The man was demented—purely and utterly demented. I mean, what was with his sense of romanticism? First, he tried throwing me off of a cliff followed simply by a cold shower and now he was looking at me readily as he stood behind the open hood of the truck I had managed to wreck earlier. He grinned at me.
"Hand me a wrench, would you?" He asked soundly as I narrowed my eyes at him petulantly. Somehow, when he had said he had wanted to talk, I hadn't imagined us sitting here right now in his garage staring at grease covered mechanics. Tom lifted a brow.
"You frown any harder, Harrison, and your face will remain that way." Tom proclaimed as I crossed my eyes at him. Right now, I was not worried about my future facial expressions.
"That wrench?" He asked again as he pointed suddenly over at a radio sitting against the other side of the garage.
"Put on an old classics station too, Jude." He murmured as his head disappeared under the hood quickly once again. I wonder what would happen if I slammed the damn thing closed on top of that meticulously gelled scalp. Hmmmm…well, it's a thought. I shook my head as I grabbed a wrench and twisted the knob on the radio. It was already tuned and music from a bygone era spilled out of the speakers. It was incredibly nostalgic. Tom reached his hand out, and I placed the tool in it securely as I sidled up next to him—peering at the now familiar wires and technological accessories as I leaned over the open motor and battery with him. Working on my Mustang had taught me a lot about vehicles in general.
"Try twisting that." I mumbled quietly from beside him as he glanced over at me in surprise. What? I was a woman, not an alien life form. You know cars were not beyond the female realm of knowledge—just the men that drove them. I met his stare with sudden amusement.
"You can pick up your jaw now, grease monkey." I muttered as he winked at me before suddenly pinching me in the ass. What the hell?
"I'm suddenly turned on, Harrison." Tommy teased as I threw an old rag at his head. He caught it in mid-air and swiped his hands across it as he closed the hood and approached me stealthily. I backed up until I was leaning against the metal contraption—its cold surface pressing into my back as Tommy pushed up against me before reaching out to rub at an oil mark now marring my cheek. The gesture was oddly disconcerting.
"You keep running, Jude." Tommy whispered knowingly as his other hand came up to rest against the other side of my face. Running. He didn't say it as if he were asking me a question. He made it a statement because he knew that's exactly what I did. I ran. My head spun as I stared up at him—wondering as I did how we had come to this moment—how we had managed to fight our way to this peacefulness. I shook my head—dislodging his hands as I placed a palm gently against his chest. He didn't move.
"There's just so much left unsaid between us, Tommy." I whispered in return quietly as Tommy shook his head a moment in resigned agreement.
"Then say it." Tommy replied matter-of-factly as I just stared over at him both in disbelief and even in confusion.
"What?" I asked slowly. Boy, it seemed like I was asking that question an awful lot lately. What did he want me to say? Tom chuckled slightly as his face approached mine in some romantic sense of slow motion.
"Then say it, Jude. Go ahead. Get rid of whatever is left unsaid between us. It's just you and I right now. No one else." He stated simply as I felt my heart clench in decided discomfort. I didn't think I had the courage to say what was left unsaid. The radio broke through our thoughts and I laughed as I recognized the song by the Stevie Wonder. How appropriate for two people who had discovered each other all over again through the world of online mail. Tom smiled too as he shook his head—letting the music flow over us as he leaned over until both of his arms were place firmly on each side of me on the hood.
Like a Fool I went and stayed too long
Now I'm wondering if your loves still strong
Ooh baby, here I am, signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours
In that time I went and said goodbye
Now I'm back and not ashamed to cry
Ooh baby, here I am signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours
I gazed up at Tommy as the music played—letting my hand come to rest on his shoulders as he pressed into me further—his blue eyes shining with unresolved passion, anger, and even regret. Strange how we could feel so much for each other and still deny it. I watched the smile that played over the corner of his lips as he trailed a finger across my mouth. There was grease on his forehead, and I stared at it—loathed to wipe it away because it flawed him—made him seem more human, more approachable,
Chorus
Here I am baby
Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours
Here I am baby
Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours (signed, sealed yeah)
I've done alot of foolish things
That I really didn't mean (wrap me up)
Hey, hey yea, yea, didn't I, oh baby (c'mon)
"Give me all of you." Tom whispered suddenly as I closed my eyes against the searing emotion—against the words that now held me captive. He was asking a lot of me—asking me to give up the distrust I had accumulated against him as a way to protect my heart. But what about him?
"I thought I was forbidden." I replied softly as he rested a chin on one of my shoulders—peering out into the night behind my back as his breath tickled the sensitive skin under my ears.
"The hell with forbidden, Jude. Your answer to love keeps haunting me. I'd rather sacrifice myself with you than sacrifice my sanity trying to stay away. God, half the time I can't stand you and others I can't imagine life without you. Both are irresistible emotions. I don't want simple anymore. I want complicated." Tom remarked as he lifted his head back up—letting his eyes rest on mine as I let my face fall in that age old expression that asked 'are you sure?' The certainty was there in his gaze as the night surrounded us—as the music played.
Seen a lot of things in this old world
When I touched them they did nothing, girl
Ooh baby, here I am, signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours, oh I'm yours
Oo-wee babe you set my soul on fire
That's why I know you are my heart's only desire
Ooh baby, here I am, signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours
I closed my eyes as he laughed. I think he knew I was afraid, and I could feel the challenge at the tip of his tongue as he kissed me suddenly—with more demand that any human being should ever be able to endure. There was need there too and something deeper. I was beginning to realize that there was never anything better left unsaid. It was better to be honest. The grill of the truck pained me as the kiss deepened and Tom lifted me up gently before carrying me resolutely over to the back of the vehicle—grabbing what looked like a blanket from a shelf as he went. Fear overwhelmed me as he lifted me up into the back of the truck after lowering the tail gate—moving over me as we fell to the floor of it gently—cushioned by the fabric that Tom had thrown down first. I could tell we were still silently battling it out—still fighting against control. I wasn't going to say it first.
"About things unsaid?" I asked him quietly as he pulled my shirt swiftly over my head. The breeze cooled my heated skin as Tommy did the same before lying down next to me—working on the rest of our clothes as he closed his eyes briefly.
"I love you, Jude Harrison." He finally said as I laughed at his resigned tone. Defeated by a woman. How poetic.
"You sound surprised." I remarked on a small laugh as he moved over me. He raised a brow up at me in question.
"Surprised?" He asked simply. I just nodded.
"Surprised that I'm so much woman." I replied confidently as Tommy laughed. I just grinned. Crickets sang along with Tom's radio.
Chorus
Here I am baby (unwrap me baby)
Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours
(got the future in your hand)
Here I am baby (unwrap me baby)
Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours
(got the future in your hand)
Hold my hand, let me know you can
Hold my hand, let me know you can
Tell me what you want me to do
Hold my hand let me know you can
Here I am baby, baby (That's right)
Hold my hand let me know you can
Here I am baby, baby
"Be honest." I quipped as his hands roamed places claimed by no other. He chuckled.
"Are you waiting for me to say you were right?" He asked as I shook my head in happy consent.
"No, I'm waiting for you to take me on." I stated simply as Tommy grinned at me wickedly before moving—entering that hallowed domain that now belonged to him. I gasped.
Here I am baby
Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours
Here I am pretty baby
Here I am baby (unwrap me baby)
Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours (signed, sealed, delivered)
"Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours." He whispered into my ears mimicking the song that had become our truth as we both reached heights that would never be possible had it been anyone else. Would you say I was lying if I told you that there was even a falling star in the distance?
Author's Footnote: So guys, what do you think? Should this be it? Huh? Or should I continue it on after this moment? It's all up to you. And as for those worried about my other stories, I start updating them tonight. I just had so much bottled up for this story, I had to let it out first. You know what tickled me funny today, and I'm not sure why. I just thought about the fact that if you have me on your alert list that whenever a new chapter shows up, it says You've Got Mail." Okay. Why that thought made me chuckle I have no idea, but hee hee must be one of those days. Please R&R guys and let me know if this should be the end or if you want me to delve deeper into what happens now that they've moved to the next level. I love the response I have gotten from you guys. It's amazing and you were really there for me through all of the baby craziness and etc. You guys are wonderful and you deserve the stories that I plan on rolling out. I just learned that I don't have to go back to work until the 24th so you guys have to put up with my many updates until then (laugh). Ahhh! Anywho, guess I will go for now. But I will be back later. Smiles and hugs. Oh and you guys have to check out JackJackio's new story Take Me or Leave Me. Her first chapter really caught my eye as well as a few of the other authors whose stories have caught my eye. You deserve the shout outs for giving me shout outs as well. Kris10rox I am glad that you are feeling better and your story rocks. Jonesy219, Headlock was fantastic. I hate the idea of leaving anyone out so just check out my favorites. All of you guys are great--all of you and each story is unique to you. And that's what's important. Lots of love to you all! Angel422