Learning To Trust Again

But the concern in Jake's voice, as much as his words, worked to sooth Rebecca. He was willing to walk away if that was what she wanted and she sensed he wouldn’t hold it against her either, no matter how frustrating stopping at that point would be for him. She wasn’t used to that sort of consideration from a man. With Mark, if she ever made a decision that he didn’t agree with, he made her feel like it was due to some inadequacy in her. She was the problem because she couldn’t make the right choice. But Jake was not pushing her to do things his way. He was allowing her to choose what was right for her and in the end it was this that helped her decide. She shook her head. Looking down as she searched her bag for her keys she replied ‘sorry, no Jake I don’t want you to go.’

‘Rebecca?’ Jake said prompting her to look at him.

Tuning back from unlocking the door she looked up at him.

‘You’re sure?’ he asked.

Smiling now, her heart going a mile a minute, she pulled him inside and shut the door, dropping her bag on the floor at her feet. She had left the entry light on when they’d gone out, which was lucky because she wasn’t about to waste time looking for the light switch. Looking up at him, she said ‘yep’ and reaching up she kissed him, putting her feelings on the subject beyond doubt.

Taking over where they had left off, the kiss quickly got out of control right there in the entry way and lifting his head after a minute Jake teased ‘Bec, when I said inside I was hoping for a bedroom.’

Staring at him, unable to look away Rebecca just pointed to the left and as Jake picked her up, her legs wrapped around his hips she whispered ‘say that again.’

Jake stopped walking. With a puzzled look he said ‘what?’

‘Say my name’ she demanded, her voice low as she kissed his ear.

‘Rebecca?’ Jake asked, still not understanding.

‘No, Bec’ she rasped, moving her mouth along his jaw.

Jake grinned and as he started moving again he said in a low growl ‘Bec.’

Rebecca sighed and a shiver passed through her body. ‘Jake’ she whispered back before locking her mouth on his in a fierce kiss. 

Loss and Longing

Stevie smiled and walked down the passage to her room. She closed the door and flopped down on her bed. She was having trouble believing what had happened with Grant wasn’t all a wonderful dream. But then she remembered that she had to text him a list of ingredients for the dinner she intended to cook. Thankful for once for all the meals she had had to cook for her family in the last few years, with little effort she composed a menu that she knew she could cook well and that was delicious without requiring many ingredients or her slaving over the stove for hours. Even though she was more than happy to cook for him, she didn’t want to spend all her time in the kitchen. Typing the list of ingredients for a simple meal of steak and a salad but with a chocolate pudding for dessert she added to the bottom of the text. I hope you eat steak and chocolate.

Within a couple of seconds her phone beeped with a reply. She smiled and opened the message. But when she read it she laughed. He’d texted back “never had them together, but I’m willing to try anything.”

She wasn’t sure if he was serious or not but chuckling to herself, she texted back “glad to know you’re open to new taste sensations.”

His reply came straight back. “I’m open, but the taste sensation I had earlier today was better than any food.”

Stevie’s knew he was referring to the kiss they’d shared and her heart began to pound. Rolling over on to her back she typed back “same here.”

“So is that going to be on the menu tomorrow night?” he sent back.

Heat flowing through her, Stevie typed back “could be dangerous.”

“I’m willing to risk it if you are” he sent.

She laughed and typed “as long as you don’t distract me will I’m cooking.”

“I promise not to make you burn anything” he sent.

 She laughed again and typed “good. Night.”

“Night” he sent.

Learning To Trust Again

As they neared her apartment Rebecca’s nerves began to take over again. Her hands started to sweat and her breathing was accelerated. However if Jake was feeling anything similar there was no indication of it. He seemed calm and unaffected by either her or the charm of the night. Irritated by the unfairness of that, Rebecca looked away to the side, a frown on her face.

She knew Jake had felt the sudden tension in her when she felt his eyes come to rest on her and not move for several long moments. This only disturbed Rebecca more, but she fought hard not to show it, as much to prove something to herself as to not convey to him what she was feeling. Eventually, as if released from the grip of a powerful force she felt his eyes move away and she let her breath out on a soft sigh.

Reaching her door Rebecca turned around and rested her back on it. She looked up at him, feeling shy all of a sudden. ‘Thank you for dinner’ she said unable to maintain eye contact with him.

Lifting his arm to lean on the door above her head, moving his body close to her without actually touching her, Jake looked down at her but he didn’t speak until she lifted her eyes again and looked at him. His eyes locked on hers, he said ‘no worries’ and as he finished speaking his gaze slipped down to fix on her mouth.

Seeing the direction of his gaze Rebecca’s breath caught in her throat. All of a sudden she felt hot all over and she discovered all her careful deliberation about whether she was ready, was irrelevant. Watching him watching her, waiting for her to make the final move that committed them to taking things further, she found that ready or not, she couldn’t or wouldn’t stop it. She was unable to hold back and without a word she hooked a hand around his neck and pulled his head towards her.

As their lips met and fused, Jake moved closer and leaned against her.

Sandwiched between his firm body and the door, able to feel every inch of him from thigh to shoulder, molded against her, Rebecca’s control slipped its leash. She lifted herself up on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck as she gave in to the sweet sensations coursing through her. Without being aware of it, she began moving her body against his in a slow, sensuous rhythm.

Rebecca’s unconscious movements seemed to have an effect on Jake as he dragged his mouth away and rested his forehead on hers. His breathing ragged, he asked ‘you want to move this inside?’

Unable to think clearly, with her head still echoing a warning that her body refused to listen to, Rebecca just stared at him. And she knew he must have seen her confusion when he moved back and frowned. His eyes searching hers he asked ‘Bec, do you want me to go?’

Learning To Trust Again

Dinner was a comfortable meal. Sometimes they talked and sometimes they were silent. As they left the restaurant neither of them had spoken for a while. For Rebecca it was her nerves keeping her silent. They were beginning to get the better of her. After that kiss they’d shared before they left for dinner, she knew if he kissed her like that again, she might just get carried away. If they shared another moment like that she wasn’t sure she would be able to stop. But she also wasn’t sure she was ready for that. Like she sensed was weighing him down, she was carrying her own share of baggage. She hadn’t been with anyone since Mark, she hadn’t even been interested.

But with Jake it felt different, there was a definite attraction there, which may have started with the fact that he had saved her but certainly wasn’t diminished any by the fact that he was gorgeous. There was more to it than that too. He made her feel safe, in a way she’d never known before. She felt like she could depend on him and given her history that was a sensation that was almost irresistible to her.

However getting close to him meant making herself vulnerable again and putting her trust in him and that was something she vowed not to do again, unless she was sure the person deserved it. It hurt too much the last time when it proved her trust was badly misplaced. Did she know Jake well enough to be able to judge? She just didn’t know.

As they strolled along, making their way to the river, where Jake had suggested they go for a walk, Rebecca was grateful for the warm touch of his hand around hers. The simple contact was comforting and helped to calm her nerves a little.

For Rebecca there was a magical feeling to the night. As they walked along its bank, the river, bathed in the pale moonlight, pulled them along to follow its dreamy wanderings. The mild night air had a soft, velvet like quality, wrapping around them making it feel like they were occupying a very intimate space even though they were out in the open. Pausing at a bend where they had a clear view down the river, Jake looked down at her. Lifting his free hand, the one he had injured, he laid it on her jaw and gently rubbed his thumb across her cheek. Lowering his head, he met her mouth in a sweet kiss that was hot at the same time and as he eased back, it left her wanting more. Without a word, as if by unspoken agreement, they both started moving again. Rebecca’s heart was beating double time and sure that he must be able to feel it she cursed herself for being unable to control her response. Focusing, she tried to calm herself down.

Going Home

Part 97

Grace, Josh, Margaret and Robert reached the lake mid afternoon and after getting everything on board, the boat driver took them to a beautiful inlet and tied the boat to the bank before leaving in a smaller boat he’d towed behind the house boat. Before leaving he let them know if they wanted to move at any stage just to give him a ring, otherwise he’d be back on Sunday afternoon to take the boat back to the marina.

The weather was warm and after unpacking they all sat out on the back deck with a drink watching the activity on the water. Conversation was easy and the silences were comfortable. Everyone was relaxed. Slowly the sun set over the lake and after dinner as they watch the night sky Grace asked Robert “so when you spent summers up here where did you stay?”

Remembering those summers as a family Robert smiled “we camped on the edge of the lake. Generally it was in the same spot, a couple of kilometers from where we are now but sometimes we’d try other locations.”

“It was great fun.” Margaret said “Not that I’d like to do it now, I like my home comforts now but back then it was wonderful and they were some of my favourite memories. It was great for the boys too, they loved that they didn’t have to shower while they were here. It’s funny though they were in the water all the time anyway so they were probably cleaner here than when they were at home. Do you remember that Josh? You and Gavin would be up at the crack of dawn fishing rods out ready to out do each other?”

Josh was silent for a minute and Grace looked over at him. She was hoping this wasn’t too hard for him. Margaret and Robert were also watching Josh and holding their breath as they waited for a response.

Looking out at the night, Josh nodded and said “yeah I remember. I loved spending time here.”

After he had spoken there was an almost audible collective sigh of relief as the other three relaxed.