Page 86 of Jacob

Surrounded by flattened boxes, boxes still to be unpacked, piles of books I am going to donate to the local library, and some of the wall-to-wall bookshelves finally filled, I neck the last of my beer from the bottle.

I texted Owen earlier to ask if he could meet me today, but he replied with:

Owen

I’m afraid not, amigo, my father has me stuck in meetings all day. Hope you’re feeling better now that you’ve been fed and watered. Tomorrow afternoon at mine?

Relieved I’m finally getting to speak to him, I sent a message back agreeing. Although I may not feel relieved when he hears what I have to say. I’m preparing myself for the worst. Although, part of me no longer cares what he thinks anymore. I love her and want to be with her.

Note to self: find my jock strap and protector cap I wear for soccer.

I’m reviewing the back of one of the books I’m considering re-reading when the doorbell chimes.

Checking my wristwatch, I realize it’s nine. Christ, I’ve been sorting through my books since midday, and I only texted Skyeabout four times today. This afternoon, the police were visiting her with an update on the case. I must see how that went.

My bare feet slap against the marbled flooring as I jog along the glass corridor to answer my front door.

It’s barely open an inch, and I almost fall over when Skye forces her way into my house and pushes me backward. With determination in her eyes, she flies through the door at breakneck speed, making the door bang off the wall behind it with such force, it bounces back again and slams shut, allowing me just a glimpse of her father’s car driving off before it closed.

“What the—” I don’t get the chance to finish my sentence when she pushes me against the entrance wall and crashes her lips to mine.

Not a soft kiss, like how I imagined our first kiss to be. This kiss is full of passionate force and want.

“I’m not waiting anymore,” she pants, as she pulls her jacket off her shoulders, letting it drop to the floor.

“Sk—” She pushes her tongue into my mouth, and I can’t stop my tongue twisting around hers.

Her soft lips force mine wide open as she continues to invade my mouth. “My tests came back.” Breathing hard, she gives me her news. “Negative. Everything was negative. He didn’t…” She trails off.

My legs almost go from under me, but she holds my head firmly in place as she devours me with her lips.

“I want you.” Her hand moves down my tee-shirt-covered chest.

I pop my eyes open and move my mouth to the side. “Wait, wait, wait.” I try to catch my breath. She kisses my jaw, then my neck.

Holy shit, this is all I’ve ever wanted and suddenly I’m stopping her.

Standing up on her tiptoes, she whispers in my ear. “You’re going to stop the doubt, Jay. Right here in this hall. Shred everything right now because you’re going to take me into that bedroom of yours and show me what it’s like to be loved by you. Just like you told me.”

I groan as my inner conscience messes with my primal instincts.

Fuck, I so want to do this, but… “I’m meeting Owen tomorrow.”

She licks, then bites the shell of my ear. “I don’t care. I need you now.”

“Skye.” I raise my voice to get her attention. She stops, allowing me to look at her. “Is this what you want? Are you sure?”

“I want it all with you, Jacob.” The spark that was missing from her three days ago in the hospital is back now, making her crystal blues sparkle. “The awful things that happened to me this week, if anything, they’ve shown me that life is too damn short. I don’t want to live with regrets, the ‘what ifs’, and ‘if I’d never’. We’ve wasted enough time.” She bites her bottom lip. “You saved me.”

“I can’t live without you.” My voice breaks with longing.

“Show me how true that is.” She fists my tee shirt and pulls me to her. Ghosting my lips, she says, “Now show me what I’ve been missing.”

Throwing caution to the wind, I can’t help but agree with her; life is too short to live with regrets. We need this.

I’m risking my friendship with Owen, which is already hanging in the balance, anyway. He should have realized how close Skye and I were working together every day. How much she means to me, even just as a friend. He only seems interested in himself and his life. I care for him, but he’s properly pissed me off of late.

There are no two ways about it. I need her.

---