An hour later he’d managed to get everything on the list and was back in the truck driving towards Gloria’s apartment. He didn’t doubt his brother took this golden opportunity to take his relationship with Gloria to the next level. If he didn’t after seeing Gloria model skimpy lingerie in front of him then he was a stronger man than Jason. Heck he thought Gloria was sexy in one of their old T-shirts. He could only imagine what she must look like wearing nothing but a revealing bra and thong set. He’d just managed to find parking in front of Gloria’s apartment and picked up his cell phone to call Jake when it began ringing in his hand.
“Hey, I was just about to call you. What do you need? A few more minutes alone with Gloria?” Jason teased his brother over the phone.
“No. Where are you?” The briskness in Jake’s voice told Jason something was wrong. He immediately had Jason’s full attention.
“I’m parked right outside. What’s wrong?”
“I’ll show you when we get in the car,” Jake said before hanging up. Jason didn’t like the tone in his brother’s voice. Before he went stir crazy from anxiousness he saw the door to Gloria’s apartment open. He watched as Gloria and Jake came out.
Immediately Jason noticed she’d recently showered, and that she wasn’t wearing the same clothes from earlier. Add that to Jake’s rumpled uniform and Jason would’ve bet they’d gone at it as soon as they reached her apartment and had a great time. On the other hand, the look of anger mixed with fear on Gloria’s face didn’t go with that assumption. The looks on either of their faces didn’t bode well for what they had to tell Jason. Jake held the car door open for Gloria to slide in, then he threw Gloria’s duffel bag and the blue shopping bag everyone knew came from Sally’s into the back seat before sliding into the front seat himself. As soon as Jake closed the door, Jason started in on him.
“What happened?” Instead of answering him, Jake took a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and passed it to Jason. Jason unfolded it to see what it said. The outside of the note was addressed to Gladys and inside it read…
Thought you could get away from me? You should know better by now that I never let go what’s mine. There is nowhere you can run and hide that will keep you safe from me. You owe me and I’ve come to collect what’s due.
--M
“That letter was slid under her apartment door sometime this week.” Jake said as soon as Jason finished reading it.
“My name before I came here was Gladys Cruz,” Gloria answered though she didn’t look at either of them. Just continued to stare out the front windshield with a faraway look on her face. There was no doubt in either of their minds that Manuel Ortiz wrote the note and slipped it under her door. Which meant not only was the man in town, but he knew where Gloria lived.
“Do we know for sure he slipped the note under the door and didn’t get into her apartment?” Jason asked as he passed the note back to Jake before starting the truck.
“Nothing looked out of place and the note was found on the floor near the front door.”
“Did he slip the note under the door while you two were inside?”
“No. I slipped on the note when we first got back to the apartment, but I was…preoccupied at the moment so I didn’t pay much mind to a piece of paper on the floor. It wasn’t until later. When I looked down on the floor and found what I slipped on earlier and read it.”
Jake didn’t have to say what he was momentarily preoccupied with. Jason already figured it out.
“Son of a bitch. What’ve the marshals been doing all this time?” Jake fumed. Jason understood his brother’s anger. He was pissed himself. Marshals Mendoza and Thomas had assured them they had people posted all around town. That some of them drove by Gloria’s place on patrol as did some of their own deputies. Their last update call with them two days ago said that no one had spotted anyone fitting Ortiz’s description. And yet here was a note proving he was somewhere in the area. Now there was a butt load of questions Jason would like answered. Like how had he managed to arrive in town and no one noticed? Has he been watching Gloria’s place? How had he found her and her new identity in the first place? That was a question the marshals still had yet to uncover.
Everyone was silent on the ride home to the ranch. Jake and Jason had Gloria stand in the front foyer of the house while they went around and checked every inch of the house. Once they’d determined that the house was secure, they grabbed everything out the truck in one trip and brought them inside the house.
With the food away and the Christmas stuff put to the side in the living room, Jason helped Gloria up to her room with her bags while Jake whipped out his cell phone. He put in a call to their father who they knew was still at the station.
Jason didn’t like how withdrawn Gloria seemed. “Are you alright?” he finally asked.
“I knew he was after me. Don’t know why I’m so surprised that he’d managed to get this close.”
“Because he shouldn’t have. Not if everyone was doing their jobs right. He should’ve been found and caught before he ever stepped foot in town.”
Gloria sat on the edge of her bed and looked as if she didn’t have much hope left for the entire situation to work out favorably.
“It’s going to be alright, baby doll. Don’t give up on me now.”
“I’m trying to stay positive. I really am. But it’s kind of hard knowing he’s been at my apartment.” Before Jason could respond Jake walked into the room while closing his cell.
“I just spoke with dad. He said Mendoza and Thomas are on their way over to the station. They have a possible lead on their leak. He said I should bring over the note we found and see if they can explain how Ortiz managed to get by their men.”
“Alright. You go ahead. We’ll stay in the house and wait for you to come back,” Jason replied.
“I’ll be back,” Jake said to Gloria as he leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. “Don’t worry. We promise we won’t let anything happen to you.” Then Jake nodded at his brother and left the room. A few minutes later, they heard the front door slam close and lock.
“So what do you want to do while we wait for Jake to come back?” Jason asked while he sat down on the bed next to Gloria.
“I don’t know. I kind of don’t feel in the mood to do anything but lie in bed and pray when I wake up tomorrow morning this will all have been nothing but a horrible nightmare,” Gloria replied.
“Oh no. It’s too early to throw in the towel. Plus, you and I both know you’re not going to fall asleep anytime soon. How about we pop some popcorn and watch a movie?”
“A movie?”
“It’ll be something to preoccupy your mind until Jake comes back with some news.”
“What the hell. Why not?” Gloria flopped her hands down on her lap before standing up and following Jason out the room. He sent Gloria down to the home theater in the basement while he went onto the kitchen to make their popcorn.
“See I told you I could handle small things in the kitchen,” Jason joked as he emerged downstairs with a large bowl of buttered popcorn. Gloria smiled. She’d offered earlier to make the popcorn and Jason knew she was probably remembering his sad attempt at making breakfast. He shooed her on downstairs as he entered the kitchen with renewed purpose. He refused to ruin microwave popcorn.
“So what movie did you want to see?” he asked as he joined Gloria on their large comfortable sofa. The home theater was really just one huge sofa, flanked by two large leather recliners, and a big projection screen hooked up to a DVD and Blue-ray player, with a state of the art surround sound system of course.
“I don’t know. You pick something.” Jason passed Gloria the bowl of popcorn before he walked over to their movie cabinet and began searching for the right movie. Deciding a comedy was in order he chose one of his favorites, Adam Sandler’s Don’t Mess with the Zohan. He popped the DVD into the player, grabbed the remote, and joined Gloria on the sofa. After they both were comfortable, he pressed a button on th
e remote that dimmed the lights and another that played the movie. As he'd hoped, the movie soon had Gloria laughing so much her eyes began to tear.
Jason too found himself drawn into the movie. So much so he hadn’t noticed that Gloria was staring at him and not the movie screen. Not until she said in a really sincere voice, “Thank you, Jason. I really needed this.”
“No problem. Everyone needs a good laugh now and then,” he said before turning his face towards her and seeing how serious her facial expression was. Pure gratitude shined through.
“No, I don’t mean the comedy specifically. I mean staying with me and making me do something instead of locking myself in the room alone all night like I had planned to do.”
“You know I’d do anything for you, baby doll. I just don’t want you to worry about Ortiz. We won’t let anything happen to you.”
“That’s partially what I’m afraid of. I couldn’t live with myself if one of you got hurt because of me. I…I don’t want to lose you two.” Then Gloria turned on the water works and Jason had the sudden urge to kill something on principal. Namely her ex. Jason placed the half eaten bowl of popcorn on the floor and pulled Gloria into his arms as he slowly began to rock back and forth. She buried her face into his shirt.
“Now there’s no reason to get so upset, baby. You’re fine, I’m fine, and Jake’s fine. And there’s no way you’re getting rid of us that easy. I’m afraid you’re stuck with us for life, kid,” he said while wiping away her tears with his thumb. As Gloria began to get a hold of herself, Jason placed small kisses on her forehead and cheeks. When Gloria moved her head back so she could once again stare Jason in the face, he was struck with how beautiful she was. Even with her eyes slightly red and puffy from crying and wet streaks down her face from the tears she shed. She was still the most ravishing woman Jason had ever laid eyes on. They gazed into each other’s eyes as he got caught up in the moment. Jason couldn’t help himself. He leaned forward and flattened her lips against his.
The kiss started out light and endearing but quickly built into something much deeper. Both Jason and Gloria soon became ravenous for each other. Even though their top halves were already plastered against each other Jason wanted her even closer. Wrapping one arm around her waist and placing his other hand on her hip he lifted Gloria off the sofa and placed her on his lap. So she straddled him as they continued to kiss.
As Gloria’s hands dug into his hair, Jason’s hands gripped the hem of her shirt and pulled it up over her head. They broke their kiss only long enough to get her shirt off before they once again sealed their lips together. Jason’s hand felt around her back for her bra snaps and managed to get them off without a problem. Once her breasts were free, Jason broke their kiss to suck one of her nipples into his mouth.
“Oh Jason…yes,” Gloria began to moan low. Her pelvis started to dry hump the erection trapped in his pants. While sucking on her breasts, one of his hands snuck down under her skirt. Jason found that not only was Gloria wearing the thinnest thong he’d ever felt, but also that it was completely soaked. Jason groaned into her chest at the feel of her so wet and ready for him. He’d been aching for the right time for them to sleep together and if now wasn’t the right time then Jason didn’t know when would be. His hands began undoing his pants, but he stopped when he remembered his condoms were all the way upstairs in his room. Fuck! He wasn’t going to make it upstairs.
“Are you on birth control?” He suddenly blurted out. He was so happy he could’ve cried when Gloria nodded.
“Yes. The shot.”
“I’m clean.”
“Me too.” And that was all that needed to be said as Jason finished undoing his pants. Once they were loose, he pushed them and his boxers down to mid thigh. Gloria helped by leaning up off his lap. She was now in the perfect position as Jason pulled her thong aside with one hand and began rubbing the tip of his cock in slow circles around her opening. Teasing the both of them. The anticipation of the moment he entered her was driving their arousal higher. When Jason couldn’t take it anymore, he finally put them both out of their misery and quickly thrust into the hilt. Gloria screamed as her walls began adjusting to his invasion. Jason moved both of his hands to her waist and held her steady as she slowly began riding him. Her tempting breasts bouncing back and forth in front of his face were too much to pass up. He leaned forward and began taking turns sucking each nipple into his mouth.
“Ahh…Jason…that feels so good,” Gloria moaned as she began picking up speed.
“You’re fucking incredible…oh Gloria,” Jason groaned back as he increased his own speed to keep pace with Gloria. They both were becoming lost in the sensations and Jason knew orgasm wasn’t too far off. Feeling her inner walls begin to contract on his shaft, he bit her nipple just right and Gloria went off like a rocket.
Holding on to her as tightly as she was to him Jason turned them so Gloria was now lying flat on the sofa and he was still buried deep inside her. One arm unwrapped one of her legs and pushed it out and higher, changing the angle of his penetration as he began pounding away inside her pussy. Drawing her orgasm out while he reached his own peak in deep penetrating strokes, he shivered at the feel of releasing deep inside her. It was a first for him. Then unable to support himself any longer, he released her leg and lay on top of her.
“If I didn’t know for sure before I know now. I’m completely and hopelessly in love with you. You’re definitely not getting rid of me now because I can’t see my life continuing without you.”
Jason knew saying these things right after sex—during post orgasmic bliss—might have not been the best time. But so many emotions for the woman in his arms overcame him and there was no way he could’ve stopped himself from spilling his heart out to her even if he wanted to. He had no clue how Gloria was going to react to his confession, but he definitely hadn’t expected her to once again break out in tears.
Deck The Halls
Chapter Eight
“Baby doll, what’s wrong? Did I hurt you?” Jason asked sounding slightly panicked as he placed one hand on the back of the sofa and tried to lift his weight off her. Now Gloria felt even worse for making him think he’d hurt her, when the real reason she was now bawling her eyes out was because she felt like the worst person alive.
For the last week she’d been making out with both Jake and Jason secretly behind each of their backs. At first she wanted to tell both of them the truth. Come clean, like she promised Jake she would. But she was afraid if she did they might start to fight over her. She didn’t want to be the cause of a rift forming between Jake and Jason. Two brothers who were obviously so close to one another.
She’d even tried to justify not saying anything to either of them in her mind by reminding herself that the brothers used to share their women way back when they were in high school. Then today she’d gone past the innocent make out sessions with Jake and slept with him only to come back to their house and sleep with Jason a couple of hours later. Jake had told her he loved her and she’d said it back because she meant it. Now she’d just slept with Jason who’d just told her the same thing and telling him she loved him back was on the tip of her tongue. She’d gone and done it. She’d fallen in love with both McCoy twins. Now she didn’t know how to tell them both that she’d not only slept with their brother, but had fallen in love with both of them.
“Is it what I said? Was it too much to handle right now?” Jason asked still trying to understand why she was crying. When Gloria placed her palms flat on Jason’s chest and pushed, he backed off just enough so she could sit up. “Come on Gloria. You’re scaring me. Please talk to me.”
Gloria knew he didn’t deserve this so she got a hold of herself and took a deep breath before she began to explain. She only hoped Jason wouldn’t blame his brother for what she’d done, and she prayed he wouldn’t hate her. She didn’t think she could bear either one of them hating her. If they did or if they began competing against each other for her, she’d take Mendoza a
nd Thomas up on their offer to leave and go to a safe house. Leak or no leak. Manuel or no Manuel. If she didn’t have both men in her life, she didn’t have a life in Arizona . She didn’t know when it came to that for her, but she knew it happened sometime during this past week. Heck, it was headed there all along these past six months. She was just too blind to see it.
“I’m sorry I scared you. I’m not crying because you did something. I’m crying because I realize I’m a terrible person. One who has done wrong to the two people she cares most about in this world.”
“What are you talking about, baby doll?”
“I’ve done something bad, Jason. For the last week I’ve been secretly making out with both you and Jake. And…and earlier today while you were shopping I…I slept with Jake.” Jason looked as if he were about to say something but Gloria placed a hand over his lips. “Please let me finish. Earlier today Jake told me he loves me and I told him I love him back. Then tonight happened with you and…neither of us planned it, but it did. I don’t regret sleeping with you too because I also love you. I love the both of you. And when you told me you loved me too I just broke down. I knew it wasn’t fair to you…to the both of you. To keep secret what I was doing with the both of you or the fact that I have equally strong feelings for you both. Especially after I promised Jake no more secrets…” Gloria finally stopped talking to take a breath and to brace herself for Jason’s ire. What she hadn’t expected was to see Jason smile and begin to laugh at her.
“Is that all?” he said as he continued rolling in laughter.
“Jason, I’m serious. This isn’t a joke.” She was completely confused. Of all the reactions she thought he might have, keeling over in laughter wasn’t one of them. He wrapped an arm around her as he pulled her into his side.
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