Flashback:
The day after Thanksgiving, Mellie took Emma along on some of her charity projects and to her book club. Fitz and Jake had gotten up at the crack of dawn and had headed for the golf course. She and Jake hadn't seen each other, since the night before, let alone talk and she found herself impatient, longing to see him, which was new to her. All throughout her time in the Army, she had been approached by many men. Some she had dated once or twice but it had never led to anything and she certainly had never experience that feeling of yearning before.
As she and Mellie returned home, Mellie started to organize the dinner and as it was a relatively nice and warm day, in the high 60's, she opted for an All-American barbecue. Emma changed into her bathing suit and dived in the pool for her daily laps. She was a great swimmer and had helped her high school Varsity team win many trophies. While she was swimming, she was usually in her own world, in her bubble as she called it, it was an escape from everything. As she finished her 30th lap, she grabbed on to the edge to catch her breath. Jake was standing there.
He crouched down. "Have I told you how beautiful you are"?
She smiled. "I think you mentioned it last night".
"You're right. I did. Twice"!
Fitz came outside carrying two bottles of beer. "Jake, let's drink to my kicking your ass"!
Emma hoisted herself out of the pool and walked over to where she had placed her towel as Jake stood and watched her. "You lost"?
He smiled. "Technically, no. But I let him win. He's a sore loser"!
Emma laughed. "Are you trying to score points with Fitz so that he'll spare your life when you tell him you kissed me"?
"No". He started to walk away. "I'm hoping he'll spare my life after I've done more than just kiss you"….
Emma shivered. Not from the cold, but from the simple thought of what that meant. She watched Jake head over to Fitz and take his bottle of beer. Fitz took his shirt off and grabbed the basketball. Jake in turn took off his shirt and followed Fitz to the basketball court on the other side of the pool. She stared at Jake's muscular chest and abs. She was so caught up in it that she hadn't realized that Mellie had walked up to her and had spoken to her.
"Emma? Did you hear me"?
Emma snapped out of it and looked at Mellie who had that 'I know what you're looking at' kind of look.
Realizing that she hadn't heard her, Mellie repeated herself. "The chef's almost finished grilling the meat….just thought you might want to go dry off and change before dinner".
"Of course, sorry. I'll be down in ten".
Emma walked off, stealing a glimpse every now and then, as she walked back to the house, at Jake.
After having dried off and changed, Emma left her room and literally bumped into Jake in the hallway. As they collided into each other, in order not to lose his balance, he put his arms around her. He was hot and sweaty and she could feel his pecs against her. She tried not to show she was flustered.
"I'm sorry".
He looked at her and smiled. He tightened his hold on her and pulled her in closer, on purpose. "Don't be. I'm glad you bumped into me".
Her heart was racing. She couldn't speak. Within seconds his mouth was on hers. This time there was no foreplay. Their lips parted immediately, welcoming each other's tongues. He backed her up against the wall and kept coming for more. His hands slowly but decisively discovered her body. He stopped at her leg and grabbed it, hoisting it up on his hip as he pressed and burrowed into her. She moaned and pulled him closer by digging her hands in his hair, as she felt how bad he wanted her.
They heard footsteps downstairs in the main hall as Fitz called out for them. "Emma! Jake! Dinner's ready"!
They took their time to pull apart both out of breath. He smiled and she smiled back. "You should bump into me more often", he said as he walked away towards his room and disappeared. She headed back to her room, she needed a new t-shirt…
Dinner was tricky as both Jake and Emma tried really hard not to show anything. After dinner they all went and sat down outside on the deck. Fitz and Jake had Scotch and talked about sports and cars while Mellie and Emma talked about her upcoming Christmas break and how she hoped that Emma would come and spend time again with them.
Mellie stood and went to sit next to Fitz and he placed his arm around her as she leaned in to him. Emma smiled. Emma finally stood. It was coming up to midnight and she was leaving the following morning.
"I'm going to call it a night. I've got an early flight tomorrow".
Fitz nodded. "I wish I could take you but I've got an important session tomorrow first thing in the morning. I have a car that will pick you up at 6".
"Thanks". She walked over to Mellie and Fitz and hugged them. She then walked over to Jake and put her hand out. "It was nice to meet you Jake".
He shook her hand. "It was nice to meet you too Emma. You take care now".
Emma nodded and headed inside the house.
Jake watched her. He gave himself ten seconds and then stood. "Well, you wore me out buddy. I'm going down for the count. Catch you tomorrow"!
Fitz laughed. "You're out of shape my friend"!
Jake walked in the house slowly and once he was out of their sight hurried up the pace. He climbed the stairs two by two and stopped at Emma's door. Every inch of his body wanted her. He tapped gently on her door waiting for an answer that never came.
"You wouldn't happen to be looking for me now would you"? He turned around and saw Emma standing in the doorframe of his room.
He smiled as he walked towards her. He took her into his arms and kissed her as he opened the door, without stopping they entered the room and closed the door. He lifted her top over her head and his mouth trailed down to her breasts. Her breathing picked up pace. She grabbed the edge of his shirt and pulled it off. His hands trailed up and down her body just as hers did on his, with one expert hand he unhooked her bra and let it fall to the floor. He pulled her into her. The touch of their skin meeting sent waves of pleasure through their bodies and they kissed passionately. It was hot, arousing. She had never felt this with any other man before. He unbuttoned her jeans and tugged at them and removed her underwear. He picked her up and led her to his bed. He stripped his jeans and boxer shorts and placed himself on top of her. Throughout the entire night, their mouths, their hands discovered every inch of their bodies. They moaned as they brought each other pleasure and when their lovemaking reached its climax they came together.
Eventually, they fell asleep in each other's arms, her head resting on his chest. He woke up to the sounds coming from the edge of the bed.
"I didn't mean to wake you", said Emma as she put her jeans on.
"You were going to leave without saying goodbye"? He sat up and grabbed her pulling her in.
"I didn't want to make this awkward for you".
"Awkward"?
"I mean I'm going back to Maryland and…. Look, it's OK. I'm a grown woman, I know how these things work. You'll have some other woman in your bed by tomorrow night. It was nice meeting you Jake. Take care".
She pulled away and grabbed her shoes on her way to the door. She opened it slightly and then it closed. She looked up. Jake had placed his hand on the door, forcing it to shut. He was behind her.
"I don't know what kind of men you are used to or how many men have taken advantage of you, but I'm not one of them! Emma, this is just the beginning"!
She turned around. "So this isn't goodbye then"?
He shook his head no.
"Jake, you're in California, I'm on the other side. How is this ever going to work"?
"Weekends, holidays. Here, there, half-way. If it's both what we want, we will make it work. I know I want to"!
They kissed one last time and she left the room. Three hours later, she was on the plane to Bethesda, wondering where that road would lead them.
Flashback ends.
Emma woke up, to a familiar feeling, a familiar warmth. She opened her eyes. She had her head on Jake's chest and he had his arm around her. She looked up at him. He was awake and watching her. He smiled and she smiled back.
"You were watching me sleep"….
"Just like I always did", he said as he lifted his head and kissed her forehead. He put his head back against the pillow and caressed her arm. She lifted her head and pushed up on her legs and kissed him on the mouth. It was soft, it was warm, it was familiar….It was a start!