Steve bolted up in bed as Carly shook him.
"Steve!" she practically screamed, "I saw Allan!"
The fear in her voice is what woke him up. He leaned over reaching in the nightstand drawer first, "Where?" he asked, flipping the safety off his gun.
"I saw him in the doorway," she shivered, pointing in that direction and still holding his arm with her other hand.
He peeled her hand off and scooted to the front of the bed with his gun pointed at the door. "Stay here," he told her.
He walked to the door in darkness, leaning against the bedroom wall glancing toward the stairs first. He came out of the room and looked down toward the other bedrooms and met Jack's alarmed expression.
"Holy shit!" he stepped back away from the gun pointed at him. "What the hell Steve!"
Steve never flinched, whispering to him, "Carly said she saw Allan in the house. Stay here with her." He made his way down the hall, stopping at the stairs and carefully taking them down, scanning the dark room below. The pointed the gun in his hand, mirroring his eye movement.
Jack watched him as he moved like a pro. He couldn't help but think he looked just like the guys on TV.
Jules came up behind him, fastening her robe. "What's going on?"
He shushed her and took her by the arm into Steve's room, whispering in her ear. "Carly saw Allan in the house."
She gasped putting her hands over her mouth. "Oh my God! Where is he?"
"I don't know. Steve went down with his gun. He said to stay here with her." He motioned to Carly who was kneeling on the bed with her hands over her heart. "Go over there with Carly."
She did as she was told as Jack stood by the door, watching the stairs and glancing in the other direction every couple of seconds.
Jules crawled up on the bed and put her arms around Carly's shivering body.
"I saw him standing in the doorway," she whispered, panting.
"It's ok, if he's here Steve will find him and take care of it." She rubbed her back trying to calm her.
Steve came off the last step and walked backward glancing over his shoulder toward the guest bathroom, sticking his head in for a second making sure it was clear. He thought about Craig and Marissa knowing they were down here by themselves and made his way over to their door, knocking on it and in the meantime making his way over to the kitchen and garage door. The lighting outside lit up the room just enough so he got a good look around not seeing anything unusual.
Craig finally came out, "Hey, what's up?" he didn't see the gun until another flash of lightning. His voice intensified, "What's going on?"
"Carly woke up and saw Allan. Did you hear anything?"
Craig came out, closing the door behind him, not wanting to wake up Marisa. "No! Is he in the house?" He scanned the room and outside.
"I don't think so. Stay here." He made his way to the garage door and went out, searching the area and under the car. He walked over to the side door and saw that it was unlocked. He opened it and stepped out to the side of the house that was gravel for about thirty feet until the forest began. He looked beyond the trees for movement and wondered if he was watching. He closed the door slightly and watched for a couple more minutes before being satisfied and shut it all the way, locking it.
He went back inside and turned the kitchen light on. "Is that side door in the garage always locked?" He asked Craig.
He put his hands up shrugging, "I don't know. I guess. I use it when I take the garbage out, which was the day before yesterday. I might have forgotten to lock it. Why is it open?"
Steve nodded, walking over to the front door making sure it was locked. It was. Craig did the same for the backdoor.
"This one's locked too. Should we call the police?"
"No, it won't do any good. There's really no evidence that he was here, except for Carly."
They both looked toward the stairs as Jack came down. "Did you find anything?"
Steve flipped the safety on his gun. "No." he pointed toward the garage, "The door in the garage was unlocked." He looked around, but I don't see anything out of the ordinary. And if he was here, he was awfully quiet."
They all moved in closer together.
Jack put his hands on his hips. "She said she saw him in the doorway of your room?"
"She woke me up frantic that she saw him."
Craig and Jack looked at each other. Craig spoke up, "Do you really think she saw him?"
Steve huffed, "She saw something. Whether it was a dream or the shadows, she believes she saw it."
Craig looked around, "I've been meaning to get an alarm system in here too."
"Do you think he'd really do something like that, break in here?" Jack asked.
Steve looked at him with a knowing expression, "Everyone has their breaking point. My concern is if he was here, what were his intentions?"
Allan came running out of the woods and to his car. He climbed in and took off down the road away from Craig's house. 'Holy crap that was close.' He thought. He knew if Steve had got a hold of him he would have been dead meat. He barely made it out of the house, grabbing his shoes by the side door. He made it deep enough into the woods in time to turn and see him come out the door and look right in his direction. He almost wet his pants at that moment, thinking he might have seen him. He knew he'd never be able to out run him. But the shmuck went back inside. 'Some cop he is," he laughed at his getaway. But it was short-lived as the image of Carly in bed with him flashed before him. It had only been hours and there she was. "That fucking whore!" He knew that they had been screwing each other all along. And that bullshit story that they hadn't seen each other in sixteen years. What a joke. And now she wanted a divorce and he was supposed to give her half of everything he worked for so she can spend it with that jerk-off? "Not going to happen." He thought. She'd pay for this. He didn't know how, but she would.
Steve came back upstairs with Jack and Craig to a calmed Carly. She sat on the edge of the bed with Jules as he came in the room. The expression on her face was filled with regret for causing an up roar. But she could have sworn she saw him.
"You didn't see anything did you?"
He put his gun back in the drawer, "No."
She stood up looking and feeling uneasy over what he must think. She nibbled on her thumbnail, a bad habit she used to do when she was in this situation with Allan. She waited for Steve to scold her over the ordeal for being so dramatic. She was even beginning to think she imagined it. "I'm sorry for all that."
He looked at her peculiarly, "Don't be sorry. You were scared. It was your natural reaction. You saw a threat."
She was glad he wasn't mad but she was still embarrassed over the commotion. "But I didn't really see him did I?"
He put his hands on her arms, hearing her try to talk herself out of it. "Are you telling me you made the whole thing up?"
"No! I swear Steve. I saw someone standing at that door."
He rubbed her arms, "I know. I just don't want you to start second guessing yourself. I believe you saw something and it scared you."
His belief in her gave her more confidence. "I was awake and a flash of lightning came through that window and I saw him."
He nodded his acknowledgement over her account of what happened. That and the backdoor being unlocked, he was beginning to think that maybe they had dodged a bullet by her waking up. The real possibility of Allan being there was turning more into a reality rather than the idea that she dreamt it. The thing that bothered him the most was why was he there? Did he come back so he could just talk to her, or did he come back to hurt her. That got him wondering about their relationship and if Allan had ever gotten physically violent with her. He needed to talk to her but wanted to do it alone. "He's gone now. The house is secure." He smiled reassuring her she was safe.
Jack took Jules' hand, "Excitements over, let's go back to bad."
"Good idea," Craig agreed, "although I have to admit I feel a little creepy knowing that guy was in the house." He pointed to the nightstand drawer. "Keep that gun handy officer."
"Yea, but keep it out of my face!" Jack blurted out.
Steve huffed, "I knew it was you before you even saw the gun."
"I know but still, I wet myself a little bit."
"Jack!" Jules exclaimed, "You're ruining that whole hero thing I had going on." She pulled on his hand giving Carly a quick hug. "Don't be afraid. I think you're in good hands."
"Good night everyone. I'm sorry for all this."
They waved her off. Craig closed the door as he walked out.
"You feeling better?" Steve asked her, moving a piece of hair behind her ear.
"Yes", she sighed, holding her hand up like it was on display. "I stopped shaking," she halfheartedly laughed.
"Can I ask you a personal question?"
"Yes," she touched him on the arm, "you can ask me anything."
He wasn't so sure she would consider what he wanted to know 'anything.' It was important to him though whether Allan had ever physically hurt her.
"The entire time you and Allan were together…" he hesitated not sure what her reaction to his overly personal question was going to be, "did he ever hit you, Carly?"
She didn't have to answer for him to know that he had. Her body tensed up as she clenched her hands in a fist up to her mouth. First he saw the tears well in her eyes and then he saw the shameful expression on her face before she bent her head. It upset him that she would feel shame over something like that but it also infuriated him that Allan had done it to her. He thought it was a good thing he was finding this out now rather than knowing it earlier. Instead of smashing his head into the hood of the car it might have been a tree in its place.
He put his arms around her, laying her head on his shoulder. He turned his face toward her speaking softly, "I'm sorry."
She didn't want to cry but she couldn't stop it either. She had never wanted anyone to know about it. It was too humiliating, but when he asked she knew she couldn't lie to him, she just couldn't. "It happened twice," she whimpered. "I told him I would leave him if he ever did it again."
"What did he do?"
She leaned back so she could see him, wiping the tears with her fingers. "He put my arm behind my back once and shoved me into a wall, pinning me there, screaming at me."
Steve winced just over the thought of that happening to her.
"Then another time he was drunk and he slapped me," she let out a deep sigh, "twice."
He hid the anger in his voice not wanting her to think he was angry with her for any reason, "When was the last time it happened?"
"A couple of years ago. He never touched me again, but there were a few times when I thought he would." She wiped her hand over fresh tears and sniffed. "I told you my life was a mess."
"He was a mess, not you. He just dragged you into it."
He put an arm around her and walked her into his bathroom. He turned the hot water on and she watched him adjust the cold, making sure it was just right. He wet a washcloth and began to carefully wipe her face off. Starting at her forehead where traces of sweat from the ordeal had been and down over her cheek on both sides. She wasn't wearing any makeup so he rinsed it once more in the warm water, holding it up. "Close your eyes."
She did and he gently ran the towel over her puffy eyes. When he finished and she opened them he was looking right at her, with that perfect smile that told her everything was going to be just fine.
"Better?"
She knew it then that he was going to be her best friend, her confidant. The one she could lean on, knowing he would never falter. She had never believed in the word soul mate, but as she stood there letting him wipe her face clean of all the tears from her past she knew without a doubt he was hers, and at that moment she wanted nothing else in the world but for him to feel this same wonderful emotion that overcame her. New tears formed, but they were from a revelation that this wonderful man really loved her in a way that would sustain her for the rest of her life. He went to reach up with the washcloth again when she stopped him, taking it from his hand and looking into his eyes that always showed nothing but patients and affection for her.
"I love you Steve." It came straight from her heart.
He felt like his body had been hit by lightning. The words were powerful enough, but the way she said it and the look on her face was as if an angel was standing in front him, speaking the gospel that was written just for him. He swore he could see a glow surround her. He knew at that second that he would walk through fire for her if had too. He would do whatever was necessary to keep this person close and in his life. Nothing he could think of was going to be more important. He wouldn't let her go ever again.
"I love you too." He didn't even recognize his own voice, it came from someplace deep down that he'd kept hidden from everyone, but couldn't from her.
She kissed him first this time, knowing she had arrived at that place with him where she was completely guided by her heart and felt no guilt or regret standing in her way. It showed in her kiss. He met her with the same enthusiasm.
He felt this primal side of him suddenly appear, wanting to be with her, but the want quickly became a need and the need turned into a necessity.
Her body was tingling as he led her out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom. It was like a fire ignited inside of her over the anticipation of being with him intimately. He never once broke from the kiss as he laid her down on the floor; not taking the extra three seconds to get to the bed, there was no time.
His mind argued with him to slow down, but his heart continued to peel her clothes off piece by piece until she was naked beneath him. She encouraged him with her kisses as she pulled down on his shorts. He slid an arm underneath her, lifting her body up as he moved from her neck to her throat to her breasts. She arched her back, giving him full access as he fondled her with his tongue and gentle hands, nourishing himself with her body.
"Please," she begged, "please don't make me wait." She felt delirious as he moved back up her body, his lips savoring a path that led straight to her mouth.
He would give her anything she wanted, so with that simple request he obliged her willingly. She pulled down on his shorts the rest of the way with her feet as he slowly spread her legs with his knees.
Carly could feel the heat pouring from him as her hands moved over his back and up into his hair. She could taste it on him, but nothing prepared her for the heat that consumed the both of them as he laid his body on hers.
The second he was inside her, the word 'stop' never re-entered his mind. She possessed him; he was living in the moment at a place he'd never been. The slow movement quickly gained momentum as they found their rhythm that just seemed to happen naturally. There was no awkwardness, only a deeply bedded passion that consumed the both of them.
She felt a freedom she'd never experienced before with her body, only it wasn't something that came from her, it was like a gift from him. He loved her. She could feel it, and it showed in the way he moved. He didn't want to just please himself; he wanted her to feel what he was feeling. It was unbelievable what he was doing to her. She couldn't breathe; every time she would catch her breath he would take it away again. This was happening over and over to the point where she thought she might scream it felt so good.
He extended his arms above her as his eyes moved down her body, watching her. The visual of her was just as enthralling as the actual event. She was so beautiful and so carefree in the way she touched him and moved her body against his, bringing him in closer. Her hands glided down his chest coming to rest on his hips. She arched her back just slightly, "Oh God Steve," she whimpered, breathless once again. She looked up at him as he brought himself slowly down on her, until they were face to face.
His lips brushed over hers, and she breathed him in just like she did that day in the grass. He became her lifeline once again. He stopped moving and just stared at her, seeing his future lying beneath him. His heart was pounding. His hand moved into her hair, holding her steady as if wanting her to really hear him, "I've always loved you Carly. I think I've been trying my whole life to get to the place I am right now."
She held tightly onto his shoulders, looking right into him and smiled, "Welcome home baby," she whispered to him, "I've always kept a candle burning for you."
She watched the smile that slowly emerged on his face. She felt his hand slide down her body and up her thigh until he gripped her knee, lifting it as he began to move on her again; all the while he never once took his eyes off of hers.
The position he had her in was completely vulnerable, she couldn't move with him and he knew it as he took control of their lovemaking. She held onto him around his neck, teasing him with her lips and her tongue, which he seemed to enjoy. She played with him, gliding her tongue over his, enticing him and then pulling away. He would return the gesture by lifting slightly and pushing deeper into her with quick strokes until he felt she was close and then slowing again, enjoying the pleasure he was giving her almost as much as how it made him feel. The game went on until she surprised him by giving him what he wanted. The kiss was deep and she controlled it the same as he controlled the heat that was building inside of her as he played his part.
They both felt it fast approaching at the same time. Her kiss was driving him over the edge not realizing that his movement on her is what was giving her the momentum to make it as sexy as it was. Neither one let up until they finally came together.
She broke from the kiss, but still held him close, feeling his hold on her tighten and become more intense. The love they felt for each other became full circle as it consumed her first. The heat intensified as it moved through her body. She whispered his name in short gasps against his lips over and over, informing him of the pleasure he was thoroughly giving her until it hit her full force and she laid her head back, letting it consume her. It was beyond anything she had experienced before. His corresponded moans told her he was feeling everything she was at that very second, which only made it more intense and prolonged her enjoyment.
When it was over he searched out her lips. They lay on the floor entwined around each other. Their lips locked and continuing to play even though they were both exhausted. It felt too good to stop and they had been waiting too long for this moment to even let a second of it go to waste.