They both slouch farther into the sofa, saying nothing for a while.
“I must say, you do look radiant. I’m happy for you both.”
I snap my head up to Tom with a smile. “Nice save there. Unfortunately, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re still a prick.”
They both laugh as Jake enters the room again. He has a very serious expression on his face. I can tell he is gauging my reaction. It must have been because I was smiling up at him. He’s probably wondering why I’m suddenly so composed. I really don’t want this arsehole to get to me. I’m so tired of being the victim, and I certainly don’t want to be any part of this sick fuck’s game anymore.
As Jake smiles in return, he takes a seat beside me and holds my hand. I can see Michael and Tom watching our every move. I bet they love this.
“I’ve managed to sort out some protection for the evening, so the house is watched. I doubt very much he will do anything if their presence is known.”
I look longingly into Jake’s eyes. I know he will protect me and keep me safe. Just being next to him makes me feel as if I’m wrapped up in the finest, softest, cotton wool known to man.
“I’m not letting you out of my sight from now on.” His piercing green-eyed gaze is back on me, and I suddenly realize how embarrassing this little encounter must have been for Michael and Tom.
I grab Jake’s hand. “Listen, I know I seem to be the pawn in whatever little game this sadistic prick wants to play, and I realize I have to watch my back everywhere I go, but I can’t be watched twenty-four seven, Jake. I can’t ask that of you. You have a job to do and a life to live. You can’t be with me every second of every day.”
“I can’t? Just watch me,” Jake says defiantly. “I’m not giving that sick fucker the time of day. He’s made it personal, and I refuse to give him the satisfaction of thinking he can just take whatever he wants, whenever he wants. He will have to get past me first.”
I feel like laughing and calling him a caveman, but I manage to stop myself. For one thing, it doesn’t feel like the right time to joke about it. But more importantly, I know he’s acting out of a genuine concern for my welfare, which he takes very seriously. I certainly won’t argue with him about that.
Looking back over at Michael and Tom, I’m amused by their expressions. They seem to be enjoying a good game of Jake-and-Ana table tennis. But then, as this whole situation begins to sink in, I start to feel exhausted. All I want now is to go to bed where I can have Jake’s arms wrapped around me all day and all night. I’m feeling overwhelmed by it all. It doesn’t help that I can sense every single pair of eyes on me. It’s making me feel more than a little uncomfortable. So many men and women have been in and out of the house, and I just want them to all go away. I know why they’re staring at me. It’s the same reason all the men like to sneak a peek at the rape victims in the interview rooms. They want to see what all the fuss is about. It’s sick, but unfortunately true. When a woman is raped, they all basically want to see if she’s worth raping. It’s the disgusting mentality of most of them, and I know they’re doing the exact same thing with me now. In the end, I bury my head in my hands in a futile attempt to escape.
I just want this to all go away.
Sensing my frustration, Jake pulls at one of my arms. “Look, maybe it would be best for you to go to my room until this is all over. I’ll take you up and come back down to hurry things along. This way, you can get some breathing space, okay?”
I nod my agreement, and Jake excuses himself for a moment to fetch something from the kitchen. He returns with the sandwiches he’d made earlier. He certainly isn’t going to forget about my eating. I have to smile at that.
He gestures for me to follow, then I turn to Michael and Tom. “Well, I guess I will see you two soon.” They both get up at the same time and offer me a hug. They try to reassure me that everything will be okay, and I’m grateful for that. Knowing that they have my back makes a single tear escape my eye. I watch the concern for my welfare in Michael’s face, but I turn to follow Jake up the stairs. I think I will lose it for sure if I stay any longer.
As we get to Jake’s room, I look at the sandwiches in his hand. I just can’t think about food at the moment. I feel as sick as a dog after finding out that a sadistic killer seems to have an obsession with me. I smile, thinking of that odd expression. Do dogs feel sick all the time?
Once inside, Jake makes sure I’m sitting on the bed, shutting out any prying eyes. “You must eat, Ana.”
There it is again, just like clockwork. “Please, I can’t eat right now. This shock needs to sink in a bit first before I can eat. The whole thing is making me feel sick. I can’t even look at food right now, let alone contemplate placing it anywhere near my mouth. Please just leave it there for a moment. I promise I will eat it later, just not now, okay?”
He smiles knowingly. “Am I being overbearing? Sorry. I’m not sure how to cope with this. Instead, I just deal with it the best way I know how and that is to try and control everything around me. It’s all I know.”
He places the sandwiches by the bedside and moves closer to me. Despite the gravity of the situation, I’m immediately pulled in by Jake’s magnetism—and for now, it’s all I can think about. As he faces me, his hand comes up to touch my face. With one finger, he gently trails down from the top of my head, down past my cheek, and under my chin. I shiver at his touch, making Jake laugh. “Are you cold, or does my touch affect you that much?” He cups my face, and I lean my head into his touch. With one hand, I gently trail my fingers down from the top of his arm, right down to his hand. He seems to have the same shivering effect that I do.
“Maybe we are both feeling cold in here?” I let out a giggle, and a contented sigh escapes me.
“I think we both know the answer to that question, don’t we?”
Pulling me towards him, he gently kisses the top of my head. This is the most tender moment I have ever experienced. In the ugliness we are embroiled in, this is the beauty that could not be denied or tainted. No one, not even the monster out there, can take this away from us.
Moving my hands up to cup his face, I look deep into those eyes. My heart’s pounding, and my eyes water from the enormity of this day. A single tear falls, and Jake takes his thumb, gently wiping it away from my face.
In that moment, there is just him and I as I race to find his lips. His warm, enticing, sweet lips that I have laid claim to. At first we’re gentle, but soon our breathing picks up, and the kissing becomes more frantic. Our tongues are everywhere, lapping up as much as we can of each other. Our hands grab at every part of each other’s bodies as if we can’t seem to get close enough.
It can never be enough.
My body and soul are his.
Wanting this not to end, I climb on top of him and wrap my legs around his waist. I find a fistful of hair that I lace between my fingers as I tug him deeper into our kiss. The tiger in me wants to be let out. With his hair in my hands, I pull him closer towards me, and flex my hips into his hardened cock. He growls at me and scratches my back with both hands. I let go of his mouth and pull my head back in ecstasy as I gasp out in sweet surrender. My pussy pulses with delicious fire, wanting and yearning to feel him inside me again.