It’s now 4:04pm and I hear the doorbell go. I hold my breath again as I wait to hear if Jake answers. To my relief I hear voices. There is a greeting from Jake and the sound of Mike’s voice from work comes echoing up the stairs. I like Mike, he is a good guy. He is 58 years old and like the daddy to the station. He used to Police but now prefers a desk job as he says he’s not the young man he used to be. I hear Mike.
“So where’s the lovely Ana today Jake?”
I suck in a breath waiting for his answer.
“I’m not sure; she may be in her room getting ready.”
The voices get muffled after this and I’m now practically hyperventilating. My goodness girl, get a grip. I sit up from my bed and toss the bag with my dress in upside down. It is a beautiful dress and apt for the occasion. I decide I must jump in the shower for a quick wash as the heat of the day has taken its toll on me.
I slide in and close my eyes as the cool water relief helps ease my tension. I see Jake through my closed eyes. I see him and that hunger in his eyes. I feel him caressing my breasts and kissing me like his life depended on it. I feel his finger tips trail down from my breasts to my stomach and cup my sex. I let out a heavy sigh and I’m quickly snapped out of my dream remembering where I am. It would seem Jake has made me into this living breathing sex machine. I can’t stop thinking about it now I’ve had it. I just want more, once will never be enough. I get out of the shower and towel myself dry. I brush my hair and check my makeup is still in place. All seems fine. I put my dress on and look at myself in the tall mirror in the corner of my room. More people are downstairs now as I can hear them. I check the clock and it says 4:37, where has the time gone? I take a few deep breaths, it’s now or never.
I open my door and the voices are getting louder now. I creep down the steps to all the commotion. I get to the bottom of the stairs and turn round. It is then I have noticed all is quiet as I have what feels like a hundred pairs of eyes upon me. I go a bright scarlet before plucking up the courage to speak, “Has someone died in here, I thought this was a party?” I hear a few chuckles and all returns to normal. Tony comes swiftly over to me.
“Ana, Wow, just wow. Words fail me. You look even more beautiful than normal if that is ever possible.”
He gives me a hug and kisses me on the cheek. I look around for Jake, but can’t find him. “Thank you Tony, it is nice of you to say. I need a drink so I’ll just head to the fridge for some wine.” Tony winks at me as I pass and I head out to the kitchen. I say a few hellos and there are lots of compliments flying. I get to the fridge and grab a glass from the counter. I notice that there are some more Pinot Grigio bottles stacked in there with one open, so I pour myself a glass. I need some Dutch courage. I look out of the window into the pool area and find Jake at the barbeque cooking up some burgers and sausages. I get a waft of the smell come through the open door and it’s then that it hits me just how hungry I am. He looks like a god even standing at a barbeque hot and sweaty and possibly feeling the heat ten times worse than everyone else. He’s laughing at what someone says and turns around to face me. I catch my breath. He’s staring at me now with those piercing green eyes again. At that moment we are locked to each other and no one else exists. It feels as though his eyes are buried deep into my soul and I don’t want to ever have him crawl back up. I am quickly brought out of my trance when Jake’s stare is broken by Ian’s want of attention. I avert my eyes and suddenly realise that I’m holding my breath again. I let out a deep sigh and down my glass in one go. Boy am I nervous.
“Steady there girl, you have all evening to get drunk, why start so early?”
I jump at the sound of his voice. “Sorry Tony, it’s just been a bit manic today and I thought this might calm me down. I will slow it down a bit now.” He goes in the fridge and grabs the bottle of Pinot. He pours me another glass and sets the bottle down. He looks me in the eye with worry, sweeping a lock of hair away from my face.
“You look so beautiful Ana. I wish you would accept my invitations to spoil you. I want nothing more than to be with you, you know that? If there is anything you want to speak with me about or anything I can do for you, I am here.”
He is so sweet but he could never make me as happy as Jake would. “Thanks Tony, I’m fine. Really I am,” I reply.
“Can I ask are you seeing someone?”
What do I say to that? “No, Tony. It’s complicated that’s all. I have things going on in my head that I need to sort out first before entering any kind of relationship. I’m just not ready, that’s all.” He looks disappointed but he seems to understand.
He is about to answer when a voice in the kitchen interrupts us, “Well, you can always have lots of meaningless sex with me babes if you want something uncomplicated I’m your man.”
I whip round to find James standing there with a devilish grin on his face. I was about to make a sarcastic retort when I felt Tony stiffen against me.
“Don’t you fucking talk about her like that.”
James winces and throws me an apologetic grin. “Sorry Tony didn’t mean to offend.”
Tony was about to say something when I turned to face him.
“Tony, calm down it was a joke, James was just being silly. Please don’t spoil it.” I look up at him and flash my eyelashes in his direction. He giggles and softens his stance.
“I’m sorry Ana. I just don’t like it when people talk about you that way. You’re like a delicate flower Ana and deserved to be treated with care.”
He strokes my cheek and I’m a bit taken aback by his words.
“Ana, can you help me with something please?”
I jump at the sound of his voice and flick my head around to find Jake standing there looking like a rather pissed off alpha male. I walk over to him and as I do, I look round to find Tony and James staring. I give them a tentative smile and I pass Jake as I walk through the door to the garden. I’m about to turn round and ask him how I could help when I am yanked round to the side of the house out of everyone’s view.
I’m startled by the force of nature that is Jake hovering over me. He pins me up against the wall and I’ve barely been given enough time to breathe and take in what exactly has happened, when he suddenly speaks.
“What the fuck are you doing Ana?”
I can’t believe he’s yelling at me again. One minute he doesn’t want to know me, next minute he can’t keep his hands off me and then the next he’s blowing me off again and now this. “What do you mean Jake, fuck you.” I don’t normally like to swear but he has my anger suddenly at boiling point. How dare he behave this way towards me. His face hardens as he leans closer to my ear and I can feel his hot breath on the side of my neck.
“Don’t fucking talk to me like that Ana. What the fuck were you doing with Tony?”
I’m barely managing to breathe from this close proximity with him, as he pushes himself deeper into me. My pulse quickens and I’m trying desperately to focus before I pass out. Anger at him is quickly married with lust, but I’m determined not to back down. “What do you care asshole, get off me now before I scream.” I don’t really want him off me at all, what I really want is for him to take me now up against this wall. Hard. I will have him however and whenever he wants me. I don’t ever want him to know this but I feel my body is giving me away. As if reading my mind Jake suddenly answers that question.
“You’re telling me you want me off of you but your quivering body is telling me otherwise Ana. I don’t think I can let you go now.”
I’m trying desperately to process what he’s actually saying. Does he mean now or in general? This man is like a yo-yo I’m not sure what to think anymore. He presses even deeper into me and I can feel how hard he is. I gasp releasing all the air in my lungs that I didn’t realise I had been keeping hold of all this time. He smiles seeing my reaction to him and reaches his hand up to touch my face. My breathing quickens as he trails his hand across my cheek and down towards my neck.
“Does Ton
y do this to you when he touches you Ana?”
He knows not. He slides his hand down my chest and places it on my heart.
“Does Tony make your heart beat the way yours is pounding through your chest right now?”
I’m dripping wet for him and he knows it. No one will ever be able to make me feel the way that he does every time. He trails his hand further down to cup my breast and squeezes it gently, his face inches away from mine.
“Does anyone make your nipples as hard as they are for me now?”
His face brushes ever so slightly against mine as he leans in further to whisper in my ear, “Well, do they?”
I moan again as he squeezes my nipple and caresses my breast again. This is just too delicious, my body is screaming out for more. “No one,” I manage to gasp. My body is now shaking from the sweet anticipation of his next touch. He needs to touch me again, and soon before I explode. He runs his hand down from my breast and grips firmly to my curves. An incoherent squeal seems to leave my lips. My god does he know exactly what buttons to press.
“Do you want me to take you Ana? Do you want to feel me inside you?”
Oh my god yes please, my body yells. I manage to gasp out a ‘yes,’ as he trails kisses down the side of my neck. He’s managing to hit erogenous zones on my body I never knew existed.
“I can’t stop thinking about me burying myself in you. Your body seems to scream at me to touch you. It’s so hard to say no. I can’t say no.”
He runs his hand over my hip and round towards my rear and squeezes. My leg involuntarily moves up around his waist and he holds it there digging his hips deeper into me. My whole body is about to catch fire any minute, I feel so hot.
“No one gets to touch you Ana, no one except me.”
He pulls his head back from my ear and kisses me. My heart quickens and my body is about to explode. I reach my hands up and put my fingers through his hair squeezing him into me. I hear a growl escape from him as our kiss becomes so fierce it’s almost as if we can’t seem to get quite enough. He pulls away from me suddenly panting, his eyes are like turquoise fire.
“I seem to forget where I am around you. We have a barbeque and we’re the hosts we can’t do this here, we’ll get caught. I will speak to you later."
He quickly adjusts himself and I’m still panting on the side of the wall.
“And don’t fucking go near Tony.” With that he storms off.
I can’t believe what just happened. I’m still clueless as to what’s going on inside this man’s head. He seems to want to claim me and at the same time runs away from the situation and I’m angry at myself for letting him see just how much of an effect he has on me. Suddenly feeling brave, I feel I must up the ante. “Well Mr. Bennett, we shall see about that won’t we?” I gather myself together and walk around to the back of the house where there are lots of people talking around the pool.
“Ana, lovely to see you, how have you been, you look fabulous?”
Mike’s wife Alison’s sweet smile is greeting me. “Thank you Alison, you look lovely too.” Alison is 54 and looks fantastic for her age. She has short blonde hair and lovely sparkling light brown eyes.
“How has work been, I’ve heard it’s been pretty intense with this killer on the loose. Mike is really cut up about the whole thing and doesn’t talk about it much. Have you heard any updates at all?”
Come to think of it I hadn’t heard a thing. I was normally kept up to speed on cases but this one I’m being shut out. “I haven’t heard anything to tell you the truth Alison. I’ve been dealing with a spate of burglary’s in the Roanoke and Fairfax County areas, so that’s been keeping me busy.”
“Ana, do you want a burger?”
I look over to Jake holding a plate out to me. I am starving now. I walk over and take it from his hand. His green eyes like pools of turquoise sea water, I just want to dive in. “Thank you.”
He smiles, “I bet this is the first you’ve eaten today isn’t it?” My eyes look sheepishly down. “Ana, you have to eat.”
Before I can determine an answer Tony decides to make his presence known by marching over with a glass of wine. Jake lets out a growl which sets the butterflies off in my stomach.
“Ana, your glass of wine was still in the kitchen.”
“Thanks Tony.” I take a sip just as Alison decides to speak.
“Ana dear, your back is full of dust, have you been rubbing yourself up against a wall?”
With that I choke on the wine unable to contain the horror on my face. I look and see Jake’s eyes widening. My eyes are going glassy as I’m coughing everywhere. I feel Tony patting my back and then wiping down my dress.
“Are you ok Ana?”
I try to compose myself, “Yes, I’m fine thanks; it just went down the wrong way.”
“Go and sit down and eat. You can’t be drinking like this on an empty stomach,” Jake grumbles.
I salute him and say, “Yes sir,” as sit down on one of the sun loungers under a parasol. The heat is getting pretty intense now and the pool looks more and more inviting. Jake is eyeing me up and also keeping a good eye on what Tony is up to. He really doesn’t like Tony for some reason. I eat my burger in under a minute and it is quickly replaced by another from Jake, determined to see me eat. I quickly relish that one also and before I know it a loud burp escapes me. I instinctively cover my mouth and blush a deep red whilst everyone around me laughs.
“Well that has to be a compliment to the Chef,” Mike winks.
“I’m sorry guys; I didn’t mean to be rude.” Oh god, how embarrassing.
“Do you want another Ana?”
I look at Jake who is trying hard not to laugh again. “No thanks, I think the tank is full now.” Satisfied with my answer he turns towards his audience.
“Ok, well, who else wants another?” A row of hands shoots up which everyone ceremoniously laughs at.
Chapter 12
The party is later in full swing and I am kept busy getting the salads and buns coming and replenishing people’s drinks, which Jake is grateful for. After everyone seems to be suitably filled I grab myself another glass of wine and sit on the table and chairs outside relieved at the thought of resting my feet. The sun is going round now and there is a welcoming cool breeze. I close my eyes and let out a contented sigh. I open them to find Tony sat next to me staring intently.
“Wow, you sure know how to make a guy weak at the knees.”
I let out a giggle, “Tony you’re incorrigible.”
He smiles showing me that cheeky dimple of his, “Only around you Ana.”
I return the smile to him and the goose bumps rise on the back of my neck as I feel a set of eyes boring into the back of me. I lean in a bit closer to Tony and he starts to play with my hair. I know I shouldn’t be encouraging him and I feel rather ashamed for using Tony like this but I’m so mad at Jake. I take another sip of my wine and I’m feeling a little tipsy now. Tony leans in some more and inhales the scent of my hair.
“Ana, I need to speak with you right now,” and there it is.
I can’t help but smile but I quickly hide it, as Tony stiffens beside me. I look up to find Jake’s green eyes blazing. “Sorry Tony, I’ll be right back.”
I walk up to Jake and he whispers, “No you fucking won’t,” as I’m dragged into the kitchen. “Do I have to go over this with you again Ana?”
I let out an exasperated sigh. “Over what Jake, please explain because I don’t know what the fuck is going on.”
“You watch your fucking language. Shit you drive me crazy.”
He lands a fist on the breakfast island shaking his head in anger. “Calm down Jake, people will hear you. Why are you acting like this? I don’t understand.” Frustration is now pouring from his whole body.
“I’m trying so hard, I really am, but I can’t stay away from you and when I see that fucking asshole Tony touch you, I see red and want to knock his teeth out. I’ve never had these feelings before and I don’t know
how to deal with them. You can see how this is all wrong can’t you Ana? You can see just how fucked up this situation is?”
Tears are welling up in my eyes at his confession. “I don’t know why you keep pushing this away like it’s not happening. We’re not doing anything wrong Jake and I can’t understand why you’re treating me as though I’m some sordid little affair, you’re trying to sweep under the carpet. Do you know how hard this has been for me? I don’t care about any other man and I’m not interested in Tony. It’s you; it’s always been you Jake.” He gazes deep into my eyes and at that moment we are locked in an embrace. His body seems to visibly relax at our stare. My heart suddenly picks up a notch and I forget for a moment where I am, until Mike walks in.
“Oops, sorry to interrupt guys, I just needed another top up.”
Jake quickly snaps out of it and looks at Mike, “That’s ok buddy, help yourself. I need to excuse myself.”
Jake hurries out the door and I go into the fridge and grab a beer for Mike. “Here you go big fella.” I sit down at the table with my wine and Mike joins me.
“That looked pretty intense Ana. I hope you don’t mind me saying this and I need to get right to the point. Jake loves you.”
I knock out a laugh, “Yes, we are a family, been together through thick and thin for nearly a year now.”
Mike frowns, “I think you misread what I said. He loves you Ana. I see the way he looks at you, the way he always looks at you. It’s not hard to see from an observer and I’ve been at this game far too long to not notice when someone’s in love.”
Take a Breath (Take 1) Page 7
