Three Days of Rain Read Free Page B

you’ve succeeded. I’m paying attention. I’m noticing a whole lot.”
    Walking across the room, he grabbed her elbow and turned her to face him. His hands slipped around her hips and settled behind her and as she reached up to playfully bite his ear. He squeezed her breast, causing a quiet moan to escape her lips. Her breath on his neck sent shivers down his spine. With her firmly in his hands and his eyes locked with hers, he stepped forward guiding her backward toward the wall. He interlocked his fingers with hers and slowly slid her arms up the wall holding them in place firmly with his left hand. With his right, he ran his fingers down the side of her body and across her stomach.
    Tucking two fingers behind the button of her jeans, he tugged her to him, pushed his knee between her legs, and forced them apart. As his tongue ran softly across her lips, his thumb flicked open the button and pulled the zipper slowly down. Her head fell back against the wall as his fingers teased the top of her panties. He buried his head into the crook of her neck as his fingers found a home. Letting go of her hands, he grabbed her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye as his fingers explored her.
    Her arms fell to her sides and her fists clenched as the knot in her belly tightened. In a rush of adrenaline, she cried out, grabbed the belt loops of his pants, and pulled him against her.
    His fingers frantic, his eyes closed, and his body moist with sweat, he kissed her hard. When he pulled back, she looked at him and whispered, “Now.”
    She leaned in to kiss him and that was all it took for her to seal his fate. As much as he had tried to be distant, she closed the gap with that kiss. When he woke up next to her the following morning, she had changed his mind about her completely.
    ***
    Pulling himself out of his memories, Jake got out of the truck and walked into his house. Grabbing the nearly empty bottle of Jack from the counter, he walked toward the back of the house. He finally turned on the lights when he reached his bedroom. Unscrewing the cap, he took a long pull. His eyes were drawn to his old guitar sitting on the stand, covered in an inch of dust. Stepping over the piles of laundry that littered his bedroom floor, he picked it up and stood in front of the mirror. He lifted the strap over his head and let the Gibson fall in front of him. It still fit as it had two years ago. The last time he played was the night before his life went to hell. His eyes burned with the memory. His throat burned as he poured the rest of the alcohol. He removed the strap and held the guitar by the neck. His eyes shifted to the stand in the corner, but as pain and heartache overtook him, he lifted the guitar above his head and smashed it into his reflection.
     

CHAPTER 3
    Sun streaming through his bedroom window stirred Jake from his restless sleep. He shaded his eyes from the unwelcome intrusion and rolled his neck, trying to stop the throbbing that had begun creeping up from his shoulders. Tangled in his sheets, he pulled a pillow over his head and closed his eyes, not quite ready to face the day. He had almost forgotten what he’d done the night before. It wasn’t until he finally decided to pull himself out of his bed and walk over to the dresser that he stepped on a piece of glass and remembered.
    “Son of a bitch.” He yanked a piece of mirror from his heel. Realization dawned as he looked around—he had, once again, let memories control him. For once he’d just like to be able to think about the past without feeling like he was going mad.
    He surveyed the damage. The shattered mirror could be replaced, but the destroyed guitar kicked him in the gut. He fought the pain that threatened to overtake him again and refused to allow it to weaken him as it had last night. Instead, he carefully walked across his bedroom to the bathroom and took a shower. He needed habit to dictate his days or he knew he would lose it. It was important to