In Your Shadow (6 page)

“She died a few years ago,” Katie said with sadness in her voice.

“I’m so sorry. He seems to still love her.”

“He does, he always will” she answered.

“Why did he marry Jewels? They seem to be so different for each other.”

“He was lonely and she cashed in on that.”

“I see.”

Katie suddenly got agitated with him she moved away so she couldn’t feel the heat coming out his body.

“Why am I telling you all of this, this night is going to be over soon anyway? So you want have to act anymore.” She turned and looked at him.

“You are something else Katie Jackson, one day someone will penetrate that hard heart of yours.”

“No they want,” she said smugly.

“Yes, they will and really soon” he smiled at her as he grabbed her by surprise and covered her lips again.

Trying to resist as his hold was too strong so her body gave in. She pushed from his kiss, but was still lost in his arms. She was shivering but not from the cold air. He wanted to take her to bed and show her real love, John knew if he didn’t let her go now are he would be caring her up to a room.

“Let’s go back in before you catch a cold,” he said before she could say anything.

They walked in silence until they reached the door, they opened it as the crowd seems to thin out a little. Katie grabbed another glass of champagne and downed it before giving it a second thought. She started to fill the effects of the champagne her head was really spinning holding on to Johns' arm trying to keep her balance. Daniel walked up and seen his daughter had just a little too much.

“John why don’t you take Katie up to her old bedroom, “Daniel said.

“No daddy I will be fine, we are going home, thank you.”

“I insist Katie besides, I want to take you somewhere tomorrow so plan on staying the night.”

Katie knew not to fight him on this because he would win. Plus, she didn’t think she could make it home without stopping a few times.

“Okay, daddy just tonight and I have to get back” she answered.

“Good, John will you help her upstairs. Of course, you will be staying here too. Oh her clothes are still in the closet.”

“Yes sir I will be honored thank you.”

John picked Katie up as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He then carried her up the stairs to the last bedroom in the long hallway. He opened door and laid her on the bed.

“Here you go! “He looked down at though deep green bedroom eyes that could pierce your soul and haunt you forever.

“Thank you but I could have walked,” she said sitting up on the bed.

Trying to get her eyes to focus but at this point all she seen was two of him.

“I should have let you then, but I don’t think you would have made it. Just being a gentleman,” he smiled and loosen his tie.

He turned and took his jacket off and laid it on the chair. When he turned around he noticed her staring at him. He walks over to the bed and sits down on the edge of it.

“Where are you going to sleep?”

He points to the side of the bed and grins.

“With you my dear.”

“Oh no you’re not.”

“I’m afraid so don’t worry you will have your side and I will have mine.” He laughed.

Katie’s suddenly jumped up and ran to the bathroom and slammed the door. John could hear her vomiting. He nods his head.

“Now this is a night to remember!” he thought.

He got up and walks to the door and opens it slowly as he seen her sitting against the toilet. He went to the sink and got her a wet washcloth and put it on her face. He then gently picked her up and took her back to bed. She had passed out sitting there.

John walked over to her closet and grabs a long button up shirt. He let her hair down as it fell down her shoulders in curls. He stood there staring at the beautiful woman he has grown attach to. His body craving her needing her like flowers need rain.

“I will win her over real soon before she drives me crazy.” He thought.

He removes her high heels and drops them on the floor. Then he unzips her dress and removes it from her and unsnaps her white lacy bra and drops it. For a moment he pictures her legs wrapped around his waist. He sits her up and puts the shirt on her then lays her back down. She opens her eyes and tries to focus and closes them again. Rolling to her side curling up in a ball, she looks so vulnerable and inviting. He picks her clothes up off the floor and sits them in a chair. He walks over to the other side of the bed as he undresses and climb in beside her. He props himself up on his elbow and gently caressed her skin. Her eyes fluttered open and closed again. Admiring the beauty of her face with her lips parted, long eyelashes, and pink cheeks. Her skin flawless. He stroked her cheek with the back of his finger. She mutters something but he couldn’t make it out as he watched her tongue lick her lips. It was arousing, but he knew she was comatose so he didn’t touch, but how he wanted to.

“Sleep well beautiful” he whispered.

She didn’t respond as his arm slid under her torso and drew her close to him. She turned around with her back to him and curl up into a ball and closed her eyes. John could feel his body coming alive, but he had to resist. He breathes in her sweet perfume until that is all he could smell. He closed his eyes as the warmth of her body put him to sleep.

Katie opened her eyes to the sun shining through the blinds. She blinked several times until she could focus.  She rolled over and seen Advil sitting on her nightstand. She sits up and takes it's chasing it with the bottled water. Trying to remember what happened last night.

She looked over to the other side of her bed. There was no one there, the covers looked like they had been slept on but the spot was empty. She rubbed her hand over the sheets and it still felt warm.

“Oh crap I sleep with him,” she thought as her mind was going crazy.

She sat there for a minute and heard the shower running in the bathroom. She started to get up and there was a knock on the door. Jumping up and grabbed her robe and wrapped it around her. She opened the door and her father was standing there. He was holding some clothes in his arm.

“Morning dear, how did you sleep, I brought John some clothes to wear today. I didn’t think he would want to mess his suit up.” He smiled.

“Thank you Daniel” she jumped as John’s voice came from behind her.

She turned around and he was standing in the bathroom doorway with nothing own but a towel. The towel was split open on the side revealing his muscular thigh. Water was dripping down his face and running down his broad shoulders hitting his chest. She swallowed hard as her heart done a strange leap. A crooked smile came across his face. Her legs were shaking as she locked her legs together hoping he would disappear.

He gazed at big green eyes and her tangled hair. She still looked beautiful. He tilted his head as he licks his lips.

At that moment, she had no doubt what she wanted to do to him. She jumped as he broke her stare with his voice.

“I’m so sorry sir. I didn’t bring my clothes to the bathroom with me. He just realized that her father was standing in the doorway. He looked over at Katie.

“I brought you some, some old things I had here. Didn’t think you wanted to wear your suit today.” Daniel said with a twinkle in his eye.

“Thank you Daniel.”

“Could you bring them to me dear?” John said smiling at Katie.

“Oh don’t apologize. I will see you two downstairs for breakfast.” Daniel closed the door with a large smile on his face.

Katie stood there in shook as she looked at the half-naked man in her bedroom. The towel was even lower now, showing off the hair on his belly. The last time she had seen a man like that was over four years ago. Katie forced herself to get a grip as she started to look away.

“Would you bring me those clothes are do you want me to come get them,” John said as he dropped the towel exposing his nakedness.

Katie stares at him for a brief moment in shock. She turned her head and walked towards him and held out her hand with the clothes in them.

“Did you have to do that?’

“Do what, we are grown adults, I’m sure you have seen a naked man before” he laughs.

“I need the shower, “she said nervously.

“I am sure you do,” he laughs.

John could feel her eyes on him while he was pulling up his pants. Then he heard her voice from behind him.

“Are you dressed are….”

“I am dressed, “he said cutting her words off before she finished her sentence. He laughed under his breath just knowing it drove her crazy.

Katie turned around and there he stood with his bare chest that reviled every muscle in his upper body. He was so built, there wasn’t a once of fat on him. Her face flushes, as no words could come out of her mouth.

“Well you need the shower are you going down stairs in a shirt.” Laughing at her.

It then hit her she couldn’t remember taking her clothes off.

“Where are my clothes?” she blushes, bringing more color to her face.

“On the chair” he pointed smiling big.

“What? How did they get there? She thought for a minute. “Did we have sex?” she stared at him wide-eyed and shocked.

“I put them there and yes we did and it was great, hope you feel the same way. Did you enjoy it as much as I did? I thought maybe you would like some more this morning.” He smiled pressing his lips together trying not to laugh.

“What?”

John couldn’t help it he started laughing watching the color drain out of her face.

“What are you laughing about? It isn’t funny.”

John was having fun watch her swarm and seeing the panic over the thought. He put on his shirt looking her start in the eye.

“Oh Katie, we didn’t have sex last night, I happen to be a gentleman. First of all, I don’t do sex and second when I make love to someone they remember. When someone sleeps with me they never forget I can promise you that. Plus, I never sleep with someone that is comatose.”

He continued to stare at her while he was buttoning up his shirt. Moving closer to her he stops a few inches in front of her. So close that he could feel the heat coming from her body. He reaches up with his finger and traced the line of her cheek, he could tell she was holding her breath as he strokes her bottom lip with his thumb. He put both arms around her and pulled her to him. His lips covered hers instantly, he could taste the sweetness of her lips as he kissed her passionately. He pulled away before he lost control of his self. A fire begins to ignite within him and he knew he wouldn’t be able to stop. She was the perfect height, her head almost to his chin.

Smoothing his hair back with his hand and looking her over quickly. Trying to absorb as much detail as possible. He realized her eyes was full of longing and passion. John knew he was ready to assault her with every ounce of passionate kisses, but instead, he turned and walked to the door. Leaving her dazed and wanting more.

“I will see you downstairs,” he said as he walked out the room and closed the door. He leans against the door and took a deep breath before he walked down stairs.

“I dare him, he was supposed to be only a dinner date and now ….” She was furious as she stood there in a daze trying to get her focus back.

“How could he do this to me?”

Her body aching for him with every smile he gave her and every touch she felt. Her heart was pumping faster. The weight of her guilt and most of all her anger that she had carried around was melting away. It seemed to disappear completely when John was around her. She touched her mouth with her fingers still tasting him against her lips.  It took her a few minutes to come to her senses as she hurried in the shower trying to cool down.

“He wants to play well let’s play,” she thought.

She put on a dark blue dress that hugged her body and revealed her curves.

“This will get him.” She thought.

Hurrying downstairs she stepped through some large double French doors and found them sitting at the kitchen table. She cast a glance at John but she said nothing.

John stood up as she approached him and pulled her chair out. His mouth watering, his eyes piercing her inner soul. Katie looked over at her father and he was smiling from ear to ear. He looked so happy. She hadn’t seen him this way since her mother was alive. She noticed Jewels was not having breakfast with them.

“Where’s Jewels?” Katie asks.

“She had some calls to make she won't be joining us this morning.”

“Thank God,” she thought. She couldn’t handle her and John at the same time.

The butler came around and poured her a cup of coffee and sat her breakfast down in front of her.

John watches her put a piece of pancake in her mouth, as she licks her lip getting a drop of syrup off her eyes was on him with a half grin. She was doing this on purpose.

“Such a dirty trick, let the games begin” he thought.

A slight grin came across his face as a trace of her sweet perfume invades his senses.

“Oh Katie you are playing a dangerously” he thought.

She was so involved in the attempt to arouse him he could barely here dad talking. He turned his head around to face him.

“I was just talking to John, how do feel like a flight to the Florida Keys for the weekend.” Daniel said as John turned his head back around to face him.

“Florida, dad I have to work.”

“Oh darling you don’t have to and you can take off this weekend.”

“But John has to get back.”

“Dear I have already talked to John and he is fine with it.”

“Oh!”

“Yes Katie, it sounds like fun. You need to spend some time with your dad. You work really too hard. Besides, no one has to go back to work till Monday are Tuesday.” John said as he was caressing her back with his hand. He could feel the tension increase around her lower back. He knew he was getting to her.

Katie was furious but she couldn’t show it. She was in no condition to stay another night with John. She didn’t know if she control being anywhere close to him. Her body was craving him as her mind was fighting him off.

“Well, what do you say, dear, make you daddy happy. Spend some time with me. You will enjoy yourself.” Daniel smiled looking straight at her.

Katie paused for a moment and looked over at John. He had a mischievous smile on his face as his eyes stared straight through her. She knew he was up to something. Her body was taking control away from her mind and there was nothing she could do about it. She felt his hand slid slowly down her back caressing her slowly as chills ran down her. She knew all he had to do is touch her and it sent her into another world. The world she had forgotten, the world she needed and missed but was afraid of.

“Daniel she would love to isn’t that right Katie,” John answered before she had a chance to.

“Is that right Katie you would love to” Daniel ask.

“I dare him to answer for me now I have to commit to it. I will handle him later. This is war? “She thought.

“Yes daddy that is fine,” she said as she made herself smile at him.

With her foot under the table she kicked John in the chin. He jumped as his hand tighten around her waist. Pulling her towards him almost making her spill her coffee. She narrowed her eyes at him.

“Wonderful we will leave and an hour” Daniel answered.

“An hour, I don’t have anything packed, plus my clothes are at home.”

“Oh, Katie I had you some of your old clothes here so I had them packed just in case” Daniel smiled.

Katie was livid now, she couldn’t get out of this trip.

“Let’s finish out breakfast and we will head out.” Daniel so excited he got to finally spend time with his daughter.

Katie picked at her food watching John from the corner of her eye. He was really playing this part well; she was getting so confused.

“Another few days I have to pretend he is my boyfriend. I am not going to make it” those thoughts swimming through her mind.

“Eat up dear you will need your strength” John continued to move his hand up and down her back. He watched Katie turn and look at him with her eyes narrow and steaming with fire. He knew he got under her skin. He loved every minute of it.

Katie watched her father get up from the table and walk over by her.

“I will meet you at the car in 45 minutes. Thank you dear, it means so much to me.” Daniel said as he kissed the top of her head.

Katie watched him leave the room then she jumped up and stood in front of John.

“I dare you to answer for me. Who do you think you are?” She watched him stand up in front of her waiting for her to move, but she didn’t.

She stood there so close he could feel the fire burning in her veins. Her eyes were cold as ice but her body told another story.

“I’m playing the part you wanted me to, and I think I am doing it well don’t you think. Besides isn’t that what boyfriends do.” He grabbed her suddenly and pulled her against him.

She tried to push away from his hold but he was too strong, he stood there looking into her deep eyes.

“Do you want your father to know you hired an escort service to bring you to the party, it would break his heart? Loosen up Katie and have some fun. I am.”

His lips find hers, he grabs her head, and deepening the kiss. His tongue touching hers as she falls into him. She is so intoxicating he is yearning for her. He pulls away staring down at throughs big green emeralds, that was calling for him.  He could feel her hard breathing.

Her heart seemed to burst forth with emotions, so much that it bought tears to her eyes. She was furious but she knew he was right. She had to play along but didn’t like it. Katie didn’t trust herself around him anymore. He stirred up feelings in her that had long been dead. Her father was her world she couldn’t break his heart. Losing her mother was so hard on him she never saw him happy after that.

“Fine have it your way,” Katie said as she finally pulled away and grabbed his hand and yanked hard on his arm almost causing him to fall.

“Oh let’s play, I love games. Let me warn you, my dear, I will win,” he giggles.

He jerked her arm back causing her to fall into his arms. He grabs her and kissed her long and hard once again, but this time she pulled back. When she pushed away her father was standing in the doorway smiling at the both of them.