Blood of the Rainbow (14 page)

Sara’s heart pounded furiously as she tried to catch her breath. “You’re not fighting fair.”

“And you haven’t given me an answer.”

“Yes I have. I said I would try.”

“How hard?” Jared gently bit her neck. She could feel his teeth. It should have hurt, but it was arousing and sensual.

“Very hard,” she gasped as her stomach tingled inside.

Jared pulled away. He smiled triumphantly, satisfied. “All right, I can stop teasing you now.” He put his cell to his ear. “I’m calling Lucy.”

“What? No! Don’t call her! She’ll call my mother! Jared, please, don’t!”

Jared’s cell rang once, and he broke the connection. “All right, but you’ve got to call her sooner or later.” He eased her legs around in the seat, taking care not to hurt her ankle.

Jared started the engine, and reached across to buckle her seatbelt. “We better get started back. You can spend the night at my place since it’s going to be late when we get there. You can call Lucy then.”

That was it. He had teased her and set her body on fire with feelings she’d never experienced before, and he was just going to leave it at that? As far as he was concerned, the issue was closed.

Sara searched for something to distract her burning desire. “Do you mind if we listen to some music?”

Jared laughed. “Sara, we’re in a band, we have our own recording studio, and you ask me if we can listen to music?” He grinned.  “What do you want to listen to?”

“Something old and bouncy. Do you have anything like that?” Jared was right. It was a stupid question, but Sara had to say something to keep her mind occupied, and off Jared.

Jared laughed again and pulled to the shoulder. He loaded his DVD player up with an oldies collection. Roy Orbison blared out ‘Pretty Woman’ over his stereo system. He looked at her, smiled and started singing to her.

Sara couldn’t help but blush.

Jared whirled his BMW around in the middle of the road in one swift handbrake turn, and peeled out down the highway hitting ninety in seconds. The trees had become a green blur. The ride was so easy, it felt like they were hardly moving.

Sara’s eyes widened. “Wait! What about my car?”

Jared waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve already called someone to come pick it up and take it to my house. Chances are it will be there waiting for you.” He reached across and brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers. “You just sit back, enjoy the ride and let me worry about things – ok? I’ll take care of you now.”

“
More likely drive me insane.
 “Can I sleep?”

“Are you still sleepy?”

Oh God!His voice is as sweet as honey, and it’s burning me up.
Sara knew she had to do something – anything to get her mind off his incredibly sexy body just inches from hers. “Yes, I’m still sleepy.”

Jared frowned. “I had hoped that would have passed by now.” He sighed and handed her a second bottle of water. “All right, but before you do, get some more of this down. Drink it slower this time.”

Sara didn’t disagree with him. She quickly drank a third of the bottle.

Jared held his hand over the bottle. “Easy – you’ll give yourself a brain freeze. Drink it slowly Angel. Maybe we should stop by the emergency room before I take you home, and get some x-rays done to make sure you’re all right.” His voice was full of concern.

“I’m fine Jared. I don’t want to go to the emergency room. Can’t you just take care of me at home? I – ah – I meant your place.” It surprised Sara how easily she’d used the word
home
.

Jared smiled, pleased that she’d said it. “You had it right the first time Sara. It can be your home anytime you’re ready for it to be.” He sighed, deep in thought. “I guess you can sleep, but if you start feeling dizzy or get a headache, we’re going straight to the hospital, no questions asked, understood?” He glanced at her.

Sara spoke with sincerity. “I’ll do whatever you want me to.” No more trying to be noble, she would do anything he asked her to. Sara wanted him, and she couldn’t give him up – not after he’d told her that he loved her.
If this is a mistake, I’ll suffer the consequences, even if the price is my soul.
“Can I go to sleep now?” she asked again.

“If you really
need
to, but be forewarned, I might rouse you a time or two, just to make sure you’re still ok.”

“Maybe I can stay awake if you’ll talk to me.”

“What do you want to talk about?”

“How did you know where to look for me? I know Steve gave you my message, and apparently – despite what I asked him
not
to do - told you what we talked about. That still wouldn’t have told you which way to look for me. Even when I left his house, I didn’t know what I was going to do, or where I was going.”

Jared grimaced slightly. “Would you believe me if I said I asked my Spirit Guide?”

Sara rapidly blinked, trying to stay awake. “I might if I knew what a Spirit Guide was. Are they like a guardian angel?”

Jared laughed. “Well, yes and no. Everyone has a Spirit Guide. They’re not just for our people. You see, before we choose to be reincarnated, we’d already chosen our Spirit Guides in the afterlife. Each of us has a special Spirit Guide that has been with us since birth. Through prayer and meditation, we can go to our Spirit Guides, and ask questions about things in our lives. If it is in our best interests, they answer and guide us.

When I had talked to Steve, before I came to look for you, I went to my secret place and asked my Spirit Guide to show me where you were. I explained how much you meant to me and then I got in the car and started driving. I tried to reach you on your cell, but when you didn’t answer, I went in whatever direction I felt compelled to. All I could think about was what I would do if I didn’t get to you in time.”

“Wow! If everybody has a Spirit Guide, does that include me? How do I communicate with it – her – him – them?”

“Yes, it includes you. You may already be in contact with it on a sub-conscious level.  Have you ever had an impulse to do or say something, or felt like there was something you just
had
to do, and you
didn’t
know why?”

“Yeah. I felt that way when I left home to move in with Lucy. I didn’t know why, I just knew it was the right thing for me to do. I tried to explain it to my mother, but she didn’t understand – I guess I really didn’t either. I just knew it was something I
had
to do.”

Jared smiled, reached across and took her hand. “I’m glad you listened. Otherwise, I may never have found you.”

“It was my Spirit Guide that made me feel that way?”

“I can’t say for sure, but probably….”

“Can I see my Spirit Guide?”

“Probably, if you were taught in our ways.”

Sara’s interest was piqued. “Would you teach me?”

“Yes, if you want me to, but my grandfather would be a better teacher. He’s better at it than I am.”

“It would mean more to me if you did it. Please.”

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Ok, but if you end up with Garfield as a Spirit Guide, don’t blame me,” he said laughing. Sara smiled. “Can I take this music out for a minute? There’s something I want you to listen to.”

Sara nodded. “Course you can. It’s your radio, Silly.”

Jared gave her a wry grin and put a different DVD in. The next thing Sara knew,
her
song was playing. She gave Jared a strange look. “I did it the other night while it was just us, before the rest of the band got there.”

Sara was flabbergasted, it sounded professional. “How did you make it sound so good?”

Jared laughed. “I recorded it. I haven’t done anything to it, other than twin your voice in some places. It’s just you, me and my piano, and the background track I was using. Sara, you have a beautiful voice. I didn’t
need
to do anything to it. It’s good just the way it is. I want to give a copy of it to the local radio stations, and get them to play it over the airways – with your permission, of course.”

“I don’t know – do you
really
think it’s good enough?”

“I wouldn’t have told you if I didn’t. Neither would I have bothered to make a recording of you. You wouldn’t believe how many people I’ve turned down, that desperately wanted to be part of ‘Raging Storm’.”

Sara started feeling drowsy again. She blinked a couple more times, but she knew it wouldn’t last.
Yes I would, especially if, the wannabes were girls.
Jared’s voice was amazingly hypnotic. Sara jerked her head as he continued talking to her. “I trust you. Do whatever you want to with the recording.”

Jared smiled and kissed her hand again. “I also want to set up some bookings, get you out front. I want you to feature for ‘Raging Storm’ – when you’re well enough, that is.”

“Me – out front?” she asked, her eyes slowly closing again. Sara blinked a couple times more, and managed to finish her feeble objection, “Jared, you’re forgetting; I have a horrible case of stage fright.”

“Remember what I said. A few more sessions in the studio and you won’t have that. Besides, I won’t make you do it alone Sara. I’ll be out there with you. We’ll work on it together. If you really want to make a career, I’ll get you over your stage fright.
Sara – Sara, are you awake?
” Jared softly laughed. “
Just rest, Angel, I’ll sing you to sleep.
” Jared’s last few words were so far away, Sara barely heard them, and then she fell asleep to the sound of his perfect voice.

------------

The next thing Sara was aware of was Jared carrying her into his house, and up the stairs to his bedroom. She recognized it from before. He gently laid her on his bed, and started undressing her. Sara felt a warm cloth, rubbing over her body as Jared cleaned the mud and blood off her skin. After he’d toweled her off, Sara heard him call Lucy and explain things to her. It sounded like Lucy was upset and wanted to come over, but Jared told her Sara was sleeping.

Sara heard his cell beep and felt his lips on her forehead. “Good night, Angel,” he whispered, kneeling over her. He started to walk away. Sara reached out for him, taking his hand.

Sara opened her bleary eyes, her voice a whisper. “Stay….”

“All right,” Jared whispered, “but I won’t sleep
with
you.” He kicked off his shoes and lay beside her on top of the cover. He snuggled up close to her, and Sara laid her head on his shoulder. She felt warm and safe. Jared gently caressed her face and smiled. “I want you to sleep now.” He kissed her.

Sara kissed him back. “I don’t want to sleep. Sleep is
not
what I want.” She looked deeply into his eyes.

Jared groaned. “No, I know it’s not what you
want
, but it’s what you
need
.” He started singing ‘Angel’ to her again.

“That’s not fair,” Sara weakly grumbled.

Jared kissed her forehead, smiled and whispered in her ear, “I know.” Then he carried on singing until she was fast asleep.

------------

Sara woke up sometime in the night, disoriented. She looked beside her. Jared was sleeping peacefully next to her. His chest rising and falling with his gentle breathing. His mouth was next to her ear. Each time he exhaled, it tickled, sending shivers down her spine. Sara never wanted to leave. She touched his face, and it woke him with a start.

“What is it? What’s wrong, Sara – did I hurt you? Do you want me to move?”

“No, you didn’t hurt me, and I most certainly do
not
want you to move –
ever
.” Her voice was breathless. She leaned up and kissed him.

Jared responded to her kisses. “You’re not trying very hard, Sara.” He covered her mouth with his. “God how I want you Sara.” His voice was hoarse, filled with desire as he kissed her over and over, each one deeper and more intense than the last. Sara could feel his body responding as his need grew. He started moaning and losing control. “Sara – stop me,” he gasped.

“But I don’t
want
to… I
want
this… I
want
you….”

“You promised me. Please, don’t let me do this,” he pled, but he didn’t pull away, and he didn’t stop kissing her. His own will was gone, he was depending on hers now, and she didn’t want to do what he was asking.
Oh God! Help me!
She didn’t want him to stop, but the words he’d said to her ripped through her heart like scalpels. He slid his hand under the cover. He was whispering again. “You promised me….”

Sara drew in as steady a breath as she was able to. “Jared… Stop! You have to stop!” her voice was weak and unconvincing.

“But I don’t want to stop…” He cupped his hand around her breast as his lips found hers again.

The moment of decision was at hand; the longing so real, the line between doing what she wanted, and what he’d asked her to do was becoming dangerously transparent. For a few seconds, her mind went blank, totally lost in her desire.

“You have to,” she said, weakly, pushing his hands away from her aching body. “You made me promise. Please, I want you to stop Jared – please.” That was it. Sara had used what fight she had left to stop what she wanted so badly she could taste it, cool and sweet, warm and bitter. Wrong or right, she didn’t care anymore. If Jared persisted, Sara couldn’t resist him. She wouldn’t! The next move would be made by him; she’d run out of strength.

Jared knew this. He stopped kissing her, and looked deeply and longingly into her eyes. “Now I know you’re not doing this because you feel obligated by what’s in my diary. You’re doing this because it’s what
you
want. ” He kissed her passionately again.

“Jared, you said you wanted me to stop you. I have. What are you doing? I don’t understand.”

“I told you not to make me make the choice. I asked you not to offer yourself to me. I never said I didn’t want to make love to you. I asked you not to offer yourself to me, and you didn’t. Now the choice is not for me to make. It’s your choice now.”

Chapter 7

Sara didn’t know what happened next. She must have fallen asleep again. What terrible timing. It was morning before she woke up – alone. Jared had left a note on the pillow next to her. Using his pastels, he’d sketched a white wolf, holding a red rose in its teeth on the front of it. She picked it up and turned it over. The message was short and sweet.