Guarding Light

by Mckoy, Cate

  Catlyn was wiping tables as she readied the dining area for closing. She was worried about Jack. He had seemed distracted and preoccupied. Last night he hadn't even spent the night. He checked in with her in the morning and he picked her up from the bar and grill. After giving her a tame kiss, compared to all his other kisses, he had left Catlyn alone.

  She had asked him a few times if there was something bothering him. Each time Jack had answered everything was fine, that he only felt a little melancholia regarding his friend, Bob Newson's death. Jack was headed out of town to attend his friend's funeral scheduled for the next day. He had said he would pick her up from work but he was taking a red eye out of Stewart International Airport.

  Catlyn knew that she had fallen completely and hopelessly in love with Jack Anthony Gard. And, she felt he returned that love. She just wasn't sure where the uncertainty was coming from. It drove her a little bit insane. She loved and trusted Jack. But, then he would get silent and brooding and seem as though he was hiding something. There in lay Catlyn's issue. She needed to feel a hundred percent solid about her relationship with Jack. She did not.

  Shelving her thoughts for later, Catlyn finished cleaning and closing the dining room. Mr. Odly was gone already, leaving the closing of the bar and grill to his senior staff members. Catlyn bid the night manager and the kitchen staff good night, heading out the door.

  The night air was cool but still unseasonably warm. The warm temps were breaking records in the news. There were theories floating around about the cause of the drastic temp change. Aficionados debated global warming to the solar flares. Whatever was the cause, Catlyn didn't need her jacket.

  Catlyn strolled towards the last parking lot. She had expected Jack to be waiting for her. She sat on the low wall to watch the lights across the Hudson.

  "Hello sexy," a smooth voice slurred from behind her.

  Catlyn sighed, turning around, totally annoyed. She didn't need some guy hitting on her right now.

  What greeted her eyes had Catlyn rushing to her feet and making her way quickly to a tittering Jack. "Jack? What happened?"

  Instinctively, Catlyn scoped her surroundings, looking for anything amiss that would explain the strange phenomenon of Jack bleary-eyed and swaying on his feet.

  "H-he s-slipped from me." Jack's words slurred even more. He was beyond drunk.

  "Jack!" Catlyn put her shoulder under his arm. Supporting his weight as he once again swayed. He put most of his weight on her as he put his arms around her. "He alm-most got me like he did Bob."

  While trying to ascertain whether Jack was physically hurt, Catlyn deftly pulled his weapon from his shoulder holster, scanning the immediate area, looking over Jack's shoulder, the direction from which he had come.

  Jack was nuzzling her neck, kissing it and whispering against it, "Smell sooo good, baby."

  Relatively sure there were no bad guys lurking in the immediate area, Catlyn carefully re-holstered Jack's gun. She led him to the low wall, guiding him into an unsteady seat.

  "Jack, honey, look at me," Catlyn gently titled his face towards the parking lot lamp. He didn't have any new marks or injuries suggesting a confrontation or struggle with anyone. His nose was still taped and his black eye was fading. It was a mix of black, purple, yellow and red. "Sweetheart, what happened?"

  Jack smiled dopily up at her. "I-I could look at you all day and night. I-I want to wake up with you and go to bed with y-you every night." His slurring seemed to be getting worst. It was a miracle she still understood every word.

  It was clear she wasn't going to get anything out of Jack in this condition. Catlyn touched his cheek. "Honey, did you drive here?"

  He pulled her to him, burying his face in her breasts, "Nooooo, baby, th-tthats ill- illegal."

  She smiled down at him. Plastered out of his mind and he still obeyed the law. Catlyn pulled her cell out and dialed a local cab company. She let Jack keep his face buried in her breasts, stroking his back with one hand and running her fingers through his hair with the other until the cab pulled up in front of them.

  Jack was surprisingly easy to get home. With a sappy smile on his face he followed every one of her directions. In no time she had him undressed and in bed. She locked his gun in her gun safe. She quickly dressed for bed, carrying aspirins and a glass of water to Jack's side of the bed.

  He was still awake, watching her every move. She told him to sit up. Again without any resistance he sat up, letting the sheet fall to his waist. His gorgeously chiseled chest was revealed in all its glory.

  Taking the glass of water from Catlyn and swallowing the aspirin as directed, Jack suddenly made his pectoral muscles jump rhythmically.

  Catlyn met his eyes. His were darkened. He quirked an eyebrow at her, "You like my chest."

  It was a statement rather than a question, still Catlyn nodded her head in agreement.

  After she placed the glass on the bedside table, Jack grabbed both her breasts and started playing with her nipples. "I like your tits so much." He tested their weight before kneading them again and plucking her nipples.

  Catlyn arched into his hands. Although he wasn't as gentle as he normally was with her breasts and he lacked his usual finesse, his caress was still very arousing. With nipples achy and her pussy juice beginning to flow, she gently pulled Jack's hands off her body. She couldn't take advantage of his diminished capacity.

  "Honey, we can't." She told him when he looked up at her. "You are way too drunk."

  He pulled the rest of the sheet from his body. Showing his full erection, it too was glorious to behold. "I am n-not too drunk." He pulled her into bed, revealing there was absolutely nothing wrong with his strength. He pulled the straps of her nightgown down to her waist.

  "I want my pink." He said like a recalcitrant child being denied his favorite treat. He latched on to a nipple, sucking hard. Lifting her nightgown he exposed her panties, situating his body between her legs.

  Catlyn tried pushing against Jack's shoulder. "Jack, you need sleep. You are going to be on a plane in a few hours and you need to sleep to get sober."

  Taking even more of her breast into his mouth and sucking harder, he mumbled, "Want pink."

  His mouth was deliciously painful and pleasuring-giving at the same time. Shockingly, Catlyn felt the start of her release. Trying not to move as her hips willed her to, she tried to push him off her. "Jack!"

  He pinched the other nipple, still sucking. He then used that hand to push aside the crotch panel of her panties and insert two fingers roughly into her pussy. There was no pain but he was by no means gentle. He rammed his fingers in and out of her entrance hard and fast. In just a few strokes Catlyn convulsed into orgasm. Before her shivers subsided Jack was licking her pussy juice, thrusting his tongue deep inside her. "Mmm, so good. My pussy. My pink." The vibration from his words sent Catlyn into another free fall of pleasure.

  Jack went to his knees between hers. He spread her wide, totally exposed. He put his hard shaft against her slit and began pumping against her. With her legs in a wide V, he gripped her breasts and squeezed hard. He pumped frantically and without pattern. It took longer than usual, but after several moments, Jack shot his hot come all over her stomach and between her breasts that he still alternated between squeezing and twisting her nipples.

  When his cock lay against her mound, slowly going soft, Jack fell onto Catlyn. He still held her breasts in his large hands. In seconds his slight snore rushed passed her ear.

  Catlyn tried shifting Jack to the side of her. His weight was too much. With the heat of his seed sticking them together, Catlyn put her arms around him and fell asleep.

  ****

  Jack's head was a big throbbing ache. The only thing pleasant about opening his eyes was the fact that his face was only inches from Catlyn's. He was sore everywhere. He moved his hands, realizing he held Catlyn's breasts. His fingers were stiff. He had slept on them. As sore and stiff as he felt, he knew Catlyn must feel ten times worst. She had t
he brunt of his weight. Carefully he moved off her.

  Jack froze. She was partially naked. Her gown was in a tangle around her waist. Her panties were torn on one side exposing her pussy. Her legs were spread wide to accommodate his body. There was a residual substance on her stomach and chest. His come? He looked at her breasts and terror gripped him. She had hand sized bruises on the fullest part of each breast. Had he done that to her? Had he raped Catlyn?

  This was his worst nightmare in full color. With gut wrenching fear, he shook her, "Catlyn! Catlyn, baby! Wake up!"

  Like most law enforcement veterans, she came instantly awake, fully alert. "Jack, what is it?" She took a look around the room, seeking a threat, before her beautiful brown eyes came to rest on him.

  Jack looked at her. He expected to see revulsion, hate, at the very least, annoyance. But she tenderly stroked his cheek and jaw, tracing his shadow of stubble. "Honey, are you ok? How do you feel?"

  She called him 'honey', this was good. And, she still petted and stroked him in a comforting manner. But more importantly, she asked if he were ok.

  "I, uh—" He couldn't stop looking at the marks on her breasts.

  Catlyn noticed his fixated stare. She glanced down at her breasts and then back up into his eyes. Smiling sexily at him she leaned up and kissed him. "Thank you for last night."

  She continued to kiss him. Rubbing their lips together and then slowly tracing his with the tip of her tongue before capturing first one and then the other between her teeth and teasing it with quick flicks of her tongue. "I tried to be a good girl and let you sleep. But, you mister were insistent."

  Jack swallowed passed the lump in his throat. "I was insistent as in forceful?"

  She lay back pulling him down on top of her, "Mmm hmm, very forceful." She nibbled on his earlobe, licked and sucked his neck.

  Jack buried his face in her neck, shaking. "Kitten, I am so, so sorry. I didn't mean it. I-I don't know wh-what happened. Please, please don't hate me."

  Catlyn stilled, lifting his face she gazed deeply into his troubled green eyes. "Jack, just what do you think happened in this bed last night?"

  He tried to lower his gaze but she pushed his chin up keeping their eyes locked. "I-I- I forced you?"

  She pulled him back down to lay against her, once again allowing him to bury his face in her neck and hair. She soothingly rubbed his back trying to stop the trembling of his big muscular body.

  "Aw, no, Jack. You did not force me. I doubt you would have even if you wanted to, because, deep down you are just a law abiding citizen. You didn't even attempt to drive to pick me up. You said it was against the law." She softly assured him.

  Jack rose up, putting his weight on his arms. He looked down at her. "Kitten, you have bruises all over your breasts."

  Catlyn, shrugged. "Jack, you didn't hurt me. I bruise easily." She wrapped her legs around his, pushing her groin up against him. "Besides, last night you called them tits."

  Jack closed his eyes embarrassed. "Oh, great, I was a jerk."

  She smiled. "No, you weren't. You were cute, sexy and oh so arousing."

  "You're sure I didn't hurt you?"

  "Yes, Jack. I loved everything we did last night. I am just sorry your judgment was impaired."

  Finally convinced, he began to move his groin in counterpoint. "Mm, we can do it all again." He kissed her long and hard. "Kitten, refresh my memory."

  And with loving kisses she did.

  ****

  They were in the kitchen fixing breakfast. Catlyn looked at Jack. He didn't seem any worst for ware. But he was definitely bothered.

  "So, last night you said something about someone almost getting you, like Bob." Catlyn watched Jack carefully. He was placing the coffee pot back on the counter, at her statement his hand stopped in mid-air and held for several long seconds.

  He then shrugged and replaced the coffee pot, turning to face her, but not meet her eyes. "I was just rambling I am sure."

  "Don't! I can't take a lie from you, Jack." Placing her coffee cup on the counter, she finished in a whisper, "It hurts too much."

  He had her in his arms in two strides. "Baby, please don't be hurt."

  She looked into his eyes. "Then please don't lie to me. If your case is confidential, then say so. Don't lie. I am a federal agent. I do understand you will not be able to share everything with me. As long as the stuff you are keeping from me has to do with your job, I'll understand, sweetheart."

  A look came into his eyes, one she couldn't place. He smiled and kissed her. "Thank you for understanding, Kitten."

  "Now, I will only ask this once and then I will leave it alone. Is there anything I can do to help?"

  He shook his head, "No, thanks for offering."

  "I need one more thing from you. You said you were in trouble last night, like Bob. Bob was killed in the line of duty. Please be careful. I don't want to lose you. We just found one another again. Can you do that for me? Be very, very careful?"

  "Don't worry. I don't want to lose you either. Careful is my middle name."

  She laughed. "It's Anthony, silly." They kissed and slowly parted.

  "Were you able to get a later flight?"

  "Yes, one that leaves in 3 hours. Can you give me a ride to Stewart's? The rental I arranged to be dropped off here is already outside."

  "Of course."

  She took in his attire. He was already dressed for the funeral. "Will you go directly to the cemetery?"

  He looked at his watch. "Yes, I am very late. I will just barely have enough time to drop my bag in the hotel room."

  "When will I see you again?"

  He hugged her, smiling. "Why? Miss me already?"

  He was joking but Catlyn answered in all earnest. "Yes."

  He returned her serious look. "I will see you on the 13th. The day before the dance off on the waterfront, I want you to sleep over my house. We can practice our dance moves."

  "Yes, that's right, Valentine's Day. I've never been to a Valentine's Day anything, never had a Valentine."

  With his arms around her waist and their pelvises touching, he pushed into her. "Kitten, will you be my Valentine?"

  Nodding she smiled and asked, "Jack, will you be mine?"

  Lowering his head for a kiss, he whispered, "I already am."

  After sharing breakfast, Catlyn drove him the 15 minutes to the airport. They held hands in the waiting area like young lovers being separated for the first time.

  "I am going to miss you, Jack."

  "I am going to miss you more, Catlyn."

  They kissed one last time. "I have to get back and meet Mackenzie."

  "Leave your cell on. I will call every night."

  Waving, she smiled and left the airport before she started blubbering like a school girl.

  Chapter 11

  Mackenzie was looking through a folder, one of the many spread out on her bed. Catlyn was sprawled on the second bed reading a forensic report and missing Jack. He had been gone for only a couple hours and she was having separation anxiety. If she wasn't careful she'd be experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

  Mackenzie sat up abruptly, looking intently at a piece of paper. Catlyn glanced over to see a lab report. "Hey, what is Gypsophila paniculata? It was on three of the victims, well traces of it anyway." Mackenzie passed the page to Catlyn.

  Catlyn quickly glanced at it. "It's a flower, specifically baby's breath. It doesn't mean anything. It's not like its super rare."

  "Still, it was on three of the victims it could mean something. I remember you telling me every piece of evidence is just that, evidence, which means something and leads to something."

  Catlyn stretched. "Yeah, that's true. It means that there is baby's breath in Newburgh."

  Shrugging Mackenzie took the report, picking up the remote she began to channel surf. She stopped on a station that showed a man in glasses talking with a petite brunette. "Hey, there is that actor you like so much."

  Catlyn glanced up and blus
hed. It was the actor that her body reacted to when she looked at him and was the subject of her fantasies when using her vibrator.

  Suddenly, Mackenzie started to laugh, very hard. "Oh, my God, I get why you like this guy so much now." Mackenzie looked from the television screen to Catlyn and back. "He is Jack Gard's twin with brown eyes. Hell, with the exception of the eye color he could be Jack Gard."

  Catlyn pretended an interest in the papers before her. "I don't know what you are talking about." She denied quickly, obviously too quickly because Mackenzie laughed harder.

  "It never made sense to me that someone as level headed as you and who wasn't a T.V. person, sometimes went out of her way to watch this show." Mackenzie recovered long enough to theorize.