Jane Doe's Return

by Jen Talty

  “That’s okay, because I’m going to work for Jake. I like the idea of being a PI.”

  “Out!” She stomped her foot and pointed.

  “It’s a date.” He turned and left, not closing the door.

  She slammed it shut. “I want flowers!” she yelled. “And chocolate, and you better cook for me, or I won’t go!” She stared at herself in the foggy mirror, wiping it with her hands.

  She came out of the bathroom wearing sweats and an oversized T-shirt, with her hair in a ponytail. No way would he find her attractive like this. “By the way, what did you want to talk to me about?”

  His eyes scanned her body.

  Okay, maybe he was an odd duck.

  “Oh, we have a few days to dig. Jeff got called to Syracuse.” Travis’s face-hardened immediately.

  She rubbed her arms. “Can we get into his apartment?”

  “Not we, me.”

  “Like hell, partner.” She tilted her head, daring him to take her on.

  He stood inches from her, hands on his hips with a mean scowl. “I won’t have you breaking the law.”

  “Save the nobility. It’s my ass on the line. Not yours.” She spread her stance, locked her hands behind her back, not willing to back down.

  “I take personal pride in that adorable ass of yours. I plan on grabbing it while on our date.”

  She refused to crack a smile. He would have to crack first.

  He copied her cop like stance, with a stone-cold face. Just when she thought her knees would buckle, he laughed. “Good Lord. I have met my match and then some.” He shook his head. “How are you feeling?”

  She held her stomach. “I’m fine.” She wondered if she had eaten something that was bad. It wasn’t just the shock of the last few weeks and seeing her father. Her stomach had been off for a while. “Actually, I was hoping for a bagel or something.”

  He squeezed her shoulder. “I ran to the market and got some mini-bagels.” He walked to the kitchen, pulled out a bag and tossed it to her. “Butter?”

  She made a face as her stomach flipped over again. “Plain is good.” She sat down at the table as he poured two glasses of water.

  “We can’t prove that he raped you or my sister.” Travis straddled the chair.

  She broke off a piece of her bagel. “Do you think we can leave my identity out of it?” She popped a small piece of the bagel into her mouth.

  “That depends on him and how we go about telling Scott.”

  She closed her eyes.

  “You’re not coming with me,” he said with a clipped tone.

  She swallowed, hard. “You don’t have a choice. I’ll follow you or sneak out on my own. But, as you so bluntly pointed out earlier, we’re in this together, whether you like it or not.”

  “I like being together with you in general, but—”

  She shoved a bagel in his mouth. “No buts. I’m going with you so stop trying to save me.”

  He threw his hands in the air. “I’m not being noble, just sensible.”

  “If you were being sensible, you would stop arguing with me and drop the male ego thing.”

  The corner of his mouth went up. “You give me too much credit. If I was hung up on the male ego thing, I would seduce you just because I can.”

  Her mouth opened, sucking in a breath, and making a horrible gasping noise. “Not.”

  “Shall I prove it?” His lips were so close to hers, she already tasted him. “Close your eyes,” he whispered.

  She heard his chuckle when she complied right before his lips brushed hers.

  She didn’t mean to moan, but his mouth was soft and warm. The moment her lips went cold, she opened her eyes.

  His blue eyes were hazy with lust. She would make love with him, if he asked. “Kissing doesn’t constitute seducing.”

  “You’re right.” He scowled, standing up. “I’m

  tired. I’m going to run in the morning.”

  “Works for me.” She grabbed a couple of bagels and headed to her room, confused. He went from red-hot to ice-cold in seconds, and something she did or said made him that way. She should be glad he went cold. But she was lonely instead.

  A taste of love was enough to make her never want to feel it again, except with him. He made her want to go after some of her childhood dreams. He made her want to be herself.

  Thoughts that haunted her sleep.

  ****

  Two days later, she found herself in a ridiculous black cat suit that even Nicole Kidman would look fat in.

  Something crackled in her ear.

  “Shhh, the whole neighborhood can hear you,” she whispered.

  “Then turn your volume down,” came Travis’s throaty response.

  Well, that was stupid. She pulled out her binoculars and looked out of her bush in the back of the apartment building. Jake was parked in a truck on the street.

  “Maybe the three of us should go into business,” Jake said.

  “You’re kidding, right?” Travis commented.

  “Hey. Watch it. I’d make a damn good P.I.” Her, a private investigator? No. “Walkers,” she whispered as a couple walked down the path behind the apartment complex. She looked up, seeing a flash of light fade. “Keep it low.”

  “I’m as low as I can get without belly crawling,” Travis said with an agitated tone.

  “Never mind the threesome. You two fight too much,” Jake said.

  Shauna rolled her eyes. If he wanted to see a fight, she could give him a real fight. She pictured Travis flat on his stomach with his hands behind his back and her holding them there.

  Knock it off!

  She had to get these crazy ideas out of her head. He constantly reminded her of their little so-called date. Which was never going to happen, because as soon as it did, he would have a light bulb moment and loneliness would eat her alive.

  “If you’re planning on coming out, don’t. Couple entering the building through the back,” Shauna whispered.

  “All clear here,” Jake said.

  Silence.

  Shauna looked up to Jeff’s apartment. “Travis?”

  More silence.

  “I’m going in.” She took one last look around.

  “You go up there and I’ll—”

  She closed her eyes. “Next time, answer me. Are you coming down?”

  “Already in the truck.”

  She took a deep breath, letting it out with a big whoosh. Jake rolled the truck to a slow speed in front of her bush. She jumped out and leapt into the open side door, pushing Travis’s hand aside. “Jerk.”

  “Were you worried about me?” The trucked jerked forward and Shauna fell into Travis’s lap with a thud.

  She shook her head, thinking she should get off his lap. But damn it, she liked it. “What did you find?”

  “It’s clean.” He squeezed her knee. “I suspected it would be.”

  So did she.

  “It’s sparsely decorated. Like he doesn’t spend

  a lot of time there. Not much in the refrigerator.”

  “Kind of like leaving behind stuff at my place.” He didn’t live there.

  Jake pulled into Travis’s driveway. “I’ve got to get home. If I hurry, I might be able to catch my wife before she falls asleep.” Jake didn’t bother to get out.

  “Thanks, man.” Travis shook his hand.

  “Don’t mention it.” Jake waved and drove off.

  She closed her eyes in disgust when Travis looked her up and down as they climbed the stairs to his apartment. “I swear you got me this suit just so you could make fun of me.”

  “Sweetheart, I don’t want to make fun of you.” He closed the door and pinned her between him and the wall. “I want to make love with you.”

  Her chest tightened as the adrenaline kicked from his body to hers. “Life-threatening situations heighten sexuality.” She huffed out in between short breaths.

  “Heightens a lot of things. But that wasn’t life-threatening.” He pried open her
legs with his knee and pushed slightly.

  “Our bodies perceive it as life-threatening, so there is a rush of adrenaline.” Her chest pressed against his and she could feel his heart beat against hers. “You’re not thinking straight,” she said, dropping her gaze to his lips. At that moment, she knew she was a goner. Her lips trembled when she licked them.

  “My only thoughts are how to get you out of this suit and into my arms.”

  The wetness of his tongue teasing her lips sent a warm tingle down her spine. “I’m already in your arms.” She closed her eyes, feeling him against her. It didn’t matter that he only wanted her because he had been in an extreme situation and his body was reacting to the possible danger.

  She wanted to be filled by him. One last time.

  “But you’re still in this.” He tugged at the tight fabric against her waist.

  She knew nothing would ever come close to this feeling again. “I had to wiggle to get in it.”

  His head dropped against the wall, next to hers.

  “You okay?” She tugged at his hair.

  He leaned against her. “Can I watch you wiggle out of it?”

  His hardness pushed against her intimately, making her go dizzy. She pulled his head from the door, searched his passion filled gaze for one good reason she shouldn’t kiss him. Finding a million reasons she should push him away, she ignored every single one. Cupping his face, her mouth devoured his.

  Without any grace, she pushed him from the door and took him down on the floor. Straddling him, she felt the cold air on her back as he pulled the zipper down from her spandex suit. While she bruised his lips, he tried to pull the suit down over her shoulders.

  Prying her mouth from his, she sat up and tried to help.

  “Wiggle.” He tugged. “Oh, God. So glad I didn’t know that.” He stopped and stared at her bare breasts.

  “Bra lines are just as bad as panty lines,” she said.

  His grip tightened on her behind.

  Being empowered had never been so appealing to her before. She never wanted to use her sexuality in any way, but right now she enjoyed toying with him. More than any woman had the right to.

  “Anything?” His eyes were wide and his hands were wild with pressure.

  She smiled and shook her head. Next thing she knew, she was on her back and he was trying to get the suit over her hips.

  “Wiggle.”

  She knew he was trying to be playful, but his voice was smoky and hot. “Not until you take off your shirt.”

  He ripped it off in one swift motion. “Now wiggle.” He tugged.

  She complied.

  His lips touched her stomach as he managed to remove the tight article of clothing. “I love your body,” he said between kisses, moving up her body to her breasts. “Everything about you is perfect.” He took her nipple into his mouth.

  She arched her back, reaching for his belt buckle, not knowing he had already undone it. She finished with his button and zipper releasing his firm shaft in her hands. “Now.” She guided him to her.

  He didn’t hesitate, pushing himself inside her with a deep groan.

  Sliding her hands in his pants to grip his half exposed rear end, she encouraged him to pick up the pace. She rocked her body, searching for that release only he could deliver. Her body didn’t let her down. With one leg wrapped firmly around his butt and the other tucked up under his arm, her body convulsed in an even more powerful orgasm.

  One that seemed to go on forever.

  Holding him tight, she tried to catch some air. It took some work, but shortly, they both started to breathe normally again.

  “I love these legs.” He rose up on one elbow and rubbed her thigh.

  “You love what I can do with them.”

  “I didn’t even carry you to the bedroom.” He

  kissed her nose.

  “We wouldn’t have made it,” she teased. This was more fun than she had ever expected. “I was right about you.”

  “Huh?” He jerked his head back.

  “About the kind of lover you’d be.”

  “You said kind and considerate. I didn’t consider anything but getting inside you.”

  “I tossed you on the floor. You just gave me what I wanted.” Oh, boy, did she want him right then and there.

  He closed his eyes and shook his head. “If you want to believe that, go ahead.”

  “If I had just followed your lead?”

  “Bedroom,” he admitted.

  “If I had asked? Or questioned.”

  He frowned. “Okay, you win. I would have given you whatever you asked.” He started to get up.

  She squeezed her legs around him. “Whatever I ask?” She stroked his buns.

  “Can I have a five-minute break?”

  “Long enough to make it to the bedroom.” She giggled, feeling him kick off his shoes. He stood, helping her up and hiking up his pants at the same time.

  She kissed his neck as he carried her into his bedroom. “You’re something else.”

  He pulled back the covers and put her down.

  “You really are one-of-a-kind, you know that?” She looked deep into his loving eyes.

  He slipped out of his clothes, then turned the light off, leaving the small reading lamp on, and climbed in next to her. “Your knowledge of men hasn’t been extensive, and those you did know were jerks.”

  He had her there, but she knew he was special. “Do you know any men like you?”

  He rubbed his jaw, as if he were deep in thought.

  “Just say thank you and accept the compliment.”

  “Thank you.” He kissed her, wet and passionate.

  His five-minute break must have been up. Later, when she began to fall asleep in his arms, she wondered if she would ever get through a day without remembering what it felt like to be with him, to smell him, to love him.

  She stifled her tears. Loving him felt right. When she was with him she felt safe and free to be herself. To be Shauna.

  How ironic was that?

  Chapter Fourteen

  Travis felt the warmth of Shauna wrapped around his body. The soft scent of fresh lilacs filled the room. “Good morning,” he whispered as he opened his eyes. She lay on her back, snuggled up against him, and stared at the ceiling. Her face paled. “Oh, God. I’m sorry. I’ll take them down.”

  She blinked, covering her mouth. “Please don’t move.”

  “What’s wrong?” He stilled when the blood completely drained from her face. “You feel okay?”

  Taking in a few deep breaths, she didn’t answer him.

  “Jesus, I’m so sorry.” He looked between her and the picture of her just hours after she’d been raped. That was enough to make him ill, but then he remembered, Jeff. She would have to face him sometime today. “You can call in sick.” He ran his finger up and down the soft skin on her arm.

  “I don’t think so.” She dipped her head toward him as she swallowed. “I have a job to do and he’s not going to stop me from doing it.”

  “All right,” he said. “Have you always been like this? Getting sick when you’re upset?” He kissed her shoulder.

  “No. I must be coming down with something.”

  “I think you need to stay here.” He moved gently from the bed, handing her his shirt and boxers.

  “I think we both need to go to work.”

  The white T-shirt looked about the same color as her pale body. She pulled the shirt over her head with great care, then stepped into his checkered boxers.

  “You sure?”

  Covering her mouth, she walked to the bathroom with her head held high, then closed the door.

  “Damn.” The bed squeaked when he stepped on it and then tore the pictures down. How could he be so insensitive? She had to wake to seeing herself just hours after the worst day in her life.

  When the water had shut off in the bathroom a few moments later, he threw on his running clothes and hurried toward the kitchen.

  She had be
aten him there, already dressed, and doing some stretches. Looking over her shoulder, she gave him a slight smile, her cheeks still pale.

  “Are you sure you’re up to this?”

  She shot him a warning glare. “I didn’t come back here just to run off when things got dangerous.”

  He nodded.

  All morning, she remained silent and he didn’t press her. Seeing Jeff was going to be a test to both of them. He knew her well enough to know she might snap.

  He might snap.

  With every knock on their office door, she almost jumped out of her skin. Jeff was due back around four and Travis needed to find a way to get her acting like her carefree self in the next hour. So, he shot a small rubber ball at her that he had in his drawer from when Kamy had come to visit. Unfortunately for him, it landed right on her breast. “Sorry.” He tried not to smile.

  “Yeah, right.” She tilted her head, looking down the hall and rubbed her breast. “Oh, sorry.” She rubbed it one more time for his benefit, smirking at him.

  “Yeah, right.” He laughed.

  She smiled, relaxing back in her chair, just in time.

  Jeff stood in the doorway. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say there’s definitely something going on with you two,” Jeff said, then waltzed into the office.

  Travis tore his gaze from Shauna, and his body went rigid with rage. He stabbed a pencil under his desk against the wood; it cracked. “Get a life.”

  “Craig Nagel was arrested this morning.” Jeff looked directly at Shauna.

  Travis tried not to ball his fists. Keeping his cool under these circumstances was something he’d spent the better part of his life learning how to do. Today would be a testament to that training. “What for?”

  “Beat the crap out of his girlfriend. Guess what they found in his apartment?” Jeff smirked.

  Shauna moved across the room and touched Jeff’s back. Why the hell did she do that?

  The room spun around Travis. He had to focus to keep himself from seeing spots and reaching across his desk to grab Jeff’s neck, putting an end to his life.

  “Have anything to do with the Princess Killer?” Shauna stood close to Jeff. Too close.

  “Smart girl,” Jeff said with an eerie tone. “He had a box full of crowns.”