by Aubrey Cara
She peeked in the next room and saw her things lying out on a neatly made bed. She walked in, the pile of her clothes were folded perfectly set out with care and a note.
I hope you wear these and think of me. -Jake
Delia looked down noticing for the first time the clothes were the ones he had bought for her. She groaned in frustration thinking of all the times her wayward traitorous thoughts strayed to the troublesome devil. She needed no article of clothing to remind her; she did it enough on her own.
Stepping out, she walked to the end of the hall, pushing open the door to what she thought must be the master bedroom. Her first impression when entering the room was that it was dark and cave like. The bed was huge, dark mahogany with a masculine, burgundy toned satin comforter, making her want to run her hand over it. The bed itself was tall enough she would need a stool or a running start to get in it. With her luck she’d slide all the way across the satin topped bed, and crash onto the floor on the other side. Even knowing it might result in injury, she couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to lie in such a magnificent bed.
Not that she would be getting in that bed anytime soon she reminded herself, continuing her perusal of Jake's personal space. The walls were a cream color. There were windows on either side of the far wall covered in thick drapes, but no pictures on the walls or on the nightstands. Light peeked through heavy curtains and she thought the room would look bigger, and less imposing, with a few changes. Thinner material on the curtains or maybe just shades, a few pretty pictures, a plain white coverlet for the bed. But the wonderful scent of Jake would stay.
She breathed in, letting his unique, manly scent surround her, wishing she could crawl up on his huge bed, cuddle into his pillow, and sleep the day away. Shaking herself, she backed out of the room before she did just that and went straight to the only door she hadn’t gone through.
The bathroom was average with a sink, a toilet against the right wall, a tub shower combo along the back wall, and a cabinet to the left that upon opening displayed towels, extra soap and toilet paper. Seeing an unopened toothbrush she snagged it off the shelf along with a fluffy light blue towel.
She turned on the shower to heat the water as she happily ripped off her stinky, barely there bar clothes and stepped into the hot spray of the shower. The warm water was glorious, dulling all her aches and pains of the morning after too many adult beverages.
Picking up the shampoo she gave it a whiff trying to decide how much of Jake's naturally wonderful scent was from soap. She lathered, rinsed, and repeated twice, wanting to make sure the stench was well and truly gone. Turning off the spray, she stepped out wrapping herself in the wonderfully soft towel. Standing over the sink she grabbed the procured toothbrush and scrubbed her mouth three times, then gargled and rinsed with mouthwash twice before she felt clean again.
Eyes heavy, her whole body lethargic, she grabbed the door handle realizing she left her clean clothes in the guest room. Cracking the door open she peeked out. Seeing no one, she stepped out in the hall. Tiptoeing across the hall she paused noticing she had left the door to Jake's room open. She moved to close it but caught sight of Jake's big wonderful bed.
She nervously looked both ways before easing forward. Her feet unconsciously moved her into the room. Looking back behind her she quietly closed the door. Feeling like a thief as she stole over to the bed, brazenly crawling on top of it.
It was naughty and decadent and so unlike her, but still she crawled to the center of the bed. Flipping onto her back she opened her towel and spread it out on top of her so she could feel the cool satin of the coverlet on her back. She pulled over a soft cotton covered pillow, breathing in the scent of Jake, running her hand over the pillow material. Egyptian cotton. It was nice. Very nice.
The bed was glorious, much more comfortable than she could have ever imagined. Much better than the hard twin-sized mattress she usually slept on. Beggars couldn't be choosy and the bed came with the studio so she didn’t complain. But she now wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to bask in the glory that was Jake's bed.
Languidly sinking into what must have been a pillow top mattress, Delia gave a contented sigh and thought, just one more minute, before promptly falling asleep.
*** ***
Jake didn’t need anything from the grocery store, he just wanted to give Del space and privacy. Push a little and back off a little. She worked well with that. Only it was halfway down the short driveway he remembered her propensity for taking off on him. He was sure if she hadn’t been drunk out of her mind last night she would have taken off.
He had just mentioned her staying at his house today and she wanted to take off. That was why he sat in his truck, just down the tree-lined street, staring at his quaint home like a stalker. Not like a stalker, Jake amended, like a stake out, waiting for his 5’2’’ sweet little sandy blonde perp to make a run for it. Now, twenty minutes later, he was calling himself all sorts of a fool and was wondering if he should just go back to the house. He had thought about actually going to the store and picking up a nice bottle of wine for later. Then he recalled last night and more importantly this morning. He doubted Del would be drinking again anytime soon.
He considered stopping by the station but just the thought made him cringe. Being a small town cop was starting to chafe, making him feel caged and restless with the inactivity. He wasn’t about to go back to being a detective in Dallas either. Days off like today didn’t happen when he was a detective working long hours, sometime being away from home for days.
Jake had never minded being away, knowing Steven was safe with his mom and dad at the ranch. It hadn’t been until they had transferred to Virginia two years ago, that he realized how little time he had spent being an actual dad. Cheyenne, Steven's mother, hadn’t made her presence known for almost seven years before showing up out of the blue threatening to take Steven away.
Jake's mother had been beside herself, and with just cause. They both knew Chey wouldn’t get a lawyer to try to get Steven back. She wasn’t rational enough for that. No she would just take him and either ransom him or keep running. Either way, Jake wasn’t going to risk it. He had been a detective for the Dallas PD. He knew how hard it was to find a kid when someone was set on hiding them. He also knew the horrible things that happened to kids that got kidnapped and he didn’t want to even imagine the kind of people Chey kept company with these days.
Transferring had seemed like the best option. Take the boy and run before she had a chance to, and he was glad he did. He hadn’t realized how much Steven was affected by his rather tumultuous love life. All his amazing instincts that got him detective so early in his career seemed to desert him when a beautiful woman rubbed up against him at the bar.
He had been young and damn foolish back then. Only twenty when he had stood clutching a newborn Steven in his arms watching as cold-hearted, leggy blonde Chey, stormed out.
“I’m too young to be a mother, you take him.” Chey said, thrusting the baby at him.
“I’m no older than you Chey, and the kid isn’t even mine!” He held the baby out to her but she just took another step back, suitcase in hand.
“I wouldn’t be any good at being a Mama. The best thing I could do for that thing is leave. Besides I named him Steven, after your big brother, the one that died when you were little. So that kid is already kinda like family to you.”
“Chey, you can’t do this, you can’t just leave him here. I don’t want your illegitimate brat!” But she had already turned and walked out the door. “Chey! This ain’t my kid dammit! You can’t fucking do this!!”
Steven had started to cry when Jake yelled. Chey didn’t even turn around. She just called over her shoulder, “Fuck you Jake! Maybe you should have thought more about me before you left to go play army!”
“I joined the military! I was doing my job. What the hell is wrong with you?!”
Getting in the elevator at the end of the hall, she just turned an
d flipped Jake the bird before the doors shut and she was gone. Jake had stood out in the hall for what had felt like forever. When Jake had finally come to, he realized the little bundle he was holding had stopped crying. He looked down at the tiny infant, with his dead big brother's name, to see the baby staring up at him as if taking his measure and worth.
After that he had packed up and gone to his mother's. He hadn’t had a car seat for baby Steven then so, Jake had just made a nest out of some thick blankets. He'd put that inside a clothes basket, and strapped it all into the truck next to him on the bench seat. His mom took one look at Steven and fell in love. She'd stated it was her Stephen’s angel come down and Jake had a responsibility to care for him.
As crazy as it seemed, he had already fallen a little in love with the infant, feeling a connection to the baby he had never before experienced. Lucky for him, Steven was a good baby and an even better kid. Still young, it took another year in the military before he was able to get out for good, going straight to training for the police force when he had gotten out. He was hard working, dedicated and was with Steven whenever he could be, but that didn’t mean that he still didn’t want to be young and irresponsibly cut up with his buddies now and again.
Thus the series of one-night stands that, as he got older, turned into women he thought he should date. Then for whatever reason couldn’t get away from fast enough. The older he got, it seemed the crazier the women got. Steven was right about Jake owing him one for all the whack job women he had exposed the poor kid to.
He probably owed the kid more than a few, and that started with Del. He needed to take it slow. Get to know her and get her used to being with him, without wanting to bolt. Her husband had done quite a number on her and Jake had a lot of work to do. Starting with a nice friendly afternoon just getting to know each other. With that thought in his head and a positive attitude he started up his truck, checked the mirrors for oncoming cars, and pulled into the street heading the short distance home.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Walking in the front door Jake noticed the house was quiet, almost too quiet. He wondered if she had gone out the back and he had missed her escape. He didn't think she had the energy to hop the fence, but he wouldn't put it past her.
He crept up the stairs and headed straight for the guest bedroom. Pushing open the door he saw the clothes and note still neatly displayed on the bed. Feeling disgruntled he crossed the hall to the bathroom, flinging open the door. His frustration turning to confusion. The shower was still wet, the bathroom still warm from what must have been a steamy shower, Delia’s clothes from last night in a pile on the floor.
Jake looked at the pile of clothes again. If her clothes from last night were in the bathroom, and her clothes he brought today were still in the guest room... he pivoted, staring out into the hall. He wondered what exactly was she wearing? He gulped, about to head downstairs to continue his search, now for a hopefully naked Delia, when a hint of a footprint on the floor in front of his bedroom caught his eye.
What was she up to, and why was she in his room? He had thought she had been different, but maybe she was like every other woman he knew. He stood quietly, now able to pick up a rumble, and then heard it again. He walked slowly and quietly to the door, wanting to catch her if she was going through his stuff. Not that he had anything of importance in there, but still it was the principle.
Easing the door open, he was hit full force with what started out sounding like a hedgehog and ended with a grizzly growl. He opened the door wide in disbelief, squinting into the dark room. There lay pixie sized, sweet Delia, sprawled naked in the middle of his bed. Covered only by his fluffy blue towel, she emitted a snore that only a six-foot- three, three hundred pound, trucker should be capable of making. Jake was amazed. He was sure if he had pictures they would be rattling and shaking. It sounded as if his Goldilocks was possessed by one of the bears.
Jake snorted back his laughter, walking over to the side of the bed. Reaching out he lightly shook Del’s shoulder. “Del, Del wake up honey.” Being this close, he breathed in her vanilla-tinged clean scent that was all her. He leaned farther in to shake her again and to get a little closer to her scent.
A frown pulled her face down. With a muttered sleepy “no” her arm shot out to swat at him. She managed to knock his supporting arm out from under him. He face planted between soft towel covered breasts. Two beats before she grabbed his head in a bear hug and rolled with surprising strength, coming to rest on her side with her leg wrapped around his torso.
He couldn’t breathe, but neither did he want to move as he brought his arms around her. His hands, having a mind of their own, started stroking and exploring all the gloriously naked flesh of Del’s back and wonderfully round behind. She was so damn soft and silky. He would trade his Egyptian cotton sheets for her skin covering him any day.
Somewhere in his muddled mind a voice reminded him he wanted to take things slow, build trust, get to know each other. A second voice professed that they were getting to know each other very well. He hated that first voice. The second one he could get on board with. Damn it. Shaking his head he reluctantly pulled back, gently prying Delia’s arms off him.
He looked down at her sleepy smile and half opened eyes. She just whispered his name “Jake,” pulling his head down to kiss him. All thoughts and reasoning quickly fled at the taste of her lips and the feel of her body rubbing against him.
*** ***
Delia was having the strangest dream. She kept walking down a long hall, opening doors to empty rooms. All alone she walked down the hall, opening door after door, feeling loneliness creep around her, choking her. She was sick of being alone.
Then down the hall a door opened and Jake walked out closing the door behind him. He looked over his shoulder before striding down the expanse away from her. She called out, her steps growing faster and faster until she was running. He kept getting farther away until all of a sudden she caught him. Spinning him around he was Connar for a split second and she cried out “no” before he changed back into Jake. She threw herself at him and the dream changed.
Morphing, the dream moved into one she had quite frequently, with Jake holding her. She could smell his crisp manly smell scent. Feel his warmth enveloping her. This was much better than her regular dream. He drew back and she boldly pulled him down for a kiss, only this time the kiss was scorching. She’d never felt this way before in her dream, the blood sizzling through her veins. She arched and moaned, rubbing herself against his hard lean body, only wanting to get closer, unable to get close enough.
She felt the towel whip off her body. She was suddenly aware that this was no dream. A very real Jake covered her very naked body with his delectably hard, horribly clothed self. Her eyes blinked open. For a moment she stared at the ceiling before putting her hands under his shoulders, determined to shove him off her. Then he kissed her again.
Working his way from her lips to ear, down her neck to her collarbone, he leisurely feasted on her as his hand came up to cover her breast. His large warm hands felt wonderful as they covered her. Weakening, her head fell back, new sensations rising as he leaned down and sucked in a nipple. She moaned in pleasure, her hand fisting in his silky hair. A combination of anxiety and mental preparation swept over her. She knew what came next but she had never felt this needy before.
Connar didn’t have to be naked, he would kiss her, play with her breast a bit, and then mount up and ride. The kissing part had been nice in the beginning but over time it had become more of an alert system to impending penetration. She thought it was a good sign she had lost thought process with Jake. Connar's kisses were rough, hard, demanding, and she was always able to think of other things.
She had never really minded giving herself to him because she loved him. She'd never really enjoyed it that much either, that’s why the longing and lust she felt for Jake was so gloriously odd to her. Maybe it will be better with Jake she thought, wanting to find out and get it over wi
th.
“Okay, I’m ready,” she said this with her eyes firmly shut her legs bending slightly at the knees, opening up for him.
There was a moment's pause before she felt the cool air of him getting off of her. She waited to hear his zipper, but heard nothing. She cracked one eye open, and then both of her eyes opened in confusion. He was kneeling between her legs, looking at her with a mirrored confused look.
“Jake, what are you doing? I said I was ready. Go ahead.”
Jake smiled down at her running his hands down her legs from knee to groin and back up. Mmmm, that felt nice.
“Delia?”
“Mhmm?”
“Was your husband the only man you ever were with?”
Did she do something wrong? Where was he going with this? “Yes.”
“Did you ever, have you umm...” He looked flustered. “Did you enjoy it?”
“Oh, yeah, besides the first time, it was usually nice enough. Connar was good about being quick.”
He looked like he had swallowed something that got stuck in his throat, his mouth opening and closing like a fish.
“Jake are you all right?”
His expression gentled as he came down to lie fully on top of her between her open legs. He propped himself up on his elbows, his hands tracing her face and hair. He just stayed like that, their gazes locked and, she felt warmed all the way down to her toes.
“What are you thinking Jake?”
“That I would love to hunt down your ex-husband.”
“Huh?”
“Do you trust me?”
She looked down, not wanting to look him in the eyes. Admitting would make her vulnerable but she couldn’t stop from nodding “yes”.
“Good.” He swept her up into a kiss. All the bones in her body melted a little more with every slow, gentle prod of his tongue. He leisurely kissed his way down her body, his hands lightly running up and down her leg, and then up to her breast, making her skin tingle. His gentle ministrations eclipsed her earlier rising trepidation. She wanted him like she never wanted Connar. He kissed and nibbled her stomach and she giggled. She moaned when his head dipped down between her legs before she sat straight up.