The Chase

Chapter 11

CECILIA

     I pick out an all black outfit, mainly because it's supposed to be slimming. But found that to be false as I turn in the mirror noticing every flaw. The slight muffin top from the black leggings. The bulge of skin squished out in every direction from the sports bra. The clear view of my belly button through the tight tank top. I can't leave in this, turning to look at the pile of elastic clothing on my bed. I guess I didn't have too much of a choice I had already tried everything else on.

    "Eww you were serious about going to the gym? I thought part of the fun of being young and having a fast metabolism was that you didn't need to work out." Tabitha was laying on my bed watching me nit pick myself. She probably never does this. She basically walked around naked all the time. I wish I had that confidence.

    "Jasper wanted it to be an 'us thing'." I try to hide my distaste for the concept by leaning closer into mirror to inspect my skin. I typically had very clear skin but not lately, of course. Just my luck.

    "'us thing'? Don't y'all get enough of a workout.. You know not at the gym.." She thrusts her hips forward a few times and winked at my reflection.

    We both bend over laughing loudly. "You're wild Tab"

BUZZ BUZZ

    I can't help the butterflies the flitter when I check the caller ID.

    "Hey I'm outside. Hurry down" I end the call without responding.

    This outfit would have to do, turning to inspect myself one last time. Besides he was right, I was being dramatic. He hadn't even said anything negative about my body. It was all in my head. I was projecting my own insecurities on him and it wasn't fair.

    I run out the front door and down the stairs to get to him. He was parked out front scrolling through his email. He looked up from his phone and I watched as his eyes worked down my body. He bite his lip and inhaled deeply before pulling his eyes from me and putting the car in drive.

    I was definitely being dramatic. He liked my body.

*****

    "See don't you feel good?! Like you've cleared all the toxins from your body.." Jasper sounded so enthused, I didn't want to disappoint him.

    "No ha.... I never want to go back to that place" I let out a giggle as I wipe the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand. But I wasn't kidding. I felt like I had just wasted two hours of my life running in place and picking things up then putting them back down again. My arms already felt sore, which meant it was only going to feel worse tomorrow.

    "Don't be dramatic" He rolls his eyes and tosses me a bottle of water from the fridge. "and now we can get cleaned up together" Jasper winks at me before planting a wet kiss on my lips. 

    Did he mean shower together? Is that a thing people do? Like do we actually clean each other or wouldn't s*x defeat the purpose of showering?

    I wasn't a virgin, obviously. I'd lost it in the back seat of a pick-up truck in high school as most girls did. But that was about the extent of it. Its not like I was a prude or didn't want s*x. I just didn't seek it out the way most of my peers did. Truth was Jasper was only the second person I had ever had s*x with. I was possibly the lamest 24 year old on the planet...

    My eyes wander the room before landing back on Jasper. How is it that he still looked amazing even covered in sweat and hair matted to his face. He removed his shirt and hung it over a chair before guzzling down the bottle of water. Small beads of sweat roll down his chest weaving through his abs and v-line before being caught by the waist band of his shorts.

    Pull your head from the gutter girl! He probably just wants to save on water by showering together and I'm over here getting excited over nothing. I can't let my inexperience show.

    "I'm going to take a shower." Jasper turned towards the bathroom. "You coming?" He shouts from over his shoulder.

    I gulp down the water hoping to calm my nervous. It was one thing to be naked in a dimly lit room and another to be naked under the horrible bathroom lights. I attempt to waste time by tip toeing slowly down the hallway stopping to look into his office. Memories of him kissing me flash through my mind. Followed by the still mystery of a women. 

    There was already steam coming from the partially open bathroom door. The water fell in uneven patters as he moved around under the shower head.

    "CEECEEE I"M WAITING!" Jasper sings my name calling me to the bathroom.

"COMING" I shout back, still trying to hide how nervous the idea made me.

    Steam hits my face as I pull the door further open and squint to see him through the condensation of the glass shower door. I peal the damp working out clothes from my body and drop them in a heap on the tile flooring.

    Jasper welcomes me by pulling me to his chest and under the warm water. He grabs a loofah and squirts a generous amount of fruity soap on it before he begins to rub the soap across my chest then breast and to my stomach. Was it normal for a man to have girly body wash?

    It was a surprise to me that he actually meant shower and not s*x. He cleaned my body in great detail as if he was attempting to remove the first layer of my skin. He occasionally kissed my skin where he had just cleansed. But never spoke. I wasn't really sure how to feel about it.

    My hand was swatted away a few times when I attempted to assist him. Did he think I wasn't capable of cleaning myself? "I can do that".

    I swiped the loofah from Jasper's hands in an attempt to tease him. Biting my lip and flashing a seductive look as if to say 'I've been a bad girl'? Why? I don't know.. It wasn't my brightest idea. Still, I imagined he'd be a good sport about it. Play fight me for the stupid sponge before we'd end up kissing and see where the shower would end up.

    Unfortunately, I was wrong. When I looked up at him he genuinely seemed angered by it. He stood up, hovering over me with a blank expression. I hadn't noticed how much taller than me he really was. I suddenly felt very small as he pressed me up against the shower wall. A shower I got into of my own free will, I had to remind myself. He rested his hand around my throat, memories of the pleasure that hand had brought me just the night before pop into my head. I was wild how something so beautiful could also scare me with such a small motion like placing his hand around my neck. He didn't tighten his grasp, just held it there looking into my eyes, when a blank expression. There was a darkness behind his eyes, it sent chills down my spine. 

    "S -sorry I-I-I was just messing with you.." I laugh nervously and drop the loofah into his hand and let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding. I hadn't been my intention to upset him. Who was the dramatic one now.

    "You should do what you're told.." He must of felt my discomfort because his expression softened. He leaned down to kiss my nose. "All done." That was abrupt.

    After he was finished with me he opened the shower door and motioned to a towel neatly folded on the counter. I quickly took my chance to escape and dried off before getting dressed. I was hit with the realization that I wanted to leave. I was left with this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Like what you get when you're being pressured into something you weren't comfortable with.

    The steam made me feel like I might actually throw up and I couldn't think straight. I splash cold water onto my face and thought about what excuse to use to be able to leave. Jasper began to sing quietly, cheerfully 'My girl. I'm talking 'bout myyyy girl. My girl'. 

    Was I his girl? Did I want to be hid girl? 

    "Tabitha called I need to go!" I lie. I wasn't sure what to think about him at the moment but I knew I had to leave and clear my head. Before I jumped to an conclusions or said something stupid.

    I don't wait for him to respond or acknowledge. I call for a Uber before speed walking out of the building. I felt uncomfortable. I felt unclean despite the shower. I felt like I needed to be home. Anywhere but here.