Because I Love You

Chapter 4 : Desire

Michael flexed his fingers over the keyboard, cracking each knuckle before settling his fingers over the keys.

A gentle stream of notes flowed from the battered piano, the soothing melody wafting like a butterfly to where Jamie was curled up on the couch. It was as if a curse had been broken, and suddenly the darkness outside didn't seem so scary anymore, and she felt a sense of peace drift over her again. Instantaneously, she was back in high school again, listening to Michael play in the band room during lunchtime, watching him play the songs he had invented just for fun.

Jamie's eyelids drooped, and she yawned, exhausted. Within seconds she had drifted into a gentle slumber, her pad and pen sliding from her limp fingers and falling on the floor. Michael played on, inventing the melody as he went, his fingers dancing, flying skillfully over the blacks and whites.

Glancing over at the couch, he saw her sleeping soundly, blankets tucked messily under her chin. She looked more like the Jamie he used to know, without the fear from the last two days stamped over her features. Ending the song, he gently tucked in the covers more tightly around her, and then picked up her pad, meaning to put it on the table next to her. Curiously he flipped through the pages, stopping at the notation,  my roommate Annie had gone to a party... and felt a chill run down his spine as he started to read Jamie's narrative. He sat down weakly, looking at the sleeping form on the couch, marveling how much she had been through. No wonder she has nightmares, he thought, and cursed himself for his impatience with her.

He put the pad gently down on the table and stood, heading toward his bedroom when Jamie let out a quiet whimper. Michael spun around in alarm. She was tossing around fitfully, striking out and her unseen attackers. And then, for the first time in days, she screamed. A long, drawn out scream of terror, grief, pain and anger all wrapped up in one. She sat up then, looking wildly around the room, trembling and searching for her tormentors. He was by her side in a second, and she clung tightly to him, sobbing with her newfound voice and he was cradling her in his arms with the smell of her hair wreathing him, promising her that he would make sure she was never hurt again and he would keep her safe forever.

Impulsively, he gathered her up in his arms, carrying her down the hall and depositing her gently on his bed. They lay there on top of the covers, clinging to each other, neither wanting to let go of the embrace. She was still sobbing, though she had calmed down somewhat and after a while she let out one, shuddering sigh and stopped crying all together.

Jamie burrowed next to him, laying her head on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, one hand gripping his shirt tightly and she was soon fast asleep again.

Michael lay with his head on the pillows looking down at her. A shaft of moonlight spilled through the window, lending her face a soft glow as he stroked her hair gently, feeling as if he was going to burst from the tenderness he felt for her.

He wanted to keep her by his side always, so she would never he hurt again, protect her gallantly with his last dying breath...

"I love you," he whispered, and gently kissed her on the forehead.

Slowly, her eyes fluttered open and she smiled up at him.

"You do?" She asked shyly, letting go of his shirt and sliding her hand up, gently stroking his face, delighting in the feel of his whiskers under her fingers. "Since when?"

Gently taking her hand away from his face, he kissed each fingertip, sending warm shivers of pleasure down her arm.

"Always." He murmured into her palm.