Disclaimer: I do not own The Pretender
Have you ever been in a situation where you start to fall in love with someone who is completely wrong for you? You find yourself in a place you thought you'd never be in. Miss Parker never believed she could love anyone as much she did. Jarod was that someone she never had expected.
She thought of him constantly. She felt guilty about her feelings towards him. She was betraying "daddy" and The Centre. There were numerous times she had pushed him away. But, they had a connection. Miss Parker knew that Jarod cared about her, but love?
How could two people in love with each other be so alone? How could the huntress and the huntee admit their love for each other, to each other?
Flashback
"I know you used to care about me. Don't you have one slightest feelings left for me?"
"What do you think?" She snarled as she hid her true feelings.
"What is stronger, Miss Parker? Your love for The Centre or your hatred for me?"
"Go to hell!" She hollered at him.
"I'm already there, baby!" He shot back.
End of Flashback
Being in a relationship took a lot of work. She hadn't realized it was too much work. When Thomas died, Miss Parker thought she never needed to be held ever again. But, she was wrong. The sexual attraction was obvious the times she and Jarod were together. But, they denied what they felt. She hurled insults at him. He returned her attack. They thought they knew each other's thoughts and feelings, knew every inch of their move that would occur. Jarod and Miss Parker were far from being in love, so they thought. They were on opposite sides. She chased, he ran. She bickered at him, sometimes, their conversations were non-stop, without even a breath between them.
Flashback
"There are a lot of things you don't know about me, Miss Parker."
"What don't I know? I know everything there is to know about you. Never underestimate me, Jarod."
"The fact that I have feelings."
"And I don't?"
End Of Flasback
Miss Parker was definitely a distraction to Jarod. And it scared the hell out of him. She really knew how to drive a man crazy. But, what scared him the most, was that one day, just one day, they might stop talking to each other completely. Or worse yet, Miss Parker had thought, Jarod might not be around anymore.
He was a ward of The Centre. Sydney had been his captor although he looked up to him as a paternal figure. Jarod studies people. He watches out for weaknesses and soft spots. Unlike heartless individuals, he doesn't strike back.
They were once best friends. He knew it was only the liquor talking. She wanted to blast his brains off. But, god, he wanted her. He really wanted to touch her. He wanted to make love to her. Jarod had wanted to forget about everything. Just for one night, just the two of them. He's never loved anyone as much as he loved her.
Flashback
"If you don't back away right now, Miss Parker...I"
"What are you afraid of, Jarod?" She asked, her speech slurred.
"You, Miss Parker. If something happens between us, there's no turning back. I'm not a one night stand kind of person."
"Unlike me? She yelled. You think I'm not capable of loving someone?"
"I didn't say that."
End Of Flashback
Miss Parker's been fighting the way she felt about him for years. This was supposed to be about the both of them and no one else. But, The Centre stood in the way. Jarod was always in her head, never having a moment's peace. How awful it must feel to not be with the person you're suppose to be with. She wanted Jarod so bad and sometimes it was too unbearable for her.
She was a temptation to him...tempted to feel...to want...to crave...to kiss...to plunge. The pretender fell in love with the one woman who does not open her heart easily to anyone. Miss Parker was someone he thought he could never fall in love with. With the cat and mouse game, he was losing a running battle on his feelings for her. He's tried to ignore his feelings. But, where is it in a book that lets you pick the person to love, love picks you. Even a blind person could probably see what they felt for each other.
Miss Parker experienced again the sensation of pain and loneliness the night Jarod escaped from The Centre. Her mother's death was the very first time. She wept at the thought of him never coming back to the place that had become his home for the past thirty years. Everything suddenly changed into wails of distress and anguish for her. So, the chase began.
Fate had them bumped into each other in another town, another state where no one had ever heard of The Centre. Surprised, he nodded at her and she simply walked away. They viewed each other tearfully, privately. A knock at her hotel door, she found him as he stood bravely and waited to be invited in.
She wanted all memories of him erased. But, he was in her thoughts and especially in her heart and hers in his. They took careful steps towards each other. It was well that Miss Parker opened up with a sudden impulse of compassion which she had long concealed. Jarod's mission was to heal the wounds that were inflicted by others and also by each other. He had hoped to touch the wounded pieces in their hearts and relieved their torments and sufferings.
Oh, how they wanted one another so badly. No words were spoken, but his dark chocolate eyes and her crystal blues locked for several seconds before Jarod looked away, then did a double take what stood in front of him. The little girl he once knew, had grown up to be everything he's ever wanted, a beautiful temptress, a greek goddess. His Jupiter's Darling.
No attempt was made at first to touch, only their eyes undressed each other. Her mouth opened slightly, her tongue glided slowly on her lips. He moistened his lips, pressed them firmly together, then bit the lower part softly. Suddenly, she felt his strong arms around her as he backed her into a wall. With one hand, he held both her arms over her head and the other pushed her dark locks away from her neck as he tenderly kissed it. She closed her eyes and purred softly asking for more. He lowered his hands, embraced her tightly, leaving no space between them as she gripped onto his broad shoulders. The night of their reunion was spent in blissful wanderings, refreshing themselves with the luscious fruits that stood before each other, as they were tempted within reach.
They both speculated with curiosity upon the contents of their souls, their now naked bodies. Miss Parker breathlessly applied her ears to Jarod's chest. His heart beat so fast and loud, that it seemed for a moment to drown all other sounds, her tongue tasted every inch of him. He thrusted into her like no other. His hands glided everywhere over the smoothness of her silky skin. His passion for her knew no bounds.
It was a night to cherish, every bit and pieces of their hungered passion for each other had finally come to terms. It was a combination of tenderness at first and finally animalistic behavior that brought them together at the same time.
In spite of their recent hardships, they were happy, far happier than they ever could imagine. But, it was just for one night and it was just for that moment.
TBC - Chapter 2