I have no idea how long he's been standing there watching me, but it can't have been long. I'd have sensed him, surely.

"What the bloody hell are you doing here??" I snap, trying to lower my body into the water to cover myself.

"I told you to call me as we needed to talk. You never called," he says simply. Like it answers my question even a little. "You still keep a key in the plant pot." he adds.

My eyes narrow further.  I should have listened to Jake. Not safe to keep a key in there he said. Of course Ben is the other person who knows I do that.

"That doesn't mean you take it out and use it. How dare you just come into my house?" He stares at me with an odd expression for a moment and then casts a look around the bathroom.

"It used to be our house Alex."

"Past tense. This is my house Ben, and I want you to leave. Now." My voice is low and firm.

He shakes his head. "Not until you talk to me. I'll let you get out of the bath and then I want you to sit down and have a proper conversation with me. I'm owed that much at least." He says in an even, arrogant tone.

I think my mouth drops open. I can't actually believe the words that are coming out of his mouth. Of course his contrite remorsefulness couldn't last. Oh his apologetic demeanor yesterday must have killed him. Now it's about what he wants, and what he deserves.

"You aren't owed a thing from me." I tell him.

The side of his mouth twitches before he sighs. "I'll wait downstairs Lex." He says and exits the bathroom.

I sit in the cooling water utterly defiant. How dare he come in here and make demands?  I knew Id probably have to talk to him again in order to make it really clear that we were done - I just wanted it to be on my terms, on neutral ground, and when I was fully clothed. Arrogant twat. Ugh. What choice do I have? He's not going to leave, not until I talk to him.

Shaking my head furiously I climb out of the bath and dry myself in hasty swift rubs of the towel over my body. Then still damp, I wrap my bathrobe around myself and stomp downstairs to face him.

When I get there he's sitting on the floral chair, his long (too long) legs crossed casually as he glances around the room, clearly inspecting the changes I've made since he left. The first of which was painting his canary yellow wall a deep turquoise colour. He stretches out in the chair - the chair where apparently all men sit in my living room these days- and let's out an exaggerated sigh.

The fact that he looks extremely comfortable in it and as though he thinks he somehow belongs in it only riles me up further.  I feel my spine straighten and I clench my jaw. Fred is sitting on the window ledge staring at him with a suspicious look on his face.

I sigh a loud sigh of my own and fold my arms. "You have no right to be here. I don't want you here. Using my key and letting yourself in?" I shake my head "Its completely out of order Ben." I stand firm at the step down into the living room. My living room.

He stares at me a long moment. "I rang the doorbell but you obviously never heard it, so I checked the pot. You know it's not safe for you to do that now. You're a woman who lives alone." he actually has the nerve to sound concerned.

I narrow my eyes. "I may not have been alone. Did that even occur to you?" I snap. He looks at me and his lip curls slightly for a second then relaxes.

"Oh yes, your new boyfriend," he nods. "Quite the show you put on yesterday Lex. Was that for my benefit?" he smirks, coldly.

"Fuck you," I retort. His eyes flare.

"Don't talk like a common tart Alex, it doesn't suit you. Or is that his usual type?" he asks innocently. I want to scream some profanity, or punch him, but I'm pretty sure that would also fall under the term common tart. I need to calm my breathing down and stop my hands from shaking.

"So this is the conversation you wanted to have Ben? No thank you. Leave." I demand. His expression changes instantly. He's so good at that. He always was the master of many faces.

"No its not," he shakes his head. "I'm sorry. That is not the conversation I want. I wanted to talk about us."

"I told you yesterday. There is no us. We're finished," This is also not a conversation I want to have. I'm tired and I want to go to bed, and I miss Jake.

"I don't see how that can be true though sweetheart. We spent almost eight years being an 'us'. How can that just be gone?" His voice is gentle, and he's shaking his head like he's struggling to comprehend the fact.

I almost laugh. "You can't actually be serious?"

His face is a picture of seriousness. Oh god. He is serious.

I take a few steps into the room. "Hmmm okay, how about when you were fucking Laura four nights a week for months before coming home to me - were we an us then? How about when you signed the house over to me and set up home with her? Were we an us then? What was it 8 months you were living with her? How many of those months were we an us Ben?" I shake my head. "You are deluded if you think there is any trace of an us left." I fold my arms again and straighten my back but I feel more tired than angry. Ben's betrayal still hurts on a basic level. Finding out that someone you trusted lied to your face over and over again for a long time is hurtful on a basic level. But I don't care anymore because I don't love him anymore. I also don't want to look at him anymore. He's silent for a long time and then he shifts forward in his chair and fixes me with a soft sincere look.

"I regret every day what I did to you Alex, how I hurt you. I made a mistake - christ I've made lots of mistakes but.... none as big as when I let you go." He shakes his head and drops his eyes to his lap. I feel nothing at his show of remorse. In fact that's not true, I want to laugh. He didn't 'let me go'. I kicked his cheating arse out of the house and changed the locks. "I mean neither of us is perfect, but I know that I should have worked harder at us. That I shouldn't have given up so easily on what we had."

My mind immediately sticks on his choice of words and how different they were to the ones Jake chose last night. You're perfect Alex. To me you're perfect.  Yes, Ben and I are most certainly done. There's no going back. Only forward. Only falling.

I sigh. "There wasn't anything to work on anymore Ben. There still isn't. I think we both know that." There is no trace of harshness in my voice, just conviction, finality.

When he lifts his head to look at me a cold dark look passes over his face. It's not a face I've  seen on him before. He strokes his finger thoughtfully across his chin for a moment as he stares at me and then he nods once and stands up from the chair. He comes toward me, so close that I have to step back to look up at him. He's taller than Jake and his height and my lack of shoes means that he towers almost a foot above me. His height used to make me feel safe. It doesn't now. He crowds my body, and my state of undress only adds to my growing discomfort. My hands go instinctively around me to pull my robe tighter.

"So this is really it then?" he asks, his voice low.

"It is." I say as I hold his stare. He doesn't respond but his eyes dip down to my mouth, and then lower to my breasts and then lower still. There's definite heat in his gaze but I don't feel it anywhere on me. Instead I feel a distinct chill.

"I miss you Alex.." He whispers, stepping closer. Okay, that's quite enough. I take a step back but he's quick and clamps his hands on my shoulders and an instant later his mouth is on mine and his tongue is barging its way into my mouth. I'm too stunned to move for a second before my brain ignites and lift my hands to push at his chest. I don't want this, not his mouth on me, or his body on me. His arms are strong though and they slide around me pulling me in closer until I'm pressed against him tightly.

"You still love me Lex I know you do." He mumbles as I twist my head away from his mouth. When his hands grip the bottom of my robe and he begins to slide it up an icy cold panic spreads, shaking me into action. I do the only thing I can think of and bring my hand up and hit him - hard. My slap is full force on the side of his face and my palm stings from the impact. It does the job though because he steps back immediately, looking shocked and confused as he brings his hand up to the side of his head.

"What the hell was that?" I hiss at him.

"I thought if I kissed you it would remind you." He says sounding dazed.

"Remind me of what exactly?"

"Remind you of what we felt like. Remind you of us."

"Well you were horrendously mistaken."

His face turns cold again. "Yes, seems like it. Seems you've downgraded. Apparently you only go for thug cock these days. My mistake." He puts his hands up.

I flinch as though he's slapped me, my ears burning with the insult and pure rage. I think for a second about slapping him again but decide against it. He really has become a bigger prick than I ever thought possible. I straighten my spine and stare him down and try and keep my voice calm as I speak my next words. "So, because you can't keep a woman anymore you just force yourself on them?"  I nod. I can taste him on my mouth and I feel angry about it. I pull my robe tighter around my body as the smug look evaporates from his face. "Your mother would be so proud of you right now don't you think?"

He seems speechless for a moment before he nods, and then the cool smile that was there a moment ago settles back across his mouth. "Oh you always were such a bloody prude Alex. Relax a little will you." He runs his hand through his hair. "That could have been pretty good make-up sex if you'd just let yourself go a little for once."  

Ugh he's such a smug arrogant bastard. I wonder how smug he'd look with Jakes fist punching him over and over again which I'm sure wouldn't be too hard to arrange. A sadistic unfamiliar part of me wants to find out, but Harrie and George would be heartbroken if Ben ended up in a coma.

"Well, to my recollection Ben, the sex was never 'pretty good' so why on earth would it be any better now?" I ask. He narrows his eyes again clearly getting ready to hurl another insult but he just lets out a small empty laugh and turns to leave.

"Key." I say, holding out my hand.

He stops, turns and smiles, before reaching into his front trouser pocket and pulls out my spare keys with the cat key ring on it. When I reach out to take it and he grabs hold of my hand and pulls me to him.

"Do me a favour Lex? When you tire of your bit of rough, or rather, when he tires of you, please don't come crawling back. I wouldn't touch you after you'd been there." he growls before releasing me. Then with one last look he turns and strides out of the room.

"I don't ever want you back here!" I shout after him, pointlessly.

Actually, what I want to shout is that I've already been with my 'bit of rough' and so why didn't that stop him thrusting himself on me just there. But I don't. I hold my tongue, because I don't want to waste any words on him. Also because I want him gone, not here.

This new-elevated level of nastiness has to be pride. He's not used to being rejected. He's arrogant and proud and thinks of himself above everyone else on intelligence, and general appeal. I'm pretty sure he's not an evil person, not deep down. His far too abundant pride is wounded, that's all.

I wait until I hear the door close and the engine start up before I go and lock the front door, my hands shaking with the remnants of rage and shock. I also lock the back door, something I rarely ever do, before switching off all the lights downstairs. Picking Fred up, I head upstairs playing Ben's words about Jake over and over in my mind.

Except they weren't really about Jake were they? They were about me. About Jake tiring of me. Am I the kind of girl men tire of? Did Ben tire of me? Is that really what happened? I'd always thought I'd tired of him.. As I'm brushing my teeth, I pick my phone up from the floor by the bath. There's a message from Jake, from almost an hour ago.

//How the fuck am I supposed to concentrate on anything else when you're talking about being naked and wet? This place pretty much runs itself anyway. Say the words and I'm there. Jx ;)//

Say the words. God I want him here now. I wish he were here now, his arms around me, warming me. I feel like crying. I thought I was done crying over Ben. Bloody Ben. His words are ringing in my ears causing dread and uncertainty exactly like he wanted them to. He knows what kinds of things will hurt me. Because he knows me. But Ben knows nothing about Jake, or about what we have. And you do?? is the dissenting reply that comes from somewhere in my head.

As I try and fight back the tears I hear the doorbell and practically jump out of my skin. Is he bloody serious? I consider dialing Jakes number for a moment but what would I even say? My ex is at my front door and I don't trust him to not try it on again. Oh the ex I lied to you about yesterday. No, that puts us back to Ben being in a coma again.

I creep down stairs with the light out, feeling like a burglar in my own home. The porch is in total darkness and all I can see is a dark shadow that is tall and clearly male. It's him, back. Oh for god sake this is ridiculous. This is my bloody house and he isn't getting inside it again. I pull my robe tighter and walk to the door, switching on the porch light.

"I told you not to come back Ben. I meant it. Leave now or I'll call the police." I say in a firm voice as I near the door. The figure shifts and leans forward against the glass.

"It's Jake, Alex." He says. Relief washes over me, hot and comforting like warm milk. Jake. Immediately I move forward to unlock the door but when I open it the look on his face makes me tense again. His eyes aren't the pools of bright heat they normally are. They're wary and dark.

I decide to ignore the look for the moment and step forward, sliding my arms around him to press myself against his body. He doesn't pull me into him like I want and need him to, he rests one hand on my back while his other arm stays down by his side, reserving his touch from me.

As I pull back and smile I feel extremely anxious. "Hi."

His eyes roam over my entire body, lingering a long time on my face. "Hey," he says finally, tone clipped.

I drink him in. He looks incredible as usual, mouthwateringly gorgeous. He's wearing a smart grey shirt open at the neck, tailored black trousers and has his suit jacket draped over his arm. His sandy brown hair is mussed as though he's been running his hands through it. I want to run my hand through it. Almost as much want to kiss him.

I stand back to let him into the hallway which he enters slowly before closing the door behind him. As soon as the door closes the air almost seems to evaporate from the space. He's looking at me warily, hungrily, his eyes trained on me as though he wants to eat me alive. The thing I've come to realize about Jake is that his aroused face looks a lot like his angry face. I don't know which he is right now. I think he's angry, but there's also desire in his eyes as he looks me.

"You came. I'm so glad you came." I say. I want to throw myself at him, at his feet, thank him for coming, for being the person on the other side of the door.

His eyes flicker darkly. "Who's Ben? And why would he be back?" He says evenly.

Truth time Alex. Get on it. He knows, tell him the rest.

I take a deep breath and look him straight in the eye, chin up. "Ben's the guy from the hotel yesterday. The one you saw me with," Jake's mouth hardens. "He's my ex." I add. His eyes flicker again before narrowing. He's silent for a long time.

"Your ex?" He asks after a moment.

"Yes."

He nods his head once. "And he was just here? Before I came?"

"Yes," I say again.  Jakes nostrils flare as he nods again.

"Why?" he asks, his voice is higher than normal. "Why was he just here?"

"He wanted to talk."

"Talk." He echoes, raising an eyebrow. His voice is laced with doubt as his eyes skim over my state of relative undress.

"Yes. Talk."

"Ahh ok. Don't tell me... because he wants you back?"

"Yes, but I tol -."

"So what, all those old feelings come rushing back when you saw him yesterday baby?" He cuts me off.  He's loud in the quiet space and faintly sarcastic.

I shake my head. "No. That's not what happened I never invited h-." he cuts me off again with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"I guess that's why you looked so fucking close. Makes sense now. Not some guy who's into you. Some guy who used to fuck you. Some guy you used to be in love with." He runs his hand over his mouth as he shakes his head. I notice his knuckles look red but it barely registers. I'm too focused on the way he's looking at me and the tone of his voice.

"No Jake," I shake my head. "That's not it. Yesterday... It wasn't what it looked like." Christ I can't believe I just said those words.

"I've told you before, don't play fucking games with me Alex!" He snaps.  It's loud and I flinch back from him. Not in fear I don't think, just in shock.

"Jake I'm not..."

"And don't fucking lie to me either," he growls. "or should I say don't fucking lie to me again." The anger is etched across his beautiful face but it doesn't make me afraid of him. It makes me angry too. It makes me straighten my spine and stare him down.

"Don't you bloody dare speak to me like that." I warn. I put my hands on my hips as I meet his hard stare with one of my own. His face softens a degree and I think he looks surprised behind his anger. He begins to bite the inside of his mouth, or maybe it's his tongue. I bloody hope it's his tongue because I won't have him shout at me in my own house. "Ok, yes, I lied to you yesterday. I thought it was the best option at the time," given you looked murderous and I didn't want anyone dead "but clearly I was wrong. And for that I'm sorry. But I never asked him over tonight and I made my feelings to him perfectly clear yesterday. At least I thought I had."

As I talk I can tell he isn't hearing me. He's just waiting for his chance to talk.

"Did you think about him all night Alex? When I was fucking you were you thinking about him? Wishing it was him?" he isn't shouting anymore but his voice is a low cold tone, which I decide is worse. Far worse. I feel sick. How can he think that? Or say that? It hits me then; this is cruel Jake. This is what he's like when he's not with me. My mouth is open with shock and I can feel the back of my eyes burning with tears of frustration and anger but I won't cry in front of him, even though I want to.  I refuse.

"You know what Jake, I've had quite enough of arrogant men making assumptions about me for one night. Think whatever you want," I say before spinning on my heel away from him. I storm up the stairs in my short bathrobe, not caring that he probably has a totally uncensored view of my bum from where he's standing.

Upstairs, I walk over and close my bedroom curtains and turn on the bedside lamp. When I turn around Im not shocked when I see him standing at the door looking at me. His face looks like a tense mix of emotions; anger and lust most prominent across it. Unlike Ben's gaze, which chilled me, Jakes makes my body heat rapidly.

"We're not done Alex." He says.

"Aren't we?" I pull my shoulders back. "How can I talk to you when you wont let me explain anything. And when you don't believe what I'm telling you. You've just made accusations and assumptions based on suspicions."

He nods once and appears to think about his words carefully before speaking. "Look at it from my point of view, I turn up here and find you half naked thinking I'm some other guy, who happens to be your ex - who was just here. The same one you lied to me about yesterday. Do you blame me for being suspicious, for not trusting you to tell me the fucking truth?" his voice is calmer now and quieter, but I can still feel it rattle with anger. Even though his point is sound he really does have a bloody nerve.

"Ok. Fine, I see your point. But are you seriously standing there giving me a lecture about truth and trust?" I smile bitterly. I still feel the tears burning behind my eyes threatening to break free. I'm pretty sure if he says the wrong thing they will come. "That's completely hypocritical coming from you and you know it Jake."

He nods again, in agreement this time. "Maybe. But this isn't about me."

I'm surprised by his response but he's mistaken.  "Oh it's very much about you Jake. And me. You and me."

"And Ben, lets not forget Ben. Because clearly you haven't." he says in a tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Oh and is that another assumption? You know what, I'm tired of this. We're getting nowhere. You should just go. I want to go to bed." I fold my arms and give him an angry look.

His face softens and his eyes dip down to my mouth and he licks his lips. Then he bites his bottom one, chews it actually. I really wish he wouldn't do that right now. It makes me jealous. I want to be doing that. And I cant do that because we're fighting.

"Well I'm not going anywhere." He says. And then, as though to prove his point, he takes a couple of steps into the room.

I take a few steps towards him. "Ok, then you're going to listen to me and let me explain, and you're not going to cut me off or swear at me again either." I tell him.

He blinks once and a small whisper of a smile crosses his mouth but then its gone and he's serious again.

"I'm listening." He says.

I stop walking when I'm a foot or so from the side of the bed and a few more feet from him. I can feel his heat from here and the tension between us only serves to magnify it. He's always so bloody hot. In all ways. It's unfair.

"I did not invite Ben here tonight. Like I said already, I made my feelings clear to him yesterday, I told him we were over and that we had nothing to talk about. He clearly didn't agree, or listen because he turned up and let himself in. I-."

"Let himself in? He still has a key to your fucking house?" he cuts in.

"No he doesn't. He knows about the key in the plant pot. It's something we did when we lived togeth...." I stop, because why on earth would Jake want or need to know about what Ben and I did when we lived together. "He used it." I feel his anger intensify instantly and he opens his mouth to say something but then thinks better of it. "He scared me to be honest. I was in the bath." Jake's eyes flare and he glances toward my en-suite and then back to me, a dark violent look on his face but he says nothing. "He demanded I talk to him, but I just repeated what I told him already. It's over."

After a moment of silence he speaks. "Can I speak now?" he asks.

"You can speak now."

"You said he let himself in. So he walked in on you? When you were naked?" His voice is very quiet and his eyes very dark. The darkest I've ever seen them. I'm almost too scared to answer him. I shift uncomfortably on my feet, curling my toes inward but Jake widens his eyes, urging me to answer.

I swallow "Yes. I was in the bath."

He flinches.  "He watched you? In the fucking bath???"  he says but it's not to me or that he wants me to confirm it, its like he's trying to comprehend it, or decide what to do about it.

"It was entirely out of order. I told him that."

"Oh and I bet he fucking listened." He barks. "You do realise if I ever see this cunt again I'll kill him don't you? I will fucking end him." He says.

He sounds completely and utterly serious and I decide right then not to tell him about Ben forcing his mouth onto me.

Naively I try to lighten the mood. "I think he just momentarily forgot he didn't live here."

"Well I'll fucking remind him, trust me."

I walk towards him and place my hands tentatively on his chest. I feel the heat radiate out of him and through my whole body.  So warm and so hard. "Jake I don't want to talk about him anymore," my voice is soft and pleading. "Please just tell me you believe me. It's over with him. I told him that. I'm with you." I tell him as I gaze up into his eyes. Anger has no negative effect on them in any way - he always looks heartbreakingly gorgeous. I can't imagine ever tiring of looking at him. Will he tire of me though, like Ben said? Jake stares at me for the longest time, seeming to analyze every inch of my face before repeating the process over again. Finally he speaks.

"You're... with me?" His voice a quiet low croak that sets my heart to quick.

I frown. "Of course I'm with you? Isn't that what this is?" I motion between us.

He shakes his head. "I honestly have no fucking clue what this is Alex." He murmurs sounding distant.

Oh god.

The words scare me and instinctively I move back away from him and from them. He catches my arm and pulls me back and into his body, crushing me against him. He lifts his other hand up and strokes the side of my face as he stares into my eyes. "But if you tell me it's you and me... That you're mine then..." he trails off out of the room somewhere else entirely. I have no clue where he's gone, where his head is. Sometimes it feels like I might just be about to crack him open wide, and then the next moment its like he's locked away so tight that I haven't even begun to scratch the surface. "You cant lie to me anymore Alex, you have to tell me how you feel. This kind of thing... Being with someone... it's rare for me. Really fucking rare. Being with you is..." he shakes his head again, lost for words. I feel lost and as though I have nothing left to lose.

"Then you have to be honest with me too Jake.  There cant be an endless supply of secrets between us. Yes I kept Ben from you but that's Because I thought it was the best route open to me at the time.  But you know practically everything about me Jake and yet you're a virtual stranger to me. I feel like I know nothing about you. When am I a safe pair of hands For you?  When will you trust me?" I feel his grip on me tighten as he strokes the back of his hand down my cheek and stares into my eyes.

"I want to tell you everything Alex, believe me I do," He stares at where his fingers trace over my mouth.

"Then tell me." I whisper. "You can trust me Jake.  Tell me." What is everything?

He shakes his head and squeezes his eyes shut tight. "I cant baby. Not yet."

"Then when?" I don't understand. I look at him confused.

He opens his eyes and thinks about this for a long time.

"When I know you wont leave me once I do." He says and then he kisses me, hard.  He takes my breath away, and with it the thoughts from my head.  

I need to know why he would think I'd leave him once I know him but the want for that fades once I feel his mouth on mine. That need is replaced by a different kind of need. His mouth is hot and seductive and so different from Ben's earlier. I hate myself for thinking of that then, for thinking of Ben.

I moan and press myself into him, sliding my arms up and around his neck as he deepens his kiss, his tongue roaming my mouth hungrily. I feel his hands are untie my robe and peel it back from my body.

He pulls back from my mouth and then looks at me, drawing his gaze slowly down my body. He watches his hands as he traces his thumbs over my breasts, my nipples hardening instantly under his touch. His eyes come back to mine as he skims his hands down my waist, squeezing my hips before skimming around to my bum.

When his hand slides between my legs I gasp and grip onto him for stability.

"So he thought he could still have this?" He says as he grips me tighter, possessively. I feel his finger begin to stroke me lightly. "He thought he could have whats mine?" his voice is quiet but hard. My cheeks feel hot and my mouth dry.

"Don't think I don't know what you're doing." I smile, through quickening breaths. He copies my smile. It's sexy and distracting, it's everything. He slides his finger inside me. Oh god....

"What is it you think I'm doing?" He kisses me again, stealing the little breath I have left.

"Trying to distract me." I mumble against his beautiful mouth. I'm so hot.

"Distract you from what?" He moves his mouth downwards, pressing it to my neck where he nips and sucks gently on my hypersensitive skin. I close my eyes and relax against his mouth.

"Distract me from you... from what you're keeping from me. From what you think will make me leave," I manage as I grip his muscled shoulder harder. His hand comes up and cups my breast and he flicks his thumb over my hard nipple once more, pinching it while he slides a finger in me at the same time.  I'm going to come. Right here. With just his mouth and his hands. He drags his mouth and tongue up my neck and across to my lips where he licks my top lip a few times before sucking it hard. It's insanely erotic on its own, but together with his fingers teasing me open I feel very unstable, and yes, very very distracted. I move my head to try and kiss his mouth but he pulls his head back, teasing me more.

"Maybe I am. Or maybe I just can't keep my fucking hands off you..." He slides his finger deeper inside me, moving it deliciously slowly circling and stroking the inside of my body. "Are you distracted baby?" he asks.  I want him inside me.

"A little..." I manage.

"A little?" He withdraws his fingers and rubs them over my clitoris in soft teasing circles while he nibbles his bottom lip, his eyes hot and filled with desire.

"Okay...a lot. I'm very distracted Jake... please..." I moan. God I I'm so hot.

"Please what? Please let's talk or please make you come? You can't have both."  He smiles wickedly.

He is an actual sadist. A total, sexual sadist. I love it.

"You're not being fair." I breathe while I move my body into his hand.

"Life isn't fair baby."

"You're being cruel too." I pant.

"Am I?" he widens his eyes innocently. He removes his fingers from my body and brings them up to his mouth. When he puts them inside and sucks them my legs tremble violently and I almost orgasm on the spot. "So fucking tasty.." He groans before reaching forward to slide my bathrobe completely off.

It falls away from my body and pools on the floor with a soft whisper so I'm standing utterly naked to him. I should feel vulnerable, exposed, and cold but I don't. I feel so very hot. I feel consumed and possessed and very hot.

He steps back and looks me over from head to toe, his face a mask of pure desire, his tongue casually scraping over his bottom lip. Under the warmth of his gaze I stand up a little taller and enjoy the feel of his eyes on me, the weight of his need for me like a thousand tiny kisses all over my body.

"You're so fucking beautiful do you know that?" he says causing a other shiver to break out over me. Then suddenly his mouth tightens and he looks angry again. (So it's the set of mouth that distinguishes Jake being angry from him being aroused-noted).  "So he fucking saw you like this tonight." His nostrils flare. It's not a question. "He thought he could still look at you? When you're mine?"  he shakes his head and scrubs his hand over his mouth. He still looks incredibly sexy but there's something dangerous and dark about his body now.

Instinctively I move toward him, sliding my hands up his body to hold his head. "Let's forget about him. I don't want to think about him anymore. I want to think about you and us," I lean up on my tiptoes to kiss him and he pulls me into his arms. I move my hands into his hair and tilt his head down into mine to stroke at his tongue as his hands stroke my naked back. I wish he were naked too. I need him naked. I love being skin on skin with him with no barriers between us. No physical ones anyway.

When I let go of his mouth and pull my head back I lick the taste of him from my lips and try smiling seductively. "I've made my decision." I whisper.

"Decision about what?" he looks a little dazed and confused.

"We can talk later. I want you to make me come." I bite my lip. His shoulders relax and that slow sexy canine smile spreads across his beautiful mouth.

"Good choice baby... Very good choice. It would be my pleasure to help you out with that." he smiles, pushing me back toward the bed with a soft playful growl.

As I land flat on the bed and he begins stripping out of his clothes I know I've made the right decision. There's plenty of time for us to talk.

Right now I just need to feel his heat and his body and his mouth on me. I need to feel like when I finally and completely fall that he might be there to catch me.

**A Dark Fall is now Available on Ebook and Paperback on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited***