Smooth Jazz Ch. 03

It was big and had plenty of room. The singer on the stage crooned out a nice, slow and soulful tune. The mood was set. As more couples made their way to the floor the lights were dimmed. Couples danced those that could and those that couldn't. People were having a good time regardless. Jazz felt like she didn't have a care in the world. Everyone else in the room seemed to disappear.

Jazz let him take the lead as he pressed her body against his. She could feel his strong abdomen against her, so strong and firm. One of his large hands was at the small of her back and the other entwined with one of her hands. His seemed to swallow hers, and they seem to float.

She then placed both her hands on his shoulders, as both his hands moved around her waist, bringing her closer. She laid her head on his chest. It all seemed like a dream. He felt so damn good to her. He smelled so damn good to, the perfect combination of soap and spice grabbing her senses.

She felt his lips trail the crook of her neck and his hands tightened at the small of her back and he pulled her even closer if possible. She rubbed her hand up the back of his neck and sighed. This is what it felt like to fit inside the arms of a man. This is what it felt like to feel like you belonged. She didn't want the feeling to go away.

CONNOR LEANED BACK AND LOOKED INTO HER BEAUTIFUL HAZEL EYES; SHE WAS FINALLY CLOSE TO HIM. It had been a long time since he had felt a woman in his arms like this, and it was driving him crazy because this wasn't any woman. She was special, he hadn't known her for long, but it didn't take much time before he realized it.

"I don't want this." She met his eyes searching, and he wondered what or was it who? She was looking for.

"Want what?" He never missed a step as they moved into the next slow song. He stroked her cheek and she moved her face into his palm.

"To feel like this." Her hazel eyes swam with reluctance. She was holding back.

"Why don't you tell me about it? What you're feeling." He wanted her to tell him how she felt when she was with him. He needed to know, that she felt the same things he was feeling. She seemed to absorb him, take him in with such feminine finesse it heated his bones all the way through to his core.

Her small and soft hands on his skin, made something electric stir inside him and he braced himself. He wanted more; she made him greedy to feel her, all of her. This wasn't enough.

"It gets hard to breathe or think when you touch me Connor. My mind is just a haze of colors and all there is, is you, crowding every space in my head. Right now, it feels like it's just us. I like it, I love it here in your arms but I don't know." Her voice was a whisper and hoarse with all those desires she was fighting to hold back from him. Jazz was surprised at her confession but honesty seemed to pour from her.

"I've never felt this way about anyone before, no man has touched me this way, and I've never wanted any man the way I want you. But this is all so soon, and I don't think I can just accept that Connor."

"Yes you can, this is new for me too. Why do we have to deny ourselves? I want you, and you want me. Simple." Connor knew it wasn't but it could be.

If she just let him have his way with her. She had told him more than he ever thought she was feeling. It warmed his heart and squeezed it. It made him even surer that this, him and her, was right.

"Connor, I'm going through a divorce right now. It's a nasty divorce, with a man that has broken my heart. And now wants everything else. How can you tell me that you can handle that? That you want to pursue me? You don't know what you're saying."

"I have my own mind Jazz. I don't care about him. I care about you. Yes it's soon but you know you feel it too. Something is pulling us together Jazz and it's more than attraction. I'm willing to be here for you. You want a divorce right?"

"Yes. I'm ready for it to be over."

"You love him?" Connor asked tightening his grip mocking the feeling in his chest as he awaited her response.

"No. I don't think I ever did, and I know he no longer loves me. That's not the point Connor. I'm still trying to rebuild." He spun her around and back into his arms, after he released the breath he had been holding.

"And I have more than enough wood for you to do so- Ow!" He laughed as she hit him.

"I'm serious Connor." She hit him but was starting to soften at his words. She wanted so bad to believe him. To believe that they were here for a purpose and that these feelings she had for him so quickly were real.

"I am too. I'm not asking to be your savior Jazz. You're a strong and competent woman, whether you believe that or not. I'm asking you to give me a chance, to acknowledge there is something between us. And give us a chance to find out what that is. I'm scared too but I don't want to let that stop me, sometimes chances like this only come around once in a life time." Connor remembered his Dads words and knew he was right.

"You really want this, there's more you know?"

"Let me tell you what I do know. You gave your heart to someone. But he didn't deserve it. You loved hard because you don't do things half way. You're here because you refuse to give up. Even though days are hard you're fighting. I'm only asking to join you. I'm trying to rebuild too. There's so much pain that I've been through, but since meeting you, I find I'm more courageous and open then I've ever been."

"The look in your eyes, that underlining sadness, inspires me to want to be a better man. You're so damn beautiful in and out Jazz." They both had stopped swaying and were now looking intensely in each other's eyes. Connors hand was at the back of her neck now, pulling her closer.

Jazz knew it was going to happen. She couldn't stop it, not even if she wanted to. As his mouth crushed hers, she resisted but then fell to his whim. His mouth, his glorious mouth, filled with fire and passion. Their tongues waged war, all the heat and sexual tension bursting between them.

Connor was going under. The taste of her mouth, the essence of her kiss was drowning him, and he refused to come up for air. She whimpered at his assault, helpless as he made something churn within her, and as he finally released her she leaned into him to remain balanced.

"Tell me you didn't feel that Jazz. Or do I have to take it a step further, to show you." His hand, still at the back of her neck, gripped a little tighter in possession, his jade green eyes dark with desire. A fever made its way through her body, and she felt wetness between her legs.

"Our foods here," Jazz quickly took the opportunity to once again pull away as she caught the server setting their table out of the corner of her eyes. She pulled away from Connor and walked to the table and although he enjoyed the view, he was enjoying more what was happening before she took that excuse to run off.

She had lit something inside him. Never had he felt so wild and out of control of his emotions. Since when did he find it so easy to express how he felt?

Connor would let her and his thoughts be for now. He was making Jazz very nervous though and he liked it. The way that dress was hugging her small waist and hips was a sin. He would try to keep his hands to himself for the rest of the night, but then he had promised himself the same thing in the car.

He smiled as he made his way back to the table, he would definitely taste those luscious lips again. For the rest of dinner though he would behave.

THEY ATE, TALKED AND LAUGHED. They talked about everything, sports, politics and agreed on almost nothing. They poked fun at each other's taste in teams, and he poked fun at her taste for sushi. They were enjoying each other's company and after they finished eating they decided to go for a little walk.

Connor had always avoided the topic of his or his current flings personal life. Yet with Jazz he yearned to know more. He took his chance to do just that as they fell into an easy stroll. They walked side by side, and Connor grabbed her hand and was satisfied when she didn't pull away.

"So tell me where you were born and how?"

"Okay, I grew up in Georgia. And when a mother and father love each other very much they-"

"Okay, so maybe I walked into that one." He laughed. "Georgia? I knew there was a southern belle in you. You got that cute twang going on. How did your parents meet?

"Well, my father played in a Jazz band. He was a saxophone player. My mother told me she wasn't really into that stuff, like musicians and whatnot, but she heard him play one night and walked in on one of his sets," Jazz got a dreamy look in her eyes.

"She said she was mesmerized by him and how he played. She fell in love with him, that night, and fell in love with Jazz." Jazz got a faraway look in her eyes she loved that story.

"Now your name makes perfect sense. That's pretty cool, the whole love at first site thing."

"Yea, what about you, you believe in that?"

"I don't know I've never been in love. But that's how my parents said it was for them too. My dad was totally in love with my Mom when he first saw her. He loved her after too, for as long as she lived." Jazz could sense his anxiety about the topic, and didn't want to push him, or pressure him to talk.

"You've been in the army your whole life?" She changed the subject and he nearly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Right out of high school and worked my way up to special ops. I get a good amount of time for my leave after a long tour. Then I go back." He hated that he knew he was hiding the real reason he was on leave from her. He didn't know how to tell her, and didn't want her to think he was "crazy or dangerous."

"WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LEAVE? WHEN WOULD YOU COME BACK?" Jazz didn't know if she wanted the answer to that. She knew that this was the start of something and neither could deny it. Yet she couldn't help but feel like she was falling head over heels, only to eventually be left behind.

"I don't know yet, but listen to me." He stopped Jazz and stood in front of her but she stopped him with the palm of her hand to his chest.

"You don't owe me an explanation Connor. I understand how it feels to be dedicated to a cause, and I know you'll do what makes you happy. I don't expect to change that." She shrugged it off. What did she care whether he went back and never returned? She tried to tell herself she didn't care, but she did.

"Are your parents supportive?" She continued on with the conversation walking on and Connor reluctantly followed.

"My dad is, but there has never been a time in my life where he hasn't been .My dad makes up most of my family, he's practically the only family I have." Jazz didn't miss the tightness in his voice.

"And your mother," she knew that she shouldn't have asked. But she wanted him to open up to her. His hand seemed tighter on hers and all the sudden it was an inch away from being painful.

"She died while giving birth to me, she was never meant to have children." Connor looked up to the sky, as if he would see her up there.

"Connor I'm so sorry." She felt like an idiot for tumbling over it and causing the pained look on his face. "I'm sure she would be really proud of you. I'm sorry I pried." She looked at him with genuine and sincere eyes and that he could accept, not sympathy.

"Again with the sorry," he teased twirling her around and into his arms and she squealed with delight when he squeezed her tight and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Come on, wanna have a drink. My guy Martin works here." They walked towards the alley as Connor pulled out his phone to give Martin a call to let them in the back door. He was hoping Martin would let them behind the bar for some free drinks.

Before he could dial, Jazz's face became one of horror and she was retreating back at a quick pace. When she saw the bar and then the alley Jazz could feel her head spinning, she thought about his voice, his harsh and unbearable breath, and his hands roaming all over her.

She had barely escaped when the unthinkable was about to happen. She thought about her long run home, how she threw up and was sick to her stomach. The sleepless nights that she faced days after, she had just recently gained back some composure.

"I can't Connor. Connor I can't." She started shaking and he took both of her arms. He tried to calm her but it wasn't helping. Memories blocked her hearing and his voice seemed so far away.

"What's wrong?" He demanded. His eyes were swimming with confusion. He followed her as she walked away and found a bench next to a lamp post and set down attempting to slow her pacing heart.

"It's nothing." Jazz said but as Connor bent on his knees in front of her, he made her put her head between her knees and take deep breaths. Something was wrong.

"Tell me Jazz, what the hell happen back there?" She finally caught her breath just as he was about to take her to an emergency room. He forced her to look at him and she had tears in her eyes.

He didn't have a lot of experience with crying females and she could tell he was going to panic, if she didn't calm down and it almost made her laugh.

"I got attacked in that alley. I got attacked, by a man. It was the day that William told me he was leaving me and wanted to be with another woman. I was just so depressed and went to the bar. I got drunk. I thought I could walk home. I stepped into the alley and he jumped on me."

"He tried to rape me, but another man came and I didn't know what happened. I just tried to escape." Tears ran down her face and Connor wipe them away with his thumb.

"It was like six months ago, in the alley right?" Jazz nodded.

"I remember Jazz. I was there. I was in town. I saw it when I walked past the alley. I tackled him and then you splashed water in my face. I didn't get a chance to see who you really were."

"Oh my god Connor, that was you! I remember now." She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to get a vivid picture. She remembered a set of green eyes piercing through the night. Reality set in that he was her savior and she jumped into his arms.

"Thank you. Connor, thank you so much." Jazz embraced him her arms around his neck as she sobbed onto his chest. She couldn't help but think about what would have happen to her if it hadn't been for him.

"I knew I would see you again." He held her tightly, and let her get it all out. He was always going to protect her, no matter what lurked in the darkness.

ELLEN STOOD IN THE DARKNESS OF THE ALLEY. "Is that her?" Ellen said.

"Yeah that's her. Mmm that sweet honey was almost mines. That's the prick that stood in my way and took me in." He grimaced, and now that same prick had his hands on what he felt belonged to him. He was lucky his father had connections in the legal system.

He had been on the loose in the city for a while, feeding his hunger and desires. When he saw the pictures of Jazz and Connor Ellen had sprawled across her desk, he couldn't believe his luck. Six months ago and he was still thinking about the one that got away.

"Perfect." Ellen's eyes gleamed with pleasure.

"I need you to stay low. No more playing dress up and feeding your...habit." She said and he grunted in disapproval. Ellen grabbed his tie and brought him forward choking him as she brought his ear to her mouth.

"I mean it. You'll have your honey, but we need to spook her first. I want this bitch to suffer, and bring her little army brat out of that house."

"Yes. Okay." He said gasping for air, and she let him go and he fell against the wall trying for his breath.

"Stick to the plan idiot. Or I'll turn your ass in without thinking twice. And this time daddy won't be able to come to your rescue." She threw him to the ground and pressed her heel to his chest to show him she meant business and clicked off down the alley and out of sight.