She shifted from left to right foot, confused as to what he could possibly need to tell her.
“Of course,” she replied, allowing him to get past her. She paused before shutting the door and turning to look at him.
“I don’t feel I really expressed my gratitude to you, for what you did for me.”
If he was talking about how she lied for him, it was almost a month ago. She didn’t want to hash over it again.
“You mean when I talked to the police?”
He nodded. “It was really nice you went along with it. You didn’t owe me anything, and I appreciate it. I just wanted you to know.”
“You thanked me already, Jake. You’re innocent, and I was glad to help. You didn’t need to come all this way just to thank me again.”
The intensity of his stare put her on edge. She felt uneasy in her own home.
“I wanted to see you,” he finally answered.
The way he said it, was like a man lusting after a woman. He moved closer to her and on instinct, she took two steps back.
“That one act. The way you covered for me and helped set me free, proved everything I needed to know.”
“What are you talking about?” she asked, inching back even further.
He snickered. “Come on, Tara. You have got to know what I mean. You were willing to get the cops off my back. That proves that you love me.”
She looked at him, stunned to hear him connect two completely unrelated statements.
“I love you,” he confessed, eyes as wide as puppy.
He took two long steps forward and grabbed her arm, pulling her closer to him.
His grasp was firm as he brought her to him and forced his lips on hers.
“Jake…” she groaned out from behind his lips.
She brought her free arm up to his chest and desperately tried to push him away. The force of his kiss was gaining strength and she was losing the battle to get him to stop. In her terror, she bit down on his lip and pushed him hard.
“Ouch,” he said, putting his hand to his lips. “I didn’t know you liked to dominate. Fine. I’ll play along.” He moved closer to her and she dodged his grasp.
“Leave me alone,” she said, gaining as much distance as she possibly could from him.
“What? Is that any way to talk to the man you love?”
“You’re delusional,” she spat out, bringing her hand to her lips and trying to rub away his kiss.
“You’re being very ungrateful,” he replied.
She opened her mouth but no words escaped.
“After everything I have done for you? I wrote you a nice letter, gave you candy, bought you roses, and…”
She looked down at her bracelet. None of it was from Kevin. She couldn’t believe this was happening.
“You obviously love the bracelet. You haven’t taken it off since I sent it to you.”
She pulled the bracelet from around her wrist and threw it at him. “I don’t want it,” she said. “I want you to leave.”
She felt an overwhelming sensation of dread. He stood in place and showed no signs of leaving.
“You don’t mean it, Tara. I would do anything to be with you. You have to believe me.”
The only thing she believed was that she needed him to get out of her house. Kevin was going to be there any moment and she couldn’t imagine how he would react to Jake scaring her this way.
“I love Kevin and he loves me,” she blurted out.
“Not enough to send you gifts the way I did. He’s the wrong guy for you, Tara. I don’t want your heart broken. Run away with me.”
She nearly laughed but knew it would make matters worse.
“Please leave. You have given me a lot to think about, but I need some time.”
She wanted to buy time. She would have done anything to get him out of her house.
“Are you really going to think about it?” he asked, clearly not trusting her words.
“Of course,” she lied. “The gifts have been very special.”
She looked down and picked up the bracelet.
“I’m just confused, but I know what’s in your heart now.” She slipped the bracelet back on. The chain was cold against her skin. “You better get out of here before Kevin arrives. I don’t want him to get upset.”
Jake nodded but before he left the living room he glanced at her again.
“A kiss for the road?”
She stared at him and frantically thought of an excuse.
“I would rather wait. Patience is key and I promise you, the longer you wait, the better our time together will be. Trust me.” She smiled as she could hear her heart beating louder. “Can you trust me?”
His grin was wide and so mischievous. “I can’t wait for the day to come.”
His eyes wandered over her body. She saw a hunger she never had seen from him before.
“Until then…” He blew a kiss in her direction and walked to the door.
She couldn’t move. She was planted in one spot. When she heard the door close, she collapsed onto the couch. Her body trembled as she felt a couple of stray tears trail down her face. She brushed them away, knowing she only had minutes until Kevin would be at her door. In fact, it wasn’t even that long. The doorbell rang.
“Come in,” she called. Still couldn’t move her legs. She looked down at her bracelet and took it back off, placing it on the coffee table.
“Are you sure it’s smart to leave the door open, when…” His words stopped when he entered the living room and saw her distraught face. “Tara, what’s going on?”
She looked up at him. A look of concern crowded his face. She didn’t want to hide anything from him. He needed to know.
“Jake…he was here.” She wiped a tear from her eyes. “We need to talk.”
* * *
Kevin sat down. Tara looked like she was filled with all of the opposite emotions he had been feeling all night. She reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him to sit beside her. There was sheer panic on her face.
“What did he want?” he asked softly.
“I thought it was you at the door. But when I opened the door I saw Jake standing there. It was awkward. He’s never been here before. And I had no idea why he would be here. Things got weirder after he came in.”
He looked down at their hands, fingers entwined the way he wanted their bodies to be right now. He squeezed it to encourage her to continue.
“Talk to me,” he said gently.
“I’m afraid,” she finally spoke up. “I’m scared because I don’t want things to fall into another hole we can’t get out of. I don’t want you to think I’m making too much of this.”
Tara didn’t want to get into it because she feared Kevin would instantly take his brother’s side. No one could blame him for defending his brother. Yet, she hoped he could grasp how frightened she was. She needed Kevin to be there for her, no matter what she was about to tell him.
“I realize what happened before and I’m sorry about my part in it. I don’t want it to dissuade you from telling me what clearly is bothering you. Just tell me.”
She still wouldn’t make eye contact.
“Look at me. Tara, you’re scaring me. What did Jake do?”
She finally brought her eyes up to meet his. “I started to get presents. First it was just a letter, then chocolate, and flowers, and finally…” she reached to the coffee table and handed him the bracelet, “and finally this bracelet.”
Kevin looked down at the charms and saw each one represented something Tara enjoyed. He looked up at her with confusion, tilting his head.
“Who gave you the bracelet?”
She sighed. “I thought they were from you. We were having our problems but I thought this was your way of saying you still wanted to be with me. Today I found out that they were all from Jake.”
He nearly dropped the bracelet, hearing the words come out of her mouth.
“Jake?” His chest felt like it was just hit by a freigh
t train.
“He told me that he loves me and then he kissed me and I was pushing him off of me, and…”
“What? Did…did he hurt you?” He stood up from the couch, staring down at her. His fists clenched. Just the possibility that Jake was there plagued his mind.
“I’ll fucking kill him!” he said, angered almost to breaking point.
“No,” she said, trying to calm him down. “I pushed him away. The way he was looking at me…it just made me uncomfortable.”
“I’ll make sure he leaves you alone. I promise…” He sat down next to her. “I won’t let him bother you.”
“I don’t know if it’s going to be so easy.”
“Of course it is.”
“Kevin, he thinks I just need time to take it all in. He believes I’ll eventually come around and see he is the one for me.” She shook her head. “I didn’t know what else to do. I had to tell him I would think about it to get him to leave.”
He wrapped his arm around her, pulling her in close. He kissed the top of her forehead, relieved she was all right.
“It’s okay,” he whispered. “I’ll figure out a way to fix everything. I won’t let him come around you again.”
She looked up at him. “It’s not going to be easy, Kevin. He was…so insistent.”
He forced a smile, trying to dispel some of the rage still locked in his chest.
“Where there’s a will…there’s a way. We just will limit the time we spend together at my house. In only a few months I’ll be done with this class and we’ll be heading to Montana.”
She smiled. “I can’t wait.”
“Neither can I.” He pulled her to him. “Don’t worry, ok? I’ll take care of it.”
Kevin gave her a brief kiss, hoping to get her mind off Jake’s bold-faced visit. After a moment she seemed to finally relax against him. He needed to get both their minds off of everything that had been going on, and being this close to her was like therapy. His anger fell away as he remembered why he was at her house.
“I love you so much, Tara,” he whispered. “I won’t ever let anyone hurt you.”
As he heard her let out a seductive moan, it was his erotic call to action. He lowered her down to the arm of the couch and let her head rest on the soft padding as he sought out her lips. She met his kiss with hunger, giving him every confidence he needed to possess her. His hand slipped up the back of her shirt and massaged her back as he deepened into their kiss. He moved in to slowly lift her shirt up, but he felt her pushing him back slightly.
“Do you mind if we go somewhere else?” she asked.
He nodded. “I’ll go anywhere with you, Tara.”
He pulled himself off the couch and reached for her hand to pull her up. Tara grabbed her coat and keys, and led him to the front door. Kevin didn’t know where she wanted to go, but he did know that come tomorrow he was going to have a talk with his younger brother and everything would be put to rest. Jake was not going to come between them again. There was no way Kevin would let that happen.
Chapter 15
Tara felt better as soon as she left the house. She held on to Kevin’s hand as he drove through town. When she suggested going to a place they hadn’t been since they were kids, he was only too eager to oblige. It was a simple escape; something they had discovered when they were trying to stay clear of their parents. Best of all, back then, the place was easy to get to on their childhood bikes.
They turned the last corner at the edge of town and the familiar view came into sight. It was hidden deep in the woods, with no sign of activity. The place was just the way she had remembered it. It was also where she had first realized her love of stargazing. On a clear night you could see thousands of them. They parked along the edge of the driving path. It was peaceful, sitting in the car while the moonlight peeked through the window.
She turned to Kevin and saw he was already smiling at her.
“You want to get out?” he asked.
“In a minute,” she said, turning to look out her window. “You do believe me, right?” she asked.
“I most definitely believe you, Tara,” he whispered, running his finger along her jawline. “I know you would never lie to me.”
His finger trailed along her chin and she sighed with relief.
“I love you, Tara” he whispered, leaning in for a kiss. “You’re everything to me,” he breathed, parting from her lips. “My only regret is I didn’t get you those gifts. My brother has me beat there.”
“Don’t say that,” she said, wrapping her fingers around his neck and pulling him closer. “I don’t need gifts. I just need you.”
His lips touched hers and it felt electric. She didn’t want him to ever stop. She shifted in her seat, trying to get comfortable. The gearshift was lodged in her side. A laugh escaped her between their kiss, as she shifted around in the seat.
“It’s no use.” She pulled away. “Your car won’t cut it.”
He nodded. “Agreed,” he said.
He opened up the car door and came over to open her door.
“Coming?” he asked.
She giggled, stepping out as Kevin walked to the trunk and pulled out two large blankets.
“Here?” she asked, a gleam in her eye.
She removed her jacket, ready for his confirmation. She would get plenty warm without needing it.
“It’s just as good as any place else. Don’t you agree?” he asked, spreading one blanket on the grass near the car, and wrapping the other around his shoulders.
He looked up. The stars were perfect. She saw it, too.
Before she could answer, he continued. “Besides, there’s one thing this place has, that no other place does.”
“What?” She asked, moving closer to him.
He sat down and pulled her with him, wrapping the other blanket around them.
“It’s here.” He grabbed her hand and placed it on his arousal.
Tara giggled, and couldn’t help copping a feel of his hardness. “You have a point there.”
Her giggle transformed to moans as she felt his lips against her neck. He continued to trail kisses up and down her neck, leaving her breathless and hungry for him. She slipped her hands under his shirt, motioning for him to pause his teasing long enough for her to pull his shirt over his head. He followed suit, gently worked on unbuttoning her blouse, while his mouth hungrily sought out the tender skin behind her ears.
“God I’ve missed you, Tara,” he groaned, with lips moving down her body as he cradled her back and lowered her to the blanket.
He finally got the last button undone and she peeled it back and threw it to the side. She didn’t wait for him to fumble with her tricky bra. She reached for the front clasp and tugged it off hastily. As Kevin buried his face in her chest, Tara saw a bright light shining on them. A familiar voice interrupted their moment.
"Isn't this a beautiful sight?”
The moment ended abruptly as Kevin pulled himself off her. They looked up and saw it was Jake staring down at them with piercing eyes. Kevin turned to Tara.
“Go to the car,” he said.
Tara quickly scrambled to her feet, grabbing her shirt and running toward the lot. She didn’t look back at Jake, but she sensed his eyes on her. An eerie, terrified feeling took over.
* * *
Kevin stared at Jake. He pulled his shirt back over his head.
“Did you follow us?” he asked.
“Of course and it’s a good thing I did,” he replied. “She was about to do something she would soon come to regret.”
“Jake, you need to move past this fantasy that you and Tara will one day be romantically involved. It’s not healthy.”
Jake glanced toward the car and then back to Kevin.
“Kevin. I realize it’s tough to understand, but you’re going to have to live with not getting the girl,” Jake fumed.
Kevin rolled his eyes. “Tara isn’t a pawn in this game you decided to play. She’s a human being and she deser
ves respect. I don’t want you coming around here and interfering. She doesn’t care for you…not in that way.”
“That’s not true!” Jake yelled, moving closer to him. Kevin saw the anger building up in Jake’s heated stare. “She loves me. Anyone can see that she does.”
Kevin hadn’t anticipated Jake would be so caught up in this dream world. He was stunned that Jake actually believed the words he was saying.
“Look. I don’t want to argue, Jake. I just want you to see Tara isn’t in love with you and she never will be. I’m not saying this to hurt you, but you’ve somehow imagined that what you’re feeling is love. Maybe it’s because you’re still upset about the loss of Amy. I don’t know, but you need to stop. You’re worrying Tara. I’m not asking, Jake. You need to stay clear.”
“You’re not my boss,” Jake replied, pushing past him and heading to the car.
Kevin turned around and grabbed Jake’s arm, yanking him back from the car. Kevin saw Jake’s glare.
“I told you to stay away from her.”
“Or what?” Jake asked, moving closer to him and pushing him in the chest.
Kevin fell back. “I’ll do what I have to do to protect her.”
“Aww…isn’t that sweet,” Jake said in a condescending tone. He pushed him again, this time Kevin was able to maintain his balance. “Impressive,” Jake sneered.
“I’m telling you again, Jake. Leave her alone,” Kevin said, not backing down.
“Make me,” Jake replied, provoking him.
Out of the corner of his eyes Kevin saw Tara staring at them. He hated to know it had come to this.
“I’m not going to fight you, Jake. Just leave her alone.”
Kevin reached down and grabbed the blanket from the ground then turned around and started heading toward the car. He felt two hands on his shoulders, pulling him back. He dropped the blanket and turned around.
“What are you doing?” He forcefully pushed Jake back.
“Don’t fucking push me!” Jake shouted, throwing his fist back and hitting Kevin in the nose. Kevin turned his head. He put his hand to his nose and saw the blood covering his fingers.
“Are you out of your mind?” Kevin asked, looking up. He felt a sharp pain in his nose.
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