Chapter 9

*Payton*

As soon as I got up the next morning, I threw on a robe and went in search of my mother. She was sitting at the table drinking a coffee and reading the news on her ipad. I got myself a coffee and slid in next to her.

She glanced up at me, “Good morning Payton. Did you sleep well?”

I almost laughed out loud. Sleep well? Try, did I sleep at all? With the smell of Jake surrounding me and knowing that all that was between us was two doors and a bathroom, I doubt I would be sleeping any time soon. Of course, when I carefully opened the door on my side last night to get ready for bed, the door to his room stood wide open. He was face done on his bed, sheet around his waist and his muscular tattooed back rising and following as he snored softly. I’m pretty sure he was completely naked under that sheet from the tight butt that was outlined under it. It took everything in me not to go in and get a closer look.

“Mom, I know this is Roland’s house and all but a head’s up on Jack sleeping next door to me would have been nice.” I take a large gulp of my coffee, burning my mouth in the process. Great!

“I think it”s wonderful. All our family together. I admit, I wasn’t too impressed when I saw him that first night, looking like a hoodlum and scowling.” My mother looks up at me. “But I spoke with him last night and he was actually quite pleasant.”

Wow! He wasn’t long winning her over. “But why is he here? Is he actually living here? It is not like he and Roland appear to have a loving relationship.” I point out.

“Well, dear, it is not for us to pass judgement on their relationship. But Roland will be running for Mayor and that brings some risks with it. Jake has some type of security business and he is going to be providing security for Roland as he campaigns. Plus this way Roland can give him some publicity to help him get set up in the business. I’m sure you won’t even notice he is here.

I laugh at that one. Not notice he’s here! Yah, like that could ever happen. “So, that’s it, we just accept a strange man into our lives? We know nothing about him!”

My mother actually rolls her eyes at me! “Payton, he was a Marine! He is not some axe murderer!”

“Mom, I saw the way you looked at him just a few days ago! How can your opinion change so quickly?” I protest.

My mother picks up her ipad, “It’s called google, Payton. I thought all you young people used it!”

Okay, who is this woman? I am getting whiplash from her. Although I must say, this is more of the attitude she had when I was growing up. I was shocked by her meek behavior in front of Roland Saturday. She was never vocal and outgoing but she could hold her own, which she is certainly doing now. I like my mother this way, I did not like her so much on Saturday. But that is something to think about more at a later time. Right now, back to Jake.

“I looked him up, I couldn’t find anything on him! How did you?” I ask in frustration. “It is like Jacob Rossi does not nor ever has existed!”

“Well, that may be why. Try Jake Larson.” My mother pauses while I look at her confused. “Well, I found out some information from Roland first. It seems there were some accusations thrown around over his wife’s accidental death. Jake was 16 at the time and some teenagers can be quite difficult. Apparently Jake not only left his father’s house to live with his uncle, he also changed his last name to his mother’s.”

Wow. That must have been one serious disagreement. “Mom, I don’t like this. What do you know about his wife’s accident.” I put quotation marks around the word accident. “I mean obviously Jake didn’t feel that way. Are you sure you are not in danger?” I am getting really worried now.

“Didn’t feel that way about what? And why would she be in danger from me?” I hear the deep accusing voice from behind me. I turn around and just about fall off my chair. As it is I am sure there is drool coming from my mouth.

Jake is standing in the archway to the kitchen using the bottom of his t-shirt to wipe the sweat off his face and brow. Oh, sweet mother Mary. He has a happy trail. Of course he does and an eight pack. I thoat clears and my eyes travel up from the band of his running shorts, hung low on his hips, past the smirk on his face, to the humor and interest in his bright blue eyes. Crap, busted!

A gentle kick under the table and I look towards my mother who has her eyebrows raised and I realize it was her throat clearing that got my attention. Embarrassment heats my face as I realize my mother just caught me ogling my step brother! Could it get any worse? And as I ask that…

“Jacob! Put some clothes on, you are embarrassing the ladies.” Roland orders.

Jake looks down at himself. “I have clothes on. I just ran 10 miles and never got arrested.” He shrugs and goes to the fridge to grab a bottle of water.

My mother hops up from her chair. “I have your breakfast ready Roland.” She assures him as she gets his coffee ready.

“Thank you dear.” Roland kisses her on the cheek as he takes his coffee. “Will you be coming to the office today Jacob?”

“I’ll be there this afternoon to pick up the specs on your current security system and blueprints for the building. This morning I thought I would focus on the house.” Jake responds, being civil but not looking at his father as he speaks. “We’ll make the ladies safe first, wouldn’t want them to feel in danger from anyone.” I know he puts the last comment in for me and when I look up, sure enough, he is looking straight at me.

“Great. I agree, not that I think there is anything to worry about.” Roland reaches over and pats my mother’s hand reassuringly as she sets his breakfast down. Why do I feel like I am being left out of some important information?

I excuse myself and head back upstairs to take a shower. Guess I will have to do some investigating myself if they are going to be keeping me in the dark.

I turn the shower off and turn to open the door but instead scream. There is a very muscular hairy arm reaching in to offer me a towel. OH. MY. GOD. I know that arm. What the hell does he think he is doing? I snatch the towel and slam the door on his arm only to hear a chuckle from the other side of the shower door. Thank God it is frosted but I can clearly see his outline, so that means he can see me.

“Jake, what the heck do you think you’re doing in here?” I demand as I quickly dry myself off and wrap the towel around me. “I know I locked that door.”

Another chuckle. “I was a Marine sis. You think a locked door can keep me out?”

I throw back the shower door and he is leaning against the counter in just his running shorts, which do not cover nearly enough. This time my eyes go to his thick muscular thighs, straining against the leg openings of his shorts.

“Eyes up here sis.” He scolds me.

“Stop calling me that!” I spit at him. “I am not your sister. And we are not 12, so It is totally inappropriate for you to be in my bathroom!” I try to step out of the tub with as much dignity as possible, which is hard to do when you have hips and boobs like mine and you are wearing only a towel.

“Believe me, I was having the same thoughts at 12 as I am right now.” He says roughly as I slip on the wet floor. Two big hands reach out and grab me around the waist. Wow, they must be really big to make me feel this tiny. His next words take away all thoughts of my waist as I feel the hard wall of his chest. “I’m really glad you clarified that you are not my sister.” I look up confused and see the desire in his eyes. “Now I don’t have to feel bad about doing this.” Before I can think, his lips are on mine.

He is gentle at first, shocking me both with his soft lips and his gentleness and I gasp in surprise. Then things change instantly and he goes in for the kill. His hot, rough tongue slides over mine and I can’t help but mimic its action with my own. He growls and pulls me tight against him and Holy Mother is that his erection? No, there must be something else there between us. I should be pushing him away but instead I’m grabbing at his shoulders trying to bring him closer.

He is exploring my whole mouth with his now, as his hands do the same with my ass. While my mouth is full of him, my core feels empty and all I want to do is fill it with him. I press my hips closer to him, getting no satisfaction as I grind. Suddenly his lips are gone and he is pushing me away. What the crap? Why?

“Maybe you are in danger from me.” Jake says as he holds me at arms length and looks deep into my eyes. “Because unless you want to bend over that counter right now and take my cock, you best leave.” My good girl instict is telling me I should be disgusted by his crudeness but my growing curiosity of this man pictures myself bent over and moaning as he pumps into me over and over again.