A Matter of Trust (8 page)

As soon as Jake got her completely
topless, he laid her back down on the bed and ran his hand all over
her, cupping her breasts, rubbing her nipples with his thumb,
squeezing them between his fingers. Trish took turns gasping for
breath and moaning.

When he took her nipple
into his mouth, licking, sucking, Trish thought she would die a
perfect death. God, she could never remember feeling this hot
before in her life. The depth of pleasure consumed her. Only one
thought ran through her head,
don’t stop,
don’t stop, don’t stop
, as she reveled in
the feelings that swamped her.

After the first shock of pleasure from
Jake’s mouth, Trish suddenly couldn’t wait to give back. She
started tugging at his t-shirt, desperate to feel the texture of
his skin. She couldn’t get it off fast enough, and when she did,
she couldn’t seem to satisfy her need to touch him. From the rough
feel of the hair on his chest against her breasts to the smooth
texture of skin on his back to the rock hard muscles she
encountered everywhere she explored, Jake was perfection
incarnate.

From the moment they began touching
each other, they lost themselves in the intensity radiating between
them. Everywhere they touched, kissed, licked, and bit each other
taught a lesson in passion they’d never known before. It wasn’t
just the physical pleasure they gave each other, it was the feeling
behind it, the need to reach each other on a higher
level.

Jake shifted them to their sides
facing each other and pulled Trish’s jean clad leg over his hip,
running his hand up her thigh to cup her rear in his large, strong
hand, squeezing, kneading, as he kissed her deeply.

Not enough. Trish swung up and
straddled his hips, moving him onto his back and pressing against
the solid length of his erection through their jeans. The both
groaned as they pushed, pulled, and grinded against each other in
the efforts to get closer. They both reached for the buttons on
each other’s jeans at the same time, desperate to get rid of the
last barriers between them. They helped each other and themselves,
speed being the operative word. Jeans and underwear were stripped
off together and kicked off frantically to fall on the floor, and
then back into each other’s arms in reunion after what had seemed
like much too long a time. Trish lay on her back, pulling Jake’s
head down to her hungry mouth while he threw his leg over her hips.
Trish ran her nails down his back, across his hip and down the
thigh holding her trapped underneath him.

Jake lifted his head to look down at
the woman in his arms. Trish’s eyes were barely open, dazed with
passion as she reached for him again. Jake intercepted her hand and
placed it over his heart then reached up to touch her face, cupping
her cheek in his rough, warm hand. “Trish, you’re beautiful. I’ve
never wanted another woman like this. It’s killing me.”

“
I don’t want to talk,
Jake. Make love to me.”

Time for talking would have to come
later. He had to have her now, but even as he reached between them
to stroke her breast, tweak her nipples, and moved lower to sift
through the damp curls at her core, an emotional deluge overwhelmed
him, and he didn’t know what to do with. Making love to Trish
transcended the physical connection. It encompassed him, and he
knew he would never be the same.

He parted her with his fingers
spreading her moisture to coat her and ready her for his entry. He
tested her with the tips of his fingers then sank deeper
inside.

“
Jake, please. I can’t
wait any longer.”

Jake shifted his weight, reaching down
to the floor and pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and
pulled out a foil packet, ripping it open with his
teeth.

“
I’m glad one of us is
thinking. All I can think of is you inside me. Hurry.”

Jake suited up and rose above her.
“Look at me, Trish. I want to see your eyes when I get inside you.”
She looked up into his face, and he cupped her cheek as he entered
her. “God, you feel so good.”

Trish closed her eyes again as he
began to move inside her. Jake kissed her eyes, her cheeks, her
lips. He moved down to her chin and jaw, then her neck where he bit
her gently between her neck and shoulder, bringing up goose bumps
and moan. He moved down to her breasts, kissing, sucking, nipping,
licking. Trish thought she’d die from the feelings erupting
throughout her body and mind, even her soul. She ran her hands up
and down his back, kissing his neck and chest, grabbing his rear
and tilting her hips up as she bent her knees to take him
deeper.

As close as they were, Jake wanted
closer. He couldn’t get enough of tasting her, couldn’t hold her
closely enough to suit him, to soothe his hunger. He didn’t know
how he could get any closer, but he desperately sought a way. He
was torn between bringing them both to climax now and drawing out
their pleasure. He wanted the heat to last, the joining to be
forever. Covered in a sheen of sweat, he searched to find a balance
between the two urges.

Too far gone to wait any longer, Trish
clasped his hips in her hands urging him to go faster. “Jake, Jake,
my God.”

Jake took his cue from her and moved
faster and harder until he felt her climax closing around him,
calling to him to join her in completion of ecstasy. He dove over
the edge with her, extending both their pleasure as he continued to
stroke her and wring out more spasms so intense, they were both
shuddering from their impact.

They were both still breathing hard
when he rolled his weight off of her and laid on his back, pulling
her to rest across his chest, her head between his neck and
shoulder. She stroked his chest, as he lightly ran his fingertips
up and down her back and arm and stroked the disheveled hair from
her face. Fully sated, they fell asleep in each other’s arms, both
sighing in contentment, both feeling more complete than they had at
any other time in their lives.

Chapter 4

Trish shot up, startled and
disoriented. The phone rang again, and she looked at the clock on
the night stand. Eight o’clock!? She reached for the phone on the
other side of the bed – apparently Jake’s side – and answered on
the third ring.

“
Trish? Is everything
alright?”

“
Mom! Hi. Yes, everything
is fine. Are y’all okay?”

“
Yes, honey, everyone here
is great. We called you at the office, but no one answered, and I
got worried.”

“
I guess I overslept, Mom.
I’m glad you called and woke me up.” Trish chanced a glance down at
Jake and found him looking up at her with sleepy eyes. “How’s
everything going? Having fun?”

“
Someone wants to talk to
you, honey, hold on.”

“
Mommy?”

“
Hey, Trevor. How are you,
son? Are you having a good time?”

“
We’re having a great
time, Mom. We’re going on the boat tomorrow, so I’m not sure if we
can call you for a few days. I miss you, Mom. Do you miss
me?”

Trish’s eyes filled with tears. She
cleared her throat. “I miss you every minute of every day, son. I
can’t wait for you and Lex to get home, baby. I’m so glad you’re
having fun. How’s your sister?”

Jake reached to take Trish’s hand in
his, but she moved it and put more space between them. He watched
her closely as she continued talking.

“
Hey Lexie. How’s Momma’s
baby girl?” Trish continued to talk to her daughter, smiling
through her tears, finding it hard to concentrate on the
conversation when regrets and fears consumed her.
What the hell have I done?

Trish wiped at her tears and said her
final I love you’s and sent kisses through the phone line, gaining
promises that they would be good for Gram. She hung up and held her
head in her hand as she tried to pull herself together.

Jake sat up and touched her shoulder
only to see her stiffen noticeably. He pulled his hand back and
carefully asked, “How are the kids?”

Trish took a deep breath. “They’re
fine, having a good time. I have to get ready for work. I’m already
late.”

So, this is how it’s going
to be. Morning regrets and alienation
.
Jake felt his stomach plummet along with a pain in his chest in the
vicinity of his heart.

“
I thought you didn’t open
until nine. It’s just after eight.”

“
I’m always there by seven
at the latest. I have to go take a shower.”

“
Okay.”

Trish got out of bed and practically
ran to the bathroom. She felt vulnerable and extremely naked. Part
of that was the fact that she wasn’t wearing a stitch of clothing,
but part of it had to do with the raw emotions churning through
her.

How could I have let this
happen? What the hell was I thinking? This is not what I want or
need. God, how am I going to get out of this without hurting Jake?
What am I saying? How am I going to get out without hurting myself?
This was all my fault. God, please let him be gone when I get out
of the shower.

Trish took a longer shower than she’d
wanted to in hopes that by drawing it out, Jake would leave. No
such luck. She dried off and grabbed her white terry cloth robe off
the hook in back of the door and shoved her arms through it, tying
it tightly at the waist. She gingerly opened the door and peeked
out into the bedroom. Jake sat on the bed, fully dressed and
waiting for her.

While Trish had been in the shower,
Jake had had time to think and calm down his nerves as well as his
temper. Trish obviously felt defensive. The question was, why?
They’d spent an incredible night together, and he didn’t think he
was alone in his feelings that it had been way more than just
scratching an itch. No way in hell that Trish could have made love
with him like that if it had been just about the sex. They’d shared
more than their bodies, exchanged more than physical pleasure.
Something was going on here. One way or another, he planned to find
out what it was, and by God, he would knock down every last damn
wall she put up between them.

“
Jake…”

“
Don’t even think you’re
going to brush this or me off, Trish. Not going to
happen.”

“
Excuse me? Look, last
night was … nice. It was great.”

“
I thought so,
too.”

“
Jake, as great as it was,
it was a one shot deal, okay? We’re both adults, and I’m hoping we
can stay friends, but a repeat performance is out of the
question.”

“
A repeat performance? I
hate to break it to you, honey, but that was no performance. There
was not acting involved, and I don’t ‘perform’ on
demand.”

“
I didn’t mean it like
that, Jake. I have responsibilities. I can’t be involved with you
or anyone else right now. Not for a long time. While I thoroughly
enjoyed last night, it was last night and not today. Nothing is
going to come of it, okay?”

“
Trish, everyone in the
free world has responsibilities, and they manage to maintain
relationships at the same time. I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed
last night, but I’m afraid I’m not ready to end it there. What’s
really going on here, Trish? Talk to me, for Christ’s
sake.”

“
I am talking to you, but
you’re not listening. I’m not interested in carrying this any
further. I have my kids to think about, my job, and I have to stick
to the plan.”

“
Maybe you wouldn’t mind
sharing with me what exactly the plan is, then. How about it,
Trish? What’s the plan you’ve mapped out so carefully, and where do
I fit into it?”

“
That’s just it, Jake, you
don’t fit into it. The plan is to dig myself out of the hole I’m in
and raise my kids with as much stability as possible. Now, if
you’ll excuse me, I have to get ready for work.”

Trish started past him, but he stepped
in front of her and pulled her to him. “Sorry, Trish, but that
doesn’t work for me.” He crushed his mouth to hers. There was
nothing gentle about it. It was raw, just like his feelings. He
plundered her mouth as soon as she opened for him, holding her head
in place until he felt her responding. He continued the onslaught
until they were both breathless.

“
I think it’s time to
reevaluate the plan, Trish, and you better make sure I’m in there
somewhere. What we shared last night wasn’t anything either of us
will forget about any time soon. If you think it was just sex,
you’d better rethink it. We’re not going to be just friends, Trish,
much less friends with benefits. I don’t know what’s got you so
spooked, but we’re going to figure it out. Together. You’re going
to have to talk to me. You’re right, we’re both adults. It’s time
you started acting like one.”

“
Just who the hell do you
think you are, Jake? You don’t tell me what I’m going to do and
what I’m not going to do. You’re not in charge of my life, I am.
You can’t just lay down the law and expect me to fall into line.
And as far as acting like an adult, believe me, I’m there. I have
two kids to raise, no husband, and I grew up a long time ago, so
don’t you dare suggest otherwise. I’m up to my eyebrows in
adulthood. You have no idea what I’ve been through, so don’t you
sit there and read me the riot act.”