#completely normal behavior

From John’s letter to Paul and Linda

The Mentalist || Bodyguard AU

Chapter Fourteen ◇ Monologue

Read here on AO3

The more he spoke, the harder it became to actually hear him. Her focus kept diverting to the sensual movement of his mouth and to the precision of his hands as he cradled each ravioli and set it aside with impossible delicateness, as though the fragile pasta might bruise under rougher fingers.

There was no reasonable explanation why she was so turned on by it all – the sheen of perspiration at his brow, or the way the tip of his tongue peeked out when he concentrated. Even the scent of herbs and butter tangled with the musky notes of his earthy cologne was affecting her in unspeakable ways, making her pulse stumble and her thighs wet.

She looked back at the folders on the island, hoping that smothering herself in work might extinguish whatever was smoldering under her skin.

“So what’s with all the piles?” she asked – thinner than intended and much too high to be nonchalant.

If Jane noticed, he didn’t let on.

“The first pile is things I’d like to see for myself. People, places, that sort of thing.” He pointed with his elbow at the stack on the far left. “You can take me.”

The thread of dominance in his voice only stoked the embers.

Still fussing, he transferred the finished ravioli onto a lined tray, then moved to another bowl and started whisking whatever was in it. His sleeves had ridden up, moulding the shirt to one bicep as he worked. It looked ripe enough to bite into.

Teresa’s body betrayed her immediately, heat and arousal pooling in her core.

—Pals. Yes? —Yeah.