by Kay Maree
"I’m going to kill that dog," he spat.
"GET OUT!!" Lucy yelled. "Get out before I call the cops."
Jake grabbed her shoulder. Crusader growled again. He let go and stepped back.
"Get out, Jake. We’re done."
“I’m not leaving.”
She opened the door. “Yes. You are. Don’t come back or you’re going to jail.”
He threw a few more insults at Lucy as he moved towards the front door, holding his injured arm. His last threat was to call animal control on a vicious dog.
"Go ahead asshole," she challenged, advancing on the man as her dog shadowed her movements. "I dare you to call." She pointed to the door. "Get out of my house. NOW!"
It took about ten minutes after Jake left for Lucky to quit shaking. She cleaned up the coffee grounds from the can she had dropped when he hit her, and she gave Crusader a couple of cookies for coming to her rescue.
"He hit you?" Tera's outburst was expected. "After he had the nerve to tell you that you shouldn't have spent so much on a wedding that was for HIS daughter?"
"Yeah well, some things never change."
“Don’t let him back in.”
Lucy sighed. “I know it was the alcohol controlling his actions, but no, he’s not coming back. I’m done. Just totally done.”
"Don’t make excuses for him. You stay strong, and remember something, Lucy Sutton. No matter what new plan you come up with, or what stress you're under, going swimming is still NOT allowed."
Lucy hung up and took Crusader with her to the futon on the back porch. She hit speed dial for Jonah.
"Hello beautiful," he answered.
"Hey." Lucy's throat constricted as the adrenaline started leaving her body.
"What's wrong?"
With a lot of stuttering and deep breaths, Lucy told him what had happened.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. My face will probably bruise, but that's it."
"Remind me to buy Crusader a steak dinner." Jonah tried to make light of the situation but Lucy could hear the underlying anger.
"Jonah, I'm okay."
"That's not the point, Syn. You know that. If I ever meet that bastard you're married to–"
"You'll do nothing." Lucy finished for him. "You will not risk yourself getting in trouble because of him."
"We shall see about that. How can a man assault his wife? What kind of man does that?"
"Let it go, Jonah. I didn't call you to get you upset or to get your pity, I just wanted to hear your voice."
"I love you, Syn."
"I know you do. I love you too."
After a couple Tylenol PMs, Lucy sank her head into her pillows. She knew Jake wouldn’t be back that night; he’d hole up somewhere and sleep it off. Her eye throbbed. He’d never hit her before, and it was a trend she didn’t intend to start.
Her dream started almost immediately.
The scene outside the window captivated her, and she climbed up on the huge bed, no longer her own, and settled back against the pile of pillows to enjoy the view. The bed tilted at such an angle that it looked out over the pool. Everything else ceased to exist as the view hypnotized her.
She barely noticed as the bed dipped down at her side. She looked up, and her eyes met those of the man she loved more than anything.
"Jonah."
His hand cupped the side of her face as he stared into her eyes. For a moment, neither of them moved. Lucy felt the warmth of his fingers against her cheek. She traced the outline of his profile.
"Hi," she said when she could find her voice again.
"Hi back," he replied with a grin.
"You look just like your pictures."
"I hope that's a good thing," Jonah chuckled.
"How are you here?" she whispered.
"I don't know," he quietly answered. "This is your dream. Maybe you imagined me here."
"Then I don't want to wake up."
He leaned over and kissed her injured cheek as if to make it all better. "No one will ever hurt you like that when you're with me, my love. I promise."
Syn put her hand to her cheek as Jonah stood and walked over to the window. Syn followed and they both looked at the scene outside the window.
"It's beautiful. Just like you said."
"Yeah, it is."
"So beautiful." He was no longer looking out the window. Jonah stared into her eyes again, and her breath caught.
Jonah brushed his thumb over her lips and soothed her hair back. He pulled her close into an embrace. Lucy felt like she was finally home as his arms engulfed her, and she wrapped hers around his neck.
She laid her head on his shoulder, inhaling his aftershave and feeling his hair as she rubbed the back of his neck. He held her tight as their hearts beat together and neither moved for a long time.
Lucy tilted her head back as Jonah lowered her head. As their lips touched for the first time, the world, real or dream, melted away into that perfect moment.
The kiss was gentle and soft, and so full of promise. Jonah's hands wrapped in Lucy's hair as he deepened the kiss. Her lips parted and his tongue found its way to hers. He groaned as Lucy kissed him back with the same fervent emotion.
Lucy's fingers loosened the buttons on his shirt one at a time. His body quivered as she pushed the shirt off his shoulders. He let go of her long enough to shake his arms free, and his shirt floated to the floor. He kissed her again and trailed kisses to her neck where he inhaled her intoxicating scent. He nibbled her ear and nuzzled her neck as he kissed his way from one side to the other.
Her dress blocked his ability to place butterfly kisses across her shoulders as she was doing to him. He turned her around until he could pull her dress over her head, where it ended up on the floor with his shirt. In a moment, all of their clothes were on the floor.
Jonah carried her to bed and gently sat her down. He pushed her back against the pillows, never breaking their contact. The kisses became longer, drugging both of them into a feeling of euphoria. Some of the kisses were short and sweet, some were long and intoxicating. He traced her lips with his tongue, moaning as she did the same.
Lucy blushed under his slow perusal of her body. She reached for the covers, but he stopped her.
"You are so beautiful, my love. Please don't try to hide from me."
"But..."
He kissed her quiet. After a few of his drug inducing kisses, there were no thoughts of bashfulness or doubt. His hands explored Lucy's body with the same slow thoroughness of hers, each trying to memorize every detail of the other.
Jonah blazed a path of kisses down her neck to her breasts, where his mouth replaced his hands in his exploration of her body. He scattered kisses across her stomach, loving how the goose bumps formed as he caressed her skin.
Lucy had never felt such passion, such ecstasy. Her body was on fire from Jonah's touch and she was wanting more and more. She kissed him with more need, a frenzied, abandoned type of need. His mouth was everywhere and anywhere. She could feel the strength in his shoulders and back as she arched against him, running her hands across his smooth skin. She used her tongue to blaze a trail down his neck and across his chest. His breathing became shallow as she continued her exploration of his body with her mouth and her hands.
They made love in the moonlight, with no thoughts of anything other than each other. Jonah was a gentle, yet passionate lover, and Lucy discovered parts of herself that she hadn't even known existed. Their love carried them to passionate heights that neither had ever thought possible. They came together in a perfect union, perfect unison, perfect chemistry. They rode the waves of passion together, crashing together like waves with perfect rhythm. They were both breathless and exhilarated when they finally drifted out of the clouds.
Lucy snuggled against Jonah without saying a word as they watched the pool ebb and flow against the cliffs. There were stars now, something that Lucy hadn't seen bef
ore. They twinkled and sparkled as if they were happy that the two of them were together. Jonah twirled his fingers in her hair as they lay together, and he planted a kiss on the top of her head.
"I love you, my Lucy."
"I love you, too, my Jonah."
"Do you think we can just stay here together, just like this, forever?"
"I don't know how we're here now."
"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now, with anyone else."
"Me either Jonah. As, um, weird as this situation is, it's perfect. The world as it may be is suddenly right."
Jonah kissed her again, a slow, soft, lingering kiss. Lucy melted all over again at the sheer emotion in that long moment.
She sighed with complete contentment. "I hope you always kiss me like that."
"I promise to kiss you like that forever. I could do that all day."
"Watch what you wish for," she giggled.
Jonah propped up on his elbow and looked at her very seriously. “I mean that, Syn. I want to always make you happy. I want to always make out like we're teenagers and have every kiss make us feel exactly how that one just did. You deserve it."
"So do you, my love. We deserve each other."
Lucy sat up and pushed him back against the bed. She straddled him and pinned his hands to the bed over his head. She leaned down and kissed him, her hair falling all around him.
She tried to sit up, but Jonah held her hands tight. He kissed her again, more passionately this time. He let go of her hands and pushed her hair back, cupping her face as his lips demanded more from her. Lucy swirled with him through the ecstasy they created together as their kisses became feverish.
He made love to again, both of them reaching the heights of pleasure. She collapsed on top of him, and they lay together like that for a long time before either could move.
Lucy rolled over and lay with her head on Jonah's shoulder, his arms cradling her close.
"I don't ever want to wake up."
Jonah smiled. "Well, I'm not sure how this whole thing works, but I'm pretty sure you have to wake up sometime."
"I can't wait to be with you forever, Jonah."
"Ditto, baby. Hey, how are you doing with that whole swimming thing?"
"I don't feel the need to go swimming quite so strong lately. It weakened when you came back to me."
Jonah squeezed her. "I'm sorry I put you through all that. I really am."
"Shhhh. Don't, not now. It doesn't matter. What matters is the here," she leaned up and kissed him, "and the now," another kiss, "and the right now..." the next kiss cut off words for a little bit.
Lucy let out a happy sigh as she snuggled back down. She planted a kiss on his chest, and he kissed her forehead. Together they lay there embraced, drenched in the moonlight, both staring out at the stars glittering off the water. Eventually they both drifted off to sleep.
When she woke, she reached for Jonah. Instead, she felt a furry body and a cold nose nudged her shoulder. She opened her eyes and wanted to cry. She was back in her bedroom and Crusader stared at her.
Chapter Seventeen
Lucy
It was the next afternoon before Lucy heard from Jonah again. She called him at lunch and knew immediately from his tone that something was wrong.
"What's the matter?" she asked him.
He didn't say anything.
"Jonah? What's going on?"
Her heart stopped at his answer. "He overdosed."
"Who?" although she knew the answer.
"The baby's father. Bonnie found him yesterday when she went to his house. They're not sure if he's going to make it or not."
"Oh no. I'm sorry Jonah."
He laughed a very bitter laugh. "Oh, that's not even the worst part."
She was afraid to ask, so said nothing and waited.
He continued. "She failed her last drug screen."
Lucy didn't know what to say. "How's Sammi?"
"They're probably going to take her, Syn. Now that the guy overdosed, they're probably going to take the baby too. They blame me."
"Jonah, you didn't do this. You had no way of knowing."
"How do you figure that? I pushed her to this guy so that I could be rid of her. I knew what he was. I knew he was no good. But I pushed her anyhow."
Oh God, don't do this to me again. Please do not do this to me.
"Bonnie has made her own decisions dammit. She is wanting you to accept responsibility for everything going wrong so that she doesn't have to."
"Her probation officer is willing to cut her a deal since she hasn't had an issue since the first week."
"Dare I ask?"
"Oh, you won't like it. He's willing to extend her probation by sixty days to avoid arresting her a week shy of her probation being over. But I have to agree to be in charge."
"Two more months. I'm supposed to be there in two weeks."
"So, this is about you now? Little selfish, are we?"
Lucy was speechless.
"I know we have plans, Syn, but her life is falling apart, again. Because I pushed her into making bad choices for my own motives."
"And why was that? So you could have your own life?"
Lucy was angry. She was sick and tired of being the expendable one when someone else's life fell apart. She was tired of being optional.
"How can I start my own life, with you, knowing that I ruined her to do so?"
"RUINED HER?? Ruined HER? What do you think you're doing to me? Hot, cold. On again, off again. At least Bonnie got choices, regardless of what you think. I'm a bigger puppet than you are!"
"It doesn't matter. I have to deal with the mess now."
"Yeah, Bonnie's mess. Again. I don't think I can do this again Jonah. I can't keep waiting around."
"That's your decision."
Lucy hung up.
Jake hadn’t come back when Lucy got home that night. She grabbed her bottle of Jose Cuervo and did two shots with a pinch of salt. After taking a long, hot shower, she took another shot. Since that calmed her nerves but didn't change her mood, she made a pitcher of margarita's, poured one in a big glass, and sat on the back porch. The moon hung low, just like in her dream. The more she drank, the less she could tell if her dream was real or fantasy.
“What do you think, ‘Sader? If you die in your dream, do you really die in real life?”
He laid his head in her lap. She stroked his fur. “If so, you’d have to go live with your sister. But that’s okay. She’d take good care of you.”
By the time she went inside, most of the tequila was gone. She stumbled down the hallway to her bed and collapsed. She vaguely felt the dog crawl up next to her. “I love you, ‘Sader baby.”
She felt the wind on her face as she ran. She felt freer than the last couple times, almost bullet proof. She smiled at the sensations running down her body from the wind and the cool night air. The moonlight shone in her eyes. There were no stars now, as if they had fallen into the darkness with Jonah.
I can't stand being so tired anymore. I just want to be done with it all. I can't save Jonah; Sarah's a good girl with her whole life ahead of her. I can watch her from her dreams.
Doubt clouded her mind, but the lure of the water was so strong. She couldn't think anymore. The moon pulled her; the water called her name. She stood at the edge of the cliff.
The pool ebbed higher on the rocks, beckoning her closer to the edge. There was nothing in her life that didn't cause her pain. She thought of Sarah and Crusader, even Tera. She would miss them horribly, but they would survive without her.
Decision made, Lucy looked right at the moon as she stepped off the rock. The water embraced her as she sank, warm and nurturing. She finally felt a total and complete peace as she completely submerged. She smiled as she shut her eyes.
~*~
Jeremy
Jeremy jumped when his phone rang. He rubbed his eyes as he reached for the receiver.<
br />
“Thom.”
“Hey, Detective,” Charles Tieg’s voice boomed through the handset, “your patient is awake.”
Jeremy stood and stretched. “How’s she doing?”
“She’s confused, understandably. Demanding her daughter, whom we’ve contacted already to get back here. She’s very closed lipped about anything else though.”
“Thanks for calling. I’m on my way.”
He clicked out of the file and shut the laptop. Thoughts whirled through his head as he grabbed his keys. Is it possible that her dream came true?
When he got to the hospital, Jonah sat with Lucy, their heads bent together as they talked quietly. Jeremy tapped on the door before he entered the room.
“You’re definitely looking better than the last time I saw you.”
Lucy’s blue eyes sparkled but never left Jonah for long. “I feel a lot better.” Her finger traced Jonah’s cheek. “About a lot of things.”
Jeremy pulled a chair up to the bed. “Tell me what happened.”
She smiled. Her whole face lit up as she turned her gaze to him. “I went to bed and woke up with Jonah’s head on my shoulder, sound asleep, holding my hand.”
“And the near drowning?”
She took a deep breath. “My mistake.”
Jonah leaned down and kissed her lips. “Our mistake. But not anymore.”
Jeremy frowned. “I’m sorry, but where is Jake?”
Lucy’s temple tightened slightly. “He’s gone. He won’t be back. I’ve already called my attorney to get the paperwork filed.”
“Is he back at your house?”
She shrugged. “Probably. But not for long. He’s been told to get his stuff and get out.”
“And Bonnie?”
Jonah’s head snapped around. “How do you–”
Lucy interrupted. “You read my journal, didn’t you?”
Jeremy nodded. “I did. I’m sorry I intruded, but under the circumstances, it was warranted.”
She smiled again. “It’s okay. I’m happy you did because it saves me a lot of explaining.”
Jonah turned from one to the other. “Bonnie’s on her way to prison, where she’ll stay for a long time. I’m done with that drama.”
Lucy rubbed his arm. “And Sammi is with her grandparents until we get back to Toronto.”