Adult-FanFiction.org : Television / Streaming

Love Undercover	By : gallygaskins Category: M through R > Robin Hood Views: 1581 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood and I do not earn money from this fanfiction.

Chapter List
- 17
- 18
- 19
Chapter 18

The sound of loud horns from the busy London streets outside the hotel awoke Jo from her sleep. Her hands moved over the bed sheets searching for her lover, her eyes fluttering open as she realised that she was now on her own. 'He wouldn't have left without saying goodbye, would he?' Her thoughts asked as she sat up abruptly and searched the space around her, she noticed that her clothing had been thoughtfully gathered together and placed on the chair she had sat in earlier when she hadn't been able to sleep. A silky robe had been placed at the end of the bed.

Crawling from the dishevelled bed she slipped into the robe, the cool satin feeling good against her naked flesh. She tied the belt before walking out into the living area, expecting to see him or for there to at least be a note waiting for her to read.

The shuffle of gravel underfoot alerted her attention to the outside veranda, her heart skipping a beat as she noticed that Guy was stood by the balcony watching the world go by several metres below. Noticing that he was fully clothed she decided to keep things light, "had enough of me already?" She joked, hoping that her tone didn't sound too serious.

He turned on the spot and watched as she walked towards him, his arms open wide waiting to pull her into his embrace and pepper her with kisses. "I could never get enough of you, but I was hoping that I wouldn't have to wake you before I did need to leave to meet with Robert."

Tears sprung up in her eyes, she looked upwards as if in conference with the Gods, "was it too much to ask to not be upset." She let her head drop, her eyes meeting his and never wanting to let go. Even though this had been her idea she couldn't let this end like it was going to. "If I asked you to stay for another day?"

"The parting tomorrow would be twice as hard for us, Jo. Please don't ask me."

"Just twelve hours then."

"No, we can't. I love you and I want you but not like this. Besides the sooner I am gone, the sooner we will be together again. It's going to be a miserable year and we're going to miss so much, our birthdays, Christmas, New Year, Valentine's Day, but it will only be once around, I promise you."

"How can you promise that?" She blurted out; her heart cracking as she understood the time for letting him go was so very close. "You have no idea how long any of this is going to take."

"It will go quickly," he pulled her closer. "Damn Vasey and Emily to hell for keeping me from you."

"Don't blame them. It's something that perhaps you should've tried to face before but then I can understand why you didn't. You hoped, like I did, that the all the bad things would just go away and that one day as the memory no longer existed then nor did any responsibility caused by it either." She was sobbing as she spoke. "This is going to hurt like hell, isn't it?"

He nodded, only too well aware of what it was going to do to them both, "but we have to be strong, Jo. We have to do this." She nodded as he took her hand and walked with her to the door of her room. He pulled her toward him, his mouth seeking hers and arresting it once found. She kissed back, never wanting the moment to end as all too quickly he pulled away from her and went to open the door.

Her hand slammed against the wood, "six hours," she desperately shouted, her body wracking along with her weeping. She looked to him, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. He simply shook his head pulling her to him for their last embrace, kissing the top of her head and then turning from her as quickly as he could and finding his way from the room. "Wait," she screeched from the open doorway. He stopped, turned and waited as she ran down the corridor and into his arms.

"Jo?"

"I love you, Guy Gisborne," she whispered, her face soaked, her expression sombre.

He tried to smile but was unable to, "I love you, Joanne Harper. I'm going to miss you, my love."

She nodded, "yes, whoever said 'parting is such sweet sorrow' was definitely right."

Guy's hands cupped her face and he delivered the sweetest kiss that he could muster, "I must go but promise me you'll marry me as soon as this is all over with."

She laughed, "is that a proposal? If it is I want another ring."

He smiled, "oh, Jo. It's a proposal, a promise is one thing but I need to know that you will always be mine, so will you ... marry me?" He started backing off down the corridor finally prepared to be leaving her.

She nodded, "yes, I will as soon as this is over with."

"Thank you." She bit her lip as she watched him round the corner and disappear from view. Tears carried on falling as she padded back into her room, closing the door behind her and retracing her steps into the bedroom. Sinking down onto the bed she cried again until she could physically cry no more. Her tears had dried up, her eyes and face a puffy mess and her body was prone from exertion. Mentally, physically and emotionally drained, Jo fell back to sleep dreaming of a day in the future when they would be reunited.

.oOo.

Having originally intending to make her move to Devon on the Monday evening, Robert was surprised to receive a call from Jo saying that she was still utilising the hotel room and could they meet up. For the few days since she and Guy had parted Jo had had no inclination to do anything other than grieve and pine away. In all fairness, it had seemed like he had died and a piece of her had been ripped away from her body when their separation had ensued. It had also seemed like a good idea to get some reassurances from the only person that could give them to her so she had called upon her old boss and now, ever dutiful liaison.

"When are you off to Devon then?" Robert finally asked as he polished off another shot of whiskey.

"Tomorrow morning, my aunt was expecting me Monday evening as it was, I can't lie to her again."

"Have you told her anything about Guy and you?"

"Not yet, not that she'll know too much of what I'm saying, I'm sure. She doesn't even know who half the people around her are half the time," she answered, fondly thinking of the old lady. Aunt May was getting on, she was in her late eighties but she was always still up for a challenge even if she couldn't remember anyone's name. Her garden was her life and she could still turn soil and harvest pinks with the best of them. "She has a keen interest in me as I am her only living relative; I think she has intentions of me taking over her business. All she's interested in is of my learning the ropes."

"I'm sure that's not true, Jo."

"No? You don't know my aunt. She managed very nicely without a man for over sixty years. My uncle died on Juno beach, he was a Canadian soldier and one of the first waves of men to land there during D-Day. She either hated the prospect of loving and losing again or she loved my uncle more than anyone ever thought her capable, she was very subdued when it came to showing emotion."

"You have no cousins?"

She shook her head, "there is just May and I left."

"Is this what you want?"

"Do I have a choice? At least there I can start my life over, do something that I hope I will enjoy and will occupy my time effectively so that I'm not thinking about Guy too much. Did you offer him my job?"

"Yes, he will be good for the team the little time he is with us." Robert winked, "after all, I know that we'll not be able to keep hold of him after he has the divorce papers in his hand. He'll be too eager rushing down to Devon and claiming you as his own."

"Look after him for me?"

"Naturally, I don't think you'd let me hear the end of it if he arrived bruised and battered."

"No, you're right there. I'm going to miss him."

"He knows, as do the rest of us I might add, I had to give him the day off today. He came in this morning like a bear with a sore head, ranting and raving about the divorce. She's already giving him problems by the sound of it."

"How come?"

"As they've been separated for so long he decided to go for separation without consent. For some reason she's brought up your relationship but Guy has been told by Henry that he's got to admit to it in order for it to cause a problem. She's going to try everything but as she is being held for your attempted murder then Henry is confident that the court will view it as one in a long line of charges that will constitute unreasonable behaviour. She's entitled to part of his pension and that's about it, he rents his flat and the car was a police vehicle. Sounds like it should be relatively uncomplicated seeing as he wants none of her accumulated wealth but then knowing Marion she'll just keep trying to break him down somehow."

"Has she been told that we've 'broken up'?" Jo asked.

"She's been told. Guy and I went to see her yesterday; he took great delight in telling her. For the first time ever, I saw her flinch. She wasn't happy by that little titbit of information. It was even more of a blow when I told her that we were going after her for attempted murder before we even press charges for all the other things she's been involved in. She's going to make a plea of not guilty, unsurprisingly but with the evidence we have she'll get five years for starters. Under the circumstances that's better than seeing her walk free and if we can get the other charges to stick then it will be a fifteen to twenty year stretch for her. And Guy is determined to make those other charges stick."

"Is there any indication of how long the divorce could take, Guy told me it could be up to twelve months."

"That's about it at the moment, Henry is doing everything he can to make it move more quickly but even he says the best they can hope for is nine months with the divorce. It's because of the way the system works and with Marion banged up; it doesn't necessarily make it any easier. However, the court is aware of her incarceration and Henry is confident that the prison will co-operate. He's been speaking to the governor."

She sighed, "it seems like you all have everything under control then. Good, at least I can now go away happy knowing that. Thanks Robert."

"It's my pleasure. Is there anything you want me to pass on to Guy, any message?"

Her eyes clouded but she bit back the tears willing them to subside. "Just tell him that my thoughts are with him. And that I love him."

"No probs. Oh, wait; he gave me something to give to you." Robert turned slightly to pick up a box that was sat next to him. He passed it to her, "just don't open it up here, he mentioned that you should open it when you're on your own."

"Oh right," her eyes sparkled. "Best do as he says then, good night Robert and goodbye for now."

Robert hugged her, "goodbye for now, Jo. We'll speak soon, I'm sure." She nodded.

Clutching the present to her she walked from the hotel bar and found a waiting lift to take her to her floor. She hugged the box to her, wishing that the giver was there with her but knowing that it was impossible for the time being. What should she do? Open it or keep it for when they were together. From the words that Robert had used, Guy had every intention of her opening it without him and if Robert asked and she hadn't how would Guy feel? She knew how she'd feel if he hadn't done something she had asked him to do.

She tugged at the gold ribbon bow, allowing the length to fall onto the bed as she slid the dark crimson handmade paper covered box top from the bottom. She was met with the same colour in tissue paper and pulled back the corner to get to what was waiting for her beneath. A cream velum envelope sat atop more tissue paper with a rose of the palest yellow, she grabbed at the letter and the rose, hardly waiting to tear at the flap so that she could get to the letter within. A waft of his distinctive spicy scent hit her nostrils as she opened the halved paper and began to read.

My dearest Jo

What more can I say? After spending those short hours with you and longer ones since without you I find myself reflecting on those memories we made together again and again, especially when you made me the happiest man on the earth and accepted my proposal. I know we didn't have the time to seal our engagement in a fitting manner but we will, soon and I hope you will do me the honour at that time of wearing the enclosed.

I'm sure the sales assistant must have thought I was completely mad when I entered the shop and started to wander aimlessly through the rails of lingerie looking for the most perfect item for you. I must have been in there for hours and spent considerably more than I intended to but I couldn't help myself. Needless to say I won't be destroying this piece as readily as I had the one you were wearing on Sunday, as I'll still probably be paying for it.

She giggled, memories of him peeling that particular garment away from her body flooding her senses with the imagery of it. She continued to read.

Go on, have a look, put it on and try it if you want to. Feel sexy for me and think about me, come for me too if you wish it, scream out my name as you imagine my hands working over your body, I'll soon be there doing it for real. And when you scream out my name I will hear you, as I'm sure you will hear me as I do the same, imagining you lying on our bed, wearing what I've bought you, eagerly waiting for me to strip you naked and make love to you.

Keep safe, my love and enjoy your present. I will be with you soon,

All my love

Guy xxx

Tearing back what was left of the tissue paper she pulled out the first item. She was holding up a small robe made completely of Italian lace which would have barely covered her, but then that was probably the idea, more a suggestion. Its finely woven pattern was the colour of the deepest of blue's and would've matched Guy's eyes had he been there watching her reaction to his gift intently. It was edged with a silk satin binding in a rich gold colour and felt soft to the touch, it would feel good on. She peered back into the box, surely he hadn't meant for her to just wear that. There was something else there and she delved in once more pulling out a one piece bodysuit that was made from the same blue Italian lace, and would leave nothing to the imagination. Not that that thought didn't appeal to her and surely to him either when he had bought it imagining her in it wearing it for him.

Quickly she undressed and slipped into the delicate fabric, loving the feel of the expensive lace against her skin and the cool strips of satin against her thighs, around her arms and neck and down over her breasts. She inhaled sharply, how one carefully selected item could make her feel so good. She did up the gold satin covered buttons that ran from just under her breasts down to her navel. She turned to look at herself in the mirror, and gasped, she had never worn anything that had fitted her so perfectly before especially without the aid of lycra. Her ample bosom filled the cups adequately, the deep v of the neckline allowed a showing of more flesh than she ever imagined it would and the simple cap sleeves and straight shorts leg hems added to the finish. Once she had slipped on the robe she became aware that she could still see the dark pink of her areola and the dark hair at her mound and she realised how excited she felt at the prospect of Guy seeing her in the garments.

She found her camera and took a couple of pictures, he had made her the perfect gift and she should return the favour. There was a glint in her eye as she looked over the pictures and upon deciding there were still a couple she still needed to take, she set the camera up on a timer and began to work on the next series of shots.

An hour later, the camera battery spent and the underwear partly discarded, Jo sat up and thought about how she had done what he'd asked, imagining him being there making love to her, his hands wandering over her body possessively as the memory of him loving her had allowed her to play out her fantasy and come for him as she had touched herself, and finally screamed his name out at the top of her voice as she had ridden the wave of her orgasm and slipped over the edge. Laying herself back on top of the covers she pulled the duvet around her, "thank you Guy," she whispered before she drifted into the best night's sleep she had had since they had parted. "I love you."

.oOo.

Even though the journey was relatively simple and the sun was out, Jo's heart was crying. For every mile that carried her further away from London and Guy the pain got worse. She'd chosen to take the M3, joining the A303 and passing Stonehenge as she had done on so many other occasions in her past. But today it held no thrill for her, not even as she saw the sun brushing its golden rays over the cold grey granite of the imposing standing stones did it seem to calm her, it was just another mile away from everything that meant anything to her.

She was being selfish; it was unfair of her to think of her aunt as not meaning anything to her. It was good that her last remaining relative was taking an interest in helping Jo do something with her life. Jo still hadn't told her aunt about Guy and she didn't intend to, not unless the old lady asked questions as Jo knew she would invariably do at some point in time but until then Jo would bear her solitude as best she could, being instructed by aunt May in the art of growing pinks and other dianthus varieties that the nursery had grown for over seventy five years and deciding whether horticulture was as much in her bones as it had been in most of the family's.

Her great grandfather had actually set up the business at a time when money was tight in Britain but with good common sense and stringent planning he had made a hobby become a good living for him and his family and he'd hoped that future generations would also continue to prosper. It had started as a gift of a small piece of land from a grateful landowner and within five years Thomas Bucknall had a small market garden selling to locals and holidaymakers. In the next ten years he expanded and bought more land extending his business as demand grew and he began shipping around the country. Next he conquered Europe and as transport continued to shrink the world his daughters were able to begin to ship to America and beyond.

But in all that time he had never had the opportunity to build a house for his family, having been too busy building the business up. The plot of land that had been bequeathed to Jo was part of Thomas's last purchase before he had died. And now it was hers to do with as she wished, and as she stood atop the cliff she silently thanked her great grandfather for his gift and hoped that she wouldn't disappoint him with the family home that she and Guy were going to build there.

She drove back to Bigbury and her aunt's home, taking the lanes carefully as she was only too well aware of how some of the locals drove down the single track roads. The air was fragrant with all manner of scents, fields of rapeseed, the salt from the sea, the odd patch of fresh manure and then the distinctive smell of the acres of pinks, sweet williams and carnations that surrounded the land near her aunt's home.

In one way she was very glad to be back, to be able to surround herself in beautiful countryside and become embroiled within local life again was something that she craved when she was away from this place, from this Eden. Devon had always been her sanctuary, the place where she could be at peace. She only hoped that Guy would love it too when he finally visited and made this place his home with her.

Dragging the large suitcase from the car she pulled it inside of the house, the front door ajar as it always was. Aunt May never locked it, even in the depths of winter. Her aunt had always suggested that not only were there too many people she trusted working for her and milling around the grounds at all times but she didn't have anything of value and the dogs would let her know if someone was around.

Leaving the case by the bottom of the stairs, Jo stepped over the two sleeping guards, the old St Bernard, Toby, acknowledging that he had spied Jo before returning his large bulbous head to the floor and closing his eyes once more. Jess, the collie never even twitched knowing it was a friend that was pacing the hallway.

Jo walked down the hall, passing piles and piles of brown dog eared newspapers, brochures, glossy magazines and catalogues as she mended her way to the lounge at the back of the house. Stepping into the room she could hear idle chattering from the conservatory, bamboo blinds at the picture windows hiding the early evening sun as well as the talker and listener from view. "Hello?" She called, "Aunt May, is that you?"

A shuffling of feet and the silhouette of a stooped figure signalled the entrance of the old lady in question. "Jo? My word, Jo is that you? All grown up. A woman now. See I told you, Ben. Told you she'd come back from London looking fine and dandy."

Jo crossed the room and put her arms around the aging figure of her aunt. She helped aunt May to a seat before turning to look at the man who now stood in the doorway as he spoke, "bloody hell. Joanne Harper, what in God's name has happened to you?"

"Ben Pascoe? What's happened to me? What on earth has happened to you? Last time I saw you ..."

"I was a fourteen year old greasy oik, with long straggly blonde hair, a paunch belly, slightly screwed up teeth and black national health glasses."

"Yes, I remember you as exactly that." She laughed, "I can't believe that was twenty odd years ago."

"I can't believe your parents stole away in the middle of the night and took you up country somewhere without even telling me. I thought my heart was going to shrivel up and die." He grinned at her.

"Get away. You never gave me any indication that I was your first love."

"Would you have given me the time of day if I had?"

"No, probably not."

Her eyes roved over the tall slim frame of the man in front of her. His build was similar to Guy's but his dark sandy hair was a little longer and messier, looking like he had just put his hand through it. His eyes shone hazel, the glasses gone. His teeth were straight as a die and he was giving her the sweetest smile he could muster at her appraisal of him. "Would you now?"

She thought of Guy and hung her head in shame. "No, I couldn't."

"Is there someone else?" Her aunt asked, finally able to become part of the tableau that had been playing out.

"Yes, aunt."

"Oh," Ben looked a little shocked, "May never told me that you were seeing someone."

"I never told May. Why would you be so interested anyway?"

"Ben is living here, with me, helping out with the business, learning the ropes. I needed to know that there would be someone here to look after things when I'm dead and buried." May answered.

Jo nodded, "I see."

"No, Jo, you don't." May insisted, "you will still get all of this, it is your birthright and I cannot take that away from you. Not that I would, I do not wish that." She held her hand out to Jo, Jo took it and sat on the arm of the chair where her aunt was sat. "Child, there has been enough heartache in your life, I'm just glad that you phoned to ask to come home. This is where you belong and I hope that you will see that in the coming months. Ben, here, is my foreman, my manager. I cannot do much these days, I am coming to the end and I must have someone that can take over. You are not ready yet, but you will be, in time. Ben will show you. Would you like some tea?" Jo nodded, "Ben, would you do the honours?" He left the room; Jo could hear him scuffling around in the kitchen. Aunt May broke into her thoughts, "Ben is a good man?"

Jo nodded, "May, I have a boyfriend, a fiancé. Another good man."

"What's his name?"

"Guy."

"Guy. And what does he do?"

'Rock my world,' Jo thought, smiling at the pictures replaying in her mind's eye. "He's a policeman but he's also an architect."

"Confusing. How did you meet him? At work?" Jo nodded, "relationships at work never last."

"May, he works in a completely separate division than I did."

"And that makes all the difference."

"I didn't know he was a policeman when I met him, we were both undercover at the time."

"So, your relationship is based upon lies."

"Yes, it was," Jo shouted out, the frustration evident. "I'm sorry May, but we've worked through all of that. He loves me, he wants to marry me. Look," she showed her aunt the ring, "he made a promise to me that as soon as his divorce is over with then he will come to me and marry me."

"You're seeing a married man."

"Yes, but ... oh God it's complicated."

"Try me." The old woman stared Jo down.

"Guy has been estranged from his wife for over eight years, aunt. She is a psychotic, twisted, disgusting nymphomaniac who I thought was my friend but instead turned out to be Guy's wife masquerading as someone else in order to get close to me to attempt to kill me."

"And I thought I had it rough," Ben said from the door as he brought in the tea tray and sat opposite the two women.

"Aunt May, you'll understand when you meet him what it is that he does to me."

"You love him?"

"Very much."

"And he loves you?"

"With all of his heart. One of the reasons I am here is to make a new start, a new life for myself as I wait for Guy to get divorced. It could take twelve months; we're hoping that it will only be nine though. Hopefully then it won't be long before we're married, living in a house that Guy has designed at Hoist Point and making a home there with a family of our own. He really is the most worthy man I have ever met. No one has ever made me feel so alive by just being with them, and as for everything that has happened to me, he has cleansed me, he's wiped away all the dirt and grime."

Aunt May smiled "reminds me of your uncle." She began pouring the tea out, "I only hope I get the chance to meet him and see this wondrous man for myself."

"You will aunt."

"Hmm, we shall see." She put her arms out for a hug, Jo obliged. "Welcome home, Jo. I hope that you'll be glad to be back here with me."

"Of course, aunt, thank you. For everything."

.oOo.

After dinner Jo had decided to slip out of the old house and take to the rope swing that had been hung in the apple tree since she had been a little girl, a bottle of wine for company. She gently swung back and forth on her feet, her legs now too long to allow a proper go at it. She sighed, the view was beautiful, if only Guy was with her, holding her in his arms and watching as the sun disappeared under the horizon for another day.

"Can I join you?" She started at the quiet question, looking behind her to see Ben hanging around in the shadows.

"Of course." She watched as he took a seat on a nearby bench that looked like it was as old as the tree swing. "How is everything, Ben?"

"With what, Jo?"

"Well, May has obviously installed you as manager because she realises that she can't cope any longer. Tell me about it. What has she promised you? That kind of thing."

He sipped as his drink, "your aunt has been good to me. I always knew I'd end up here, you can't spend your entire school holidays knee deep in flowers and not know where you're going to end up. I studied horticulture at Seale Hayne, thought I'd be able to take my degree and become a TV gardener like that Alan Titchmarsh, but it wasn't to be. Met a girl, Sarah, at the Uni ball in Plymouth the year I graduated, nine months later she was pregnant and I was marrying her, I got a job with Endsleigh nursery, you know the one near Ivybridge." She nodded, "was there for what seemed like forever, worked my way up, used my degree, and then I was made redundant. And I couldn't find anything else because I was either over qualified or wanted too much money. Eventually Sarah left me for a female naval officer.

"Battered, broken and bitter, I came home, licked my wounds and one day decided to come and see your aunt. She offered me a job and I've never looked back. A couple of years ago she asked me to come and live in, 'just in case' she'd said. Then the doctor started turning up more and more regularly. I don't know what's up, Jo, your aunt will never tell me but she's very ill. I think your phone call a couple of weeks ago was the answer to her prayers."

"You've got no idea what is wrong with her?"

"No. She keeps her tablets hidden, I know she's suffering with her arthritis, especially when it gets cold but I know nothing else."

"Ok, so I need to see if I can find out what's wrong. If you don't mind me asking, Ben, are you and Sarah divorced now?"

He nodded, "took a bloody age, Guy and his missus haven't got any kids have they?" Jo shook her head, "good, that's what took the time, every few weeks there was more and more paperwork arrive about when I could see them and for how long, if they should be supervised or not. It went on and on, I never thought it was going to end. I must admit I was a little shocked to find out that you had someone knocking about."

"Why do I get the impression that you and aunt May are in cahoots over something to do with me."

"I'm not going to lie to you, Jo. A couple of months ago your aunt showed me some of your birthday pictures and I was seriously smitten. It's been a long time since I've felt that tug at my heartstrings. All I kept thinking was how an awkward teenager with bushy hair and no chest could turn out to be such a beauty. Anyway, when she told me that you were coming to visit for a while I was beside myself, I hoped that maybe you and I."

"Thank you, Ben. If things had been different then ..."

"I know, I know, maybe." He smiled. "This bloke better look after you otherwise he'll have me to answer to."

She laughed knowing that Ben was deadly serious. "He will, Ben. Now, if I remember rightly you were a master at chess when we were at school." She got up from the swing, as she watched him nod, "come on then," she said as she started back up the path," let's see if you can still beat me."
- 17
- 18
- 19
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Love Undercover