Crossing Destinies (A Pretender Story) #Wattys2019 #Wattys2021

Chapter XIV: Grand Finale Part 2

Chapter XIV: Grand Finale Part 2

The second time Jarod entered in the room, Erin didn't threw anything at him; instead, she jumped up sitting on the bed, her back against the headboard, and flashed him a burning glare.

"In what language must I tell you?" she asked through clenched teeth, "Leave me alone!"

Beneath her rage, Jarod perceived her pain clearly, and his heart became heavy with sorrow.

"You can ask me everything, Erin", he said, quietly, "but not this. Not now, not ever."

Erin's shoulders dropped.

"Why are you tormenting me?" she asked, barely able to keep her voice steady, "It's obvious you love Miss Parker much more than me, so why don't you go back to her? I give you both my blessing..."

Her voice trailed off and Jarod saw her fighting stubbornly against her tears. The immensity of her love for him took his breath away: she was willing to give him up, as long as he was happy.

Only that apparently she still hadn't realised where his happiness was.

He came up to the bed and sat on the edge. She withdrew as far as possible.

"No, Erin, love...", he murmured, "I told you that Parker means much more to me than a friend, much more than a sister... but she is and always will be much less than you."

Erin didn't reply and simply looked at him with a distressed expression, showing plainly her mistrust.

"Sweetheart", he tried again, in a soft tone, "how can you consider, after all that we've had together, that I don't love you more than her? Parker means a lot to me, that's true, but you mean everything! It's only thanks to you that I've found the strength to get rid of the Centre once and for all..."

"You mean thanks to my father!" she retorted, in a sour tone.

"He gave only the means", Jarod replied, calmly, "but as I already told your father, you are the reason why I finally decided to tear up the Centre."

She shook her head, obstinately. Jarod realised that her stubbornness came from her fear, the fear she had been able to defeat thanks to him, but that had remained always lurking from a hidden corner of her mind, ready to jump on her at the first sign of weakness. He realised also that logical talk was useless: as Miss Parker had suggested, he didn't have to speak to Erin's mind through words, but to her heart through her body.

He stretched over the bed to touch her, but she withdrew. He tried to reach her, but again she backed until she even fell from the bed on the carpeted floor.

In a flash, he was upon her.

"Let me go!" Erin yelled, wriggling wildly. As he didn't want to hurt her, Jarod simply grasped her wrists, crushing her to the floor with his weight.

"Damn, Erin, I'm not your enemy!" he cried, desperate, "Don't you understand that I love you more than my own life?"

Erin looked at him wide eyed, as if she couldn't believe her own ears, and suddenly she stopped squirming. He bowed his head and seized her mouth with his. At first, Erin didn't respond, simply enduring his kiss; but her body was already reacting, feeling the familiar, welcome weight of Jarod's: her lips parted, allowing him to explore with his tongue the warm depths of her mouth, and she spread her legs, so she could feel his hot desire against her lap. She sighed, and her body surrendered to Jarod's.

But her mind was into open conflict with her body.

"What are you trying to do...?" she panted when he left her mouth. Jarod kissed her on the side of her neck, under her ear, tickling gently with his tongue her sensitive skin.