Jake was unrecognizable to himself in the mirror. He had cut his long, wavy, dark blond hair into a short, sleek, modern cut, styled with product. He was completely clean shaven for the first time since Liv's funeral, and he couldn't help peering at his face in the mirror constantly, like he was seeing himself for the first time. He was wearing a black business suit with a long sleeved white dress shirt and a light blue and gray pinstriped tie. His shoes were shiny and black, and he stared at his strange reflection as he shrugged a black peacoat up onto his shoulders.

He strode from the dressing room, paid cash for everything he was wearing, heading directly to Harrison's office.

Trey was able to break into Harrison's phone yesterday, had downloaded all of the call history from the phone, and the entirety of the text messages. Jake himself had dug through the texts and was unable to find anything about Riley, but that didn't mean Harrison wasn't behind it.

Trey had installed a tiny tracking device within the phone and Jake had another in his pocket. He was about to go return said phone to the cocksucker it belonged to.

He entered Harrison's office building simply by nodding at the entrance security guard this time, made his way up to Harrison's floor, and strategically placed himself in line with the elevators. It was five minutes before five o'clock.

He had to wait about twenty minutes for Harrison to exit his office. As usual, he was walking with several other men, all dressed the same, the same way Jake himself was now.

As the elevator opened, Jake strode over and entered with the rest of them, strategically placing himself next to Harrison. Immediately his heart started beating faster, his breathing became shallow, and he felt himself beginning to sweat. Jake knew he could kill this man with his bare hands, and he wanted to, but there were too many witnesses.

He reigned in his focus. There were only four floors to do what needed to be done.

First, he pretended to be putting a ball point pen into his inside jacket pocket, purposely dropped the pen, bent to retrieve it, then snapped the black tracker onto the bottom back hem of Harrison's black pea coat, standing with his pen in hand a second later.

Next, a moment before the elevator doors opened, he slipped Harrison's phone carefully into Harrison's jacket pocket, hopefully without any movement. If there was any indication he did feel it, Jake would run as soon as the doors opened.

The elevator doors dinged opened and everyone walked out, Jake walking calmly at a moderate pace to not draw suspicion.

As they hit the cold air with snow swirling lazily through the breeze, he parted ways from the group. His trip had been mostly successful. While he didn't yet have proof, he was now monitoring Harrison's movements and had a shit ton of phone numbers for Travis to dig into. He proceeded to the men's clothing store, returned everything he had purchased an hour ago, called Deb and told her he was heading back.

"I just need ya to keep her with ya till I call and tell her I'm almost back. Then she can head on home. Should be arrivin' tomorrow night".

"All right, hun", Deb replied, agreeably. "She sure is a sweet little gal. I'd have loved to have a daughter just like her. I'll take her any day, and so will Eddie".

Jake smiled. "Thank you, ma'am. She's awfully taken with him, too, ya know".

"Oh, she spoils him terribly, and that naughty thing takes advantage! You know, he's sleeping with her and he shoves her right to the edge of the bed, and she just lays there like that, and doesn't make him scoot over?!?"

Jake laughed pretty hard at that. "Totally picturin' it!", he chuckled.

"You get home safely, darlin'", Deb advised. "Riley's missing you, regardless of how much she's enjoying spending time with us. She watches her phone and the clocks constantly, counting down the minutes until her champion returns".

Jake felt his heart thump hard and a smile stretch across his face. He was certainly looking forward to their reunion, as well.

...........................................................................

Thursday afternoon Jake texted me he would be home sometime that night, and my stomach fluttered in anticipation.

After work, I thanked Deb profusely for her hospitality, packed up all my belongings from her house, hugged and kissed Eddie, then stopped at the grocery store before heading home. It had not snowed as Jake had feared but it was definitely jacket and gloves weather.

My little cabin appeared stark and lonely in the early dark of a winter evening, and Jake's up the hill loomed broodingly over its shoulder.

The first thing I did was turn all the lights on then started a fire.

Jake said he would call when he was a couple hours away, and he hadn't done that yet, so I had automatically locked and bolted the front door behind me. I felt severely alone out here in all this wilderness after spending so much time in town, and the aloneness felt foreboding.

I turned on the radio to country and set about busying myself cleaning the cabin.

Around eight o'clock, my phone rang. It was Jake. I quickly turned down my music and answered.

"Hello?"

"Hey, beautiful", his deep voice spoke through the phone, sending warmth flooding through all my veins.

"Tell me you're close", I requested hopefully.

"A little over an hour".

"Are you hungry? Do you want some supper when you get here?"

"Please. And whiskey".

I laughed lightly. After a long drive, I knew that was a given.

My laughter stopped abruptly as a knock on my door startled me.

"What?", Jake asked.

"Someone knocked", I told him, surprised at the wavering in my voice.

"Don't ya dare open that door!", he nearly shouted through the phone, also startling me.

My heart started racing. What on earth?

"Is it locked?", he added.

"Yes".

"Bolted?", he pressed, sounding panicked.

"Yes".

The knock came again, louder.

"Keep me on the phone. Talk through the door. Find out who it is".

My heart was definitely pounding now, so hard it hurt my chest.

I cautiously approached the door and called out, "Who is it?"

My voice was shaking and my mouth was dry.

There was no reply but the knock came again.

"Louder, babe", Jake spoke in my ear. "Don'tcha dare open that fuckin' door unless it's someone we know".

"Who is it?", I asked, louder, my voice sounding stronger.

"I'm lost", a gruff male voice replied. "Can ya give me directions?"

"Directions?", Jake growled in my ear. "That's fuckin' bullshit. Tell him to turn right at the end of yer driveway and that'll bring him to the main road".

I repeated what Jake said.

The stranger laughed lightly on the other side of the door. It gave me a creepy chill.

"Don't trust strangers 'round here much?", he asked.

"Sorry, no", I replied, instantly feeling badly for being so mean if he really was lost.

"Where's yer gun?", Jake asked in my ear.

"In my purse", I whispered back. "On the table".

"You gotta phone I could use?", the man on the other side of the door asked.

"You tell him no!", Jake growled in my ear.

"Sorry, phones don't work way out here", I replied, feeling uncomfortable about the lie.

"You got a man in there might be able to help me change a tire?", he asked next.

"Tell him I'm almost home", Jake said urgently.

"He will be home soon. Where's your car?"

"On that main road ya mentioned".

"I can send him to check when he gets here".

"Much obliged".

I heard footsteps move off the porch.

"Try an' see 'em", Jake urged. "Carefully. Don't let 'em see ya lookin'".

I carefully peeked at the tiniest corner of the front window with barely moving the curtain at all. A large, broad shouldered, bulky form was moving down my driveway, but that was all I could see in the dim light coming from my cabin. It was too dark to make out any details.

"A big guy, bigger than you", I said to Jake, "but I can't see any details. I'm sorry".

"Keep watchin'. Try an' see where he goes. I'm callin' Trav and I'll call ya right back. Don't you move". He sounded fierce.

"Okay, I won't".

My heart was pounding and my legs felt shaky. Was Jake overreacting? Was I? Was that guy actually lost or did he mean me harm?

...........................................................................

Jake ended the call with Riley then immediately called Travis.

"Hey, J-".

"Get to Riley's immediately. Call me when you're on yer way an' I'll explain".

"Leavin' now. Hold on".

Through the phone Jake listened to the rustling of keys and then a vehicle starting.

"Talk", Travis said.

Jake ran through what had happened at the cabin.

"I'm over an hour away still", Jake explained, feeling helpless.

"Can you keep her on the phone 'till I get there? I wanna drive around and see if I can find this guy", Travis reasoned.

"Damn straight. Can ya sit with her 'till I arrive?"

"You bet. Talk soon".

Jake hung up with Travis then called his girl back.

...........................................................................

I tried watching the formidable stranger leaving but his hulking form was completely absorbed into the shadows once he hit the end of the driveway.

As promised, I continued to peer as inconspicuously as possible through the corner of the window while I awaited a call from Jake.

When my phone rang, I gasped and dropped it, then quickly picked it up and answered.

"Jake?", I choked out.

"Baby, are you okay?"

His voice was tense.

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm sorry I couldn't tell where he went once he got to the end of the driveway".

"Ain't yer fault. It's dark. I'm gonna stay on with ya till Travis gets there an' I'm hurryin'".

"I'm quite all right, but I won't be if you don't return, so I don't want you driving recklessly to shave time off the drive", I cautioned him.

"I ain't bein' reckless. Don't you worry none 'bout me".

"Okay".

"How 'bout ya tell me some more of yer adventures with Eddie 'till Trav gets there?", Jake prompted.

I obligingly prattled on about how cute and smart Eddie was, and about Deb's amazing cooking, until I saw headlights light up my kitchen.

"Travis is here".

"Don't assume!", Jake said sharply. "Look out the window and be sure of it!"

I did as instructed. I recognized the black SUV and Travis' lanky form climbing out.

"It's him all right".

"'Kay, babe. I think I got 'bout forty minutes left. See ya soon".

"Drive safely".

We hung up then I opened my door to Travis before he had a chance to knock.

"Hey there", he said, his fatherly brown eyes peering at me with some concern.

"Please come in", I told him.

"Thanks", he accepted, stepping over the threshold.

I shut and locked the heavy wooden door behind him but refrained from barring him in.

He was standing in the kitchen, long legs spread, feet planted, wiry arms crossed.

"I found the guy down the road. Pretty sure. Fit the description. He was changin' a tire, didn't know what the hell he was doin'. I helped him out, asked questions while I was doin' it. He didn't seem to know how he got way out here so I sent him back on down the mountain. He seemed legit...strange, but legit".

"Oh, good. I'm sorry to have wasted your time. I didn't mean to get so worked up about it".

Travis flashed me a grin, dimples winking at me in his weathered face, his dark tan faded only slightly in the winter.

"Ma'am", he said, still grinning, "I ain't heard nothin' bout no kinda fuss from you. That boyfriend of yours on the other hand...he was 'bout ready to lose his mind on account of his not bein' here to protect ya. He's probably going a hundred and twenty right now".

"Oh. Oh my", I said, feeling slightly faint at the idea.

Travis' grin subdued itself slightly. "I'll give him a call, how's that?"

"Please", I said, feeling a rush of relief. I started digging through the refrigerator to figure out what to make Jake for supper as Travis made the call.

...........................................................................

Jake was driving ninety miles an hour on the interstate, dropped to eighty once he hit the two lane highway, then down to an excruciating sixty on the county roads. He gave zero flying fucks if Trav was there or not. He needed to be there. That was his girl and his world in danger.

It gave him some peace of mind that Travis said he believed the guy was being genuine, even though it didn't make much sense. Why would he claim to be lost when he had clearly walked from the road to her cabin? Unless he had cut through the woods, but why would he? Travis had good instincts but this still seemed off.

I need to get my arms around her.

That was the only way he was gonna feel better.

A glint of eyes reflecting his headlights from the side of the road had him hitting his breaks, and he finally started driving the speed limit. He was in the woods now, close to home, and if he hit a deer that would only slow his arrival.

Travis' SUV was parked in her driveway, so he swung up to his truck's normal parking space alongside his house, grabbed his bag from the cab, and literally ran down the hill to her.

He had to wait at the locked front door, thankful for her caution, but frustrated at yet another detriment to seeing her.

"Who is it?", Travis asked.

"Jake", he replied.

As the door was opening he blew past Travis, eyes scanning the room quickly. They landed on the petite form he was looking for, her pale face drawn and her large eyes wide and worried. Her auburn hair was pulled back into a sleek low bun, she had on a mint green sweater which drew out the light green of her eyes, and a bright floral apron was covering her front.

He briefly took her appearance in as he was striding toward her, dropping his duffel bag on the floor as he moved.

He took in a momentary flash of surprise in her eyes before he had her wrapped up in his arms, lifting her right off the floor and holding her against him.

"Jake, your hair! Your face!", she said next to his ear, and he remembered he hadn't prepared her for the change in his appearance.

"Sorry, baby", he murmured against the side of her head. "Was gonna tell ya then this happened".

"That's all right", she said graciously. "I'm so glad you're back".

He carefully set her back on her feet then took her petite face between his hands.

"Are ya okay?", he asked, scanning her eyes.

"Yes, I'm fine. I overreacted".

"No, ya didn't. Ya did exactly right".

"I'm burning your food", she said with a little smile.

He kissed her forehead softly then released her, turning to Travis.

"See ya outside for a moment?", Jake asked.

"Yessir", Travis nodded.

"I'll see ya around, little lady", Travis called out to Riley.

"Thank you so much, Travis. I really appreciate you sitting with me. Please apologize to your wife for me for keeping you so late".

"Don't you worry 'bout that none", he assured her, tipping his hat.

On the porch, Jake pulled a manilla envelope folded in half from the back of his waistband and handed it to the Sheriff.

"Here's his phone records. See whatcha can find out. I didn't read anythin' relevant in the texts".

Travis raised one eyebrow but didn't ask how he got it.

"Nice disguise", he did comment, grinning.

Jake chuckled. "Thanks", he agreed, "and thanks for helpin'. That's the most important thing in the world to me in there", he said, hitching his thumb back over his shoulder toward the cabin behind him. "I ain't about to go through my world shatterin' all over again when I just started livin'".

"Son, believe me when I say I understand", Travis said, placing a fatherly hand on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry for what you've lost. I got four women I feel exactly that way about and I'm thankful I've never been in your shoes. Can't say I blame ya gettin' worked up like ya do".

"Ya know, you can pull Will out if ya want now. I got trackers on him and his car".

"Yeah, I might do that", Travis agreed. "We got no budget for hotels and he ain't on official police work no how".

Travis turned and sauntered down the porch steps, heels of his cowboy boots making satisfying clunks against each step.

"I'll letcha know what I find out", he said, waving the envelope full of papers over his shoulder without turning as he sauntered down the driveway.

Jake watched him drive away, then went in, locked and bolted the front door behind him, and wrapped his arms around Riley's waist from behind as she was doing dishes at the kitchen sink.

He rested his chin on top of her head, breathed in her familiar scent, shut his eyes, and silently thanked God for keeping her safe.

She turned off the water at the sink and rubbed the back of his hand lightly.

"You should eat", she prodded gently.

"In a minute", he replied quietly, eyes squeezed shut, trying to calm his frayed nerves, breathing her in, and consciously slowing his heart rate.

...........................................................................

"Yeah?", Will answered the phone groggily. He had fallen asleep on the uncomfortable hotel bed with his jacket still on, as chilled as he had been from wandering around outside all day. Winter here wasn't the same as winter back home. Without trees to block the wind, it's icy blades came rushing around the edges of buildings with a blast so fierce it actually stung. Layers didn't seem to matter- the air crept in everywhere.

"Hey, son", Travis' kind voice spoke on the other line. "Jake is back. He gave me a whole pile of phone records to dig into, and he got tracking devices onto Harrison's car and person, so we don't need ya physically trackin' him no more".

Will felt as though Jake had slapped him with his own incompetence.

"So, that's what he was up to", Will mused, remembering Jake dropping his phone by Harrison's car. "Where'd he get tracking devices?"

"Probably knows people. This is why I called him. Figured he'd have connections".

Will sighed. He had always thought of himself as a good guy, and he knew Jake wasn't, so how was it that Jake continued to come out on top in every interaction they'd ever had?

"Why don'tcha head to your parents 'till Christmas is done", Travis suggested gently.

"Sure. Good idea", Will decided.

At least those two people were always happy to see him.

...........................................................................

I couldn't help but stare at Jake as he ate. He was so gorgeous I didn't feel worthy of his affection. I felt homely and shy in his presence. Not that he hadn't been gorgeous to me before, but his entire face had been covered by hair then, so I hadn't seen the stark perfection. Exposed as it was now, I could see the strong jawline, the curve of his cheekbones, how full and red his lips were, how straight and perfect his nose was, the symmetry and the proportions of a perfect face. It was absolutely stunning.

"Sorry I didn't warn ya 'bout the change", he said sheepishly as he caught me staring.

"Don't worry about that", I assured him. "What made you decide to do this, though?", I asked curiously.

"I was thinkin' maybe a gal like you ain't used to such a vagrant like me, thought maybe I'd clean myself up a little. What'dya think?", he asked, eyeing me almost nervously.

"You are so handsome now I can hardly bear to think you could ever be interested in me", I answered honestly.

"Riley!", he gasped, his eyes huge and his mouth dropped wide open. "How couldya ever think that? I don't wantcha talkin' like that ever again! Not in my presence! Yer so fuckin' gorgeous you could be a model! What the fuck are ya thinkin'?"

I felt my cheeks flush from the scolding but it did not sway my opinion in the least.

"I wasn't born beautiful", I explained. "I owe my appearance to cosmetic surgery".

"I don't believe that for one fuckin' second", he growled.

"It's true. You already know about my breast implants, but I also had a nose job, my teeth fixed, my brow line raised, and my lips filled and shaped. I'd bet anything you didn't have work done and your face is perfect".

Jake currently appeared conflicted, like he wasn't sure how to respond. After a moment of silence he decided.

"Tell me about all of it", he simply requested.

How?

This was embarrassing, shameful. I didn't want Jake to think badly of me, but I wanted to be honest with him.

I stared at my hands folded in my lap and began. "In high school, I had braces for two years, but they were clear ones, so that helped the awkwardness of it. Most other kids took care of things like that during the summers so no one saw. My teeth still weren't even quite right after braces, so in between my sophomore and junior year Mother took me to an expensive cosmetic dentist who straightened them out better and got them whitened. I still whiten them periodically...or I did, I mean".

I thought a moment, remembering.

"Before I went to college, Mother decided that it would be best for me to enhance my appearance in order to meet a more suitable husband. She said the more attractive I was, the more options I would have. I didn't want to get surgery. I was terribly frightened. After all, I was still really a child then. Eighteen...but I'd never been hospitalized before. I'd never broken a bone or anything".

I glanced at Jake and wished I hadn't. His arms were both on the table, fists clenched. His jaw was clenched, his brow was furrowed, and he was breathing shallowly.

I wasn't sure if I should continue or what I should do. "I'm sorry", I began quietly.

"Ain't nothin' to be sorry 'bout", he said gruffly. "Yer twisted fuckin' mama's the one to be sorry".

I didn't know what to say about that.

His brow softened. "Sorry, baby", he added softly. "Keep on".

"Anyway, I didn't want to let my parents down so I did what she wanted. I got everything else done that summer. Breasts were first and I thought it was horrible and painful, but that was nothing compared to the nose job. I thought I was going to suffocate and die during the recovery. My anxiety was so high after coming to, they had to keep me high on painkillers to keep me calm. I was sent home with Valium. My sinuses were swollen and I had to breathe through my mouth but I'd accidentally close it when I was sleeping and wake up struggling to breathe. I don't wish that surgery on anyone".

I shuddered remembering.

"Lip fillers are no big deal and they fade over time, so I've had that done a few times, but the lip lift and shaping I did after my nose healed. I also didn't think that was too bad, and neither was the brow lift".

I checked Jake's expression again, which was unreadable.

"I'm sure you was plenty beautiful before all that", he simply said. "Ya couldn'ta changed that much. Don't see how it coulda been necessary".

I shrugged. "It wasn't necessary but I'm not changing back now. Not after all that pain and suffering. I do think I'm prettier this way, but it feels like I'm lying sometimes...hiding behind it. I know you don't like things to be fake. I'm surprised you're attracted to me at all".

"Riley", he said sternly, getting up and standing in front of my chair. "Ya gotta stop with that shit".

He placed one large hand on each of my shoulders and leaned his blue-gray eyes close to mine. "Yer the least fake person I've ever met in my entire life. Physical stuff is just one part of everything, and it happens to be the smallest part of who ya are. I like you and I'm attracted to you, and I would be regardless whatcha looked like. This is how I met ya, and I don't want ya to change, but that's only because this is how I know ya. I woulda been attracted to ya the same before".

I wanted to believe him as I stared into his beautiful eyes but it didn't seem realistic. How could he possibly mean that?

"Ya don't believe me", he said softly. "One day ya will".

He leaned forward and kissed my forehead.

"Come on, I need a shower" he said as he backed away and pulled one of my hands out of my lap.

I laughed lightly. "I need to help you?"

"Yes, ma'am. Ain't lettin' ya out my sight ever again".

...........................................................................

Jake ran his fingers through Riley's soapy hair, rinsing the suds out as she tipped her head back with her eyes shut.

He considered what she had told him about her appearance and realized that's probably why she didn't feel beautiful, or why she didn't believe him when he said she was.

He had told her he would have been attracted to her regardless, and he believed he would have, but he couldn't help wondering how different she had looked before. He wasn't sure he wanted to know. He knew her like this and he liked her like this, but it nagged at him that inside she didn't feel worthy.

He swished the last of the soap suds from her hair and guided her head to an upright position.

As she opened her eyes, he asked impulsively, "Ya know what my favorite feature is on ya?" "The body part that attracted me to ya the most? The one I couldn't live without?"

She flushed slightly and shook her head no.

"These amazin' eyes", he said, laying his hand against her cheek. "An' I know ya didn't change them".

He had said the right thing. She smiled pleasantly, blushing deeper, and he leaned down and kissed her- again and again.

Finally, he reluctantly said, "Okay, shower's gettin' cold. Scoot", and carefully switched spots with her so he could actually shower. He had spent twenty minutes washing her, simply so he could stare at her naked body and run his hands all over it.

He wanted her badly, but he hadn't seen her for four days, and he didn't want that to be the first thing he did. Didn't want her thinking he was using her for sex. Plus, she was probably rattled by the strange man knocking on the door earlier, so who knew if she even wanted to.

He turned off the water, grabbed her towel first, wrapped it around her, then grabbed his own.

He stood silently and watched her apply lotion to her body as she flushed and avoided eye contact. He chuckled at her and she shook her head slightly as she smiled and ducked her head. Then he followed her into her room to get dressed.

...........................................................................

I was a little confused and disappointed that Jake wasn't all over me tonight. After weeks of non-stop affection, I guess I expected he would jump right back into that behavior tonight. I had assumed things were going to progress in the shower, but they hadn't...maybe because the water was actually getting cold. Or maybe the four day break had made things different, or perhaps the conversation about how fake I was had turned him off.

I didn't like it, and I had never instigated sexual relations before (not even with Harrison), but I felt really strongly that things were off and I wanted to make them right...

So, in my room, I simply dropped my towel and turned to him instead of grabbing out pajamas to put on.

His blue-gray eyes scanned my face, questioning, as I wrapped my hands around the back of his neck, pulled on it, and stood on my toes to reach my mouth to his.

He had his towel only around his waist, so as I leaned into him, my bare chest pressed against his. He kissed me back, wrapping his hands around my waist, pulling me against him.

His tongue slid against mine. He ran his hands along my back, then one slid down over my butt and squeezed it, pulling me tighter against him. I felt a sudden hardness against the inside of my hip and was smugly satisfied with myself.

Jake picked me up like I weighed nothing at all, carrying me to the bed, laying me gently on my back. I snagged his towel and pulled it off before he got situated, forearms on either side of my head.

He stared into my eyes in the soft lamp light and placed one large palm on top of my head, pausing there. A small smile touched the edges of his mouth and his eyes sparkled slightly. My stomach fluttered. He was so incredibly gorgeous, and he seemed so relaxed and happy.

He leaned down and started kissing me again, then moved the hand from my head slowly down my face, my neck, to my breast. He caught my nipple between his fingers and rubbed it with his thumb, sending electric jolts through my body. Then slowly, very slowly, he ran that hand down my stomach, excruciatingly slowly finally reaching between my legs.

As he slipped two fingers inside of me, I gasped into his mouth, which he responded to by eagerly kissing me and moving those fingers enthusiastically.

In moments, I was so close to orgasm, I had to shove his hand away. I wanted it to happen with him, rather than with his hand. I don't know why it mattered, but it did. With Harrison, I could count on one hand exactly how many times I achieved orgasm during intercourse, so with him, I was thankful when he spent enough time on me for me to achieve any orgasm at all, and I'd have taken it any way I could get it.

I did not have that problem with Jake.

Jake pulled his mouth away from mine and stared into my eyes, nose touching mine. He shifted his body over, positioning himself between my legs and I wrapped mine around his. Nose still touching mine, still looking into my eyes, he entered me. I gripped his muscular arms and stared back.

Then he gently reached up with one hand, took my hand into his and brought it up over my head, linking his fingers with mine and pressing the back of my hand against the mattress. Then he did it with the other.

My heart started pounding. I'd never done that before. The lack of control made me a tiny bit nervous but I trusted him. Supporting his weight on his forearms and knees, he started moving, staring into my eyes.

It was intense, emotionally overwhelming, and combined with the physical pleasure, I was nearly overcome.

He brought his mouth down to mine and slid his tongue against mine, moving expertly inside of me, squeezing my fingers.

In moments I was close again, squeezing his hands back, whimpering into his mouth.

I could tell he was close.

When the orgasm hit, I turned my head from his, moaning with my eyes shut. It was so intense, I felt it through my entire body. I heard him moaning and gasping, then he bit down gently on my shoulder as he tended to do when he finished. Reeling from the impact, I realized I was lightheaded.

Jake stopped moving, his head next to mine, panting. He kissed my shoulder lightly where he had bit me then let go of my fingers. He was trembling slightly. He rolled off of me and ran a large hand through his now-short hair.

I was watching him. He met my eyes, panting. Then suddenly he broke into a huge grin.

"Holy shit, baby", he said breathlessly. "That was the same time...and that was...wow".

He laughed lightly, still trying to catch his breath.

"That was amazing", I agreed, rolling onto his chest and resting my head on his shoulder. "I got lightheaded".

He laughed softly again. "I thought I was gonna pass out. Damn, woman".

He kissed my forehead.

We lay there for a long time silently after that, until I realized his breathing was so even and slow he must be sleeping. I carefully got up, covered him with a blanket, used the bathroom, then curled up next to him and went to sleep, deliriously happy.

I was so in love with Jake, I couldn't hardly stand it, but I would never tell him. I truly believed that he was still in love with Liv, and that until he had released her properly, he wouldn't be able to love me back. I certainly wasn't going to scare him off by professing my love or pressing him to express emotions he wasn't ready for. I had him beside me and that was enough.

For now.

...........................................................................

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