The Steve Williams Series Boxed Set

by J. E. Taylor

  “Tracy, I knew the moment I saw him. I didn’t need you to do that.”

  Tracy turned. “But I needed to know. I needed to know he loved you enough…” she trailed off and looked out the window toward the lake. “Enough to protect you, no matter what.” She looked back at Jennifer and headed into the bathroom to clean up. She had an eight o’clock class and had to get moving.

  Jennifer went into her room, drew the shades, and lay back down in the darkened room. She didn’t have to be anywhere until her eleven o’clock class. She drifted to sleep.

  The closet door silently swung open, red eyes glanced over her longingly from the darkness within.

  Chapter 21

  Steve pulled his car into the frat house lot and threw it in park, looking up at the building. He stretched before sliding out to head inside. He almost made it to his room before a hand grabbed him, spinning him into the wall.

  “Who do you think you are?” Bill growled. His breath stank of beer and his eyes glossed with bloodshot drunkenness. He’d obviously partied all night.

  “Let go, Bill.”

  “No!” Bill pushed his forearm harder against Steve’s chest, holding him in place for the moment. “You stay away from Jen,” he muttered belligerently.

  “Last warning,” Steve said, his voice low as anger coiled, ready to strike.

  “I’m gonna mess you up,” Bill slurred. Balling his hand into a fist, he swung.

  Bill’s fist never connected. Steve blocked the punch, grabbed the arm holding him, and spun Bill around, making him trip before slamming him into the floor with his arm bent behind him. Steve put a knee in the middle of his back and leaned over. “I warned you,” he said in Bill’s ear. “Are you going to cut the shit?” He pulled on Bill’s arm, causing Bill to let out a protest of pain.

  “Are you?” Steve asked again.

  Bill nodded.

  He let go and stood, taking a couple of steps back as Bill slowly got off the floor. The bastard had the audacity to glare at him as he got up. Steve tensed, ready to inflict damage if Bill came at him again.

  Bill leaned against the wall unsteadily.

  “Bill, you’re drunk. Go sleep it off.”

  “Stay away from her,” Bill muttered and stumbled into his room, slamming the door.

  Steve glanced at the few who had seen the altercation, and shrugged. “I don’t get it. He’s the one who set us up on a blind date,” he said to the nearest fraternity brother.

  “It’s not the dating part that he’s pissed about,” Joe Dalton pointed out.

  Steve raised his eyebrows in question.

  “He’s pissed that you’re sleeping with her,” Joe explained.

  “That’s really none of his business.” Steve continued toward his room.

  “It is his business,” Joe interrupted. “He and Tom were best friends.”

  “And that has to do with this how?”

  “He’s been looking after Jenny since Tom died.”

  “And?” Steve pushed.

  “And I’m not sure he expected Jenny to fall for you.” Joe looked down the hall toward Bill’s room. “I’m not sure he expected her to fall for anyone Tracy set her up with.”

  Steve followed Joe’s gaze toward Bill’s room. “He doesn’t…” he trailed off and looked back at Joe. “But he’s with Tracy.”

  Joe nodded and wandered away, leaving Steve dumbfounded in the hallway and looking at the other fraternity members. Steve shook his head and went to his room, grabbing a towel before heading off to take a shower. He let the water wash over him, praying he’d done a convincing acting job. He wanted everyone to think he had no clue until today that Bill wanted Jennifer. He finished cleaning up and put on clothing, glancing at his watch. He had a half hour before class and needed some food. The apple Jennifer had given him wasn’t enough to keep him until noon.

  When he walked into the kitchen, the room went silent. “What?”

  “Everybody knows you don’t mess with Jennifer,” Adam said.

  “Well, nobody told me that. He punched me because I didn’t want to date her, now he’s going to punch me because I am?” Steve went to the refrigerator to see what was inside. Nothing appealed to him and he turned his gaze toward the group at the tables.

  “No. He’s gonna take you out because you slept with her.” Adam took a sip of the coffee in front of him. “Was she worth it?”

  Steve stiffened and swung a glare toward Adam. “Worth what?”

  Joe shot a warning glance at Adam and slightly shook his head. Most of the members of the fraternity were looking at Adam with wide shocked eyes, their mouths hanging askew.

  “Nothing, never mind.” Adam recovered quickly and looked at his coffee.

  Steve glanced around the room and decided this was not the place to eat breakfast. He headed out of the kitchen and paused in the doorway. “If anyone else asks me anything related to sleeping with Jen, I’ll kick your ass. Understand?” He didn’t wait for an answer.

  Chapter 22

  They watched Steve leave and heard the car start and slowly fade into the distance.

  Joe glared at Adam. “You stupid son of a bitch.”

  “What?” Adam shrugged.

  “Don’t worry. You’ll all get your turns with her too,” Bill said as he appeared in the back entry to the kitchen. “As soon as I’m through with her. She’s the sacrifice this year,” he said, stunning everyone.

  Joe looked toward the front of the house and wondered what Steve would do if he knew his girlfriend had just days to live. He shook the thought out of his head and focused on what her skin would feel like against his. The slow smile that spread across his lips was identical to that of every other fraternity member in the room.

  Chapter 23

  Jennifer woke at quarter to ten and wandered into the shower. The hot water beat down on her, clearing out the cobwebs. Waking up with Steve had felt so right, his strong arms around her, keeping her safe and warm. It was definitely something she could get used to.

  Wrapped in a towel, she crossed to her closet; she dropped the towel before stepping inside. She flipped through the clothing, debating on what to wear. A slow smile spread over her lips while her fingers ran over the fabric. Her eyes scanned each outfit before pushing it aside. She wanted to look perfect today. Her gaze landed on a pale pink sundress with dainty spaghetti straps and a fitted bodice. He’d love that.

  She reached for the dress and the closet door swung closed, catching on the towel. The light flickered and Jennifer looked up, her brow furrowed in annoyance, her hand inches away from the garment. I changed that damn thing yesterday. Cool air drifted over her from the rear of the closet and she shivered, casting a glance at the back wall. There was no air-conditioning duct that she could identify.

  Where is that draft coming from?

  Goose bumps rolled up her arms and she stripped the dress off the hanger, leaping back into her room. She flipped the light off and picked up the towel, closing the closet door. Her eyes never left the door while she dressed.

  Jennifer walked back to the closet, her heart beating frantically in her chest and she swore under her breath. “God damn it, Jen, it’s only a fucking closet.”

  The doorknob was cold enough to produce fog around her fingers as she wrapped her hand around it. Sweat broke out on her upper lip and she bit down on her lower lip, trying to keep the fear in check.

  She yanked the door open and her voice locked in her throat. Her breath seized in her lungs. Instead of her garment-filled closet, the view was replaced by the clearing from her dreams. The black water shimmered, glinting evil shards of light from the surface. Dried moss almost as black as the water surrounded the pond, fractured by a crude carving. With recognition came the shakes. It was a pentacle.

  The water moved, catching her attention. Red eyes surfaced, returning her terrified gaze. The chuckle that drifted over the clearing into her room broke her paralysis.

  Jennifer slammed the door and took a few un
steady steps away from the closet. She couldn’t speak, never mind scream. Her voice became completely nonexistent and she fought to bring air into her lungs, wheezing as it scraped over her vocal cords. Panic attack, and she frantically looked around the room. Her eyes landed on her pocket book and she lunged for it. Rummaging through, she found what she was looking for. She flipped her phone open and pressed the send button, scrolling frantically down the list of recent calls until the number she wanted was highlighted. She pressed the send button again and put the phone to her ear.

  * * * *

  Steve jumped when his phone rang in his pocket. Everyone in the class looked at him, including Murphy. Steve dug the phone out and glanced quickly at the number. He stood up and walked out of the classroom to take the call. He only heard wheezing in the phone. “Jen?”

  “Can’t breathe.”

  Steve froze. “Where are you?”

  “Apartment.”

  “I’m coming.” He ran toward the car, digging the keys out of his pocket.

  “Can’t breathe,” she repeated. The asthma attack constricted her lungs, the panic helping it along.

  He knew what was happening—he’d heard that wheezing before. “Okay, I’m in the car. What I want you to do is go into the shower, turn it on really hot, and close the door. Stay on the phone with me, all right?” Steve heard the door open and the water turn on. “Now sit on the floor until I get there. Just stay on the line with me okay?”

  “Okay,” she wheezed.

  “My class was such a snoozer.” He kept talking to keep her calm. “Murphy doesn’t have a clue about how to keep a class full of college kids focused.” He laughed, still hearing the wheezing on the line. It sounded a little less labored. “He’s great in the field, though. I trust him with my life. He worked with my grandfather, you know.” He could hear her getting some air now. “I’m almost there. You feeling a little better?”

  “Yeah.” She wheezed, breathing in the hot steam as she listened to him prattle on.

  “He wasn’t too pleased that I got up and left his class. I’m sure I’ll hear about it later.” He pulled into the parking lot. The frantic look his eyes reflected in the rear-view mirror didn’t match the levity in his voice. The light conversational tone was a stark contrast to how fast he slammed into a parking spot and bolted from the car. “I’m in the parking lot now. Still with me?”

  “Yeah.” Her voice sounded a little stronger.

  “You don’t have an inhaler, do you?”

  “A what?”

  “Asthma medicine.”

  “No.”

  “I’m in the elevator now.” He pushed the button. He counted the floors for her. “Fifteen,” he said and the elevator doors opened. “Think you can make it to the door?”

  “Yeah.”

  He heard the water sound fade as she made her way down the hall. He closed the cell phone when she opened the front door.

  Jennifer flew into his arms, tears streaking her cheeks. Steve led her back toward the shower, where the outer room was full of steam. He sat her down and settled next to her with his arm around her shoulder. “Slow deep breaths.” He breathed with her. “That’s it.”

  “Steve…” she started, her eyes still frightened.

  “No talking right now. Just breathe for me.” He watched her, smiling and kissing her forehead. “That’s right, just breathe.” He leaned his head back against the tile and took a deep breath himself, letting the panic he felt melt away in the steam. “The last time I remember you having one of these, you were five or six.” His eyes closed. “Scared the crap out of me then.” He let out a quick laugh. “This time wasn’t much different.” He glanced over at her. “We were playing in those caves in the woods,” he recalled. “You got freaked out by something and started that horrible wheezing.” He shook his head at the memory. “I carried you all the way home and Sammy kept asking me if you were gonna be all right.” He looked over at her. “Your mom took you and did the same thing we’re doing right now.”

  The tears spilled down her cheeks. She remembered that day, and she remembered why she’d freaked out. “I saw what happened to Samantha.” Jennifer’s voice was stronger and her breathing less restricted. “That’s what caused it.”

  Steve looked over at her. “You saw my sister’s death?”

  “Yes. And it wasn’t pretty.”

  “No, I imagine it wasn’t.” He closed his eyes. Samantha ran out in the road after a ball and had been mowed over by a speeding truck. After her death, they had leaned on each other. One had lost a best friend, the other, a little sister, and together they got through it. “So, what set you off this time?” He glanced at her.

  She tilted her head against the tile. Her hair, wet from the steam, clung to the damp skin of her face and neck. Her cheeks flushed and she took slow deep breaths. “I’m not sure what I saw,” she finally said.

  He let her breathe for a while and just held her. “What do you think you saw?” he asked as her breath became regular again.

  “My closet… it wasn’t my closet. I saw the clearing in my visions. And that thing, that thing was looking at me and laughing.”

  He kissed her forehead but didn’t know what to say. “Just breathe.” He held her, leaning his head back as well. Droplets of water covered his hair and his body became slick with sweat from the hot steam.

  Steve’s phone rang, making them both jump. “I’ve got to learn to put this thing on vibrate.” He dug the phone out of his pocket.

  “I’ve got your things. Is everything all right?” Murphy asked.

  “Yes,” he said. “I’ll come get my stuff later.”

  As though he were irritated with Steve’s calm, quiet manner, Murphy barked, “What happened?”

  Steve looked over at Jennifer clutching at her chest to regain regular breath. “Jenny had an asthma attack. She’ll be okay in a little while. She’s just a bit shaken up right now.”

  “Your vision girl has asthma?” A little laugh passed through the phone line.

  “Fuck off, Murphy.”

  “Don’t talk to your boss like that,” Jennifer scolded, her breath laboring around the words.

  Murphy heard her remark in the background. “I like her already.”

  Steve smiled and looked over at Jennifer. “I gotta go.”

  “Check back in a little while,” Murphy ordered.

  “Will do.” Steve closed the phone.

  Jennifer rubbed the steam off his watch. “I need to get to class.”

  He shook his head. “No, you need to breathe.”

  “I am breathing,” she answered.

  “But it’s still not natural, you’re still forcing it.”

  “What are you, my mother?”

  “No, I’m the man you’re going to marry.”

  “Says who?” She half smiled.

  “Says me.”

  “I can’t miss another class.” She tried to get up.

  “Yes, you can.” He pulled her back down. “Just like I can.”

  “You’re missing another one?”

  He nodded and shrugged. “You’re worth it, babe.” He kissed her gently.

  “So, what do we do now?”

  He leaned back and the corners of his mouth curved up with the slow smile. He didn’t answer her in words; just let the look on his face convey what he was thinking.

  Jennifer hit him lightly on the chest with the back of her hand and started laughing.

  “We’re already hot and sweaty.” He grinned and tilted his head on the tile to look at her.

  “I don’t know if my lungs could take that right now.”

  Steve looked toward the shower and then back at her, raising his eyebrow.

  “You go right ahead. I’ll just sit here if you don’t mind.” Jennifer waved him toward the shower.

  Steve laughed. “I meant you in there with me.”

  “I know what you meant. I’m not that naïve.”

  “We both need a shower, Jen.” The small r
oom was as hot as a sauna and the droplets of liquid running down their skin weren’t just from the steam. He slipped his shoes and socks off and stood, locking the door. Stripping, he tossed his clothes in a small pile on top of his sneakers. “Come on,” he said, putting his hand out to help her up.

  Jennifer sighed. She took his outstretched hand and let him help her to her feet.

  Steve pulled the sundress up and over her head and dropped it on the accumulating pile of clothes. He peeled off his shorts and underwear, watching her do the same, and stepped into the stream of water. “Goddamn!” He danced out of the shower; reaching for the controls and turning the heat level down. His shoulder was red where the water scalded it.

  “Duh,” she said after he turned the water to a cooler setting.

  Steve yanked her in the shower against him.

  Jennifer reached over and flipped the jets on and all three valves shot water against them in addition to the showerhead above.

  “Oh, my god.” Steve closed his eyes as the water pulsed against his body. “I’m never getting out of this shower,” he said, holding her.

  “That’s what I said after the first time too.” She rested her head against his chest.

  “Ah.” Steve let out a small groan of pleasure as the water worked the stress from his body. His arms fell to his sides, relaxed.

  Jennifer tried to move him to get in the path of the jets.

  “Nanana,” Steve protested. “I’m not done yet.” His head still tilted back a little and eyes closed. He put his arms around her. “This is heaven.”

  “Yes, and I’d like a little of it too,” Jennifer replied.

  Steve smiled and turned sideways with Jennifer still in his arms. The side jets hit their backs. “Better?” His eyes were still closed. He opened them, looking down at her.

  Jennifer nodded and flipped the back jet off, leaving the side jets working each of their backs. She closed her eyes and let the water do its magic.

  Steve ran his hands through her hair, watching her, aware that he shouldn’t take advantage of the situation, but his resolve waned with her naked body in front of him. He removed his hands and stepped back, running them over his face. “All set?” he asked when her eyes opened.