by H. M. Irwing
“You’re cute when you wake up,” Jake grinned down at my disgruntled look as the pillow was tugged off again. I only stared up with a fowl scowl plastered on my mutinous face. There was nothing cute about it.
“I’ve been thinking-” he started to say ignoring my disposition.
“Thinking is good,” I interrupted a little mischievously.
“As I was saying,” Jake reached up to tug at my ear lobe sending a delicious sensation down to my toes, “we should treat tonight as a date.”
I shot upright, “Why? Why would we do that?”
“You know why, Lucy. Two years is a long enough to wait for you to grow up don’t you think?” Jake stared down at me stealing my breath away with the intensity of his gaze.
My fate that had been sealed on that sixteenth birthday party when I felt that first moment of awareness of Jake... as a man. Watching Jake shrug off his t-shirt displaying his perfect abs in boyish enthusiasm before he took a leaping dive into the pool, was the precise moment of when the awareness first stuck. It had been strangely odd. Almost surreal for Jake and I had been friends for ever and I had been around nearly buff Jake countless times in the past and yet I had never felt that warm rush of sensation that sizzled along my nerve endings to pool at the pit of my stomach. I was not naïve to mistake it for love. I knew it for what it really was lust. But I knew back then even as I do now that it would only be a matter of time before that lust blossomed into something more. It wouldn’t have been difficult for I already did…do love him... just not in that way. At least not yet. But the reasoning of my reaction had taken place later …much later. I was engulfed in only feelings at that moment that rendered my thoughtful self strangely silent. I had even gone so far as to mistaken lust for love.
It had been my first birthday bash and it had been held at his place. Watching the water close in over his head I knew instantly my heart had sunk in with him but I had buried it in that watery grave so that it remained there in its sunken depths for I knew then as I know now that Jake was not meant for me. He belonged to a world of glitter and glamour. A world of the rich and famous. I was neither. I was the daughter of a scholarly professors who was employed by his dad and best friend as his personal accountant. Mr Neel and my dad had grown up poor together and each had turned to their own interests in carving a new beginning for themselves. Mr Neel had embraced business and my dad, books. The two were vastly different but were as thick as thieves. They're boyhood friends but we did not belong in their world, we never did.
His hand was moving caressingly running his skilful fingers across my sensitive skin, triggering a world of emotions along the way.
“Stop!” I gasped out urgently knowing where this was going to and that would be one relapse two years late and still not ideal. “We can’t.”
“When can we, Lucy?” Jake questioned stiffly. “Haven’t I waited long enough already?” He asked as he cupped his hand to my cheek to pull my gaze up to meet his. His hold was firm resisting my efforts to draw away. He wanted answers. I couldn’t give that to him. Simply because I hadn’t any…answers that is. Even after two years, I still didn’t know…wasn’t sure.
I watched as his usual cheery bright hazel greens darken and his soft gaze harden with determination that didn’t bode well for me. “You cannot run away from me for ever. I’ll tell you right now itself, that I will do everything I can to make you mine before this weekend is out.”
I shivered in reaction and mutely shook my head in denial.
“I see you need a reminder... of what we ...have.”
His lips closed in on mine but I turned my head away in time. It didn’t matter for the results were as effective. His kisses ran down my cheek. I tried to resist but instead I cried out at each stroke he sent down my spine and whimpered for more when he stopped.
“You see. Like a spark to dry timber, you react like an inferno every time. Tell me this has not gone away… that despite the passage of time you only feel more…for me,” Jake demanded a lot of me.
“I can’t,” I started to say then at his look of determination I backtracked quickly,” deny that ... but that does not mean I’m ready to act on it either.”
“Get dressed and wear something sexy,” Jake said abruptly rising up from the bed. “I’ll convince you that we are meant to be.”
Chapter 4
Mr and Mrs Neel had left back for the city that evening and after a quick farewell, Jake bundles all of us into his Evoque to cart us off to the nearest eatery. Clad in yet another of my unisex t-shirt and loose fitting jeans, I could hardly claim to be dressed sexy but I could never tell that from the look in Jake’s eyes, each time they ran over me and that happened plenty. I blossomed under the attention. Each time I caught his gaze on me, I flushed with excitement. I realised he was attempting to seduce me with his attention and his constant presence. His efforts weren’t in vain. If I was sizzling from his mere proximity before I was melting now. I smiled weakly at his intense gaze and he returned it with a beaming grin that near knocked me off my feet. Thankfully, I was already seated. I gulped down a mouthful of wine before looking up to meet his inquisitive gaze.
I rose abruptly from the table and with a polite muttered excuse I made a beeline for the restroom. I needed to freshen up to pull myself together… to put some space between us so I recover some control over myself.
I washed my hands and stared into my shaken expression in the mirror before me. I knew instantly I was beyond help. My flushed features and bright eyes said it all. I was to all intents and purposes in his thrall.
Heaving a great sigh of resignation I turned to face the fate I could no longer run away from… the enticing Jake I never wanted to be more than a breath apart.
“Emily,” I called out on seeing her walk past me as I emerged from the restroom.
“I need some air,” she threw over her shoulder as she continued her path towards the exit of the restaurant. Emily was still unhappy about Jake’s interest in me but she was sporting enough make an effort. I hoped that she would soon set this behind her and move on to someone closer to her age. I hated that I was hurting her that I was causing her this pain but just like she could not help her hurt I could not help my…lust?
I didn’t know what I felt.
I went back to take my seat to face the now solemn Cat. I peeked a glance at Jake and found his trained unrelentingly on me. My flush intensified.
“I don’t want desert,” said Cat looking at me earnestly hinting at something with her hard stare. I took a wild guess as to what she wanted and said uncertainly, “I …don’t ... want any desert either..?”
“Well alright then, I’ll call for the bill,” Jake murmured agreeably. The waitress was swift in executing our request. All too soon the three of us was heading out the front door.
“What was that all about?” I whispered at Cat as I lagged behind and held Cat back as well.
“I’m worried about Emily. I didn’t want to leave her out here alone,” Cat whispered back before dashing out after Jake’s vanishing figure as he stepped out onto the pavement outside and the restaurant door closed in behind him.
I felt a moment’s of discomfit for here I was lost in my own ridiculous longings for Jake that I failed to be the responsible elder sister that I should have been. I hurried after Cat and on nearing the exit I broke into a run hearing some shouts and scuffles outside the door.
“Jake!” I called out in fear seeing him in a fist fight with a random stranger. Spotting Cat and Emily huddled tearfully in a corner, I rushed over to them and demanded, “What happened?”
“That guy was hitting on Emily and was not taking no for an answer. He was saying some pretty awful stuff to her. I heard him call her a money mongering whore and then Jake was throwing a fist his way and all hell broke loose,” replied Cat with an unusual amount of drama for her normally stoic self. I could see she was very shaken up over this.
“Stay with her,” I ordered then looked around for something
I could use that would help. Spotting a metal bin lid on a nearby garbage bin. I rushed over to tug it off. Gripping the lid with both hands I dived into the fury to smash the lid against the assailant’s head. It was not a hard hit but it was sufficient to get his attention away from poor Jake. Long enough for him to tackle the dude from the back as he came at me and send us all sprawling to the hard ground beneath. Not exactly what I had on mind in my offer of assistance. I winced as pain shot through from every point of contact with the earth but I was glad that Jake managed to use the leverage of having pinned the assailant between us to throw in one final knockout punch. Then it was twice as worse as before for now the weight of the unconscious dude pressed down onto me. But thankfully not for long for a moment later, Jake was shoving him off and asking me urgently,” Are you okay?”
I only managed a nod as I tried not to wince as he tugged me up. I was not too bad considering the level of impact for my sensible clothing managed to ward off the most of the damage. Jake ran his hands over me dusting down as he went and caressing too. I was flushing red again.
“Come,” he called out to the twins,” while still staring down at me,” I’ll take you two home and then…,” he paused to consider me,” then you and I are heading back out for a night in the town.”
I gulped but nodded my head willingly, afterall, I knew better than most that ..resistance was ..futile.
The stopover to drop the twins off took longer than anticipated. I had to make sure they were alright and not too shaken up over the ordeal. But rambunctious Cat and Emily had rebounded quickly enough. Having watched me leap into the fray cautions aside helped them resolve to toughen up. So I took my time instead to freshen up and change into a tighter ass-fitting jeans leggings. I applied my usual dab of mascara over my shoddy attempt at a smoky eye look. I took a step back to peruse my appearance. I now spotted a sleeveless and flimsy white collared shirt and my only pair o semi-high heeled shoes. I had aimed high to put the H on hot but had settled for the just t at the very end. With my limited resources, skills included, this was the best I could do.
I strutted out with as much swagger as I could manage determined to give this night a go. This was my first date ever and it was fitting that it would be with my first kiss. I stared with blatant admiration as Jake got up from the sofa he had been patiently occupying all this while to come around to my side. I held my breath and tried not to hyper ventilate as his heady scent hit me low where it mattered and I was reeling in the essence that was all Jake.
“You look…,” he paused to contemplate before saying abruptly,” Shall we go?”
I stared at him dumb for words craving to know exactly what he thought of my appearance but I was to chicken to ask so with a quick jerky nod I hurried ahead to dive into the front seat of the car. I busied myself fastening the seatbelt and tried not to be conscious of Jake sitting there beside me. This was afterall my best friend for most of my life. It was not as if I didn’t know A to Z about him. There was no logical reason… none at all, for feeling as tongue-tied about him as I now did. I bent my head forward to hide the flush in my cheeks behind the curtain of my hair.
The door slammed shut beside me and the scent of him grew more intense within the closed confines of the vehicle. I held my eager gaze firmly planted on my lap and listened with hyper alertness to his preparatory movements about me as moved to start the engine and let it rest to heat up before releasing the clutch and sending it into a quiet roll down the pebbly lane. The silence in the Evoque became long, strained and then difficult to break.
“You’re looking really beautiful.”
“Um.. thanks.”
Jake chuckled then drawing my eyes involuntarily towards him. My gaze lingered over his handsome features taking in the attractive crinkles around his eyes as his face cracked with laughter.
“This is a little awkward isn’t it,” Jake managed to get out between bouts of chuckles. I shot him a sidewise grin and had to agree, “It is a little.”
His hand left the steering to reach over and cover mine resting on my lap. I clenched my fingers into a fist and did my best to hold still and not squirm in reaction in my seat. I felt the raze from his flames licking at my skin trying to penetrate deep within to mingle with my very breath. I had difficulty taking in enough air.
Thankfully it wasn’t long later before we arrived at the nondescript looking nightclub. It looked like an abandoned block uninhabited by any living being. Indeed visions of being scourged by werewolves or being sucked bone dry by vampires emerged in my hyped-up imagination. My hand reached out instinctively to grasp hold of Jakes. He turned his head sharply to peer down in the darkness at me. I stared into the pitch black night into the dark void that would have been his face and shivered with the unique combination of attraction and fear.
His arm swept up and about me to tug me in closer sideways up against his warm length. I took refuge in his protection and slowly we clattered across the echoes filled lane to the front door of the building. It swung open and we came to a stop in front of it. Two huge muscled bouncers stood like pillars before it. I gaped up at them in awe even as Jake tugged me forward into the loud blaring music and deep bass drums that beat right into my blood to throb along my veins in in a rhythm that tuned to my heart.
I was immediately in the zone. My rapture was instantaneous. The music and more importantly the company sent me straight into a state of euphoria. I wanted to simply melt into his arm and let the bliss take me. But then Jake was heading to the dance floor. My grasp on Jake’s hand tightened and I felt me feet automatically leaden as he tugged me regardless forward and onto the dance floor. I did not usually dance not if I didn’t want to do some serious damage. If I let myself loose to the music there was no stopping me. I become an uncontrollable beast that stampeded across all in my path and Jake knew this.
He grinned down at me and then started to gyrate his hips to the beat of the music in such a way that should be prohibited as a public display of indecency. I followed his move and the upped him one. His grin widened.
Chapter 5
“That is my last shot!” I proclaimed in dead earnest after downing the potent cocktail brew.
“What! The night is still young,” Jake grinned unrepentantly down at me as he tried to con me into taking yet another shot.
But I shook my head in denial then regretted the move as my head started to swim. I was drunk and wrapped in his arms. I stood between his parted thighs as he sat on the bar stool. We swung lazily to the beat of the music.
“Let’s head home shall we?”
I nodded my head in agreement, my throat feeling dry and hoarse from having to speak in a shout to be heard over the din of the music and the venue’s voluble patrons.
Then I was being herded out of the club and into the deep dark quiet of the night. The cool clean air that met us at the door was a kiss of freshness across my skin. I took great big gulps of it and raised my free hand up as if to embrace the night. Jakes hand on mine tightened even as he reeled me in closer to his side. I snuggled back into him. I allowed him to guide me to the car and then buckle me in. He started the car and shifts it into gear leaving the music off as he set the car into motion. The soothing purr of its powerful engine and its gentle rocking motion was soothing me into sleep so I settled back into my cosy seat and gave in to the temptation.
“Lift your arm up.”
I opened my eyes drowsily to find Jake towering over me as I swayed unsteadily on my feet before him. I blinked to note that we were back at the beach cottage and I was in his room standing before the bed. I allowed myself to free falling backwards down onto the soft mattress and closed my eyes sinking instantly into deep sleep.
“Oh no you don’t!” Jake’s exclamation rang softly in my deaf ears still ringing with the numbing buzz from its traumatising experience at the night club. I was swimming mid-consciousness battling the sleep that was insistently pulling me under. But my arms was being grasped and tugged up hauling me to
sitting position.
I moaned in disgruntlement.
“There’s a good girl, now raise your hands,” Jake tugged my hands up higher and then I felt the cool air as my shirt was swiftly tugged up and over my head. This time when I fell back down against the soft mattress he left me there and dropped onto his haunches to tug away at my jeans leggings. Then the bed creaked as he settled in beside me.
“You’re on my side of the bed again,” Jake whispered softly against my ear sending a thrill of sensation that had me twisting up against him in reaction.
“Over or under?” he was tugging me closer till I was pressed up against him. He wrapped me into his warm shirtless embrace. I felt the sizzling embers that were never really doused burst back into flame.
I blinked at him not understanding. I simply shook my head desperate for something I didn’t understand.
“Shh it’s okay,” he soothed me gently again as if I was wild needing to be tamed but my alcohol induced brain felt numb and I was reduced to primitive physical reactions with no control over how my body responded to his nearness. I felt beyond embarrassed that he would know. …that he did know… how I felt. He was manipulating me to feel…just how I did. His lips settled back to press up onto my nape and rain kisses all over. All thoughts ceased altogether.
“I’ll take you over, okay” he spoke slowly as if to an infant child and I nodded my head in response just like a child.
He pulled me up against his chest and I was sprawled over him. My senses went on hyper drive and a passionate cry broke free off my lips. “Easy..easy does it,” he whispered urgently running his hands down my sides before nuzzling his face into my neck. I could feel every part of him pressed up into me and found my arms reaching out of their own accord to wrap about Jake and tangle my fingers into the soft strands of his hair.
“Yes..that’s it. Hold on to me Lucy. Tight…tighter.”
My limbs rattled in shivers beneath my skin before it dissolved altogether in a heated puddle of lust I could no longer deny. I buried my face into his neck and breathed him in. His sent filled me awash with pleasure and ignited a craving for more.