“Jack,” Darren whispered as he walked into her room that night.
“I’m still awake,” she softly replied.
“Do you want me to get you anything?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“How’s your head?” Darren timidly asked.
“Better. I still have somewhat of a headache, but nothing too bad,” Jack answered. “I’m also a little tired.”
“Wanna get up? Move around?” he questioned, sitting down on the bed beside her.
“Sure, why not? I’ve been sitting here all day. Besides, I feel so dirty. I’m so sticky with sweat. I’m dying to take a bath,” she seductively said.
“You’re so bad,” Darren laughed as he picked her up and carried her into the bathroom.
“Well, you’re so good. It’s been a long time since we’ve had some fun,” Jack replied as he set her down on the toilet.
“Sit tight,” Darren said as he left the room after turning on the water and adding the bubble bath liquid. He returned a few minutes later carrying a matchbook, candles, and in scents. Setting them around the edge of the tub, lit each one, turned down the lights, and let the candy sweet scent fill the room.
“Why are you doing this?” Jack asked as he turned off the water.
“Because I want to,” he answered. “You deserve something nice for Christmas. This is my gift to you.”
“I hope you’re also including that massage because I miss that so much,” she said. Jack began taking off her pajamas and Darren turned around. “Stop that. It’s not like you haven’t seen me naked before. Come over here and help me.” As he unbuttoned her shirt, she slipped her hands beneath his.
“What are you doing?” Darren questioned.
“I’m going to be doing you if you don’t mind,” Jack seductively replied. She pulled him closer and kissed him. They slipped off the rest of their clothes and entered the warm water together. She moved closer to Darren, her body pressing up against his as he wrapped his arms around her. Jack unstrapped the latches of her neck brace and took it off.
“You’re not supposed to…” Darren began, but was soon interrupted by Jack’s lips brushing against his.
“I know,” she whispered, turning around and laying on his chest. His hands crept up her waist to rest just below her breasts. Jack inhaled deeply as the hairs on the back of her neck stood up on end. She felt Darren’s lips make their way up her back until he reached the scar tissue just below her hairline. He stopped there, afraid that he’d do more damage if he kissed the spot. “It’s okay, go ahead,” Jack encouraged. His lips pressed up against the pink skin making her shiver with delight.
“Are you okay?” Darren asked, feeling her body tremble.
Jack nodded, a wide smile appearing on her face. “Why don’t you give me that massage right now?” she replied. Wordlessly, his hands slithered to her back and slowly began to work her tense muscles. After about half an hour, he finished with her shoulders. She pulled away, submerging her body up to her chin. She picked up a mountain of bubbles and blew them into Darren’s face.
“Hey!” Darren protested, turning away. He grabbed a bunch of bubbles and dumped them on her head. Jack laughed, returning the favor. They moved closer to each other as they continued their bubble fight until their bodies were pressed up against one another once more. Their lips fell upon the other’s skin, slowly kissing each and every inch of exposed flesh.
“Darren,” Jack mumbled as he drew her closer to his body. He nibbled on her ear as she sat up and faced him. She ran her fingers through his hair, her body aching for him. She could feel her heart racing when he slipped deep into her. “Oh, God!” she loudly moaned.
Their bodies moved together as they became one. Jack wrapped her arms around his neck, letting out a groan every time Darren went deeper. She could feel his cheek press up against her chest as she dug her fingernails into his back, the pleasure becoming intense and her mind clouding with strange thoughts. Jack began to wonder if she really loved Darren, or if their relationship was still not to that point yet. Just before she climaxed, she told herself to stop thinking about it and enjoy the experience. Falling into his warm embrace, she heaved a few labored breaths before reaching for his lips and kissing him.
“That was wonderful,” Jack whispered into his ear.
“You’re wonderful,” Darren replied as he played with a strand of her hair.
“Come on, I wanna go to bed,” she said, moving away from him. A few minutes later, the two were dried off and lying beneath the covers of Jack’s bed.
‘Should I tell her I love her?’ Darren pondered as Jack’s fingers entwined with his. ‘I have to tell her one of these days.’
“Darren, what are you thinking about?” she quietly asked, her emerald eyes probing his. She sensed something big was on his mind, but nothing prepared her for what he said next.
“Jack, I love you,” Darren blurted.
Jack quickly pulled away from him. “What?” she asked.
“I… I love you,” he repeated, the feeling of rejection almost too present.
“Okay,” Jack hesitantly replied. “Do you really mean that or is it the sex talking?”
“I mean it,” Darren said. He pulled her in for a soft, deep kiss that proved to her he wasn’t lying.
Jack pulled away, a wide smile appearing on her face as she looked deep into his eyes. “I know you mean it,” she replied. Darren kissed her again, his body longing for hers once again. She succumbed to his warm, gentle touch. He lay on top of her, his kisses slowly making their way down her chest.
“Oh, Darren!” Jack loudly moaned as her fingers became tangled in his hair.
Dan was still up in the other room writing music. He heard the commotion in the other room and became worried. He was afraid that something had happened to Jack again. Lately, his fears had begun to compound with Jack and the addition of Nadia and the baby. He threw his white comforter to the side and got out of bed. Walking down the hall, he stood by Jack’s closed door and wondered if he should knock or just go inside. The noise had calmed down, but there was that sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He decided to open the door a crack and peek inside. Nothing could have prepared him for what he was about to see.
Jack and Darren lay in each other’s arms, their bodies moist with sweat. They moved together in a rhythmic fashion, moaning and groaning as their kisses fell upon each other in their state of ecstasy. Dan screamed in horror and anger as he watched his younger cousin arch her back as if she were ready to reach her peak. The climate in the room suddenly changed from hot passion to panic and Jack and Darren both looked to the door to find Dan turning away in disgust. They scrambled to cover their naked bodies with a blanket.
Nadia had been abruptly woken from her slumber when she heard Dan’s horrified scream. She turned to her clock to see it was 12:15 in the morning. She stumbled out of bed and down the hall to see Dan standing at the threshold of Jack’s room, a disgusted look etched on his face. She peered into Jack’s room to see her hastily wrapped in a blanket with Darren sitting beside her beneath that same blanket.
“Oh, my God!” Nadia said. “I thought you were still a virgin.”
“Surprise,” Jack nervously answered.
“When did this happen?” Nadia asked.
“Three months ago; the day before the accident,” Jack said, her head dropping as she saw the expression on Dan’s face change from horrified to enraged.
“Three months ago!” he shouted. “You slept with him the night of our argument? Jacquelina Sabrina Jones, you’re a disgrace to my family!”
“Oh, fuck off, Dan! And you’re not? You’ve just fathered a child out of wedlock! You’re the disgrace to the family! I should just call up your mother and tell her about that,” Jack hollered back.
“Shut up! Both of you!” Darren furiously jumped in. “You,” he pointed to Jack, “should have told him about us a while ago so that this wouldn’t be happening. And you,” he pointed to Dan, “you made a deal with me that you’d never get pissed if my relationship with Jack went any further than kissing.”
“Deal?” Jack interrupted. “Over what?”
A snide smile came across Darren’s face. “Should I really tell them what the deal was?” he asked.
“No, don’t you dare,” Dan angrily shouted.
“Oh, I’m going to,” Darren replied. “By the time I’m done, someone else is going to get offended.”
“Darren, don’t,” Dan hissed.
Darren wasn’t listening. It was his turn for vengeance. “The deal was plain and simple. I called Nadia and told her that Dan never wanted to see her again, and he promised me that he’d never get pissed about the relationship.”
“You son of a bitch!” Nadia turned to Dan and yelled. “That’s why Darren called me! I can’t believe you!” She stomped out of the room and slammed the door behind her.
“Nadia! Wait!” Dan hollered as her ran off in her direction.
Jack turned to Darren and slapped him with all her might. “You bastard!” she spat. “How could you keep that a secret from me? Get out of my room and stay out!” She pushed him off the bed and turned away from the door as he walked out and stepped into his room. When Jack heard the door click closed, tears began to stream down her cheeks.
“All this time I thought he was the perfect guy,” she cried. “I knew it was too good to be true.”