Chapter 7

My hair drips on the soft robe around me as I dig in my bag for my pj's. I know I brought them, they must have gotten buried. Frustrated, I start pulling everything out of the bag until I find what I'm looking for. I pull out my faded, worn flannel pants and black shirt, I can tell they won't last much longer, maybe if I'm lucky they'll make it until I get my Christmas bonus.

I slide into my bra and underwear and get ready to put on my pants when I hear the doorknob turning. Quickly I cover myself with the robe and bolt for the closet.

"Rhea?" Jordan's voice is quiet as he peeks his head in the door, he see me looking at him from the closet, "What are doing?"

I squirm a little as my ears get warm, "I'm... Uhh..."

Realization flashes in his eyes and he fights to hide his grin, "Oh sorry. I'll let you finish real quick."

He steps back and closes the door, leaving me alone again. I still cover myself on the way over to the bed, I don't really want to be walked in on again. Dropping the robe for only a moment, I slip into my pants and yank my shirt over my head.

"I'm done!" I call out in the direction of the door. Jordan soon steps back in.

"I'm really sorry. Rosie said you were taking some time to relax, I should have knocked. I'm sorry," He fights his smile as he avoids eye contact.

"It's ok, I should have locked the door," I watch his hand wrap around mine.

"How are you doing?" He whispers as we stare at our hands.

I shrug lightly, "I don't really know? I guess I'm ok, it's just strange and confusing right now."

"What's confusing? Is there anything I can do?" He runs the back of his free hand down my cheek.

"I don't know. I'm not used to such big spaces and such fancy furniture. I'm not used to maids and bubble baths and..." Our eyes finally meet, "And sweet guys kissing me."

"I would happily do it again, just say the word," I chuckle as he pulls me close, "I mean it. Just say the word and I'd go to hell and back for you. I want to help you and be there for you. I know this is all new to you and it may seem strange and risky to just dive in like this but to me it just feels... Right."

"If your parents wouldn't be ok with this should I really be here?"

"I couldn't be made to give a damn about what my parents want. My father is an entitled ass and my mom is a softtouch. I love them, and I'm sure I could have convinced my mom to let you stay but... The three of us are rarely on the same page. I don't care what they have to say about this as long as you feel safe. Do you feel safe?"

I nod and stare at the floor. I don't want to think about anything, I just want to be. I want to hide and never go home.

"Let's get you something to eat, Rosie made dinner," Jordan pressed a kiss to my cheek before taking me down the stairs and into a large kitchen.

Smells of pepper and cooking meat, butter and seasonings invade me. I feel warmth radiate from the stove, the sound of something sizzling is loud and surprising. I look over to see pans and pots on the stove with Rosie standing over them.

"I hope you like pork chops," Rosie smiles back at us showing her crooked front teeth.

I don't know if I've ever had pork chops, if I have I don't remember. I watch her pull a rectangular, glass dish from the oven. I see her pull back shiny foil to reveal bubbling liquid around three thick pieces of breaded meat, it smells cheesy. I try not to look too eager.

"Rosie has been teaching me to cook, putting me to good use here at home. So if it tastes like death it's my fault," Jordan laughs as he pulls plates from a nearby cabinet.

"Oh hush you! I wouldn't let you mess up my recipe!" Rosie smacks his arm before looking to me, "I swear one day I'll strangle this boy, doesn't know how good he is."

I smile at Jordan, he looks away to hide the gentle blush in his cheeks. He turns to the stove and starts spooning food onto the plates. I've stopped looking at the food. My focus stays on him. I think of his lips on me, his hands on my instead of on spoons and plates.

He puts one of the plates in front of me, setting another down next to me. Together we sit at the bar and eat with Rosie, listening to her talk about the cooking.

"Mr. Mars likes to remind me my job is cleaning. But he's more than happy to eat my food when I make it, Jordan if you have a lady in your life willing to make you good food don't you squander it! This food is over 60 years old, at least the recipe is, been in my family for three generations. My mother was so angry when I said I didn't want kids, she was afraid the family recipes would die."

"That's what I'm here for! I will happily keep your recipes alive. Never to share them unless to pass them on!" He dramatically pounds his chest. Rosie shakes her head.

"It does taste amazing, you're recipe certainly tastes worth protecting," I smile at her. She looks stunned to hear me speak.

"Well I would love to teach you how to make it, but to do that I'd have to kill you or marry you," Jordan bumps me with his shoulder.

"Hopefully the latter," Rosie interjects, "She's pretty, kind, got a good head on her shoulders. You better not mess this up dumby."

"No intention to Rosie, no intention whatsoever."

Jordan takes my hand and smiles at me. I put my face down to hide my red cheeks. We continue to eat and I listen to them chatter, Jordan talks about how the garlic mashed potatoes needed parsley, Rosie tells him the pan seared bacon and green beans needed a little less salt. I couldn't imagine any changes to the food, but their comments are interesting to listen to. Once the food is gone, I offer to help with the dishes, an offer Rosie happily accepts.

"I'm going upstairs, I want to see if I can find a good movie," Jordan runs his hand down my back before leaving us alone.

Once Rosie is sure he's gone, she pokes my arm, "He talks about you, all the time. He came home Friday leaping for joy, he couldn't stop talking about how happy he was you said yes. He's been trying to ask you out for weeks but couldn't find a way to approach you. I hope you know he cares, he always says how much he wants to protect you. You definitely got a good one in him."

I nod and look to the direction of the stairs, "Rosie, d-- do you think you can do the dishes without me? I can stay if you'd like--"

"Go. Trust me, I get it. Just don't do anything stupid."

I nod awkwardly before taking off after Jordan. I find him in his room with the door wide open. His floor is covered in papers and clothes, books form a tower on his nightstand, his bed sits unmade with an open Mac Book.

He sees me standing in his doorway and his eyes dart around the room, "I swear it's not usually this messy."

I walk in, stepping over jeans and old homework. I smile when I finally reach him by the bookcase, "What are you up to?" I ask with a quiet, but hopefully flirty tone.

"I was hoping we could watch a movie, thought it could be fun," He shrugs his shoulders, trying to act calm.

"Yeah, maybe. I was kind of hoping we could hang out in my room," He looks stunned by my boldness, I panic thinking I've overstepped, "I, uh, was really hoping that you understood the math homework. If you don't that's ok, we can watch a movie."

He gives me a sly smile, "I do understand the math homework, and I'm not just saying that to be alone with you and sit close to you all night."

I follow closely behind him as he goes to my room for the night. I watch him literally jump into the bed, he rolls onto his side to face me.

"You know, this bed would look much nicer with you in it," He winks, causing me to laugh. I crawl into the bed, taking the spot next to him.

I dig out my math assignment and stare at it. Jordan sits up and looks over my shoulder, he asks me what it is that I don't understand. I explain my confusion and we get to work. He tried to find better ways of explaining the equations, showing me different graphs for different equations. He walks me through some of the questions step by step before having me try one on my own. While it's getting easier, it's still really hard and it's incredibly frustrating. I don't want to get emotional but the lump forming in my throat is making that hard.

Jordan gently pets my hair, "It's ok, Rhea, it's going to take time to figure it out. But you're getting better. We did five questions already, you're part way through the sixth, why not call it a night? You need rest."

I look up and meet his gaze, "Does that mean you're leaving?" He looks away, "I don't want you to go."

He looks into my eyes again, a smile teasing at his lips, "Rhea, I don't want to go but I have to. All I want to do is stay here and kiss you all night, and I can't do that."

I lean in, keeping our faces only a couple inches apart, "Who says you can't?"

He smiles and it's the last thing I see before he takes my face in his hands and smashes his lips to mine. I wrap my arms around his neck and deepen the kiss. His hands and lips start to travel, causing chills to roll up my spine as his hands find the skin under my shirt and his lips move to my neck. I let out a moan.

"Jordan," I breath out. The sound only makes him grow in intensity, I gasp when his teeth graze my earlobe.

I hear a low growl escape him as he pulls me even closer and let's his hands travel around me. His nails drag across my skin, making it impossible to hold in my excited whimpers.

"God damn it, Rhea," His voice is low and husky, I can feel the desire radiating from him, "You're killing me here!"

His hands move more feverishly, and it feels wonderful, until he runs his hands over some scares. I jump, causing him to stop and pull away from me.

"I'm sorry," I mutter, feeling tears well up in my eyes, "I didn't think- I hadn't thought about those."

"Are you ok? Does it hurt?" He keeps his hands off me.

I shake my head, "They don't hurt," Slowly a few tears spill out onto my cheeks, "Not physically at least."

Carefully he wraps his arms around my shoulder and my stomach. He pulls me close, laying us down on the bed. The tips of his finger run over the bare surface of my arm as I bury my face in his chest.

"It's ok," He kisses my forehead, "You don't have to think about it, you're safe. I've got you, Rhea, and I promise you, I'm not letting you go."