A Reason to Stay (Oak Hollow) Read Online Free
Author: June Stevens, DJ Westerfield
she said, "Deal. Now go get changed so we can put the movie in. I want to see Jean Claude Van Damme kick some ass."
Jake, who’d been on his way to put the DVD in the player, froze mid-stride. Movie Night was all about comfort and pigging out, and baggy sweatpants was his standard uniform. But tonight his body had been so rebellious; he'd hoped she wouldn’t realize he was still wearing his jeans. As tight as they were, they provided him the camouflage that the sweatpants couldn’t. As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t stay in his jeans without causing Ellie to wonder why. And knowing Ellie, she would start asking questions he couldn’t answer.
Without saying a word, Jake dropped the DVD case onto the coffee table and went upstairs to change. Maybe he would just say he was cold and keep a blanket over his lap all night.
Chapter Four
Empty Chinese food cartons and beer and wine cooler bottles littered the coffee table. Jake drained the last of his beer and added it to the others. He started to get up to get another, but decided against it. Although going to the kitchen to retrieve another beer would give him a chance to put some space between himself and Ellie, he’d already had four, and that was his limit. He already felt a bit fuzzy headed, and any more could impair his judgment more than he could afford. He was already struggling to keep a hold on his self-control.
Besides, to be completely honest, he didn’t really want to put space between himself and Ellie. He liked the way during the second movie she’d scooted closer to share his blanket and was snuggled into the crook of his arm. This was a normal position for the two of them, curled up together on the sofa. Ellie had a tendency to lean her head on his shoulder when she got tired during a movie, and he let her. He’d always enjoyed it, even before he’d realized his feelings for Ellie were anything but brotherly.
Once he’d stopped denying how much he loved her, these Movie Night cuddle sessions had become much more enjoyable and a lot harder on his self-control. But tonight the only thing he’d describe as hard was his cock. He’d been in a constant state of arousal since she’d snuggled under his blanket, a fact that had been very difficult to conceal in such close quarters.
The truth was, though the evening had been complete torture on him and his libido, Jake was loath to have it end. The last movie was nearly over, so he had little choice, but he could squeeze as much pleasure as possible from these last few minutes of closeness with Ellie.
He glanced over at Ellie, watching her profile as she watched the movie. They were watching the classic Breakfast at Tiffany’s, her favorite. She was completely engrossed in the movie, her eyes shining with tears. She always welled up during this scene, and at the end she wouldn’t be able to hold them back any longer and huge drops would slide down her flawlessly smooth cheek, leaving little wet streaks. Her eyes would shine, her nose would turn red, and her face would get all blotchy. And, as always, she would look utterly kissable.
Zing . A lightning bolt of desire shot through him, again.
Jake forced his eyes away from the sweet beauty at his side and tried to concentrate on the movie. He was almost instantly sorry, as the scene on screen brought the reality of tomorrow screaming back into his brain. The couple on screen was in a taxi, and the hero, Paul, was trying to get the incorrigible Holly to marry him, but she was intent on flying off to South America to find a new life.
Zing . This time it was pain that shot through Jake. It was uncanny sometimes how life could imitate art, or the other way around. Tomorrow Jake would be driving the woman of his dreams off to a new city and a new life that didn’t include him. Only, unlike Paul in the movie, Jake hadn’t had the guts to put it all on the line and tell his love how he felt.
That was what it all came down to. No guts. He was
Jake, who’d been on his way to put the DVD in the player, froze mid-stride. Movie Night was all about comfort and pigging out, and baggy sweatpants was his standard uniform. But tonight his body had been so rebellious; he'd hoped she wouldn’t realize he was still wearing his jeans. As tight as they were, they provided him the camouflage that the sweatpants couldn’t. As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t stay in his jeans without causing Ellie to wonder why. And knowing Ellie, she would start asking questions he couldn’t answer.
Without saying a word, Jake dropped the DVD case onto the coffee table and went upstairs to change. Maybe he would just say he was cold and keep a blanket over his lap all night.
Chapter Four
Empty Chinese food cartons and beer and wine cooler bottles littered the coffee table. Jake drained the last of his beer and added it to the others. He started to get up to get another, but decided against it. Although going to the kitchen to retrieve another beer would give him a chance to put some space between himself and Ellie, he’d already had four, and that was his limit. He already felt a bit fuzzy headed, and any more could impair his judgment more than he could afford. He was already struggling to keep a hold on his self-control.
Besides, to be completely honest, he didn’t really want to put space between himself and Ellie. He liked the way during the second movie she’d scooted closer to share his blanket and was snuggled into the crook of his arm. This was a normal position for the two of them, curled up together on the sofa. Ellie had a tendency to lean her head on his shoulder when she got tired during a movie, and he let her. He’d always enjoyed it, even before he’d realized his feelings for Ellie were anything but brotherly.
Once he’d stopped denying how much he loved her, these Movie Night cuddle sessions had become much more enjoyable and a lot harder on his self-control. But tonight the only thing he’d describe as hard was his cock. He’d been in a constant state of arousal since she’d snuggled under his blanket, a fact that had been very difficult to conceal in such close quarters.
The truth was, though the evening had been complete torture on him and his libido, Jake was loath to have it end. The last movie was nearly over, so he had little choice, but he could squeeze as much pleasure as possible from these last few minutes of closeness with Ellie.
He glanced over at Ellie, watching her profile as she watched the movie. They were watching the classic Breakfast at Tiffany’s, her favorite. She was completely engrossed in the movie, her eyes shining with tears. She always welled up during this scene, and at the end she wouldn’t be able to hold them back any longer and huge drops would slide down her flawlessly smooth cheek, leaving little wet streaks. Her eyes would shine, her nose would turn red, and her face would get all blotchy. And, as always, she would look utterly kissable.
Zing . A lightning bolt of desire shot through him, again.
Jake forced his eyes away from the sweet beauty at his side and tried to concentrate on the movie. He was almost instantly sorry, as the scene on screen brought the reality of tomorrow screaming back into his brain. The couple on screen was in a taxi, and the hero, Paul, was trying to get the incorrigible Holly to marry him, but she was intent on flying off to South America to find a new life.
Zing . This time it was pain that shot through Jake. It was uncanny sometimes how life could imitate art, or the other way around. Tomorrow Jake would be driving the woman of his dreams off to a new city and a new life that didn’t include him. Only, unlike Paul in the movie, Jake hadn’t had the guts to put it all on the line and tell his love how he felt.
That was what it all came down to. No guts. He was
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