The Key

by Penny Reid

  “The funny thing is- I just had the key made.” Ric laughed loudly at his joke, his eyes tearing up with humor.

  Jake’s mouth dropped open in shock as his gaze shifted from the kitchen to the expensive suit in front of him, “You- you what?”

  Ric shook his head and answered though his merriment, “Oh yes.”

  Pausing to wipe his eyes, he looked towards the kitchen to make sure Anna was still occupied. Leaning forward he motioned for Jake to do the same.

  “I know a very talented locksmith who was able to figure it out- he just made a skeleton key- it appears to be antique so she’ll never know the difference.” Looking smug and self-satisfied, Ric leaned back into the couch- picking up his whiskey sour on the way.

  Jake could only stare at him; his mind spinning. This guy was an asshole. Jake’s hand immediately went to the key in his own pocket and his eyes sought out the chest situated at the end of the wall. He stood up abruptly and crossed to the chest; kneeling in front of it, he took out his key and studied it.

  Ric turned around in the couch to watch Jake, “What’s that you have there?”

  Jake- ignoring the asshole- put the key into the lock and held his breath. What if it doesn’t fit? …..what if it does? He swallowed hard and glared at the lock- wanting to know but somehow too scared to try.

  Anna appeared at the entrance to her kitchen, gulping a glass of chocolate milk. Lowering it from her face she smacked her lips together and sighed. Jake, panicking, shoved the key back into his pocket and stood up abruptly. His hands were shaking.

  Her brow scrunched and her face fell as she watched him close up- his features and eyes hardening as he gazed at her.

  Squinting her eyes she set the glass down on her kitchen table, “No…” she shook her head, “no, no, no, no, no.”

  He didn’t look away. He just stared at her impassively. Ric, watching the exchange with little interest, focused his attention back to his drink. Anna crossed to Ric in three quick steps, taking the whiskey sour out of his hand and shoving him toward the door, “Um- I’ll call you later- ok? Bye.”

  Ric barely had time enough to stutter out a, “But… what?” before the door was closed in his face.

  She spun around and charged at Jake- his face still clothed in a mask of indifference, “No you don’t! Not again!” she shook her head furiously at him demanding that he not close off.

  He fingered the key in his pocket and walked around her to the coat closet. She followed him with her eyes, hurt and anxiety playing clearly over her features.

  “But… why? What did I do?” she rushed after him, holding her hands out as though she surrendered. He avoided her glare and pulled on his leather jacket, trying to even his labored breathing. He opened her door and disappeared down the stairs.

  He could hear her small feet running to keep up with him and swore under his breath. He was too late, he had to accept it, he had to move on.

  He walked feverishly, taking six blocks rapidly. When he perceived her jogging to catch up he quickened his pace over the bridge, the heat of anger and disappointment rising in his chest.

  “I’m sorry- ok?” he heard her yell from behind him; she was gasping for air and much closer than he expected.

  He stopped in his tracks, letting out a slow breath.

  She walked to him- reaching her hand out to touch his back, “I am so sorry about everything- I know you must have been upset with me when you left…” he turned to see her wipe a tear away from the corner of her eye before it spilled over her cheek. “But you don’t have to worry about any of that now- I have Ric now and-”

  Shaking his head he started walking away again, cutting her off mid sentence. The next thing he knew he had been shoved from behind- “What are you running away from?” her voice shaking with fury; her small frame not powerful enough to knock him off his feet. Jake stumbled a few feet forward- gaining his balance.

  Suddenly, he spun around and charged to her. She nearly tripped on her own feet as she instinctively took two steps back. Jake reached out and grabbed her arms just above the elbows to steady her.

  “I’m not running away.” He ground out, their faces mere inches apart. Her large, sad brown eyes beseeched him- begged him to stop hurting her. He released his grip on her arms and took a step backwards- sighing, defeated, “I’m letting go…”

  She didn’t bother to wipe away the flow of tears- glaring at him; anger and desperation rolling off of her in waves. He shoved his hands in his pockets and turned to leave- but stopped when his hand came in contact with a heavy metal key.

  Withdrawing it from his pocket he stared at the brass antiquity in his hand and let out a loud breath. Twisting back to her he took her hand in his- placing the key in her palm and closing her fingers over it. The entire time her gaze did not waver from his face- betrayal and resentment clouding her eyes.

  Reaching his hand up, he cupped her face and smoothed away new tears with his thumb. She instinctively leaned her face into his hand and closed her eyes, letting out a shaky sigh.

  “Don’t go.” She pleaded, raising her free hand to grab his wrist.

  He swallowed hard, memorizing a face he already knew by heart, “I have to.”

  She opened her eyes and all he discerned was sorrow, “Why?” the word was so soft he wasn’t sure she had said anything.

  “Because I love you, Anna.”

  Her eyes dropped to his mouth as she stilled her quivering chin by biting her lower lip, drawing it into her mouth to soothe it- her pink tongue just visible. She lifted her gaze back to his, “I love you, too.”

  He sighed- the pain in his chest was becoming unbearable; his eyes were stinging and his breath was ragged. He shook his head, bringing his other hand to her cheek, “No, not the way I want… the way I need.”

  Her brow creased with confusion but before she could speak he pressed his lips to hers- her mouth soft and he kissed the worried area on her bottom lip. He sensed she was surprised at first, but reacted quickly, leaning into him- closing the distance between them- pressing her body to his. Jake moved a hand from her face, slipping his arm around her waist and pulling her even closer as his tongue skimmed the inside of her slightly parted lips.

  He was confused and elated at the same time- she responded to his touch as though she had been waiting for it. His mind- and logic- lost the battle and his body and heart took over- allowing himself this one moment to believe she wanted him as badly as he wanted her.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on her tiptoes, offering her mouth more fully. Growling, he crushed her to him- his tongue now caressing hers- warm and soft and intoxicating. Anna moaned as she shifted restlessly against him- trying to draw him even closer. His fingers slipped under the fabric of her silk shirt, brushed the supple flesh of her stomach.

  A car brought him back to their senses- honking its horn. Jake took a hurried step back- breaking physical contact with her; his breathing was labored and he searched her expression for any trace of repentance or displeasure.

  What he found was desire, clear as the moon in the sky. Her eyes raked over his face; she licked her lips as though trying to taste him there. Subtly, as though stalking prey, she inched toward him- her eyes hypnotizing him; the hazel pools making his head swim.

  Gathering some of his wits, he held out his hand for her to stop, “No…” he shook his head.

  He turned away; dragging his hand through his hair, “Damn it.”

  She said, “You gave me a key.”

  He twisted toward her, lost in his own thoughts, and nodded his head.

  She took a daring step forward, “And you said you love me.”

  The breath caught in his chest as he nodded his head again- trying not to remember how amazing she felt in his hands, on his mouth.

  “Jake…” her eyes holding his, not allowing him to look away, “I love you too.”

  He shook his head, his stomach twisting in knots. “Not the way-” he began to repeat- but wasn�
�t so certain- after their shared kiss- that he was right.

  She cut him off, “What way is that?” bringing her finger to his chest and drawing a line from his collarbone to his navel.

  His head was fuzzy- her doe eyes were making him dizzy; the desire and longing he saw there echoed his own and it nearly knocked him over. Before he could catch himself, he blurted out;

  “I’m in love with you, Anna.” He swallowed the end of her name, the pain in his chest making it difficult to speak.

  Her lips parted slightly and her eyes danced- lined with silver moonlight. She made a fist, grabbing the lapel of his leather jacket, she wore a whisper of a smile, “I’ve been in love with you for as long as I can remember…” she whispered- brushing a soft kiss over his lips.

  His brow creased and he blinked several times- dubious of reality. Was he standing on the bridge? Was it day or night? Did Anna Hamilton- his Anna- just say she was in love with him?

  He stuttered and stumbled, not able to form coherent thoughts. It all came out in a jumbled mess: “But… I thought… with the key- Ric found- and you- and he- married or engaged- when did you…?”

  Her small smile growing into a much larger one, she giggled at his speechlessness and then did something completely unexpected: she threw his key into over the bridge into the water.

  He watched it glint off the moon before disappearing into the murky waters below. When he finally gained his voice, looking at her beaming face incredulously, “Why did you do that?”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed a slow, seductive kiss to his lips- lavishing love on his mouth. He responded instantly- his lips and body- encompassing her in his large embrace. When she pulled back she was still smiling- happily, contented.

  He swallowed and tried to piece together his thoughts: bridge, key, water, confusion… Finally somewhat convinced he could complete an entire sentence, he tiled his head to the side so he could watch her without moving away, “Why did you throw my key in the river, Anna?”

  She raised her eyebrow and kissed his chin, “Tell me you love me again.” She pleaded blissfully. His heart swelled in his chest with joy, a grin of atomic proportions graced his features.

  “First you have to tell me why you tossed the key.”

  She sighed and looked away guiltily. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she looked over his shoulder, avoiding his gaze.

  “Anna…” he prodded; he felt like he had just solved all the mysteries of the universe… except one.

  “Ok, ok…” she surrendered; standing on her tiptoes she pressed her lips to his neck just below his ear. Between kisses, “First- I know the key Ric gave me was a fake.” She dug her fingers into the short hair in his scalp, “You know how you always said I should break it open with a crow bar?”

  He closed his eyes and leaned against the rail of the bridge- uncertain his feet would hold his weight, “Uh huh…”

  “Well, I learned how to pick a lock… so I’ve opened the chest.”

  He straightened and tugged her away, looking into her eyes, “When was this?”

  She smiled, her eyebrows rising in an attempt at innocence, “When I was fourteen-”

  He raised an eyebrow, “Fourteen!” his eyes wide with shock and mystification. She nodded her head and moved to kiss his neck again. Gaining his voice, he asked, “But, then why all the Saturdays looking for the key?”

  She laughed deviously against his neck, biting the lobe of his ear; whispering, “Because I wanted to be with you…”

  He swallowed hard as he involuntarily shivered, “And-” trying to clear his mind from the fabulous cobwebs she was weaving, “and the keys?”

  She leaned back and took his face in her hands a though to make sure he was looking at her, cocking her head to the side, “Jake… you are the key- you always have been…” she leaned forward and whispered before she captured his mouth for their third kiss, “… and you always will be.”

  -The End-

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  About the Author

  Penny Reid is a part time author of romantic fiction (mostly short stories). When she is not immersed in penning romantic fiction she works full time in the biotech industry as a researcher. She's also a full time mom to two diminutive adults (boy-5 and girl-3), wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought hijacker.

  Please feel free to drop her a line. She'd be happy to hijack your thoughts!

  Table of Contents

  ~Part 1~ The Chest

  ~Part 2~ The Key

  ~Part 3~ The Lock