Hollywood Harlot

Chapter 13

Snuggled on Jake’s lap, the sun shining brightly around them, and a picture-perfect winter view of the icy river and snow covered trees surrounding her, Bella felt happier than she had in months. Stillness filled the air around them, and they sat in comfortable silence, enjoying the wintry scene together.

“That was fun. Thank you,” Bella finally broke the silence.

Jake smiled. “It was fun. And my way of saying I’m sorry for being a jerk earlier.”

Bella shrugged, “Can’t deny that. But it was really nice shopping with you.”

“I liked it too.”

Behind them, on Main Street, a car passed by, but other than that, absolute silence surrounded them. Birds had gone south for the winter, the meandering brook had frozen over, stilling the water’s noise, and people were busy inside their cars or the shops, but not outside.

“Do you like the quiet?” Bella asked.

“I do. It’s different, obviously, than the life I’ve adopted out West, but it has always sounded like this for me here, so it makes me feel comfortable.”

She smiled. “I like the quiet too.”

Grabbing her hips with both his hands, Jake lifted Bella from his lap. He stood up behind her and grabbed her hand, leading her all the way to the icy river’s edge. Closer, Bella could see small holes in the ice and the water down below. As she stared at the tiny series of ice caves and crystals below her, Jake stood behind her and put his arms around her.

“Can you skate on it?” she asked.

Jake chuckled. “Oh, no, not at all. Since it’s moving water, it never freezes solid enough for that. But if you’re interested in skating, we have a rink back at the lodge. I think it’s one of Jordyn’s activities this week. She was a competitive skater for a long time.”

“Wow, that’s cool. I didn’t know that.”

Jake spun Bella around so they were facing each other. He leaned down and gave her a soft, delicate kiss.

“I don’t know much about you,” he said, staring right into her eyes. Looking deep into his soul like that always sent tingles down her spine and she shifted closer to him, placing her palm flat against his chest. She laid her head on his shoulder and smiled into his warm winter jacket.

“Isn’t that the entire point of our agreement? Pleasant company for the week, but no strings or attachments other than that?”

Jake took a deep breath in and Bella wondered if that’s what he really wanted. She pulled back from him and stared at him from an arm’s length away.

“Isn’t that what you want?”

Jake ran his hand through his hair and sighed again. “Isn’t that what you want?”

Bella pursed her lips and tilted her head slightly. Every moment she’d spent with this man, since she’d first met him, had been confusing, but there was no denying the way her body reacted to him. Standing next to him even right then, after he’d been so confusing and angry in the morning, her body was yearning for his touch. But she didn’t want to get hurt, and she had to protect herself. In just a few days, they’d both be returning to their real lives, and would probably never see each other again. Steeling herself, Bella smiled.

“That’s the simplest way, for sure.”

He stared down at her so long without saying a single word that she began to feel uncomfortable. He grit his teeth and the muscles in his temple tensed. Bella’s eyes were drawn to the tiny movement, but then she looked back in his eyes, and could see him thinking.

“Simple,” he said flatly.

A knot in her stomach started to form, but she couldn’t tell why. “Simple,” she repeated.

He took a deep breath in, not quite a sigh, but definitely a sign of frustration or deep thinking.

“Okay,” he said simply, grabbing her hand again, and starting to lead her back up to Main Street. “Let’s go back up to the lodge. Jordyn has some big plans this afternoon.”

Bella nodded, but her mind was swirling. She just couldn’t figure this man out. He had sent her so many different mixed signals and she didn’t even know what she wanted herself, really. She just knew that she really enjoyed spending time with him and she was grateful for everything she’d experienced so far. Sara was right- she never would have been able to afford a week long vacation at a luxury resort on her own. But more than that, she just liked being around Jake and his family. She felt at home there.

As they approached the Jeep parked back in front of Mrs. Collins’ boutique, Bella reached for the keys. Jake smiled sheepishly and handed them over.

“I really am sorry about that,” he said.

Bella hopped into the driver’s seat and glanced at him as she fastened her seatbelt. “You have to stop apologizing. It’s okay. Listen, I know we just said we are going to keep this strictly business and not share personal information. But, we all have history from our past that impacts who we are today.” She took a deep breath and exhaled hard, causing her lips to vibrate.

He silently pointed to the road that led from town up the mountain, and she turned the wheel to go up that way. “I won’t go into details, but I’m coming from a really bad relationship myself. It impacted literally every aspect of my life, and I know it effects my decisions still. So you don’t have to explain to me and you don’t have to apologize to me. We’ve all been hurt by others. The only thing we can do now is try to not hurt the person we are sitting next to right now.”

Jake reached across the console to put a hand on her leg.

“Wow,” he said. “That’s really mature of you.”

The winding road became snowier and Bella squinted to focus on her driving.

“I’ve been through some things and I’ve learned a lot,” she shrugged.

“Well, I really appreciate that. It’s definitely a different attitude than some of the women I’ve met out in California.”

Bella laughed. “That doesn’t surprise me. But. That being said…”

Bella paused and Jake groaned. “Oh boy, here we go.”

She laughed again. “It’s not a big deal. I just wanted to let you know I’m going to dinner tonight with Alex.”

His hand on her thigh tensed but he didn’t speak.

She thought for a moment, suddenly wondering if that was a breach to their “contract.”

“Unless you need me for something, of course. As your escort.”

His hand gripped tighter on her leg, but he still didn’t speak.

Suddenly unsure of herself, she continued, “He offered to cook something for me, and you had just vanished, so I didn’t know where you were. And something about him just looked so sad.”

Silence continued to fill the car, and as she pulled back up to the front of the lodge, she glanced at him again.

“Nothing is going to happen.”

Jake finally spoke, his lips in a tight, thin line. “Do you want it to?”

Bella bit her own lip, thinking. “No. I like Alex. He seems like a good guy, and a good friend. But I’m here for you.”

His vice-like grip on her leg loosened slightly. “Okay, then. I trust you.”

Bella paused a moment to consider that as she shifted the Jeep back into park. Trust was a heavy topic for her, and not a word she tossed around casually. What had she done to earn his trust?

He unbuckled his belt so he could reach over to her with both hands, placing them in her lap.

“I liked it when you said you’re here for me.”

Bella swallowed hard. “Well, it’s true.”

He smiled slowly and his eyes went to her lips. She knew he was going to kiss her, and her stomach began tingling in anticipation of his warm, soft lips taking hers.

He leaned in and gently caressed her lips with his own, taking his time to fully enjoy them.

“Wanna go back to the cabin and finish what we started back in that dressing room?”

The tingling deep in her belly quickly turned to burning and she leaned back into him for a longer kiss.

“Let’s go,” she whispered huskily, and he leapt from the car and raced around to open the door for her before she’d even unbuckled herself all the way. He scooped her out of the driver’s seat in one swift motion and carried her up to the sidewalk. She knew better than to protest, so blushed instead and tried to hide her face in his chest. As they rushed past the valet, Jake tossed his keys and said, “Thanks, Timmy!”

It took only minutes to reach their cabin and somehow Jake had the key card in his hand, ready to go, so they barely slowed down at the door. He pushed through, letting it stay open, and carried her right to his room, dropping her gently on the bed, following behind her.

He laid down on top of her her his mouth immediately on hers, his hands moving up and down her sides. She lifted her chest up to meet him, pushing her breasts against him, and groaned. Bella reached behind his neck, running her fingers through the nape of his neck, and pushed harder against his mouth, adding pressure and intensity to the kiss.

“More,” she whispered, and he obliged, quickly peeling off the layers of clothes separating them until she was wearing nothing but her b*a.

“Good God,” he whispered, “So unbelievably beautiful.”

He cupped her breast with one hand and unsnapped the back with his other, allowing the wisp of fabric to fall off her, exposing her entirely to him. He buried his face between her breasts and growled a primeval growl, then quickly licked up the mound to her ni***e, which he bit gently between his teeth. She shifted to lay next to him on the bed, reaching around him and tracing one finger down his spine, applying greater pressure as she reached his butt. She grabbed firmly on, her hand cupping his round bottom, and pulled him closer to her. He shifted to match her angle and slipped easily inside.

She moaned and so did he, and they began effortlessly moving in perfect unison, waves of pleasure crashing over them both. She dug her fingernails into his flesh and he let out a primal roar as they both went over the brink into oblivion. She placed her hand delicately on his cheek as both of their heartbeats began to slow, the two do them laying side by side silently, contentedly.

Jake gently pushed a strand of hair from her eyes and tucked it behind her ear.

“You’re amazing,” he murmured with a half smile.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” she answered, “But you can’t fall asleep right now. Jordyn is waiting for us.”

Jake rolled over and pulled the blanket over his head. “Just five more minutes. With you!” He reached for her and she had to leap up to get away from his grasp, giggling.

“I’d like to stay too,” she laughed, already getting dressed,

“Fine. I’ll get ready,” he grunted, standing to pull on his jeans. “But I’d like it to be known it’s under extreme protest that I do.”

Bella smiled wide at him. He was handsome when he was grumpy. “Duly noted,” she said lightly. “Let’s go see what’s up next today.”

He grabbed her hand and together they started walking to the door.