Blood of the Rainbow (37 page)

“I’m fine, Jared,” Sara said, opening the door and attempting to stand. Funny, where did the twister come from, everything was spinning. Sara’s legs felt like wet noodles, and she went down, scraping her knees on the driveway.

“Ouch!” Sara commented, and started laughing. Suddenly, everything was funny. She couldn’t stop laughing.

Jared wrapped his arms around her. “Honey, are you all right?”

Sara smiled seductively at him, “I’m all right,” she giggled. “I’ve just got a little booboo, that’s all.” Jared’s lips were almost touching hers. Sara desperately wanted him to kiss her. Every fiber in her being wanted him. She leaned closer, pressed her lips to his and kissed him passionately. Jared kissed her back and they were left panting for breath.

“Here, let me see your hands….”

Sara kissed him again. “I don’t want you to see just my hands.”

Jared laughed. “Oh, you don’t – do you?” He looked at her hands. “Come on, let’s get inside and let me clean that up.” He lifted her to her feet. Bad idea, Sara started to slump again. Jared lifted her in his arms and carried her inside, depositing her on the sofa. Jared came back with a first-aid kit, and started cleaning her hands.

Sara smiled. “Jared, I love you.”

Jared finished cleaning Sara’s hands and kissed them, then kissed her lips. “Looks like we’ve come full circle.”

Sara kissed him passionately. “Yes. We met because of one of my little accidents.”

Jared chuckled. “Which is one of the main reasons I decided to become a doctor. So I could take care of all your little accidents.”

“Gyu’re zo sveet… ah I mean so… sweet.” Sara laughed.

Jared chuckled again, and scooped her in his arms, kissing her passionately. “And you, my little darlin’ are drunk. And I’m putting you to bed before you pass out down here, and I have to carry you upstairs anyway.”

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

It must have been early when Jared put Sara to bed. She woke up around midnight and couldn’t go back to sleep. She slipped on her silk robe and walked over to the window. The breeze was pleasant, with a bit of a chill in it. Sara looked up at the night sky, and noticed, far off, across the desert, lightning flashing. She could hear the distant rumble of thunder. She watched it for a while. It seemed to be getting closer, so she decided to get a better look.

The alcohol had partly dehydrated Sara, and she was thirsty. She crept downstairs, being careful not to make any noise. She assumed everyone else would already be in bed asleep, and she didn’t want to disturb them. Sara went into the kitchen. She drank a glass of water, rinsed out the glass, and turned it upside down on the drain rack.

She opened the door - it wasn’t locked. Why should it be? The only thieves out here would be mice and scarabs. The mice were only interested in dried seeds, and the scarabs were interested in the dead, and things Sara didn’t want to think about. Especially after what happened with that book. She shivered, and pushed the thought aside.

Sara walked out in the back yard. The grass was slightly damp from the dew and tickled between her toes. Despite the air was warm, a gust of wind from the coming storm blew the front of her robe open, giving her a slight chill. She wrapped her arms around her body and shivered again, but she was determined to tough it out. She wanted to see what the sky looked like from the ground.

The storm was definitely getting closer. The huge thunderhead discharged lightning bolts in evil branching fingers across the sky, answered by a heavy rumble of thunder, which shook the ground beneath her feet. From the sound of it, Sara figured she was in danger of getting wet, so she didn’t wander far from the house.

She closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh air. It was exhilarating. You could almost feel the electrical current as it flowed through the air from the discharged lightning flashes. The lightning, for some reason Sara couldn’t fathom why, but it reminded her of the spiraling ink from George Thunderclouds book, and the horrible dream she’d had at Dave’s office.

All of a sudden, even though Sara was alone, it felt as if the desert had a thousand eyes, all staring at her. She was about to go back into the house. Despite the spectacular view, she was overcome by an eerie feeling.

“What are you doing out here… like this?” A familiar voice whispered in her ear, tickling her neck.

Sara spun to face a wall of solid bronze muscle, and a pair of glowing crimson eyes. He wrapped his arms around her.

Caught off guard, Sara gasped. “God, I wish you wouldn’t do that! Or at least give me some kind of warning. Seeing a pair of crimson eyes in the dark, especially towering above you is not normal Jared. I didn’t hear you cross the porch. I should have heard you – the boards squeaked when I walked over them!”

Jared laughed – a soft, seductive sound that made Sara shiver again. He wrapped his arms tighter around her, thinking she was cold. “It might
not
have been me Sara.”

Sara softly touched his face, looking into his eyes. “Who else would it have been?”

“Sara, we’re not shielded from the influences of the outside world. Joel knows where we are.”

“That might be true, but I know I’m safe whenever you’re around.”

“You’re shivering,” he said, holding her tighter.

“It wasn’t the wind that made me shiver just now.”

Jared smiled and kissed the end of her nose. “Really? That’s interesting.”

 “How did you know I was out here? I didn’t think anyone was up. I tried not to make any noise, but I was thirsty.”

Jared turned her and pointed up. “Oh!” she commented. Their bedroom windows were almost side-by-side, but for the bathroom between them. “What were you doing up?”

“I was reading. I had put my book down to go to sleep, and decided to watch the lightning for a while. It must have reflected off your metal hair clasp,” he said, reaching up and slowly sliding it free. Sara’s hair spilled down over her shoulders. Jared threaded his fingers in it at the base of her neck and fluffed it out, then smoothed it down with slow, electrifying strokes.

“You’re beautiful anyway, but you’re more beautiful with your hair down. Sara closed her eyes and took a deep, shaky breath. “I like it better this way….”

Sara opened her eyes, and he was staring at her, his eyes two balls of burning fire. He leaned closer, rubbing his cheek against her. “Ayor anosh'ni,” he whispered in her ear.

Sara’s knees started to buckle. “How do you do that to me?” Sara breathed as he kissed along the sides of her neck down to her bare shoulders.

“Do what?” he replied, trying to sound innocent, slyly grinning.

“Make me forget I have to breathe.”

“I guess I better do something about it,” he said and kissed her. Sara’s legs turned to hot butter. If Jared hadn’t been holding her up, she would have collapsed. “You’re awfully weak in your legs Sara,” he said smiling, trying to make her believe he didn’t know why. Sara wasn’t buying it. Jared knew exactly what he was doing to her, and he
loved
it. He loved making her stumble on her words and gasp for breath.

Jared pressed the full length of his body against hers. Sara immediately became aware that there was nothing but her strapless silk nightgown and his cotton pajama bottom between them. Sara wasn’t the only one aroused. Jared groaned and deepened the kiss - his need as strong as hers - his body slightly trembling - struggling for control – holding back, afraid to let go.

Jared knew things were getting out of hand, and Sara wasn’t helping. But then, after what happened at Wisteria Hall, she was determined not to. Sara was ready to give in to her feelings, but Jared wasn’t. He moved his lips away from hers, taking a breath. “God, Sara, you’re pushing me,” he said, breathlessly. “Eventually you’re going to make me snap and when I do….”

Sara turned his face. He kept his eyes closed, his face a mask of pain and control. She kissed him again. “Is that a threat, or a promise?” she asked in a seductive whisper.

“A promise,” he said and crushed his lips against hers, scooping her into his arms. He sat down on the porch, holding Sara on his lap, kissing her and exploring her body. Sara could hardly breathe her heart was pounding so hard. Jared’s was pounding too. Sara knew he was losing it, and so did Jared.

“Sara, we have to stop now!” he said, pulling away. “I won’t do this. I won’t risk having a baby with you.”

“Why? Because you’re afraid, its eyes may glow like yours, or it might be able to run a little faster than other children? I don’t care if you start baying at the moon. Ayor anosh’ni,” Sara said, her Navajo as fluent as his. “I want you, Jared, and I know you want me,” she said, turning his face to hers. “I can see it in your eyes. I can feel your body against mine. Why do you keep fighting this? It’s what we both want, isn’t it?”

Jared kissed her, and then pulled away, just like before. Sara sighed, disappointed.

“It’s not just about wanting and needing Sara. The possible consequences are what prevent me from doing what we
both
want. I won’t risk you, no matter how much I want you, and it’s not going to do you any good to keep testing my will power like this. I’m stronger than you could
ever
believe.” His eyes might have been hot as a burning flame, but they were cold as ice, determined.

Sara was hurt. Jared thought she got up, in the middle of the night, decided to take a stroll in her nightgown,
conveniently
standing in a position that just
happened
to be under his bedroom window. Lure him out here, so she could seduce him and test
his
iron will power! Sara didn’t even know it was
his
bedroom. Jared was acting, like all those times they’d been tempted to go all the way, that it was her fault. That she’d been teasing and luring
him
.

Sara turned away from him, so he couldn’t see the hurt and anger brewing behind her eyes. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks. Sara ignored the wind when it made them feel like icicles on her face.

“I’m sorry Jared. I didn’t realize… this was
all
my fault.” She’d started to cry. Jared reached out to touch her, but she moved away. “I honestly did not come out here for you to follow me, so I could throw myself at you,
again
! I came to watch the storm. And for a while – for a very brief while – you made me feel like I was standing in the clouds. Now I see the storm has passed. You’re right – it’s entirely my fault. I’m going to my room now like a good little girl Jared. Thanks for the –
mauling
,” she snarled.

Jared took a step toward her. “Sara, you know that’s not the way it is.”

“Yeah?” she countered. “Well that’s the way it feels.” Sara wouldn’t look at him. She knew it would just make walking away harder. She didn’t
want
to turn away from him, but he’d given her no choice. He’d
made
his choice. He didn’t want her. Sara left him standing there watching her leave. She knew he was watching her. She could feel his eyes on her, glowing red with what, love, lust? Did it really matter?

Sara put her hand over her mouth, fighting tears as she ran straight to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Burying her head in the pillow, she cried until her eyes were red and dry. Maybe she
was
pushing Jared too hard. Maybe she
did
need to back off. Maybe it was what he
really
wanted, and he just didn’t want to hurt her feelings. Sara didn’t know how much more of this mood ride she could handle. Somehow, she would find the courage and strength to gradually let him go.

Chapter 16

Sara and Jared spent the next three or four days much the same. Jared was serving as Sara’s tour guide, but things were different now. She’d given up. She’d stopped pushing. She only kissed him when he kissed her first, and she didn’t offer her opinion unless he asked for it.

She listened as Jared told her the names of all the mountains and their importance to his Clan. It seemed the ‘
Navajo’
gave a name to everything, because they believed everything, even the rocks had a spirit. But then Sara knew that wasn’t Jared’s
real
Clan, was it? At least, not according to George Washington Thomas Thundercloud, Jared’s grandfather. Unless, Joel had sold her a fake copy – an altered copy that allowed Sara to see what Joel
wanted
her to see.

Sara snapped hundreds of pictures with her cell phone, usually when Jared wasn’t looking. No matter what happened, Sara didn’t want to forget any of this. She used her timer application and took pictures of her and Jared – but precious few. Sara reasoned if this were going to be the end for them, it would be easier if she didn’t have a lot of his pictures to remind her of her pain. She took pictures of his family too but again precious few for the same reason. Sara especially didn’t want to forget them. She loved them, all of them. She even took some pictures of the horses, especially Jade and Angelstar. This was her way of letting go, but every time she thought about it, she cried.

Jared never knew, but Sara cried a lot. When she was with him, she wouldn’t let it show. Nadine kept quiet, but she knew too. Since Jared didn’t trust himself to sleep in the same room as Sara, she’d spent her nights alone, organizing her pictures, and writing in her journal. She got the idea from Jared’s dream diary. She wanted to have a record of what went on here. She also wrote some more poems and songs. Breaking away was killing her. Every night, after Jared kissed her goodnight and went to his bedroom, Sara would cry herself to sleep. Every morning, she’d pulled herself together and put on a perfect plastic smile. Until Jared changed his mind or gave her some indication he wanted a normal life with her, this was how it would be. She’d let herself become too attached. It appeared things were falling apart between her and Jared. Sara could scarcely breathe when she faced that fact.

Sara sat, gazing out her bedroom window. The night was black but for the light of the moon. Not a streetlight of any form or fashion in sight, just the dark, bleak desert. At night, the giant cactus stood like guardians over the barren land – casting evil shadows across the ground. Off in the distance, the only sounds heard were the cry of the wolves, coyotes, and the occasional howl of wind as it hit the side of the house.