"Unhinged"

Part Four

God he felt good. He never knew he could feel this good. He was a hand job away from reliving that day back when he and Jude were eleven. He always thought about that day and how he had never been more satisfied and clearly obsessed. Smirking as he continued to watch Jude pace back and forth cursing under her breath. He knew he shook her foundation, he threw the curve ball this time. Jude was no longer in control, she no longer knew what would happen next. She was completely in his hands and he loved that so much. His tale of his first hard-on and first time experiencing the rippling delight as he climaxed within his swim trunks had come out unplanned. He had not intended to ever share that story, but for some reason it slipped out…now it was perfect. Jude had no idea what to feel, he could read her body language like a book.

"I'm going to try to let that slide and excuse it as you being drunk," Jude stopped her pacing and pinned him with a disgusted glare. "But don't you ever speak to me that way again. I don't know what kind of sick joke you thought that was but it was completely inappropriate and disrespectful!"

Jamie smirked in false humor. "Respect? Oh that's rich coming from you."

Jude would have slapped him if she felt she would be safe to stand that close to him. So many emotions were overtaking her, mostly confusion. Why was her best friend acting this way? He would have told her if something had happened. She knew Nana was still alive and cranky. The old goat was standing outside in her bathrobe when Jude was leaving… she hated "Nana encounters" it always involved a lecture of some sort. It was a wonder how Jamie had been able to live with her and not turn out crazy. Now Jude was starting to think he was losing his mind… she wasn't going to wait long enough to find out.

"I think it's time for you to leave." Jude spoke through gritted teeth. "if you are too drunk to drive I'll call a cab for you--but it is time you leave before you say something else you will regret."

Jamie stared in amusement as Jude marched across the room and pulled open the door in a great show of just how angry she was. Why she was mad he couldn't figure out. He was the one who had the right to be mad. "I'm not going anywhere so why don't you shut the door before the boogie-man gets in." Chuckling at his own joke Jamie motioned for Jude to do as he said.

Sighing in frustration Jude ran a hand through her hair and said, "Leave Jamie. I can't deal with you right now."

Crossing his arms over his chest in caring sarcasm, "Aww. Did princess Jude have a rough day?"

Jude pierced him with a pleading look. "Stop! Just go and sleep off whatever mood you are in." He needed to leave. This Jamie was a far cry from the boy she grew up with. She didn't like him and if he stayed she knew they would both share words that could never be forgiven.

"No can do."

"Dammit Jamie," pulling out her cell phone from her pant pocket Jude flipped up the screen and began to punch in numbers. "I'm calling a cab."

Before she could complete the call Jamie stormed lividly across the room and ripped the phone free from Jude's hands and tossed it across the room. The muscles in his jaw tightened beneath his anger. Fire fumed fresh in his eyes. If he was trying to be intimidating he deserved an Oscar because Jude felt fear boil within her blood at the sight of his anger…and the fact that he was standing so close to her.

"I told you to shut the fucking door." Grabbing hold of her arms Jamie roughly pulled Jude away from the door and kicked it shut. Ignoring her gasp of shock he pinned her with his blood shot eyes. "You are not leaving until I say so, got it?"

Jude winced as Jamie's fingers dug bruising into her skin. "Okay." Jamie nodded his approval and abruptly let her go. Without hesitation Jude ran to the other side of the room. She saw her cell phone laying on the ground near the couch; thankfully in one piece.

"I wouldn't try to pull a stunt like that again if I were you." came Jamie's surprisingly calm warning.

"What's going on with you Jamie?" Jude questioned while nudging her phone with the toe of her boot.

"Don't pretend to care."

"I care. You know I do." Slowly her phone slid against the floor until she had it securely locked between her feet.

Jamie rolled his eyes in disgust. "Save the bull shit for someone else. You have never cared about me."

"What! Of course I care! I always have. You're my best friend Jamie."

"Then why do you always hurt me?" Jamie's eyes filled with tears and he forgot to be pissed. All the pain he felt over the years flashed within his tearful gaze. "why do I have to work so hard just to get beat down in the end? W-why can't you just love me Jude?"

Jude's heart broke as a lone tear slipped from Jamie's eye. "Oh Jamie." She cooed as she rushed across the room and pulled him into a hug. She forgot about the fear she felt just moments ago. "I love you," Jude's voice muffled as she buried her face against his chest. "I love you so much."

Jamie wrapped his arms gently around her, pulling her close against him. Jude's sweet scent of vanilla and roses touched him and threatened to thaw the block of ice his heart had frozen into. All he ever wanted was for her to love him, twice before he thought she did. Sadly, he had been mistaken. He did know the feel of her small body pressed into his was heaven and hell. His body sparked and ignited when her fingers traced circles against his back. "I love you," Jude whispered again.

Jamie tightened his hold on Jude, inhaling her sweetness like it were his breath--- I love you. I love you. Her words blanketed his heart and he completely forgot why he was ever mad at her. "Jude?" Jamie's voice cracked with emotion.

Jude lifted her head off of his chest and gazed up at him with her own tear filled eyes. "Yeah?"

Jamie lowered his head and kissed her cheek. "You are the only one." His words tickled her skin. "The only one I've ever wanted. Ever needed." Tilting his head he kissed the corner of her mouth. Jude stiffened within his grip; ignoring it Jamie moved once again and pressed his mouth against hers. "Mmmm," his sigh blended with Jude's gasp of surprise. "I love you so much," he whispered before pulling away.

Jude stood motionless within Jamie's arms. How had she gone from scared to confused to angry to scared again to now…what was she? Jamie, her best friend, ex-boyfriend twice over had just kissed her and was looking at her like she could hand him the moon and the stars. "Jamie," Jude began. Her voice revealing the emotions playing within her soul. "I can't. W-we can't. There's Tommy."

To be continued...