Page 9 of A Love So Wrong
Turning from the kitchen, he passed through the laundry area and turned into his bathroom off to the right. Taking his time, he showered, not even bothering trying to relax under the hot spray like he normally did after a long day. Fuck that, he had other more pressing matters. Walking the short distance from his bathroom to his bedroom with only a towel wrapped around his waist, Gideon shut his door to his room and dressed in a fresh pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Running a hand through his wavy hair, he didn't bother looking in the mirror. When his hair was wet, it was fine. When it was dry and had some product through it, it was also fine. It was when he let it dry without putting the much-needed product in it did his natural waves turn to full-on curls and then mutate into some sort of wild bush on top of his head.
Walking around his bed, Gideon slid open his window and grabbed onto the top ledge. With practiced movements, he lifted his legs up and through the open window, using his upper body strength to hold himself up. Landing softly onto the grass, Gideon silently walked across the darkened lawn. Passing the front door and crossing the cement walkway and back onto the soft grass, he walked soundlessly up to the window that matched his own. Pausing, he waited for any sounds but heard nothing.
Normally it would be rather difficult to open a window from the outside without making any noise, but this particular window had a trick he and Jade discovered years ago when they were kids. Gripping the window's seal and the metal framing, he lifted the window in its frame and pushed. Slipping out of its latch, the window complied with the pressure and moved easily to the side. Looking into the dark room, he let his eyes travel over the long lump in the bed as he silently parted the curtains and slipped through. Standing in her room now, Gideon inhaled the sweet scent. It smelled like the honeysuckle body spray he bought her as a gift set for Valentine’s Day last month. The airy, sweet scent, just like its namesake flower, suited her so perfectly. So unassuming at first glance, it wasn't until you looked back again and took a deep breath did you realize the invasive flower had you ensnared, promising that it tasted just as sweet as it looked.
Gideon's eyes narrowed dangerously as he reminded himself why he was here. Did that boy tonight see the same thing he saw when he looked at Jade? Was he given the opportunity to taste what Gideon could not?
Kneeling onto the bed on one knee, Gideon carefully followed the outline of the lump of covers before him, determining its shape with a smile. Placing one fist onto the mattress on the right side of the lump, he leaned slightly to the side as he found the small opening in the covers and the sleeping face hidden beneath. On this side of the house, it was much colder. Henry and Sandra liked it practically freezing when they slept, forcing Jade to keep multiple blankets on her bed despite the warm spring weather. Partially hovering over her body, Gideon didn't have to wait long as he watched Jade's face stir in awareness.
Frowning slightly, she opened her eyes and met his. Captivated, Gideon watched as startled surprise washed away the remainder of sleep within her eyes as she realized what was happening. Her mouth opened as if to scream or yell at him, but she said nothing as she darted a frightened glance towards the door. Just a few feet from her door, across the hall, was the master bedroom. They would both be in trouble if they woke up their parents. Jade did not risk a sound.
"So, about this date," he whispered harshly, enjoying the shock on her face.
Anger brightened her hazel eyes, and she shifted under her covers, attempting to move out from beneath the cage he formed. Dropping his other knee on the other side of her legs, he trapped her in. Realizing this, she let out a small groan, and Gideon smiled.
"Details," he demanded.
"Why should I?" she whispered in frustration, giving up in wiggling out from beneath him. "I don't ask for details from your dates."
With the covers tangled around her waist, Gideon could see the faint details of her green t-shirt from the thin rays of moonlight streaming in from the window into the dark room. Stretched over her breasts, the worn nightshirt served as a jolting reminder of the position they were in. Backing up, Gideon crawled down off of her bed, allowing her to sit up within the pool of covers around her.
Sitting on the edge, he turned and gave her a goading smile. "Do you want to know? Cause I'll tell you if you really want to know."
With an annoyed huff, she crossed her arms and turned her face towards the window, the soft moonlight highlighting the rounds of her freckled cheeks perfectly. Gideon smiled, hating himself for the tiny surge of elation in his chest. She would never know just how much he lived for these rare little displays of jealousy.
Placing one hand on the other side of her legs, Gideon leaned back and gave her a hooded look. "So, tell me, why do I get the feeling you purposely kept thisdatefrom me?"
"Because of this," she waved a hand at him. "You are so controlling. I knew you would be this way and would probably stop me from going. Why should I have told you?"
"I'm not controlling," he said, ignoring the incredulous look she gave him in response. "I'm simply protective," he affirmed.
"More like possessive," she countered. "You never want me to do anything while you get to do everything."
He wasn't going to argue that, he thought. Partly because it was halfway true and because he had more pressing concerns.
Leaning forward, he rested both of his forearms on his knees and clasped his hands together. "So, who was this boy?"
Shifting in the bed, Jade answered readily but was purposely vague. "A senior in the Film Club."
Gideon didn’t bother hiding the sneer at his lips. "And his name?"
Giving him a pointed stare, Jade lifted one brow up in a defiant look. "No."
He would have been alarmed at the sudden boldness if it wasn't for the death-grip she held her covers in. Letting his eyes travel slowly back up to hers, he gave her a solemn look. "I will find out."
Did thisboy,whoever he was, even see what Gideon saw when he looked at her? Did he see the bright warmth emanating off the kind young woman? Did he feel that bone-deep pull she called forth in a man that made him want to take her into his arms and hold her tightly? Or was he just like all the other boys her age and looked at the quiet, nerdy Jade Lattimore as nothing but a challenge, an ultimate sexual conquest to add to their roster? Gideon could feel his muscles harden at the thought. Looking down at the covers, he swallowed the bitter lump in his throat at the peek of soft brown flesh of her thigh peeking from underneath her crisp white sheets. Unwillingly, he pictured the hand of some grubby high school boy sliding up her warm thigh. No! Gideon stood abruptly. Fuck all of that, he thought with a shake of his head. That would not happen even if he had to nail her door and window shut each night.
"No," she continued, oblivious to the emotional thunderstorm taking place within him. "I won’t tell you. I will not allow you to embarrass me again like you did with Darnell. I am just now getting a guy brave enough to approach me."
Turning, he gave her a glittering glare. "Darnell was a different matter entirely, and you know it. Besides, do you think I can't and won't go up to your school and walk into that film club and startpolitely," he paused, emphasizing the word, "asking questions?"
"Gideon," she whined with a frown, swaying back and forth in agitation where she sat.
The high-pitched little sound nearly made him relent. It was like a forbidden fruit being dangled in his face, unknowingly holding great power over him. Gideon steeled himself and sharpened his gaze.
"These guys only see your innocence Jade, they see your beauty, and they want it. They want to claim it, and I cannot begin to tell you how I will not let that happen."
"You can't just say that! You can't control my life because you don’t like the idea of me-"
