“Apparently so,” she admitted.
His face changed then, from teasing to serious. His long fingers smoothed the sides of his wine glass. “Speaking of observing things, do you have a neighbor that has a blue truck? Light blue, seen better days, some rust spots and a Florida plate?”
“I don’t think so.” She shook her head.
“I saw that truck Saturday morning when I dropped you off at the faculty lot, Sunday morning when I left here about three houses down parked on the street, and it drove by twice tonight as we waited for the tow truck.”
She took a sip of the chilled wine, and then said slowly, “I’ve seen it, now that you mention it. The same truck is in the parking lot almost every night. I assume it belongs to someone who works in the building.”
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“Maybe it would be worth it to write down the license plate number.”
Suddenly it looked very dark outside. Jake seemed quite frighteningly sincere, and after all, someone had deliberately vandalized her car.
“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt,” she agreed faintly.
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In a half an hour, he knew it all. Name, social security number,
checking account balance…hell, he knew what kind of underwear
Jake Quinn wore. It had been a breeze breaking into the
apartment, and the pretty professor’s lover boy didn’t do much to
hide his secrets.
Well, he’d get a bit of a surprise when he returned home, that
was for sure. The Watcher booted up the computer that sat on the
table in the living room, typed in the message with gloved fingers,
and then quietly let himself out.
He walked the block to where he had parked his truck and tried
to not picture them together. It made him too angry and he knew
from past experience it inspired carelessness.
That woman in Atlanta…he couldn’t remember her name now,
had blocked it all out. She had been the first, and he’d almost
gotten caught.
He smiled grimly as he got into his vehicle.
He was much, much better at it now.
* * * *
She slid into his arms like silk and Jake felt the rapid acceleration of his heart rate in tune with his arousal. Jana felt soft everywhere, soft breasts against his bare chest, soft lips touching his, soft hair brushing against his fingers as he cupped her nape and kissed her. Their first two nights together she’d been really hot for it the first time, and he’d been the same way, taking the edge
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off with an initial fast and furious sexual joining before enjoying each other more leisurely.
Maybe she was a little nervous tonight, maybe she was
adjusting to the idea of a relationship, but this evening he sensed she wanted something different. It had even been there over dinner, a slightly different way they looked at each other, a more companionable connection, something that was emotional and not just the physical electricity that seemed to ignite so easily.
Slow, tender, gentle. Hell yes, he could do that. He’d give her whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted it. There wasn’t much question he had never been so infatuated with any woman in his life, not even that first pulse-racing high school crush.
Not even close.
Jesus
, he thought as he held her and they simply kissed slowly and thoroughly, bodies together in the softness of her bed.
I could
really fall in love with this woman
. Maybe he was already there.
Maybe he had been in love before he ever touched her.
The idea should scare the shit out of him, but somehow it didn’t. Instead he felt the warm curves of her body next to his with a heightened awareness. The glide of her fingers down his arms raised small tingles of sensation. The taste of her mouth made his cock throb, and even the fragrance of her hair evoked a hunger that wasn’t entirely physical.
He whispered in her ear, “I want to make love to you.”
“I thought that was what we were doing,” Jana responded softly, kissing the side of his neck.
“This feels different.” Maybe he shouldn’t say it out loud and spook her more than she was already, but he just had anyway.
For a moment she went very still against him. The she said softly, “Does it? Show me.”
At least she hadn’t denied it, and her challenge was one he would gladly meet. “Like this,” he gently urged her onto her back.
Her thighs parted naturally, and he balanced his body between 72
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them, his hard cock first nudging her pussy before sliding fully inside.
It felt so good for a moment he closed his eyes and just absorbed the moment. The wetness that eased his entry and meant she wanted him, the heat of her silky vagina as it perfectly hugged his erection, the strong thud of his heart. Like any healthy adult male, he’d always enjoyed sex, but this was a level above, and he simply lay with her, joined in the ultimate intimacy.
His lashes lifted and Jake murmured, “Right now we are as close as two people can ever be.”
Jana’s smile was tremulous, her eyes darkened in the muted light. “Women are the romantics. I believe that is supposed to be what I’m thinking.”
He still didn’t move, just rested inside her, though the need for release infiltrated his entire body. “What
are
you thinking?”
“You want to have a discussion right now? Like this?” She lightly lifted her hips, pushing him deeper.
“Tell me.”
“I’m thinking it’s all too fast, too soon, too much. But in spite of that, I’m glad you’re here tonight. There, that’s exactly what I’m thinking, Jake.”
“Me, too.” He smiled at the impatience he could sense in her beautiful body, and the imploring pressure of her fingers at the small of his back. “Or something pretty close to it.”
“I’m also wondering why our age difference doesn’t bother me as much as it did, or should, and that’s probably due to the fact you are pretty good at doing what we are
almost
doing right now. Do you mind?”
“That’s it? Being good at sex?”
“No,” she admitted with obvious reluctance. “And you know it, I have a feeling. Now, once again, do you mind?”
He didn’t mind at all. Elated at the last admission, he began to finally thrust in and out of her pussy in long, strong strokes.
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Passionate as always, Jana matched his rhythm, her full breasts quivering as she arched into each forward movement, her nails lightly scoring his shoulders.
It was simple lovemaking, missionary position, nothing but his cock sliding in and out between her open legs, and the sound of their breathing as they both climbed toward orgasm.
Simple maybe, but so good he could hardly believe it.
“Oh God, I’m coming,” she gasped after an astonishingly short time. “Jake…oh.”
He gave her what she wanted at the crucial moment, a deep thrust against the clench of her inner muscles, and she gave a small, very sexy scream as she climaxed.
The way his testicles tightened, he knew he wasn’t far behind, and as she started to relax, he moved twice more and groaned as his orgasm took over with almost violent energy, his muscles shaking in reaction.
Afterward, he stroked her back, and held her close until she drifted off to sleep. He should be, but wasn’t in the least tired, and he stared into the darkened bedroom and wondered what came next.
You can’t plan life
, he thought as he lay there and listened to the even pattern of her breathing. For the past year he’d been waiting for his chance, hoping it would come, and now he was sleeping in Jana’s bed for the second time. It seemed entirely natural, and still somehow like an illusion.
Logically, even though it was disturbing, he owed a small thanks to whoever had slashed her tires. Otherwise he wouldn’t have gotten to spend another night with her so soon, and he had a feeling that part of their closeness this evening had come from the fact he’d been right there when she needed him.
Dr. Johnson was not used to leaning on someone else. On the other hand, he knew she felt safer tonight because he was around.
If he had his way, he’d be around all the time.
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The guy in the blue truck really bothered him, fretted at the edge of his mind. When the vehicle had cruised past the second time, he’d gotten a little better look, but still was only left with a baseball cap in a light color and the fact he was pretty sure he was Caucasian.
Not much to go on.
It could have nothing to do with what happened to her tires, he told himself, staring at the ceiling. Jana fit perfectly next to him, every exhale of her breath moving softly against his chest.
It was hardly scientific, but he just had this gut feeling it did, though.
He finally slipped into a restless sleep.
* * * *
She wasn’t exactly getting the secrecy I.Q. promised her.
For one, he had dropped her off at the biology building at seven-thirty in the morning and probably half a dozen people who knew her saw her get out of his car and go up the steps. It wasn’t at all his fault, but still not exactly the quiet, unobtrusive relationship she’d hoped for.
Great, and if that isn’t bad enough, now this
.
Jana leaned back slightly in her chair and looked at the police officers in her office. One was fairly young, but still older than Jake, and though he was polite in every single way, she still felt both self-conscious and a little mortified. The other was older, a little more gruff, and he seemed slightly amused by her discomfort as they explained exactly what had been typed into Jake’s computer by the intruder.
I know you’re fucking her.
“It isn’t a very usual message,” the younger detective explained apologetically. “When Mr. Quinn called it in, we had to ask him what he thought it meant, and though he wasn’t excited about
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telling us, he finally did.” He cleared his throat. “Apparently, you are the only who qualifies as the subject. He said he’s now worried about your safety, and after what happened to your car and in his apartment, I don’t think it’s unreasonable.”
“Anyone we need to know about, Dr. Johnson?” The older one asked bluntly. “Ex-boyfriend or lover that might have an issue with the fact you’re involved with another man? It would be helpful if you’d tell us the truth.”
Jana shook her head decisively. “No, no one. Believe me.”
“Except Jake Quinn.”
“That’s sort of a recent development,” she replied, hoping she looked cool and detached. “My husband died a few years ago and I have seen absolutely no one in the way you mean since until Jake.”
“What about the blue truck?”
“I hadn’t noticed until Jake mentioned it, but when he did, I remembered seeing it now and again. I thought the owner worked here.”
The young guy looked bland. “Not according to the permits issued for the faculty lot where you park your car, Ma’am. The campus police officer we spoke with said he must be careful, because they check the lot now and then, just to make sure all the vehicles are authorized to park there.”
“Also keep in mind that we know exactly when he typed the message because he saved it, so that means he knew that Mr.
Quinn was not at home. Usually at two in the morning he would be. I’d guess he really is watching you.”
Well, this just got better and better
.
She looked from one to the other of them. “All right, I admit this is all very disturbing, but I really don’t have any idea who would want to break into Jake’s apartment, or damage my car.
What now?”
The older officer said, “Be careful. Be alert. Lock your doors, don’t go out at night alone, avoid parking garages, the usual sort of 76
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thing any woman should do anyway. In your case, right now, I’d be extremely cautious. If you don’t carry pepper spray, buy some.”
“That all sounds logical, I suppose.” Jana felt more than just slightly dismayed.
After they left, she made a cup of coffee and saw ruefully that her hands were unsteady when she lifted the cup to her mouth.
The phone on her desk rang, and she automatically reached for it. “Dr. Johnson.”
“I’m watching.”
For a moment she didn’t register the words, because the sibilant hiss of the voice startled her so much. “What?”
“I’m watching,” he repeated. “The police just left, didn’t they?”
Jana felt a sick twist in the pit of her stomach. “Who is this?”
“You’ll know soon enough, Professor. I have another message for Quinn. Tell him you’re going to be the most expensive lay he’s ever had.”
The line went dead and she sat there for a moment, both shocked and now truly frightened. The idea there could be a threat was upsetting, but hearing that eerie voice made it all very real suddenly. Her hand trembled visibly now as she replaced the receiver.
Jake.
Hastily, she got to her feet and went out in the hall, heading for the lab. In mid-morning, it was busy, and there were at least six students working on various experiments. To her relief, Jake was there, but then again, he usually was.
When he looked up and saw her, there wasn’t much doubt he registered something was wrong.
To hell with discretion, Jana thought fearfully. This was serious, and if there was one thing she realized right now, she wanted nothing to happen to the young man now staring at her
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with dark concerned eyes. The very thought of it was horrifying and scared her in a way she would have to analyze later.
“I need to talk to you,” she said urgently, and really didn’t care who heard her.
“Jana, you’re pale as a ghost. What’s happened?”
“My office?” she suggested shakily and actually grabbed his hand. His fingers felt warm and strong, and she was cold as ice.
“All right.” He nodded grimly, and followed her out the door.
She was only vaguely aware that all of the students were staring, no doubt wondering what was happening. It wasn’t every day she dashed in and dragged away a grad student, but their speculation was currently the least of her problems.