Jake lay awake beside her, listening to her breathe and watching her sleep in a contented sprawl. Not only was she wrapped around his body, but also his heart. He was falling for her. He couldn’t help himself. She was everything he ever wanted in a woman. Confident but shy, brave but timid, fierce but submissive and demanding in the bedroom...he smiled at that thought. But he wasn’t sure how much of his sexuality he could share with her so soon. He didn’t want to frighten her. Then again, she wasn’t easily frightened...she came all the way to Syracuse from Ontario on a whim and going through Little New York City didn’t even phase her. She stirred under him and curled deeper into his shoulder. She purred and Jake too drifted to sleep.
Hours later, Laura awoke with a start. She had forgotten where she was for a moment. Looking around, she remembered and sought the comfort of his arms. He was sitting in the living room, smoking a cigarette and singing along with Joe, wanting to know...“I wanna know what makes you cry, so I can be the one to always make you smile.” The tears were falling down his cheeks.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Laura sat up in bed, drew the sheets to her chest and tunnelled her fingers through her tangled mane. Sleepy-eyed, she padded to the sofa and sat beside him and stroked his back.
“Nothing’s wrong...everything’s right.” He looked at her so intently, her heart skipped a beat. His fingers reached up to touch her cheek. “Everything’s perfect. You’re here with me and that’s all I ever need.”
He kissed her mouth, pulling her closer with a fistful of her hair. Dropping his hand, he traced his fingers along the top of the sheet, tickling her freckled chest.
“Mmmm, this sheet looks good on you,” he said, smiling.
“Come back to bed,” she coaxed. “It’s too early to be up.”
“Can’t sleep,” he said. “I just wanted to sit here and watch you sleep in my bed. You looked so peaceful. I can’t believe how lucky I am to have found you.”
“I feel the same way Jake.”
He drew her back against him and fell into the cushions. She pulled the sheet around his naked body and together they snuggled closer.
“I love this,” she told him. “Just being here with you, sharing a moment like this.”
“He must have really hurt you, bruised your heart and your ego,” he said. “I hate the thought of him putting his hands on you, hurting you like that. I can’t wait to meet him.”
She didn’t want to go back to her abusive marriage, even if it was years ago and miles away. She had told him about her ex-husband and he was sympathetic and fiercely protective, like a Rottweiler.
“It’s in the past Jake, and that’s where I want it to stay.”
“I’m just saying...if I ever meet him, and I’m sure there will be a time, I want him to know that you’re my girl now and no one’s ever going to hurt you again.” His eyes danced and their centers blacked to a deeper sapphire.
I’m your girl, she smiled at the thought. She like the way it sounded on his lips. She smiled up at him, touched his cheek and kissed him. “Thank you for that.”
“For what?”
“For wanting to protect me. I love that about you. But I don’t want you thinking about him. God knows, I don’t anymore.”
