by Shayne Ford
Nonetheless, this is going to be a hell of an encounter.
Senna and I edge to the table. They both rise. Harper hugs Senna first, who wishes her Happy Birthday. Then she waves at me. I nod, and give her a soft kiss on her cheek, wishing her all the best. Senna hands her a present.
I turn to Abel who watches us in silence.
He stretches his hand out to connect with mine, our eyes locking in an instant. The brief, mutual surveillance leaves us both satisfied.
He’s a handsome man. Laid back, confident, oozing sexual prowess. I realize how lucky I am that Senna didn't fall for him. And I’m not gonna fool myself. Sex is not what kept her away from him. I’m sure he left her satisfied.
He hugs Senna as well, his lips brushing her cheek, his hands holding hers tenderly, his gesture telling so much about the long history between them.
His eyes are warm, no trace of flirting. He shifts his gaze to me, sending me a clear message. He’s not gonna mess with what is mine.
He likes me, and I can’t deny it. I like him too.
We all get seated and focus on the birthday girl. As the night progresses, we relax, the food and wine making the atmosphere even more enjoyable.
Jokes float around, and laughter drifts through the air. Senna’s eyes sparkle with joy, while Harper’s beam with love for Abel. Her man enjoys everything with subdued class.
I sense Senna’s stare on me a couple of times especially when I interact with Abel. After dinner, he invites us to his place for drinks.
We end up in a beautiful house, not far from Senna’s place. Judging by the way her eyes scan his home I can tell she’s never been here before. It’s not the neat, sophisticated decor that baffles her. I suspect she never knew they were practically neighbors.
He brings the drinks to the table as we all settle in the lounge area, not far from the pool. As the night unfolds, we engage in a conversation that spans a variety of topics, revealing Harper’s love for literature and Abel’s passion for animal charity.
Soon, Harper starts cuddling in Abel’s arms, and I motion to Senna while rising to my feet.
They both push out of their chair as well. Abel and I shake hands while Senna hugs Harper goodbye.
Moments later, we slip out the door and climb into my car. We drive back in silence.
“You had fun?” I ask after a while.
“Yes,” she says with a soft, nostalgic voice.
“What happened?”
She shifts her eyes to me and smiles.
“Nothing.”
“It doesn’t look like nothing.”
She shrugs and glances out the window again.
“I’m happy for them.”
“Me too,” I say, slipping a subtle undertone.
She gives me a small laugh.
“You can be so funny sometimes,” she says, amused.
“I hope that’s not my only quality.”
“No,” she says, distracted again.
And sad.
My chest tightens with apprehension. I hope it’s the alcohol. I hope it’s anything other than what I think it is.
As we near her home, I sense her even more distracted. I get even tenser.
I pull the car to a stop and wait. She doesn’t say a thing. I crack the driver’s door open to climb out and help her. Her hand grips mine, stopping me.
“Don’t. I’m fine.”
My heart shatters into pieces.
“You’re not giving up on me, are you?” I ask softly.
She turns her eyes to me, filled with tears.
“I’ve never given up on you, Jaden. Even when I wanted to, I couldn’t.”
“What is it then?”
She slowly shakes her head, a tear streaming down in silence, a stark contrast to her beautiful face.
I slide my hand on top of hers and slowly run my thumb across her knuckles.
“What is it, Senna?”
She runs a trembling hand beneath her eyes.
“Tonight was one of the best nights I’ve ever had...” she says. “I was so happy. I haven’t felt so good and normal in a very long time. And as I was sitting there, I couldn’t forget how we all got there.”
She bites her lip to stop the quivering of her chin, more tears trickling down.
“And I felt so bad for everyone around the table. For Harper and Abel. For me being part of his past. And then for you and me. For us trying to build a normal life on what’s practically a ruin.
I shake my head.
“It’s not a ruin, baby. The past serves it purpose. I no longer think about it. And you shouldn’t either.”
“I don’t want to be that woman, Jaden. The one who rams through people’s lives.”
“You’re not.”
I wrap my arms around her. To my surprise, she curls her arms around me as well. Hope flares in my heart. I frame her face and wipe her tears away. She raises her eyes to me. It dawns on me that this is way more than I thought.
The realization hits me right away.
This is the woman she was talking about. Vulnerable, delicate, and frankly, so lonely. She’s alway been wild and stubborn and tough, but something happened to her.
It may be me, or it may be the universe switching life’s lanes for her, making things coming together mysteriously.
She’s morphing under my eyes into this beautiful woman who fascinates me. She’s even more powerful than before.
All I want is to be there with her, that very day when she’ll shed her skin for good. When she’ll become that beautiful person, who is struggling right now under my very eyes, caught between two worlds. Pushing away from her past and longing for a different future.
Maybe it was all meant to be.
“Let me love you, Senna,” I murmur in her hair as she starts sobbing at my chest. “The way you always wanted it. The way nobody loved you before. Okay?”
She gives me a soft nod while shuddering in my arms.
“I’m not gonna rush, baby. All right? And I’m gonna be there for you, but you have to come to me, too.”
“I will...” she mutters, brushing off her tears.
I tilt her face up and slide my thumb across her lips. A soft quiver ripples beneath my touch.
“I missed you, baby,” I say.
“I missed you, too,” she mutters before our lips connect in a soft, unhurried kiss.
SENNA
I wave him goodbye while he steers his car away. My tears still stain my cheeks as I spin around and walk inside the house.
The place is quiet and empty, but I no longer feel lonely. I take a quick shower, slip into my pajamas and get into bed.
A box of books waits for me on the nightstand.
First, I pick up my phone and slide my finger across the screen, pulling up a bunch of photographs. Taking my time, I run my eyes over the pictures we’ve captured in the restaurant.
I zoom in on the faces.
Harper has never looked more beautiful. Dressed in a dark green dress, she’s smiling from ear to ear, her eyes sparkling with love for Abel who looks at her entranced.
I study myself in a few frames too. The frown is gone, the pursing of my lips has vanished too. Relaxed, I grin and glance at them, a sparkle gleaming in my eyes as well. Jaden’s eyes are almost always on me.
I study him. Slowly running my fingers over his picture.
It feels strange. Surreal. It’s hard to comprehend that this is the same man I once spotted sitting on a sidewalk in front of Jill’s. The man I found one night, his body slashed and bloodied, lying on the ground. The man who played with me and tied me to the bed. The man who fucked me any way I wanted, fulfilling all my secret fantasies.
A different man looks at me from these pictures.
His eyes no longer harbor anger but warmth and calmness. He’s no longer a dark storm but a soothing breeze. He no longer burns me down but warms me up. He no longer rises walls between us but wraps me in protecting arms.
His gray eyes gleam nostalgi
c as he teaches me to be a woman who’s no longer shackled by her past. And a woman watching the world through a different set of eyes.
It takes a few more moments before I drag my finger across the screen, and turn the phone off. I glance at the nightstand, the box of books catching my eye. I set my phone down and pick up the box. Back propped against the headboard, I check the books one by one.
The stories are captivating, drawing a vivid picture of a different world, filled with sensibility and emotion. The stories are heartwarming, and fresh, and open your eyes to the beauty of this world, whether you’re young, old or in the middle.
My heart vibrates with every word as I read the Lost Girl. And then it jumps with joy as I read the Baby Bear. Children’s laughter echoes in my ears as I imagine the fun a kid could have listening to that tale. And then my heart cries as I read the Glass Boy.
One particular paragraph catches my eye.
I look around and see a land of magnificent beauty.
Rolling hills, and snowcapped mountains, shimmering rivers snaking through the forest, and flowers hugging the edges of the land. Children playing under the trees, and beautiful animals roaming and grazing freely.
It’s all soaked in golden sunlight, and wrapped in the whispering wind, and yet all I feel is the cold glass stretching beneath my palms, holding me captive.
It’s like a bad dream that has no end.
As I re-read the Baby Bear, a drawing captures my attention. It looks like something I have seen before. Or something similar, at least.
And then I remember.
The graphics look like Jaden’s sketches, the ones he used to draw for Emma. I flip the book and check the illustrator’s name, getting nowhere fast. The author gets credit for the graphics and also for the cover design. I search her name on the Internet, and other than the promotional materials scattered all over her social media accounts and her website, I can’t find anything personal.
Not even a picture.
I shove the books back into the box, set it on the nightstand, and pick up the phone.
“Hey. Are you home yet?” I ask.
His voice fills the room as I put him on the speaker.
“I just got in. Everything okay?”
The concern in his voice makes me smile.
“Yes, yes. Are you free tomorrow night?”
I can’t believe my voice trembles with emotion.
“Sure. Do you want to go out?”
“Um... I actually had something else in mind.”
“Yes?”
“Dinner at my place. I’ll cook.”
“Okay.”
A smile lines his voice.
“Be here at seven,” I say, a bit rushed before I end the call.
My heart explodes in my chest as the heat of a blush spreads across my cheeks.
This feels like a journey back in time.
JADEN
The table is set on the patio. White linens, sparkling flatware, fragrant begonias, and roses hugging each other in a vase, and plates trimmed with a golden line.
“What’s the occasion?”
She smiles and points at me.
“You.”
“Me?”
I grin, amused.
“Mmm-hmm,” she mutters.
“These are for you, baby.”
I hand her the bouquet of garnet roses. Her cheeks turn scarlet like the petals.
“Thank you,” she says with a mellow voice.
She buries her nose in the velvety flowers.
“They’re beautiful. Oh, they smell so nicely,” she says, excited and surprised.
“They’re supposed to, aren’t they?”
“They don’t always do. Where did you get them?”
“It’s a secret,” I say.
She chuckles softly.
“Take a seat,” she says, pointing at the table. “I’ll find a vase for them, and I’ll be back in a moment.”
She spins away while I sink into a chair. My gaze stays with her, taking a snapshot of her red dress, and the long hair almost touching her waist. Swiftly, she vanishes inside the house. I shift my eyes away, scanning the backyard.
Strings of lights hang from the trees while lit candles flicker on the table and the edge of the pool.
“Do you want a drink?” she asks.
“Sure,” I say, swiveling my head to her.
She slides the plates of food on the table.
“Mmm...That looks good.”
I flick my eyes up.
“I did it,” she says proudly.
She shifts to the side and brings a bottle of wine to the table.
“I’ll do it,” I say, tipping my chin and motioning to her to take a seat.
“You look lovely,” I mutter, handling the bottle of wine and pouring the liquid into the glasses.
“So do you.”
“Are you blushing?”
“Mind your own business, Jaden,” she says, unfolding a napkin and placing it on her lap.
I laugh.
Her lips curve into a grin.
“Don’t make me regret that I invited you over.”
“You won’t regret it, baby,” I say, handing her the glass. “For us,” I say, raising my glass and locking her eyes.
She studies my eyes as we clink our glasses.
“For us,” she says with a softer voice, and then she leans to me and kisses me.
On my lips.
She pulls away slightly.
I look at her, surprised.
She brings her hand to my face and slowly brushes my lips with her thumb, her eyes following the motion before flick up at me.
“Good to know, I can still take you by surprise,” she mutters, beginning to pull away for good.
I cuff her wrist and keep her still. Her fingers stay on my face as we share the same breath. Without a word, I wrap my hand around her neck and crush her lips.
A moan tumbles in her chest. She grabs my neck and threads her fingers through my hair. I lean to her, nudge her lips apart, and slide my tongue into her mouth. She shudders in my arms, her tongue swirling with mine, her body shaking.
I break the kiss.
Dazed, she lets her fingers touch my lips again.
“Let’s go inside,” I murmur.
“Uh-huh,” she says, her eyes trained on my mouth, her lips parted.
Waiting.
“Not yet, huh?” I mutter.
“Uh-huh,” she says in a trance.
Closing my fist in her hair, I angle her head and lock her lips again. She gives me another moan as our lips connect, and our tongues entangle. Her moans send blood to my growing cock. My full erection strains against my fly.
“We can stop, baby...” I murmur against her lips, unsure if that’s what she wants.
She slips her hand to my groin, giving my hard-on a long brush. My blood pulses in her hand.
There’s my answer.
I thrust my tongue into her mouth. She responds, famished, rubbing my erection with a sense of urgency. And then she cups my balls, and I’m convinced we can no longer take this part slowly. She unbuckles my belt and undoes my fly, her fingers sliding straight onto my bare skin.
“Fuck, Senna...”
I palm her hand as she starts to stroke my shaft.
She looks at me, mystified, her eyes quickly getting hazy with arousal.
“I don’t want only to fuck you...” I say. Light gleams in her gaze. “I want to stay,” I mutter.
“You’ll stay,” she says.
14
SENNA
His eyes swim with lust, his lips parting, hungry for me. I never doubted his power over me, and now I learn my growing power over him. I keep stroking him while he keeps loving my lips and slides his hand between my thighs. He runs my skirt up, his palm connecting with my skin. My heart rate spikes.
He breaks our kiss again.
“Don’t... Please. Come to me,” I murmur.
He plunges his tongue into my mouth, sucking the
air out of my lungs. He pulls me up as he rises to his feet and smoothly sweeps me off the ground. Our lips stay locked as he carries me inside.
“Up. Let’s go up,” I say, my fingers frantically running over his face.
We make it to the bedroom, and he lays me on the bed. He pulls my panties down and leaves my dress and high heels on.
My arms open for him.
He barely has enough time to kick his shoes off, and I pull him to me.
“I can’t wait any longer,” I say.
“Me neither,” he growls.
He slides the dress off my shoulders and frees my breasts while I rip his shirt open, craving the hardness of his chest. His hands run over my skin, brushing my thighs, the swell of my butt, and the wet trail between my legs.
“Jaden...” I mutter the moment he touches the tingling flesh between my thighs.
His breaths get heavy.
Rushed, I hook my fingers inside his waistband, lower his pants to his hips, and bring my fingers to his groin, wrapping my hand around him.
“That’s good,” he breathes into me, his eyes on me.
I don’t shy away from his stare. Head tilted back, chin tipped up, I watch him through half-closed eyes, my breasts moving up and down with my ragged breaths.
I open my thighs even more for him.
He pulls away slightly, his eyes scanning every inch of my skin, every curve. His hand pressing into my skin. Tracing, trailing and grabbing. He narrows his eyes, gray steel glinting between his lashes.
I watch him, drunk on the power growing in his eyes. A wild hunger surges through him, heating up his blood.
“Take me any way you want...” I murmur.
He slides lower on the bed and pulls my sex to his mouth. My legs drape over his shoulders, his tongue and lips sealing my flesh. Waves of pleasure break through me. He licks and kisses my clit, and then he does the same thing to my entrance, tongue fucking me all the way to an explosive orgasm.
I’m still shaking, relishing the shockwaves of my climax, when he slides on top of me, grabs the root of his cock and fills me to the brim.
I growl with pleasure, my pulsations swirling around his shaft. He stays there for a moment, his eyes closed, his chest rocking with short breaths, his hands running slowly over my butt while his cock starts twitching inside me.