Thank you so much for your great reviews. I didn't expect so many. This actually was supposed to have been just a one piece short story. Thank you again. Okay, what you've been waiting for - Chapter 4.
Jarod tried his very best to stay at a distance away from her. But, the temptation was just within reach.
It was a cold, dark and stormy night. Besides the heavy rain, they could hear the wind howling. The thunder roared violently every five minutes and he watched her jump each time.
"Thunder storms frighten you, Miss Parker?"
She kept silent. The only light was from the glow of the fire which illuminated the living room. Miss Parker sat on the floor with her legs pulled up, eyes closed, her arms hugging her knees. She wanted the feel of Jarod's arms around her, to comfort and protect her. Whenever she looked at him, she was on fire.
As if he could read her mind, out of nowhere, she felt his strong arms pull her into him from behind and embraced her tightly as she leaned back against his chest. Expecting her to pull away, she surprised him as she pulled his arms tightly around her. "Better?" He asked. "It's only thunder."
"Better," was her soft reply. Jarod pressed his lips on the back of her head for about ten seconds before releasing his kiss. He would, on several occasions, imagine how it would be like to hold her in his arms, now he knew. He was afraid this scenario was a dream and he would suddenly awaken.
"Oh, Jarod," she whispered his name.
Turning to face him, her arms went around his neck as she clung on to him. Miss Parker was like a beautiful butterfly that needed to flap her wings and fly away. She was not meant to live her life at The Center to be a trophy in a glass case where her father was concern. She needed to be free.
"Hold me tight," she whispered again. He did so, holding on to her as tightly as he could.
For several minutes their arms twined around each other, no one saying a word. Jarod embraced her, running his hands up and down her back, as she leaned her forehead on his chin. "Storm's over." He was the first to speak.
"I haven't noticed." As she slowly raised her head up, he moved his face down to hers, cupped his hands on her face, tilting it back, he tenderly kisses her. Feeling the warmth of her lips, he kissed her with such deep passion, it eventually led them to pull apart, gasping for their breaths.
Jarod pulled her again into him as they tightened their grip on each other as they took steps to a new beginning. He kissed her again, once more with feeling. As they broke for air, he whispered in her ears. "I could never love anyone the way I love you." If he held her any closer, he would probably feel the rapid pounding of her heart. "You've always been with me, every moment, in my heart, in the air. Everywhere."
"You make me feel safe." She wrapped her arms around his shoulder, leaning her face on his neck, he could feel her warm tears dripping down on his shirt penetrating onto his skin.
"You alright, sweetheart?" He spoke softly as they cuddled each other.
She nodded. "I'm sorry for all the pain I've put you through all these years. You can't turn back, Jarod, you can't turn back on this."
He slowly rocked back and forth as he held her in his arms. "I won't turn back, I wouldn't know how. All I can do is hold on to you promising never to let you go," he tells her, kissing her again.
"I'll never let you go." Her sky blue eyes reflected from the light of the fire, met with his dark brown ones and she smiled.
"You know, you are even more beautiful with that smile on our face." He gave her a feather-like kiss.
"There was nothing to ever smile about, until now."
"All these years, wasted years, of "I run, you chase" games..."
"Hush," she put her finger to his lips. "We're here now."
"Yes, that's all that matters, baby." He caressed her cheek lightly with his fingertips, untied the ribbon in her hair as it fell down to her shoulders and ran his hands through her soft tresses.
"Are You Lonesome Tonight?" He murmured in between his kisses.
Parker leaned her forehead against his. "Not anymore. I just didn't know how to love again...And You Came Along."