And Then I Saw Her Face

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

“I feel like I’m being objectified.” He teased, reaching around for the toast and she smiled warmly at him. It was still being silly and playful but at a new level that Rebecca didn't mind. Sure, it had taken a flirty turn but this morning, for some crazy reason, she didn't completely mind. Of course if he tried to kiss her like he had before he got sent to the camps she might object a little more, but for now she was warming up to the idea of having Jack around. Especially with having Jack around half naked. "Oh please, you're waltzing around shirtless with a chiseled body, don't pretend like you don't love it." She teased back as he reloaded the toaster with bread. “I guess it’s not so bad.” She smirked a little and took another sip of her milk, trying not to roll her eyes at him. In honesty she was grateful that things seemed less awkward this morning and she knew that had a lot to do with her talk with Maxi. Maxi encouraged her to see Jack for who he was, and to remember he was a good guy, and he really was a good guy. He had made a mistake and he had promised not to cross any boundaries again and so far she didn't get the feeling like he would. If anything, he was playing it extra safe so she wouldn't kick him to the curb.

“For you, Mistress.” She cocked a brow and gave him a brooding look as he smiled wide at her. "Watch it, pal." She warned taking the freshly made breakfast and sliding off the counter. She grabbed her milk and made her way to the table and sat down. Jack was quick to start eating and she watched him for a moment as he put the eggs on the toast and then shoved a mouthful of eggs into his mouth. How many times had she eaten lunch with him before? Or the occasional dinner on the job, and those few times at his place? Why was she noticing him more now? She suddenly blushed realizing she was ogling him and looked down at her own food, pushing eggs onto her fork and then thrusting it into her mouth. She didn't want to be in a relationship. Sure, she supposed if she did she might like to be in one with Jack, and knowing he was interest certainly interested her a little, but she didn't want to let her guard down. He wanted to get to know her and that freaked her out completely. Only Maxi knew her and that was enough. To let a colleague into her mind would be... She reminded herself that he wasn't really a colleague anymore, but just a friend crashing at her place. That wasn't to say he wouldn't be a colleague again some day.

“What d’you think?” he asked bringing her back down to earth. Her pale eyes shot up to look at him, slightly widened as if he could somehow see into her mind, but she knew he couldn't. She settled and let out a breath. "Surprisingly good. Guess I shouldn't bee too surprised. Bachelors are good at making easy things like eggs." She teased, throwing a wink at him before reaching for a slice of toast. She put some of the eggs on the bread as he had done and took another biter. "So what's your next step? I know you're laying low now until the dust settles, but what after? You going to come back to the precinct? Or are your days as officer Roccograndi over?" She asked, genuinely curious, but also wanting to know her limits if she DID change her mind. Part of her wanted to. Seeing him half naked like that after not getting laid in who even knew how long? Her hormones were toying with her.

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

“Surprisingly good. Guess I shouldn’t be too surprised. Bachelors are good at making easy things like eggs.” Jack smirked at the wink Rebecca threw him. “Hey, I’m good at making other things too,” he retorted, taking another healthy bite of his toast. He’d just have to prove how good a cook he was…That thought made him smile a little more. “So what’s your next step?” His dark eyes came back to hers at her question. “I know you’re laying low now until the dust settles, but what after? You going to come back to the precinct? Or are your days as officer Roccograndi over?” It was an odd question to him, since the answer was obvious, but he realized Rebecca didn’t know him well enough to know that he’d always wanted to be a cop. That was the one thing he knew he was good at and that wouldn’t change just because he was held prisoner in a camp for six weeks. Jack was a creature of habit and when he found something he liked, he stuck with it until it didn’t work for him anymore, right down to the jeans he wore. He had pairs of jeans that dated back seven years and were slightly frayed that he continued to wear because they worked for him. With a smile, he shook his head, setting his toast back on his plate while he talked. “No. I have every intention of coming back to the precinct once this mess blows over. I can’t see myself being anything other than a cop. Hell, I’d go back tomorrow if I could. I’m just a little paranoid, you know?” He was a little embarrassed to admit he was leery of what the government would do to him, but at the same time he knew he had every right to be afraid.

Taking another bite of toast he chewed with a suspicious grin directed at Rebecca. “Why, you trying to get rid of me Taylor?” he teased, using her last name like he would on the job. He only really called her Rebecca when they were alone like this or maybe in Maxi’s company. Any other time he was professional and called her by her last name. It was more to make her comfortable than for his benefit. He knew she was afraid of their colleagues suspecting them of being more than friends, so he downplayed their relationship in public, even though he couldn’t care less what their colleagues thought of their relationship. If they ever were in a relationship, which he was certain Rebecca would never let happen, he would keep it the same way for her sake. Either way, he knew she wasn’t trying to get rid of him and it was a legitimate question whether he would stay in the same job or not. “It’ll be weird going back though. I bet Cap knows where I’ve been, but the other guys are going to ask questions. They’ll have questions for Faye and Dawson too if they come back. I didn’t even know that woman was a Therian until I saw her in the camps. First time I saw her was on the first day we were in the camps. She saw me and came over to talk. I think she was just relieved to see a familiar face. She looked pretty rattled being there with her grandmother.”

He stopped and looked up at Rebecca. No doubt she had put together why Gina was gone for so long, but he still felt a little weird outing his colleague like that. He finished his first slice of toast with a small shrug. “We talked a few times in the camps, but she made a few friends in the camps and I spent most of my free time with my mom. I was more concerned with keeping her from having a panic attack just thinking about my sisters and how worried they must have been in Portland.” He shoveled more eggs on his second piece of toast and took a bite, not even noticing the crumbs that dropped in his beard right alongside his mouth. “I can’t wait to get back to the job though and put all that crap behind me. I’m sure a lot of us feel that way. Who knows? Maybe we’ll be paired up when I get back.” He grinned, teasing her, still oblivious to the food on his chin. “So what are you going to be up to today? Are you going to see Maxi again? Why was she shot anyway?” He didn’t have a chance to ask last night before Rebecca went tearing out the door and he was genuinely curious. Who on earth would want to hurt Maxi?

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

“No. I have every intention of coming back to the precinct once this mess blows over. I can’t see myself being anything other than a cop. Hell, I’d go back tomorrow if I could. I’m just a little paranoid, you know?” She nodded, knowing it made sense. she would be paranoid too if she'd been locked up. Rebecca was still wary about asking for too many details. She wanted to know but she didn't want to push Jack and she was anxious about hearing what actually happened there. She would be required on some level to take action if she knew the circumstances, and she was certain she was completely powerless in this situation and if the police chief was aware of what was going on and keeping it under wraps then she would know too much and might be brought in for some questioning. For now she didn't really want to know more than Jack was willing to offer.

“Why, you trying to get rid of me Taylor?” he teased and she looked up at him. "Maybe I am." she shot back obviously not serious, but the look on her face said she might consider it. It was the playful gleam in her eye that said otherwise. "It’ll be weird going back though. I bet Cap knows where I’ve been, but the other guys are going to ask questions. They’ll have questions for Faye and Dawson too if they come back..." Rebecca had suspected Faye was a Therian or an Avisaille since she had disappeared with Jack and Dawson, but to have it confirmed still surprised her. She felt bad for anyone there.

Rebecca was quiet, picking at her breakfast as Jack spoke about Gina and his own mother at the camp. It was all so sad and she felt bad for Jack and maybe a little closer to him. This was the main reason she didn't like getting too close to coworkers. When you form a real friendship you get too close, and she hated getting too close to people. Still, she knew Jack really needed a friend and she needed to be that friend right now. “I can’t wait to get back to the job though and put all that crap behind me. I’m sure a lot of us feel that way. Who knows? Maybe we’ll be paired up when I get back.” She was still a bit sad about the information concerning his mother. Rebecca didn't know what she would do if she had seen her mother in that situation. She was still glad she hadn't been the one to walk in and find the crime scene. She could only imagine the horrors that would have unleashed. She pushed the thought from her mind and rolled her eyes at him. "Probably not, I've specifically asked for competent partners from here on out." She teased, knowing Jack was more than competent.

“So what are you going to be up to today? Are you going to see Maxi again? Why was she shot anyway?” Rebecca looked at the food on his chin, but decided not to say anything yet, finding it mildly amusing. "I'd like to go see her later, but I can wait until you shift. the whole wolfy thing is still a little weird." She said honestly but smiled a little like she was joking. "And there was some protest she was at and it turned violent. Naturally there was no coverage about it. She got shot in the lung. It was a mess but she's alright. Said they would let her out in a few days. Got to meet her sister.. There's something you missed. Maxi's family went missing twenty five years ago on a boat trip. None of them were ever found but their boat washed ashore with no sign of anyone. It was her mom, dad and older sister Maureen. Well a week ago Maxi's sister shows up out of nowhere, has no memory whatsoever of anything prior to the accident and goes by a different last name. Totally crazy, but I met her sister yesterday and she was really sweet. Looked just like it, it was uncanny and a little scary actually." She laughed recalling meeting Maureen. She talked with her for a short while after the visit with Maxi while one of Maxi's other friends went in to see her again for a while. She bit into her bacon and chewed slowly. "We haven't had a chance to go over everything about that yet, but I'm sure we'll catch up more once the dust all settles. Things have just been busy for me lately, but today? I'm free. I took off work so I have the afternoon to do whatever. Like I said I'd like to get some groceries so there's stuff for you to eat so if there's anything you like having around just let me know." She grinned again, looking at his chin and hen tapped her own. "You, uhh.. gonna save that for later buddy?" She teased, her smirk turning more playful.

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

“I’d like to go see her later, but I can wait until you shift. The whole wolfy thing is still a little weird.” Jack smirked, nodding his head, though he was a little disappointed he couldn’t tag along. He knew it would be best for him and Rebecca if he just stayed in the apartment for a week or so and didn’t let anyone see him, but he knew he was going to go stir-crazy. “And there was some protest she was at and it turned violent. Naturally there was no coverage about it. She got shot in the lung. It was a mess but she’s alright. Said they would let her out in a few days. Got to meet her sister…” She was at a protest? There could only be one thing Maxi could be protesting…he suddenly felt infinitely warmer towards the little woman who had devoted her time and apparently her safety to the cause that freed him. If he couldn’t go see her, he was going to write her a note for Rebecca to deliver. Though this was going on in his head, he was interested to hear about Maxi’s sister. He’d always assumed she was an only child and that’s why she took to Rebecca so much, but Rebecca had mentioned Maxi lost her family too. Now he knew how. Jack couldn’t imagine losing both of his parents and his sisters in one fell swoop. It must have been devastating for Maxi and it left him more in awe of the woman’s bright, happy demeanor. If the same had happened to him, he would have shut out the world forever. Now to think her sister was dead all this time just to find out she was alive and well just without her memory? Maxi had been through a lot in the last week, that much was obvious.

“Looked just like her, it was uncanny and a little scary actually.” Jack chuckled, trying to picture what Maxi’s sister looked like. Would she be another little redhead with big blue eyes too? He tried to imagine two Maxi’s in the world and the thought made him smile more. That was one person the world probably could use two of. “We haven’t had a chance to go over everything about that yet, but I’m sure we’ll catch up more once the dust settles. Things have just been busy for me lately, but today? I’m free. I took off work so I have the afternoon to do whatever. Like I said I’d like to get some groceries so there’s stuff for you to eat so if there’s anything you like having around just let me know.” The first word that popped into his mind was steak. He’d been craving big, juicy steaks for six weeks. His mouth watered just thinking of it and the bacon he was chewing on was a poor substitute; wrong animal entirely. He was considering if there was anything else he wanted when she spoke to him again: “You, uhh…gonna save that for later buddy?” Looking at her curiously, she was smirking and tapping her chin. He brought his hand up and felt the crumbs from his toast run beneath his fingers and fall to his plate. Snorting a laugh, he nodded and continued to stroke his beard until he knew the crumbs were gone. “Yeah, I always save snacks in my beard. Just in case I get hungry, you know?” He grinned wide at how gross that sounded before looking down at his chest. “I keep my meals in my cleavage.” His hands made like they were pushing his flat boobs together, knowing he was being a complete goofball but wanting to make Rebecca laugh. When he was done miming his food storage abilities, he reached for his glass of milk and took a long sip before finishing the rest of his toast. “And my only request for the store is steak. I’m dying for steak. I mean, you can have some too, I guess…” he teased, well aware that if she paid for it she could have as much steak as she wanted.

When breakfast was over, he insisted on taking care of the dishes so Rebecca could get ready. She was a do-it-yourselfer, he knew that, but he wanted to treat her this morning for her kindness in letting him stay. Once he was done with the dishes, he sat himself in front of the television again while she did whatever she needed to do to get ready for her day. He had to keep his mind focused on the television while she was in the shower so he wouldn’t imagine her naked with water cascading over her. What could he say? He was a man after all. By the time she was done doing what she needed to do, she looked as gorgeous as ever. It was strange being there when she was getting ready, seeing her go from bedheaded lovely to her everyday beauty. He couldn’t help but notice how domestic it was, lounging on her couch in his pajamas while she dressed and brushed and all of that. Even though it was strange, it was also strangely comfortable with it. He knew how unlikely it was that he would ever be allowed to get used to it, so he wanted to enjoy it while possible. But when she walked out into the living room, he looked up at her from the couch with a grin. “You done hogging the bathroom now, princess?” he teased. He’d asked his roommate in college something similar almost on a daily basis since he’d been obsessed with making his hair look perfect. Seeing the look on Rebecca’s face, he put his hands up defensively and put on an amused and apologetic face. “Please don’t hit me.” He was trying hard not to laugh despite the very real threat that Rebecca might actually punch him.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

“Yeah, I always save snacks in my beard. Just in case I get hungry, you know? I keep my meals in my cleavage.” His hands came to his pecks and Rebecca raised a brow, giving him a look of disgust though in reality she was trying to hide her smile at his playfulness. It was cute, really. Finally she caved and let out a snort, rolling her eyes at him. “And my only request for the store is steak. I’m dying for steak. I mean, you can have some too, I guess…” he was teasing and again she offered a dirty look. "I'll eat all the damn steak I want." She spat back, biting her toast.

They finished their meal, continuing their silly banter and small talk and when they were finished Rebecca was surprised that Jack insisted upon cleaning up. It was a pleasant surprise. Not that she would have cleaned just yet, anyway. She wasn't big on the whole cleaning thing which was why her apartment wasn't spotless. While Jack cleared everything Rebecca headed to the bathroom to take a shower. Nothing like cleaning the grime off in the morning. She made sure to shave which was also very un-Rebecca like. Why did she care if there was stubble on her legs or pits? It was just Jack. They weren't going to do anything! Were they? Every time she thought about it her stomach clenched. She could if she wanted.. She knew he wanted to.. No! No, she couldn't!

When she finished she left the bathroom and moved quickly to her bedroom to change. She didn't need Jack catching her in a towel and she wasn't used to getting changed in the bathroom. She got dressed in jeans, a long sleeve t-shirt from a 5k she had done a few years ago and a little black zip up hoody on top, unzipped. “You done hogging the bathroom now, princess?” She glowered at Jack as he grinned back at her. "If you're a smart man you'll refrain from calling me that again. Ever." She said back seriously, though there was the tiniest flicker of teasing in her tone. Princess was not a name she wanted to be called. “Please don’t hit me.” Becca rolled her eyes at him. "Wuss." She teased before moving away from him once more and going to a small closet. She grabbed a towel and a wash cloth and threw them at him on the couch. "Go wash up, you smell like a dog." She teased, her own smirk showing now. "While you clean up I'll run to the store real quick. I won't be long, I hate grocery shopping, which is why I don't have much in the way of groceries." She shrugged and waited for Jack to get into the bathroom before heading out.

The store was mostly empty aside from the elderly and the young mothers with small children. Rebecca grabbed all the essentials and then some snacks, both in chip and cookie form and frozen goodies. Rebecca liked frozen food. It was easy and fast and often afterwards all that needed washing was a fork and cup so cleanup was simple. Lucky for Jack the steaks were on sale and she got a few, enough for at least three meals worth for both of them, and that was factoring in Jack's likely enormous appetite. She left spending more than she had at the grocery store in probably a year, but it wasn't often Rebecca had another mouth to feed.

When she got back she was glad to see Jack was clean and dressed and grateful when he helped with the bags. Her hands were completely full since she wanted to get it all up in one trip, another reason the woman often had bare cupboards. "You smell better." She teased as Jack began unpacking the bags with her. The process didn't take long with him handing her things and her putting them away. When they were done she washed off the grapes and stuck them in a bowl and then started for the popcorn. "Fresh popcorn on the stove is ten times better than any other popcorn. Except maybe kettle corn.. or that really buttery crap at the movies.. Anyway, I'm ready to veg the hell out. Want to watch a movie or something?" She asked figuring it was a good way to pass the day and keep things innocent without him asking too many probing questions. It was hard to get to know someone too intimately if you were focused on a movie.

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

“Wuss.” Jack snorted, watching as Rebecca moved to a closet and produced a towel and a washcloth. When she threw them at him, he caught them with a grin. “Go wash up, you smell like a dog.” She was smirking and he touched his chest like he was hurt. In actuality he was amused at her giving his teasing right back to him. “While you clean up I’ll run to the store real quick. I won’t be long, I hate grocery shopping, which is why I don’t have much in the way of groceries.” He smirked and nodded, not having a problem with being there by himself. In fact he would be less self-conscious about being in her shower if she wasn’t there. As soon as she left, he shut himself in the bathroom and prepared to wash up. It was strange being in her shower but it was clean. Everything about her home was simple. If there were pictures of her and Maxi or even her and her family, they weren’t out in the open. Her bathroom had the bare essentials from what he could tell and he wasn’t about to go snooping through her things. When he was clean, he trimmed his beard, combed his hair, brushed his teeth…his daily routine six weeks ago. That was the strangest part of all. It wasn’t even being in Rebecca’s place, crashing on her couch; it was the fact that besides the location, the last six weeks had disappeared in forty-eight hours. Only when he looked in the mirror did he know that it wasn’t just a dream. He was leaner, his face gaunter and the lines there harder than when he’d went into the camps, but that was all that remained physically. Mentally, though…

Once he was dressed, he turned on the television to try and drown out his thoughts of the camp. Occasionally his mind would wander again, but Rebecca was true to her word and didn’t take long. As soon as she walked in the door, arms loaded with bags, Jack jumped up from the couch and went to help her carry them into the kitchen. Once in the kitchen, he set the bags on the counter and began digging in them to unload them. “You smell better.” He gave her his crooked grin, pulling items out of the bags. “And I was just starting to get comfortable too,” he teased in return. He handed her the items as he took them out of the bags and she put them away. It was simple and more time for him to admire how comfortable it was between them. No hard feelings, no really awkward moments. It was nice to have that with her. When all of the food was put away, Rebecca put the grapes in a bowl before she moved for a thing of popcorn she’d left sitting out. “Fresh popcorn on the stove is ten times better than any other popcorn. Except maybe kettle corn…or that really buttery crap at the movies...” The assertion was almost childish and it made him smile wide. He wasn’t much a fan of kettle corn, but with how enthusiastic she was about it, he would eat it if she made it. “Anyway, I’m ready to veg the hell out. Want to watch a movie or something?” With a shrug, he nodded his head. “Sure. They’ve got some good stuff On Demand. I was scrolling through the list earlier. We’ll pick a movie once you’ve made this awesome popcorn. I haven’t had stove popcorn in a long time, so I want to test your theory.” Smiling wide again, he leaned against the counter and chatted with her as she worked, curious as to why she despised grocery shopping.

The popcorn smelled fantastic and he felt comfortable enough now to actually grab a beer from the fridge. He’d been afraid to drink before, afraid he’d lose control again, but it was just one beer. It would help him relax even more as they settled into a movie. He made sure to grab the popcorn bowl, looking at Rebecca furtively as he tucked the snack into the crook of his arm like he was going to hog it all to himself. She made it known that wasn’t going to happen as she reached across him and grabbed a handful of popcorn despite him. They flipped through the On Demand menu, but it didn’t take long for him to look at her with a suggestion. “You ever seen Braveheart? I’m not much of a fan of Mel Gibson, but that movie is awesome.” It had to be one of his favorites. The blood and guts didn’t do it for him so much as the heroic story and the history behind it.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

Rebecca slumped on the couch and leaned back, slouching low. She placed the bowl of grapes on her belly, her sweatshirt zipped up now. “You ever seen Braveheart? I’m not much of a fan of Mel Gibson, but that movie is awesome.” Rebecca had never seen it and didn't have much of a desire to see it, but she would watch it. With a shrug she looked over at her new housemate and gave a sort of nod. "Yea, I guess I would be down for that." She popped a grape in her mouth and then reached for a fistful of popcorn, shoving practically the whole thing into her mouth. Eating like a lady had never been a skill Rebecca acquired and she didn't really care what Jack thought of her. Maybe he would lose interest when he realized she wasn't much of a lady, but then again he had been around her plenty and she had never acted all that lady like.

"By the way I hate running commentary when I'm watching a movie, so if you got something to say you better pause." She warned. "I hate missing stuff in movies." The last part was more grumbled than anything else. She reached for another handful of popcorn, eating this one more slowly. It had real melted butter on it and salt and was out of this world, at least as far as Rebecca was concerned. She washed the salt down with the sweet, juicy grapes, a beer waiting for her on the table when she wanted it.

Rebecca began to relax as the movie began, the gentle Scottish music calming her despite what the story was. She had always liked traditional Scottish and Irish music, finding bagpipes made a nice noise. The movie grabbed her almost immediately and she watched in silence, sitting next to Jck without really touching him much, other to grab some popcorn now and then.

Jack was good at respecting her wishes about not interrupting her during the film, but his lack of talking and a lull in the movie soon found Rebecca fighting to stay awake. She had been up regular time and had had a long evening with Maxi. Plus the excitement of her having been shot and Jack showing up out of the blue.. it was a lot for the girl and she soon found her eyelids growing heavy. She had sat through about two thirds of the movie before her eyes slipped shut and another couple minutes later she was completely out cold. In her sleep She had slid a little to the side, her head in search of a comfortable resting spot which it found in the form of Jack Roccograndi's arm. Completely unaware, Rebecca stayed there, curled up next to her house guest, passed out while watching Braveheart.

---

The sudden quiet in the room must have been what stirred Rebecca. Her eyes fluttered open and she slowly lifted her head, looking around the room. It only took a moment for her to turn and find her face inches from Jacks, realizing it was he who she'd fallen asleep on. His eyes were intense as they gazed back at her and for a moment she was captivated by his look, a lump forming in her throat. No one had ever looked at her that way and it made her body tingle, but she was frozen there, watching him. Maybe it was because she was still groggy, but she wasn't nearly as freaked out by the proximity as she should be. Jack licked his lips and for a moment Rebecca thought he was going to lean in and try and kiss her again, and for a split second she hoped he would actually try it, but he backed off obviously remembering what happened last time he pulled a stunt like that.

Maybe it was because she was still sleepy, or maybe it was the romances in the movie, or maybe it was just that hungry, powerless look on Jack's face, but Becca was overcome by the urge to kiss him. Not having the hindsight to stop herself, she threw caution to the wind and grabbed the nape of Jack's shirt and tugged him towards her, her lips pressing hard against his as the table suddenly turned, her being the aggressor in the relationship. Her fingers remained tight at his collar for a moment before she realized what she was doing was exactly what she shouldn't be and she pulled back, wide eyes, staring at Jack unsure. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she began to really wake up, her fingers uncurling themselves from his shirt. "I.." She licked her lips and gulped,looking away as reality set in. What had she done? Why had she done that? Was it really all that bad?

No.. no it wasn't, and she found herself wanting to do it again.

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

“Yeah, I guess I would be done for that.” Jack selected the movie with the remote as Rebecca grabbed a fistful of popcorn. He was distracted as he watched her shove the whole thing in her mouth and he had to snort. Of course that’s how Rebecca ate popcorn. The fact that she was so unladylike in the body of a woman who looked so feminine was one of the things that attracted him to her. “By the way I hate running commentary when I’m watching a movie, so if you got something to say you better pause. I hate missing stuff in movies.” He gave her his lopsided grin. “Yes ma’am,” he replied as he started the movie. And he was true to his word; throughout the movie, he didn’t speak. He laughed at the jokes and shook his head at sad or rough parts, but that was as far as his commentary went. Rebecca had been right about the popcorn, though; it was awesome. That and the grapes were a perfect combination and an awesome snack. He was glad to see Rebecca obviously so into the movie and he let himself get caught up in the story too. It had been a while since he watched it and it had been too long since he had any form of entertainment.

A lull came in the story and while Jack was still interested, it appeared Rebecca was a little too lulled by the story. He felt a soft weight on his arm and he looked down to find a head of blonde hair rested against him. It made him gulp hard. Was she…was she doing this intentionally? No way, she was passed out. A minute or so after she had rested her head against him a loud battle scene came on and she didn’t stir. It made his heart race to have her so close, but he stayed still so he wouldn’t wake her. He didn’t even put his arm around her to make her more comfortable, since he wasn’t sure how she would react to that when she woke up. Probably not well. Still anxious with the girl of his dreams conked out on his shoulder, Jack did his best to follow the movie instead of focusing on Rebecca. By the end of the movie, he was completely engrossed once again, content with having Rebecca asleep on him. As long as he didn’t make a serious move, it wouldn’t be so bad.

With the movie ended, Jack allowed himself to look down at Rebecca once more. She looked so much softer when she was sleeping…gentler. Her breathing was soft and there was nothing stopping him from admiring her now. She was beautiful. How was it that such a hard woman could be so lovely? Right now, with her eyes closed and oblivious to the world, she didn’t seem intimidating at all. In fact she almost seemed…fragile. Suddenly her eyes fluttered open and a baffled flash of pale blue made his heart jump. She was so close, those eyes trained on him; how else would he react? His eyes fell to her lips and he knew they were as soft as they looked. It made him lick his lips nervously as his heart pumped hard in his chest. And even though he was looking at her like he did that night he overstepped his bounds, even though he was so close he could feel her breath on his face, she wasn’t moving away. He wanted to lean in and just kiss her again…but then where would he be? Back out on the street. With a heavy sigh, he looked away, frustrated that the one thing he wanted more than anything in the world was dangling right in front of him and he couldn’t get it. He couldn’t betray Rebecca’s trust again by forcing himself on her. She’d made it clear she didn’t want that kind of relationship with him.

Out of nowhere, he felt rough hands on the collar of his shirt, pulling him toward her fast and hard. His eyes were still wide open when her lips collided with his and he thought for a split second that he’d fallen asleep too; this had to be a dream. But her lips stayed there and he relaxed into her kiss, his brow low over his closed eyes. His heart was pounding, his blood pumping, and he’d never felt such a deep-seeded hunger as he did with Rebecca’s lips firmly against his. Too soon she was pulling away before he could hold her face steady and keep her right where she was. He opened his eyes, shocked back to the realization that Rebecca Taylor had just kissed him, and it seemed she was well aware of that fact now too. She was panting lightly, her hands releasing his shirt. “I…” Obviously she hadn’t meant to do what she did, but the damage was done. She had just waked every ounce of desire in him and he knew he couldn’t control himself when she was blushing the way she was and still so close. He reached up and cupped her face, bringing her attention back to him, his eyes frantically searching her face for any sure sign that he should stop right where he was before he got himself thrown out of a window. There was shock and fear on her face, but he didn’t see anger, not like the last time. He realized he’d been holding his breath and he released that breath as he pulled her face back to his. Once more their lips collided, but he didn’t feel the resistance this time. Hesitation, yes, but not resistance. Her hands gripped the collar of his shirt once more and he buried his hands in her soft waves of blonde hair, pulling her closer. No other kiss had ever made his heart pump so hard.

His kisses were firm, devouring, but so passionate too, and she returned every one. Their lips never stayed apart for long as they gasped for air between kisses, and they always found each other again. His hands combed through her hair, cupped her jaw and slipped down her neck before they found the zipper to her hoodie. They had a mind of their own as he pulled the zipper down pushing it down her arms to the long-sleeved tee below. His hands went to her back, his tongue tentatively finding hers for the first time. Her mouth was sweet and salty from the grapes and popcorn, and soon his tongue was tangling eagerly with hers. How could he be kissing Rebecca right now? Had some all-powerful being finally smiled down on him and granted this one wish? He pulled her tightly to him wanting to relish the fact that her warm, firm, lean body was actually pressed against his. With a low, quiet grunt, his hands slowly dipped below the hem of her shirt. Her pale skin was hot and tender and his hands couldn’t help but give her hips a firm squeeze. It was hard to breathe, but he didn’t care if he passed out from lack of oxygen—this was the best thing that ever happened to him and he wasn’t about to stop. He wondered if maybe she wanted him to stop, but with a twinge of guilt he decided he was going to be selfish for once. After all that had happened in six weeks, this was the light at the end of the tunnel and it was blinding. He wanted to cherish every second of Rebecca wanting him. If she really wanted him to stop, she would certainly tell him…and at the moment, she wasn’t protesting. His hands still went no higher than her waist beneath her shirt, still a little nervous to go as fast as his primal urges wanted him to go. With another soft grunt he pulled her tighter against him, turned on the couch to face her completely, content to simply devour her sweet mouth.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

Rebecca could hardly believe what she'd just done. She'd opened the floodgate and she wasn't entirely sure if she was okay with it. She should have stayed awake! She shouldn't have thought about kissing him! She should have kept her damn hands and mouth to herself, but no. She hadn't done any of that and now she was paying the consequences, but again she wondered if it was really all that bad. It wasn't as if Jack was unfortunate looking, or disrespectful. He genuinely seemed to like her, though god knew why. Before she could get her thoughts all sorted out though, Jack came back at her full force grabbing her face and pulling her back into his intoxicating mouth.

Rebecca didn't push Jack away when he kissed her. She allowed him to do as he pleased this time, though she was a little hesitant obviously liking the kiss but clearly unsure about it. She reached up and grabbed his collar once more feeling like she could either keep him there or push him away with it, which allowed her to feel a false sense of control over the situation knowing she didn't really have any control when Jack's fingers curled themselves in her hair, making her brows furrow and also make her stomach weak with desire.

Jack's kisses were all consuming and Rebecca had a hard time not meeting them with vigor. She went with this forbidden show of affection both wanting it and not wanting it at the same time. When he pushed her sweatshirt off she helped him, grateful to be rid of the layer that was making her even hotter, and when his hands wrapped around her and brought her closer she didn't object, but how she wanted to. Everything was happening so quickly that she was hardly able to concentrate on what was happening as she tried to process what had already happened. His tongue found hers and her fingers curled tighter in the fabric of his shirt, letting out a soft, husky sort of whimper. What was she doing? She had pushed him away for a reason! He knew she would cave eventually, but she'd hardly put up a fight. In fact she invited this! Had he played her? Did she even care now? He was pulling her tighter to him and she felt that semi familiar tug in her groin and she knew where this was heading. Rebecca could lie to herself all she wanted, but the truth was she wanted it. She wanted Jack. She hadn't been with a man in years and she wasn't going to do much better than Roccograndi. Maybe he had played her, maybe he had predicted this, but he wasn't a bad guy for it. He was just a guy.

Rebecca's heart seemed to pump harder when she felt Jacks hot hands on her skin. She felt the warm tingle spread through her entire body, making her shaky with the lust she felt. She was terrified to go further with him, terrified what it would all mean. Would he want more? Would he expect more? Did he think this would change their relationship? Would it? He gave her hips a firm squeeze and pulled her closer, turning towards her for better access and Rebecca knew at that moment that things would only continue to progress unless she did something about it.

Using the hand curled around his shirt, she pushed him and pulled away at the same time, creating a little distance. Her eyes found his, her brows furrowed as she looked at him. "This doesn't change anything between us." She warned searching for understanding in his eyes, "And so help you, if you utter a single word to anyone at the precinct I will have you charged with sexual harassment, got it?" She asked using her cop voice and trying not to let her voice quiver as she stood up to Jack. Standing up to some sort of hoodlum on the street? Sure, but it seemed different with Jack. He was a friend but friend or not she had to think of herself first. There was a reason she didn't trust people, and Jack had betrayed her trust once before.

Once he agreed Rebecca nodded as if to say "good" and then hesitated before leaning back into him. She knew it was probably a bad idea, but screw bad ideas.. this one felt good.

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

Jack instinctively moved back at Rebecca’s push, and though the head on his shoulders knew that was the right thing to do, the head below his belt instantly regretted it. With a heavy sigh, he looked in Rebecca’s eyes, seeing that look of concern and anxiety on her face. He was afraid she would tell him to stop, tell him she didn’t want it, tell him to get out of her house and possibly out of town, for that matter. What was he going to do now? “This doesn’t change anything between us.” That was the last thing he expected to hear her say and his eyebrows arched in surprise, his jaw a little slack. It didn’t change anything? “And so help you, if you utter a single word to anyone at the precinct I will have you charged with sexual harassment, got it?” He nodded vigorously, a little afraid to piss her off at the moment and simultaneously willing to say whatever she wanted to get a chance to go further with her. All he wanted was to feel her lips on his once more. She was still staring at him. “I promise, I won’t say a word.” That was the part that stuck with him; not the part where she said this wouldn’t change anything. It changed everything, but he wouldn’t think about that now. All he could think about was finally having Rebecca in his arms after all these months of working up to it, dreaming about it, wanting it so desperately. She seemed satisfied with his answer finally and she nodded firmly…and then she moved back into him. Jack sighed through his nose at the feel of her lips again. Once more the world was melting away.

He pulled Rebecca closer again, his lips pressed hard against hers as he relished this victory. Jack had no idea what he’d done to deserve this from Rebecca, but he couldn’t have been happier with the result. One hand found its way back into her hair, his tongue rolling into hers again as he devoured her sweet mouth. He didn’t think any kiss had ever been as sweet to him, probably because he’d waited so long for this. The hand in her hair grabbed a gentle handful, the hand on her back pulling her against him beneath her shirt. He gave a deep, soft grunt of approval to feel her thin figure against his hard body. By now she was practically straddling him, but it gave her the advantage. If he did anything she didn’t like, she could jump up and stop him. It also gave his hands an advantage to explore cautiously. The hand in her hair slipped down her neck and just barely brushed over her breast on its way down to her waist. It was so slight it could have been an accident. He pushed her shirt up just enough that her lower abdomen was bare, but he wasn’t going to press his luck too aggressively. For now his hands were satisfied to touch over her ribs while his lips moved from hers and into her neck.

The kisses he planted on her jaw and neck were gentle and teasing, but enough to heat her up. Her scent was strong right there in her neck and he took a deep breath to savor it. She smelled so good, so simple. His pants were feeling tight, but he wasn’t going to let himself get carried away. He wanted to take this slow so he wouldn’t scare her away. Kissing his way up to her jaw once more, he found her lips with a quiet grunt. His hands were rested high on her waist, gripping her tightly in place as he filled his need for her mouth. The long fingers smoothed gently upward until they were just below the line of her bra, which he traced softly before his hands smoothed back down to her hips. It was a bold move followed by a cautious one. He wanted Rebecca too damn much to fuck it up now. His hands held her hips firmly over him, simply enjoying her kissing for the moment. She sure knew how to kiss and it was making him hot all over.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

“I promise, I won’t say a word.” He said after nodding vigorously. She gulped, still a little hesitant, but he had her worked up now and she wanted this even if she was a little afraid of it. Finally she gave a nod as if to let him know it was okay to proceed, that she trusted eh wouldn't fuck this up. She had no idea how far she wanted to go or what her own limits were, but she figured if he did something she didn't want she could tell him to stop and she was pretty confident that he actually would. She leaned back into Jack, her lips pressing hard against his as her heart pounded even harder in her chest.

Jack wasted no time getting back on track, pulling her close to him once more and not even Rebecca could deny how good it all felt. His lips were soft and hungry and his tongue was salty and sweet. It had been so long since she'd let anyone kiss her this way and she wondered if it was partially because she felt bad for Jack. He'd had a rough time recently and though they had left things weird, she had found she'd missed him at work, but this wasn't what she expected to be doing with him when she saw him again. His hand curled in her hair and her brows knitted together hating how much she liked the feel of it. She didn't like anyone else in control but the slight tug from the handful of hair he partnered with his large, hot hand on her bare skin made her stomach squirm in a way that almost confused her. She both wanted and didn't want this with him but it was happening and she couldn't stop it now. She didn't even really want to.

Rebecca was slowly caving to the dance they were doing together, pressing herself close to him and practically climbing onto his lap to get closer. Her hands stayed cautiously at his collarbone so she could push him off with more ease if she felt she needed to but she already knew she wouldn't. He'd won and she wasn't objecting anymore knowing he wouldn't cross any lines. Not after last time, but with her current position it would be easy to get up and away from him if she didn't like where things were heading.

Jack was growing more adventurous by the second. She was fine tuned to his touches, feeling his hands tickle up her shirt and over her ribs making her heart hammer. She tried to remember how long it had been since she let a man put his grubby hands on her like this. Longer than she could accurately remember. She could tell he was being cautious, though. Taking his time, testing the waters before moving on to his next obstacle. His mouth moved away from hers and she felt it bury in her neck, making her breath hitch. Rebecca gulped as his fingers held tight to her waist, high enough that she could feel him pressing into her ribs. She bit her bottom lip, easing her body closer to his as she straddled him more, feeling the firm bulge in his pants and not in the least surprised at its size. Could she really handle all that after her little sexual hiatus? The thought actually frightened her a little and she told herself she didn't have to sleep with him. She could always stop and give him a handjob or something. The very thought of touching Roccograndi's junk made her face heat up as it turned red and hot. Who the hell was she turning into!?

His kisses distracted her from her thoughts as they moved back up to her lips, his fingers moving north and she held her breath for a moment, expecting him to touch her chest but he stopped just under her bra and then let his fingers taunt their way back down. Was he teasing her or testing the waters? Or was it a mixture of both? Rebecca wasn't entirely sure but she decided she didn't like this little dance too much. It was making her anxious and she didn't like her lack of control. She took her hands off his chest and ran her fingers to the hem of her shirt which he had lifted up and pulled away from his lips long enough to pull her shirt off of her head before kissing him once more. Rebecca felt dizzy with anxiety at her own boldness but she liked being in charge and she would rather undress herself than have him do it. She reached for the hem of his and did the same, peeling it off of him, but this time her lips didn't come back to his. Instead she stared at him for a moment, looking into his dark eyes before allowing them to pan down his sculpted body. She'd seen him earlier that morning over breakfast without his shirt on, but the context was different now. Her breathing steadied as she looked him over completely, truly studying him. The more she looked the more she realized she wasn't entirely ready for him to see all of her just yet and she could feel that urge to get up and run from him, but she stayed planted there practically on his lap.

"Underwear stays on." She heard herself say, gulping as she looked back in his eyes, giving away the fact that she was nothing but a scared little girl. "Until I say otherwise." She told him firmly, biting her bottom lip and furrowing her brow as her own slender fingers went down to the button of her jeans and slipped them open. She undid her fly feeling shaky and hesitated for a moment before leaning back into him and pressing her torso against his as her mouth slid over Jack's once more. Her arms wrapped loosely over her shoulders, crossing behind his neck and coming up so her fingers swept slightly through his shaggy dark hair.

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

Rebecca’s hands moved to the hem of her own shirt and Jack pulled back enough for her to toss the shirt away. Even though he wanted to gaze at her, take in her half naked form, she brought her lips back to his to quickly for him to get a good look. Just knowing that she was straddling him without a shirt on was enough to make him ache with need. With a soft moan and sigh, his hands moved up her back, dizzy with how hard his heart was hammering in his chest. Her hands then came to the hem of his t-shirt and pulled it up over his head, forcing him to pull away from her and put his arms over his head. Once more he was half naked for her, but this time it wasn’t just casual as he made her breakfast. When his shirt was tossed away, he half expected her to lean back into him, but instead she stayed hovering over his lap, watching him with those pale eyes of hers. He stared back at her, swallowing hard as he realized he was undressing for Rebecca Taylor, the one woman he’d been fixated on for months. It had been a long time since a woman sparked the kind of lust in him that he felt for Rebecca at the moment. Even if they just made out in their underwear…that was more than he could have ever asked for. All this time he thought she didn’t feel the same, would never be interested in this with him, and now she was perched on his lap, her eyes wandering over his body with lust. It made him gulp to see that look in her eyes, trying desperately to calm the beast inside him urging him to simply put her beneath him and ravage her. Her wandering eyes invited him to do the same, though, taking in her beautiful, lean form. She was toned and her breasts, although small, were perky and looked so soft. His member was throbbing almost painfully at how turned on he was.

“Underwear stays on.” Her voice cut through the heated silence and caught his attention once more. His eyes came back to hers and he could see in her face how nervous she was. “Until I say otherwise.” The heart jumped up into his throat was strangling him, so Jack simply nodded his understanding. God, he felt like a teenage boy again about to get lucky in the back of his beat-up truck. He could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears as her fingers slowly undid the button of her jeans and then unzipped the fly. If it weren’t for the darkness, he might not have been so aware of every movement, sound, scent, but now he was on high alert thanks to the swirling clouds overhead. It was as if every little thing was turning him on higher at the moment. He was glad she was doing the undressing; if they went by the pace he wanted to go by, they would already be naked. As she leaned back into him, her warm body against his, it served as a distraction from all those little things. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, her fingers in his hair and he sighed through his nose as his arms crossed over her back tightly. One hand reached up to slide into her long hair once more, keeping her close as he deepened their kiss once again. Their tongues met and the softness of hers thrilled him, making his stomach clench.

Jack worked his mouth firmly against Rebecca’s as his hands got back to work exploring. They slid over her shoulder blades and down the long line of her spine, one slipping over her ribs and back to the front of her torso. That hand moved up and over her breast which he took hold of lightly, feeling just how soft it was. It made him groan with desire against her lips, his other hand gripping her thigh just below her rear. He was growing bolder, but still it was little more than heavy petting. His lips moved back into her neck, harder this time as his tongue darted out to taste the slightly salty skin that smelled so good. Something like a growl sounded low in his throat, indicating how turned on he really was. His teeth nipped her neck playfully, one hand moving to his own jeans button and fly, fumbling with them to loosen his pants somewhat. He looked into her face, one hand buried in her hair now as the other gripped her hip firmly. “God, you’re beautiful…” he sighed against her lips, his nose brushing against hers before he kissed her hard. It was a consuming, devouring kiss, conveying how desperately he wanted her and had wanted her for months. He pulled her closer, his hips rising up slightly to meet hers and it made him moan to feel her pressed against him like that. The hand on her hip moved back to her ass and squeezed firmly, his tongue dancing along hers. When was the last time he’d been so excited? Far too long…

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

Jack's body didn't have a single ounce of fat on it, it seemed. Rebecca had never really been all that interested in the Adonis types before. In fact she sort of like beefier men, men who were less confident in themselves, though they often annoyed her and things would end because of it. She wasn't stupid enough to believe that she wasn't attractive, but she also lacked the personality that made pretty girls prettier. Most men weren't drawn to her, or so she thought. Or maybe she was naive. Or maybe they weren't as forward as Jack, but despite the reasoning he was far from the type she typically allowed into this situation with her. The lack of fat and the abundance of muscles made his body hard and it felt weird against her own lean frame. Or maybe that was because she wasn't used to it. She could get used to this, though... At least that's what she told herself to calm down as she tried not focus too hard on Jack's wandering hands.

Rebecca hated that she liked Jack's hand in her hair. She liked that he kept her close to him, forcing her to stay instead of run like she wanted to despite how good it all felt. Still, there was a small sense of satisfaction knowing she could rile someone like Jack up this way, but she also hated herself for giving in. What she needed was something to help uninhibit herself before her heart jumped out of her chest! She was far too aware of the hand slipping up over her breast, squeezing and groping at her. Rebecca was torn, liking it and hating it. Why couldn't she just let go? Why couldn't she enjoy this like a normal human being should? Jack was nice and lord knew he was sexy and he, for the most part, respected her so why couldn't she just relax and go with the flow?

Because her family had been murdered when she was a kid and she had fended for herself for the majority of her life and she still couldn't let her guard down, even in a pleasurable act of raw sexuality. Rebecca knew she should probably get a shrink. Despite the conflicting thoughts in her mind, she stayed put, forcing herself to continue kissing him and making herself enjoy it knowing that deep down she actually did. Then Jack had to open his big stupid mouth and ruin everything. “God, you’re beautiful…” he sighed against her lips, his nose brushing against hers before he kissed her once more. Rebecca was not big on compliments to begin with, and during sex it was no different. She didn't like flattery or anything resembling it. She prided herself in being "one of the guys" and men didn't call each other beautiful while making out. Well, she was sure some did, but not on her watch!

His hands squeezing on her ass was the final straw and she pulled back, gasping. "Jesus it got hot in here." She said a little flustered. She gulped, avoiding his gaze. "I'm parched. Are you parched? Yeah.. I'm just.. you just hold that thought. I, uhh.. yeah. Yeah, hang on." She fumbled off his lap and moved away from the couch in her bra and opened jeans with were fortunately tight enough to stay up over her ass despite being wide open. Rebecca took some deep breaths, tucking her long stringy blond hair behind her ears as she got into the kitchen. She opened the fridge and saw the beers but knew it would take too many of those to get her good and liquored up. She opened the freezer and sighed with relief when she saw the bottle of cookie dough vodka she had bought figuring at some point she and Maxi would have a girls night where they would drink and be stupid, but it looked like that wasn't happening anytime soon. She grabbed the bottle and opened it, chugging down at least three or four shots worth and wincing as the liquid burned down her throat. She made a grunting gag noise as she pulled the bottle away, her face puckering as she felt the vodka burn in her chest as it slid down into her stomach. It had a nasty fake sugar aftertaste and Rebecca screwed the cap on and placed the bottle back in the freezer. That would surely do it. Then she spotted the bottle of wine on top of the fridge. It had been opened, one glass poured from it, and the cork placed partially back in. She reached up and took it, tugging the cork out and tossing it somewhere in the dark room. She took a swig from it which helped ease the strange artificial taste from her mouth, and headed back towards the living room where Jack was waiting for her.

Rebecca already felt the tingle from the vodka heat her toes and she knew it wouldn't be long until she could let go enough to let Jack call her whatever stupid little things he wanted. Taking another deep drink from the bottle she climbed back onto Jacks lap, straddling him once more and putting her hand on his chest, pushing him back until he was leaning on the arm of the couch, not completely horizontal, but not sitting up either. She felt like she had the upper hand if she stayed on top of him. "Better." She said softly, her hand on his chest admiring his flawless body. Still staring at his chest she turned her head to the side and up a little to take another swig from the wine before placing the bottle on the coffee table. Sliding her hands on either side of his head on the arm of the couch, she lowered herself until her lips met his once more, her body sliding up his as she deepened their kisses until they were at the same pace they were before she left him. Feeling more in control now, and maybe a little loose from the alcohol, she relaxed into him some knowing she would be able to let go more now that she had something in her system. Her hips found his and she moved hers against his, feeling the hard bulge which made her stomach twist again. "Don't call me beautiful again." She muttered against his lips as her hips ground into his, taunting him a little. "Or.. any other compliments."

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

Rebecca suddenly pulled away with a gasp and Jack watched her with concern, afraid he had suddenly overstepped his boundaries. “Jesus it got hot in here. I’m parched. Are you parched? Yeah…I’m just…you just hold that thought. I, uhh…yeah. Yeah, hang on.” She got off his lap, leaving him to watch her with wide-eyed disbelief. His eyes followed her until she was in the kitchen and then with a heavy sigh, his head flopped back against the back of the couch. Damn it! He’d been so close! What did he do to fuck it up this time? Was it his hands? Was it the compliment he gave her? He couldn’t help that he said whatever was on his mind when he was about to get busy with a woman, especially one as beautiful as Rebecca. His hands rubbed over his face, frustrated and feeling like he’d just royally screwed up his one chance for staying in Scriptor Bay. She had said to hold that thought, though…maybe when she was done rustling around in the kitchen they’d go back to it? He heard her opening the refrigerator and then the freezer, heard the strange noise she made and the sound of a bottle cap being screwed back on, but while he was curious about what she was doing, he wanted to give her space. Hell, he’d do anything to help his chances right now. He hated to think with his dick, but it had been too long since he’d been laid and too many times fantasizing about just this happening with Rebecca…well, minus the trip to the kitchen.

By the time Rebecca came back, Jack was bouncing his leg gently in nervousness. Was she going to back out? When he looked at her again, her torso naked except for the bra and her jeans unzipped, he couldn’t deny how hungry she made him and his eyes reflected that hunger. He caught sight of what she was holding in her hand and found it was a wine bottle. She needed to get drunk to have sex with him? The thought actually had him fighting back a smile. She was so tightly wound, it made sense that she would need something to help her calm down and ease into something like sex. After all, sex was a pretty intimate act and Rebecca wasn’t the intimate type. She looked like an alcoholic chugging the wine straight from the bottle, though, and Jack cleared his throat with a smirk to keep from laughing. It was a good thing he didn’t laugh, otherwise she might not have settled into his lap again like she did, his smirk going from amused to lustful. She put a hand on his chest and pushed him back and Jack gladly followed her instruction, leaning back until his head and neck rested on the arm of the couch. His eyes never left hers, and his big hands gripped her hips firmly as her eyes roamed over him. “Better.” His hands slipped down her thighs and then slid their way back up. “Good,” he replied in his deep growl of a voice. She took another swig of the wine as his eyes took in her beautiful body. She looked like some nymph that belonged in a wood somewhere; perhaps there were other supernatural beings out there besides Therians, Gargoyles, Avisailles, Blurrs and witches. Maybe Rebecca was one of them to be so beautiful.

Once she’d placed the bottle of wine on the coffee table, she leaned back over him, her hands on either side of his head, which made his desire burn deep in his belly. What made it burn brighter was the feel of her hot lips back on his once more, their kisses just as deep and passionate as they were before the break. His mouth moved fervently and firmly against hers, his hands still tight on her hips. The blood was pumping through him hard again and his groin throbbed as her hips dipped down and ground into him. It made him groan, reaching up and grabbing a fistful of her hair in pleasure. “Don’t call me beautiful again.” He opened his eyes, first in confusion and then it clicked. That was what upset her. He’d suspected as much. “Or…any other compliments.” His eyes were almost sad as they looked up at her, the hand on her hip moving up along her side. Didn’t she know how beautiful she was? Why didn’t she like to hear how lovely she was? He’d been dying to tell her every day for months just how he felt about her, but her guard always repelled him. All he wanted was for her to see what he saw, the beautiful creature he’d dreamt of so often. But instead of asking her these questions, he nodded. “Just this time, though…” he warned almost playfully, as if there would be another time they would find themselves in this position. He hoped so.

His lips found hers again and he kissed her hard and deep. It didn’t take long for him to part her lips with his tongue, tasting hers and enjoying the sweet taste of wine. His hand slipped over her side, across her ribs until he found her breast again. Gently he squeezed, his heart pounded at how soft and yet firm her chest was. He wanted to bury his face between her breasts, kiss them and feel them between his lips, but he didn’t want to go so far just yet. His hips continued to lift up into hers, however, rubbing his hardness between her legs and taunting himself. It made him grunt lowly in her mouth. His lips slipped across her mouth once more, dipping into her neck and planting hungry, sucking kisses there on the soft, fragrant flesh. The hand in her hair slipped down the side of her neck and across her collarbone until it came to her other breast. Both breasts in hand, he squeezed again, more insistent this time, and he relished in her reaction. His lips continued to slide down her neck, across her collarbone where he traced the line of it to her shoulder. Glancing up to her face, he continued to kiss down her chest, his hands now tugging at her jeans, pulling them off her hips more. Just before his face buried in her cleavage, though, he moved quickly back up to her neck as if to tease her, his teeth nipping gently at the succulent skin. Her jeans were down far enough that there was enough room for his hand to slip in now, which it did, slowly.

_________________________________________________

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

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Rebecca opened her dresser and pulled out some short, pulling them over her bare bottom and then got a long sleeved t-shirt out and pulled it over her torso. Now dressed she felt better about facing Jack. "Okay, first of all I don't have moves. Just... don't talk to me about what we did. I don't like picking sex apart." She informed and then realized she was numbering her points, which meant she needed to say something else. "Second of all.. uh.. put your clothes on." She looked at him, her eyes lingering on his incredible frame for a half second longer than it should before she forced herself to pull away and moved from the room.

Her stomach gave a sudden little lurch which made her move in the direction of the kitchen. She didn't want to talk about her sex life with Jack, or the crazy sex they'd just had. He was by far the best she'd ever had and she didn't want him to know that because if he did then he would expect her to put out more often because he would know she had loved it. She had loved every damn sweaty, grunting second of it and the fact that he had been the first and only man to ever care about her finishing and taking the damn time to make it happen certainly added to his appeal.

She heard him come into the kitchen before she saw him, afraid to see what he was wearing, if anything. "Umm.. do you want frozen pizza or nachos for dinner?" She asked sounding a little timid. Her pale eyes suddenly moved to look at him, looking directly up into his eyes, Fuck he was sexy... She silently pleaded with him to not bring up their bedroom acrobatic act, but she had no idea if he was getting the message her eyes and mind were sending him. Just looking at him made her stomach twist.