The crows nest, p.15
The Crow's Nest, page 15
“You’d like a kiss? Of course.” Jack leaned over and pulled her in and studied her face. “I love you, my darling,” he murmured as he kissed her deeply. He ran a hand into her hair and massaged the back of her head.
“Jack, that feels so good. I love it up here. I turned off my phone. Can you believe it? I want to disconnect completely. No email. No news. The world can fuck off for the next week. I don’t care. I’ve been here less than twenty-four hours and I’m already addicted to it. Hold me, Jack. You’re either trying to seduce me or put me to sleep, either one to which I will gladly surrender. Do you want to fuck me later in the hot tub, baby?” She gazed at him languidly as she fingered the long stem of her glass. “Mmm.” A whisper of a moan slipped from her parted lips as she tilted her head back to spill the last of the wine into her mouth.
The raw inquiry delivered in a sultry Afrikaans-inflected voice triggered the release of enough endogenous morphine into his central nervous system to cause a hot shard of radiant heat to prick his loins. Jack felt an involuntary surge of opiated blood pulse into the head of his shaft to gorge and inflame a weave of capillaries and nerves that lay enmeshed there.
His arms tightened around her and Liz giggled as she felt his arousal press against her abdomen.
“Hmm, I see someone’s awake,” she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his throat, gently sucking the skin above the pulsing carotid vein.
“I’ve never known a vampire that could tolerate daylight. Are you getting ready to bare those canines into my flesh? Stop that.”
“Hmph. Since when has there been a limit on marking one’s lover with a blood badge or indulging in any other kind of expression of love for that matter?”
That it is a mark of love like a passionate bite, I will have to agree. Have at it then. Besides, you’re so soft and warm. I can’t resist you, you little hellion.”
“You can’t? Sometimes I wonder about that and if it will always be like that.”
She sighed and withdrew from his embrace as she uttered the words, turning away to gaze out to sea.
Jack frowned. “Why do I feel like I’m being tested all the time?” he muttered to himself, trying to think when he ever gave her the impression that he didn’t want her in his life. That her every touch affected him, not just physically, but emotionally. A few instances where he had rebuffed her came to mind and he uttered a soft curse. It had never been intentional, but at times when he was worried or upset, he withdrew into himself. It was the one thing that always became a problem in his previous relationships.
Compressed muscles rippled in knots along the back of Jack’s clenched jaw. He decided then and there that he would not allow wayward thoughts to molest his happiness and ruin their first night at The Crow’s Nest.
Let it go for now, Jack. Tonight, it’s all about love and rejoicing in finding each other. Let it go. There’s more than enough time to resolve it.
He resolutely pushed the nagging thought that they didn’t have much time together, to the back of his mind.
Liz gazed dolefully out to sea.
Why am I feeling so sad?
She tried her utmost to ignore the insecurities that kept crawling to the surface every time they encountered Alessandra. She was a beautiful woman and the fact that she had played an intimate role in Jack’s past irritated her more than she cared to admit. It bothered her because she had no idea how Jack would react the moment he saw her again. Would he remember the hot, urgent drug-crazed sex they had and long for it once more? Would he look upon her beautiful face and realize, in a rush of nostalgia, that he actually did love her?
Stop it, Liz. Stop looking for something that isn’t there. You’re being completely irrational. Jack loves you and that’s what you need to concentrate on. Don’t alienate him with your past demons.
Her lips grew thin and taut. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She loved Jack more than she ever thought she could love anyone. It scared the hell out of her.
Get a fucking grip, woman. Pull yourself up and fight for his love. Show him how much he means to you.
Liz relaxed and turned to look at Jack as he closed against her once more. He tilted her head back. Their eyes locked and he leaned down to kiss her. Their breath fused for a second before their lips pressed against each other. This time, above all others, the kiss felt like it held the promise of a future, of an enduring passion that was fired in the crucible of an everlasting love for each other.
They smiled against each other’s lips, completely lost to the world around them. Liz leaned back, reached up and traced his lips with a finger. Her eyes were hooded and emerald-green.
“I love you, Jack Cavallaro, my sexy Sicilian and I refuse to let my past take control of me. But, just know this―Alessandra Basile better keep her hands off you. You are with me now and I will fight for you, tooth and nail if need be. I trust you, Jack, please know that. I don’t doubt your sincerity for a second. I will not walk away from you and I refuse to allow my demons to come between us ever again.”
“You are so unique, my South African Spitfire,” Jack laughed gaily. He held her gaze. Her ardent possessiveness and acceptance of his commitment toward her, warmed his heart. He hugged her until she protested that she couldn’t breathe.
“I love you, Liz Bennet. You’ve completely captured my heart.”
They sat together at the round dining room table and shared their thoughts while they dined on broiled salmon steaks with a mango salsa, garlic-infused arugula in a raspberry vinaigrette and a bottle of young Sauvignon Blanc from the Anderson Valley.
Jack ate ravenously in large bites while Liz discussed all the flavors that she tasted in her salad.
“I love the flavor and crunch of the lightly toasted pine nuts. And the sweet caramelized red onion with the bitter arugula ... so good, Jack.”
She noticed that the beam from the round soft pendulum light that hung low in the center exactly matched the circumference of the table giving it the impression of a large beige disc that floated above the dark floor whose spindled legs had been cast in deep shadow. Accent spot lights, set into gimbals, skimmed the cedar-paneled walls and the heavy, wooden load-bearing beams that stretched across the ceiling.
“Try the smoked gouda, honey. It’s divine.”
Jack watched Liz get up and walk to the entrance of the hallway that terminated at the east end of the house at the threshold to the bunk room. Five clerestory windows were framed along the top of the northeast wall to allow the morning light to flood in and illuminate the entire length of the long hall. Below them, vintage black and white prints of the construction of the house hung in a gallery row. Opposite and above, five goose-necked barn lamps fixed to the southwest wall cast their warm oblong circles of light on the rough cedar.
“These wall lights. They’re beautiful. The oxidized patina looks original.” Liz disappeared down the hall.
“Here, I brought you a hunk of gouda. Hello? Where are you?”
“I’m in the brass bedroom. Are these the original architectural plans that are framed on the wall in here?”
Jack turned into the small room. A double-size brass bed covered in a thick puffy duvet cover in bright blue sat in the middle and faced west. A single banker’s lamp illuminated the historied water ring stains atop a small oak chest of drawers that hugged the starboard side of the bed. A Victorian antique carved mahogany armoire stood proud against the north wall; its single door was faced with a large beveled oval mirror. A large darkened casement window looked south onto the redwood deck and further yet to a copse of regimented spruce and sugar pine that stood sentry at the northern approach to the hillock.
“This is like a doll’s room, Jack. It’s so tiny,” Liz said as she looked around. “It’s just right for me.”
Jack walked to the window and loosened the sheet that was looped around a wall cleat. A length of sail canvas wound onto a yard arm unfurled and covered the black glass.
“Do you want to sleep in this room, Liz?” he queried, looking at her inquisitively. He shifted his gaze quickly to the covered window.
She looked at the window and then back to Jack. “What is it, honey? You look spooked.”
“It’s nothing.” He changed the subject. “Feel like taking a tubby with me?” He looked down and grinned at her. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he lifted her up.
“I checked the Coast Observer―the local paper up here. The remnants of a Diablo will be coming out of the canyons tonight―southeast of us. It’ll be a balmy evening, which is unusual up here seeing as we’re hard against the coast. So, if you go into the master bedroom at the north end of the house, you’ll find two fresh terry cotton robes hanging in the closet. Get your gear off, and chuck on a robe. We’ll douse all the lights, grab two torches and the wine bucket and head to the hot tub. Don’t rush. I need to drop the shades on all the windows, stoke the fire and now that I think of it, I have to go shake hands with the president.”
“Is it always so quiet up here? It’s absolutely pitch-black outside. One can’t see their hand in front of their face.”
Liz edged over and wrapped her arms around Jack's waist.
“Yeah. That’s part of the beauty of this place. At night, it’s pitch black unless there’s a moon and if there is, it’s so bright that it’ll cast D max shadows, so rich and velvety that they look like black holes. Unbelievable quality of light. Reminds me of the old arc lights used on Hollywood sets. Yeah ...”
She watched as he turned toward the shaded window and conjured up something about which she knew nothing. He was lost in it, whatever it was.
“Dead silent, too.” He turned his attention back to her. “Except if there’s an onshore wind. If there is, you’ll know it because you’ll hear banshees a thousand yards away, down on Blackpoint Beach.” He glared at her with big eyes.
“Jack, stop that. You’re not scaring me.” Liz ducked into his arms.
“You’d swear that you were hearing voices in your head until you hear the bark and growl of a forty-five-hundred-pound male Mirounga.” Jack looked into her eyes.
“Very funny, Jack. C’mon, enough.”
“I love your lips, Liz. Very sexy set ya got curling on your face. Two fleshy pink pillows. Pucker up, baby.” He pulled her face into his and started to chew on her mouth. “You taste like pine nuts with acidic notes of balsamic and ...” He licked along the inside of her top lip. “Sweet taste in here. Wait. Ah, yes, apricot. That lovely Sav Blanc is stuck way up under the inside of your top lip.”
“Jack?” Liz pulled away and pinched his nostrils shut. “That’s quite a nose you have attached to your face, buddy.” She pushed his face into profile and studied the configuration of all the elements that were fixed to it. “You have small ears, honey. But that is one helluva chin you have. I think I could rappel off either your nose or your chin. Not from the Irish side. Is there something outside that is bothering you? I noticed how you dropped that shade.” Liz looked for the lie.
What was it about that window and why would he lie to me about it?
“Go get those robes, sweetpie. I’ll meet you back here.”
“You didn’t answer my question, mister.” Liz did an about-face and marched off.
I better make sure that front door is slammed tightly shut. He raised the shade halfway and stared out into the dark night. The tree line vibrated again. One hundred feet. I walked into that world in a gale force all those many years ago.
He dropped the shade and turned around. She was standing right behind him.
“Oh fuck. Jesus Christ. Liz.” Jack’ face turned ashen. He snapped. “That wasn’t funny.”
She fled through the door and ran into the master bedroom. She’d gotten her answer. He’d lied to her again. Her heart pounded as she sat on the bed and stared at the floor. She could hear his footfall as he approached the door.
Why did I do that?
She sat on the bed and waited for the knock. It never came. The house went dark. She heard a door slam. Her ears started to ring. There wasn’t a sound.
Nothing.
He was gone.
She looked out of the kitchen window at the empty hot tub. A steamy vapor danced languidly in the moonlight. A warm gust of wind tickled a cluster of hanging chimes somewhere.
“Jack?”
Liz backed away from the door and groped for a light switch in the kitchen and flipped it on. She didn’t see it at first staring at her through the blackened window. When it jumped and bared its teeth, she let out a blood-curdling scream. It pulled open the kitchen door and came at her. Liz stepped back and stumbled, landing hard on her backside as he lunged at her.
“I am the Seaweed Man. Arrrgh. AHhhhhh.” Jack crawled on top of her shuddering body and began to bite her. She had such a fright that she became unhinged, shuddering from head-to-toe.
A double shot of adrenaline, dumped into her bloodstream, kicked in and unraveled her mind. She started to swing wildly at him, kicking and snarling as her fear turned to rage.
“You fucking maniac. You scared the shit out of me.”
Now I’ve done it.
Liz now fought to control her own anger as she struggled to arrest the velocity of her flailing arms and legs.
“Urghh, fuck.” Jack grunted as Liz’s knee connected with the inside of his thigh. He struggled to clamp her legs between his and gripped her hands, slowly forcing her to calm down.
Had to show her, didn’t you? Had to get her back for spooking you. You are your own worst enemy sometimes.
The voice in his head berated him again for acting out. What the fuck is so wrong with you that you feel a need to always be in control?
“Oh, god, baby. I’m sorry.” He picked her up and held her tightly. It broke his heart for what he put her through.
“Why?” she asked as she looked up at him.” I don’t understand you sometimes. That was just mean. Why do you do it, Jack?”
He held her against his chest and stroked her head. “’I don’t know.” He let out a deep mournful sigh. “I’m sorry, baby. I wanted to spook you for creeping up behind me in the brass bedroom.”
“You scared the crap out of me. What aren’t you telling me? What’s the secret behind the window in the brass bedroom?”
“I saw something a long time ago from that window. I’ve never forgotten it. If I tell you what happened, you probably won’t believe me and it’ll frighten you and ruin your stay here.” Jack pulled her head up and looked at her small face. He smiled into her teary eyes. “C’mon, honey. Barring a magnitude 9 earthquake on the Richter scale, we’re completely safe here. There’s no Seaweed Man. There are no Banshees. There is no Zodiac killer lurking in the scrub grass. There is only a hot tub out there waiting for us to climb into and wash away our fears under a bright canopy of stars. C’mon. Just you and me.”
Liz stared at Jack for long moments. The quivering of her body was still present in the tremors that shook her frame. He palmed her face with his hands and kissed her tenderly, whispering against her lips, “I am truly sorry, sweetness. I only meant to spook you. Okay, now, honey?”
With a brief nod and a little smile, Liz followed Jack as he led her across the deck toward the hot tub. Her anger dissipated as she felt his powerful grip tighten protectively around her hand.
Just when she thought she was on the verge of understanding him, he threw another curve ball at her. She had come to understand that Jack had fears and demons that he carried inside. She did too. Lord knows, everyone did, but he sometimes got lost in his like he was thrown back into the center of what had happened in the past.
It would be so much easier if they just sat down and told each other their stories. You know? Just come out and lay it all out on the table. Liz cringed at her own thoughts.
No. If I had to tell him what an idiot I had been in my life how I had allowed myself to be emotionally abused ... all because I didn’t want to be alone, he’d think I was nothing more than a spineless snail.
They rounded the corner. Liz sucked in a gasp.
“God, It’s so beautiful. You were right, my love. This is absolutely divine. I love that there are no lights. Look at all the lanterns. I love it. Oh, I forgot my bathing suit in the bedroom.”
Jack chuckled and looked down at her, his eyes brimmed with joy. He hooked a finger into the top of her shirt and pulled her closer. The air suddenly sizzled with electricity around them. Her skin glowed warm to his touch.
“Bathing suit? Really, sweetie?” He sounded amused and Liz gave him a swat on his shoulder.
Looking around she whispered, “We’re in the open here, Jack. What if anyone saw us?”
He couldn’t help himself and burst out laughing. When she took a step back and stood glowering at him with her foot tapping on the wooden deck and her hands on her hips, he just laughed harder.
“I do not see what’s so funny, buster.”
“You’re worried someone would―” He broke into laughter again. “C’mon, sweetpie. We’ve done it in the open more times than we haven’t―hey! No ... LIZ!”
Liz stepped forward and shoved both hands against his chest. She watched as the water parted then suddenly closed, completely engulfing him.
When he surfaced, sputtering and shaking his head, Liz was doubled over next to the tub, laughing so hard, she snorted and covered her mouth with her hand. Her eyes met his and she laughed harder as she sat down clutching her stomach.
“Hahaha. You should see yourself. You look like a half-drowned poodle, honey.” This time it was the sound of her laughter that chased itself through a copse of Bishop pines.
“Poodle, is it? Why, you saucy little minx.”
“Noooo, Jack. Stop.”
With a quick snatch, he got hold of her foot and dragged her into the tub, clothes and all.
They collapsed against each other, laughing until Jack lifted her legs around his waist and smashed a kiss onto her mouth.
“I want you, baby. Now. Get your clothes off, you naughty selkie. You make me crazy. This time, you’re gonna get it.”
Liz gasped as he ripped off her top, her bra met the same fate when he lost patience trying to undo the clip at the back. He reached for her jeans.
