Abandoned but Not Alone (37 page)

“
Do you understand what I have just said,
Jason?
”

“
I
’
m not deaf or stupid, I heard you
…”

As quick as
a whip Jackson came back at Jason, cutting him off from finishing what he was
sure would be a disrespectful comment.
“
I did not inquire after the ability of your hearing, boy. I
inquired as to whether you understood what I have said to you. That is the only
answer I require.
”
  Jackson
understood hard men. He had been brought up by them; his grandfather had been
such a man. He had become such a man through necessity and he had taught his
sons to be hard men
–
but with a
difference. He had taught them to know when to show compassion, it had its
place. He had shown Jason, the son he never knew he had, the compassion he
taught the sons he had had the privilege of raising. He now knew that was not
the tack that would work with Jason. He had experienced too many hard knocks
throughout his life, knocks that he Jackson, through no fault of his own had
not been there to protect and shield him from. As much as his heart ached for
his lost son, now returned to the fold; wrapping him in kid gloves was not
going to break through the barriers that surrounded him and kept him from
accepting them. Jackson hardened his heart that was breaking at all Jason had
endured throughout his life. Wishing, praying that he could take unto himself
the suffering his child had gone through
–
but he couldn
’
t, it had
been ordained that this burden was his alone to bear
–
until now. Now the three of them were finally here to share it
with him, if he would let them. Jackson recognized stubbornness when he
encountered it, after all it was a family trait, and he was the elder
statesman.

Seeing the
deadliness of the look directed towards him, the fight all but went out of
Jason. The enormity of what he now juggled descended on his shoulders, a giant
weight that was his burden to bear. A new family: one man who looked exactly
like him, his twin, another whose similarities left no doubt they were related
and an older replica of himself who was bent on giving him ultimatums
–
showing him that in the end he would
bend to his will. Then there was Steve, who for the first time was
demonstrating behavior that raised doubts, doubts as to whether they remained a
united force against a world who would devour two lost boys.
Aviva was the only person
making sense in his life. She was grounding him, his lodestone in a mire of
uncertainty that had suddenly and without warning encompassed his life.

Plastering
his hair against his head Jason ran his hands over his head, eyes closed. He
needed sleep
–
badly.
Unable to deal with another war of words he complied,
“
I hear you, I just need time.  I promise I
’
ll be in touch
–
I just need some time
…”

Jake and
Josh took a step towards him at the sight of his anguish. Jackson stopped them
with a barely discernibly movement of his hand.
“
It
’
s yours;
just remember what I
’
ve said,
you come to us or we
’
ll come to
you.
”

Without a
word all three men turned and walked through the front door their aura of unity
leaving Jason feeling as though he had rejected something he had always
hankered for
–
blood
relations.

Six Weeks Later

Arriving
home from her last day at the studio; Aviva headed towards Jason
’
s office to surprise him at her early
arrival. After weeks of early starts and late arrivals home, they both needed
some quality time together. The post production meeting of earlier that morning
had gone well. The studio executives were all pleased with the final tracks for
Carlos' album and had signed everything off.

It had been
hard, frustrating work. While she loved Carlos; the man was a complete diva to
work with.  A perfectionist, she could understand that, she was the same way
herself. But the late arrivals and unreasonable objections to the production of
almost all of the tracks had been a constant frustration. Carlos would pose his
objections, most of which were nonsensical, argue his point with dogged
determination only to capitulate shortly thereafter. The man had been a nightmare
to work with this time around.

Opening
Jason
’
s office door Aviva
was startled by Drake who appeared as if from nowhere Gasping she clutching her
chest in surprise at his sudden appearance.
“
Goodness, Mr Drake, you scared the lights out of me.
”

It would
seem that she wasn
’
t the only
one startled, Drake looked equally surprised to see her standing in the
doorway.
“
What are
you doing here? Excuse me Miss, what I mean is, you startled me. I wasn
’
t expecting you home so early.
”
A look passed over Drake's face that
Aviva had difficulty deciphering. He resembled a child who had been caught with
his had in the cookie jar when he had explicit instructions to the contrary.

“
What are you doing in here Mr Drake, I
thought Jason didn
’
t allow
anyone in his office unless he was present?
”

“
Of course you
’
re correct Miss, but the room really needed a going over and I
thought I would take the opportunity while Mr Jason was out. I hope you will
keep my little cleaning stint to yourself. It
’
s just that I take the running of this house seriously and I
want all to be in tip top shape, even if Mr Jason is such a busy man that we
can hardly find an opportunity to get into this room. I
’
ve just completed my inspection of the room and all seems to be
in order. If you
’
ll excuse
me, I should get back to my other duties.
”
Bowing Drake left his position behind Jason
’
s desk and exited the room; leaving a
slightly baffled Aviva staring after his departing back. His story was
completely plausible but something felt off. Looking around the room Aviva saw
that it did indeed look more tidy than normal, therefore she put her feelings
of unease to the back of her mind.

Reaching
for her cell, Aviva pressed the number one to speed dial Jason and waited for
the connection.  He answered after the third ring,
“
Hi Angel, how are you?
”

“
I
’
m good, I just got home. I was hoping to surprise you.
”

“
What did you just say?
”

“
I said, I just got home, I wanted to
surprise you
–
and
instead I find Mr Drake in your office who informed me you
’
re out.
”

“
Did you just say
‘
home
’
?
”

“
Jason, what the heck are you talking
about
–
where are you?
”

“
That
’
s the first time you
’
ve call my
place home, do you realize that?
”

Aviva was
silent for a few moments as she thought about Jason
’
s comment. He was right.  His house did now feel like home.
Laughing, Aviva turned a little bashful,
“
Do you mind, it does sort of feels like home after all these
weeks?
”

“
What do you think, Angel? I
’
ve been waiting for one little comment
from you to tell me you
’
re where
you really want to be
–
and when I
finally get it, you ask me if I mind. Hell no, I don
’
t mind, my plan is finally coming together. I just hope this
means I can finally give my back a break.
”

“
Jason King, what are you talking about?
”

“
Come on Angel, you have to admit that you
are totally into my body. 
‘
Oh yeah,
Jason right there, yeah baby, just like that, do me just like that
…”
Jason mimicked in a hoarse high whisper,
imitating Aviva
’
s voice
while in the throes of passion.

“
Jason, shut up. Where are you? If anyone
just heard you I
’
ll kill
you, do you hear me?
”

“
Relax Angel, nobody heard me. As for
where I am, I
’
m on my way
home. I had some errands to run
…
I
’
ve got a surprise for you.
”

“
What is it?
”

“
I said it was a surprise. If I tell you
what it is, it no longer becomes a surprise, you understand that concept,
right?
”

“
Whatever, you big brained twit, having a
high IQ is so over rated.
”

“
You say that now
–
but when I
’
m using
this big brain to think up different ways to use my big
…”

“
You
’
re such a shaper, you talk big over the phone
…
but I have to wait to see what you
’
ve really got. I hope all the reality
lives up to all the talk.
”

“
Them there
’
s fighting words. I don
’
t like being called a shaper, why don
’
t we find out if I can make you come in
…
oh, let
’
s say
…
ten minutes.  Uh hum.
”

Aviva gave
a small scream as she spun round to find Jason leisurely propped against the
door jam, phone to his ear. Ending the call he threw the handset which landed
on the nearby couch. Strolling towards a still startled Aviva who had yet to
have the presence of mind to remove the phone from her ear, Jason laughed at
her wide-eyed expression of shock mixed with eager anticipation at what to
expect of her taunting of his sexual prowess.

Aviva
shivered with anticipation. The look in Jason
’
s eyes told its own story
–
it was on. Taking a step backwards, Aviva again spoke into the
phone still pressed firmly to her ear.
“
Ten minutes you say
…
what do I
get if it doesn
’
t happen in
ten minutes?
”

Jason took
a step forward, one of his long strides matching two of Aviva
’
s. Looking down at his watch, Jason
glanced back up at Aviva from under his brows.
“
Make that nine minutes. Keep backing up Angel, it
’
s all the same to me. I
’
m a man of my word, I promised to make
you come in ten minutes and my word is my bond. Keep running, you may not know
this about me, but I love a good chase.
”

Aviva
stared into Jason
’
s eyes as
she taunted him with a catch me if you can look; while taking three more rapid
steps backward. For good measure she bit down on her plump lower lip, released
it slowly through her teeth before running her tongue across her top lip to
leave a sheen of moisture in its wake. Finally remembering she still clutched
the phone to her ear, Aviva disconnected and tossed it on the couch.  Jason
’
s eyes followed the discarded phone with
the rise of an eyebrow.

“
I was wondering how long you were going
to speak to me through that thing.  Eight minutes, Aviva.  Her temperature
elevated as moisture settled between her legs. This man was so hot. His eyes
that refused to release hers had darkened to black, fixed on her, refusing to
let her go, filled with the promise of keeping his word. Running her fingertips
down her neck she continued to retreat, Jason continued to advance. Risking a
glance down Jason
’
s body
Aviva saw the evidence of what she had in store. His erection stood out long
and hard, pressing against the front of his trousers. As Aviva
’
s eyes roamed across the bulge of Jason
’
s erection, it twitched and grew even
longer, harder. Moving with a speed that frightened a small gasp out of her,
Aviva realized her mistake. Jason flashed out a hand and snagged her by the
waist, reeling her in towards his hard body.