He propped his head on his elbow as his hand leisurely caressed her tender breasts. He looked so young and sweet that it melted her heart. There was a shadow along his strong jaw, his hair was a tussled mess, and there was a lazy gleam of satisfaction in his brilliant eyes that warmed her. "I have to go; we have a basketball game at the park. Are you going to come over tonight?"
She smiled slyly at him as her eyes twinkled mischievously. "I don't know; I'll have to think about it."
He grinned. "Really?" he inquired.
"You'll have to help me make up my mind."
He trailed a finger from her collarbone to her stomach. He circled her belly button, dipping temptingly low, before circling her belly button again. Sera bit into her lip as her body began to tremble beneath his. "And how do I do that?" he whispered as he nibbled on her ear.
Sera was becoming a quivering mass beneath him as his hand slid down to cup her. "I think you're making a good start," she panted. His smile was pure satisfaction as he slid a finger into her warm body. "What about the game?"
"They'll wait; I have the car, remember?"
She smiled at him as he seized hold of her mouth.
***
Sera turned over on her bed and placed her finger in the book so that she could look at Kathleen. "You look fine," she assured her.
"You sure?" Kathleen asked as she nervously fiddled with her hair.
"I'm sure."
"Why don't you come now Sera?"
She lifted her book. "I have to get some studying done. Besides, the haunted house won't close until ten."
Kathleen patted her hair. "I would stay with you, but you know how I hate to be cooped up."
"If you stayed with me I'd never get any studying done. Go ahead; I'll meet you there in about an hour."
"Okay." Kathleen grabbed her coat from the hook by the door, where Sera had hung it for her. "I'll see you soon."
"Yep," she agreed.
Kathleen cast her a grin as she opened the door, locked, and shut it. It had taken Sera a long time to get Kathleen into the habit of locking the door when she left. Now she did it all the time, even if Sera was still in the room. She rolled onto her back and buried herself in her book. She was just beginning to lose herself when a knock at the door pulled her out of Sociology. She glanced at the clock; it was already quarter after nine. She hadn't realized that it was so late already. Sighing impatiently, she closed the book and climbed to her feet.
"What did you forget this time Kathleen? Besides your key?"
Sera unlocked the door and flung it open. She froze, unable to move as she stared at the man before her. The world seemed to tilt briefly before coming back into focus. With a startled cry she tried to slam the door closed, but he put out his hand and blocked it. "Now, is that any way to treat an old friend?"
Her scream lodged in her constricted throat as Jacob pushed the door open. She was forced back as he pushed his way inside. Stumbling awkwardly, she quickly righted herself as she launched at him. "Get out of here!" she cried.
He shoved her backward and knocked her to the floor. Sera scrambled away and jumped back to her feet as he closed and locked the door. "Just calm down Sera."
"Get out of here, now!"
"I just came to talk to you," he said calmly as he turned to face her again.
"I have nothing to say to you. Leave."
He walked toward her as she steadily backed away from him. She found it extremely difficult to breathe as she inhaled rapid, short breaths. Jacob was taller than Liam was, and broader through the shoulders and chest. He could, and would, squash her like a bug.
Suddenly there was nowhere left for her to go as she backed herself into the wall. Panic leapt through her as he continued to hone in on her. She was such an idiot. What was she thinking when she had left herself with nowhere to go? She stared breathlessly up at him, terror ripping through her as he stopped just inches away. Her legs trembled as his face loomed over hers. His breath against her cheek caused nausea to twist through her stomach as the familiar stench of it filled her nostrils.
He placed his hands against the wall by her head. "I just want to talk to you."
Sera took a trembling breath as she tried to steady herself. She almost closed her eyes and cringed away as he lowered himself to look directly into her eyes, but she wouldn't give him that satisfaction. Instead, she forced herself to tilt her chin and defiantly meet his gaze. His brown eyes were focused on her. Unwillingly, she looked away as memories, and nausea, crashed through her. Tears threatened to fall as she swallowed the lump in her throat.
