by Sam Destiny
“My son’s a lawyer, girl. I can call him up. This is not fair. You're being bullied,” one of her regulars, Mrs. Cleo, announced.
“I kidnapped a child,” she reminded them, but the old woman just waved her off.
“You saved him. And by the way his father looked at you, I don’t think he thinks you kidnapped his child, either,” she explained, but Aly had a hard time seeing right as tears flooded her eyes.
“How do you know I’m telling you the story the way it is? How can you trust my word this easily?” she wondered out loud, realizing that the lady from the Women’s Committee had joined her behind the counter and now hugged her tight.
“You're part of this community. We’ve known you since you arrived, missy. There’s nothing we don’t know, and your good heart is more than obvious to everyone here.”
A few agreeing noises came from all corners of the room. “Besides, we ain’t letting a stranger take away the woman who makes the best hot cocoa around here,” Mrs. Cleo called out, and Aly felt the tears dripping down her cheeks. Getting up this morning, she had never expected the day to turn out like this, but now, she was actually glad she had opened the café after all.
Jam threw open the door, feeling exhausted. He had been sanding shutters all day, the sun burning down on his back. A few times, he had been tempted to take off his shirt, but then he remembered why he never showed his skin anymore.
“Jamison?”
Great, Greg was pissed. It was exactly what Jam had not wanted when coming home. “I need a shower.” It had been more than five days since he had seen Alessandro and almost two weeks since he had walked out of Aly’s life. The unknown number, his personal demon, kept him updated on the fact that Spencer was a constant companion for Aly. There weren’t any more hugging pictures, but it still cut deep.
“Your shower can wait. We have guests.” Jam paused at the stairs, closing his eyes.
“Just a minute,” he almost pleaded.
“Hey, Jamison.” He opened his eyes, staring at Aly’s best friend.
“She can’t be here. Philomena, I try everything to keep her out of this whole mess, and she just walks into that town?” He wanted to throw something.
“She's not here. I just needed to see you alone. I mean before you walk in there.” Something in her eyes made Jam pause. She was looking like he felt—somewhat broken and a lot worried.
“What's up?” he finally asked, settling down on the stairs. He could think of better places to have an endless talk, but she didn't look as if she was moving.
“You don't look like a happy man,” Philomena commented, and he sat up straighter. Anger surged through him. She had to be fucking kidding.
“I left your town after having a fight with the woman I try to protect at all costs. I walked out on her after thoroughly fucking with her mind and then receive a call because my son has been taken away from her, hurting her even more in the process. She's sad, heartbroken, and lonely. I'm not allowed to see my son unless his evil grandmother lets me into the house. I can't seem to find a solution that keeps Alessia out of prison yet finally solves all this. Besides that ... I miss her like a parched man misses water. For thirteen years, I was okay with watching her, or not even that, but those seven days I actually held her changed everything. I know what I could have had if Collene wouldn't have been in my life. I'm lying awake at night, staring at the ceiling. How in the world am I supposed to be a happy man?” Maybe he could do the whole psychologist thing. He seemed to be quite articulate when it came to baring his soul. Then he shook his head. Telling Aly's best friend about the feelings he had concerning Alessia was something different from explaining to a stranger all the ways Collene had marked his body.
Phil fumbled with her phone, making him curious. “Someone is going to quite a length to make her believe otherwise. I know she's hurting a lot about Alessandro being gone, and she tells herself that this is all she should be worrying about, but I saw it on her face, Jam. She thought you were lying to her all the time you've been there,” Phil reported and then showed him pictures of him and Shannon. It almost made him laugh out loud because now he could guess what Spence really was doing at Aly's place.
Getting out his phone, he showed her the photos he had gotten, his heart surprisingly light. He hadn't even realized how much the thought of having pushed Aly into Spencer's arms had bothered him.
“I called him when I realized Dorly and I would be leaving her alone,” Philomena explained, almost outraged. “Jam, you should have seen her. She didn't eat, and she didn't sleep much. She just stared at the water and cried.” So Dorly was the second guest waiting for him. He almost felt bad that the only mother figure Aly had was now gone from her side, too, even if it was only temporary.
“Why did you come?” Phil shrugged and hugged herself. It reminded him of the way Alessia had tried to hold herself together the night they had fought.
“Someone needed to come and make sure that ...” She shook her head, searching for words. It was then that Jam understood.
“You thought I was just hanging out with my girlfriend while her son was being tortured by his family," he concluded, and she pulled up her shoulders another time.
“All we had to go on was how you looked at Aly and the way that woman was allowed to touch you. You hugged her. We didn't know what to think. Aly didn't know what to think. And Jam, if what she told us about you is true, we wondered how you'd be able to stop worrying about your son to date.” A pleading look was on her face. She wanted him to forgive her, forgive them, for having thought he'd just leave and betray Aly like that.
“So far she's my only hope to free Aly from the threat hanging over her head and she tried really everything, but I refuse to have Alessia here.”
“Same,” Phil agreed, not really surprising him. It still made him smile. “She was ready to come, Jam, and to be honest, I don't think all of that was for Alessandro,” she admitted, and Jam shook his head. Man, he wanted to see Aly. He wished he could make her forget for just a little while.
The doorbell rang, and Jam cursed. He'd never get to have his shower. “I got it,” he called out so Greg wouldn't even bother to get up. Phil stayed in the hallway with him, and he turned the knob. Before the door was even fully open, Shannon breezed in, already chatting away.
“Your girl obviously is much more amazing than we gave her credit for,” she stated, and Jam picked up a brow. He doubted that because he knew exactly how great she was. “I got a call today from a very nice young man. His name is Lenard Cleo. Does that ring a bell?”
“That's probably the son of one of Alessia's regulars,” Phil chimed in, and Shannon turned to her, beaming.
“Exactly. Hey, I'm Shannon. You must be Alessia Rhyme's best friend, Philomena.” Jam hid a smirk as Phil's jaw almost hit the floor. “I'm a lawyer. I need to know my shit.” Shannon grinned, and Jam shook his head.
“I told her about you,” he clarified, and Phil nodded slowly while Shannon's expression softened.
“How is she? I've heard so much about her that I feel as if I know her personally,” the lawyer whispered, and Jam was relieved as the shadow of a smile appeared on Phil’s face.
“If you'd talk to her, I assume she wouldn't like you very much, but besides that, she is desperate and sad, I'd say,” Philomena guessed, and Shannon gave Jam a questioning look, but he just waved it off.
“She's trying very hard to get herself taken into custody.” The disapproval was clear in Shannon's voice, and Jam pushed away from the wall he was leaning against.
“What?” Greg and Dorly now joined them before Shannon could reply. Jam gave Greg and her a moment to say a proper hello then he waved a hand in front of her face.
“Care to elaborate?” He wanted to know, and Shannon nodded.
“I got a call today from Lenard Cleo because obviously half or more of Sunrow knows what Aly had done. That guy, her boyfriend -”
“He's not her damn boyfriend, for God's sake. I called him
so Aly wouldn't be alone,” Philomena protested, and Shannon raised her hands, trying to pacify Aly's friend.
“Well, seems there's more going on here. Someone's sending letters to her friends, telling them she kidnapped a child. We can be glad Spencer went to her first to ask for an explanation. She told everyone in the café her version of the truth, and they went wild. The support she's getting extends as far as her having a pro bono attorney. We need to fly out there and talk to him, Jam. Are you free in the next days? It won't be longer than three,” she promised. “Lenard sounds really nice, and if we play our cards right, Alessia might not ever see a prison from the inside.” That was all that mattered to Jam. Plus, he'd be able to see Aly.
The smile that almost appeared on his face vanished, though, the moment he realized he couldn't leave. “No, Shannon, I can't go with you. Alessandro is with the Karmisons still. I won't leave.”
“Collene has not been seen, and I don't think anyone else will harm the boy. You need to go there, Jamison,” Shannon insisted.
“Why?”
“Because someone needs to stop Aly from doing stupid things.” Since no one protested, Jam just lowered his head.
“Can I at least shower before we talk more?” he asked, and Greg slapped his back.
“Definitely. You stink.” Thank God for best friends, Jam thought with a grin. They always managed to make you smile no matter how terrible the situation was. And Greg definitely was a pro at that, making him irreplaceable in Jam's life.
It was a foggy morning and the water looking almost as pale as the sky above it. Aly was drinking coffee and enjoying a free day off. After the excitement the day before, she had decided to take a few quiet hours. She had even told Spencer to stay away. She knew he was only worried, but Aly needed to clear her head. It was scary knowing people were finally in on her big, bad secret, yet she felt liberated in many ways.
“I don't know what it is about mornings, but you're never more beautiful than in those early hours.” Her mind was playing tricks on her. She was wishing for Jam so bad, she even heard him.
“Stop torturing me,” she pleaded in a low voice, hoping her brain would follow suit and just stop its tempting whisper.
“I'm not here to hurt you more,” the voice in her head promised, and she closed her eyes, hiding her face in her hands. She couldn't take any memory of Jam, especially not the way his voice caressed her skin. “Alessia, look at me,” the voice pleaded and then warm hands engulfed her own, taking them away. In utter surprise, her eyes sprang open, and she found green eyes staring at her warm and tear-filled.
“I'm so sorry,” Jam whispered over and over again until Aly couldn't help but shake her head. He shouldn't be with her; as much as she had wished he'd be so she could make things right with him, he needed to be back in Townsend with Alessandro.
“You left our son ... your son alone back home? With no one to watch over him?” she screamed, starting to beat her fists against his chest in a rapid succession. He caught her wrists, pulling her close so she had no room to move.
“Greg will check on him, and so will Phil and Dorly. They'll figure something out. Your lawyer called my lawyer, which, by the way, is the woman in the picture,” he said carefully, still holding onto her wrists as if he was worried she'd hit him more. Just then, she remembered who stood in front of her and instant regret took over her body. She had hit him. As if he hadn't suffered enough. Appalled at her own actions, she stepped back, raising her offending hands to her mouth.
“I'm so sorry, Jam. I shouldn't have hit you. I just didn't ... I was so upset, but it's no excuse to hurt you like that! I'm so sorry!” She stepped back farther, but another time, he reached for her hands, making sure she met his eyes.
“In contrast to what you might think, you aren't that strong, Aly. You couldn't hurt me with that. I've known much worse. I understand you're upset, and you have every right to be.” He caressed her knuckles and then raised her hands to his lips to kiss her palm before pressing them against his cheeks. “I could even understand if you tell me to get lost after all I said to you the last time I was here. I felt cornered, so I attacked. You didn't deserve that.”
She heard the words but couldn't believe he was apologizing.
“Stop it, Jamison! Just stop it! I had no right to say the things I did. I had no right to push you as I did. It was my fault you lashed out. And by any means, I have no illusions about your sex life. And while it maybe didn't mean anything to you what we shared, it -” He hushed her with his fingertips on her lips. She had missed him so much; this little touch gave her tingles like none had in a long time.
“Aly …” He just whispered, shaking his head in disbelief. She could see it all on his face—worry, regret, longing—and it made her weak. Looking at him, she knew he could make her forget her pain just for a little while.
“Jam,” she gave back, just holding his glance while taking a deep breath. She had imagined what it would be like to make love to him for the last decade, but ever since he'd been with them, every night he slept innocently next to her, her heart had been racing and she had wondered how it would be. Now, she needed to find out, and nothing short of her son returning would keep her from it.
Jam saw the change in her posture, and it made his breath hitch.
“Do you have anywhere to be?” she asked, her eyes getting dark as she let her gaze roam over his body. They had everywhere to be, but Jam couldn't care less. Shannon was meeting that Lenard guy, and maybe it wasn't the worst idea to let the two lawyers talk it out first. They could do without them for a few hours, right? Besides, he had wanted to make it up to Aly, and he was more than glad he had the chance now. No one knew what would happen once he and Shannon returned to Townsend. He had an uneasy feeling in his stomach, a sense of foreboding hanging over his head like a cloud in a stormy sky.
Without an answer, he drew her close, kissing her as if his life depended on it. Even though that was not the case, she could very well affect his sanity.
“Good,” she breathed against his lips, and he picked her up, carrying her back to her own house. He didn't bother locking the door. He didn't even bother making sure that it had fully shut before carrying her up the stairs. He had expected this to be a frantic thing—tearing off clothes, nibbling on lips—but suddenly, she looked as if she was afraid of him.
“What now?” he asked, frustration making him sound whiny. Amusement had entered her eyes before she sobered again.
“You didn't like it much when I undressed you. In fact, I had the feeling you didn't like undressing. Period,” she explained carefully, not meeting his eyes any longer. He placed her on the bed and then leaned over her, one hand on either side of her beautiful face.
“For the things I have in mind, and the ones you obviously have been thinking about, I kinda need to get out of my clothes.” Even if it made him feel uncomfortable. Especially since he couldn't cloak the room in darkness. She must've seen something in his eyes since she reached out and then moved to kiss him gently. With her body only, she forced him to sit back on his heels, making his whole body accessible to her. She cupped the back of his neck, drawing herself closer to him while intensifying the kiss. It was crazy, but his whole body instantly stood at attention. Her lips traveled down his jawline, brushing the slight shadow of a beard he kept carefully trimmed. Her reaction to his other scars had been enough; he didn't need her to know he had more than just the cut on the lip on his face.
Tentative, yet without taking her lips from his skin, she brushed her hands under his shirt and he involuntarily tensed. If she realized it, she didn't let on, just pushing the material higher and then pausing long enough to pull it over his head and throw it to the floor. Her eyes stayed on his face as she leaned in and then kissed him again, letting her hands touch his skin. He watched her until her fingertips brushed his chest and then his nipples. He hissed, sensations exploding in his body. It was as if for years he had kept himself from feeling the little things. Making him f
eel the way her nails teased his skin, the hot trail her lips were leaving on his neck, or the way her shaky breath zigzagged over his shoulder every time she exhaled.
He let his head fall back, deciding to fully enjoy her sweet torture for now. He didn't mind her taking over control because he knew she was nothing like Collene. With Aly it would be a kind of giving and taking; raw desire reflected in every one of her movements.
She nipped and bit lightly wherever she liked until Jam was ready to come in his pants. She knew exactly how to be gentle yet tempting. When she pointed him to lay down, he swallowed. She instantly went for the buckle of his belt, her hands brushing the erection straining against his jeans, ready for her to worship.
“Aly, Aly, Aly,” he brought out, his voice rough with need and longing while he grabbed her arms, trying to stop her. “If you touch me one more time, this is not gonna take long for both of us,” he promised, but the glint in her eyes told him that she didn't care.
Pants and boxers were gone at once, and he was naked on the bed while she looked down at him, licking her lips. She was the sexiest thing he had ever seen, and he needed to get her undressed pronto!
Crawling to where she was standing at the edge of the bed, he felt strangely liberated. No matter which scars he had, she didn't mind in the slightest. In fact, he almost felt handsome with the way she looked at him. It was something no one else had ever been able to give him, and Jam suddenly wanted to propose to her right there and then because, rain or shine, he wanted her tied to him. Somehow, though, he figured asking her to marry him naked with his cock hanging out in the cold air probably wasn't what she expected or deserved. Besides, Alessandro wasn't yet safe. Going down on one knee would have to wait until after they’d solved this situation.
“You're looking at me funny. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind staring at your absolute divine sight, but this kinda makes me nervous,” she said in a hushed whisper, and Jam grinned, having her under him before she had even realized he had reached for her.