Saved by the Lieutenant (Winter Rescue)

5. Amanda

5

AMANDA

My mind is screaming at me, begging me not to give in to Jake's charm once again. I know better than to kiss him, to let him back into my life after he destroyed me before. But the pull of his lips against mine was irresistible, so natural and passionate that it left me weak and wanting more. When he pulled away, I couldn't help but wonder where things could’ve ended up between us if he hadn't stopped. But I have to be strong, to keep my distance. My focus needs to be on finding the killer who has been able to stay under the radar for so long.

But as I try to push Jake out of my thoughts, the sting of his words linger. He wanted us to focus, his words were like an apology. It was like cold water being thrown on me. It was a quick way to bring me back to reality. It’s been two years, but he still holds the power to shatter me with just a few words or a simple touch. I need to be careful, I can’t afford to fall for him again.

I sink down onto the bed, tears stinging the back of my eyes. After everything that’s happened to me in the past twenty-four hours, I’m tired. God, I’m so damn tired, but sleeping is the farthest thing from my mind. The victims are what I need to focus on. I know that Jake is sure that I’ve missed something and the thought that I have makes me want to throw up. I owe it to these women, these innocent women who lost their lives to this maniac, I owe it to them to uncover everything and bring them justice.

My mind whirls with all the information that I’ve uncovered so far and I know there’s still so much more to find. The killer is smart, they know what they’re doing. It makes it so much harder to uncover who is behind it all. But I know that I won’t stop until I do.

My eyes drift closed and I fight the pull of slumber. I’m so damn tired that it’s hard to fight it.

The feel of heavy breathing against my neck has my entire body breaking out in goosebumps. My heart is pounding like crazy and I'm struggling not to panic. He's right behind me, every step that I take he seems to be gaining on me. I know that he'll catch me at any moment. “No no no,” I chant, not wanting him to get me again. I can't allow him to do that, if he gets his hands on me this time, I'm going to die.

“You can’t run from me forever, Amanda,” he taunts, sounding closer than ever.

I push harder, needing to escape, I can’t let him do what he did to me the last time. No way, no how.

His hand clamps down onto my arms and he whirls me around. The darkness in his eyes has me shivering in fear. I've never seen someone look so sinister in my life.

“I've been waiting for you,” he growls, his hand tight around my bicep “You really should learn to mind your own business. Thanks to you, everyone knows about those damn prostitutes.”

His voice sounds familiar, though I can't quite place it. It's definitely someone I've heard speak before.

“You're a killer,” I rasp, not wanting to antagonize him but also wishing that I could escape. “You were never going to get away with it. You were always going to get caught. You'd never be able to continue.”

“You think you ruined my plans?” he sneers, his anger morphing into a cruel smile. “I had everything calculated perfectly until you interfered by connecting the murders.”

Tears stream down my face as I try to rip my arm from his hold. But it's no use. He's too powerful, too relentless. “You're a killer,” I sob, my voice trembling with fear and anger. “You deserve to be punished for the lives you've taken. Justice will catch up to you eventually.”

A malicious glint enters his eyes as he leans closer, his smirk twisted and deranged. “I doubt that,” he taunts. “You can't win, you know,” he sneers, his breath hot against my face. “You were always on my hit list. You were going to be my last one, but you ruined that, now the timeline has been moved up. It doesn’t matter, I’ll still get what I want.”

His words echo in my head. God, why does he sound so familiar, where do I know this man from?

The rage in his eyes as he gets back up terrifies me. With as much power as I can, I rip my arm from his grip and turn on my heel, running faster than I’ve ever ran in my life. I don’t look behind me, knowing that he’s right on my tail, that he’ll be ready to pounce the moment that he’s close to me. I won’t falter, I won’t let him get me.

“Amy,” I hear a voice call my name, it sounds distorted, like it’s underwater. “Amy, fuck, wake the fuck up.”

My body is being shaken and jolted, and I gasp for air as I bolt upright, my heart beating wildly in my chest. I'm drenched in sweat, and my eyes frantically search the room, trying to understand where I am and what just happened.

“Amy, it's okay, you're safe,” the distorted voice repeats, this time more soothing than before.

I blink rapidly, trying to clear my foggy vision and bring back my surroundings. I’m in the cabin, it’s Jake that's beside me. There's a small light on, making it easy for me to see everything around me. That small touch means so much. He pulled me from the nightmare and made sure I woke up to light.

“What happened?” I whisper, my voice still hoarse from the dream.

Jake takes a deep breath, looking into my eyes with concern. “You were having a nightmare, and I heard you calling out. I'm here to make sure you're okay.”

Tears stream down my face. It was a dream. God, it seemed so real. Jake hauls me against his body and I can feel the warmth and safety of his embrace. My heartbeat slows down as I catch my breath and let out a shaky sigh. I rest my head on his shoulder, just being in the moment. I need him right now, and I can’t think about the past, not right now.

“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice still shaking with the remnants of fear and adrenaline.

Jake strokes my hair gently and whispers, “It's alright, Amy. Everything is okay.”

I take a moment to gather myself, still feeling the effects of the nightmare. “It felt so real,” I whisper.

“I’m so damn sorry, baby, want to talk about it?”

I shake my head. Not right now, I can’t, it’s still lingering like a cloak around me.

“Okay,” he says softly as he lies down on the bed and pulls me down with him. “Sleep, Amy, I’m right here, no one is going to hurt you.”

I wish I could believe him, I really do, but right now, I'm still struggling with the aftermath of the attack, not to mention dealing with all the emotions of having Jake here with me. It's too much, I really can't deal right now, but I have no other choice than to continue forward.

Jake continues to hold me tightly, I should push him away, put some distance between us, but I can't, right now I need the support that he's offering me. I've been alone for the past two years, it was so damn hard to pick myself up after Jake walked away, but I did it, I won't let him hurt me like he did before. I know better now. But I need him for just tonight. I need to feel safe and as much as he hurt me, I'll always feel safe and protected in his arms.

“Sleep, Amy,” he says softly.

“I can't,” I whisper, my voice trembling with fear.

“Hey,” he says, tilting my chin up with his finger and thumb. “Talk to me, baby, let me help you.”

I swallow hard, I can't do this. I really can't talk about it, not right now.

“Amy,” he says tortured. “Please, let me help you.”

“I don't know how,” I confess. “I'm scared, I'm so damn scared. I just want to feel something other than fear.”

“Baby,” he swallows hard. “You're killing me right here.”

“Help me,” I beg. “I don't want to feel scared anymore.”

He pauses for a second, his gaze searching mine. For what? I don't know, but he must find something. He lowers his lips against mine and kisses me gently, slowly, as if trying to soothe me. As his lips touch mine, I can feel the warmth and comfort that I so desperately need, and I cling to him, returning the kiss with everything I have. With Jake it comes so naturally, it's so easy to fall back into something that made me feel complete and loved.

His hands cradle my face, and I can feel the gentleness in his touch. I want this. I want him. I want to feel safe, loved, and alive. I want to forget the memories of the nightmare that still lingers in my mind's eye. I want to pretend that the past two years never happened and that he didn't walk away without a second thought. I just want him. For tonight at least.

As I deepen the kiss, he pulls me closer, his body heat enveloping mine. I can feel his heartbeat against my chest, wild and erratic, in sync with mine. The emotions are overflowing, and I can't control them anymore. I don't want to.

His lips travel down my neck, my breath hitches as he nips at my skin, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. I can't help but arch into him, wanting more of his touch. He responds by cupping my face, his thumbs brushing away the tears that have fallen silently down my cheeks.

“Let me help you,” he whispers again, his voice hoarse with emotion. “Let me take away your pain.”

I nod, my eyes locked with his, and he quickly strips out of his clothes, I swallow hard as I get a good look at him. He's not changed much in the past two years, he still looks amazing, his body is rock solid, he works hard for his body, and it shows. He's got hair on his chest, I used to love running my finger through it as we made love. He's also got a trail of hair that leads from his belly button down to his happy trail and to his cock. I hate that he's not changed I was devastated when he left, I lost weight, it took me ages to come to terms with the loss of him and our relationship. I still haven't put on the weight that I lost during that time.

He presses a kiss against my stomach as he positions himself over me, his cock thick and full, my blood heats as the anticipation of having him inside of me hits me. God, it’s been so long. I can’t wait. He runs the tip of his cock along my soaked folds, and I whimper. I need him.

He guides his cock to my entrance and thrusts deeply inside of me. I release a long moan as he fills me up.

“Fuck, Amy,” he groans, pulling out almost all the way before slamming back into me with such force that my bed frame creaks. “I've missed this so much.”

I grip his shoulders, my nails digging into his skin as I arch my back to meet his every thrust. The pain and terror of my nightmare quickly fade away, replaced with pure ecstasy. This is what I've been craving for two years– Jake's body inside of mine, his skin pressed against mine, his breath mingling with mine in every gasp and moan.

He increases his pace, his hips moving in a frenzy, and I struggle to keep up. Each thrust sends waves of pleasure coursing through me, my body responding to his in the most intimate of ways. I'm lost in the rhythm, in the heat– in him.

“Harder,” I beg, my voice hoarse, my head thrown back. My eyes close as the pleasure builds. He obliges, and his thrusts become rougher, deeper, as though he's trying to claim me, to mark me as his own. The room is filled with the sounds of our bodies slapping together, of our ragged breaths and desperate cries.

As the intensity builds, so does my orgasm. It starts as a tiny spark, then grows into a blazing inferno, consuming me from the inside out. I cry out his name, a high-pitched wail of release, as wave after wave of ecstasy crashes over me, leaving me gasping for breath.

Jake groans my name, his face contorted with pleasure as he follows me over the edge. His cock throbs inside me, pulsing with his release, and I feel the warm rush of his seed spilling deep within me. I moan again, the sensation intensifying my climax, as we ride the wave of pleasure together.

As the aftershocks subside, we collapse onto the bed, our bodies still joined together. I wrap my arms around him, my heart pounding against my chest. He holds me close, his breath warm on my skin, and I feel safe. God, I feel so safe right now.

“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice finally steady. I’m not thanking him for sex, but for being here. I know that he dropped everything to be here and as angry as I am at what happened in the past, I truly do appreciate what he’s done.

“Anything for you, Amy,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “Anything.”

I wish I believed that, once upon a time I would have, but now it’s hard. We lay here for a while, his arms still wrapped around me like a vine, his breathing evens out and I know that he’s fast asleep. I’m too frightened to do the same, I’m scared that the nightmare will get me again. Terrified the man that’s killing these women will find me and finish the job he started.

I’ve never felt so helpless, but I’ll be damned if I sit around and wait for him to strike. No, once the morning hits, I’ll be working hard on uncovering everything about the innocent women that he murdered. I won’t stop until I find out who this animal is and even then, I won’t give up until he’s rotting behind bars.