Where Promises Die: A Second Chance Romance

by R. C. Stephens

  “I do,” he said. His eyes turning wide. He ran his middle finger over her shoulder slowly, seductively. It seemed he was still trying to draw her back to him. Maybe he thought she was playing hard to get. “You look so hot tonight. I like that skirt and the way those boots show off your legs … hot damn,” he continued as Grace pulled further away from him.

  “Declan, I’m not that kind of girl,” she replied, instantly figuring the truth would have to work in this scenario. Before she could get another word out, the driver’s side door swung open and a large hand attached to an angry Eisav yanked Declan from the car.

  Declan stumbled for a moment then got to his feet. “Eisav? What the hell, man?” Declan called out. He knew Eisav well, even though Declan was a year younger. They had spent many a night partying together and hooking up with chicks. They never had a reason to fight.

  With a gritted jaw, Eisav grasped Declan by the collar of his shirt. Eisav wasn’t only taller than him but built thicker and stronger.

  Grace flew out of the passenger side of the Barracuda and came running around the car to stop Eisav before he made a real mess. “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Go to the pickup now, Grace,” he snapped while Jacob stood behind him as if he was his bodyguard.

  “Jacob, do something please,” Grace pleaded.

  Jacob shrugged his shoulders. “No can do, Grace. We saw him hitting on you from the car. He put his lips on your neck. Big mistake,” he explained, clenching his fists at his sides. Grace suddenly felt like she didn’t know this side of Jacob at all. Was he hot tempered like his twin? She was beginning to believe he was and it worried her even more. She’d hoped he would be the reasonable one here and that he would talk Eisav out of hitting Declan.

  With Declan still in Eisav’s grip, Declan turned his head to Grace. “Seriously? You brought your brothers out on a date with you?” His voice sounded slimy, annoying. When he referred to Eisav as her brother, it made her cringe. He was never her brother and neither was Jacob. The girls in the Duncan house had become like her sisters because she had shared a room with each of them over the years and they formed that bond, but Eisav was her love and Jacob was always just a friend.

  “Don’t speak to her,” Eisav growled at Declan, his entire face heating up with rage.

  “Eisav, let him go and come home. Please,” Grace urged with a demanding tone, holding her ground. She could have handled Declan on her own. She was irritated that Eisav hadn’t given her the chance.

  “Yeah, man, come on. You know how it is with the honies.” Declan flashed a grin at Eisav despite the fact he hadn’t been released yet. Problem was at the mention of Declan calling Grace a honey and comparing her to the numerous sluts they were known to run with caused Eisav to snap, and he punched Declan so hard it floored him. With Declan lying in the dirt with a nose dripping blood, Jacob stepped in and held his brother back since it looked like Eisav intended on another punch. If it was anything like the first he would seriously injure Declan.

  Grace dropped to the ground. “Oh no! Declan, I’m so sorry.” A large crowd of teenagers formed around them, and Grace heard one of the girls saying something about getting him some tissues for his nose.

  Declan’s father was a policeman, and Declan was already threatening to press charges. Her incredibly good idea now turned into a colossal fuckup.

  “Let’s go now,” Jacob demanded, shoving his brother toward the pickup. Eisav didn’t budge as he stood there breathing hard, his gaze trained on Declan, who was slowly rising from the ground, wiping blood from his nose with the back of his hand. “I said let’s go. Now,” Jacob ordered again, his voice more stern.

  “Yeah, Eisav, no worries. My father will know where to find you,” Declan said with a smirk.

  Eisav snapped out of his daze as Grace laced her arm with his. “Don’t say anything else. This isn’t good, Eisav,” she warned quietly. Then the two walked back to the pickup with Jacob following not far behind.

  Once in the pickup, Eisav smacked the dashboard hard, “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” They all knew Declan would not let this go. Grace was so nervous she almost crawled out of her own skin. Because of her, Eisav was in big trouble. He’d just embarrassed Declan in front of a lot of friends, made him look weak and pitiful. She knew Declan was going to have him charged with assault.

  “This is my fault, Eisav. I’ll tell the truth. He came on to me and you guys were just defending me,” Grace said frantically as she tried to reassure him.

  “It’s not going to be that easy. My father won’t believe me. I’m royally screwed. There were too many witnesses. Declan didn’t put up a fight.” He raked both hands through his hair and his face fell forward. Grace could only imagine what was going through his mind.

  Isaac had become so fanatical in recent years, she was truly scared for his reaction.

  “I’ll back that story. I don’t like that Declan tried to hit on her. No matter what she’s wearing, it wasn’t right. I’ll tell Father,” Jacob cut in, surprising Grace. A quick glance to Eisav told her he was surprised too. Jacob never had his brother’s back before, even if the situation was about protecting Grace.

  Eisav turned to his brother. “Thanks, Brother. I appreciate your support.”

  Jacob smiled. Grace felt somewhat reassured that the brothers were seeing eye to eye on something. She just didn’t realize that something was her.

  One year and eight months later.

  “You have to keep quiet,” Eisav said as his cock slid in and out of Grace. The month prior she had given him her virginity. It had been the start of spring, just past her seventeenth birthday. It was a warm, quiet night when they snuck out of the house after sunset. They were accustomed to sneaking out, learning the art of moving through the house silently and exiting out the back door without garnering any attention. Grace had been ready for sex for some time, but she had difficulty convincing Eisav of her readiness and of his own worthiness. Of course she had the art of female persuasion on her side, along with Eisav’s soft spot for her beautiful heart and body. She finally convinced him to make love to her under the stars in their forest. A perfect night of glistening candles, strawberries, and the warmth of Eisav’s body. A night filled with the beauty of true love and a night that sparked a ravenous sexual need in both of them. A spark that grew hotter and steamier as their ability to keep their feelings private disintegrated like a lighter to a string.

  Later that night, Grace returned to her room smelling of sweat and sex. Marie walked up to her and nonchalantly picked a twig out of her hair, giving her a questioning look.

  Marie giggled as she circled Grace, assessing her circumstance. “Don’t hide this from me, Grace. I want to know all the details. I want to know what it feels like to be so immensely in love that you feel like your floating on air because you, Sister, are glowing.” Marie winked before turning to take a seat on her bed, crossing her legs and waiting expectantly.

  The room was dark but the light of the moon provided enough light for Marie to see that Grace looked a disheveled mess.

  “Marie, let me spare you the details,” Grace said, figuring she wouldn’t want to hear details about her brother.

  “I envy you, Grace. You get to love, maybe not openly, but you’ve been brave enough to embrace that love in private.” Marie leaned back on her pillow with a far off look in her eyes.

  “You won’t tell will you, Marie? I’m so completely and totally head over heels for him that I can’t seem to hide it. How can I hide it when my body is glowing from the inside out?” Grace fell back on her pillow and stared up to the ceiling with a blissful look.

  Marie pursed her lips together. “I’m happy he has you, Grace. Honestly. I don’t know what would have become of him if it weren’t for you, but you have to be more careful. Your love for him is blinding you. It’s making you trip up. If my father caught you tonight looking the way you do ….” Marie’s voice drifted off as a shudder ran through her body. “I hate to think it, Grace.
After what happened to Ida…” Marie paused again it was clear that speaking of her older sister caused pain “…it scares me, Grace. It scares me that I’ll never have a chance to love because they will never accept me. I also can’t handle the fate Ida was dealt. I need my family in my life. I know they have their faults, but I don’t want to be alone,” Marie explained as tears threatened to spill down her cheeks. Grace walked over to her bed and embraced her in a hug.

  “I’m not sure I’m understanding you, Marie, although I’m relieved that you know the truth. I haven’t been able to share my feelings about Eisav with anyone and it feels good to share with someone.”

  Marie patted Grace’s arm lightly. “I mean I’m gay, Grace. I like girls in the way that you like boys, and you don’t need to worry. Your secret of loving my brother is safe.”

  Grace furrowed her brows. “How do you know you like girls?” She had heard of such things before, even though Dina and Isaac didn’t expose them or allow them to discuss such topics at home.

  “I’ve known for years, I think. I’ve always felt different … Remember when Greta was first dating Dave and she got that dreamy look in her eyes?” Marie asked.

  Grace nodded. Of course she remembered. It reminded her of her own crush on Eisav.

  “That’s the feeling I get when I see a pretty girl,” Marie explained.

  Grace frowned. “Do you get that feeling when you look at me?”

  Marie giggled. “No, silly. You’re my sister, but I do get it when I see a pretty girl walking down the street.”

  That explanation set Grace at ease. “I think you should be allowed to love who you want. I don’t think that anyone should ever be denied the feeling of love. It’s blissful, Marie, and I wish it for you.”

  Marie gave Grace another hug and whispered, “Thank you,” into the dark. “You and Eisav have to be careful. I worry Father Joseph has his hooks in my father, and he isn’t like the priest from our old church, the one we used to attend as children when Granpa and Grandma were alive. It was a Catholic Church. We attended there long before you arrived to Sade. I may have been young, but I remember the difference. I think something is very off with Father Joseph. His intentions don’t make sense, and my friend Haley told me that she heard he tried to get poor old Mrs. Jacobson, a widower and avid follower of his, to sign the deed of her land over to him. Why would a priest truly care about those things? It doesn’t make sense.” Marie shook her head back and forth.

  Grace shrugged her shoulders. She, too, had her own theories. “I don’t know, Marie. I only know what I’ve heard from Father Joseph. My mother never took me to church in New York. I might not agree with a lot of things he says, but I go out of respect for your parents,” Grace explained.

  Marie let out a heavy sigh. She knew exactly what it meant to follow things out of respect for her parents. “I know. I just want you and Eisav to be careful. I couldn’t bear it if my parents caught you. If I’ve noticed your glow, it means Jacob has too. You must know how in love with you he is. I love Jacob, but he can be deceitful at times. I don’t want to see anything bad happen to you or Eisav.” Marie gave Grace’s hand a squeeze.

  “Thanks, Marie. Thanks for the warning. I promise to be more careful. I know that Jacob has always been jealous of Eisav. I don’t want to do anything to spur him on. I’ll warn Eisav too. I love you, Marie, and I hope that one day you’ll find what I have,” Grace said, getting up from Marie’s bed. She walked over to her own bed and got inside without changing to pajamas. She felt too tired to deal with it.

  “Thanks, Grace. I hope so too,” Marie whispered into the quiet of the room.

  Grace only heard a murmur as her head hit the pillow, and she was out like a light.

  It had been days since Marie and Grace had their little talk. Grace was practicing caution now by keeping her feelings inside. She now tried not to smile while eating her dinner, or driving to school, or any time really. She warned Eisav too.

  As Grace passed the chicken coop late in the afternoon, she heard Eisav talking to Jacob about Addison. Grace couldn’t hear much, but she thought she heard Jacob say that he thought she was pretty and sweet. It made her feel relieved because Marie’s warning that Jacob was in love with her didn’t sit well. She had never been very close with Jacob and although they had been friends, she had never behaved in a way to make him think otherwise. She was happy that Eisav was directing his focus elsewhere.

  It was late on a Friday night and they’d finished dinner hours before. The kitchen was clean and it seemed like everyone had retired to their rooms when Grace slipped out of her room with a small backpack on, eliciting a small whisper from Marie. “Be careful.”

  Grace slipped out of the room quietly and swept through the house light as air as she slipped out the back door. Eisav was waiting in the shadows a backpack of his own on as he took her hand in his and guided her toward the forest. They could both find their favorite spot in the dark with their eyes closed by now.

  Once they arrived to their special place, Eisav got to work setting a blanket on the ground with an extra blanket to cover them if it got cold. As Eisav made love to Grace on the dark forest floor, he whispered sweet nothings into her ear. She loved the feeling of his skin on hers. The world melted away from them when they were together under the light of the moon and the stars. The fresh air brushed against their naked skin as their lips danced a song of love and their bodies moved in a sinuous rhythm. There was no way either of them could have known Jacob had discovered the truth, or that blinded by jealousy he would make a poor decision and disrupt their lives.

  No.

  Grace and Eisav were in blissful oblivion as their bodies entwined and their souls merged. Eisav’s long, thick shaft slid in and out of her slowly. Eisav rocked his hips above her, and Grace moved hers to meet his rhythm.

  “Faster, Eisav, I need faster,” she rasped with a voice filled with lust.

  Eisav’s smile spread slowly. “You need faster, do you?” he said, clenching his teeth as he drove into her harder and faster. Grace tilted her chin up to the sky, her mouth dropping open as a moan escaped her lips.

  “YES, YES,” she called out on the brink of orgasm.

  Eisav dipped his head and nipped at her breast, causing her nipple to pebble. Then he nipped the other nipple even harder. Grace moaned louder, loving when he was rough with her.

  “Shh! We don’t need attention brought our way,” he urged, covering his hand gently over her mouth. Grace bit him hard, which caused him to yelp. Then he fucked her harder and deeper until she was coming apart and so was he. Thrown into rapturous ecstasy that only he could bring her.

  Out of breath, he fell to her side and held her tight in his arms. Her moist body pressed close to his. “I love you, Gracie.” He kissed her nose.

  “I love you too.” She smiled back at him then closed her eyes, feeling peaceful and relaxed.

  “We can’t fall asleep out here.” Eisav nudged her as her breathing evened out.

  “I know,” she murmured sleepily. “I wish we didn’t have to go back to the house. I wish we could sleep in each other’s arms all night, every night.”

  “We will one day.”

  “Is that a promise?” She smiled, enjoying his arms wrapped around her.

  He pressed his nose into her hair before he spoke. “That’s a promise, Gracie, but tonight we better get dressed. I don’t know what it is, but I feel like my father may be on to us. You still have to finish this year and enjoy your senior year of high school. Then we’re leaving this town. We don’t need to get thrown out of here before then.” He smiled.

  Eisav had received offers to go on tour with some pretty big bands. Last year the agent he met immediately took a liking to him. He saw a rising star, a diamond in the rough. Problem was Eisav was not willing to leave Sade, and he couldn’t exactly make him a star from the small town. Every few months he called him up and mentioned some band inviting him to play on their tour, but Eisav rejected every single
offer because as much as music had been a part of his soul, Grace was his soul. He was nothing without her. Of course he had broken the promise he made about speaking to her first if he was given an offer. He didn’t have much choice, though. He knew Grace would push him to leave, and he had an idea of what life would be like for a musician on the road. There was no way he was going to chance losing her, so he did what any teenage boy in love would do: he kept the offers a secret and rejected every one.

  As Eisav felt himself doze, he jolted himself awake when he heard the brush of leaves. “Gracie,” he whispered frantically. “Gracie, you got to wake up and get dressed. I heard something.”

  Grace’s eyes shot open and she jumped to her feet. Clothes strewn all over the forest floor, she grabbed for her panties first then her bra. Eisav pulled on his boxers then a T-shirt. The sound grew nearer and louder. There was definitely someone making their way over to them. No one in the family ever ventured this way.

  “Hurry, Gracie, hurry,” Eisav urged, passing her the shirt from the floor. He had already gotten himself dressed when he saw a figure coming toward them. It must be his father because in the darkness he saw a large, tall, thickly-built figure walking slowly. He also saw a rifle on his right shoulder. His throat bobbed and his heart sank. They had been coming out here for so long and they only had fourteen months left until Grace graduated. Eisav was actually counting down the days. They were both going to get to live their lives the way they wanted, away from his parents’ strict rules and negative words. “Gracie, your pants … fast! It’s my father. With a gun.” He swallowed hard, working to roll up the blanket off the forest floor and hide the condom box that lay beside it. They had gone through a few condoms tonight and had thrown them to the forest floor frivolously in the heat of passion. Now in the dark of night, Eisav was scanning through twigs to find each one. He was missing one. Grace had just done the button up on her jeans when Isaac paused in front of them with assessing eyes. Grace knew she looked like a hot mess and probably had a twig or two imbedded in her thick mane. She also knew Isaac was no fool.