“I’ll see you around.” She flung over her shoulder at him as she began to make her way to the garden gate.
“Wait.” Jake called out sternly and Amanda looked back up at the window prepared to tell him that it was okay, that she would come back. But he was no longer standing there.
She urged her feet to move. To get out the gate and up the road before he had a chance to open the door but then the door opened and she had lost her chance. “Come in.” he beckoned, moving to allow her access.
“No, I should go.” She told him firmly as she held her hands together to stop them from shaking. “I have a ton of paper-work to do.” She began and then shrugged.
“In.” Jake told her curtly. She thinned her lips into a tight line.
“I said I will come back.” She told him through clenched teeth.
“Did you need me to come over there and carry you over the threshold?” He asked her as he raised an eyebrow and leaned against the doorframe as he regarded her.
He would do it to, she knew that from experience.
“I am just gonna go.” She tried again but Jake took a step over the threshold and she knew that he would reach her long before she managed to get anywhere.
And it wasn’t as if they would be completely alone, the housekeeper he had hired would be there.
“Fine.” She gave in reluctantly and marched back up the driveway and over the threshold of the door so that she was standing in the small hall of the house.
She heard the front door clicking shut behind her and then Jake walked passed her as he walked towards his study which was situated by the stairs on her right.
“Did you want some tea?” He asked not looking round. Amanda shook her head and then realised that he couldn’t see that.
“No thank you. I won’t be staying long.” She said firmly.
“Good, the housekeeper’s not in either so we have the place all to ourselves.” He told her now as he stopped at his opened study door and turned to her. “I hope that you don’t mind that we are alone. Do you?”
He waved a hand to the open door as an invitation for her to come in. She swallowed down her fear and… anticipation and then walked past him and into what had once been her father’s study.
Jake had had it redecorated. The shades were darker giving the room a more intimate feel. Her nerves began to constrict. If there was something worse than being alone with Jake it was being alone with him in an intimate setting.
She took a deep breath to calm her racing heart. Not that it worked.
Her eyes swept over the desk at the far end of the room by the large window. A computer sat there with a phone next to it. There were pieces of paper strewn all over it.
She noted the high backed leather office chair and behind that another long desk that housed another computer, a fax machine and photocopier. There was a book shelf that ran the length of the wall from his desk to the study door.
The other side of the room looked more like a cosy living room. Two two-seater sofas in chocolate colours sat at opposite ends of an old fireplace facing each other. On the floor between the two lay a thick deep piled rug. It looked soft and inviting and Amanda had to fight the urge to take her shoes off and sink her toes into it.
Jake motioned to her to take a seat as he went to the cabinet to pour some drinks.
Amanda sat down, sitting upright and on the edge with her hands clasped in her lap in a defensive gesture.
She kept her eyes down as Jake walked over and handed her a glass filled with an amber liquid. She caught the smell of brandy. She really did not want to drink it but she was grateful to have something to do with her hands.
Jake sat himself down in the sofa opposite so that he could stare across at her. He studied her silently and she fought hard not to wriggle uneasily in her chair.
“So,” He said. One simple word, but his tone said so much and Amanda swallowed against the nerves that were rising up in her.
“I am sorry about… about… yesterday.” She began. There she had said it. Humble pie, yum.
“What is it you are apologising for?” Jake asked quietly.
“Alan sometimes doesn’t know how far he takes things. He can be…Umm” She said, staring down into the amber liquid sloshing about in the glass because her hands were shaking.
“Are you apologizing for… him?” He asked her incredously. Amanda certainly knew how it looked after what Harry had said yesterday.
“Yes.” She said quietly. What else was there that she could say? She was, after all, the little woman. Jake gave a snort in disgust. “Look.” She continued. “I know he can be a little over zealous. But, but…” But what? Her mind searched for something appropriate to say before she managed a weak and feeble. “He loves me.”
“He is no more in love with you as you are in love with him.” He informed her promptly. “How do I know?” he asked the question she would have asked him had she been brave enough. Damn him for knowing her so well. “There was no spark. No energy, no passion.” Amanda felt herself blush.
There really was nothing she could say to that. He was, after all, completely right. “I would even go so far as to say that the two of you are strangers sexually. Which does intrigue me somewhat, as you can imagine.”
“How dare you.” Her chin shot up defensively as she looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with angry outrage. “I am not going to discuss my sexual life with you.” She told him.
“Or lack of it.” He put in sardonically. “So, how is it that you have not managed to sleep with your husband of four years?” he asked her.
He couldn’t possibly know that for sure, could he? Amanda fidgeted in her seat. Play it cool. She tried to keep herself calm. Any little sign would give her away. He couldn’t possibly know for sure, he was just fishing. Nothing more.
“Jake I refuse to have this conversation. Alan and I are very much in love.” She said.
“So much so, that you can easily keep your hands off each other.” He derided her as he took a swig of his drink.
“Alan and I lead a very full life.” Amanda emphasized but she could tell by the look in Jake’s eyes that she did not fool him for one minute. “I love him very much.” She told him with as much conviction as she could muster, but it sounded weak and pathetic even to her own ears.
“Now we both know that that is not true Mandy.” He stated firmly, perceptively.
This was also an argument that she was destined to lose because she knew he was right. Amanda sighed and took a small sip of her drink and then throwing caution to the wind she drank some more.
The heat of the liquid burned her throat as it went down, but not unpleasantly so, it was obviously an expensive brandy. None of that cheap nasty stuff that took your breath away.
“Jake, I came here to apologize not to get into an argument with you.” She told him.
“Then perhaps you shouldn’t have come here at all.” He said.
“Perhaps I shouldn’t have.” She agreed. This had been a mistake, even if her mother had been here. She should have left well enough alone for now. She should have waited a while, until things had calmed down.
“You must have known that I would have certain things to say to you? I think I made my position very clear.” Yes, he had and both of her arms were still feeling the effects.
“Well, you are not totally blameless.” She threw at him, and she knew that she sounded childish.
“Me? What did I do?” Jake asked with a frown as he took another gulp of his drink. Without realising, she mirrored his movement and finished the last of her drink. Jake stood up and took her glass, refilling it and bringing it back to her.
There was rather a lot in it this time, she noted. She shook her head and went to say no but he pressed it firmly into her hands and so she had no choice but to take it.
She was already feeling the start of the effects of the drink she had just drunk, she was not used to hard liquor and a lightheaded feeling had already begun.
&n
bsp; “You shouldn’t have hit him.”
“He deserved it.” Jake shot back. She took another sip of her drink and then shook her head.
“No one deserves that.” She shuddered at the memory of the bruising on Harry’s face.
“If you think I am going to apologize, if that’s what you came here for. Then you can rest assured I have no intention of doing so. Believe me when I say Mandy that an apology from me to him will never happen.” Jake told her firmly.
“You should see his face.” She threw back at him.
“Why don’t you tell me what is really going on?” he lifted an eyebrow at her. Her mouth went dry as she looked at him. A small smile tugged on the corner of his mouth as he regarded her with those intelligent steel blue eyes of his.
“I have no idea what you are on about.” She told him in a weak wispy voice, did that voice belong to her?
“Come on Mandy. Pride comes before a fall you know.” He told her.
Chapter 13.
Here was her chance to end it. She could set the record straight and that would be the end of it. An end to this fiasco and a way to get Harry off the hook. A hook he should never have been on in the first place.
Did she really want to though? She had to admit that she was having a good time knowing that she was finally getting under Jake’s skin.
She had never managed to get the upper hand before and she found that she was reluctant to let go of that advantage.
“Jake please.” She pleaded with him as she sighed wearily suddenly feeling very tired. She finished the last of her drink for a second time, not paying attention to how much she had just drunk, and put the glass down on the small table at the side of the sofa.
“Please what?” Jake asked.
Amanda rubbed at her forehead and then grazed over her cheeks as she tried to reduce the tingling on her skin she could feel starting.
“Please stop this. I just came to apologize, that’s all.” She told him.
“Mandy…” He stopped abruptly and then she heard him sigh deeply. “What is going on in that beautiful silly head of yours?” Her head came up as she looked at him.
He was watching her closely. Too closely and Amanda fought the urge to wriggle and squirm in her seat. “Did you really think that you could pull something like this off and that I would believe you?”
“I…” she stopped. He was right.
“You have been away far too long. Remember I know you far too well and I am not stupid. There is no way that you could have been idiotic enough to have married someone like that. I know that you are smarter than that.” Jake’s voice dropped lower, taking on a cajoling sensual tone that made her tummy do a funny kind of flip and sending little shivers down her spine.
“Well, maybe I am not smarter than that. Perhaps you have got me all wrong.” She replied.
“No I haven’t.” He assured her confidently.
“Yes, you have.”
“Everyone can see that you are not in love with him. He is not in love with you.”
“And you… you would know what love looks like would you.” She scoffed. “I am surprised Jake. I…” She stopped, the look in his eyes told her to. They glinted at her menacingly.
“Oh no don’t stop. Do carry on. I want to hear what you have to say.”
“Jake.” She briefly closed her eyes and she took in a much needed breath. “I have lived my life quite well for the last ten years without any interference from you. You are not my brother, so stop trying to act like one. I don’t need a brother.”
“Someone needs to look out for you.” He informed her.
“No they don’t. I am fine all on my own.” She clenched her jaw trying to stop her anger from getting the better of her.
“Of course you are.” He agreed, venomous sarcasm dripping from his voice. “I can see how fine you are. You seem to be making a first class hash of your life by yourself.”
“Nothing I say is ever going to change your opinion, is it? Leave me alone, you got that Jake. Stay away from me.”
“If it’s about money, I’ll willingly pay for you to divorce him.” He told her. Had he not been listening to her? Did he really need to have that much control over her life?
“Jake.” Her voice rose as she began to become more agitated. The liquor she had drunk already affecting her. Already lowering her defences. “Why? Why are you doing this?”
“Why are you?” He shot back at her.
“Because I Lo…” she stopped abruptly. Her heart clamoured in her chest painfully. For one dizzyingly sick moment she actually thought that she might faint.
Had she really been about to say what she thought she was going to say. She had been. She had been about to say the L word. No... It was the alcohol talking.
“Go on.” Jake urged softly and she shook her head trying to clear it.
“Why do you always do this?” she asked instead.
“If you just thought through your actions before charging ahead with silly stupid plans then I wouldn’t have to be like this.” He said.
“You act this way because it’s my fault?” She exclaimed. Of course it was. Jake couldn’t possibly be at fault. He couldn’t possibly be wrong. He really was so full of himself.
“Here I am trying to mop up the mess you created.” Amanda felt that somehow he actually enjoyed it. It was his way of always keeping the upper hand against her. Well she was determined that it wasn’t going to be like that anymore.
“I told you that I have been just fine for the last ten years without you cleaning up after me. Face it Jake. I… don’t… need… you. I don’t… want you. I don’t… L–” she stopped abruptly before the words spilled out of her mouth. What was wrong with her? She had been about to use the L word again.
They stared at one another for what seemed like forever. All the time Amanda could hear the roar of blood pounding in her ears and her heart beating wildly, erratically against her ribcage as though it were trying to break free.
“You have no idea what you want. What you need or who you...” he paused briefly as his eyes swept over her, unhurriedly. She felt the heat rising on her skin. “Perhaps you should start finally facing up to the truth yourself.” Jake told her in a soft voice.
“How dare you.” She hissed at him and then shouting at him she said. “How dare you try telling me how I should run my life or tell me what I should feel or what I should think. Coming from you –”
That was as far as Amanda got except for the cry of alarm that escaped her lips as Jake, with super lightning speed, left his seat.
And then she could do nothing but cry out in alarm and panic. He was kneeling in front of her. His hands coming to the backs of her knees so that he could pull them apart and he slid his body closer to her before his lips plundered hers.
He leaned into her, pushing her back against the sofa. And despite her alarm Amanda’s body responded to him immediately. Springing into life, throbbing with urgent need. Her lips moved against his. Matching his hunger.
She shuddered, more at disgust with herself for being so weak where Jake were concerned. She felt his arm around the back of her waist as he pulled her closer to him.
He slid her from the couch until she was sitting on his lap. Her legs either side so that the soft flesh between her legs was pressed up against him. She gasped as she felt his hard arousal close to her intimately.
She should have worn trousers, she reflected. Her skirt had already been hitched up from when Jake pulled her off the sofa and onto his lap. It was now bunched around her waist.
The only material between her and him was a brief piece of lace on her part and trousers on his. And that was so not enough she decided.
She felt his hand on her back, tracing a path up to her neck and then his fingers delved into her hair. Clenching his fingers as he held onto a fistful of her hair in his fist. She whimpered and his fingers loosened a little as he realised that he was hurting her.
His lips pressed against hers. His tong
ue delving into her hot sweet mouth. His hands urging a response from her. She arched her back.
Her hands stroked a path from his elbows and up to his shoulders, they felt hard under her fingers. She could feel the solid muscle under his shirt. She heard him groan and a ripple of pleasure ran through her.
His lips slid down the column of her throat whilst his hands came round to undo the buttons of her blouse and then she felt the silky material fall from her shoulders. She breathed a sigh as the clasp of her bra came undone and then her bra was being removed and replaced with Jake’s hand.
His thumb rubbed the sensitive nipple, teasing it until it had hardened. His lips were on her collarbone. The upper swell of her breast until at last her nipple was drawn into the hot moistness of his mouth.
She cried out, a hand coming to Jake’s head. Her fingers diving into his hair.
“Mandy.” She heard Jake call her name. His voice strange and husky. Thick with passion. And then she was moving, being lowered to the ground, spread out on the rug. She heard Jake gasp then and her eyes flew open.
He was looking at the faint bruising on her upper arms. The bruising he had caused yesterday. His eyes looked into hers. She could see the haunted look in them. The pain of knowing he had done that to her.
She felt the sting of tears, she couldn’t bare him looking at her like that anymore. She reached for him. Bringing him closer so that she could kiss him.
Through the fog of passion, she was only dimly aware that he had removed his clothes and that he had removed her skirt and her knickers. Free of their material cages they were free to explore.
Amanda’s hands ran across his chest and down to his abdomen. Jake kissed her, touched her. Sending her into a frenzy.
Her nails dug and clawed at his back. His teeth bit into her flesh. She gasped, unable to stop it escaping from her mouth. She reached down then. Touching him, feeling him. His arousal hard in her hand as she savoured the feel of skin on skin contact.
She really should try and stop this before it went too far. Amanda tried to focus, to put an end to it. To save herself but she was fighting a losing battle and she knew it.
Battle Lines. Page 12