Hiding Away (Anchored Hearts #1.5) (7 page)

C
hapter Thirteen

~ JANE ~

When I woke my whole body hurt.  I tried to roll over to find a clock, but I was suddenly overcome with lower abdominal pain.  Hugging myself I cried out as I felt a rush of warmness between my legs and the pain became excruciating.  I remembered the beating he gave me the night before and how I had done everything I could to protect the life growing inside me.  I was almost in my second trimester and was beyond thrilled to have a baby.  Derek was not so receptive.  I didn’t understand, he’d always said he wanted a family.  I hadn’t told anyone except for Derek, waiting to get to thirteen weeks before telling everyone.

He came home drunk last night and started accusing me that the baby wasn’t even his.  I begged and pleaded with him that it wasn’t true.  I would never cheat.  Before I was aware of what was happening, he grabbed the back of my head and threw me into the coffee table.  After he was done beating me he collapsed to the floor next to me and began crying before he carried me to bed.  I tried fending him off, but I was drifting in and out of consciousness, my body useless to me. 

I had no idea how severe the damage was, but could guess what the pain in my abdomen was.  The baby was gone.  My little boy was gone.  I had a feeling, an intuition, that it was a boy, call me crazy.  I began sobbing uncontrollably and as I brought my hand out from between my legs, my suspicions were confirmed.  He wrapped his arms around me as I began screaming with all my might.

~ CALVIN ~

I woke to her sobbing in her sleep.  Jane was in the fetal position and I watched for a split second, completely unsure of what to do.  Pulling her to me, I wrapped my arms around her and tried soothing her.  “Jane, it’s okay, you’re safe.”

She let out a blood curdling scream, unlike anything I’d ever heard, and began defending herself.  Shaking her shoulders until she ceased her attack on me; she finally looked up, completely baffled. 

“Jane?”  The fog began to lift from her eyes as she focused on my own.

“I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to wake you.”

She began checking over her body, as I watched, like she was looking for an injury.  What the hell was going on?  “Jane, you’re okay.  That was quite a nightmare.  Do you want to talk about it?”

She looked to me as if determining if she could trust me.  Nodding her head she said, “I do, just not yet.  I’m not ready.”  The tears began flowing down her face again as she started to tremble. 

Pulling her to me, she let me hold her close, as I tried to warm her up.  Tugging the blankets tight around us I soon realized she’d drifted back to sleep.  I laid there for at least an hour, thankful she was calm, but wondering what could have caused such a horrible nightmare.  I had a feeling I wouldn’t like the answer when she decided to open up to me. 

I did know one thing for sure.  I was done. 
Finished.  I was completely and utterly enraptured in this woman.  I was a crazy motherfucker to even think it so soon, but there was no denying it.  She’d completely ruined me for any other woman, and I had to keep it to myself…for now.  She was fragile.  She didn’t think I knew it, but I felt it in my soul like I could feel own my heartbeat.  She was broken, and I was going to put her pieces back together if it was the last thing I ever did.

When I woke in the morning she wasn’t there, and my heart sank.  Suddenly the smell of bacon filled the air. 
That’s what I’m talking about!
  I threw on some sleep pants and made my way downstairs.  Jane, my baby doll, was standing in front of the stove in a t-shirt of mine that almost hit her knees.  She was so petite.  I walked up behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist, bending down to rest my head on her shoulder.

“You’re the guest.  Shouldn’t I be cooking for you?”

Turning her head, she gave me a peck on the cheek.  “You can cook next time!  It’s almost done.  Grab a seat.”

We didn’t talk about the elephant in the room and I wasn’t going to pry.  She seemed completely back to normal and maybe it was just a nightmare, nothing more serious than that.

We ended up spending the day together which included a late lunch at her Aunt and Uncles house, James’s parents.  We were celebrating Cassidy’s birthday and my Dad and Lisa were there too.  The unrelenting teasing that went on between all of them was awesome, and not something I expected from wealthy people.  We all got along like one big happy family. 

Once we left The Benedict’s, after Eva had collapsed, Jane filled me in on Eva’s cancer diagnosis.  I was in shock, she seemed so healthy.  Reflecting on the death of my mother, I spilled every nasty detail to Jane.  She was surprised and sorry.  I don’t know why I told her, but felt even closer to her once I did.  We stopped by her place so she could grab a few things and a car.

When we got there, we discovered that her Mom and Dad had gone away for a few days, which is why they weren’t at the lunch.  Jane explained that her Dad traveled a lot so she didn’t see much of him, and when he was home, her parents usually spent their free time up north at their cottage.  Her house was just as big, if not bigger, than James parents’ house.  It was ridiculous.  She led me up to her bedroom, which was probably three times the size of mine.  There weren’t any audacious furnishings.  In fact, it was simple in decoration, with some memorabilia from high school decorating the walls.  There was one picture in particular that caught my eye.  It was a younger version of her, James, and another guy.

Walking up behind me she said, “That’s my brother Jason.”  She didn’t seem sad; he’d been gone a long time. 

She had already given me the cliff notes version of what happened to him yesterday after the incident between James and Cassidy, and before we had all gone out.  It was horrible what happened to Jason.  Drug overdose at seventeen was such a waste.  We were all very close in age, and it was hard to fathom losing a sibling at such a young age.  When Jane had been mourning her brother, I was dealing with the aftermath of my own mother’s death.  I vaguely remembered hearing the stories about the rich kid who OD’d on New Year’s Eve, but nothing more. 

Changing the subject I told her, “Jane, I have to work tomorrow night.  So unless you’re prepared to stay up all night, I should head home to try to get back on schedule.”

She seemed to be processing my words as she looked at me.  “I’m up for an all-nighter.  We have a pretty cool theatre room.  We can watch movies and what not, if you like.  Besides, if I get the job at the hospital I’ll be working midnights too.”

“Sounds good.”

Later that night we were playing twenty questions.  There had been no startling revelations about one another.  First kisses, first loves, things of that nature.  I wasn’t trying to pry, but couldn’t help asking about her last relationship.

“So what happened with your last relationship?”  I didn’t miss that she slightly stiffened, but tried to cover it up by flashing her brilliant smile at me.

“The same thing that happens in most relationships, things fizzled, he cheated, I left.”  She shrugged her shoulders and didn’t lose eye contact with me.  “My turn.  What happened with your last relationship?”  She turned the tables on me.

“What do you mean by last relationship?”  I smirked as she picked up a pillow and threw it at me, calling me a pig while she did it.

“I knew you were a player Calvin Charles.  I’m just one of many notches in your belt, aren’t I?”

“How many is many?”  She balked at me and I started cracking up.

I had my share of friends with benefits.  Being in the military, and then in the academy before making the force, it was kind of the only thing I had time for.  Besides, the fact was that nobody else had burrowed their way in like Jane had.  Don’t get me wrong, I’d had a couple of serious relationships, but they never lasted more than a year or two.  Brittany couldn’t handle me being overseas, and Hannah couldn’t handle me being a cop.  It was what it was.  

The only time I recalled having my heart broken was by Stacey, in high school.  We’d dated all junior and senior year.  She stood by me after my mom died and was even a role model for Cassidy.  After graduation we were making our college plans.  Apparently she’d changed her mind and wanted to go to Texas for school.  That was news to me.  We’d discussed getting our own place and going to community college together.  Her change of course utterly depressed me.  To say I was devastated was an understatement.  Looking back I know that I was just a love sick boy.

That September, 9-11 happened.  I was working full time and going to school part-time while living at home.  I had a heart to heart with my Dad, he gave me his blessing, and that’s when I enlisted.  I dropped out of school and was headed to basic training within a couple of months.

C
hapter Fourteen

~ CALVIN ~

“Calvin?”  I was lost in my thoughts as Jane pulled me out of my trance.  “Where were you?”

“I was remembering the only girl who broke my heart and the role it played in me joining the military.  I think I owe her a thank you,
cuz without her, I may have never ended up here, with you.”

“You’re such a schmoozer.”  She rolled her eyes and tossed some popcorn in my face before I tackled her to the floor and began tickling her.  Straddling her thighs, I managed to pin her hands above her head with one hand while the other slowly traced down her abdomen, to the hem of her shirt.  Her flat belly was exposed and I couldn’t resist lifting her shirt up further.

“You have such soft skin.  It’s like silk.”  Her gaze became transfixed on mine as my hand explored her torso.  Releasing her hands, my own began to travel her body in unison.  I leaned down to her face and inhaled her sweet breath.  “Jane?”

“Uh huh.”
 

I forgot my question for her as she closed the distance between our mouths, licking my lips with her tongue.  She stroked my mouth with her tongue as I did the
same to her.  Twirling her nipples into hard nubs as her hands tried to pull me closer.  We were like magnets, and I couldn’t keep my hands off of her.

“Jane, I can’t get enough of you.”

“Same here.  I want your hands on me, all of me, and your mouth too.”

Smiling against her lips I said, “Ask and you shall receive.”

Moving off of her, I leaned back and sat down on the couch behind me.  Reaching for her hand, I pulled her onto my lap when she placed her hand in mine.  I kept her back to my chest and spread her legs wide.  Her small round ass resting on my cock nearly drove me mad. 

“Stop wiggling before you make me embarrass myself.”

Giggling she said, “No need to be embarrassed.  I’d take it as a compliment, or at least my ass would.”

She dropped her head back to my shoulder as I turned her face toward mine.  Devouring her lips, my hands began massaging her breasts once more.  Before I could do it first, she yanked her shirt over her head as my right hand cupped her.  Like we could read each other’s minds, we both lifted our hips and pushed down our pants and underwear.  I managed to get mine to my knees.  Jane took her feet, placed them in the waistband stretched around my knees, and pushed them down the rest of the way.

“Now you’re just showing off.”  I nipped at her ear as she wiggled against me.

She managed to maneuver herself in such a way, that my cock was thrust out between her legs, it helped that she was tiny.  She rubbed her crack against me, which was slick with her juices, and I soon felt her hand reach down to touch me.

“Touch me, Calvin.”

She didn’t have to ask twice.  I ran my fingers over her bare mound and into her tight channel, causing her to press against me harder.  She leaned over as I kissed her shoulders, while we each rubbed each other vigorously.   It was the hottest thing I’d done in a long time, and maybe ever, that didn’t include my cock inside her.  I was beginning to learn her body and after a few minutes, I recognized the change in her as she neared her climax. 

“Oh, don’t stop, Cal.  I’m going to come.”

I continued rubbing circles all over her clit as she came undone and I felt her wetness drench my dick.  Her moans, along with her diligent tugging on my cock, had me spilling my load.  When we both ceased with our convulsing, I pulled her back against me, I laid my head on the back of the couch and we caught our breath.

“That was fucking hot, baby doll.”

“I try.”

“You don’t need to try.”  I held her to me, caressing her belly as I kissed her temple.  My fingers worked back down to her crotch and she moaned.

“Don’t tease me; we don’t have any condoms here.”

“I don’t plan on teasing you.”  I moved her to sit on the couch next to me and then got on my knees in front of her.  She just stared at me, waiting for my next move.  Gripping her hips I pulled her ass to the edge of the couch.  “Baby doll needs more, I’ll give her more.”

~ JANE ~

Cal began kissing my belly before making his way to my hips and thighs.  Pulling my hands above my head, I gripped the couch as my body stretched out for his exploration.  Two fingers began rubbing up and down my wet slit, renewing my need for him to bring me to climax. 

“Calvin, I need you inside me.”  Slowly, two fingers slid inside me and twirled against my walls.  It felt so good, but he was being too gentle.  I grabbed his wrist and pressed him against me harder as I let out a moan.

“Show me.”  Those two words of his were practically a growl and had me even hotter.

I moved his fingers in and out of me as my hips swiveled against him when his fingers were fully rooted in me.  “
Ahh, it’s the pressure that feels good.”  I released his wrist, panting, “Pressure, it’s the pressure.”

He repeated my movements using a force that gave me the pressure I desired.  It was then that his hot tongue smothered my clit and lapped thick, slow circles over me.  My hands moved to the edge of the couch, on either side of my ass, and I lifted myself into him further.  Soon I could feel my whole body begin to shake.

Whimpering, “Cal, oh, I don’t think I can take it.”  It was too much.  This orgasm was going to kill me, but I wanted it urgently.  He picked up his pace, slightly, as I began grunting with the force of the orgasm claiming me.  It was like a beast, deep inside me, was unleashed as I made sounds I didn’t know I was capable of.

When I woke the first thing I was aware of was the throbbing between my legs. 
Jesus.
  I’d come completely unglued underneath him, with such force that I began to wonder if I had passed out.  I was sure I’d be sore for at least a day or two.  We were lying on the couch, snuggled together under a blanket.  I was still naked, but felt his boxer briefs in place as my hand trailed down his side.

He was out cold.  Looking for the clock I discovered it was about five in the morning.  Staying up all night was a partial failure.  He’d probably be hurting tonight at work.  We’d only been asleep for a couple of hours, so hopefully it wouldn’t be too hard for him to get on track. 

I made breakfast for us before he headed back to his townhouse.  We both agreed that if I went back to his place with him, he wouldn’t get the rest he needed.

~<>~<>~<>~

That afternoon I was checking my email and listening to some music. 
Running Blind
by Godsmack
was playing. 
James and Jason introduced me to Godsmack, and other heavier bands when we were teenagers.  They took me to a concert of theirs before Jason’s passing, and it was amazing.  I’d been hooked ever since.  I wasn’t sure how Cal’s seemingly country taste and my rock taste would mesh.  Of course music tastes were the least of my concerns.

Scrolling through my email I came across one from Becky, my old coworker in San Francisco.  She was checking in on me and told me that Derek had confronted her a few days ago asking where I was.  Becky said that he didn’t believe her, that she’d had no contact with me.  She was asking me what to do.  I didn’t think Derek would go so far as to hurt her, but I couldn’t be sure.  My heart was racing and I didn’t know what to do.

Cal would know what to do. 
NO! 
I wasn’t going to involve him.  This was my problem, my mess and I would take care of it. 
Shit!
  I grabbed my cell phone and punched in Derek’s number. 

“Hello?”  His voice sent shivers down my spine and I immediately felt nauseous.  When I didn’t say anything he asked again, “Hello?”

“Derek.  Stop looking for me.  It’s done, we’re done.  Let it go.”

“Jane, the cops are looking for you, not me.”  I didn’t want to believe a word he said.  Did he report me missing?  Wouldn’t the cops have contacted my parents if that were the case?  “Jane?”

“Go to hell, Derek.”

He snickered before saying, “I’ll make sure to take you there with me.”

I hung up the phone and flung it to the other end of my bed.  What did I see in him?  Was he always like this and I just missed it?  My Dad mentioned to me that he never liked Derek.  He said that he was too self-important and arrogant, but he was confident I’d see the light.  I wish my father would’ve spoken up sooner, though I probably wouldn’t have listened to him.