Chapter 97 - Truce


Jon raised his head, then propped himself up on his forearms, breathing heavily. His eyes met Cate’s, and he gave her a long, soulful look. A gentle smile crept to his lips as he gazed upon her beautiful, flushed face. He chuckled softly. “Uh… Wow.” he said throatily.

Cate nodded slightly, still a little overwhelmed by what had just happened. “I think that pretty much sums it up…” she replied raspily. She felt her heart flutter at the sight of his smile as he looked down upon her. Then it swelled even more as Jon lowered his mouth to hers. God, this feels so right…

After a long, breathless kiss, Jon raised his face from hers. Silently he lifted his torso up off of her, then slid downwards until his feet reached the ground, separating from her. Cate drew in a breath as their bodies parted, already missing the feel of him on and inside her. She pushed up onto her elbows and watched as he pulled his jeans back up, then fastened his button, zipper, and belt.

Suddenly a little self-conscious at her partially-naked state, Cate quickly sat up and pressed her thighs together, drawing her knees up toward her midsection. She blushed slightly and averted her eyes from Jon’s face as she grabbed her belt and tugged upward on her pants, pulling them back up over her knees. She flushed even more deeply as she attempted to scoot down the cruiser’s hood so she could stand, her bare ass making a loud squeak against the waxed metal.

Cate heard Jon rumble out a soft little chuckle at the sound and she practically leapt off the car, tugging her pants up as quickly as she could to cover herself. She turned her back to Jon and quickly fastened and zipped her pants, buckled her belt, and rearranged her gear around her waist.

She froze, raising her head and closing her eyes, when she felt Jon’s hands on her shoulders. He moved up close behind her, his hands sliding down over her arms, then slipping forward to encircle her waist.

“Cate,” Jon said softly, his lips close to her ear. “I’m sorry.”

Cate felt her lower lip tremble as her eyes moistened at the earnestness of his voice. “For… for what?” she asked hoarsely.

Jon’s arms tightened slightly around her waist, pulling her back against his body. “For earlier. For what I said in the mat room, about you walking away from your job for me. I…. I had no right.” He paused and swallowed hard. “Cate, I didn’t mean to scare you, or to insult you, or to hurt you. I just…. I just couldn’t help myself. I want you.”

“I….” Cate started to respond, but her words caught in her throat. She closed her mouth then tried again, but couldn’t make a sound. She closed her eyes and leaned back against Jon as her emotions began to swirl inside her again. He wants me… and I want him… but we can’t be together… Oh, God. What am I gonna do now?

Jon took a deep breath and hugged Cate tighter as he felt her tense against him. He could tell she was battling herself again. But at least she had heard him. And he could tell from her response that she believed him. For the moment, he was just going to hold her as long as she would let him. He’d deal with what came after that when it happened.

Cate leaned against Jon for a long moment, trying to settle herself. Not now, she told herself firmly. I can’t figure this out now. Not here, with him holding me. I have to get away from him, get some space. Then I can think.

She drew in a deep breath, then summoned every ounce of willpower she had left. She leaned slightly forward, then stepped away from Jon. He reluctantly let her go, his hands lingering at her waist as long as they could.

“We need to close up and get out of here.” Cate’s voice was quiet and even. Despite her inner conflict, she felt strangely calm. Must have been all that sexual tension being released, she mused with a little smirk.

“Okay,” Jon answered quietly. “What do we need to do?” He looked around the range, then back to Cate.

“Well, first we need to put the car back,” Cate answered. She shot a guilty look at the cruiser’s hood, where she and Jon had just had their passionate encounter. She moved quickly to the driver’s side and reached in to turn off the light bar. The range plunged into murky darkness in the absence of the red and blue strobes.

“Jon,” Cate said as she waited for her vision to adjust. “Why don’t you take the ammo cans and our bags to the armory. I’ll meet you there in a minute, to clean the guns.”

“Alright,” Jon answered, looking at Cate’s silhouette in the darkness. “Let me get my vest first, though.” He stepped around the open passenger door and leaned in to retrieve his body armor from where he had tossed it on the seat. As he did, Cate lowered herself into the driver’s seat and turned the key in the ignition. The big engine rumbled to life, and Cate’s face was again dimly illuminated by the glow of the dashboard lights.

Leaning into the passenger compartment, Jon hesitated and looked at Cate. She turned her head to meet his gaze and gave him a small smile. “Don’t worry. I’m not gonna leave you here all alone. Promise,” she said quietly, just little tease in her tone.

Jon smiled with relief at the gentleness of her voice. She wasn’t angry or panicked. She seemed… calm. “Good,” he answered softly. “I don’t ever want you to leave me. Here or anywhere.” He gave Cate another long look, then stepped back and closed the door.

Cate watched Jon stride away into the shadows, toward the platform where they had left their ammo and gear bags. She drew in a long breath and blew it out, then put the cruiser into gear.

Cate returned the cruiser to its assigned spot in the lot and secured the roll-up door, then joined Jon in the armory to clean the guns. They worked quickly and quietly, Cate lost in thought and Jon watching her. When they were finished Cate secured the rifle and Jon’s Glock in their lockers, then returned their unused ammunition to the cage while Jon cleaned up the rags and kits from the table.

“Now I just need to check the cameras,” Cate said. “Then we can go.”

“I thought Danny turned the cameras off?” Jon asked. “That’s what his note said.”

“He meant the cameras on the lanes. The ones we use to play back and evaluate the students’ performance. I’m talking about the security cameras.” Cate replied.

Jon’s eyes widened. “You mean…” he began. Oh Shit.

Cate cut him off. “No. They are on the exterior of the building, and on the entryways. Well, and there’s one on the armory door, since it’s a secure room.” She gave Jon a serious look. “And yeah, I’m gonna double-check the range cams too. Fuck, I’m gonna triple-check them.”

Jon grinned at her response. He took a couple steps forward, closing the distance between them. “Is there a security camera in here?” he asked softly.

“No, just on the exterior of the doorway,” Cate replied, her eyes meeting his. She felt her pulse jump as Jon’s lips came together in a pouty smirk.

“Good,” Jon whispered huskily. He reached up to Cate’s face with one hand, tracing his finger along her cheek then turning her face up to his. He slowly lowered his lips to hers.

Cate sighed at the feel of Jon’s gentle mouth. She tilted her head slightly, then let herself melt against his chest as she parted her lips to accept his gently probing tongue. Jon gathered Cate against him and held her close as he caressed her mouth with his. He smiled as he felt Cate’s arms slide around his waist as she returned his kiss.

After several long minutes, Cate breathlessly pulled her lips from Jon’s. They gazed at each other for a long moment, then she lowered her head, turning her cheek to rest against Jon’s chest. She snuggled against him, hearing his heartbeat under her ear as his arms tightened around her.

“Jon, I don’t want to fight anymore,” she murmured.

Jon’s heart swelled at her words, and his mouth curved into a triumphant smile. “Neither do I, Baby,” he whispered back, squeezing her tighter. “Neither do I.”

They stood together in their embrace for another long minute, until Cate raised her head and pulled back slightly to look at Jon. “But you have to understand,” she said softly. “I need some time… to think. I… I have a lot to figure out.” She saw a shadow of disappointment cross Jon’s face. “And I have to do it alone,” she added. “I need some space. Can you understand that?”

Jon looked at Cate for a pause, then nodded slowly. “Yeah, I guess I can,” he admitted.

“That means I need you to not… not do… this,” Cate continued, her voice a little stronger. “As wonderful as this is… Jon, I need you to stop trying to convince me to do what you want by overwhelming me with your… well, with YOU.” She sighed. “I can’t think straight when you kiss me, when you hold me… Hell, when you look at me.” She stared back at him, feeling her composure gradually returning. “I have to figure some things out before I can think about… us. Please let me do that.”

Jon sighed. “I guess I have to, don’t I?” he asked wearily. He knew he owed that to Cate. He had turned her world upside down in the short week they had known each other. Hell, he would expect the same consideration, if he didn’t unequivocally KNOW what he wanted. “But Cate…. we’re running out of time,” he said, his voice subtly pleading. “Please don’t take too long to figure things out. I don’t want to waste another minute.”

Cate looked down for a moment, then turned her face back to his. “Jon,” she said gently. “Whether we have a day or a year left together, I still can’t get past tonight without some space.”

Jon’s heart clenched at her words. He couldn’t bear the thought of spending another night without her. But he couldn’t push her, either, or they’d be right back where they started the day. He had no choice. “Okay,” he sighed.

Cate nodded gratefully, then leaned up to give him a gentle kiss. “Thank you,” she whispered, then stepped back, out of his arms.

“Let’s get out of here,” Cate said. Jon nodded and followed her out of the armory, picking up their bags and vests as he passed by the cleaning table. He waited for Cate to arm the alarm on the door, then followed her to the control booth stairs. Together they climbed up to the little room.

Cate touched some buttons on the control panel, checking to ensure all the exterior security cameras were functioning properly. Then she flipped the switches to the interior range cameras. Jon watched as Cate swiveled her chair away from the console and pulled open a panel on the wall at the back of the booth, revealing three monitors.

Cate quickly manipulated the buttons on a large remote, scanning through the footage on the digital recorder. Several minutes later she breathed a sigh of relief that there was no video record of Jon screwing her silly on the patrol car’s hood. Jon chuckled at her reaction, also relieved but secretly a bit disappointed.

“Too bad,” he teased gently. “That would have been fun to watch. It was pretty hot from my vantage point, anyway.”

Cate looked sideways at him, taking the bait. “Yeah, but there wouldn’t have been much to see but your bare ass bobbing up and down in the shadows,” she answered sarcastically. “I was on the bottom.” She arched an eyebrow at him.

Jon grinned. “Yeah, but you like my ass,” he replied smugly. “Besides, I think your hands covered most of it. Hell, a video would have been practically PG-rated.” He winked. “Wouldn’t even count as porn.”

Cate swallowed hard, but didn’t answer. Oh, it was definitely porn….

She turned her attention back to the monitors, turning them off and closing the panels. She checked the console one last time to ensure all the systems were powered down, then stood. “Let’s go,” she said quietly.

“After you.” Jon pulled open the door, then followed her down the stairs.

6 comments:

  1. Jonny, any video with your ass in it counts as porn!!!!!
    Cate, don't take to long to think...use the next few days well!

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  2. Oh thank God! Now can they play happy families?? Please??!!!

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  3. Jon give her time, but Cate, don't take too long.

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  4. dwkwth3940w....oops, sorry, still picturing that bare ass moving up and down and my fingers hit the wrong keys.

    Looks like she's caving a little...at the moment anyway.

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  5. They needed that... hell, I needed that! Can't wait to see what all her thinking brings.

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  6. Cate, take your time. But do it fast - Johanne

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