Blind Love (Sulfur Heights Series)

by Brannon, M. S.

  “Why do y’all have the same last name?”

  “It’s another way my mother cut the balls off my dad. Apparently, back in her day, abortions weren’t a pursuable option because, if they were, I’m sure she would have gotten one. Out of spite, my mother gave us her last name, which as you know, is the same as Reggie’s father’s last name.”

  She did a lot to bring my father down and I truly believe this is why he was the way he was, absent and strung out. He really loved her and she wouldn’t allow it. This was another reason I hated my mother. She took the only parent who did love us and pushed him away.

  “Anyway, she spent the rest of her life taking her anger over everything out on me and Jeremy. I was ten-years-old when she died, but I knew full well that I hated her before that. She treated Reggie like he was gold and gushed over him all the time.”

  “Did that make you hate Reggie?” She moves her hand up to my cheek, tilting her chin up, getting her face so close to mine. My heart accelerates from her touch. A touch I’ve craved, but until this very moment, didn’t even realize how much.

  “Not at all. He was the only reason any of us lived. She didn’t care for us; Reggie did. He’s spent his life raising all of us and there is no way I could hate Reggie. The three of us would be dead if it wasn’t for him. I hate to think where Drake would be if Reggie hadn’t begged my mother to take him.” I roll to my back, overcome with the emotions Delilah has stirred inside side of me. I feel like I’ve been put into a blender and the stone wall around my true, inner self is crumbling bit by bit.

  “Because my mother never loved me, for a long time I believed I wasn’t worth loving. That I was a fuck up. But once she died, every kind feeling I may have had for her died, too. She killed a part of me I never thought I would ever get back… until…”

  She’s still lying incredibly close to me. Her warm breath tickles my neck when she whispers, “Until, what?”

  I cup her chin between my fingers and gently guide her head up. Our eyes meet and I reply, “Until I met you. You make me want to be better. For the first time in years, I actually want to try to be a better person, a better man.”

  Before I know what’s happening, Delilah rolls on top of me. She is flat on my chest, her lips inches away from my face while I look into her eyes. I’m confused by her actions, but mesmerized by the glint inside of them. “You’ve always been a good man, Jake, and that’s why I love you,” she whispers to me and then she smashes her lips to mine. They’re sweet and soft and my body cannot get enough.

  It takes no time for my brain to register what’s happening and for my lips to deepen the kiss, tasting the sweetness and purity she possesses. We explore, tango and devour each other’s mouths as she presses her body firmly into mine, showing me how much she wants me, how much she loves me.

  I run my hands up her back, inching them underneath her tank top to feel her warm skin. It’s exactly how I’ve imagined; so soft and flawless. When Delilah breaks our kiss, there is a look of desire, confusion and pain in her eyes. I try so hard to get myself under control, knowing this is something she’s never done before. I don’t expect her to do this right now.

  I’m shocked and surprised as she yanks her shirt over her head, tossing it to the floor. Next, she reaches for her bra, unfastening it and freeing her breasts. All of my chivalry is gone and the savage beast that’s been dormant since before Vegas unleashes. I sit up, cupping her full, firm tits in my hand and squeeze. I take them into my mouth and allow the onslaught of lust and desire to feed my need to be with her.

  Two years’ worth of craving has been building to this moment and I’m ready to take her. I’m ready to make her mine, in body and soul. I will possess her just as she’s possessed me.

  Delilah

  Hearing Jake’s sad story erupts a feeling in me that’s never been present. I can’t think of anything else.I want more—need more—than him in this moment; this is the way we can take away each other’s pain. By giving in to the building emotions, we’re exploring feelings we’ve never felt before as we temporarily erase all of our pain. Then, when the night turns into day, we can say goodbye to the feelings as fast as we’ve welcomed them in.

  I know I can’t sacrifice my heart to have Jake in my life. I can’t live the rest of my life like Drake—hollow and broken—but I will give my heart this part of him. I will give myself to him fully before I have to let him go. He deserves all of me, and tonight—only for tonight—I will give that to him. I will give that to myself.

  I refuse to hold the words in for a single second longer. I finally admit to myself and to Jake what my heart truly feels. My mind will make decisions for me in the morning, yet tonight, I’m leaving it all up to my heart.

  Jake’s admission to how his mother has treated him, and with the building pain for my best friend, I can’t stop myself. I have to kiss him. Jake is taken by surprise, but doesn’t hold back; he matches me kiss for kiss. And in this very moment, I know I’m in trouble.

  A jolt of electricity ripples and pulses to the deepest part of my body. The part unexplored by anyone. The intensity is irresistible and aching.

  I can feel what my body does to him as his hardness grows and settles between my legs. Only the thin fabric of his boxers and my pajamas separate us. The urge to rub myself on him is overwhelming, but I focus on his lips and what they’re doing to my body.

  I ache to feel his skin, so acting on a whim, I pull my shirt over my head and unhook my bra. Modesty and manners forgotten—something only Jake Evans can do to me. At that point, I watch his eyes transform from a tender, hurt man into a carnal, raw beast.

  “Fuck,” he growls as he grabs my breasts in his hands and invites them into his mouth. His tongue and teeth are teasing my nipples, making them rock hard and sensitive.

  Heat.

  God, there’s so much heat building inside of me. I release a noise I’ve had no idea I could make as he sucks on my breasts. It’s intense, powerful and slightly painful when Jake consumes my nipples and squeezes my breasts.

  I can’t stop the building. I don’t want it to stop, but I’m terrified of what will happen once it evaporates. My body begins to tingle and quiver, which only urges him to keep suckling my nipple, not allowing me out of his grasp.

  I become light headed and begin to float with delightful pain. Suddenly, the world as I know it erupts. Stars and euphoric bliss succumb me, leaving me detached from my reality as all the painful feelings I’ve been holding onto slowly wither away.

  Jake

  I’m no longer the person I used to be.

  The moment Delilah’s lips connected with mine I knew instantly those were the only lips I wanted to feel against mine, and when she removed her shirt and came onto my lap, it completely undid my world. I could feel her trembling with pleasure. I could also feel how soaking wet she became the moment I put her perfect nipple in my mouth and it practically killed me where I sat.

  When she starts to come down from her high, my gentler side takes over and I roll her over to her back, settling myself on top of her and place my lips to hers. They are taking me in.

  Between her panting breaths, she whispers, “Please, Jake. Take it all away. I can’t leave without having all of you. Just… take it all away.”

  My lips meet with hers again and I kiss her like she deserves to be kissed. With each caress of my tongue and connection of my lips, I slowly meld myself to her. I will help her forget how painful the last few days have been. As long as I’m living, I will never allow her to feel pain like that again, and if she does, I will hold her in my arms and take it all away.

  I break our kiss and move my lips down her neck and throat, tasting the sweetness of her skin as I smell the lavender of her soap.

  It’s perfect.

  It’s Delilah.

  She moves her hands up my back and clings on to my shoulders, holding me firm to her tight, small body.

  “Jake, please,” she pleads.

  “It doesn’t have
to be now. This is new to you—new to both of us. I can wait. You know I’ll wait for you, sweetheart.” I don’t want her to feel pressured to do anything she’s not ready for. I don’t want her to think this is all I want from her.

  She grabs my face between her hands. The look of desire and seriousness covers the blue in her eyes and she begs, “You’re the one I want. From the moment I met you two years ago, this is all I’ve ever wanted, to be close to you. Give me this, please.”

  It’s all she needs to say. I crash my lips back onto hers and run my hands down her body. It’s breathtaking. Like I knew it would be. I slowly move my hand down to her shorts as I keep my lips pressed against hers. Kissing was never my thing, but when it’s with the woman you love, it’s more addicting than sex itself. The connection is binding and forever, and in this moment, I’m glad I’ve never really kissed anyone. This moment is only hers—only ours.

  My lips ache to explore her body. I move them down past her collar bone, up over the hills of her breasts and down to her flat, firm stomach. I inch my fingers inside the waist band of her shorts and guide them down her legs only to discover she’s not wearing panties. Fuck!

  I take a moment to look at Delilah lying on my bed and the sight of her makes me speechless. Her naked body is a work of art. The shape of her body is exactly what the perfect woman should be; from her full breasts, down to her small trim waist, and the curve of her hips—absolute perfection in every way. How the fuck did I get so lucky right now? No one has seen this side of Delilah and she trusts me fully to claim her—make her mine.

  She pulls me back on top of her and puts her hands inside my boxers and starts tugging at them. I am ready to feel her from the inside. I know it will be scarring and life changing, but in a good way. She’s already etched herself within in my soul, why not by body, too.

  I finish taking my boxers off and start to move from the bed to get a condom off the dresser when she grabs my wrist, stopping me from leaving. “No.” She pulls me on top of her.

  I’m pissed at myself again because I’ve probably gone too far, making her worried or scared. “It’s okay. We can stop.”

  “That’s… that’s not what I want. I want you… only you. I only want to feel you.” I’ve never had sex with a woman without protection, but all logic of what I’m doing is gone. She’s torn apart my self-control the moment we met. I will give her whatever she desires.

  I fall back on top of her and settle myself between her legs. I lean down and press my lips to hers and whisper, “It’s only ever been you, Delilah. No one has mattered as much in my life than you. I want it to always be you.”

  She meets my lips with a kiss and slowly I push the tip of my dick inside her tight opening, holding myself there, knowing it will hurt. She sucks in a breath and freezes.

  “Are you okay?” I whisper. She only nods and pushes her pelvis up to mine.

  I move myself in deeper until we are completely connected and she’s filled with me. She is warm, tight and inviting. The feel of skin against skin takes the place of every fuck I’ve ever had. Because this is what real sex is supposed to feel like, this is making love, and for the first time ever, I get it. I finally understand the connection so many men fall victim to because, right now, I’m right there with them, wounded forever by this woman’s body.

  With her guidance, she encourages me to move and I do. Slow and deep, I push myself into her small body, igniting the fire in my groin. She feels so good, better than I’ve ever felt before. Delilah has been the missing piece to my dismantled puzzle. We fit perfectly inside each other.

  I move slowly, letting the beats of her heart set the rhythm of each and every movement. Small whimpers and moans escape her lips, encouraging me to keep moving in time with her heart. Then she starts to loosen up—to really move. In Vegas, I got a small glimpse of what those hips could do, but now, with her body connected to mine, Vegas is inconsequential. Each movement from her pelvis is making my body feel alive and overcome with pleasure.

  Keeping my lips connected with hers, I run my hand down her side, over the apple of her ass and then lift her leg higher on my hip before hooking it over my shoulder. I need to get deeper inside of her. She moans out loud and meets me thrust for thrust.

  The intensity building in my balls is coming to the end, and at any moment, I’m going to explode. I start pumping fast, moving in and out of her. The sweat saturates our bodies as we move hard and fast, racing to the finish line together. Once the trembling starts, Delilah practically screams my name as her back arches off the bed while she shivers and shakes from her orgasm. My body is unable to hold off any longer and I let myself go, filling up her body with my release. Then I collapse on top of her, kissing the sweat from her face and brow, weak and high from this life altering experience.

  The last few days have been the most challenging days of my life, but in this moment, I know everything we’ve been through has been worth every second of agony. Everything happens for a reason. In my fucked up head, I can’t help but think the reason why we are here together, making love in my bed with the best person I know, is because Presley knew this is where we needed to be and her death has been the only way we would’ve gotten there.

  Delilah

  I feel different. Like many times before, I let the other version of Delilah consume my reality so I can do everything I’ve ever dreamed about. From the moment I’ve laid eyes on Jake Evans, I have been pulled in by his intensity and wonder. Now I know where that feeling comes from. Reality hits me when I realize this is something I’ve always wanted to do with him from day one, however my mind has never allowed myself to move past the kiss in Las Vegas. Every single time I would start to think about Jake in a way other than friends, I shut it down, forcing myself to think about Emerson.

  What hurts now isn’t my body; it’s my heart. I have to turn off the newly discovered feeling in order to transform back into the Delilah everyone expects. The Delilah whose future has been molded for her. The Delilah I’ve been raised to be.

  Earlier, when Jake was putting Mia to bed, I took the opportunity to quickly pack my suitcase and haul it out to my car, only leaving my pajamas inside the house. It has never been my intention to go this far with Jake, yet by allowing my heart to make every decision tonight, I have given into the feelings I’ve so carefully suppressed and have felt what I’ve been missing from life.

  Now, lying in Jake’s bed, wrapped in his tattooed arms, my world has been shaken to its core due to the fact that I need to leave. I know my mother’s right; she’s always right. I did make a promise to Emerson and I do care for him, but I will never care for him like this; with all my body, soul and desire. Jake owns that part of me and he always will.

  Today, when I watched Drake, the experience was eye opening as he poured out his broken heart to Presley. I love the entire Evans family, but I cannot live here and get caught up in the evilness that lives around every corner.

  Sulfur Heights knew Presley was a tortured soul and without hesitation it sucked her in, taking her to the darkest days of her life. In the form of Carter Brown, Sulfur Heights saw how close she was to releasing her demons then took her life away permanently. I cannot allow that to happen to me or Jake. I don’t want to sit in a funeral home and morn the love of my life because he made the wrong choices.

  Jake is dangerous and lives up to the persona. He isn’t afraid to fight and will take anyone on, but one of these days, it will be the wrong person. It could be a man like Carter, and then he will be dead. I know I won’t be able to handle that. My heart yearns to be with him, however my mind knows the risk I would be taking, on top of the obligations I have with my family. There’s no way I can ever be in a relationship with a man like Jake Evans. It just wouldn’t work. Someone would break.

  I would break.

  Jake is holding me tightly in his arms, his breathing deep and even. I take the opportunity to watch him sleep—to study him. This is Jake at peace. The bad boy exterior is gone and all
that remains is a man stripped of love by the one person who was supposed to love him unconditionally from the time he was born.

  It breaks my heart that that’s all he’s ever wanted out of life. To simply be loved.

  I replay the first day I went to the shelter, and Maggie’s words that she spoke to me—burned into my brain. “All these kids really want is someone to love them. It’s as simple as that. But in South Sulfur Heights, it’s as rare as the Hope Diamond.” Jake is one of those damaged kids. He’s only wanted love and once he realized it would never happen, he transformed to the man he is today. Cold and calloused, he decided to build a wall around himself, guarding his heart from ever feeling love.

  Love.

  It’s a four letter word that holds so much weight against the rational decisions I could make. Does Jake feel love for me? He’s let down his guard a little since we’ve declared our friendship, yet I don’t know if he will ever fully allow himself to feel love and give it in return. The relationship he has with his family is different because it’s his family, but for him to love someone on the outside of that may be impossible. I know Jake cares for me, but I question if it’s as deeply as I care for him. I don’t know if he really does. He’s never said.

  He’s burrowed deep inside my heart, tattooing himself there and now I need to release myself from him. I carefully move his arm from my waist and slink over to the side of the bed. His breathing lulls, but it soon deepens, going back into his hibernation-like sleep. As quickly and quietly as possible, I pull my clothes back on, looking around the room for any forgotten items.

  Then, my purse in hand, I walk over to Jake. The faint light from the street light shines in the only small window in his room. I take a moment to commit him to memory, knowing I will never be here again.