Sacrifice For Love

by Vicki Green

  I watch as he walks over to the bucket of water on the counter, taking a cloth and dipping it in. He returns and smiles down at me. “This is gonna be….”

  “COLD!” I yell as he brushes the cloth against my sensitive area.

  “Sorry,” he whispers.

  He cleans me, and I watch him clean himself, which makes me horny again, then he throws the cloth into a small basket in the corner. He climbs back onto the cot beside me, brings the blanket up over us and I roll over until I’m in his arms, my head laying on his strong chest, feeling his heart racing beneath. I close my eyes as I feel his lips kiss the top of my head and then his warm breath as he speaks. “That was incredible, Taren. God, I love you. So much. We need to get you out of your parents’ house and move in with me. You’re an adult. You could do it, you know? Move in with me. I swear I’ll take care of you. It might be hard on you though, maybe you shouldn’t. You wouldn’t have the money you’re accustomed to and….”

  My head raises as my hand moves up the warm skin of his chest until I place a finger over those luscious lips. “Stop. Let me follow through with this plan. When I turn twenty one I’ll receive the large sum of money. That will be the time to leave there, move in with you and we can start our lives together. Trust me?” He sighs and then smiles, nodding. “I know it seems like a long time and I want nothing more than to be with you, you know that, but the money will help us begin in a better way. I’ll have more time to find a job and help out with everything.”

  “I don’t want you to work. I can take care of you, baby.” He’s so sweet.

  “I know, babe. You work so hard and I appreciate it but what would I do all day? I’d have too much time to sit around the house and long for you to get home. It would make me crazy.” My head moves with his deep laugh. I rise, resting my head in my hand, and he does the same. We stare into each other’s eyes for a few minutes, his finger tracing my skin at the base of my neck, and I feel so loved, so comfortable. “I’m going to apply this week at the newspapers in town, try to put my writing degree to use. Are you ready to do this next month? I mean….” I look down and take his hand, tangling my fingers with his. “Do your parents know that we want to be together? I mean, I know they know about us but do they realize….”

  He releases my hand, and my eyes look up into his as he raises my head with his hand on the side of my face, his fingers weaving into my hair. “Baby, my parents know how I feel about you. They may not like your parents after everything that happened with…. Well, you know. But they’ve always known my love for you is strong and that we want to be together. I’ll talk to Ma, on the side. She understands better than anyone. Now, c’mere.”

  My heart swells and my smile rises as I move back into his arms. I lay my arm across his slim waist, feeling the bulges of his tight abs, and squeeze with all the love I’m feeling. I look up at him and see him watching me. “You can say his name. It’s okay. Sebastian was your friend.” He smiles and I watch his throat constrict as he swallows. We never had the chance to talk about the accident and I really don’t want to spoil our time together by doing it now but he needs to understand that I don’t want to ever forget my brother. Bast understood what Brock meant to me, means to me. Bast, Irish, and Brock’s family have always been a part of Brock’s and my lives, even when my parents wouldn’t condone it. I lay my head down on his chest and can hear his fast heartbeat and right now, I’m already home.

  We laid in bed for an hour, talking and planning how things will be once I move in with him. He said I could redecorate his apartment, make the spare bedroom my office, if I wanted. He talked about how he would take care of me, worship, and protect me, and how one day he would marry me. With a heavy heart and much reluctance, we cleaned up the shack, turned off the lamps and I helped him carry things back to his truck. He held my hand the entire way, making sure I didn’t fall along the way or slip off the rocks while we cross the creek.

  “Do you have everything? Uh, you might want to put on a little, uh, makeup and brush your hair. You look like you just had sex.” He smirks as we reach his truck.

  “I did have sex.” I smile as I reach into my purse, grab my brush and start running it through my long tangled hair. He winks and smiles as he lifts the bags into the bed of his truck, and I watch his strong muscles flex which each movement. After he’s loaded everything and I’ve managed to make myself look presentable, his hands grasp my waist, lifting me into the passenger seat of his tall truck, and I watch him walk around the front as I buckle my seatbelt. He decided to drive me back to the dirt road, so I wouldn’t have to walk as far.

  As he starts the truck, I look at the clock on the dashboard. A little after midnight. With any luck, Daddy would have gone to bed thinking Jeffrey and I would be home late from our date. With my luck? He’s probably still sitting up in the living room reading one of his history books. I hold onto the door handle as the truck bumps over the uneven terrain. The trees looking a bit scary in the darkness, but I’ve been through here so many times over the years that I’m not afraid. He finally pulls out onto the dirt road and drives for a little bit then pulls over off to the side. Once he puts it in park and leans towards me, I follow until our mouths meet. Our hands are all over each other, and our kissing starts heating up my body, from the inside out. “Fuck, I don’t want you to go. I wish…. I wish you were coming home with me now, never leaving again. A month is gonna be an eternity.” We press our foreheads together, our heavy breathing the only sound in the truck. I don’t want to leave either. I want to go to bed with him, lay in his arms, feel him inside me again and sleep with him tangled up together all night.

  “I don’t want to go.” His eyes widen, and I feel bad because I know he’s thinking I’ve changed my mind. “But I have to, my love. A month isn’t so long, not after the last several months we’ve been apart. At least now I can sneek away and meet you again at our special place. We can at least look forward to those nights until we can be together forever.” His eyes sadden, but he nods. I kiss him one more time, grab my purse and bag from the floor, put the strap over my shoulder then kiss the tips of my fingers and place them on his swollen lips. “I’ll text you. Soon, darling. Soon.” With a heavy heart, I open the door and climb down, shutting it and look at him through the window. I mouth “I love you” and smile as he mouths it back to me. I turn and look up the hill, dreading the long walk back.

  I get about halfway up when I hear the engine of his truck and turn, watching it begin to move up the road, but it’s hard to make out in the distance and darkness. I touch my lips, still feeling the warmth of his and smile. I continue to walk and before long I see the back deck coming into view. Finally, I walk up the steps and to the back door, slowly sliding it open, so I don’t make any noise. I head straight into the huge pantry closet, set my bag down, open it and dig for my sleep clothes. Quietly, I change and stuff my clothes in the bag, zipping it back up slowly and pushing it under the last shelf. My parents never come in here, only Mimi and the maid, so I’m sure this will go unnoticed until the morning when I can retrieve it and take it to my room. I close the door to the pantry and walk over to the cabinet, getting a glass and then to the sink, filling it halfway with water and then walk out of the kitchen and towards the stairs. Just as I thought, Daddy’s sitting in his big leather chair, a book in his hand, and from the side view, I see his reading glasses low on his nose.

  I try to calm my racing heart and take a deep breath. “Daddy?” His head turns to me, his eyebrows raising high. “You should go to bed. It’s late.”

  “Oh! When did you get home?” his voice rough and hoarse from reading. He clears it and smiles. “I didn’t hear you come in? How was your date with Jeffrey?” Relief flows through me along with calmness as I walk into the room and sit down across from him, taking a drink of my water.

  “It was nice. I didn’t want to disturb your reading so I went directly upstairs. I got thirsty and came down for a glass of water.” He smiles again and removes hi
s glasses, rubbing his eyes with his finger and thumb, marking his place in his book then closes it.

  “That was nice. Yes, I’m getting quite tired. I think I’ll head up to bed.” He rises and takes the few steps to me, kissing the top of my head and walks out of the room.

  I follow, turning off his reading light and then upstairs until I’m safely in my room. I lean against the door as I close it, releasing the breath I’d been holding for so long, blowing some strands of long hair away from my face. I did it! I can’t believe it worked. Quickly, I take my phone from the waistband of my panties and walk across to my bed, sitting down and then send off two texts.

  Me: Made it! It worked! Can’t wait 2 c u again

  Brock: Thank fuck! Me too! When?

  Me: Let me check. Will let u know

  Brock: God. I hope it’s soon! Love u

  Me: Love u 2!

  I smile, kiss my finger and touch the screen then send off the next one.

  Me: It worked. Thank u

  Jeffrey: Good. U owe me

  Me: I know

  Jeffrey: Tomorrow night. Date

  Me: k

  Ugh! I lay down, my back bouncing on the mattress and sigh. I guess I have to take the bad with the good. I just hope I can keep him from trying anything, or I’ll need to change my plan. I sit back up, plugging my phone into the charger, setting it on my nightstand, pulling back the covers and settle into bed. Staring up at the ceiling, all I can think of is Brock, how he touched me, made love to me and how I’m no longer a virgin. I feel different. I wonder if anyone will be able to tell. Brock’s right, it is gonna be a long month. Finally, I close my eyes and let sleep take me.

  Brock

  I think I got about two hours of sleep. I worried about her until I got her text that she was home safely. I wish she would stop thinking about the money and just leave. I won’t lie. The money would be great and would really help out, but I don’t care about it. I can provide for us. If she got a job at one of the papers that would help too, however, I really want to take care of her. Ma’s always worked, and I know my parents struggled until the business at the bar and construction company picked up. We can do that too, I don’t mind. I’d do anything for her. Anything to have her with me always.

  I finally get up, take a quick shower and head over to my parents. Ma makes the best breakfast, and I’m starving! She always takes the mornings off as Pop gets the bar ready. Kane and I always meet up over there, stuffin’ our pie holes with her awesome food. They only live down the road from me in the small house that we grew up in but one filled with care and love. Pops had a really hard time when he and his business was accused of killing Sebastian from Taren’s dad. I saw it happen and there’s no way the construction site had anything to do with it. Kane and I had to go testify in court, and it was one of the longest days of my life. It was the only time I got to see Taren. She was so pale, so shaken up. I just wanted to hold her, comfort her, but I wasn’t allowed anywhere near. Her dad hated me anyway, thought I wasn’t good enough for her, then after the accident, he blamed my whole family, and I was considered even lower than dirt in his eyes. Now, Pop hates him, hates what he put our family through. He told me right after court I shouldn’t be around Taren anymore, that nothing good could come from that family. Ma understood though. She knows Taren and I love each other, and that we’re meant to be together. She told me to give it some time and that Pop would come around. I’m not so sure.

  “Ma! I’m starving!” I yell then stop dead in my tracks when I get to the kitchen doorway. There sits Taren’s mom. What the fuck? I look over at Kane sitting at the table eating. He looks up at me with sympathy and confusion, shrugging his shoulders.

  Ma turns around in her chair and smiles. “Brock, you remember Mrs. Mills?” I nod slightly, my stance stiff. “She came by to talk with you.” She turns to Mrs. Mills. “Betty, you all can go in the living room for some privacy.” I watch Mrs. Mills smile, stand then walk past me into the living room. I begin to turn when I feel Ma’s hand on my arm and look at her. “Brock, dear. Be nice and listen to what she has to say. Not everyone is against you and Taren.” I raise my eyebrows with this news. She pats my arm, her smile giving me the encouragement to go and see what Mrs. Mills wants.

  When I walk into the room, Mrs. Mills is sitting on the couch. She looks at me and smiles as I walk over to a chair and sit. “I won’t lie, Mrs. Mills. I’m a bit surprised to see you here.” Then my thoughts are all over the place, my heart beginning to beat faster. “Is Taren okay? Did something happen?”

  She sits up straight as her eyes widen. “Oh, no, dear. It’s nothing like that. I just wanted to chat with your mom and also tell you that you and Taren have some support.” She looks down at her hand, holding a tissue, and frowns. “I never thought it was your father’s construction site or your family that had anything to do with Sebastian’s accident.” She looks up at me with pleading eyes. “I tried to tell Tom but of course he’s too stubborn to listen, too eager to blame someone. You have to understand, he only wants what’s best for Taren but something inside him died when we lost our son. I know he’s never been very civil to you or your family and I’m sorry for that. I guess he’s set in his ways from his upbringing and he may never change. But…. I know what young love is and I will do what I can but know that I am limited. He doesn’t listen to anyone when he gets his mind set.”

  This has to be the oddest conversation but yet I feel a little hope, having her and Ma on our side. “Does Taren know? Does she know she has your support? I’m more concerned with her than myself.”

  She smiles and relaxes. “I’ll tell her. She was out rather late last night.” I stiffen and swallow. “She seems a little different this morning. Happier. Would you know anything about that?” She tilts her head and smiles. Shit, what do I tell her? Do I tell her where she really was? Fuck! I don’t know what to do. “Oh, never mind. I’m sure she’ll tell me, if there’s something to tell. We’ve not been very close and I’ll always regret that. I’ll talk with her when I get home.” I relax and feel like I’m sweating bullets. She stands so I do too. “Please, tell your mom thank you for the tea and we’ll chat again soon.” I nod as she turns and walk towards the front door, but then she stops and turns to me. “Just do me one favor? Don’t make me a grandmother before my time.” My heart stops as she turns and walks out the door. Fuck! She knows.

  “It was very nice of Betty to come here, don’t you think?” I jump at the sound of Ma’s voice, like a jump start to my heart. I turn around to find her smiling. “I have to agree with her. Don’t make me a grandma before my time.”

  “How does she know? How do you?” I whisper.

  She walks to me and takes my hand as her smile broadens. “Oh, we mother’s know. We can tell, at least with a daughter. Sons are a little harder to figure out but daughters? We can see it in their eyes, their skin and how their mood changes with their happiness.” Damn! “Brock, you both are adults and I know it’s been hard on you, the accident, her dad and just the circumstances but know that I will always stand by you, support you in everything. It seems Betty will too but I think it’s more difficult for her. I’m not making excuses for Tom. God knows he’s always needed a swift kick in the….” I grin and try to hold in my chuckle. “But losing a son. Well, I just can’t imagine. Losing a child would do something to you. I know he’s never really liked you, because of us, because of how we live, but that probably drove him over the edge.” She stops and shakes her head. “If you all decide to have a life together, I’m sure it will be hard on her without her father in her life because I’m not so sure he will ever condone it.” She releases my hand and grasps my upper arms with her hands. “Just know you all have support, you have other family that will be there for you both.”

  I swallow hard again almost choking on my feelings. “Pop?”

  She pats my arm. “Give him some time. You know he’s always liked Taren, been there for you and Kane, even Irish. He loves his family. Time wil
l heal things. Now, go eat. I’m sure everything’s cold now.”

  She leaves and walks upstairs so I walk to the kitchen. I take the plate of food set out for me and stick it in the microwave. “So, you and Taren finally did it, huh?” I freeze at Kane’s words.

  Chapter Four

  Taren

  Standing in front of the mirror, I touch the skin on my cheek. Do I look different? I feel different. I feel like a woman. A woman in love. A woman who had sex with the man she loves. My hand moves down my flat stomach as I remember Brock’s gentle touch. The little bit of soreness I feel reminding me where he’d been. A knock on my bedroom door interrupts my thoughts and I slip on my robe, almost skipping there. I open it quickly. “Mom.”

  She smiles, carrying in a tray. I watch as she takes it over to my nightstand, setting it down and then sits down on the end of my bed. “Good afternoon. I brought you a sandwich and some tea. Thought you might be hungry.” She pats the mattress and smiles. “Come. Sit with me for a few minutes.”

  I walk in confusion to my bed, sitting down by my pillow. I wonder what she’s up to. She and I have never had that close of a relationship, although I’ve always wanted one. But she’s always stood behind Daddy, whatever he wants or says. I don’t know whether to be happy about her being here or worried. I pick up the cup of tea and take a sip. That actually tastes really good and the warm feeling of the liquid flowing through me.

  She looks at my dresser, stands and walks over, picking up the picture of me and Sebastian. It was taken on the beach. I think I was about five and Bast was seven. We always had such a great time when they would take us there.

  “This is one of my favorite pictures of you and Sebastian.” She traces over Bast’s image with her finger, like she could feel him. “You’re too young to know what it’s like to lose a child and I hope that you never know this feeling, this loss.” She turns to me, still holding the picture and I can see the glimmer of tears in her eyes. “I know you feel the loss of losing a brother, that’s equally as hard but bringing a child into the world, nurturing them, teaching them, watching them grow into adulthood and then to be taken away is the hardest thing I think a mother can bear.” She wipes away a fallen tear, sets the picture back down, and turns to me with a sad smile. I watch her walk over and sit down next to me, folding her hands on her lap. I take a sip of my tea and set the cup back down on the tray. “I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you like I should.” My head snaps to her. “It’s no excuse, really, but with your father and my upbringing, there wasn’t much family closeness. It was more support the man of the house, his decisions, his actions. I should have been there for you regardless.” She looks down at her hands. “I’ve made so many mistakes. I….”