by Allen, Sara
“Hey! It’s not your fault!” Doug told him.
“She’s my responsibility! I should have thought about it! I knew she was scared about something, and it should have crossed my mind.” He growled as he threw himself on the sofa, opposite Doug, gripping his head with his hands, his shoulders stiff and rigid with frustration. “I need to know who the bastard was, that’s all.” Jones’ tone turned quiet and severe. “I just need to get my hands on him so that I can wring his neck.”
“Patience, mate. Let’s find out what it was first before we go all Rambo and start accusing innocent people. Maybe it was a simple bag snatch,” Doug reasoned.
“No. It was more than that. I can feel it.”
“Pete?”
Jones jumped up off the sofa so fast that he bumped the coffee table, spilling the untouched drinks Doug had poured them earlier.
“Val!” He rushed over to her, as she stood in the doorway looking at Doug uncertainly.
“He’s my partner, Doug,” Jones told her as he led her into the room, keeping his hand on her back, guiding her. He looked her up and down, trying to assess if there was more damage than the doctor had told him about. He couldn’t imagine that she was okay when she’d been pale and unresponsive not more than an hour ago. He never wanted to see her looking like that again… ever!
“Did the doctor leave?” Val asked in a weak voice.
“Yeah. He said he gave you a sedative,” Jones said.
“I wouldn’t know because I can’t sleep, someone keeps shouting about retribution.” She half smiled at him.
“I was not shouting about retribution, just stating a fact,” Jones corrected her.
“Whatever!” Val eyed him. “Is he always like this?” she asked Doug.
“I haven’t seen him this bad, but… yeah, usually!” Doug smirked.
“You scared the shit out of me! What do you expect me to do?” Jones told her.
“Sorry,” Val whispered.
“Why should you be sorry? You didn’t do it to yourself,” he told her, “But I think I know the man who did.”
Val didn’t answer. She was hiding something and he knew it, but whether she liked it or not, she was going to tell him. And today!
“Looks like that’s my cue to get out now, while I can,” Doug teased, “See you later, Peter!”
Jones gave him a hard look, preferring not to say anything, before he returned his attention to Val, who sat squirming slightly in the armchair. Neither of them spoke as Doug made his way out of the apartment. They were anticipating the door closing behind him.
“Speak! Tell me what’s going on,” Jones told her.
“What? There’s nothing to tell,” Val said, trying to be evasive.
Jones said nothing. He would wait only so long.
“Look, I can handle it. Okay?” Val ensured.
“Yes, I saw you handling it very well when I went down and found you pressed against the fucking wall like a goddamn ragdoll!” Jones shouted at her, “Val, how can I protect you if you don’t trust me to help you?”
“I'm scared, Pete! I am scared!” she told him.
“Then tell me what’s going on so that I can help you! I need you around, and I don’t want to see anybody touching you like I saw earlier.” He wasn’t going to back down, and he saw the moment when her resolve broke and she shattered like a crystal under pressure. He couldn’t tell her how much he needed her; he didn’t want to scare her with how strongly he felt about her. All he could do was show her, and she needed to trust him first, trust that he had her best interests, and her heart at the top of his agenda.
“It was Damon,” she confessed quietly.
“Is he coming back?” he asked her, his voice stern.
She couldn’t speak, her terror palpable, as she nodded yes.
Jones rose and stood in front of her, pulling her from the chair into his arms.
“He will not get the chance to do what he did to you today ever again. Do you hear me?” he told her as he held her tightly, pouring reassurance into her through his touch.
“I was so scared. I didn’t even know what to do. I felt so helpless!” She sobbed into his chest, causing Jones’ heart to crack.
“Tell me everything.”
Six
08:25 a.m. October 16, 2004
“Please? You have to let me go to work,” Val pleaded with Jones again.
“No!”
“What?” she asked him in surprise, “Do you hear yourself?”
“I told you; until that bastard is caught, you stay here,” he insisted, unremorseful.
Her mouth dropped open in shock. “I can’t believe you’re trying that caveman shit with me right now!”
“Then believe it.” Jones turned away from her. He couldn’t take how damn beautiful she looked all upset and glowing with irate anger. He wanted to take her to bed and do naughty things to her, but he knew she would flip. He’d been holding back for three days, three days of torturing himself because her essence had filled the apartment. Everywhere he turned, she was there, if not in person, then in spirit. He wasn’t sure how long he was going to be able to hold himself.
Val interrupted his reverie. “I'm talking to you.”
He shook his head, bringing himself back into the present. “What did you say?”
“I have an exhibition to curate!”
He couldn’t help himself. He reached out and touched her bottom lip with his thumb. The gesture was so gentle and intimate that it stopped Val mid-tirade.
Her deep brown eyes registered her shock, but also registered something else. If he followed his instincts, he and Val wouldn’t be standing there for much longer.
“Why did you do that?” Val questioned in a quiet voice, reaching up to touch her lip where Jones had stroked.
The simple move broke him, and he snaked his arm out and encircled her waist, pulling her into his chest. Jones lowered his head, fitting his lips to Val’s sensuous mouth, and kissed her. He couldn’t have stopped himself. He couldn’t remember if he had imagined her mouth tasting like that, or if he had dreamt it, but it was almost more than he had conceived. Her lips were soft and inviting, moving against his of their own accord. She tasted divine!
He stopped kissing her reluctantly, saying, “Sorry, Val. I don’t know what came over me. But I hope you don’t mind because I'm going to do it again.”
He then lowered his mouth over hers. Jones could feel her gently pushing on his shoulders, and he raised his head, looking at her enquiringly, asking, “What?”
“I still need to go out,” she reminded him.
“Look, Val. I didn’t want to bring this up, but you pushed me.” He told her, holding her against his chest, “The other day scared me. I want to rip that bastard’s head off, and until I do, I can’t imagine you going anywhere; not to work, not even outside of this apartment. I can’t be with you all the time, and I don’t trust anyone to look after you the way that I want you looked after.”
“But-” Val stammered.
“No buts! I never believed in love at first sight, I always thought it was a load of bull. But that day I met you, I fell in love with you, and it’s only growing stronger.” His confession left Val speechless as he went on, “You couldn’t possibly want to see a grown man cry, which is what will happen if I have to let you out of my sight.”
Val reached up and touched the side of his face, the stubble causing friction against her smooth palm. “You have to let me out sooner or later. Cabin fever is real.”
Jones laughed, “Babe, no amount of cabin fever could make me change my mind. You have to know I make no excuses for the way I am.”
“Please? I'm going crazy,” she told him, holding her head between her hands and rocking from side to side.
“Nice try, but I can’t let you out. Maybe tomorrow… or the day after,” he told her jokingly.
“Are you for real?” Val asked in shock.
Jones noticed that she had avoided what he’d told her abou
t falling for her, but he didn’t mind; there was still time.
His face registered how serious he was, causing Val to sigh in resignation. “Okay. If you won't let me out alone, at least, take me to work, you can take me and pick me up. That way, I'm where you left me and I’ll wait. Please?” Her beautiful lips pouted as she pleaded.
Jones seemed to think about her suggestion. “You won’t leave until I get there to pick you up?”
“Not a step,” she returned hopefully.
“You have five minutes to get ready.”
“Yay!” she screamed, leaping into his arms and kissing him quickly, “Thank you for being so understanding.”
“Please, baby, don’t make me regret it, okay?” he warned her.
Jones didn’t like it. He didn’t like it one little bit, but he couldn’t keep her hostage indefinitely. There were Geneva Conventions limiting his right to keep her hostage, even if it was out of his love and desire for her and his need to protect what belonged to him. Val belonged with him, and he wouldn’t let an ex-boyfriend touch her again, not while he breathed.
He wasn’t thinking of anything except trying to keep her safe. He had no idea when she stopped being plain old Val and became his one light in the world, and he didn’t want anyone to turn out his light. He needed it to see, to believe, to function. Jones couldn’t remember a time before Val. She had fit so snugly into his world and the chemistry between them was so natural, it was like they had been together for years. He had that feeling that they had been together a lifetime, not just days. He went to sleep thinking about her; he caught himself almost calling her every five minutes. He couldn’t wait to feel himself between her thighs, peeling her clothes off slowly, kissing, tasting every inch of her body, from her feet to her fingers. The last thing he wanted to think about was someone trying to hurt her. No one touched what was his!
He heaved an unsteady breath; the mere thought of losing her making him beyond uncomfortable.
“And I heard what you said earlier,” Val said, as she came back into the living room shrugging on a cardigan as she went.
“Oh? What did I say earlier?” He had thought she hadn’t heard him, but he knew she was smarter than that.
“Look, we’re adults here, and I understand how you feel,” Val said.
“Go on.”
“I feel for you too, but… we just got started. Let’s take it slow. Okay?” She held his hand, showing she wasn’t rejecting him; far from it, she wanted to understand how she felt so strongly so soon. She had never felt like that about anyone.
“Baby, you take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere. And I know how I feel about you. So when you’re ready, you know where I am,” Jones reassured her.
“Thank you,” she said, as she reached up and patted his roughened cheek.
“What for?”
“For giving me the space to go forward.”
“I’m not an idiot. I won’t push you, but you know how I feel about you.” He held her hand, stroking her knuckles gently with his large thumb, pushing his love through the touching of their fingers, “Come on. Let’s get out of here. The quicker you go, the quicker I can get you back here.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Bossy Boots!”
10:30 a.m. October 16, 2004
Val was glowing. A light had turned on in her world, and she was shining. As she walked down the corridor to her office, people turned to stare at her. She radiated so much joy that her face beamed. She felt the love that Jones was willing to pour over her and how it had healed her after all the years of negativity with Damon, dragging her down to a place where she no longer recognized herself. It was strange and new, and it scared her because it was so different. She didn’t think about their differences; she thought about their connection and how they complemented each other, how Jones supported her, protected her and drove her crazy with his obsession with her.
She smiled indulgently to herself, knowing that he would be there on the dot when she called him later that day. That morning, Val saw the indecision he struggled with to let her leave the apartment. She wondered why he was so adamant to keep her close. They had only met less than a week ago, and she could see that he was reluctant to let her out of his sight, even for a minute.
Val was still apprehensive, even though she had tried to play down the threat Damon posed. She was looking over her shoulder, scanning each and every unfamiliar face and staying where she could see and be seen easily. Val didn’t want to make Jones angry with her over something stupid that could have be avoided so long as she took the proper precautions. Damon was dangerous; that much was clear, especially with the warning he’d given her. She planned to do whatever she could to ensure that nothing happened to her; there was no way she was going to cause Jones any grief.
****
08:35 a.m. November 16, 2004
November rolled in, signaling the start of the Price of Fame exhibit in the Tate. Val had spent the last few weeks being ferried to and from work by Jones or someone he personally appointed. Val assumed that he didn’t trust many people, and since neither her car nor Damon had turned up, he was still cautious.
Val had been staying with him for the last four weeks, and he made no mention of her finding an apartment of her own, which she found strange but fascinating. They spent time getting to know each other better. Jones surprised her with the restaurants he took her to, often knowing the owners, and getting them out of the way tables, where he would stare at her eating for the two hours they spent dining.
Val didn’t let him take the lead all the time, and cooked him meals, delighting in his versatility and non-fussy taste in food. They had become so comfortable that Val forgot about threats, warnings and her missing ex.
Both of them had been so busy that they fell into the apartment at the end of their workdays, often missing each other, unless Jones hauled himself out of bed in the morning to take her to work. His eyes would be blurry and he’d have a grumpy look, which she ignored since this was all his doing.
He made the restrictions himself, so he will have to deal with it, she thought smugly when she woke him unusually early one morning, knowing he’d arrived home no more than two hours before.
“I could go on the bus, you know,” Val reminded him gently, as she watched him scrubbing his sleep-deprived face as he drove.
Jones turned to her, giving her a hard look. “I told you before.”
“Whatever.” She shrugged, turning to look through the window at the London traffic that had them running late.
They rode along at a snail’s pace for a few more minutes; Val watching him out of the corner of her eye. She hated seeing him push himself so hard because of her, but she knew that Jones wouldn’t have it any other way.
Masochistic bastard!
Jones took the small side alley that led to the gallery as they finally arrived. He pulled to a stop and turned his gaze on Val.
“Don’t think it bothers me to bring you here every day, because it doesn’t,” he said.
“It’s not that. I just feel that you need sleep… or to do something else without me tagging along all the time, that’s all.” She couldn’t help sounding off. She felt that the situation shouldn’t have to be this way. She shouldn’t have to be a burden on Jones. His kindness and consideration were rubbing her the wrong way, making her feel that she was asking him for more than he should be giving her. She didn’t want to have that kind of guilt-ridden relationship that resulted from too many favors done. She wanted, no needed, to feel equal in the relationship, but Jones was blocking her at every turn.
“I feel like I'm a burden on you,” Val told him.
“You’re not,” he told her quietly.
“That’s very sweet of you to say, but something has to change, or I'm moving out… today.”
“Val!” he warned
“What?”
“Don’t!” His voice held an edge.
“Then let me get a rental car so I can drive myself to and from work, an
d then I wouldn’t have to wake you after you’ve only slept for two hours!”
“Let me think about it,” Jones conceded.
“And while you’re thinking about it, I will be looking for a new apartment. You don’t own me!” She was mad and getting angrier by the second. He was railroading her, domineering and ignoring that she felt sympathy for him, just as he felt possessive of her. He had to give her freedom or he’d break her. She didn’t want to be broken.
As Jones looked at her, his jaw clenched a few times. Then he seemed to come to a conclusion. He slammed the gearshift into drive and took off.
“Stop! Where are you going?” Val shouted at him.
“Home!”
“What! I have work to do.”
“Not today you don’t!”
“What! Are you crazy? Stop the car right now!” she demanded.
Jones slammed on the brakes, pulling them up sharply. He turned to her, reaching between the seats that separated them and drew her towards him, unbuckling her seat belt at the same time. He crushed his mouth over hers, giving her no space to move or protest. He allowed her to feel how much he needed her, how much he feared for her, how ingrained she’d become in his life. Val felt him pour out all his anxieties and frustrations of the past few weeks into the kiss as he squeezed her to him.
“Okay… okay... I get it,” Val told him, pushing on his shoulders so she could take a much needed breath. “I feel for you too, but do you think a day off work is necessary?”
“I need you, Val, today,” he told her, “I’ve been holding this in for a month, I can’t do it anymore, especially not when you’re so damn determined.”
“But…,”
“Sorry, babe, no buts today, just you and I, doing what we should have done weeks ago, and you know it.”