"Okay," I whisper, scraping my chair back and finding a glass from the cupboards. I had changed my mind about a warm drink, cold milk would do just fine.
Jake stands up behind me and I'm very aware of his presence as he walks around the table until he's right behind me. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up followed by goosebumps. Jake's body presses against mine from behind, his hands resting on my waist.
He brought his lips up to my ear, nuzzling it with his nose. I feel goosebumps erupt all over my body and I shiver from his touch.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have been rude," he whispers, his voice sending shivers down my body. I frown, feeling confused from his sudden quick change in personality. Jake notices my shaking body and his arms tighten around my frame.
"Are you cold?" He asks me, mumbling his words down my ear. I turn around, my breathing hitching as I feel my body press against Jake's. His hands remain on my waist and he stares intensely at me, blue eyes burning through mine.
Desire filled the air, the connection between us so strong and passion filled.
"A little," I whisper, my lips an inch away from Jake's.
"I can come upstairs and keep you warm?" Jake suggests quietly, his fingers trailing against my bare stomach. I suck in a breath, closing my eyes so that I can think clearly.
Whenever Jake is next to me, it feels like I don't have control over my body or mind.
"I don't know, it's pretty late." I mumble hesitantly, my eyes stinging with lack of sleep.
"Jake, can I ask you something?" I say quietly, feeling his chest rising and falling against mine. His breathing shallows out as he continues to draw swirls on my stomach with his finger. My heart is going crazy inside my chest and I can feel my throat dry out from the electricity shooting through my body.
"Yes Muffin?" Jake answers, his warm breath fanning across my lips. I shudder, pulling back to create some distance between us.
"Do you care about me? Like, really?" I mumble, feeling insecure. It still surprises me that he would want to do all of this for me. I want to be certain about my feelings for him before I reveal them. I don't want to set myself up for failure, pain and humiliation.
"You know I care about you Emily," Jake murmurs, pulling back away from me. The heat begins to disappear as he inches further away, his face masking over with worry.
I don't know what it is, it feels like he's holding back. Something is making him unsure and hesitant when it comes to me and I want to know what it is. There's a protective barrier he walks around with constantly and before I can reveal how I feel, I need to know he feels the same way.
"Why do I feel like there's a but coming along?" I whisper, my nerves increasing as seconds pass. He glances up at me with surprise in his eyes, possibly from me reading his body language.
"I don't know," he mutters in response, his words guarded. I nod in the dark, taking a step back.
"You're unsure?" I say quietly and moments of silence pass between us before Jake nods slowly, exhaling out the breath he's holding. Hurt instantly stabs through my chest but I plaster a smile on my face as I head for the door —
"Goodnight Jake," I say, my voice strained. I wait for him to reply but he doesn't so I leave him alone in the dark.
Chapter Fifteen - Jake crazed idiot.
The sting behind my eyes intensify and my body aches in places I didn't even knew exist. When I shift or move positions, an uncomfortable grunt involuntarily leaves my lips. The exhaustion I've felt the past few days is beginning to take its toll on me. My body feels like it's on strike, refusing to function correctly unless I give in and sleep. It's not that I'm refusing to sleep, it's simply that my brain won't shut down for one night.
I'm wearing an off the shoulder baby pink shirt and my hair is scraped back into a messy bun. Underneath I wear my pyjama shorts from last night and I plan to remain like this all day. My mind wondered to last night when things became awkward between Jake and I. I'm planning on avoiding the topic entirely today. The kitchen door swings open and Jake waltz in, his hair wet from the shower.
Speak of the devil.
I scroll aimlessly through my phone, avoiding eye contact with him. . . It's easier said than done.
Especially when the boy always looks so damn good.
Jake notices my hostile personality towards him and he sighs heavily, making me aware of his presence. I watch from the corner of my eyes as he walks over to the microwave, placing some oatmeal inside. He turns it on, the beep of the microwave filling the silence between us.
"Sleep well?" Jake asks me quietly, turning to look at me. His voice is strained, holding back from what he really wants to say to me. I simply shake my head and carry on scrolling through my phone, glancing at my unread texts. Multiple messages from Mum asking of my whereabouts. I roll my eyes at my phone, feeling surprised that she'd even noticed my missing presence. I turn my phone off, placing it down onto the dining table before putting my head in my hands.
If I close my eyes here, I could power nap. . .
I hear a chair scrape back and Jake pushes his bowl of oatmeal towards me, dropping a spoon beside it as he takes a seat opposite me.
"Eat
