"See? Much more comfortable." I sigh, relaxing into the plush back cushion of my sofa on my side, my legs pulled up under my dress. I rest one arm over the back of the cushion, holding my drink in the other as Jackson sit's near me, but leaves some space.
"Did I tell you that you look stunning tonight?" Jackson's soft smile accompanies his enchanted eyes that stare at me in awe.
I clear my throat and look down at my hands, "You may have mentioned that already, yes. Thank you."
The blush is nothing compared to the heat building between my legs. Why does he have this effect on me? This is Jackson! The one who helped clean your wounds, the one who was able to get me medicine when I was sick. The one who held me as I cried asking why did my parents hate me so much? He knew my deepest insecurities, my flaws, and still looked at me now like I am the most beautiful thing he's ever seen. It has to be the alcohol. Right?
"I'm sorry, Lita. Is my compliment making you uncomfortable?" Jackson inquires, as he runs a finger around the edge of his glass.
Yes, but not as much as the scent of your cologne invading my senses, making me want to straddle you and sniff you all night. Fuck, what is wrong with me?
"I'm just not used to receiving compliments by someone who isn't looking for something else." I say quietly unable to meet his gaze.
"What makes you think I'm not looking for something else?" He chuckles, making me meet his look with a raised brow.
So is this how it is? I'm a good old friend but I'm also good enough for a fuck?
"Really?" I narrow my eyes at him but it doesn't seem to phase him.
He sighs and shrugs, taking a big gulp of his drink before turning his whole body towards me.
"Something else or something more..." he mumbles under his breath, staring off into space a moment before returning his attention to me.
"I wanted to ask you, Lita. Is the only reason you're entertaining me.... is it because you believe it will help your company win the contract? Because sometimes you're the girl I remember all grown up, other times it's like you are merely humoring me." Jackson asks, his well-built frame suddenly going rigid as if preparing for the worst.
Shit. How do I answer this? He's already admitted that people he thought were friends showed their true colors in the end.... Should I just be honest? I may never find out the answer to my own questions then if he doesn't like the truth. I don't want to lie to him, even though a part of me wants to hurt him too over the pain he's caused.
"May I ask you a question first? I'll answer yours as soon as you answer mine." I set my glass on the table and meet his gaze and really look into those hazel eyes that I had trusted for years that made promises and cut me to the core. Those emotions are battling against the desires that have been building, ever since scenting his cologne with him this close. I need to know though what happened.
He grunts, "Fire away."
I pull all my strength that I can muster and let out a heavy breath as the weight of this question and answer could very well upend my whole existence. "Where were you the next night after promising to be there for me to protect me from my dad?" Tears begin to make my eyes heavy, not yet spilling. Thankfully my voice did not break.
The tension is suddenly so thick in the air that you could cut a steak with it. I watch him clench his fists and release them, as he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath and holds it.
He mutters something so low, I almost don't catch it, "That explains it..."
I wait, patiently as possible for an answer, about to reach for my drink when he shifts his weight on the couch and sets his own drink down and comes to rest back, closer to me.
"Lita." He starts and takes my hand, looking at the old scars that are still visible from years of my fathers abuse, even if they are lighter now. "That very same night, CPS was waiting at the house when I returned. They took me because my folks got busted with not just narcotics but also guns, ones that were linked to a murder. I was stuck in a foster home until my next of kin was contacted and my uncle came and picked me up. I was two towns over and I tried, believe me, I tried. I tried to tell CPS that you were being abused, that you needed me, that you needed help. Hell, I ran away from the foster home the second the CPS car left, trying to get to you. The foster parents caught me as I was climbing out the window. I knew your mother was going to take off, because I had heard something at my house. That one of my parents customers was talking about taking your mom with him across country."
He pauses as my hands grip him harder. "You knew that day and didn't tell me?"
I can't believe he kept something like that from me.
His eyes soften and look pained, "I wanted to, but I was a kid then, Lita. I didn't want the information to hurt you more so than I knew it would. I had every intention of being there for you. I would have protected you, I had a baseball bat and a stun gun ready to take him on."
Tears are rolling down my face. All this time, I've been so angry with him for not being there. A part of me knew that obviously he was taken away and couldn't get to me. That he would have been there. Now, guilt rises in me and I need to answer his question.
"Yes." I say quietly.
He looks confused so I elaborate, "Yes. The main reason I have been entertaining you is because my CEO saw that we had known each other prior and told me to get you to sign the contract, no matter what it took, or they would otherwise reevaluate my loyalty to the company." I say quietly, attempting to pull my hands from his, but he grips them tighter.
He gives them a quick squeeze and I glance up to see a hardness in his eyes but it's not directed at me. He lets out a sigh of relief and closes his eyes as he murmurs, "Thank you, Lita. I knew by the way your demeanor with me would change at times. I knew that there was something not right."
"I'm sorry Jacks. I really am. I just have been so disappointed with you for the past eighteen years... I needed you and you were not there and now I know the truth and I feel really stupid." I'm able to pull one hand free and wipe my eyes, "I understand if you never want to see me again. I didn't deserve your friendship, not when I could blame you so easily." I look down and take a few calming breaths, centering my emotions and preparing myself for the pain to come.
Instead, I'm surprised when he scoots closer to me and lifts my chin to look me in the eyes.
"Oh Lita, you do deserve it. Thank you for being honest with me. Now, I'm going to be honest too."
He takes a shaky breath and reads my eyes like he can see my soul. His cologne and natural scent intoxicating my senses, making my heart beat faster. His hand still has my chin raised to look at him. His hazel eyes are drawing me in, reminding me how we used do staring contests and I would try to draw his eyes sometimes. They were beautiful then, I recall, just like they are now, framed by long lashes that I used to envy. No, I still envy them.
I'm waiting for him to say whatever he's finding the courage or right words to say, our gazes never leaving each others. His eyes flash with hope and caution and yearning. I am becoming breathless as I watch the emotions rolling inside of him. I see his eyes coming closer to mine, noticing how we are naturally leaning into each other.
"Lita..." He says softly, his lips seem to move as if my name is like a soft caress.
"Yes, Jacks?" I ask watching those lips part and his tongue dart out to tease his top lip. I want to tease those lips myself.
"Lita, if you keep staring at me like that, I'm going to kiss you." His lips are closer, his voice low and husky.
"And?" I ask my eyes darting back up to meet his before dropping back down to his lips as he inhales a sharp breath. Shit, I hope I don't regret that later. Do I want Jacks to kiss me?
Yes, I do.
Suddenly, his warm lips meet mine, soft and testing mine. I hum at the sensation, my core now ablaze with fuel from the kiss, my stomach and heart flipping and beating like crazy. My hands work up into his hair about to pull him closer to me, when he pulls back, leaving me dazed and confused at the loss.
Opening my eyes, I see he's peering into mine, one hand maneuvering around my waist, the other brushes a strand of my hair behind my ear. I blush at the tender intimacy those simple gestures offer me.
"Oh Lita.." Jackson suddenly groans, pulling me closer to his body and taking my lips with a hungry need. I straddle his lap, not parting our lips, and run my hands through his hair. I tug softly on his hair, our lips unable to part from their ravenous feast. His other hand runs down to join his other at my waist, pulling me closer to his body. I feel the hardness that's prodding me through his slacks as it rubs against my crotch.
I gasp against his lips as he pulls me against him again, his erection rubs against my crotch, through my underwear, making me hungry for more. His hands start to move down to my ass and soon he's the one groaning against my lips as his hands are full of my ass, pulling me harder against his body.
Fuck, I haven't been this turned on, this needy in years. I fucking want Jackson so badly it hurts.
When his hands slide under my skirt and begins to glide over the back of my thighs, I freeze.
The scars.
His eyes open at my sudden stillness, he's breathless, "Lita, if you want to take this slow. Tell me now. Otherwise, I'm going to take you to your room and ravish you."
My eyes widen and my core clenches at the thought, because I know he will. That was no threat, but a promise. My silence to his statement only makes him hum and pull me back in for another deep kiss. I push back and stand up from his lap, stepping back before heading to the stair.
I look over my shoulder, seeing him sitting on the edge of the couch, uncertainty causing his brow to gather as he stays there watching me walk. "Coming?" I ask demurely, scanning him from top to bottom.
He smiles and stands, as I ascend the stairs and head to my bedroom. I turn off my main light, but forgot earlier to turn off my vanity light. Jacksons arms wrap around me before I can make my way to turn it off.
Jacksons lips are on my neck, making me sigh in pleasure, his lips sucking, tongue lapping, teeth nipping at my sensitive areas under my ear and right at the nape of my neck. I slide my hand up over me, holding his head against me as I gasp at the sensations his lips were causing. One of his hands slides up to fondle my breast, the other pulls my skirt up, his hand reaching in between my legs to slide over my underwear that are wet with my arousal.
"Oh fuck... Lita.." He groans, feeling the slick that's accumulated between my legs. "That is so fucking sexy." Breathless with his words, he continues, "I hope you don't have plans tomorrow."
I sigh, "Why?"
He pulls away from me, spins me around and lifts me and says possessively, "Because you won't be leaving this bedroom until I'm done with you." He then tosses me on the bed making me squeal, as I hit the bed and bounce lightly, my skirt landing higher over my knees.
Jackson licks his lips as he crawls on to the bed between my legs, lifting my calf and placing kisses along the inside. I'm nervous about him seeing my scars, what if he thinks they're hideous?
My legs close, trembling at the thought.
"No, Lita... Don't hide from me." Jackson demands, parting my legs with his hand, spreading them open for him.
He pauses, "You're not a virgin, right?" Jackson waits before moving.
I scoff and shake my head no, unable to trust my voice.
His face disappears under my skirt and I hear and feel him take a deep breath, smelling my lusty body. I have to pick my jaw up off my chest, appalled and finding it highly erotic at the same time.
"So sweet.." He mumbles, his hands pulling my underwear off, sliding them over my legs before tossing them to the ground.
Okay, that is hot. I'm on fire now.
"I've dreamt of this for a long time, Lita... So please, don't hold back, I want to hear you as I make you scream my name."