As I absorb his words, I finally manage to gather my composure. “My caveman. What on earth am I going to do with you?”
I should be mad as hell at him, but—somehow—I find the whole thing rather amusing. I smile, and he relaxes at my reaction. I think he also thought I was about to blow.
“Wow. Of all the things to expect, I didn’t expect that.”
I place my hand on his chest and look into his eyes. “Do you remember what you got me to confess a little while ago under the Jake torture chamber?” He laughs, and it’s a lovely sound.
“Yes, and it better stay that way. You’re mine now, and you know it. Don’t you?”
I frown at him. “Well, yes, but who do you belong to?”
He takes my hand and kisses it. “You have me, my beautiful lady. I am yours.” My knees tremble, but I’m smiling from ear to ear. “Well, I think we have been in the bath long enough. Time for bed. You stay here for a minute while I get out and clean this mess up. I don’t want you slipping and hurting yourself.”
The Adonis rises from the water, making me gasp. What a sight. I’m practically drooling over him. Could he be any hotter?
Not being able to help it this time, I smack his bum as he edges forward to get out. I feel so desperate to sink my teeth into it. His arse is so perky, and so there for the biting. Getting carried away by the moment, I shout, “Yeah, I did it!”
“Hey, what did I say about who smacks who around here?”
I giggle. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself. It was just too tempting not to.” He gets out carefully and wraps a towel around his hips. I pout at the loss of the sight of him.
“You’re not a child anymore. Stop pouting.” After his mocking, he disappears, carefully waddling so he doesn’t slip.
Sighing, I reach for the knob to turn off the jacuzzi and set about washing myself down. I grab the sponge and soap then start to wash myself all over.
“Fuck me! Now, that’s a sight to behold.”
I jump, making Jake laugh. On a shake of my head, I dip back in the water and rinse off the soap as Jake mops the floor. When he’s done, he comes over with a towel. I let the water drain and jump up, ready to leave the bath. Jake eases me out with his big, strong arms and wraps a towel around me.
“You wouldn’t believe what time it was if I told you.”
I stumble a bit, but I manage to regain myself as I look at the clock on the bedside in his room. It’s just after midnight.
“Jesus, we’ve been in the bath for two hours.” I can’t believe how much time passes with Jake around.
“Matthew will be back tomorrow.”
I look at him for a reaction. I’m not sure if he wants to talk about that considering circumstances have changed dramatically since Matthew left. I feel slightly awkward, but the fact that Jake’s brought this up can only mean one thing.
“I know. I guess this will have to be the last time I get to be in your bed for a while.”
He sags his shoulders in defeat—like I’ve confirmed what he’s already thinking. “I don’t think I can do that. It would drive me crazy knowing you’re just across the hall and I can’t be with you.”
I place my hand on his shoulder with a sigh. “I think for Matthew’s sake this is what we need to do, until we can figure something out, at least. I don’t want it to be uncomfortable with Matthew. We get on so well, and I don’t want anything to spoil that.”
He grabs my hand and kisses it. “I’m his father, but you’re the one behaving like the sensible adult. I think I may have to order you to sneak into my room every night. What do you think about that?”
I laugh and walk out of the bedroom. “Maybe you could convince me.”
Once out of the room, I turn around to give him a cheeky wink. Seeing it, he actually runs towards me, and before I know it, he is holding me to him. He growls in my ear, and it makes me breathless. What exactly is he doing to me that makes me want him so badly?
“I’m sure I can,” he whispers in my ear as he gently nibbles on my earlobe.
I shudder and melt into his arms as he laughs. He obviously loves the way he makes me feel. My body gives me away every time.
Finally, he lets me go and grabs some boxer shorts to put on. All I can do is stand there in a trance, watching him. I snap out of it once he climbs into bed and pats my side.
“Well, what are you waiting for?”
Biting my lip, I quickly walk to the bathroom and towel myself down. I place the towel on the rail and walk back in the room. I want him to have free access to me all night—especially if this is the last night we can freely be together.
I climb in as his appreciative eyes watch my every move. We get into a comfortable position, and soon we are spooning. “You smell so good. It’s intoxicating.”
I bring his hand up, and I nibble at his knuckles. “So do you, Jake. So do you.”
17
It’s that smell again. I want to vomit but, nothing comes up. I can’t move, and I can’t open my eyes to see.
Where am I?
In the distance, I can hear heavy breathing, so I try to open my eyes to see who it is. My only senses are my smell and my hearing, and both are working overtime. I try to scream, but nothing comes out.
What’s happening to me?
I make an attempt to move, but I’m suddenly pinned down. Oh, God, please no. Not again. Please not this again.
I feel his weight on top of me and his hardness pressed into my groin. I cry out. “No! Please don’t do this to me. Please don’t hurt me!”
A rough hand squeezes my breast and hear a growling noise from his whiskey-infested throat. I want to vomit.
Please, I don’t want this. I’d rather die.
His laughter fills the air, and my fear is heightened further. A hand moves to my mouth and another is tugging at my knickers. I try to wriggle, scream, or kick—anything to just get him off me.
“You know you want me to do this, Ana. Your body’s practically begging for it. Always has. Just accept me like the good little girl you are. You will love it when I fuck you.”
Screaming out, I start aimlessly hitting and kicking—doing everything I can just to get him off me. I’m so disorientated, I don’t know where I am, and all I can think is that Alan is here. I assume Alan’s come to get me. I can still smell the whiskey … and feel him on top of me.
“Ana, Ana, it’s okay. You’re here with me. Ana, it’s Jake, please stop screaming. You’re okay, you’re safe. No one is going to hurt you.”
My eyes fly open as I try to get my bearings. My breathing is harsh and erratic, and my body aches from all the fight in me. I need to focus on Jake’s voice. Nothing but Jake’s voice. I take deep breaths to try and calm down as the tears start to flow.
Oh, God, not again. Not that dream again. Always the same. When will he be gone and out of my head?
Placing his arms around me, I sob into Jake’s chest. I don’t want Jake seeing me like this, but the nightmare was all too real. Too frighteningly real. Twice in a row I have had this dream, and it’s all becoming too much to bear. Is it really Alan doing all of this? I feel it’s him, but I can never see his face. Is he so sick that he’s starting to kill girls who look like me?