Blood of the Rainbow (16 page)

Jared was at Lucy’s. That meant Sara only had a few minutes to get ready before he got home. Home? Strange that she should be using that word, but it was beginning to feel like home.

Sara touched up her hair and makeup and sprayed on a little more perfume. Thank goodness, she had a small bottle in her purse. She grabbed her book and lay on the bed, hoping she didn’t look
too
obvious. Sara started reading again. It actually wasn’t a chore. She had to see if the hero came back, and if there would be a happy ending.

------------

About half an hour later, there was another tap on the bedroom door. “
Are you decent – can I come in?
”

Sara stretched across the bed. “You can come in, but I’m never decent!”

“I think I got everything on your list, and a few extras Lucy thought you might need. It’s all in your case. Here’s your laptop, and guitar… ” Jared stopped midsentence, and stared at Sara, looking her up and down. Sara started to blush. “Wow! That looks a
lot
better on you than it
ever
did on me.”

He laid her guitar and laptop case on the foot of the bed and lay down beside her. “Actually, you look very sexy in my old flannel shirt. I might not give you your clothes back,” he said, reaching out to her. “Come let me hold you.” Sara cuddled in his arms. She opened her mouth to say something, but before she could get anything out, his mouth came down on hers, full of fire and passion. His hands began to roam over her body. He wasn’t holding back. For a few minutes, he forgot about controlling himself. “I’ve been thinking about doing this all day,” he said, finally coming up for air, and rolling over on his back.

Sara cuddled up to him again and laid her head on his shoulder.

“I’ve said it before, and I’m going to keep on saying it. Sara, you’re dangerous!”

Sara laughed. “And you think you’re the only one that has to fight to
stay
in control.”

Jared looked at her and raised one of his eyebrows. “Yes, I do, because you’re not even trying,” he laughed. “You keep pushing me closer to the edge every time I kiss you. Sooner or later, I’m going to give in, and you’re going to regret it when I do.”

“And why is that. What makes you think I would regret it?”

Jared blew air through his teeth. “Can we just talk about something else, please. Even talking about it isn’t safe anymore. You’re here in my house – in my bed, and you’re just
too
accessible.”

Sara sighed. Jared wasn’t giving an inch. “Ok then, tell me about your day.”

“I’ve got a better idea – you tell me about yours. What did you do all day?”

“Well, until you got home – I guess if I could describe my day in a single word, it would have to be
boring
.”

Jared seemed surprised. “Boring?”

“You try lying in bed most of the day, not a puzzle book in sight, no laptop, no guitar. The only thing that broke the monotony of my day was reading your two books of the ‘Twilight’ Saga.”

“So you found them. I forgot to tell you the ‘Twilight’ set was in the bookcase in here. You’ve read through the first one today, and started on the second already?” He was skeptical.

Sara nodded. “Yes, and I’m over halfway through the second one.”

“And do you like New Moon?”

“Well, yes and no. I’m not happy with the fact that Edward has left Bella. If he doesn’t come back, I’m not even going to bother with ‘Eclipse’.” Jared laughed, knowingly. Sara looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “Does he come back?”

Jared made as though he was buttoning his lip. “Uh-uh, I’m not spoiling it for you. If you want to know what happens, you’ll have to read the rest of the book.”

Sara goosed his ribs. “Meanie!”

Jared laughed out loud. “Hey!
Don’t
start that. I’ll retaliate, and when I get started, I show no mercy.”

“In that case, I’ll wait until my ankle is healed. Then you’ll see who shows no mercy.”

“Oh you will – will you? Speaking of your ankle, are you able to put any weight on it yet?”

Sara pouted. “No. I tried, but it hurt!”

“See, that’s what you get for not listening. You haven’t tried to go downstairs on it have you?” he grumbled.

“No.”

“Good.”

“How long do you think it will take for my ankle to heal?”

Jared sighed. “I don’t think it’s sprained, so it shouldn’t take over a week, two at the most –
if
you stay off of it.” He yawned. “I need to get up, and go take a shower. I also want to get out of these knit pants. They’re driving me batty. I won’t be long.” He waited for Sara to move off his shoulder. When she did, he kissed her, and then turned to leave.

“Want me to come and take a shower with you,” she offered, teasing him. She knew he wouldn’t risk that.

“Sure – if you want to be raped.”

“Hmm, that doesn’t sound like a bad deal.”

“Sara!” he groaned.

Sara held up her hands. “I was kidding.” She wasn’t, but he didn’t need to know that. She knew if she went in, she wouldn’t be raped. It would be the most incredible experience in her life.

Jared walked back over to the bed and kissed her again. “I’ll be right back. In the meantime, find out if Edward comes back,” he said, handing her the book.

Sara pouted and spoke sarcastically. “Right!”
I’d much rather come and take a shower with you, but I guess the book will do….

Chapter 8

Quarter of an hour later, Jared came back in the bedroom wearing a gigantic bath towel wrapped around his waist, and another one around his neck. Sara whined like a puppy. Jared will never know how strongly she considered stealing the towel around his waist. He smiled, sat on the side of the bed next to her, and started drying his hair on the towel around his neck.

“You want me to do that for you?”

“No!” Jared said hastily. “My self-control is already shot. I don’t need motivation.” He finished drying his hair and pulled out a pair of jeans and a dark pullover shirt. “Now, are you going to turn around and let me get dressed like a good girl, or do I have to go back in the bathroom to change?”

Sara laughed and rolled away from him. She sighed. “Get dressed.”

“How do I know you won’t roll over before I’m decent?”

“You don’t. I guess that’s just a chance you’ll have to take. Either you trust me – or you don’t.” Sara heard his belt rattling and after that a zip. He trusted her.

“All right – you can turn back over. What do you want to do for dinner tonight? Do you want me to help you downstairs, or have the cook bring us something up?”

Sara sighed again. “Honestly, after being cooped up in this room all day. I’d like to go downstairs and do something normal. Maybe watch a movie or something and cuddle with you on the couch in the living room. You did promise to watch Twilight with me.”

He scooped her up in his arms like a rag doll. “Well, let’s go then.”

“Don’t you think I should change first?”

Jared sat her back on the bed. “Oh – right. What do you want?”

“If you’ll put my suitcase on the bed, I think I can manage – thank you.”

Jared laid the suitcase next to her and stood, watching, with his arms crossed over his chest like a drill sergeant. “Well, go on, get on with it!”

“Ha! What do you think this is – a strip tease act?” Sara narrowed her eyes at him. “Around you go,” she said, whirling her finger.

Jared seemed surprised. “What? I’ve already seen you naked Sara.” He grinned wryly.

“Yes, I know. Don’t remind me. Just turn yourself around Mister. What’s good for one is good for all.”

Jared made a guttural groan, and turned while she dressed. When she was done, he picked her up and carried her downstairs, setting her on the floor. “When you said you’d help me down the stairs, I didn’t know you meant like this.”

Jared embraced her and kissed her several times. “Are you complaining?” He smiled at her.

“Oh no – not at all. I always wanted to be swept off my feet by the man I loved.” He smiled and helped Sara to the sofa. He put the Twilight movie in and tossed her the remote.

“I’ll go see what the cook has lined out for our dinner.” Jared came back and sat beside Sara, putting his arm around her. “Cassie said dinner will be about forty-five minutes. I said we’d take our meal in the lounge.” Sara snuggled up to him and laid her head on his shoulder. Jared lay his head on top of hers and breathed on her hair. “You’re destroying my reputation at work….”

“How?”

“I’ve always been a workaholic. You know, first there - last to leave. Well, today, when I was finished with my last patient, I headed straight for the door. I couldn’t wait to get home to you.” He kissed the top of her head.”

“Do I need to apologize?”

“No! They like me better this way.”

“I’ll take you
any
way,” Sara cooed.

Jared groaned again and sighed. “Same here.”

The movie started, and they settled down to watch it. “How many times have you watched this?”

Jared sighed. “Many times, but I still like it.”

Sara smiled. “Well I’m looking forward to seeing it for the
first
time.”

“I think I should warn you of something….”

“What’s that?”

Jared bared his teeth at her and let out a low, guttural growl. “This movie has a tenancy to bring out the animal in me. Up until now, I’ve been alone when I watched it. Now, I’ve got something fresh to sink my teeth into.” He grabbed her, putting his mouth close to the side of her neck.

Jared hissed and pretended he was going to bite Sara’s neck. She got a strange feeling from the hungry look in his eyes. At that moment, Sara wouldn’t have cared if he hadn’t been teasing her. If he had
been
a vampire, Sara would have willingly allowed him to turn her, so she could spend eternity with him. Jared kissed and nuzzled her neck. Sara giggled.

Jared brought his head back up and looked into her eyes. “You know, sometimes I wish the whole Twilight thing
was
real. There’s one difference between me and Edward, though….”

“What’s that?”

“If I
was
a vampire, and had the power to give you immortality, I would. Especially if, I knew you wanted it as much as Bella did, and it wouldn’t take me so long to make up my mind either.”

“Would you?”

“Yes… I would.” He kissed her passionately. Sara believed him. She snuggled against his shoulder. Jared wrapped his arms around her and they started watching the film.

------------

About halfway through the movie, the cook brought their meal. Jared paused the film while they finished eating.

“You know, I don’t remember the scene with the guy at the plant,
or
the one with the boat,” Sara commented.

Jared scoffed. “That’s because it’s not part of the original story. You haven’t missed anything. They do it to add a little action to the film version. Sometimes it’s good – sometimes, it just confuses people when they read the book
after
seeing the film.”

Sara took a bite of her food. “What is this?

Jared laughed anxiously. “Some kind of chicken dish?”

Sara narrowed her eyes. “Really – you think?”

Jared chuckled. “Honestly Angel, you’d need to ask Cassie. She plans all the menus. I let her know when she cooks something I don’t like, or that doesn’t agree with me. Other than that, I give her free range. Why, don’t you like it?”

Sara smiled. “Yes, it’s nice. I just wondered what it was. If I have to compete with her, I’m afraid she doesn’t have a lot to worry about. I’m not that good at cooking. I never spent that much time trying to learn. I didn’t think I would need to. I never thought I would find someone I might need to take care of – till you.”

Jared smiled. “Angel,
we
have a cook. You don’t
need
to worry about meals. Cassie enjoys her work, but if you want to experiment, I’d be happy to give you my honest opinion.”

“Do you have plenty of Pepto-Bismol in the medicine cabinet?”

Jared laughed. “Sara, there’s very little I don’t like in the line of food. I’m not that demanding when it comes to cooking, so don’t let that bother you.” He brushed the back of his fingers against her cheek.

Sara smiled and reached to collect the dishes. Jared put his hand over hers. “Leave those. Cassie will clear them away later.” Jared took her hand, kissed it, and pulled her into his arms. “Let’s watch the rest of the movie, unless you’re getting tired.”

She settled on his shoulder. “No, I’m not tired.”

------------

They had intended to finish watching the movie, but ten minutes before it ended, they both fell asleep on the couch. Sara jerked awake when the menu music started playing again. Jared, on the other hand, didn’t wake straight away. She leaned up and watched him sleep for a while. He must have been
dreadfully
tired. Sara would have happily slept with Jared that way until morning.

Jared finally roused, smiled and kissed her. He brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers again and smoothed her hair behind her ears. Then he bent down and kissed the left side of her neck. Sara’s body responded instantly, tingling from one end to the other. His mouth covered hers. Jared’s kiss was hot, moist and filled with desire.

After gently lowering Sara on the sofa, Jared lay on top of her, molding the full length of his body to hers. Sara could easily feel the effect she had on him. Jared deepened his kisses, running his hand under her shirt, gently lifting her bra out of the way. Sara’s heart was pounding so fast she could hear her pulse in her ears, her breathing coming in ragged spasms as he showered her with passionate kisses.

Jared groaned, lowering his head. Sara felt his lips close around the nipple of her breast, gently teasing and sucking it. She moaned, wrapping her leg around his. Jared almost shook when Sara raked her fingernails lightly down his back.

“Too far Sara,” he said. “Can’t go any further – won’t be able to stop,” he breathed, as he lifted his head and kissed her lips again. “You have to stop me. If you don’t stop me, I’m going to make love to you right here on this couch.”