Hallo to all who follow my stories. I have been asked numerous times to put a note on which story goes where in the series I have written.
It all started with Stolen. Then Ren: Shades of Grey overlaps from Chapter 6 of Stolen; this is Ren's side of the story as it unfolds. It also overlaps into the next story inline: Shattered Dreams starts where Stolen finishes as Ren puts Sky/Janey on the bus home. Brad & 'Tanaya takes up the story a year later.
I did say I would add a final chapter to Ren: Shades of Grey but once again the Characters have had a mind of their own and the chapters just keep rolling so I am doing Halo. This takes up not long after Brad & 'Tanaya finishes. (the title comes from the song sung by Beyonce. My youngest daughter remarked 'it's a wonder you don't use this song as inspiration for your story Mum').
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Janey tucked the blanket around her son securely before turning and leaving the room. It was just after dark and Nicky had fallen asleep after a long day playing on the sand at the beach.
At eleven months old her son was a live wire who kept her busy just keeping up with him. The trip to the beach had been an attempt to divert him from what had been upsetting him, missing the weekend visits to his natural father. He had been upset on and off for the last two weeks as it was nearly three weeks since he had seen his father; it was worse of a Saturday when he would sit and cry when the afternoon soccer game was watched by his Grandfather.
Janey walked into the lounge room and sat beside Adam on the lounge; he came to visit on Thursday when he had two days off but had to go back to work Saturday afternoon.
"Marina, would you mind keeping an eye on Nicky now he's gone to sleep so I can take Janey for a walk along the beach in the moonlight?" Adam asked Janey's mother with a charming smile.
Marina glanced at Janey but her daughter didn't react so she nodded slightly, "Yes, I'll keep a watch on Nicky."
Adam got to his feet and held a hand out to help Janey to her feet; she went to follow him towards the door but hesitated.
"I'd best go to the toilet before we go," Janey said and hurried towards the bathroom. When she returned a few minutes later she walked over to where Adam waited by the door.
"You kids don't stay out too late. We were planning an early night," Jim called after them.
"Okay Dad," Janey called back over her shoulder before shutting the door behind her.
Janey followed Adam to his car and got into the passenger seat while he got behind the wheel. She put her seat belt on and glanced across at him as he started the car; Adam glanced across at her and smiled as he turned the car towards the coastal road.
"Mum and Dad do know why we go for a drive each time you're here," Janey said dryly.
"But each time I get put in one of the boy's rooms." Adam said with a frown, "And where do they think you sleep when you visit me in Brisbane?"
Janey smiled at Adam's annoyance and reached out one hand to pat his thigh.
"So where are we going tonight?" Janey asked softly.
"The beach," Adam said as he turned onto the main road.
Janey smothered a sigh of irritation. Adam annoyed her in the fact he seemed to have no imagination when it came to the relationship between them.
The headlights of the car illuminated a well-travelled road towards one of the more private beaches and Janey wasn't surprised to realise Adam was there. The more private the spot the better he liked it; she had realised some months back that he didn't like the chance they might be discovered or interrupted by someone else.
When Adam parked the car and turned the engine off Janey waited to see what he was going to do; to her surprise he reached over the back and retrieved a blanket from the backseat before getting out of the car.
Janey got out her side and locked the door before falling into step along side of him; he caught her hand and held it as they walked along the path that led to the beach. As the local shrubbery became thicker Janey began to feel uneasy; the thin sliver of the moon cast eerie shadows and her steps began to falter.
"Can we go somewhere else?" Janey asked suddenly as she attempted to stop.
"It's just past these bushes," Adam said keeping a firm hold on her hand as he continued forward.
Janey found herself forced to either follow him or risk being dragged along by his momentum. She tensed as she forced herself to keep going and then she stood at the edge of a small clearing.
Adam released Janey's hand unaware of her discomfort and quickly spread the blanket on the thick grass; he turned to her and held his hand out.
Janey stepped into his embrace glad of the comfort; she could feel his hands stroking her back and turned her face to his for his kiss. His lips were soft and moist against hers and she opened her mouth trying to encourage him. She wanted him to chase away the cold tendrils of fear that had spread across her skin.
Adam broke off the kiss reluctantly and raised his head to look down at Janey; she buried her face against the crook of his neck as she kissed the skin there.
"How about we sit down on the blanket?" Adam asked softly.
Janey kept her face turned into his body, not looking past him into the darkness beyond. Her nod was nearly lost against his shoulder but Adam, already sure of her compliance was lifting her into his arms as he sat down, pulling her onto his lap as he settled himself comfortably.
This time when Adam kissed her, his lips were firmer and his hands began to roam her body. One hand reached between them to cup a breast while the other rested in the small of her back making her arch into his body more fully.
As Adam turned his attention to the sensitive skin on her neck Janey tilted her head back to give him better access; she glimpsed the shadows beyond his shoulder and shifted uncomfortably.
Janey tensed as Adam eased her down onto her back and moved to lay half on top of her, one thigh over her legs as he pulled at the bottom of her shirt. She couldn't help glancing to one side and seeing the shadows that lurked there.
"Adam, do we have to be here?" Janey asked as he managed to get his hand beneath the material and work his fingers up over her ribs.
"It's a nice private spot, " Adam mumbled before turning his attention back to her lips.
Janey kept her eyes open as he kissed her, only half her attention on what was happening between them as she kept glancing at the darkness and shadows that seemed to move and dance on their own.
"Relax," Adam urged trying to get Janey to stop being so tense.
Janey turned her face away from his kisses and pushed against his shoulders slightly.
"Let's find some other place Adam," Janey urged. When Adam didn't stop his advances immediately Janey began to push against his shoulders more forcefully. "Not here Adam!" Janey protested.
Adam rolled away from Janey with a frustrated groan; already he was fully aroused and stopping meant moving to another place.
"What is wrong with you?" Adam demanded annoyed.
"I don't feel comfortable here," Janey said faintly intimidated by his annoyance. Adam very rarely got angry with her or allowed his annoyance to show while he was with her and she wasn't used to dealing with him in those moods.
Adam got to his feet abruptly and reached down to take a corner of the blanket in his hand; he looked at Janey when she didn't immediately jump to her feet and frowned with annoyance.
"Well let's go find some place you like," Adam muttered.
