Chapter 7 – Keep Her Safe

Grey eyes fluttered open as she felt soft lips kissing her bare shoulders and neck. She couldn't stop the soft giggle that left her lips. She lulled her head back and felt his lips trace across her throat before her eyes locked onto his icy blues. His stubble rubbed against her cheek. "Morning beautiful." His sleep filled raspy voice stated.

Tiva smiled softly as she rubbed her cheek against his; fully enjoying the scruff that grew along his jaw. "Morning handsome."

Jon pulled back as he took in the beauty that laid in his arms all night long. Her light grey eyes with the golden flecks in them were definitely what distinguished her from her older sister. He had noticed Tiani had stormy grey eyes as if a rain storm was brewing in them. She was beautiful but Tiva was…Tiva was the pinnacle of beauty. The honey blonde tips she had ombred into her waist length black hair went well with her golden grey eyes.

He could literally lay in bed with her all day long and suck on her supple flesh if she let him. She'd been on vacation for the last week and they had both thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The might not have left the house very often because of Tiani being holed up in her room and Tiva's worry for her older sister, but Jon didn't mind keeping Tiva company. He'd also heard someone walking around the house the morning before and could tell by the footfalls it was Phillip.

Clearly he had made good on his promise to Tiva about making things right with Tiani…or at least was attempting too because he hadn't heard him start up his truck and leave, but he had noticed that Phillip's wet clothes were in the laundry room and a pair of jeans and a t-shirt were missing from the clean laundry that Tiva had done for him. It was no big deal he and Kopus had shared clothes all the time. Phillip was an inch taller than him and had about 20 more lbs of muscle on him but they were basically the same build.

"I need to get up and check on Tiani." Tiva stated.

"I seriously doubt you need to do that. Kopus showed up a little after we came to bed yesterday morning and hasn't left. I pretty sure she's doing fine. Her big bad protector is in there with her." Jon joked.

"Are you sure? I just don't want her left alone in there any longer than necessary. And how long have we slept exactly?" Tiva asked once she registered that Jon said they'd been sleeping since 'yesterday morning'.

Jon chuckled as he tightened his arms around Tiva pulled her back into his body. "It's been about 36 hours. But you needed it babe; you and Tiani both. You've been worried about her and we both understand what she's been through. I think it's why Kopus hasn't left yet."

"I hate to tell you this, but if Phillip hurts my sister, I'm kicking your best friend's ass. This is a fair warning; so either let him figure it out on his own or give him a heads up – either way I don't care." Tiva stated honestly. "I am enjoying your company too much probably, but so far you're on my good side and Kopus…well Kopus is Kopus and we both know he's got a bad streak in him a mile long. I wouldn't put anything past him."

Jon nodded. "I fully understand your need to protect Tiani. I get it. She did for you; now you are doing for her. But I've seen the change in Phillip. He's different since she'd been around. He wants to do stuff to show her he's changing. I can't tell if it's good or bad change, but he is changing none the less."

"Change can be good; I understand that. I'm just saying. Tiani has been through too much and put herself through so much shit growing up she doesn't need to add heartbreak and ridiculousness to the mix." Tiva shook her head as she buried her face in Jon's chest and felt his arms tighten around her. "She sacrificed too much she deserves a little happiness and a big damn break in life; not sadness or to be broken."

"Well given the amount of time he's spent in that room with her; I'd say he already know what's at stake with her." Jon observed verbally to prove a point to Tiva. "Hey if he hurts her you have my permission to kick his ass and my ass."

"Well that's something…and should be interesting too." Tiva stated with a smirk on his face.

Jon leaned down and pecked her lips softly. "How about some food; I'm starving." Right on cur Jon's stomach started growling.

"How about waffles?" Tiva asked as they both stood from bed as she squealed when Jon tossed her over his shoulder before he slapped her on her jean covered ass.

"Waffles are fine by me baby. As long as you feed the monster living in my stomach I don't care what it is." Jon chuckled as he walked towards the kitchen with her.

"Do you have a tape worm Jonathan?" Tiva asked teasingly.

Jon set her down on the counter before he chuckled. "Did you just call me Jonathan? My own mother knows not to call me that." His gravelly voice filled the kitchen as he looked at her sternly.

"I can get away with anything and don't you forget it." Tiva's small hands came up and grabbed the sides of his face as she crashed her lips into his, suddenly she was being lifted from the counter as her legs wrapped around Jon's muscular waist and she was being carried back into the bedroom. "I thought you were hungry." Her husky voice asked.

"I'm only hungry for one thing right now…"


Dark eyes looked down at the small woman in his arms. Phillip had not spent the night with a woman he gave a shit about in a very long time. Tiani was different and he knew that; especially since she had started giving him shit about his life. He knew she was right on all accounts; he also knew if she found out what he was doing with Jon his ass would be toast with her. But at this point he didn't care he was doing what he thought was right for their people.

Investigators had been on the reservation and KNEW something in the tap water and in the dirt and it was making people sick. His mom knew that better than anyone and so did Tiani. If the authorities weren't going to help the people on the reservation, than Phillip and Jon would; no matter what the cost.

After checking the clock on the night stand he discovered they'd been sleeping for the last 36 hours. He could hear Jon and Tiva moving around the house a little before they returned back to Tiva's room. Phillip leaned down and softly kissed Tiani's forehead. Somewhere in the middle of sleeping she had turned around in his arms and was absolutely burrowed into his body; he was not moving her and definitely wasn't complaining. She had her left arm around his torso and clutching a fist full of his t-shirt.

Phillip looked down as the body in his arms started to stir. Phillip smirked as her eyes fluttered open. "I would say good morning but it's about 6 pm. We've slept for 36 hours, but clearly we both needed it."

Tiani's head was foggy as she moved around a little and could feel Phillip's arms still around her. She had her left arm around him as well; she pulled her arm around and tucked it between their chests with her right arm. She felt Phillip's arms tighten around her. She buried her face in his t-shirt covered chest and inhaled his musky scent. She felt him push his nose into the top of her head. "I can't believe we slept this long."

Phillip let out a slight chuckle. "I can. When you started throwing up at the store you sort of…Well you sort of scared the shit out of me. I've never seen anyone react like that to seeing someone from their past; no matter what transpired between them. I have to confess I was worried about you. I didn't get much sleep since I dropped you off."

Tiani's head lifted as she looked up at him. "Phillip Kopus was worried about someone?" She couldn't help teasing him.

Phillip leaned his head down as he brushed his lips across her forehead. "Don't get used to it…It's probably a once in a lifetime thing." Phillip joked. His dark eyes watched her laugh as she swatted his chest. "I really want to get out of this bed and leave the house, but I want you to come with me. Will you come with me somewhere?" He asked curiously.

Tiani took in a shaky breath as she exhaled just as shaky. Her grey eyes danced between his dark ones and could tell he really needed a change of air; if at least just for a little bit. "Where did you have in mind?" She questioned as she let go of him and the moved off to the sides of the bed. She reached over and grabbed her jeans and walked into the bathroom and pushed the door slightly closed as she changed into them. She walked out of the bathroom and noticed Phillip had pulled his boots on before he reached out and snagged her hand into his and gently pulled her along behind him.

Tiani stopped at the front door and slipped her flip flops on and then continued to let Phillip pull her to his truck as he opened the driver side door and had her climb in from his side. She sat next to Phillip and watched as he drove them down the street before he pulled off to the side and stopped; killing the engine. "C'mon, let's go." He stated as he got out and held out his hand to her.

Phillip watched as Tiani moved over and slipped out of the truck and took his hand once again and let him led her down the well-worn path to the lake.

"What are we doing here?" Tiani asked curiously.

Phillip stopped at the embankment before he pulled up the front of his shirt to loosen it from his body and then tugged it off over his head as he kicked his boots off and pulled his wallet out of his back pocket before he unhooked the chain of his wallet and set it in one of his boots. "I'm going for a swim…and so are you." He watched as she gave him a quizzical look before he leaned down and lifted her by her rear end so she had to wrap her legs around his waist as he reached behind him and pulled her flip flops off and then walked into the water.

Tiani couldn't understand why they were in the water, but she didn't care. She kept her legs firmly around his waist and wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held onto him, much the same way he held onto her. It was still icy as ever

"So why are we in ice cold water again?" Tiani asked. She could feel herself shiver slightly. Last time her temperature had been higher and her head was foggier from Phillip's kisses, now she was just waking up from 36 hours of sleep and the icy water had fully woken her up.

Phillip shook his head. "Because last time we were here I said something to you that I shouldn't have and I'm surprised you didn't belt me for it. So I wanted to apologize for my words. I'm sorry for telling you I hoped you'd die. I was pissed off and annoyed and I let my mouth speak before my brain could catch up to me. Your sister belted me in the mouth day before yesterday. I deserved it."

Tiani stifled a laugh at hearing her little sister punched someone. "I'm…"

Before she could finish, Phillip's hand came up and covered her mouth. "Don't even think about apologizing for her hitting me. It's probably the best thing she could've done; made me realize what a dick I was being that night."

Tiani rolled her lips as she locked her grey orbs onto his dark eyes. "Thank you…"

"For what?"

"For apologizing. You know you didn't need to. I would've gotten over it eventually…though I may have kneed you in the balls once." Tiani stated truthfully.

Phillip couldn't help the deep chuckle. "Yea…thanks for not leading with that."

"You should be happy Tiva didn't kick you in the balls, she used to play soccer; if she would've scored a goal your spleen would've felt it." Tiani teased.

Tiani's body started getting used to the temperature of the water as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders again. She felt his right arm slide under her rear so she wouldn't fall as his left arm wrapped around her back, she could feel the warmth of his hand palming the middle of her back. The warmth felt so good. "If I'm getting to heavy you can put me down."

Phillip couldn't stop the chuckle that sputtered between his lips as the corners of his eyes crinkled up. "You've got to be joking woman. You seriously weigh less than my mother's purse when I was younger."

Tiani smiled softly as her hands came up and cupped his light beard covered cheeks as she pressed her lips against his; it didn't take him but two seconds to respond to her lips against his. She couldn't stop the whimper that came from the back of her throat as he softly sucked on her bottom lip. She felt him lower them further into the water.

She didn't realize it but he'd moved back to the embankment and sat down; they were half in the water half out of the water. She moved around and unhooked her feet from behind him before she dug her feet into the sand. They never once stopped kissing. It felt too good to stop. She couldn't imagine what doing anything else would feel like with him; especially if kissing felt THIS good.

Phillip caressed her tongue once more with his before he slowly pulled back. "Are you ready to go home?" He asked slightly out of breath. He watched as she shook her head negatively. "I need a shower and fresh pair of clothes since these belong to Jon. You wanna come home with me?" He asked. "You also left your back pack in the truck. I know you keep spare clothes in there."

"I'd like that." Tiani stated. "Always; I always keep a change of clothing with me."

Tiani wasn't sure how he did it but he was able to push himself into a squatting position and then stood up with her wrapped around his body again. He tightened his arm around her body as he leaned down and grabbed his boots and t-shirt off the ground and then proceeded to carry her back to his truck, where he set her inside. "Phillip, my clothes are wet. I don't want to get your seat wet." She stated.

Phillip shook his head as he tossed her the truck keys. "Don't worry about it. Get the truck started and turn the heat on. I don't want you getting pneumonia; my mother would kill me." He watched as she started his truck. "My jeans are just as wet as your clothes. The seats will dry." He stated as he stepped into his boots before he looked at her winked before pulling his t-shirt back on.

Phillip would take Tiani anywhere as long as the smile stayed on her face.

Tiani moved over as he climbed into the truck and put it in gear and headed for his and Jon's place; which was actually about 4 blocks from where Tiani and Tiva lived. Tiani needed a change of scenery rather than going back to the solitude and safety of her own four walls.

Somehow she knew wherever she went; Phillip he would keep her safe.