Hidden Barriers

by Sara Shirley

“No, tomorrow, egghead. Yes, the baby is coming now!” Sam chuckles as she continues to breathe deeply before I gently help her to her feet.

  I notice a pool of fluid forming on her denim jeans. I am in utter shock at the sight before me. I’ve seen plenty of pregnant women over the years, but I’ve never seen their water breaking. A firm slap across my arm startles me from my shocked state of mind. “Are you just going to stand there, or are we going to try to get to the hospital before our son arrives?” Sam steps carefully as she continues holding her belly. Seconds before I am about to rush out to get the car ready, she slams her palm on the dining room table. “Shit!”

  “Contraction?” I ask as Sam just nods with her eyes slammed shut, bending over further. Mom finally makes her way into the room and notices Sam’s appearance before rushing to her aid.

  While hurrying around trying to find my keys, I’ve made everyone in the house aware that Sam is in labor now. All the girls are at Sam’s side keeping her calm while I nervously attempt to keep my head on straight enough to drive to the hospital.

  My mom is cautiously walking with her arms around Sam, helping her to the car as I rush out the front door to the driveway. Jeremy opens the door for Sam to get into the passenger side as I start up the Jeep. With Sam safely secure, I begin backing out of the driveway to head to the hospital. At the end of the driveway, Sam and I wave back at the house as everyone scurries around getting into their cars ready to follow behind us.

  Sam reaches over as I continue to drive to the hospital and rests her hand on my forearm. Her big eyes are full of love and happiness. “Josh, since these will be the last few minutes of only you and me, I want to tell you I’ve never been happier in my life. Dean will change everything, but remember, you will always be the one man who held my heart first.”

  “I love you, Sam, and I’ll love you even more once we become a family. You are and always have been the best thing to ever happen to me. Now, let’s get to the hospital, so we can finally meet our son.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  Sam pulls my hand to rest with hers on her belly. “Merry Christmas, Dean.”

  THE END

  Save My Life – ZZ Ward

  Hey Ya (Originally by OutKast) Obadiah Parker

  No One’s Gonna Love You- Band of Horses

  Hurt – (Originally by Nine Inch Nails) Sandi Thom

  Kill Of The Night – Gin Wigmore

  I’ll Take Care of You- Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa

  Tainted Love- (Originally by Gloria Jones) Hannah Peel

  Howlin’ For You- The Black Keys

  Storm Comin’- The Wailin Jenny’s

  Here’s to Us- Halestorm

  Candy- Gavin Degraw

  Too Afraid to Love You- The Black Keys

  Satellite – Dave Matthews Band

  Fall at Your Feet – Boy & Bear

  My My Love – Josh Radin

  Eye of the Tiger – Survivor

  Precious Love – James Morrison

  Carry on my Wayward Song – Kansas

  I Will Never Die – Delta Rae

  Something I Need- One Republic

  Because the Night – Patti Smith

  Build me up from Bones – Sarah Jarosz

  Collide – Howie Day

  Continue reading for the Prologue from Burning Barriers, A Novella (Barriers 2.5)

  Prologue

  Lucy

  I can’t figure out why I am suddenly back in the woods behind my parents’ house in Breckenridge, Colorado, but here I am, walking down the mountain bike trails along the ski slopes. The Aspen trees rustle above me as the typical summer afternoon storm is suddenly rolling in. I hear the thunder clap overhead before I see the blackened storm clouds that continue to darken the path I am trekking. I traveled this path a million times before I left this town. It was the quickest route to Jake’s house. I could walk this path blindfolded in the dark; that’s how many times I snuck out to see him.

  To see him.

  I never really went to see him. Until the end of the summer after high school graduation, we were hotter than hot for each other. His parents owned this luxury mountainside villa that cost more than I would ever earn in my lifetime, but I never had any issues with his family. They owned a number of horse ranches in the area, trained barrel racers, and were hardly around. I’d sneak out almost every night to be with Jake.

  My feet move steadily below me. Branches crunch under my sneakers just as the wind howls through the thick tree cover. The heavy rain suddenly begins to push through the trees, soaking me to my bones. I quicken my pace some as I begin to make out the lights of Jake’s house ahead through the onslaught of raindrops, the clearing to his property just yards away.

  Something sends a chill down my spine, and I turn to see his stealthy eyes staring at me. I’m no longer that teenager sneaking out to see her boyfriend. I’m twenty-five and peering at the man who fucked me a couple of times no more than a month ago. The same man who gave me the scar that now brands my neck as he attempted to kill me, as well as my best friend, Sam.

  Stone.

  My hand runs along my sopping neck as I feel the raised scar tissue where the knife sliced through, permanently scarring me. I watch as Stone stomps forward before I yell at the top of my lungs and turn toward Jake’s house where it’s safe for me. Just as I turn, hands wrap around me from behind before my feet slip from under me on the slick, rocky trail. My vision becomes foggy as I am propelled forward, hitting a tree trunk on the way to the ground.

  Stone’s rough laugh and evil smile rush closer to me at the same time a body flies out of nowhere, pushing Stone to the ground. The mystery man kneels over Stone, ultimately pinning him below his strong, powerful body. Punch after punch lands across Stone’s face as his shoulder muscles strain through the back of the wet t-shirt of the man who came to my rescue. I watch until Stone’s body goes limp within seconds, and the grunts from my rescuer grow silent.

  This man who just saved me stands over Stone’s lifeless body, making sure he’s no longer a threat. I catch him raise the front of his shirt to wipe the sweat and rain off his face before he slowly turns to face me. I see his face. The face of my rescuer stares back at me, and my body tingles all over. He’s even sexier than he was the last time I was with him. He’s no longer that high school boy I left behind. He’s all grown up. A cocky smile creeps across his face as he begins to near me as I simply gaze.

  My jaw drops as my body weakens into lava the closer he gets to me. “Jake,” I breathlessly say as my body temperature rises, and my heart pounds in my chest.

  My eyes can’t focus and begin trailing over his body. His chiseled jawline is sharp, but his eyes scream dominance. His defined muscles along his abs peek through the soaked beige shirt that clings to his skin. His bicep and forearm veins protrude as he intensely stands before me.

  “Hey, Luce, miss me?” his deep voice rumbles through me as he reaches down to pick me up. We continue to stare silently at each other as he cradles me in his arms, walking back toward his house. I take one last look behind me to see Stone’s body still lying motionless on the ground.

  My arm sneaks up around his neck as I tease my fingers in his wet, messy brown hair as I hear him groan through his throat. His telltale sign that I am turning him on. My eyes venture up from my fingers to his face just as we enter the back of his house with purpose.

  His feet hastily make their way through his private entrance, and I’m suddenly inside Jake’s old bedroom. My wandering eyes take in the walls as a soft glow lights them. Nothing has changed since the last time I was here. Before I can make a comment about our prom picture still sitting on top of his bureau, I’m dropped onto his oversized bed. His outdoor woodsy smell seeps into my nose as I glance up at Jake who is hurriedly removing his shirt and kicking off his sneakers. His hands drop to start fiddling with his leather belt until it’s undone; his zipper opens just as fast. Jake’s soaked jeans and boxers get pushed to the floor in an instant, and out of no
where, he is standing naked before me.

  Holy shit.

  My eyes take in his adult body until I see his hardened cock in front of me. He’s certainly grown into the man I’ve only fantasized about when I have sex with random guys these days. My breathing escalates as I anxiously wait for what I think he’s going to do to me.

  Jake’s hands reach down and pull off my wet sneakers before his fingers slide up my bare legs. Goosebumps form over my body. The elbows that once held me up have given way, and I shut my eyes as lie on my back, allowing my body to feel his hypnotizing hands. My stomach flutters with a sensation I have only ever felt with him.

  “Open your eyes, Luce. I want you to watch me claim your body again. It’s been way too long,” Jake hisses into my ear. My eyes fire open to see his smoldering eyes on mine. He slips one hand under my heavy shirt while his other hand pulls me up into him as his body crouches over me. My shirt is ripped over my head as my damp, messy blonde hair slaps against the bare skin of my shoulders.

  Sitting there in nothing more than my pink lace bra and shorts, I feel completely exposed and yet covered at the same time. My body wants him. I’ve craved this for too long with him. Now that he’s here in front of me naked and willing, I’m not saying no.

  “Jake, I need to feel you inside me again,” I devilishly whisper as my fingers reach out to barely touch his taut body. His eyes are no longer smoldering; they are blazing with heated desire. My fingers begin to work their magic and zigzag over his pecks, and then trail their way over his nipples and lower to bump their way over each defined ab line on his stomach. One of my hands lies flat on his chest as the other suddenly wraps its way around his length to start stroking him slowly. I know what I can give him, what he likes. My hand may be small compared to his hard cock, but it has always had the power to bring him to his knees.

  Up. Down. Squeeze tighter. Run thumb over the head in circles. Repeat.

  I raise my eyes to his, pleading for him to fuck me like we always used to. I need him to eliminate the past seven years I spent away from him. Right here, right now. I don’t even care at this moment that he hasn’t asked about Stone’s attack in the woods or the scar on my neck.

  Forcefully, Jake curls his strong fingers over my wrist, pulling my hand away from his erect cock. As he stares into my eyes, I can tell he senses my yearning to have him. Jake pulls me by the wrist until I’m standing in front of him. “You’re not ready to have my cock inside you yet, Lucy. I have other plans for you right now,” he growls into my ear as his hands wrap around to unclasp my bra, letting it fall to the hardwood floor. My arms dangle lifelessly at my side, unsure of where to touch him next.

  My mouth salivates at the thought of falling to my knees and taking all of him into my mouth, but another part of my body is throbbing more than ever, and I need Jake there more than anything. Any thoughts of taking Jake into my mouth are thrown out the window when he undoes my shorts, ultimately dropping them unto the floor along with his body as he kneels before me.

  He eagerly pushes apart my legs before looking up into my eyes. His tongue inches out to lick his lips before he brings his mouth to my heated, drenched folds. The second his tongue spreads between my legs and finds my slick clit, I’m immediately transported into another world. I no longer need to fantasize about Jake being the one between my legs and making me come. He’s here right now.

  My hands fervently tangle in his damp hair, pulling him deeper into my core. The moans from Jake’s throat vibrate against me, and I’m already feeling the pressure between my legs building to a level it never has before. Jake pulls away as my knees tremble, and my naked body glistens with heated dampness.

  “Come for me, Luce. I want to taste your juices all over my tongue.”

  His words alone set my body spiraling out of control until his mouth is back on me. His tongue dances around my clit just as his fingers slide inside my entrance. My body welcomes his strong fingers. I feel my walls throbbing around his fingers as he picks up pace both inside and out, and I can’t hold on any longer. My hands push against the back of his head, pulling him flush against me, and my orgasm courses through my body. I scream his name with erotic pleasure as my head rolls back, and my eyes clamp shut, but I still only see Jake between my legs. His mouth and tongue proving they still work the same as before. My body shakes and grows weaker through Jake’s torturous assault of his fingers inside me.

  I remember now why I can never envision anyone besides Jake while I fuck another guy. He’s always been the only one who could make me come like this. Nobody else.

  As my breathing begins to settle, my eyes flutter open, and I chuckle at the fact I just experienced the best orgasm I’ve had in seven years. Then, all of a sudden, the feeling of ecstasy is missing from my core, and I roll my head back down to see why Jake stopped.

  Pushing my tangled hair back off my face, my eyes rove back to where Jake knelt before me moments ago. It’s suddenly empty, and the room is no longer Jake’s. I’m fully dressed again, and I quickly glance around the room to figure out where I am until I realize I’m back in my old house. The house I no longer live in with my roommates all because Stone tried to kill Sam and me nearly a month ago.

  Movement by the doorway catches my attention, and I immediately assume it’s Jake. When I look up, I see his haunting face staring back at me. It’s not Jake. It’s Stone, and his face seethes with anger as blood drips from the side of his head.

  My initial thought is what the hell happened to Jake?

  My body stills for a second until he starts rushing toward me, but my feet can’t move. It’s as though I’m stuck in quicksand, and there’s no escape. His hands dart to reach around my neck just as I begin to scream for my life. My eyes slam shut, and I can’t stand to watch what he’s about to do to me.

  As I anticipate Stone’s death grip around my neck, I hear another girl screaming far off in the distance.

  That doesn’t sound like Sam. Who could possibly be screaming?

  My heart rate accelerates, and my body forces itself to help whoever is screaming and fighting to survive. I gave up too soon last time. Never again.

  Abruptly, my body shoots upward, and my eyes nervously scan the room. The hotel logo sits on the flyer perched on the nightstand next to me. My hands nervously shake as they grip the blankets covering me. The TV is on with the source of the screams that disturbed me moments ago and yet woke me from my dream.

  I must have dozed off in the hotel room while watching Catching Fire. It was Katiniss’ screams in the movie that broke me from my dream. It all starts to come back to me. I know I need to get to Breckenridge. My parents are expecting me in a couple of days, but after my lengthy ten-hour drive across the very long state of Pennsylvania, I needed a break. I recall pulling off the highway somewhere around Indiana around midnight, and fortunately, the first hotel I came across had a room available.

  The hot guy behind the front desk clearly wanted to get into my pants. He kept giving me this look with his come-fuck-me eyes that gleamed, while he sexily tousled his hair. The minute he took a sip from his Grumpy Cat coffee cup, I nixed the idea of even flirting back. Don’t get me wrong. I love Grumpy Cat, and on any other day of the week, I might have fucked him, but after driving all day, sex was the last thing I wanted to do.

  I know. I must be coming down with something.

  Besides, I just really wanted to sleep for once, but only after I read some more of this hilarious parody I found on my e-reader last week. I’m a Hunger Games junkie and have read the books and watched the movies multiple times. I’ll be the first to admit I’ve read The Humping Games by Jack Gallow at least ten times in the last two weeks. Each time I laugh even more than the last. I swear, this book actually made my hospital stay and dealing with my parents tolerable. Trust me when I say it was possibly one of the worst three days of my life. If it weren’t for The Humping Games, I might not have found my smile as fast as I did.

  As I look down to the e-reader sti
ll ablaze on the comforter next to me, I notice where I left off reading.

  Oh, yeah. I chuckle softly. Chapter Five.

  One character in particular I connected with on a freaky level. He called her Rabbitfoot. She slithers across the floor, licking spilled booze and killing men after having sex with them. Now that’s a girl after my own heart!

  I turn off my e-reader and lie back against the pile of pillows. I continue to watch the movie and attempt to keep my mind from diverting to thoughts of Jake. After the dream I just woke up from, I know this will be hard to do, so I reach for my cell phone and type out a quick text to Sam, letting her know where I am and I’ll be in touch soon. Then, I send my sister, Ellen, a text as well. I know she’ll still be awake, and it will prevent me from having to deal with my overbearing parents, who most likely are already asleep anyway. Ellen, on the other hand, is probably still living it up in downtown Breckenridge at the dive bar in which she works.

  After hitting Send, I plug my phone into the charger and turn off the light next to the bed. The TV still glows throughout the room. I try to concentrate on my favorite movie, but as I close my wary eyes, only one image appears.

  Jake’s face.

  Sigh.

  It’s the last thing I remember seeing before sleep totally consumes me.

  Sara Shirley is constantly reinventing herself. The last you knew, she was a sommelier and vineyard owner with a MC President husband, riding on the back of a Harley every night into the sunset. Well, people change. Sara grew sick of that life, divorced and moved back East. It was on her way East that she found a new identity. It was then that her freaky side showed up and Rabbitfoot was born. Well, maybe just forced to finally reveal itself. She continues to live life and have fun each day and has no trouble laughing at her own antics no matter how embarrassing.

  Sara continues to write about topics that she can relate to. She has admitted that there are a lot of scenarios in her books that are based on her real life experiences. She cannot confirm or deny which scenes those are, but if you were to guess right, she may just blush and deny it being true anyway.