(Five Years Later)
Lara arrives home from her latest expedition. She is exhausted and her muscles have already been making her promises of some ruff days to come. Being familiar with her own healing process she can't wait to just spend countless hours bathing and relaxing in the comforts of the modern world. She always finds it fascinating to be gone for months at a time having to scavenge for food and clean water as well as fighting off sickness and disease only to return home where the most effort she has to put in to retrieve any of that is as simple as opening a door or turning on a facet. Hell, if she wanted to put even less effort in all she would have to do is pick up a phone and someone would bring such items to her. But that is not what she is looking for tonight. Tonight she wants time to herself to reflect.
She makes a few trips from her car to the mansion and drops off her bags in the living-room herself. In a way she still finds it bit strange while doing so after having grown up in such a fancy house where maids and butlers use to do everything for her. But now it is just her and she honestly doesn't mind it. She only wishes there was someone around to welcome her home.
As she enters the living-room she nearly trips having now overworked her sprained ankle. She takes a seat on the couch to rest then notices how the place has been fixed up to her specifications. The mansion looks new for the first time in many years. It almost makes her think she has traveled back in time and at any moment her father will come stepping out of the office to greet her.
Feeling sentimental, she enters the office and takes a seat at her father's old desk. For the longest moment she just sits and stares at the doorway still having the feeling that someone will walk in. Winston perhaps or one of the maids, but she knows full well that those days are long gone. As she checks her messages on her computer she notices her hand drawing of Jacob out of the corner of her eye. Having drawn it herself, she had it framed to keep as a reminder of Jacob's glorious smile. She picks it up and studies it closely. Every time she leaves she seems to forget certain details about his face. She is only happy she has the picture to remind her. Having a real picture would be better but it is still better than nothing.
"I miss you," she says out loud then laughs at herself for doing so.
After about an hour of getting caught up with the latest news and gossip she decides it is best to just head to bed. After making sure all the doors and windows are locked as well as the new security system turned on, she finds herself able to relax enough to lay down and try to get some much needed rest.
The next morning Lara is woken up by the sound of her door bell ringing. It is subtle and quiet but just loud enough that it causes her to toss and turn with each new ring. Not knowing who it could possibly be she tries to ignore it not feeling at all in the mood for visitors. After all, she has only just returned home and already she is being called upon by someone who has been patient enough to wait for a response. She turns and looks at her alarm clock and she discovers it is nearly noon. She has not slept this late in the day in years. The bell rings again and she huffily drags herself out from under the covers.
"Coming!" She hollers unsure if the person will even be able to hear her. She slips on some jogging paints and slowly makes her way to the door. Her ankle has become more swollen over night making it harder for her to walk on it. As she enters the main hall the doorbell rings again. "I'm coming! Just give me a moment," she hollers again.
Approaching the door, she props herself against its frame trying to take weight off her left side. She then pulls back the curtain covering the window next to the door to check who the visitor is before opening the door. She finds an athletically built man wearing a brown tank-top and blue, denim, jeans holding a large bouquet of roses. 'Who in the world...' she thinks to herself as her feminine instincts try to over come her thoughts and tell her 'It doesn't matter. Just let them in already!' Her eyes move upward past the man's neck and stubble beard to his eyes. At first she can't make them out clearly from his mid length, brunet, hair being draped over them, but as he notices her looking at him through the window he turns his attention towards her and she recognizes their powerful, blue, glow. Unable to believe her own yes, she quickly opens the door and sticks her head through to get a better look at him.
"Jacob?" She ponders.
A large grin spreads over his face making his eyes glow that much more. "Hello Lara. I was hoping I would finally catch you at home. I noticed the car in your driveway and figured someone had to be here." Speechless, she opens wide the door and takes a step through. Recognizing that she is in bit of a shock Jacob decides to try to lighten the mood by holding out the bouquet to her. "I brought these for you. It was all I could think of on such short notice."
She takes the bouquet into her hands then hugs them against her chest to mask the feeling that her heart feels as if it is about to burst out of her chest. "I don't understand. How can you be alive? I saw you crumble into nothing but dust. Yet here you are as if nothing ever happened."
"Like a phoenix rising from the ashes I suppose."
She laughs sarcastically, "You'll have to do better than that."
"I honestly wish I knew Lara. The last thing I remember is looking into your magnificent eyes as my body became numb and then there was nothing. It wasn't like the other times where it just seemed I had fallen asleep then woke up again later. I truly thought I was going to be gone for good that day. All I remember after that is opening my eyes and finding myself back in that chamber where we had parted so long ago. Of course at the time, I had no idea how much time had passed or if you would still even be alive."
"And how long have you been back?"
He thinks for a moment. "Almost three years now I believe."
Lara becomes angry. "You have been back all this time, and you didn't think it a good idea to let me know?"
He grumbles unsure of how to respond. "Lara... I have... tried to contact you. You're not exactly the easiest person to track down. What else do you think I would have been doing?"
Her voice becomes louder and full of frustration, "I don't know but this isn't the 1950s. You could have called, you could have left me a message, hell I would even have settled for a letter. Just anything that would indicate that you were alright." She begins to weep. "I mean, my god... you were dead, Jacob." She suddenly feels lightheaded and takes in a sudden quick breath. "I watched you die." He sees her eyes roll in the back of her head as she faints. Realizing right away what is happening, Jacob catches her in his arms. This wasn't how he expected their reunion to turn out but he can't help but feel happy about being able to hold her in his arms again. Knowing now is not the appropriate time for such thoughts however, he looks around until finding the nearest couch. He lies her down and searches the house for things to aid her with.
As Lara awakens she finds herself in the living-room with a warm cloth on her forehead. The smell of freshly made tea greets her nose. She slowly sits up, feeling a bit dizzy, and her chest feeling very weak and heavy. She looks around the room as she tries to be rid of her confusion. She has forgotten for a moment what has happened but becomes quickly reminded by the sound of a familiar voice humming a tone that is being carried through the hallways. She stands up and follows the sound into the kitchen where she finds Jacob cooking. She watches as the muscles of his arms flex and bulge as he shifts a cooking pan back and forth over the stove.
"Jacob?" She asks out loud.
Hearing her and turns to greet her once again with a smile. "There you are. Glad to see you're back up on your feet. Are you feeling alright?"
"I'm fine. Just a bit lightheaded."
"I'm glad to hear it. I hope you don't mind but I took the liberty of whipping you up something to eat. You look like you could use something after a start like that."
She leans herself against the counter and drops her head. "Am I dreaming?" She laughs, "Maybe I've just gone insane."
He sets down the pan and steps over to her. He places his hands over her upper arms and rubs them gently with his thumbs. "Lara, everything is going to be okay." She looks up at him with tears in her eyes. "You see? I'm right here."
"Jacob," she cries.
He nods his head. Finally realizing what she is witnessing is in fact reality Lara loses all sense of control and instinctively wraps her arms around his neck, pulling him in for a deep kiss. As their soft lips connect Jacob too loses himself to her. She is so much softer, so much stronger, and incredibly more beautiful than his mind had allowed him to remember. As their tongues caress one another he is reminded of her sweet taste and their one sublime night that causes his animalistic side to try its damnedest to claw its way out to his surface but he tells himself it's not the time for such actions. Their is no deadline this time. They have all the time they need to get their heads in their proper places.
Lara however is not able to keep her body from becoming very hot and just wanting to take in every bit of him right then and there. The feeling of his beard against her cheeks, the smell of his manly aroma, though cleaner than when they were in the valley is still noticeably there. His strong arms hugging her lower back against his abdomen and her breasts pressing against his hard pecs sends tingles rushing over every inch of her skin. So many nights she has prayed, wishing she could hold him in her arms one last time and now she has him within her grasp.
Jacob allows the kiss to go on for a few moments longer but then he places his hands over her cheeks and signals for her to stop. She looks to him confused. "What's wrong?" She asks.
"Let's just slow things down a bit, yeah? You look exhausted."
"I suppose you're right. I'm not feeling quite myself at the moment. I'm sorry."
"There is no need for apologies. Now come, take a seat and I'll finish preparing your lunch." She uses the counter to continue keeping the pressure off her ankle as she sits down. Jacob notices her struggle. "Are you alright?"
"It's nothing. Just a sprained ankle. I've had worse."
"Well let's see." He kneels down next to her and lifts her pants up her leg. He winces at the sight of her ankle being very dark and swollen to the point where she almost didn't seem to have an ankle at all but instead just a lump of rounded out skin. "I don't like the look of that. Hold on a moment while I get something." He takes a step out of the room and Lara waits patiently for him to return but is curious as to what he could be doing. He returns with her bouquet in hand then pulls out one of the roses from the bundle. He puts down the bouquet on the counter then begins to rub the rose between the palms of his hands. Lara notices a slight blue glow shine from between his fingers as he kneels down to the floor and begins to rub the now crumbled rose over her ankle. He chants a lord's prayer as he continues to massage the petals gently over her skin until she can no longer feel even the slightest hint of pain from it. She takes a moment to enjoy the sensation of his workman hands against her skin before he removes them and stands back up. "Is that better he asks?"
She rubs her fingers over the area where the pain use to be and still she feels nothing. "That's amazing. So you can still perform miracles. But how? Don't you need to power from the Divine Source?"
"Well obviously not. The source is gone Lara. You made sure of that." He walks to the sink to wash his hands then returns to the stove to finish cooking. "I suppose when I gazed upon it that first time so long ago, it became a part of my soul. Granted that was the whole reason I believed that once it was gone I too could no longer live on. Now that I see nothing about how I have come to be has changed, that is the only conclusion I can come up for myself."
"Well whatever the reason, I am just so glad to see that you're okay. You also need to be sure you're more careful this time around. If Trinity were to ever get wind that you have come back we would be caught up in the same mess all over again. I don't think I could bare loosing you a second time."
"Don't worry Lara. I have set it motion ways to keep Trinity off my scent. I made sure that once I escaped the chamber, to return to my people and let them know that I would not be returning to my place as their leader. I have put everyone around me in danger for too long already and I don't want their to be any more blood shed due to my own actions."
"What do you plan to do?"
"What I have already done. I have assumed a new identity and I will no longer expose my power to anyone other than you. The Lord may judge me for wasting my powers and not using them to help others but if the cost of using them means putting others in harms way then I won't do it any longer. However much longer I have left I want to spend it as just a normal human being. I hope you won't judge me too harshly for that."
Lara shakes her head. "Of course not. As you once said to me, I don't want you to be anything less than yourself."
He smiles. "Thank you Lara. I'm glad I have someone like you to confide in."
He finishes up with cooking and sets up two large plates of eggs, toast, bacon, and some grapes with a glass of milk on the side. He sets down at the table next to her.
"Bit of a late breakfast but what the hey, you only live once right?" He says sarcastically.
"Right," Lara laughs.
They dig in with no regards to proper manner which makes them feel young for a moment as they giggle and make silly faces at each other. They then catch each others eyes in a state of longing and their hearts begin to ache simultaneously. Would they be able to stay this way? Could life really be just quiet and simple? No matter how much the two of them really want that to be true, they know that their instincts will not allow them that luxury for long. They both have this powerful urge inside them to help others and to discover new things and most likely that will lead them to having to part one way or another. Seeing her eyes glossing over as she is about to cry, Jacob decides to try to lighten the mood once again.
"So Lara, what do you say I give you a massage huh?"
"A massage? Why would you want to do that?"
"The better question is, why wouldn't I?" He stands up from his chair and takes her by the hand to lead her to the bedroom. "Come on, I promise it will be one of the best ones you have ever had in your life."
Lara laughs, "What, were you giving out daily massages back in the valley?"
"Well not daily..." he says trying to play it off as a joke. "But as you know I am a healer and massages can really do the body good." He pulls her from the kitchen and into the hallway. As they approach her bedroom she pulls back from him. He turns to her saddened by her gesture.
"Look, if this is going to happen then we might as well do it properly. Hold on and I will be right back." She runs off down the hallway across to the east wing. A few minutes later Jacob can hear the sound of her carting something along the carpeted floor. As she reenters the main hall he can see that she has brought back with her a portable, massage, table along with a basket of lotion. She pushes it into the bedroom as he holds open the door for her. After setting it up in the center of the room she turns to face him. "Alright, give me your best shot."
"Alright then, you know what comes next," Jacob says as he lifts off his tank top.
Lara's heart leaps up into her throat as she watches his muscles ripple up from his stomach to his shoulders. "Why are you getting undressed?"
"We both need to be naked in order to maximize relaxation for both the giver and the receiver."
"I guess that makes sense. I just figured you would want to keep our temptation under wraps but you are really starting to test me at this point."
Without hesitation she lifts her own shirt off herself. Jacob notices right away that she is not wearing a bra and as her shirt lifts from her chest the edge of the fabric catches her breasts just right causing her under-boob to be lifted up. Then as the shirt continues to be pulled upward her breasts become free from their confinement and bounce as they fall back to her chest. He takes in a deep breath trying to keep himself strong. She then quickly pulls down her sweatpants from her hips and they glide all the down her long, slender, legs before reaching the floor. While she is bent over her beasts sway back and forth ever so slightly showing off just how firm and yet soft they are. He thinks back to that day when he got to hold them in his hands. He got to feel them but not see them as well as he would have liked. Now he can see them as clear as day but unable to touch them, at least not yet. She stands back up strait to face him.
"Alright. So what now?" She asks.
His throat dry from his heavy breaths it takes Jacob a moment to find the words, "I would like you to lay face down on the table if you will."
She does as he instructs and climbs onto the table. As she does so he notices her labia presenting itself to him as she leans over the table with her legs slightly apart. He feels himself become hard quickly and it actually hurts a little. So much blood rushing to his shaft at such a quick speed as his body fights him wondering why has he not ravished her yet. As she lies herself down he removes his pants and holds his cock for a moment while she can't see. He is trying so hard not to let things escalate quickly but with her body laid out before him he finds it almost impossible. As he takes in deep breaths he picks up one of the lotion bottles and squeezes a generous amount into his hand. He then spreads the lotion around evenly between his palms before placing them over her shoulders. She moans as even his slightest touch caresses her. At this point he can feel his cock pulsing and he gets a wince of pain once again as his cock twitches. He continues to massage her shoulder blades then moves down further over her back. She moans again and tries to keep herself from squirming.
"Your hands feel so amazing. You really meant what you said didn't you?"
"Of course. I would never lie about something like that." He runs his fingers over some of the deep scars that she has on her back, arms, and upper thighs. "So many marks from stories past. I would love to hear about them some time."
"I am sure there will be plenty of time for that later. Right now I want to know exactly what you remember between the time we parted to when you showed up on my doorstep."
"Alright. I remember staring into your eyes as a light cast over me. Once it blinded me I could no longer hear, or feel anything. I felt like I was just becoming part of the light myself. It seemed as if it lasted only a few moments and then suddenly I found myself lying on the temple floor. Confused, I sat up and looked around the room. I found nothing but ash and blood. I looked up at the glacier and the sun was passing by the giant hole in its ceiling. I was relieved to say the least. No matter how much time had passed I was just glad to know that I was not stuck forever in that place."
"So you climbed out of the hole?"
"I did."
"How long did it take you?"
"Well... after I searched the area for something I could climb the ice with I still had to ensure that the gear wouldn't snap once I started upward. It took me a good four days straight to not only search but to then climb my way out. Once I reached the outside, it was another two day walk back to my people. Upon arriving, everyone was in shock to see me of course but more than that they were sad. They told me about how you were certain I was dead and for good this time. Some of them told me they never lost faith and knew I would return. I decided to keep the part about losing my own hope to myself. They told me about how I had been gone for nearly two years. I didn't want to believe it at first but it wasn't the first time. After about a month of ensuring that my village would be safe without my guidance I said my goodbyes to my daughter and told her I am proud of the woman she has become. I then asked my people if anyone had any clues as to where you might have said you were going before you left. Everyone said you remained quiet so I figured the best way to start looking was to just leave. I said goodbye to my people and started my search." He moves his hands across her butt-cheeks and rubs the tender area just between it and her thighs.
Lara moans again. "Go on."
"My only clue being that you have an English accent, I hopped into one of Trinity's cars and started headed west. After almost three days of driving I arrived at the Netherlands. Being completely out of touch with the modern world, I had to find a way to sail across the water into England. It wasn't easy. I had to run some favors with a few of the locals who could then trade me information on how to get over without there being too many legal tendencies. It took a few weeks but I was finally able to hop on a boat and get over without running into the coast guard. From there all I had to do was ask about you around at the archaeological museums and eventually I was able to find out your phone number. Once I had your phone number, I went to the local library and read up on your family history. I read the article about how your father had passed away which lead me to read about Croft Manor. You can pretty much guess the rest from there."
"So you were here once already?"
"Yes. I knocked on your door but the only person who answered was a contractor who told me you had gone out of town. He informed me that you planned to be gone for quit a long time. So I waited until you returned. I got a job, an apartment, all in the hopes that sometime in the near future I would be able to see your sweet face again." He begins rubbing her feet. She does not make a sound or even stir. He can tell by her breathing that she has finally fallen into a deep state of relaxation. "From then on, I stopped by twice a month to see if you had returned from your latest expedition. So badly I wish I knew were you were in the world so that I could run there and join you. Lara, you have no idea how happy I am that you are home safe and sound."
When she does not respond he moves up to her head and finds that she has fallen asleep. He giggles to himself then grabs a blanket and drapes it over her. He leaves her be and returns to the kitchen to clean up and finish off the rest of the semi hot tea.
The day passes and the moon begins to rise in the sky by the time Lara awakes from her slumber. She rubs her eyes and finds herself alone in her room. She discovers the blanket draped over her and quickly pushes it from her body.
"Jacob?" She receives no answer. She makes her way over to the door and pokes her head out into the hall. "Jacob are you still here?" Her voice echos down the corridor.
"Yes Lara. I am here," he replies.
She is relieved to hear his voice. Too soon would it have been for him to get called away. She sees him step into the hall from the east wing. He is carrying a book. "What are you doing?"
"I was just admiring your collection. You have such marvelous things Lara. I wonder how much you actually appreciate the knowledge you have gathered in just one place."
"I guess I am just use to it. Not that I don't appreciate it but I guess I don't see it as others do." She waves for him to come closer. "Come on. I'm feeling a bit odd standing here naked by myself."
He chuckles, "Of course." He makes his way back up to the bedroom.
Lara sits herself down on the bed. "Please close the door."
He does as asked then joins her. Unable to resist him, she takes him into her mouth while hitching herself closer to him. He responds in kind and moans at the feeling of her rubbing her fingers up and down his neck while her nails scratch at his hairline.
"Make love to me Jacob," she whispers sensually.
"I will... if you promise me one thing."
She notices his stance has become ridged. She stops to look at him and finds him looking at her with a very serious expression. "And what might that be?"
"I want to be assured that you will not give up on us so quickly this time. That you will allow me to stay by your side for at least for a while."
She shakes her head and huffs, "It's not a simple decision I can just make. My work has me traveling all the time. There could be no way for us to maintain such a relationship if most of the time we are separated from one another."
"Then I shall travel with you and I'll even provide you with healing when I can."
"Jacob I... I don't know what to say."
"Well I do." Somehow his eyes become even more serious. "I love you Lara. I've loved you ever since that first night together. At first I wasn't sure. I told myself that lust must be clouding my judgment since the two of us hardly knew one another. But on the day of my passing I knew it was real. I only wished I had realized it sooner."
Lara takes in a deep breath trying to hold back her tears with everything she can. "Jacob I..."
"Don't worry. You don't have to say it just because I did. If you don't feel the same way I will completely understand."
"But I do, love you."
"You do?" He asks surprised.
"Yes. I've loved you since even before that night together."
"How so?"
"I am shamed to admit this but, I had been reading your diaries. Each one of them made me feel things that I never had before. I could tell just by reading them that you are a very kind, caring, a noble person. That is when I knew I had to have you, if even for one night. But I was so afraid of what might come of it. I didn't want to ruin you. I didn't want to ruin us. I just wanted it to be something we could share as two people and then go on with our lives. I realize now that I was wrong. I don't want you only for a night. I want as much of you as you will allow me to have."
"Oh Lara." He wraps his arms around her and holds her as close as he possibly can without crushing her. Their mouths press hard into each other and for the first time in a long time he feels a painful pinprick strike him in the heart. It is so strong it actually causes him to lose his breath for a moment. "I want to give you everything. Anything you want you just name it and I will give it to you."
"Right now all I want is you."
She gives him a quick kiss then lays herself back on the bed. Like a butterfly she rests with her arms and legs spread wide for him to ravish her. He takes a moment to admire what he is seeing. She has been naked this whole time but now with her being in such a pose right in front of him with the bedroom lamp shining brightly he can see everything. Her C cup breasts with her nipples looking up at him just begging him to suck on them. Her slender waist that curves in from her ribs but then back again to form her hips. His eyes continue downward as her hips form two halves of a perfect heart only the heart does not rest with its tip together. With her knees spread wide it looks more like the shape of a broken heart but with her soft, pink, labia creating the center. His erection returns and this time he can not tell himself to stop. She is everything a man could want and somehow he is the one to be so lucky to not only have her once but now twice.
Lara watches him as he takes hold of his cock and a bit of pre-cum forms at the tip. So glossy, so pink that with all the blood that must be rushing to it it almost looks red. He places the head against her entrance and his shaft warms her clitoris. She takes in a gasp of air as the feeling of its silkiness sends pleasure up into her pelvis. He slides in with ease. The sensation is so welcoming Lara grabs hold of his back as if to never let go. He re-positions himself so that he can left up her buttocks and ensure that every inch of his cock fills her tight, warm, soft, pocket.
"Yes, Jacob! Just like that!" Lara moans as she arches her back and presses herself back against him.
He lets out a deep moan as her clitoris slides up his shaft to its place against his base. This is the first time in years that he has felt like he is where he truly belongs. She wraps her legs around him which only reinforces his feelings. How he was able to survive this long without her touch eludes him. In this moment he could never dream of letting her go. They are one and he wants it to remain that way forever. He pulls back his hips just enough to give himself enough room to thrust powerfully into her. She lets out a winded moan with each consecutive thrust which continues until she reaches the point where she feels her heart might stop if he keeps it up. She quints her eyes and turns her head to the side as her face blushes red. He takes hold of her palms and leans himself into them as they sink down into the bed's pillows. He uses this balance to lower his face to her neck and gives it a quick lick up to her jaw before burring his face into it.
"You're body is amazing Lara. I just want to explore every bit of it."
"I don't know, you might find secrets you are not ready for." She turns towards him and kisses him on the cheek.
"Secrets huh? What kind of secrets?"
She giggles, "You'll just have to find out for yourself."
She sticks her tongue deep into his mouth then takes his into her own and sucks on it softly. He moans again which is muffled by her pressing her fingers into the back of his head to hold him close. He finds it hard to catch his breath afterwards because she continues to breath him into herself as if she is purposefully trying to steal the air from his lunges.
"I'm so close," she moans.
"Me too. Just a bit longer."
She tightens her grip over his fingers to the point where they actually start to hurt. Their thrusts become faster and she struggles to hold herself back.
"Jacob, I can't! I'm gonna cum!"
"Just a few more seconds." He leans down and licks on her right nipple.
"Jacob! Oh my god! I can't..."
He feels her walls tighten around his shaft and the coveted sensation causes him to lose himself. He thrusts harder and harder as every pulse sends waves of pleasure up to their brains and causes them to moan again and again. This time he muffles her by sticking his tongue into her mouth. He can smell her pheromones as her body heat rises from underneath him. He pulls back quickly however realizing he still needed a clear picture of her afterglow in his mind. As he expected, it is bright and he finds her in a state where she is so calm and happy that he sees her break a smile like none he has ever seen her have before.
"Perfect," he whispers then slips himself out and lies in the bed next to her.
She wraps her arm around him and places her head against his chest. The sound of his heart beat slowly returning to its normal rate puts her in a state of hypnosis where she finds it hard to keep her eyes open. He runs his fingers through her hair which relaxes her further.
"Mmm... good night, Jacob."
He chuckles, "Good night Lara."
In less than a minute the two of them are fast asleep.