Only me
''You don't have to clean up.''
His calm voice scares me, but I don't turn around to look at him for fear he'll send me away again.
''I want to.''
I reply, running my fingers carefully over the soft carpet.
I'm sure I have most of the large pieces of glass. I let go a calm, controlled breath and have no choice but to turn away. Slowly, I straighten up and turn around. My gaze falls on Jake's perfectly topless appearance. His expression is unreadable and he waves a glass in his hand. Ice clinks against the glass filling the awkward silence. I walk past him and into the huge kitchen. I open the drawer under the sink and dump the porcelain shards into the wastebasket.
Jake places the now empty glass on the breakfast bar in the middle of the kitchen. I look at it and close the drawer. He still has dried blood on his face and I want to tend to him, fix the wound on his forehead. I step forward once, letting him know I want to approach him. He nods and I practically run to him. I wrap my arms around his neck, burying my face in his shoulder.
''I'm so sorry.''
I say. Oh God. I think I'm going to cry again.
''Hey.''
He takes my arms off his neck, forcing me to look him in the face.
''This isn't your fault. You didn't do anything. I did this. Only me. Do you understand?''
I'm not nodding my head. If I hadn't freaked out and practically ran away from the stripper, I wouldn't have given Donny a chance to grab me. Jake wraps his fingers around my wrist and I follow him up the stairs to our bedroom, only he doesn't stop there. He pulls me behind him into the bathroom.
He turns on the light, bringing the dark room to life. Jake's hands wrap around my waist and he lifts me up to sit on the bathroom counter. I look up at his face and he doesn't speak as his hands rub my ankles and remove my shoes. He pulls me off the bench and hooks his fingers under the hem of my pants, pushing them to the floor. My heartbeat races, as it always does when he touches me. He turns me around and tugs my shirt, pulling it up over my head. My bra is the last piece of fabric to fall from my body and when I turn to look at him, his eyes look at me, unable to hide the flash of desire in his eyes. Then they narrow on my abdomen and I notice his body tense and clench his jaw. I look down. It's my hip. There's a dark shadow forming where Donny grabbed me and where I fell.
''It's not as bad as yours.''
I mutter faintly.
He breathes, running a hand over his face.
''Is that from his hand?''
I shrug.
''A little bit, I guess. Most of it is from when I fell after he pushed me.''
His voice goes up a few decibels.
''He pushed you?''
I nod as he runs his hands through his hair. With a shake of his head he grabs me, pulling me right into him.
''I'm so sorry, Sandra.''
''It's not your fault.''
He lets me go. I know he doesn't want to hear that it's not his fault. I can see it in his face, he really believes it is. I step back as he pulls down his pants and steps into the shower. He leaves the door open for me to join him and turns on the faucet. The roar of the shower echoes off the tiles and the air quickly becomes heavy and hot, filling my lungs with steam. I step in and close the door behind me. Jake's eyes stare greedily at my body, making my breasts feel heavy and swollen. My nipples already ache from his mouth swallowing them and to distract myself I reach for shower gel and squirt it into my hands. I pull away from him and lather copiously on my stomach, slowly rubbing the bruise on my hip.
Soon, Jake's hands are sliding over my skin as well, carefully avoiding my aching hip. He kisses my shoulder and my body begins to hum. Teasingly, his hands circle my chest causing my nipples to harden to the max and begin to tingle with painful anticipation. Finally, his hands slide over my breasts, cupping them with the perfect amount of pressure. I feel like I'm in danger of melting and my breath hitches as his thumbs rub my pointed nipples. I let my head tilt back to relax against his chest.
''Darryl and your team will be okay?''
His hands knead my breasts.
''Yes, they'll be fine.''
I turn my head away.
''And you?''
He presses his lips against my cheek.
''I'm fine now.''
I turn around, pressing the front of my body against his.
''I need you.''
I demand, crushing my lips against his.
He tastes bittersweet, like bourbon, and my heart clenches. If he's had alcohol, he must be in a bad place. Jake doesn't hesitate and there's no teasing in the way his hands rub me all over. He walks me backwards and I gasp as my back presses against the cold tiles. I ignore the way my hip aches as he sandwiches me against the wall with his body. His hand runs up and down my side and hooks my leg around his hip. His mouth kisses my neck and his fingers slide firmly between my legs, sending a wave of arousal through me. It's been so long since we've had sex and I want him now, fight or no fight. My body is racing and my nerves are acutely aware of him. His hot touch is like an electric bolt through my body.
''Jake.''
His name is a choppy sound of anticipation.
He moans, smoothing a fingertip over my clit. He gives the little bundle of nerves a few circles, then dips a dedp into my heat. I gasp loudly, digging my fingertips into his shoulders as he gently strokes me from the inside. I arch against him, my eyes feeling heavy.
''So sexy.''
He murmurs, biting my lip between his teeth.