Take a Breath (Take 1) (17 page)

 
  I felt like laughing and calling him my caveman, but now was not
really the appropriate time.  He cares for my welfare and is very
serious about the whole thing.  I won’t argue with him. 
There really is no point.  I sigh in defeat.

I
look over at Michael and Tom, who seem to have been enjoying a good
round of Jake and Ana Table Tennis.  I feel exhausted and just
want to go to bed and have Jake’s arms wrapped around me all day and
all night.  I’m overwhelmed and I can feel many eyes upon me and
I’m starting to feel uncomfortable.  There are many men and women
in and out of the house and I just want them all to go away.  I
know why they’re staring at me.  It’s the same reason all the men
like to have a sneak peak in an interview room at a rape victim. 
They want to see what all the fuss is about.  It is sick I know,
but it’s true.  When a woman is raped, they want to see if she is
worth raping.  Disgusting, but it’s the mentality of people like
that at times and I know they are doing the exact same thing with me
now.  I bury my head in my hands; I just want this all to go
away.  

 
  Sensing my frustration Jake pulls at one of my arms, “Look,
maybe it is best that you go to my room until this is all over. 
I’ll take you up and come back down and hurry things on a bit so you
can get some breathing space ok?”  

 
  I nod my agreement and Jake excuses himself for a moment to
fetch something from the kitchen.  It’s the sandwiches he made
earlier.  He won’t forget about my eating, I have to smile. 
He gestures for me to follow and I turn to Michael and Tom. 
“Well, I guess I will see you two soon.”  They both get up and
give me a hug and try to reassure me that everything will be ok. 
I nod and can’t help the tear that escapes my eye. 

I
follow Jake upstairs, along with the sandwiches I know he is going to
force me to eat once we’re up there.  I just can’t think about
food at the moment, I feel as sick as a dog.  Where does that
expression come from anyway?  Do all dogs feel sick all the time?

     We get to his bedroom and he sits me on his bed as he shuts the prying eyes out.  

   “You must eat Ana.”  

 
  There it is again, just like clockwork.  “Jake, please I
can’t eat right now.  This shock needs to sink in a bit first
before I can eat.  The whole thing is making me feel sick.  I
can’t even look at food right now, let alone contemplate placing it
anywhere near my mouth.  Please just leave it there for a
moment.  I promise I will eat it later, just not now,
ok?”  

 
  He smiles, “Am I being overbearing?  Sorry.  I’m not
sure how to cope with this.  Instead I just deal with it the best
way I know how and that is to try and control everything around
me.  It’s all I know.”  

 
  He places the sandwiches by the bedside and moves closer to
me.  Despite the gravity of the situation I am immediately pulled
in by Jake’s magnetism and for now it is all I can think about. 
He faces me and his hand rises up to touch my face.  With one
finger, he glides down from the top of my head, down past my cheek and
under my chin.  I shiver at his touch and he lets out a little
laugh.  

   “Are you cold, or does my touch affect you that much?”  

 
  He cups my face and I lean my head into his hand and gently
trail my fingers down from the top of his arm right down to his
hand.  He seems to have the same shivering effect that I
do.  

   “Maybe we are both feeling cold in here?”  

 
  I let out a giggle, and a contented sigh escapes me.  “I
think we both know the answer to that question don’t we?”  Can I
seriously not get enough of this man?  Even if we were locked in a
room together for weeks, months, years, I would still not be able to
get enough of him.  He pulls me towards him and gently kisses the
top of my head and strokes my hair behind my back.  This is the
most tender moment I have ever felt.  In the ugliness we are
embroiled in, this is the beauty that cannot be denied or
tainted.  No one, not even the monster out there can take that
away now.  I move my hands up to cup his face and look deep into
those eyes.  My heart is pounding and my eyes watering from the
enormity of this day.  A single tear falls and Jake takes his
thumb and wipes it from my face.  I can’t help myself as I race to
find his lips.  His warm, enticing sweet lips that I have laid
claim to.  At first we are gentle, but soon our breathing picks up
and the kissing becomes more frantic.  Our tongues are everywhere
and our hands grabbing at every part of our bodies.  We are both
pulling each other closer, as if being this close isn’t enough. 
It could never be enough.  My head is spinning and I’m delirious
with all things Jake filling my head, my body, my soul is his.  I
climb on top of him and wrap my legs around his waist.  I find a
fistful of hair that I lace between my fingers, as I tug him deeper
into our kiss.  I can’t help it but the tiger in me wants to be
let out.  With his hair in my hands I pull him towards me
further.  He growls at me and scratches my back with both hands, I
let go of his mouth and pull my head back in ecstasy as I gasp, my
pussy throbbing as if it has never had sex the past few hours.  I
can’t seem to get enough.  I push my head back up and look at
Jake, the same piercing hunger in his eyes as my lips find his mouth
again.  As soon as it has begun it is suddenly stopped by a knock
on the door. 

We
are both quickly pulled back into the reality of what is happening
around us.  I jump off Jake causing me to slip and fall off the
bed.  I start laughing, I can’t help it.  Jake is stunned and
quickly bends down to help me up.  

   “Shit, are you ok?  I forgot where I was, fucking shit, fuck.”  

 
  Jake helps me up and I give him a smile.  “Jake, calm down,
it’s ok.  Sit there and I will answer the door.  I don’t
think you can in your state.”  I look down at his obvious arousal
and he looks down with me.  

 
  He pops his head back up and smiles, “I’m sure whatever he has
to say will kill anything I have going on down here rather
quickly.”  

 
  He seats himself on the bed and props a cushion on his
lap.  I let out a little giggle, straighten myself and answer the
door.  

 
 “Sorry to disturb you, but I just wanted a word with Jake a
minute.  You will be glad to hear that I think we’re nearly done
and will be out of your way very soon.”  

 
  A very red and all of a sudden shy agent Marcos is standing not
sure where to put himself.  He obviously feels very uncomfortable
and by the looks of things wants to be away himself as soon as he
can.  

 
 “I’ll be out in just a second; I need to use the bathroom
first.”  Agent Marcos nods and I shut the door.  “Oh dear,
how embarrassing was that?”  

 
  Jake throws the cushion on the bed, “Not only that, but it is
not the sort of thing we should be doing in a house full of unwanted
guests.  As per usual, I don’t know what came over me.”  

 
  He gets up and takes himself off to the bathroom shaking his
head as he goes.  I lay myself on his monstrous bed trying to calm
my breathing.    After a couple of minutes have passed, Jake
reappears and looks at me.  

 
 “I have to get out of here right now.”  With that he leaves
abruptly and I start giggling.  I don’t know why I am finding
things so funny in a situation that is far from amusing, but I can’t
help it.  I lie on my back and close my eyes trying to
relax.  The thrum of the air conditioning is whistling in the
background and I sigh, suddenly feeling so tired.  For a moment I
hear only that sound and concentrating on nothing else.  I can
feel my eyes getting heavy as I drift off to sleep.

Chapter 16

I
can smell the stench of whiskey fill my airways.  It is dark and I
cannot see around me, but I can smell all the same.  I feel
sick.  A hand clasps over my mouth as I try and thrust out a
scream.  

 
 “You will get what’s coming to you bitch.  I’m going to rip
your pussy apart and you will love every minute of it.  You’ve
always been a prick tease and I have yet to claim you.”  

 
  I go ridged as I recognise that voice. I feel the pressure of
his body pressed against mine but I cannot open my eyes, why can I not
see?  I try to wriggle and scream but I can’t seem to move or get
any sound out.  I hear him laugh and the fear is crippling
me.  Why is he here, what does he want from me?  His hands
are everywhere and the weight of him is unbearable.  

    I suddenly feel his hot breath on my ear as he whispers, “Ana, soon you will be mine.” 

I scream and kick and punch out of all my might.  It's him, that son of a bitch is here.  

 
  Suddenly I feel arms wrapped around me and a soothing voice,
“Ana, it’s ok.  Ana please, it’s Jake, you’re ok, you’re safe with
me.  Jesus Ana, please calm down.”  

 
  I’m gasping for breath as my eyes suddenly open wide to a
darkened room.  Sweat is pouring off me and I can’t escape the
tears streaming down my face.  The nightmares are back.  It
has been a couple of years since I had one about Alan and now he is
back again taking control of my life.  I’m shaking from head to
toe.  How much did Jake hear if anything?  His arms are
wrapped around me tightly as he is rocking me back and forth and trying
to comfort me.  “Please put the light on Jake, what time is
it?”  He leaves me for a minute and my body feels the
emptiness.  He puts the light on and comes back to me.  

   “Shit, Ana, are you ok, please tell me you’re ok?  What was that about?”  

 
  I look at the bedside and see the clock says 21:23hrs. 
Shit, how long have I slept for?  Jake grabs a tissue and wipes my
face.  

   “I’ll go start a bath for you ok?”  

 
  I look up at Jake and nod still pondering over how much if
anything I have given away of my nightmare.  He gets up and
disappears into the bathroom and shortly after I can hear the water
running. 

He
later comes back over to my side of the bed. He is completely dressed
still so obviously hasn’t been sleeping.  I’m wondering where he
has been as he strokes the hair away from my eyes.  

 
 “You gave me a heart attack when you suddenly started
screaming.  You were kicking and your arms were punching the
air.  You were shouting for someone not to hurt you.  You
were pleading.”  

 
  A fresh set of tears escapes as I try and gather some sort of
control, “I had a nightmare that someone was on top of me and I
couldn’t see his face.  He had his hand over my mouth and told me
I would soon be his.  It was a nightmare, that’s all.  I
think all that’s happened today is just playing it out in my
dreams.”          Jake sighs and cups my hand
with his, “You’re safe Ana; you will always be safe with me.  I
promise.”  

 
  I smile and suddenly feel better as my sleep frenzied head is
disappearing.  “Where were you, downstairs?”  

 
 “No, I was right here with you.  When they finally all left
I came up and saw you sleeping and I didn’t want to wake you, you
needed the rest so I sat on the chair and just stared at you.  You
looked so peaceful.  I admit I must have dosed off watching you
sleep, as next minute you’re screaming and I’m thinking the fucker
managed to get in here and had somehow managed to get to you.  I
was cursing myself for dozing off.”  

 
  I laugh, “Jake, you have to sleep too, you’re not a robot, you
need rest just like everyone.  I’m sorry I scared you.”  He
comes closer and pulls me into his arms.  I bury my head in his
chest and breathe in his scent.  He is so delicious and all
mine.  

 
 “You’re not to be sorry for anything, that fucker is the one who
will be sorry when I get my hands on him.”  

 
   I pull my head back astounded, “Jake, you can’t take the
law into your own hands; you of all people should know
that.”  

 
  He heaves a big sigh deflated, “I know that Ana, but I really
cannot be responsible for my actions if I find I’m alone in a room with
him.”  He gets up and gestures to me, “Come, we have a bath
awaiting us.”  

    I smile up at him and pull off the covers and take his hand.  

   “Would Miss Sinclair like some bubbles?”  

 
  I suddenly dance up and down like a little girl the whole
nightmare forgotten, “Oh yes please, some Jacuzzi action.  I’ve
never been in one before.”  He looks up at me complete shock on
his face.  

   “Well, we must remedy that right away and break your Jacuzzi cherry with a bang.”  

 
  I can’t help but chuckle, I’m a little over excited about the
prospect of trying this out for the very first time.  I stand
there watching whilst he pours a little bubble bath in the water and
starts the Jacuzzi going.  Everything comes to life quickly as the
bubbles form everywhere and the sweet smell of Jasmine feels the
air.  The concentration is high on Jake’s face as he seems to want
to make everything perfect for me.  

   “Right, I’m popping downstairs for just two minutes ok?  I’ll be back in a flash.”