Taken

by Mia Ford

  “You look awful. Take that sweater off right now. Something in these bags will fit you better than that old thing,” Laura said and she started rifling through the bags. Finally, after being forced to try on clothes and model them for a cheering audience (Laura and Jeff), Suzie found a few outfits that would be comfortable for at home and some dressier outfits. Laura was smaller than Suzie so the clothing was tight, giving her ample cleavage.

  Jared arrived shortly before supper and he hugged Suzie in relief. “I am never leaving you alone again. You poor thing. Are you alright?”

  “Yeah, I am fine,” Suzie replied.

  “Thank you Jeff for being here. I don’t know what I would have done without you,” Jared continued. “You took care of what is most important to me.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Jeff said quickly. “Forget it.”

  Jeff was quiet throughout supper and snapped at Jared when he was asked to relate the details from his perspective. Jared and Jeff exchanged words until Laura interrupted with a joke. Jeff muttered an apology and an excuse that he was tired and left the room. After supper Laura left, making Suzie promise they would go shopping on the weekend. Suzie eagerly agreed since she had nothing left, she also realized she needed to find somewhere to live. As she said goodbye to Laura, Suzie heard loud voices behind her. Jared and Jeff were arguing again and Jeff was aggressive. Not knowing what else to do, she ignored them and walked into the bedroom. Her head was spinning again as she remembered her promise to herself. The other lie became bigger than she had planned and she did not know what to do. Suzie showered and when she realized she could not stand both brothers in the same room, she went to bed.

  Jared came in and crawled into bed with her. He had obviously had a few drinks. Wrapping his arms around her he whispered how much he loved having her and his brother in his life and then spoke of a party he planned on having on the weekend. “To celebrate you moving in with me,” he said. Stiffening, she thought again of the lie. Now that it was out of her system maybe she could move on. Could she?

  The next morning as Jared was showering and getting ready for work, Jeff cornered her in the kitchen. Immediately their lips found each other and the sparks of electricity flew. Jeff pulled away even as Suzie wanted more. Then he looked at her with determination and said, “I have to tell him.”

  “Are you ready? We have to go,” Jared said impatiently.

  “I am not going,” Suzie replied, she was confused and overwhelmed and could not deal with work right now especially with Jared driving. “I am still feeling off.”

  “Then I am staying home too,” Jared said, insisting on caring for her.

  “No, please,” Suzie protested but to no avail. Jared called work and told them neither would be in that day. “There, now we can have the day together.”

  Jeff left for work without saying a word. Jared and Suzie spent the day together, watching old movies and cuddling in bed, in between naps. It was not making Suzie feel better. She did not know what she wanted. Well, she had an idea about what she wanted but she had not accepted it yet. She wanted Jared that was for sure. He was her rock and he took care of her. They worked together and talked and shared so much. Then there was Jeff. Dark, forceful Jeff who had the power to get her to do anything. Just thinking about him made Suzie emit a soft moan.

  “You okay?” Jared asked, kissing the top of her head and then stretching.

  “No,” Suzie said moving away from Jared. “I am not comfortable. I want to go home.”

  “This is your home now,” Jared said.

  “Thanks. There is just a lot going on right now. It might take me a while,” Suzie sighed.

  “Take all the time you need,” Jared said and then started the next movie and held her tight.

  Later in the afternoon the phone rang. It was work and Jared got up and talked quietly in the kitchen. Coming back into the room, his face was solemn.

  “I have to go into work for a few hours, do you want to come?” he asked her hopefully.

  "No I will be fine," she said.

  "Okay I will try to be quick. Call if you need anything and I will bring home supper." Jared tucked a blanket around her and got ready to go.

  "Thanks, I think I will have a nap. Hope it goes well," she said to him.

  "Bye, love you.”

  “Yeah, you too bye.”

  Jared closed the door and she squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath. Then she settled back and tried to quiet her mind. Dozing on and off, Susie felt locked at a stalemate.

  A while later her ears perked at the sound of the door opening. It was Jared home with supper she hoped. Nope it was Jeff. He looked at her and then looked away. Straight to the bathroom without a word, Jeff focused his full attention on everything except Suzie. She heard the shower run for a while. After it shut off, Jeff headed into the kitchen wrapped in a towel. Frozen in place Suzie listened to pots banging and water running in the kitchen. It was her turn to pretend to be watching TV.

  Why was he not getting dressed? Suzie wondered and felt herself flush. She was feeling antsy. This was not her house and she felt caged in at times. She did not know what to do. Jared wanted her to live with him but they were not ready for that. Well, if he found out about her lie he would want nothing to do with her. He could never find out and she could never do it again. Feeling frustrated she went into Jared’s room. This man loved her and he was sweet. She just couldn’t see living with him, not yet. But she had nowhere else to go. Jeff wasn’t the answer no matter how much her body desired him. Even still with walls separating them she could feel his presence and was drawn to him. She walked into the kitchen. Jeff was cooking something that smelled amazing. Her stomach growled. He looked up at her, still in a towel, bare chested and cooking and he gave her a look of aggression and arousal.

  “Hi,” she said.

  “Hey,” he replied and looked down at the stove; he adjusted the knobs and walked out of the room.

  Suzie let out the breath she was holding and slowly made her way over to the fridge. She opened it and poured a glass of juice. When she saw an open bottle of rye on the counter, she splashed some in. Taking a taste, she decided to add another splash. When she looked up, Jeff was in the doorway, still shirtless but now wearing jeans. Suzie froze in place staring at his chest, rye bottle still in hand.

  “What are you doing?” he asked as he walked over to his meal cooking on the stove. He mixed and added as she replied.

  “Oh. Can I please have some of your rye?” Suzie asked and then pressed her lips together.

  “Have whatever you want,” he replied, not looking up from his cooking.

  Suzie stood and watched him, unsure what to do or say. After setting the rye down, she leaned back against the counter and watched him cook. She loved watching him move, how his bulky muscled body moved so gracefully. As he cooked she was reminded of seeing him paint and her breathing deepened.

  “Is there something else you want?” he asked her, his dark eyes searching her face and body.

  “I don’t know,” she said quietly.

  Setting down his cooking tools he walked over to her. His eyes did not leave her eyes and seemed to pierce her. Slowly he pressed closer and closer into her until he bent down and pressed his lips to her, tasting her. She opened her mouth in a gasp and he pushed inside it with his tongue and lavished her with his hands. Then quickly he pulled away and turned around.

  “You might want to figure it out,” he said and he focused his attention again on the fragrant food he was preparing.

  “This isn’t…this is.” Suzie took a breath.

  “Taste this,” Jeff said and put a spoonful of something in her mouth. It was hot and flavorful and Suzie closed her eyes and moaned.

  “Mmm. What is that?” she asked.

  “Supper. Where’s Jared?” Jeff looked at her. She didn’t speak. “Don’t look at me like that when I say his name. He is my brother. My TWIN brother and this is his home, his kitchen, his woman.”

&nb
sp; He slammed down the spoon he was mixing and turned to her in anger. Breathing in long gasps he opened his mouth to speak multiple times but said nothing. Instead he shook his head.

  “That’s why he can’t know,” she said quietly.

  “I don’t keep secrets from Jared. Plus, you’re all wrong for him. This whole situation is getting out of hand,” Jeff growled.

  “So where does that leave us?” Suzie asked him, shuffling towards him slightly. The smell of him was drawing her in.

  He stepped closer to her, the air electrifying around them. He put his hands on her arms, his eyes on her chest; moving his gaze up her bare neck, to her lips, and resting on her eyes. Suzie struggled to touch him and he held her arms tighter, grunting as he held her with his body. A trembled sigh slipped past her lips and she froze.

  Pulling her closer he moved to her lips and spoke in a whisper, “I still want you.”

  She kissed him and he pulled back tauntingly, still holding her arms. Wriggling, she pressed against him with a moan and breathing her in, he kissed her deep and hard. Tasting his lips fully, she manipulated her trapped hands pressed between their two bodies. She worked at his belt and then touched him through his pants. His jeans stiffening at her touch, she gently rubbed him. With a growl, Jeff moved his hands to her waist, relaxing into her touch. Suddenly Suzie smelled burning and stopped. As she looked toward the smell, Jeff sprang over to the stove.

  “Shit. The rice.” He pulled the pot off the stove and opened the window. Then he looked at the clock, swore again and pulled out a new pot and new rice ingredients. Looking over at her he scowled. “You’re trouble. Jared and Laura are going to walk in and I’ll be like ‘Hey supper is not ready yet because I burned the rice. I wasn’t paying attention because Suzie’s hands were on my cock.’”

  “Hey.” Suzie wanted to be angry at his outburst but it turned her on and she knew she was in trouble.

  Jeff could see the lust in her eyes so he continued, this time teasingly. “Yeah, I will say ‘Thanks for coming Laura. You’re a good distraction from undressing my brother’s girlfriend with my eyes. Every time I look at her I want her naked and on top of me so at least I have something else to look at.’”

  Biting her lip she reached out and ran her hands down his naked chest. “You might want to put on a shirt before anyone gets here,” was all she managed to say.

  He moved closer and her hands lingered on his stomach. Then she moved them up his chest and touched his bristly face. She pulled him to her and kissed him hard pushing her chest into him. Growling, he grabbed her tightly. This time Suzie stopped him.

  “You need to get a shirt. I will make more rice.” Before he protested she pushed him out of the kitchen. When he returned, she was measuring out the rice and he wrapped his arms around her, cupping her breasts.

  “If I am near you, I am going to touch you,” he said as he kissed her neck from behind.

  Setting the timer for the rice she turned to face him. “We have to stay away from each other,” she said but did not move.

  “Okay that’s fine when this job is done and I leave here, but right now I want you. Are you going to get out of here or should I?” he asked her directly.

  “I will leave. I have to find somewhere else to live. I have to get away from you two.” She spoke softly and got right in his face, her lips grazing his. “Until then I will try to keep my hands off you.”

  When she didn’t move he put his hands on her and kissed her again. “The problem is,” he said, breathing deeply. “I want your hands on me. And if I tell Jared, then I get what I want.”

  “YOU will NOT tell him or I will never speak to you again.” She shuddered at the thought and punched his chest.

  “That is not fair,” Jeff said and he quietly backed away and went back to his cooking. She could tell he was angry and she didn’t know what to do.

  “Sorry” she said. And he looked at her for a long while. She stood there for another minute before leaving the room, retreating to regroup.

  When the knock came on the door a few minutes later, Suzie was oddly relieved it was Laura alone.

  “I thought you were coming with Jared,” Suzie said.

  “Change of plan. Jared got held up with something and I was ready to go. So I figured I would keep you company. I haven’t seen much of you lately so we can have some girl time, though I guess Jeff will be home soon.” Laura winked.

  “He is already here. He is making supper actually,” Suzie said, trying to keep her face neutral.

  It did not matter though because Laura was out of her seat mumbling something about getting those drinks and headed into the kitchen. Suzie took a moment to compose herself. What the heck was she doing here? She could hear Laura flirt with Jeff in the kitchen and she seethed with anger, forcing herself to stay in the living room and do nothing. While she sat frozen with uncertainty, Jared arrived home. Mechanically she got up and kissed him on the cheek. He asked her to take the food to the kitchen so she did. She had to step between Laura and Jeff to put the food in the fridge. As she closed the door Jeff squeezed her bum, she whirled around to give him a look but his eyes were on her chest. Then just as quickly he was back to serving up supper, he was not going to make this easy on her.

  “Why don’t you girls go set the table and open the wine and I will bring everything in when it’s ready.” Jeff smiled at them.

  Jared walked into the kitchen and slapped Jeff on the back. “This smells awesome Jeff, I have missed your cooking. And now we can bring take out for lunch tomorrow. Score!”

  “I know right. Now let’s go dine with those gorgeous women,” Jeff said.

  “We’re ready,” both girls said in unison.

  Jeff and Jared brought the food in and it was delicious. They all talked and ate and after the second glass of wine Suzie began to forget the weirdness. Then Jared kissed her neck. She looked at Jeff and he locked eyes with her. Laura was talking to him and put her hand on his thigh to get his attention. Suzie got frustrated and brushed Jared off standing up suddenly.

  “Excuse me,” she said and walked away from the table. She went to the bathroom to splash cold water on her face and get a grip. When she returned, they were done eating and she cleared the table off leaving them in their happy conversation. Jared came in and kissed her asking if she needed a hand. She declined and he commented that Laura and Jeff seem to be getting along well. Suzie snapped at Jared and then apologized. She told him she was just tired and not in a people mood.

  “You can go to my room if you need some time to yourself,” Jared said backing away and giving her some space.

  “No, it’s not just that. I can’t live here. I need my own space,” Suzie said more forcefully than she intended. Jared looked hurt.

  “You mean you don’t want to live with me?” Jared asked.

  Suzie didn’t answer right away and then said quietly, “No, I am sorry.”

  “Sorry, you do not have to be sorry. With the fire and everything you might feel pushed. It just felt right to me. I love you and want you near me,” Jared said with big round eyes.

  “I know,” Suzie said and then considered her words. “I just need some space.”

  “Well, what is that supposed to mean?” Jared asked, his voice rising.

  “Shh,” Suzie said.

  “You picked a hell of a time to talk about it with Laura and my brother in the other room.”

  “Well you don’t talk about anything; you just decide what is best for me without talking to me about it. We never discussed moving in together. Why are we rushing this?” Suzie said.

  Jared opened his mouth to speak when Laura entered and interrupted.

  “Sorry, Suzie can I talk to you a minute, walk me out,” Laura said and she linked arms with Suzie and pulled her away. “Bye Jared, bye Jeff,” she said on her way out.

  “Hey are you alright?” Laura asked Suzie when they had stepped outside. “What was that about?”

  “He decided I would live w
ith him, because of the fire,” Suzie started, aggressively. “I don’t want to live here. I want my own space.”

  “Okay, well tomorrow is Friday are you coming in to work?” she asked.

  “No,” Suzie replied.

  “Great. It is my Friday off. I will pick you up here in the morning and we will go apartment shopping. Maybe get in some clothes shopping as well. We need you to get feeling back to yourself,” Laura insisted.

  “Sorry,” Suzie said.

  “Don’t say sorry to me. I might think you are crazy but what do I know. Something is obviously bothering you and if it is as simple as having your own space, let’s fix that tomorrow,” Laura said kindly.

  “Thanks.” Suzie hugged Laura. “You are a good friend.”

  “No problem,” Laura said as she turned to go. “Let’s just get it all done in the day time because Jeff might want to get together tomorrow.”

  “Don’t hold out hope for might. Wait for one of the good guys who can commit to you,” Suzie said.

  “Kinda the opposite of what you are doing isn’t it? Laura asked then said, “See you tomorrow Suzie. You’ll be okay tonight?”

  “Yeah thanks, bye.” Suzie watched Laura for a moment feeling like a rotten friend. As she walked back inside she heard raised voices.

  “What do you know about it?” Jared shouted.

  “Of course. Jared knows everything. Get over yourself bro,” Jeff shouted back.

  Suzie ran into the room and shouted, “Stop it!” They both looked at her. “What are you doing?” she asked Jeff but Jared answered.

  “Nothing. Jeff thinks he has all the answers as usual, and is being a prick,” Jared said angrily.

  “Prick!” Jeff said. “You have no idea.” He stepped closer to his brother looking fierce.

  “Ooh, little brother Jeff is trying to scare me,” Jared mocked.

  Jeff’s eyes narrowed and he looked at Suzie and then back at Jared; he opened his mouth to speak. Suzie stepped between them and put a hand on each of their chests.