He could with Ruby.
Had to with every essence of his being.
If she became stifled that was a risk he had to take.
Ruby headed down the stairs and walked through her shop, opened her front door and locked it again once they were out on the street. Jake unlocked the front door of his shop and put Ruby’s overnight bag inside his shop, then locked up again.
Outside the weather was steamy and scantily dressed women walked the streets. Already, cars full of men perused them calling out cheeky phrases to catch their attention. On Ruby’s right, the red and white neon Coke sign, a Kings Cross icon, lit up the top of William Street. Jake put his arm around Ruby in order to navigate around the busy foot traffic on Darlinghurst Road as they walked down the street towards the police station.
Prostitutes stood in their doorways touting for business, American sailors whose ships were moored at the nearby Garden Island base crowded into the bars. Tourists waited in line to get into bars, a man painted silver mimicked robotic movements and Jake tossed a coin into his tin as they passed. Wind caught a spray of water from the El Alamein Fountain, lightly dousing them as they approached the police station. ‘Jake?’ Ruby gripped his hand.
‘What is it, sweetheart?’ She hadn’t uttered a word in the ten-minute walk.
‘When you said your copper mate owed you, I wondered what you had planned. You’re too protective of me. I don’t want you doing anything illegal on my behalf.’
‘Like what?’
‘Like bashing Tattoo Face for retribution. If you get charged you could lose your business license.’ Her sky-blue eyes flashed concern.
She had him pegged. Although he never participated in violence for the fun of it, he wasn’t afraid to do whatever was necessary to look after her. ‘How I deal with Tattoo Face needn’t worry you.’
‘Jake!’
‘The best scenario is you’ll recognise Tattoo Face and the cops will lock him away,’ he said as they approached the police station.
She gave him an assessing look and he knew she wasn’t fooled. ‘And the worst?’
‘Ruby!’ he growled. ‘I told you I’ll deal with it.’
She snatched her hand from his, stopped walking and turned on him. ‘You’re impossible sometimes.’
‘Yeah, one of my men told me I was a bastard. Got a sock to his jaw and he fell into line. The whole damn battalion came home in one piece. I’m going to fix this my way because I’m not letting some bastard scare you back home.’ Under his gaze he saw her luscious lips turn down, a frown marred her sweet face but he didn’t care. When it came to dealing with arseholes, he was the expert. He put his arm around her shoulders feeling the fragile bones underneath and moved forward. The sooner they got this done, the better.
‘You realise that whether I go home or not will be my decision to make.’
‘I made it for you,’ he said gruffly. ‘The first day I met you, I fell in love.’
Jake loved her. His firm response made her giddy with excitement. No man, not her boyfriend, not her father, especially not her father, cared about her the way he did. Support. She’d never known what that felt like and Jake brought it with him in spades. He knocked down her reserves one by one like bowling pins.
She must have been staring at him, her mouth open in surprise at his confession because he gave her a look so intense her breath hitched before he claimed her lips. His lips were hot and demanding a response. She didn’t know if it was because of the tension of what was waiting in front of her, but it was as if all her pent-up desire, thoughts and anxiety made her fling her arms around the back of his neck. Jake was secure.
She needed him.
Her whole body pressed against his as she kissed him back, absorbing the love and security he proffered so readily. If he was expecting her to tell him that she loved him too, he didn’t show it. Instead, he broke the kiss, gave her a reassuring smile, took her hand and led her up the police steps stopping just before they entered. ‘You ready for this? Remember, I’m right by your side the whole time. There’s no reason to feel afraid.’
‘I can do this,’ she said, realising his heart-warming kiss had steadied her nerves. Jake was good for her.
Maybe there was some way for them to be together. She squeezed his hand and was rewarded with a squeeze back as they walked up the police station steps to deal with her nemesis.
Jake’s contact, Senior Constable Adam Garner, greeted them at the police desk and explained the procedure. Senior Constable Garner led them to a white, painted room. Standing in front of a wall, which had black lines painted across it to indicate height, were six men. Several of the men had facial tattoos, many were dressed in black, the colour most worn in The Cross, but their height varied. A number was painted on the wall above each man’s head for the person to identify the suspect. She stood with Jake beside her, his arm protectively around her waist. Ruby leant into him, not comfortable that there wasn’t a screen like she’d seen on the police shows on television.
‘Walk along in front of the line up if you wish. Take your time choosing,’ Senior Constable Garner said.
Ruby did as she was asked. Several of the men avoided her gaze until she reached the last man on the queue. His gaze slid over her like oil and then he looked away. She wanted to shiver, wipe her whole body down he had such an unctuous quality about him. He had small, dark eyes and a thin face.
In the bright light of the room, it seemed almost laughable that this man could be a threat. He wasn’t tall or even broad shouldered, barely coming up to Jake’s underarms, but still the sight of him sickened her. Although the incident had occurred at night, the flash of the image of Tattoo Face holding a knife flared in front of her mind. ‘That’s him,’ she pointed. Her temples began to throb and she felt Jake’s body tense beside hers. She saw him take a deep breath as if he were communicating with her on how to remain calm. ‘The one on the right at the end.’ Instinctively, she took in a deep breath and breathed out slowly following his example, breathing in the security of his closeness, his calm, his love.
‘You okay?’ Jake asked her.
She nodded. Her heart should have been pattering with alarm by now. It wasn’t and she knew why. Jake was here, beside her. Reliable and consistent as always.
And he loved her. For the first time she didn’t care that he expressed his emotion so fast because she’d locked her own heart away, hard and fast and it took someone determined like Jake to break the seal.
‘Ruby? Are you sure?’ Senior Constable Garner said. ‘Take a look again.’
She turned from Jake to Tattoo Face. This time he fixed his gaze on her, sharp as a predator’s and the same uneasy fear made her throat dry. She swallowed. Yet indignation raised its head, too. She’d fought for too long for a peaceful life. Jake’s words rang in her ears. How dare this thug make her life miserable again so that she’d flee Sydney before she gave them a chance? ‘Yes. He’s the one. I’ll never forget the way he stared at me holding a knife. And with that tattoo. It’s easy to remember.’ She touched her own cheek to indicate the position of the marking.
Senior Constable Garner opened the door and she made for it, keen to leave the room.
‘All except number six can leave,’ Senior Constable Garner said.
The rest of the men filed past Ruby, who stood at the doorway, and out of the station.
‘Thanks, Ruby.’ The Senior Constable gave her a short, sharp nod. ‘I already have your statement. That’s all I need for the moment.’
‘I’ll get you bitch!’ The words, short, sharp and nasty, stung the air. She stopped in her tracks and swivelled on her feet. ‘How dare you?’ No more would she put up with a man’s abuse, the type that made her feel trapped and helpless.
Jake moved so fast he was almost a blur. He picked up Tattoo Face by the scruff of his leather jacket and slammed him against a wall. Using his elbow and forearm, he leant against the man’s throat until his face became puce. ‘Don’t threaten my woman.’
Tattoo Face made strange choking sounds.
Ruby clutched Senior Constable Garner’s sleeve shocked by Jake’s naked aggression. ‘Stop him.’
‘Why don’t you step outside, Ruby?’ Senior Constable Garner said.
‘What if Jake kills him?’ she asked Senior Constable Garner before turning to Jake. ‘Please, make him stop.’
Senior Constable Garner ushered her out of the room, his face serious. ‘If Jake wanted to kill him he’d be dead by now. Don’t worry, he’s a law abiding man, he doesn’t kill civilians.’
Ruby felt the blood drain from her face. She’d seen how Jake looked at Tattoo Face and whatever Senior Constable Garner said, Jake meant business.
‘Ruby, I served in Ghan with Jake. I work with the most hardened criminals here, but nothing shocks me, not after Afghanistan. I learnt one thing. Jake’s trained to kill but he knows when to hold back, too.’
‘Tattoo Face doesn’t know that though,’ she said.
‘Exactly. But he’ll comprehend territory and you’re Jake’s.’
‘Jake confided in you?’
The Senior Constable raised his eyebrows. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet the woman who has taken my buddy’s heart.’
A moment later Jake joined them and put his arm around Ruby’s shoulder. She searched his face for answers but his mouth had formed a hard line and he didn’t look like he was about to offer any. She saw him give a slight nod to Senior Constable Garner as if they had some secret, which irritated her. It had taken her a while to realise that when Jake acted, he did it alone, only offering the details when it suited him, which frustrated her because she was so used to sharing things with her twin.
‘Thanks for your help, Ruby. I’ve been trying to nail this creep for some time. I can finally charge him and put him away,’ Senior Constable Garner said.
‘There have been other women frightened,’ Ruby said, ‘but another man was involved. A man called Smithers.’
Senior Constable Garner flicked Jake a look before returning his gaze to her. ‘He’s tied up in this too. The problem we’ve had is the young women who have been threatened have left the area and won’t testify.’
‘Can you find out why he did this? I’m desperately worried about my twin sister, Emerald, who he’s really after.’
‘I worked in interrogation in Ghan. Might take me a while, but I’ll do it. Thanks again. Jake said you were brave. You did well today.’
‘I have great back-up.’ She looked up at Jake, her heart warmed and she realised how much she admired him. Although Senior Constable Garner was tall, Jake was taller with broader shoulders. His blue eyes looked slightly glassy and bloodshot as if he’d burst a blood vessel in the line up room though she doubted she’d hear about what really went on. She wanted to kiss that grim line of a mouth so that it softened like she was used to.
‘He’s the right man in a sticky situation I can tell you. Saved my butt more than once,’ Senior Constable Garner said.
‘Call me,’ Jake said to Senior Constable Garner.
Senior Constable Garner nodded, reached out and shook hands with both of them.
Jake opened the door to the station for her. Once through, he put his arm around her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. ‘That man’s not a killer.’
She looked up at him. ‘How do you know?’
‘He’s a coward who gets off on frightening women but that’s all. He won’t bother you again.’ He leant down and kissed her cheek.
She smiled, enjoying his warmth. How easy would it be to fall in love with this man? Never had she realised just how gentle a man could be with a woman until she met him. ‘I’m just glad it’s over. I can’t live with fear anymore. I’m over it. I had too much of it when I was younger.’
‘I’m here. You won’t.’
Just as they walked down the police station stairs, a woman marched towards them, her face Slavic, her blonde hair piled high in an elaborate style. She was well dressed in a matching designer jacket and skirt, though the outfit was too tight and her makeup loud. ‘You! You think I’ll let you get away with what you’ve done?’ She went to slap Ruby’s face, but Jake grabbed her hand and pushed it away from Ruby.
‘Step back,’ he ordered, moving in front of Ruby.
‘What’s this about?’ Ruby asked, determined to see around him, even though tension rippled through her like the slice of a knife.
Before the blonde had time to reply, Senior Constable Garner strode out of the entrance and joined them. ‘Come into the station, Mrs Smithers.’ His raised his eyebrows at Jake and Ruby before ushering the blonde away.
Ruby stared at the woman’s retreating back. ‘Mrs Smithers? Peter Smither’s wife? Wow, she’s a charmer.’
‘She’s Tattoo Face’s sweet sister. Think Emerald pissed her off?’ Jake said, his voice droll.
Ruby shook her head and groaned. ‘You were right. I do need a break from this.’
Chapter 9
Jake eyed Ruby appreciatively as she leant back on the double sun lounger, the sun caressing her body so that her skin glowed. Her frame was lithe and slender and her blonde hair spilled over so that he wanted to wrap his hands in it. Beyond her, the water twinkled like glittery jewels but his gaze kept returning to her. Her eyes were semi-closed, her lips slightly parted as she relaxed on his yacht on Sydney Harbour not far from his waterfront.
He could feel the tension ease from his body now they were in what he liked to think of as his real territory. It was the first time he’d taken a woman out on his boat since he’d come back from his military service. He couldn’t be bothered to sweat the small stuff, his business took all his free hours, but he’d make the time for Ruby. Her mouth had dropped open when she’d seen his home and she’d gone quiet. It wouldn’t take much to have her retreating back to Blackheath once Emerald returned. He had a sneaking suspicion that she was nervous about the world he lived in, but he intended for her to enjoy it.
‘You weren’t joking when you said you’d take me to see the Harbour Bridge face on. You just didn’t say you planned to do it on a fifty-eight foot motor cruiser complete with a bedroom.’
Jake chuckled as he leant over her and lazily stroked her nipples teasing one then the other. It had taken a while to convince her that it was fine to sunbath topless on his boat. She had the most perfect breasts and he enjoyed playing with them, watching how quickly each nipple peaked in response to his touch. He’d noticed that the best way to calm Ruby was to make love to her, getting physical seemed to wind back her defences. ‘Bedrooms are important.’
‘I’ve never met a man with so many.’ Ruby squirmed on her lounger as Jake teased her moving his fingers up and down her torso making her stomach muscles clench. Her thighs pressed together as his hand came to rest on her abdomen, his fingers just on the line of her bikini bottoms.
They were moored off Kirribilli so that Ruby could have a world-class view of the bridge, the Opera House and the sparkling city beyond. He planned to take her to lunch at Watson’s Bay where they served the freshest seafood money could buy. ‘My house is too big for one man but it’ll serve its purpose later.’
‘Big? It’s a ten-bedroom mansion with full harbour views and housekeeper quarters. How many children were you planning on having?’
‘How many will you give me?’
Ruby brushed his hand away, sat, turned to him and blinked. ‘You’re not serious?’
‘I’ve never been more serious in my life. You do want children, don’t you?’ He pushed his sunglasses up on his head so he could see the expression in her eyes. Ruby hurt and he sure hoped that his love would find a way to open her trust.
‘I always thought of happy families, you know, mum, dad and two kids, as a vague dream or a fairytale. A lovely story that happens to someone else, just not to me.’ She pulled a wry face, turned, grabbed her bottle of water and took in a big sip.
He reached to the side of her bikini bottom and pulled the tie so that it sprang open. ‘
It’s going to happen to you.’
Water spouted from her mouth. Ruby wiped her lips. ‘We’re not making babies, Jake!’ She grabbed at her bikini bottom but he was too fast for her whipping them off her body.
‘We’re practising until we’re perfect. Can be hard to get right,’ he added, pulling off his swimming costume to reveal a proud erection.
‘We can’t have sex here. Everyone can see us.’ She made a grab for her bikini bottom, which he dangled in front of her.
‘We have a high stern and the overhead canopy. No one can see us.’
‘We’re facing the Harbour Bridge. People climbing will see into the back of the boat.’ She lunged for her bikini bottom and missed.
‘They’d need a telescope to see anything.’
‘People carry cameras with those huge lenses,’ Ruby said, grabbing again and coming up with air. ‘Damn you’re a tease.’
‘Never mind. They won’t be photographing your face.’
‘That’s what I’m afraid of,’ she added laughing.
He watched amused as she peered around as if checking if anyone could see into the boat. ‘So you’ve never stepped outside naked?’
‘Never. But it’s glorious,’ she sighed. ‘I feel free.’
‘Told you I’d get rid of that caged up feeling. This is exactly what you need to relax.’
She glanced over at him as he waved her bikini bottom and an amused grin painted her pink lips. ‘Oh and there’s nothing in it for you?’
‘It’s going to be all about you. It’s stress release time.’
‘I haven’t heard that name for sex before.’
He dangled her bikini in front of her face, so that she had to dive over him to get it. ‘Got you,’ he crowed triumphantly before pulling her down on top of him. He flicked her bikini bottoms into the cabin behind him. Her body was soft and sun-kissed, warm to the touch and the thought of what he was about to do to her made his balls ache with need.
‘So this was your plan?’ she said, huskily.
‘Open your legs and let me slide into you.’ He rolled his hips upwards, the head of his cock rubbing over her smooth sex.
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