DRAGONJULS Storybook
Disclaimer and Acknowledgements: See Part One
Part 16
Chapter Thirty-three
Catherine sank into the wonderful downy bed in the hotel room in LA. She was tired after her journey from New York and the hours she had needed to work to enable her to have everything covered. Now reclining on the bed she was tempted to just sleep the afternoon and evening through until her meeting with Hudson.......but NO! There was an infinitely better reason to stay awake tonight, Jace!
Paul had taken the opportunity to spend some time with his partner, although he had offered to have dinner with her she had declined. Hell, she had a much better candidate lined up for that festivity.
Picking up the phone she dialled the UCP office number given to her by Paul, and asked to speak with Ms Bardley.
"Hello this is Jace Bardley, how may I help you?" a cheery voice answered.
Catherine found the voice totally enchanting. Smiling she answered in a low voice, "Ms Bardley how about dinner?" she waited for a response.
Hearing a thud and a scuffle she was a little surprised, was there a problem at the other end. "Hey, Jace are you still there?" Catherine asked in concern.
"Zeus, Catherine you surprised me! What do you mean dinner?" Jace was flushed and excited all at once, having recovered from dropping the phone.
"Well.....I kind of thought that as a stranger in town you might take pity on me tonight." Catherine spoke in a low gravely tone, and to Jace it was one of the most tantalising voices she would ever hear in her life, it consistently set her emotions on overload.
"You're in town?" Jace asked in wonder, if Catherine could see her eyes they would have been as round as saucers.
"Yes, I think a certain best friend of mine constantly invited me so here I am," she chuckled at the complete surprise of her friend.
"You never mentioned it at all! Catherine if I didn't love you so much I would be furious with you!" Jace laughed self-consciously at her end.
"So, have we a date?" Knowing she was teasing Jace.
"Oh, my god, of course we have a date. Do you know how long I've been waiting for you?" Jace answered breathlessly but in a serious tone.
"Two months, three weeks and a day." Catherine said nonchalantly.
"Hades, I didn't realise you were counting, but I was going to say Forever," she laughed at the thought of Catherine counting the days since she had left 'Destiny'.
Catherine this time was the one to be surprised and she let out a sigh as she sank back into the bed.
"Are you still there Catherine?" This time Jace was concerned.
"Yes.....yes I'm still here. Guess I wasn't expecting that! What time shall I pick you up?" Catherine said quietly, still digesting the last snippet of information from Jace.
"How about I meet you at your hotel, and we decide where to eat from there?"
"Sure, but I still need a time?"
"I would take the afternoon off if I thought I could get away with it, but Hudson is having a strange day, so make it seven, okay?" Jace said abstractedly.
Catherine smiled at the statement regarding Hudson. 'Yeah with luck she might actually be rattled for a change.' She continued with her conversation. "Great, I'll meet you in the lobby at seven."
"Until then." Jace smiled into the handset.
"Until then, bye Jace." Catherine replaced her receiver and shut her eyes, with one thought coming to mind, or was it a word?
FOREVER!
**********
Jace was smiling. Well, grinning would have been a more appropriate expression. Everywhere she went on the lot she smiled, it didn't matter if someone was happy or gave her a sad story about their dog dying or that their grandson was in an accident or something equally distracting, she smiled! It was almost as if she had found a secret stash of a happy drug or something, people who knew her well, found her smile intoxicating and reciprocated. Others thought she was on a high and someone really should do something about it!
As Jace rounded a corner of the lot near her office, and the time got nearer to six, she suddenly jumped as high as she could and said out loud to no one in particular "YES!" Giving the air a high five as she jumped. Her happiness wasn't going to be dulled by anyone, not even Hudson. She briskly walked into the building.
All sorts of thoughts went through Jace's mind as she went about her day, she couldn't believe that Catherine was finally here and she hadn't mentioned one word, not a one. 'Oh there is payback and how Catherine! I can't believe you have come over and to see me! I'm going to make tonight so special that you won't want to leave ever again, or at least not without me by your side.'
Jace walked by Agnes' desk and noted she had gone for the evening, which was always a good sign. Walking into the area that held her office space and also the internal door to Hudson's office, she noticed that the light was still shining under the door. "Hades, I hope she doesn't want me now!"
Jace went to her desk and sorted through any mail that had arrived in the interim of her absence. Nothing to worry about, she put them away in a secure place and closed down her computer, with that the door to Hudson's office opened and Peter Adamson was being hustled out.
"Ah Jace, glad to see you back! Wanted to let you know we have important visitors tomorrow and Agnes is on holiday, so I need you in the office to welcome them and stay until they leave." Hudson demanded not asked.
Jace glanced at Hudson and nodded her head, and then she noticed that Peter looked uncomfortable as she looked quizzically at him.
"Hi Jace, do you want to go out to dinner tonight?" He smiled at her wearily, his face telling her more about his trials with Hudson then a thousand words could ever express.
"I'm sorry Peter, but I already have plans." She replied softly, giving him a smile of understanding.
"Rain check then?" He tilted his head in her direction totally ignoring an impatient Hudson.
"Yes, look forward to it." Jace looked from Peter to Hudson.
"Oh, so you finally noticed the boss exists, how very kind of you!" Hudson said sarcastically and noticed Jace flush.
"Just remember who signed the pay check Jace, I think we have already had this conversation, and hate to repeat myself!" Hudson said maliciously.
"Yes, you have already told me that! Do I get to know who the special visitors are?" Jace looked directly at her boss.
"No!" Hudson said and strode past the two of them and out of the external door.
Jace watched her go and then looked at Peter in question.
He shrugged and walked over to her desk. "Is it a heavy date?" He asked her with interest, somewhat disappointed.
"Yes." she answered with a slight blush to her cheeks.
He noticed the colouring and managed to look a little contrite. "Guess it's none of my business, hope you have a good night." he walked towards the door.
"Peter!"
He turned to look at her.
"You're my friend Peter, thank you for asking," she smiled at him and collected her purse and car keys.
Peter left the building and Jace glanced at her watch. "Hades, I have to get home and shower and change and get to the hotel in.....hotel.....which hotel? Oh gods, I never asked. She's going to kill me, I never thought about it." She spoke absently to one of her resident dragons.
Sitting down on the chair, she looked at the blank terminal screen in front of her and wondered what to do. Putting her head on the desk, she closed her eyes and knew she had really blown it. Getting up slowly she noticed it was six-fifteen; and she needed to get home and changed, there must be some way she could find Catherine?
Walking as fast as she could, but without the spring to her step of earlier, she got into her car and headed home.
**********
Catherine awoke from her sleep at five, not bad really, she certainly felt refreshed for her evening with Jace. Gradually waking enough to get out of bed, she stretched and realised she could have at least an hour in the bath before her engagement with Jace.
Walking over to the TV, she switched channels several times, and then decided that CNN was perhaps the best option for a foreigner, especially in the States, to many damn channels to choose from and nothing on any of them to watch. No, that wasn't quite true, if you liked a particular program you usually saw it first in the States. Not like at home, usually at least two seasons behind, assuming they didn't cancel it on the home run; now, that really was a pain. Fortunately with her resources, she bought up videos ferociously to combat that particular planning problem. Not only that, she hated Ad's and that was one thing the BBC was good at, no Ad's. Still she no longer lived in the UK and hadn't for a while now, so it had been purely nostalgia. Good nostalgia though!
Curling her toes on the thick carpet, she decided to run her bath and contemplate her evening.
Sitting in the bath relaxing, she wondered what she would say to Jace tonight. 'Tonight
was perhaps the right time to tell her everything, it would give her time to digest the
information and decide if she really did want any sort of lasting relationship with me.
Mind you, Hudson in the morning after seeing Jace upset wasn't a good way to have a
meeting. No, think the explanation will come after the meeting with Hudson, at least she
will know part of the story by then or at least the alter ego. Hell! I can't see
any problem with Jace knowing that my business life went under the name of Devonshire,
hardly a major topic of conversation. Yes, that sounds good to me.' Sinking further
in the bubble filled bath, she suddenly shot up!
"Oh Christ! I forgot to mention which Hotel I'm in!" Catherine spluttered as she spoke the words out loud and close to the bubble water line. Thinking fast she rushed out of the bath and grabbed a towel and moved into the recreational area. Picking up the phone, glanced at the time, "gads, it's was six-ten". She speed dialled a number she had programmed into the cell phone.
After leaving a message on Jace's machine, she rubbed herself dry and sat down heavily on the end of the king size bed in the aboriously decorated suite. Suddenly weary at the thought that what she anticipated as a wonderful evening could easily have een a very frustrating one.
**********
Catherine walked around the lobby in an agitated way; it was seven-twenty and still no sign of Jace. Hell, maybe she hadn't anaged to get away from the studio?
Her back turned away from the main entrance; she failed to see Jace enter.
Jace looked around the lobby, noticed the woman who would always hold her attention no matter where she was or what she as doing. The tall, dark and quite intoxicatingly beautiful Catherine Warriorson was only yards away from her; she felt the agnetic pull of attraction so acutely it was almost breaking her apart. Walking over to raven haired beauty, Jace smiled at the nxious look she saw on Catherine's profile from the left side. "You know if you keep that expression on your face much longer t's going to stay for good and mare that beautiful face." Jace spoke softly to the woman whose back tensed at the words.
Turning, Catherine drank in the lovely sight that appeared like a spectre to her. It had seemed so unattainable, yet it was within her grasp at last. "Have you been talking to Grace recently?" Catherine nonchalantly replied, although that belied the true feelings she had cursing through her veins at the sight of the young woman.
"Hello Catherine". Jace spoke shyly her eyes never leaving the ice blue gaze she had longed for in the months of their separation.
"Hello Jace Bradley". Catherine couldn't stop herself from putting out a hand and gently touched Jace's cheek. 'She was definitely real!'
Jace was entranced. This was the woman she had professed her heart and soul too, and all she wanted to do was drown in the emotions of being with her again. "I love you Catherine Warriorson." her voice cracked at the emotion she felt at their close proximity.
Smiling Catherine gently grasped one of Jace's hands and pulled it towards her lips. "I love you more than life itself Jace," the emotional charge around the two of them was electric.
They stood there, absorbing the presence of the other; neither wanted to move.
"Where do you want to eat?" Catherine asked finally, her ice blue gaze tracking the green eyes with precision.
"Eat! You want to eat?" Jace asked her in frustration.
"Well, there are alternatives to that of course. What do you want to do?" Catherine gave her a cautious look as she saw the frustrated expression on Jace's face.
Jace saw the concerned look from her friend and decided that eating was a start. " Okay, we eat. How about my place?"
Catherine's smiled changed to a grin. "Maybe tomorrow. How about we have a meal here and we talk. What do you say?"
"Well, I guess we can. But wouldn't you rather go back to my place?" Jace look disappointed.
"Patience my friend, patience! Let's go and have something to eat."
Catherine saw the disappointed look and disregarding anyone or anything in the vicinity to them she dipped her head and placed a tender kiss on Jace's lips before gently taking the younger woman's arm and guided her towards the hotel restaurant.
Jace bemusedly followed the feel of Catherine's lips imprinted on hers to savour. Tonight, was going to exceed her expectations of this reunion, without any shadow of a doubt.
**********
Their dinner progressed easily, each woman talking about situations in their own world, and constantly passing tender glances across the table.
At one stage their glances had locked so much it had taken the waiter several clearances of his throat before he could get their attention. He looked the most embarrassed of the three, playing out that little scenario, when they finally noticed him.
As they concluded the main course, a dessert was offered and Catherine passed the menu to Jace with a smirk.
"What?" Jace grinned at the woman opposite her, whose face held such an expression of happiness it was hard to associate her with the stoic persona that could easily present itself to the world in general.
"Dessert for you, not me." Catherine gave her a grin.
"Well, I was kinda hoping that........" Jace gave her a wicked smile.
With Catherine's left eyebrow raised she looked quizzically at her friend. "Hoping?"
"Yes, hoping that the dessert I was going to offer at my home would be more to your liking." Jace looked down at her empty place setting and a blush became apparent to the onlooker.
"You do, do you? Now that's an offer worth considering." Catherine spoke in a low growl for Jace's ears only.
"Does that mean a yes or no?" Jace asked breathlessly.
Motioning over the waiter, she spoke briefly to him; he immediately rushed to his station and grabbed their bill. He quickly saunters back to them, with more haste than Jace had ever seen in a waiter.
Catherine looked at the green eyes of her friend and saw the sparkle of laughter at the action of the waiter; who had tripped in his haste to swiftly present the bill to Catherine.
Taking the bill from the man, she signed the paper with a flourish and looked him in the eye, unexpectedly giving him a wink, added something to the bottom of the bill, passed it back to him and saw his smile grow wider. Catherine then looked back at her dinner guest and smiled seductively. "Does that answer your question?"
"Yes." Jace swooned silently, giving a thank you to whoever was listening.
"Let's go then." Catherine got up from her seat and with a speed that amazed Jace; she was behind her seat helping her up.
Jace looked into those ice blue eyes and the look she received almost sent her back into the cushioned seat to stop her legs giving out at the dazzling, sensuous glance.
"Thank you."
"My pleasure."
They walked out of the restaurant and out through the main door into the cool night air. Catherine casually linked her arm in Jace's as they headed for her vehicle and the place Jace called home.
**********
Glancing round the small apartment, she noticed arrays of flowers and smiled, knowing that they must undoubtedly be from her. She also noticed all the items of furniture that Jace had mentioned in their conversations and e-mails. Going over to the desk, which housed Jace's PC, she picked up a framed photo, which could only be of Jace's family.
Jace had gone into the kitchen to prepare some coffee and in all honesty to get her equilibrium back, although she had wanted this! Jace had no experience whatsoever of how to seduce Catherine, other than with words and she had obviously done that already! Having read some revealing fan fiction on the Internet it had at least given her ideas, if not the courage to attempt them. 'Had Catherine experience with other women; I know about her taste in men or at least one man, but women? That was something different again.' Pushing a hand through her hair she collected the coffee mugs and went back in search of her friend.
Hearing her approach, Catherine turned and smiled gently at Jace, she looked a little nervous. "Is this your family?" a hand pausing over the picture frame.
"Yes, my Mom, Dad and my sister Lucy. We're very close, I was over at the house a few weeks ago," her gentle smile clearly painting its own picture.
"Your parents have done a good job in bringing up at least one of their daughters." Catherine looked keenly at Jace.
"My parents will be happy to meet you anytime if you say nice things like that about them, without prompting too!" A chuckle passed Jace's lips.
They each drank a mug of coffee in silence.
Catherine glanced around the room and then grinned at Jace. "I don't see any chocolate about, didn't I send enough; or wasn't it to your taste?" Catherine asked her in earnest.
"Don't go there Catherine, I'm not sure if I should even allow you around me, you are so, so bad for me!" Jace chuckled at her friend.
Catherine moved closer to Jace. "How so?" quirking her ever faithful left eyebrow.
"I must have put on ten pounds with all the chocolate I've eaten already, it was irresistible." Jace grinned at her.
"Irresistible huh? So it's all gone?" Catherine sounded disappointed.
"No! No, quite the contrary, in the kitchen you will find a cupboard called Catherine's chocolate cavern, trust me on that!" Jace gave her a dazzling, appreciative smile.
Catherine found something equally irresistible to her; bending closer to Jace she captured her lips in a searing kiss, leaving them both breathless when they eventually surfaced for air.
Considering her options, Catherine looked deep into green orbs that looked back at her passionately. She'd hoped to not have to have this conversation tonight. "I need to tell you some things about me Jace. Some are good, some are bad and to be honest some are downright disgusting. I need you to know everything about me," her eyes never left the blonde and she could see conflicting emotions pass over the expressive face.
The silence became almost unbearable for Catherine.
Then suddenly Jace moved to within an inch of her face and a dreamy expression came over her face. "Can I show you something?" She whispered seductively.
"Sure," came back the simple reply.
Capturing one of Catherine's larger hands in hers, she tugged her towards a room immediately left of the kitchen area; opening the door they entered Jace's bedroom.
Catherine looked startled at the younger woman and started to speak, a slim finger was placed over her lips to silence her. "Sit, I'll be back in a few minutes." Jace went through a door in the middle of the right hand wall; it was a small but comfortable bathroom.
The bedsprings squeaked a little as Catherine lowered her weight on the bed and looked around at the very tidy but cosy room. 'This isn't working we should be talking. She needs to know everything!' her mind said, but her heart was thudding at the possibilities the situation was opening up.
The door to the other room opened and Catherine was hard pressed not to shout out at the vision in front of her.
Jace had dispensed with her clothes and stood before Catherine almost as an offering to the gods of the ancients. Her body was very well defined and it was clear that Jace worked out. Her tan evidence of the part of country she lived in, the expression 'all over tan' popped into Catherine's mind. It made her skin look very healthy and quite magnificent.
Jace walked over to Catherine who couldn't keep her eyes from the vision getting closer and closer, speech was no longer an option, her mouth far too dry to utter one syllable. The super confidant Catherine Devonshire-Warriorson lost for words? She most certainly was.
Jace stopped within inches of Catherine, who sat rigid on her bed, smiling, her confidence coming back in leaps and bounds. Somehow she was in total control and it felt good, no, it felt wonderful. "I think I promised you dessert?" Jace huskily said, looking into ice blue eyes that held deep desire, or could it be 'fear'? No, it was returned desire.
Catherine hadn't recovered from the vision in front of her and she didn't think she ever would, her response was to nod her head.
Had Jace not been locked in a sense of complete sensual mist herself, she would have chuckled at the nervous anticipating movement of Catherine's head. Sensing it was up to her to make the first physical approach, as Catherine seemed incapable of any suggestive action for some strange reason. Her green eyes sparkled with the fire of rekindled need and unexpected passion, making her blush and chuckle silently. Placing her hands around the broad shoulders of her friend, she lightly turned her face to
Catherine's for what started as a gentle exploration but ended up a passionate embrace, sending erotic shockwaves through both of them. Jace relished in this sensation, collapsed on top of Catherine and settling into her lap.
Cradling Jace's face in her hands, Catherine finally managed to speak, although it was rather hoarse. "Please, Jace we need to talk!"
"No! I need for you to know how I feel about you and the only thing that will do that is for you to touch me, not talk to me," her emotions evident in her words.
"Jace it's important to me that you know what and who I am." Catherine pleaded.
"I know what you are! You're the woman I love, what more do I need?" several soft kisses were placed on full lips and she heard a low growl of protest.
"I love you too! But....." Catherine tried again, knowing her resolve was just about shot to hell.
"No buts Catherine, you're mine! That's enough for me, now stop talking and kiss me." Jace placed her inviting mouth tantalisingly close to the older woman's.
'I tried, I really tried, but oh hell, she's just too much for me.' With her resolve finally shredded to the wind, Catherine pulled Jace further into her arms as she lay on the bed and kissed her soft lips again, again, and again.
"You have too many clothes on Catherine." Jace finally whispered into her neck, Catherine's clothes already askew from their passionate kissing and exploring touches.
"I know Love, going to help me with that problem?" a throaty voice, close to the curve of Jace's left breast, eventually asked.
"I doubt you would try and stop me!" Jace began her task in loving earnest appreciation.
For the rest of that night only the sounds of two people very much in love could be heard, experiencing and professing that very emotion; two souls being satisfied that once again, having been reunited and claimed!
**********
Catherine woke to find herself being held captive by a blonde wrapped tightly around her body, sleeping soundly. 'If this is the captivity of love, then I'm never letting it go!'
Glancing towards the small bedside table, she noticed that it was five thirty a.m. 'Hell, I've got a breakfast meeting with Paul in the hotel at seven, going to have to wake up sleeping beauty.' The thought made her smile in anticipation
Placing feather light kisses all over the face of the woman who had so deftly and without apparent effort claimed her heart. Catherine felt Jace stir and she smiled, the smile becoming wider as Jace finally opened her eyes.
"Good morning, my Love, are you going to wake me up like this every morning?" Jace looked at her with a sleep filled expression.
"Good morning to you too, and the answer to that one is yes!" a low growl erupted from Catherine as she said the final word.
"Gods, do you know how sexy you sound when you say things to me in that tone of voice?"
"No, but I'm sure you will enlighten me," a slow sultry smile settled on Catherine's face.
"Catherine, I think you can feel what you do to me with that voice, without any help from me!" Jace softly responded.
Catherine placed a hand in a strategic spot, her lips curled up in a wolfish grin. "So I see."
Laughing she gently disengaged her hand from the spot in question and looked deep into Jace's glazed expression and it wasn't from any remnants of sleep either. Lacing her fingers with her younger partners, she brought them to her lips and kissed each one reverently. "I have to go Jace. Unfortunately business calls and somehow turning up at the hotel looking and smelling as I do, wouldn't quite be in keeping with my image." She smiled gently at Jace, who looked disappointed.
"We could always cancel what we have on today and stay in bed?" Jace flushed at the thought of spending the entire day making love with this silky haired, beautiful woman. Catherine hadn't said but it was obvious to Jace early in the throws of passion that Catherine wasn't a novice in the art of making love to a woman, she was going to ask about that someday, but not today!
Tracing a finger down the cheeks on Jace's face that had taken on a rosy glow, she gazed at her young lover and wanted nothing more than to spend the day in bed with her, but later. After today, then the way would be clear for them to do whatever they wanted. "I want that also Jace! But today I have to keep to the appointments I've made, it's important to my future.' Catherine noticed a look of anxiety on Jace's face. "Hey, my love don't worry, it's just business and when I think about it, it's for our future. So come on, the sooner you let me up, the sooner I can finish the business and get back to you!"
Jace turned her face into Catherine's chest and the older woman felt moisture forming on her breasts.
"Are you okay Jace?" Catherine anxiously asked her lover.
"I love you Catherine." Jace turned her head slightly so that Catherine saw the tears she was shedding.
Tilting up Jace's head with gentle fingers, Catherine kissed away the tears and sighed softly into the face that would forever hold her soul.
'Did I really think that? She has my soul? Maybe, I do believe in soulmates after all! How ironic that would be!' Laughing she caught Jace's surprised look as she leaned in once more and passionately kissed her hungrily on willing lips that had clearly been lovingly sought and tasted repeatedly the previous night.
**********
Catherine had called a cab; she knew Jace had to be at the studio, so it made sense for her to make her own way back to the hotel.
Looking at the blonde who was standing a few feet away from her in an over-sized T-shirt with the familiar 'Taz' on the front. Catherine's mind flashed to the moment in Christchurch when she had seen the store with toys of all shapes and sizes. She had almost sent Jace an adorable Pooh Bear complete with the honeypot. Then she had tripped literally over the giant 'Taz', after cursing a couple of times, she'd noted its mischievous grin and for her it was the only thing to send. After all, hadn't Jace done just that to her, made her trip and fall in love, yeah even in those early days.
Crooking her finger at the gorgeous sight of her young lover. "Tonight, you, me and a very long chat. Then you can get your wish my love, I'll spend the rest of my life in your bed, if that is what you want?" Her eyes gently caressed the honey haired woman with love.
Jace walked over to her and placed her hands round the neck she knew every inch of after last night. "Okay, my place or yours?" Lips captured Catherine's in a searing kiss of lingering desire and possession.
"Yours, most definitely yours!" a breathless Catherine Warriorson responded, with desire threatening to devour her entire being.
The sound of the bell being pushed on her apartment made both women groan.
"Gods, I miss you already." Jace spoke quietly into her black hair, hanging unsecured.
"Tell me about it! I love you Jace, see you later." Placing a soft kiss on her nose, Catherine opened the door and proceeded to walk down to the waiting cab, the drive back having little significance to her.
**********
Paul Strong was greeted by a very enthusiastic but somewhat tired looking Catherine Devonshire. "Did you have a good night?" he asked her as he set a menu in front of her, having been given the table earlier.
Catherine smiled at him wickedly. "You could say that." Picking up the menu she couldn't help the grin covering her face that refused to retreat into its stoic demeanour.
Paul chuckled softly. "Glad someone had some success in their love life."
Catherine raised the formidable eyebrow. "You didn't? Why was that?"
Looking at his menu, he smiled wryly. "James had a party he had to attend, he didn't get home until late and wasn't exactly in a fit state to do anything but sleep it off."
"Sorry to hear that." She smirked in his direction as the waitress arrived to process their order.
"I guess food might be high on your list of things about now?" Paul slyly intoned.
Winking at him from across the table. "Sure, what's your excuse?"
They both laughed as he ordered the largest platter of food he could.
He liked this Catherine Devonshire, this was the woman that you got glimpses of from time to time, but it was certainly out in force this morning; long may it last!
Continued in Part 17
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