Tru's head was pounding when she finally came to. She had a headache similar to that of a person being beaten repeatedly in the head with a tire-iron. She tried to put her hand to her head, but it flopped limply next to her. That was not a good sign. She tried to recall the days events. There had been a guy named Matt, and something about the lake, but she couldn't remember.
She knew she was lying on a bed, but she didn't remember how she got there. She opened her eyes. Wait a minute, this wasn't her room. Oh God, What was wrong with her? Her whole body screamed for mercy every time she made the slightest movement. No this wasn't good at all.
She heard a rustling sound coming from the other side of the room and craned her neck around to see, ignoring the red-hot wave of pain she felt. She tried to scream when she saw Jack, it came out a squeak. He must not have heard her because he kept rummaging through his bag. No, she thought to herself, it was just a dream, a nightmare. She closed her eyes and willed him to disappear. It didn't work he was still there, only this time he was shirtless. Crap. She was sure this was some kind of torture method, being forced to watch your arch-nemesis strip. Closing her eyes hadn't helped much and turning her head took way too much energy.
Jack unzipped his jeans, and Tru did the only thing she could think of. She let out a loud moan. Then was horrified when she realized it sounded more sensual than painful. She hoped Jack couldn't distinguish between the two. Her little moan did the trick, she saw the chorded muscles in his back stiffen and heard him re-zip his pants. She quickly closed her eyes, and pretended like she was just coming out of her state of unconsciousness. When she opened her eyes again, he was hovering over her. At first she thought she saw concern etched into his face, but it was quickly replaced with the stoic expression he usually wore.
"How are you feeling?" He asked softly.
"Just peachy." She croaked. "What happened?"
"You took a header off a no dive zone, luckily I happened to be walking by. I pulled you out, and carried you here." He left out how panicked he had been when he had seen her lifelessly floating in the water. How he had made a deal with God to stop being such a bastard if he let Tru live.
"You just happened to be walking by? What were you really doing?" She asked sourly.
Jack shook his head, and crossed his arms over his bare chest. Trust Tru to bite the hand that just saved her. He decided to go with the best defense is a good defense strategy, figuring even if he told the truth she wouldn't believe him and they would spend the rest of the day trading insults.
"What were you doing climbing those rocks? Training for Everest."
She glared at him. "None of your fu-"
He cut her off. "Tru cursing doesn't become you." He shook his head in mock sadness.
Her glare hardened. Then she whipped back the covers and stood up. She fully intended to stalk out of there. She had made it about three feet before the dizziness set in, and her knees buckled. Jack caught her before she hit the floor.
"Thanks." She mumbled weakly.
"No problem." He whispered as he picked her up.
The feeling of her small soft hands on his chest was undoing him. How could someone so small and fragile save people day in and day out. No wonder she had come up here to escape. He gently placed her on the bed, on his bed, and took a step back to look down at her. She looked like a little girl, her face was void of the stress he was used to seeing. He noticed the dark shadows under her eyes and wished he could take them away. He sighed, he had been to long without.
"Why?" She asked drowsily.
He had thought she was asleep.
"Why what?" He asked confused
"Why did you save me, it would be easier if I were dead right?"
"Tru you misunderstand me, I don't want you dead, I just want you to stop meddling with fate. Besides I like … a challenge." He finished lamely. He looked down at her, this time she was asleep. Her breathing was deep and even. She was even more beautiful asleep, no sense in denying it. He ruffled a hand through his hair. He was in deep shit. And he had a feeling it was going to get deeper.
Jack woke up the next morning his senses on high alert. He sniffed the air, it smelled like bacon. No that couldn't be right his mom had been dead for nearly twenty years. Then he remembered his houseguest. Tru. He stood up and stretched. Being about two feet to long for his couch had made for a very uncomfortable night of sleep.
He stopped short when he entered the kitchen. Tru was on her knees in front of the refrigerator shifting through spoiled food. But what really caught his eye was the fact that she was wearing one of his button down shirts. It was all so… sexy, and very domestic. It was actually almost exactly like a dream he'd had a few weeks back. The only thing missing was the whipped cream. Tru stood up giving him a better view of her body. He swallowed a groan. Then he cleared his throat to announce his presence. Tru whipped around.
" Oh h-hi Jack." She stuttered almost dropping the carton of eggs she was holding in her hands.
"I was just making umm breakfast. I figured it was the least I could do seeing as you saved my life and all."
She looked down suddenly realizing what she was wearing. "Oh yeah, sorry I umm didn't have anything else."
"Don't worry about it." Then he added to himself looks better on you anyway.
They stared at each other in an awkward silence.
"So your feeling better I see." He said breaking the silence.
"Umm yeah loads better." She was still flustered. "So how do you like your eggs?"
"Cooked." He was trying to keep his gaze from drifting back to her legs.
Tru put down the eggs and turned to face Jack again.
"Umm I just wanted to say thank you Jack, you could have let me die and you didn't so thanks." She smiled warmly, something Jack never thought would be directed towards him.
"No problem." Not being able to meet her gaze he looked down. Big mistake. He stared at her beautifully shaped legs for a moment then his gaze dropped to her feet. Even they were sexy. He ran a hand through his hair, he had to get her into some pants before his control snapped. He turned on his heel and walked out.
"I've got some sweatpants in my bag if you want them." He called out over his shoulder.
"I'm going to take a quick shower." A nice cold one he thought to himself.
When he walked back into the kitchen Tru had just finished fixing their plates. He was happy to see that she had put on the sweat pants. Sadly it didn't make her any less appealing. He focused on the top of her head.
"Thanks." He said picking up his plate.
"Your welcome." Silence.
They started eating to cover up how uncomfortable they both were.
"Oh my God." Tru said suddenly. "The boat I forgot all about it."
Jack looked up at her. " I took care of it yesterday, oh yeah Matt says hi."
"Oh what did you tell him?" She had forgotten about him.
"That I was your brother, and you had gone back to the cabin to rest, he believed it. He's not too bright." He grunted.
They finished eating in silence. Then Tru offered to do the dishes, but Jack did them so she could shower. When she came out of the bathroom her hair was still wet, and curling around her face.
"Umm Jack I need to go, do you think you can take me back to the cabin?" She asked
"Yeah I'll take you as soon as your ready."
Tru scurried off to get her things, completely unaware of the two sets of watchful eyes following her.
Damn. he was so mad there she was Tru. His Tru, shacking up with a man, after she spent the whole day flirting with another man. At first he had thought she was different that maybe she was pure, He was wrong. He would just have to teach that whore a lesson. A lesson all whores needed to be taught. As soon as he had a little alone time. He didn't want her boyfriends interrupting him. Then he would purify her, just like the others. He turned and walked off, his footsteps muffled by the mud.
A/N: Okay now every romantic suspense needs to have some sort of villain. And obviously you've just heard from him. I think I'm going to play around with the characters a bit before I let you know who he is. Anyway, thanx again for the great review I love em' : - )
Reese