
After a while, however, Isobel began to get the feeling they were procrastinating. Jubal was right. They weren't going to get anywhere just cooking or watching TV.
"We should kiss," she whispered very softly.
It was better to warn Jubal rather than jump right in and provoke an unconvincing reaction from him.
"Yeah, sure. And have sex too, while we're at it" he joked through his teeth.
"I'm serious."
Leaning back against his torso, Isobel turned her head and looked up into his face, one hand resting flat on his chest. Jubal tried to hide his apprehension and the jump in his pulse.
"Um…" He moved his mouth, trying to argue, but he was at a loss for words. He was not at all sure it would be wise. "Isobel…"
The way Jubal murmured her name only served to further spur her initiative. She sharply averted her eyes and slowly sought his mouth. His breath caught. She could feel his heart pounding wildly under her palm.
From the very instant Isobel's warm lips met his, Jubal knew he wasn't going to be able to handle it. How was he going to pretend to kiss her -well, actually kiss her- and yet remain indifferent? It was mission impossible.
For Isobel, it wasn't the first time she kissed someone during an undercover assignment, but she found it was the first time she did so with real relish. This meant for Jubal, though gentle, Isobel's kiss felt spontaneous in the most captivating way. He quit fighting against it and allowed himself to enjoy it.
After this brief moment of hesitation, the subsequent enthusiasm of Jubal's lips took Isobel completely by surprise. So much so, without realizing it, her own mouth reciprocated, making the kiss bolder, wetter. She raised a hand, cupping his face. The arm formerly encircling her shoulders descended, and Isobel felt Jubal's palm sliding slowly down her back to her waist, drawing her gently against him.
When Isobel applied a delicate nibble to Jubal's lower lip, it elicited a soft but heartfelt growl.
The sound made them realize at the same time. For a few wonderful moments, they forgot. They forgot they were being watched, not only by the stalker, but also by their own agents. They forgot they were supposed to be pretending.
They parted, slowly; conscious in any case, they should avoid sudden gestures, which would break their masquerade.
Breathless, Jubal looked at Isobel. He nearly drowned in the enchanting gleam in her eyes. Then they hardened with the steely determination of Isobel's, which always made Jubal's heart beat harder.
They had a mission to accomplish.
A look of understanding, an almost imperceptible nod. They need to move forward without losing sight of their objective. An unspoken agreement established through the silent communication they quickly acquired since they met years ago. Isobel felt this connection within her stronger than ever, and saw in Jubal's eyes she was not the only one who felt it.
Drawing her back to him, he kissed her again, with careful control this time, but mingled with unconscious adoration, and Isobel accepted it in awe, stroking the back of his neck. She knew now they were doing this without forgetting their ultimate purpose, but she feared at the same time, it would surely change everything.
Holding back sensibly, they prolonged the kiss for a long time, skillfully casting the bait while reveling in every second of it.
·~·~·
When their phones vibrated simultaneously, quite a bit later, neither rushed to stop and look at their own.
They slowly undid their embrace. Isobel lowered her eyes, overwhelmed by what he made her feel. Although they kept their hands practically chaste, it had been more than just an interesting exercise in self-control. Isobel couldn't deny having enjoyed -too much, in fact- returning each of the leisurely but delicious kisses Jubal left on her mouth. The affection he conveyed to her, as he held her in his arms, left her trembling not only physically. She forced herself to recall she was still angry with him.
She bit slightly her own lips, still feeling Jubal's on them. Trying to calm her own labored breathing and suffocate the heat inside her body, Isobel checked her phone to distract herself and view the notification they received.
"He's offline now," she muttered.
She had to push aside a sharp and very inappropriate feeling of disappointment. A part of her would have gladly gone along with it.
For his part, everything in Jubal's body impelled him to continue kissing her anyway, Isobel's lips calling him in an almost irresistible way. It was a need. He leaned slowly towards her, as if bewitched.
But... their intimacy was nonexistent now. He could imagine the amused expressions exchanged between OA and Maggie, watching from the van, even though Isobel and Jubal had a justifiable reason to kiss like this and for so long.
Moreover, as Isobel pulled away, she seemed even more withdrawn than before, as if she felt embarrassed by what just happened. Jubal thought it was very likely it hadn't been as intoxicating for her as it had been for him.
He didn't want to make things worse for Isobel. With a pressure in his chest making it almost impossible for him to breathe, Jubal also moved away. He watched as she stood and turned off the TV. He needed a few more moments to compose himself from the state Isobel's kisses left him.
Doing their best not to lock eyes, they picked up the dishes from the coffee table. They loaded the dishwasher together, summoning the comfortable sense of familiarity again, when Ian texted them. His analyst tried all this time to locate the physical source of the system intrusion, but the stalker was using a VPN, which dynamically rotated the IP, making the connection impossible to trace.
In any case, he was still offline now.
"Hey... can I ask you something?" Jubal said as they finished cleaning up.
"It depends," replied Isobel, cautiously.
Jubal shook his head, leaning against the countertop. "Why didn't you tell the team the real reason for my absence?" he asked anyway.
It wasn't like Isobel lied to them. She simply did not disclose Jubal's indiscretion, nor his time off work being a disciplinary measure. He didn't find out they didn't know until he returned.
It was brief, but Isobel paused in what she was doing. The question caught her off guard.
"It would have been bad for morale," Isobel replied, plainly but somewhat ambiguously.
A pained grimace escaped Jubal. "Yeah..."
Another thing he put at risk by breaking bureau policy to help his son.
"Besides... I didn't want the whole office whispering about you," Isobel added, her voice quieter, almost shy. She may not trust Jubal now as much as she used to, but it didn't mean she wanted him to lose the respect of others.
Jubal stood watching her finish loading the pots and pans in the dishwasher, sensing the meaning behind her words, the will to protect his honor, despite everything. It was more than he did for himself, and he wasn't sure he deserved it.
He swallowed hard. "Thank you," was all he could say, but he said it with all his heart.
Closing the dishwasher, Isobel started it up before looking up at his face.
The guilt gnawing at Jubal became heartbreaking as he found disappointment in the depths of Isobel's wet eyes. He needed to face what he did and ask for her forgiveness. He took a breath.
"We should go to sleep," she declared, looking away; the issue was still too painful.
And for Jubal it was like stumbling in the dark. He completely lost his momentum.
"Umm... Yeah... Yeah, okay. I'll use the couch," he replied, pointing over his shoulder with his thumb.
"What are you saying?" Isobel asked, holding back a laugh more the result of tension than humor.
Jubal looked confused, but only for a second. "True. You're right," he muttered, blinking in embarrassment, and reluctantly followed her to her bedroom.
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