Taken

by Mia Ford

  “Jared is not here. I have to go back to my house and make sure everything is okay. It is time to go home,” she said when Jeff followed her.

  “You have to stay here,” Jeff said, but he didn’t mean it. Her staying there and acting weird was too much. He did not need extra contact with her. He wanted her and without Jared around, well he always gave into his desires. Gently he nudged her shoulders towards the apartment and she complied, following him up to Jared’s apartment.

  Still in nothing but a towel, Suzie went to have a shower, again. The hot water washed the smoke and burning smell from her body and hair. Feeling it wash away, Suzie was starting to warm up and wake up out of her daze. She had no clothes to change into. She had to go back to her house for clothes and to assess the damage. That could wait until the morning but what about tonight? Jeff was in the other room and the tension between them was obvious. Ever since she had secretly admitted to herself that she wanted Jeff, and yearned for another kiss and more, she had been in a bit of a daze and now she seemed to have set herself up to be alone, with the other brother, without clothes. It seemed funny at the moment and Suzie released her anxiety with a laugh. Deciding to stay out of her head for a while, Suzie found the only towel in the bathroom and wrapped it around herself. When she returned to the living room, Jeff’s mouth dropped at the sight of her in a tiny towel.

  “Now what am I supposed to do? I did not bring any clean clothes.” Suzie wiggled a little, accentuating her curves in her barely there towel. She liked flirting with Jeff especially when she caught him by surprise. She took a step closer to him and debated touching him. Jared being gone and the crazy way he carried her out of her burned apartment took away her abashment and she let herself have a proper look at him. Allowing herself release from holding back her feelings she stared into the depth of his dark eyes. Her eyes roamed down his neck, thick shoulders and tight chest. She wanted his shirt off him. Her eyes moved downward and stopped on the bulge in his jeans. She cocked her head to the side and her lips parted. She bit her tongue and moved her gaze back to his eyes. Her patience drove him wild and furious. He was almost vibrating yet stayed as still as Suzie. They wanted each other; neither could deny it any longer. And, fate, coincidence, call it what you will, kept bringing them together. At a stand-off, neither of them wanted to make the first move.

  Jeff finally just walked away, stepping quickly to the fridge and grabbing a beer. He opened it and drank it down in two long swallows. Feeling less parched yet realizing that drinking was not a good solution, Jeff sighed and leaned against the counter. Twenty different outcomes were racing through his mind and none of them were good. He was in his brother’s house supposed to be taking care of his brother’s girlfriend and his mind was on one thing only. He wanted to take care of Suzie alright, he wanted to take care of her breasts, her lips, and help her out of that constricting towel. Damn he hoped she’d put some clothes on. He and his brothers had fought over girls before but never him and Jared. Usually they had a very different taste in women but Suzie was so enticing, Jeff did not know if he could resist. Against better judgement he grabbed more beer and sat down on the couch. He turned the television on as a distraction and turned it to some football game he could pretend he was watching.

  A few minutes later Suzie, walked through the living room into the kitchen. She was wearing an oversized sweater that reached her knees. It was black with a stylized J on it and Jeff recognized it immediately; it was his sweater. Jared had won it in a stupid dare years ago when the two brothers had spent more time together. In fact, it was the only time they had fought over a girl. Jared got the sweater, Jeff got the girl. He would have been better off keeping the sweater. This day just got weirder and weirder. Jeff had hoped she would have changed into Jared’s clothes, thereby being a constant reminder to him that she was off limits. What was he kidding though; at this point he wanted her regardless of consequences.

  Suzie walked into the living room and steered away from the couch. Instead she sat beside it on an oversized recliner. Cupping her hands around the hot mug, she sipped her coffee.

  “I brought you a beer,” Jeff said.

  “I will have it after I warm up. Thanks,” Suzie replied. The tip of her tongue slid through her lips as she spoke and she continued to stare at him with her milky blue eyes.

  “Beer and coffee is a weird combination,” Jeff said, his voice low and gruff.

  “I am a weird girl,” she replied quietly.

  “It has been a weird day,” Jeff added, then he turned back to his football game.

  Suzie watched him while he was focused on his game. His long arms stretched out in front of him and his big hands lay on top of one another. The hands of an artist. She ached to see him paint again, wanted to probe that man’s mind and explore his body. He was so different from the man she saw now, engrossed in some football game. It was though he hid behind this tough guy because he was not admitting the artist he truly was. Suzie wondered where his painting was and if he had finished. Jeff looked over at her and caught her staring at him.

  “It is only going to get weirder if you just stare at me all night and don’t say anything,” Jeff said.

  “Oh, I was just thinking about your painting. Did you finish it? Where is it?” Suzie asked.

  Jeff grunted. He did not like talking about painting but he knew she was asking because she felt a connection to it. What the hell, anything would be awkward when he was constantly undressing her with his eyes. “Umm. It is still at Mom’s studio. I haven’t worked on it since that day. Been busy arranging this job and lacking inspiration.”

  “You should do more painting. Your work is inspiring. Your mom’s is too. I have been eager to paint since I got back, I think I will set up a small area in my house…My house. I really should go back and check that everything is okay,” Suzie rambled.

  “No, you stay here. Everything is fine. Go over there tomorrow when it is light out. I made sure everything was locked up and closed when we left. No worries,” Jeff said, assuring her.

  “Thanks. I will have that beer now,” Suzie said and she leaned forward and set her mug down on the table.

  Handing her the bottle, Jeff willed her to move to the couch beside him. She didn’t and he shifted in his seat. Then antsy and bored faking an interest in the football game, he walked into the kitchen for food. Finding nothing in the fridge he started looking at the take-out menus on the counter across from the fridge. Suzie walked up to him and opened the fridge. Bending over for more beer, she bumped into Jeff. She stood and turned. Jeff took a beer from her hand and then, since she stood there unmoving, he reached behind her and closed the fridge.

  Opening his beer, he drank most of it and then set it on the counter. Touching the fabric of the sweater she was wearing, Jeff moved his hand up and touched her cheek. Hearing the soft sigh escape her lips he traced them with his finger and then tilted her head up to him. Eyes locked on hers, Jeff leaned down and kissed her lips. She kissed back hard, pushing him back into the counter. Meeting her tongue with his, he grabbed her hips and pulled her closer. Still kissing him, Suzie let her hands wander to the hem of his shirt where she found skin and slid her hands up his back to his shoulders. His hard body under her touch made her tremble. Once again, a current ran between them. Fumbling and tugging at his clothes, Suzie pushed harder into the bulge in his pants. With a grunt, Jeff picked her up and she wrapped her legs around him, kissing his neck. Walking with her in his arms, he moved into the living room, turned off the television and sat down on the couch with her in his lap. Kissing his neck, her hands moved under his shirt tugging at it and pulling it up and off. Suzie’s mouth shaped an O of pleasure as she felt his naked torso beneath her. She tossed his shirt to the side and pulled away for a minute just looking at him. His eyes were softer but frantic and anticipating. He was breathing heavy watching her.

  Her hands and arms tingled with pleasure as she ran them up and down his body. Moving over him she kissed his neck,
then their lips met and she ran her hands through his hair. Jeff, finding the edge of her sweater started to pull it up over her head. She gasped and tried to resist, and he shifted positions using his face and mouth on her neck and ear, he eased the bulky sweater over her head. Feeling the cold air hit her naked body, Suzie’s nipples became hard. Jeff stopped moving and whispered, “Oh yes.” Staring at her ample breasts, he brought his face and then his hands to them, lavishing them with kisses and caresses. Suzie arched her back as waves of pleasure intensified. Jeff held her down, pulling her hips into him as she writhed on top of him. Biting, licking and grabbing at him she felt for and undid his pants. Desperate passion took over and Jeff moved Suzie off his lap and onto the couch. Pushing her back into the cushions he climbed on top of her, pressing his body into her. Again, Suzie tugged at his pants and pulled them down. Towering above her he pulled them off and cast them aside. Suzie, seeing how hard and ready he was, seeing his full body in its gleaming perfection, sparked a desire she had never felt before. A high-pitched moan of urgency escaped her lips as she felt him spread her legs and push into her. Quickly they became entangled and rose to the waves of pleasure that overtook them. Rubbing him, touching and tasting him seemed to release the electric charge between them until finally they found orgasmic release and fell, exhausted back onto the couch where they sat close but not touching and wrapped in Jeff’s sleeping bag.

  A few minutes passed and Suzie looked at Jeff sitting beside her in the dark. “Well that was a bad idea.”

  “Nothing about what just happened was bad,” Jeff smirked at her and moved closer.

  “Ok, but what about…” Suzie started.

  “Don’t say it,” Jeff interrupted. And before she could speak he put a finger to her lips. She bit it and stuck out her tongue to tease him. Then she licked his finger before sliding onto his lap under the blanket. They moved together stretched out on the couch. Still naked they groped in the dark and gently touched each other, taking the time to explore each other’s bodies. Slowly the pleasure and intensity built up and they succumbed to the pleasure and desire they had for each other.

  The ringing phone woke them from their half dream state. They had pleasured each other until they fell asleep, still touching and exploring. Suzie opened her eyes. Jeff’s hand was still on her breast as she tried to distinguish which phone was ringing. Jeff picked up the phone with his other hand.

  “Yeah,” he mumbled.

  “Why are you answering Suzie’s phone?” Jared asked.

  “Uh, sorry bro, she left it out here and I just grabbed it when I heard it ring,” Jeff stuttered.

  “Still sleeping then. That figures. Get your ass up and find Suzie for me, you are going to be late,” Jared said in his condescending tone.

  Jeff counted to three silently and passed the phone to Suzie who was removing herself from on top of him. She sat up and distanced herself from Jeff, pulling the blanket with her. She took a breath.

  “Hi babe,” she said, trying to sound cheerful.

  “Hey sweetheart, I wanted to check on you after yesterday and say I love you before you start your day.”

  “Oh, thanks. I am fine, still a bit shaky but will be fine. Hope your day goes well too.” Suzie mumbled an I love you when Jared said it again. Then he asked to talk with Jeff.

  “Is she really okay?” Jared asked Jeff.

  “Yeah, she is fine. She is amazing. I mean okay, yeah she is okay. No worries,” Jeff said in reply.

  “Okay, thanks. You have to look after her for me. I am so glad you are there with her,” Jared said with concern.

  “She can handle herself just fine,” Jeff said.

  “Yeah, she acts tough but she has been through a lot, she needs strength and support. So I need you to give it to her since I am not there,” Jared said.

  I will give it to her alright, Jeff thought. I will bend her over the table and give it to her right now. Clearing his throat he instead replied, “Sure. Chill out.”

  Suzie was panicking. She was late for work, again. Everything she had to wear was at her house and she had to rely on Jeff to get her there. He got off the phone and still had not got up. Suzie paced, then slowed as her stomach clenched in hunger. She ignored it and focused on getting to work.

  “Can you drive me home?” she asked him.

  “You don’t want to go to work wearing that?” Jeff gestured to the black sweater she had put back on.

  “I just need to get some clothes on and get to work. Can we go?” Suzie insisted.

  Slowly getting up, Jeff pulled on his jeans and shirt and followed Suzie out the door. Halfway home both their phones started going off. First it was a message from her boss asking her to call ASAP. Then Laura called at the same time Jared called Jeff, who pulled over to sort the chaos.

  “OMG Suzie where are you. Everyone thought you were dead,” Laura gasped.

  “Whoa, what? I just left a message saying I was running late,” Suzie said. “How could I be dead?”

  “Your place, it burned to the ground. We all thought you were in it. Where are you?” Laura explained.

  “No I’m fine. Look I got to go I will talk to you when I come in,” Suzie said then ended the call. Turning to Jeff who was still on the phone she said, “Drive. My place, now.”

  Tossing the phone to her, Jeff drove. Jared was still on the phone and confirmed that there had been a fire. No one had been able to locate her so they called her work and chaos had ensued. Finally, Jared had been called and sorted everything out informing work she was safe and sound though would not be in to work that day. Jared then insisted she go back to his place and stay there until he arrived.

  “It’s all taken care of babe. I will be home tonight, until then, take a day of rest.”

  She did as she was told and allowed Jeff to take her back to Jared’s apartment. There was nothing left of her place, it had burned to the ground. Everything she had, which was not much, was gone. In shock, she fell silent. Jeff opened the door for her and guided her inside. She sat down on the couch shivering. Jeff went into the kitchen to make coffee. When he returned she was wrapped in his blanket. Locking eyes with her, he saw she was scared but there was fierceness there, a spark. Her hands shook when she took the cup from him and he helped her set it on the table. Then he turned and walked out of the room.

  It was not just the shock of the fire that kept Suzie quiet, it was Jeff. She felt like the fire was punishment. Her house had burned while she was ravishing her boyfriend’s brother. It was quite fitting. Thinking about the previous night with Jeff, she started to warm up. Her mind was all over the place but it always came back to Jeff, preferably naked.

  At that thought, Jeff walked back into the room carrying two plates. He set one down in front of her. It smelled delicious.

  “There wasn’t much for groceries but you haven’t eaten since yesterday, probably why you are shaking so bad,” he said.

  They ate in silence and Suzie felt much better afterwards. She got up and cleared their plates and cleaned up the kitchen. No one had ever cooked for her before. Jared always took her out or ordered in. The intimacy of Jeff preparing food for her caused her to pause. She was getting in over her head and she knew it. Jared would be home in eight hours and then what? She had told Jeff he could go to work and she would be fine, until Jared got back but he refused. Now, with coffee and food perking her up she was glad he would be staying home. This would probably be their last few hours together.

  “Are you okay?” Jeff called.

  No, she was far from okay. She was a mess. Though hearing his voice brought back the image of his skin on hers and she shivered. She might as well enjoy these last few hours since she had already crossed the line. Smiling to herself she walked into the living room.

  Jeff was reclining on the couch and he looked up when she walked in. She sauntered in and sat down on the couch beside him, close but not touching. Teasing, she pretended to stretch then pulled her sweater off inch by inch. He laughed and
grabbed her, pulling her onto him and wrapping them in a blanket. Eager to explore each other’s bodies they rocked with building intensity. Holding tight their pleasure mounting, Suzie cried out and Jeff covered her mouth with his as they matched rhythms and found release together. As their panting subsided they both fell quiet, still touching hands, chest to chest. Jeff lowered his gaze to hers, opening his mouth to speak.

  “That is my inspiration. Oh. Wow. I want to paint you,” he spoke softly.

  “Oh Jeff,” Suzie said sadly. “We can’t tell Jared.”

  “Right, not about the painting and not about this. Just a little fun when no one is looking right?” Jeff winked at her.

  “He loves me,” was all Suzie said.

  Getting up from the couch, Jeff padded to the shower. Suzie watched him go, relishing seeing his hard body in all its glory.

  “Better get back into girlfriend mode Suzie,” Jeff said when he caught her staring. Then he strutted in a circle before entering the bathroom and closing the door.

  While Jeff showered, Suzie straightened up. She heard from Laura who was going to bring some clothes to Suzie since she had none of her own. The office had also done a collection for her and they had a few things. Jared was coming home for supper and as usual he would be bringing food home with him. Suzie felt physically and mentally prepared to deal with everyone when Jeff sauntered in.

  “You might want to make his bed, look a little more slept in. It looks like you haven’t stepped foot in that room. Naughty,” Jeff teased.

  Jeff was irresistible even now and Suzie squeezed her eyes tight to resist the urge to touch him or flirt with him. Instead, she walked past him and walked into Jared’s room. Strangely it was comforting. She moved the pillows around and crawled in. It smelled like Jared and felt like a warm hug. How could she be excited to have him back when she had betrayed him?

  Hearing voices in the other room, she walked out to see Laura, flirting with Jeff. She was carrying some bags and followed Jeff into the living room. When she saw Suzie, she screamed and ran over her hugging her tight.