I was frantically searching these photos for clues about Jake’s life. With each drawing, I was more and more confused about the possible meanings. Were they based on real people or just characters he created from his imagination? Jake was even more complicated than I originally thought.
At one point, I rested my head on his black pillowcase, relishing the rustic masculine aroma that invaded my senses. Between the drawings and the intoxicating scent, I was super aroused.
Several minutes passed, and I gradually became drowsy, deciding to close my eyes. That was the last thing I remembered before I awoke to Jake standing over me with a death stare, as I lay on his bed amidst a pile of his private sketches.
***
Was I dreaming? I rubbed my eyes from the sudden brightness. The realization that this situation was not imagined caused my heart to explode out of my chest. It felt like I was also about to lose control of my bladder, so I clenched the muscles between my thighs and jumped up, scooting back against the headboard.
“Jake…I can explain.”
“What the fuck, Nina?” he whispered hoarsely, his tone angry.
The sad and disappointed look in his eyes scared me, and I was even more terrified because I had put it there by violating his privacy.
His hair was dripping wet from the rain which I could now hear pounding against the window. Under different circumstances, being holed up in his room during a rainstorm would have been a dream, one that would not include him looking like he wanted to murder me.
He continued to stand over me speechless, and I knew I had to say something, but the words just wouldn’t come out. I noticed his backpack was thrown clumsily in the middle of the floor.
After several seconds passed, I cleared my throat and started with a white lie about the reason for going into his room. “Um…a few hours ago, I was alone in the house, and your door was open. I had thought I left the math workbook in here, so I came inside. I noticed these sketchbooks. I only meant to peek in at the top one, but when I saw how amazing the first drawing was…I just couldn’t stop looking.”
He swallowed and continued to look at me with a burning stare, but said nothing. His chest was rising as he breathed in and out. Shit.
I continued. “I must have closed my eyes and fallen asleep.”
Jake blinked repeatedly but was still silent. A trickle of rainwater ran down his forehead.
My voice was shaking. “I am really sorry. I should have never thought it was okay to look at your stuff. For the record, they are the most phenomenal drawings I have ever seen.”
I sat there against the back headboard frozen with my knees to my chest. Jake said nothing as he moved closer and took the sketchpads, piling them on top of each other. Then, he returned them to their original spot on the desk.
“Again, I’m sorry,” I said.
I started to get up planning to return to my room, humiliated. Just then, I felt a firm grip on my wrist, and the return of his voice shook me. “Where are you going?”
“Back to my room.”
He pushed me back down gently and released his grasp. “Just stay.”
Huh? My heart beat faster.
“Stay? What do you mean?”
“I mean…you were comfortable here. Just stay.”
“You’re not mad at me?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t say that. You shouldn’t have been snooping.”
“I know. I really am sorry.”
Jake didn’t respond to my apology. Instead, he walked over to the door, closed it and shut off the light. I looked at the digital clock, which said 11:30. It was later than I thought. Only the streetlights outside illuminated the room now, as he removed his wet jacket and threw it on the floor. Then, he pulled his t-shirt over his head and was completely shirtless.
Oh…wow…okay.
I bit down on my bottom lip hard, and my body trembled as he approached the bed.
Yeah, this was more like the dream I had imagined.
“Scoot over,” he said in a low voice.
I turned to my side and moved to the right, tucking my arms under my chin.
An indescribable sensation came over me when I felt his warm rock hard chest up against my back. Then, he put his arm around my waist. He was…spooning me.
Holy shit.
I closed my eyes, breathing in the masculine smell of his body: sweat mixed with cologne and rain, and I hoped he couldn’t sense my nerves. The room was completely silent aside from the sound of the rain pelting the window, but I felt like he would be able to hear my heart beating through my ears.
His breathing was heavy, and I could feel it on my neck. At one point, I inadvertently moved and brushed up against the metal of his lip ring and it caused me to flinch.
He spoke low against my back, his voice vibrating through me. “You’re moving around a lot. You okay with this, Nina? Would you rather go back to your bed?”