A wolf is a wolf. No matter how well it disguises itself as an innocent little rabbit, one day the mask will come off. If I had known he would grow up to devour me completely, I should have hardened my heart back then and let him fend for himself. We met at the orphanage, and after that, he just stuck to me. Looking at the guy seven years younger than me, I got a headache. Maybe I should just ditch him. I had no reason to sacrifice my whole life for some kid. But Jake, sitting on the couch, seemed to read my mind. His gloomy eyes suddenly turned red. He yanked me close, wrapped his arms around my waist, buried his head in my chest, and started sobbing quietly. “Are you leaving me too?” At fifteen, Jake was already taller than me. His hands behind my waist felt like red-hot iron, burning me all over. “Jake…” This brat even rubbed against my chest a few times. A jolt of electricity shot through me, making my whole body tingle. “Fine, fine! One more mouth to feed. I’ll take care of you for three more years. Once you’re an adult, you’re on your own!” Back then, I was too busy worrying about our future to notice the sly smile on Jake’s face buried in my softness.
“Emily, why aren’t you up yet? Didn’t you say yesterday you had something early today?” Jake was already waking me up first thing in the morning. Half-asleep, I snapped my eyes open the second he opened the door, quickly wrapping myself tight in the blanket, only my head poking out as I gave him an awkward smile. “I’m about to get up. You go out first.” Jake shot me a searching look. My heart was pounding. They say women hit their prime at thirty, and it’s true. I’m thirty now, living with Jake all these years, never finding the right boyfriend. Adults have needs. Last night, I took care of things in bed. At the height of it, my panties had vanished somewhere. Right now, I was completely bare under the covers. Him staring at me like that stirred something strange inside. It hit me suddenly: Jake had grown up. He was a full-grown man. “Why’s your face red? What are you getting up so early for?” Jake’s handsome face got closer and closer. My heart hammered. I gripped the blanket edge tight and closed my eyes. Warmth touched my forehead, breath brushing my face, tickling. I opened my eyes. My gaze landed on his straight nose and thin lips. He was pressing his forehead to mine. “No fever.” He was just checking my temperature. I let out a breath, but a little disappointment crept in too. “I’ve got a blind date. You always used to say you were too young for me to date anyone. Now you’re twenty-three. It’s not too much for me to find someone, right?” Jake’s face, about to pull away, came back. His strong arms braced on either side of my pillow. I watched his Adam’s apple bob. That clean, woody cologne only he wore filled my nose. This position was exactly like the one I’d seen in a video yesterday… Just the thought sent a warm rush straight to my core. Something threatened to spill out. I squeezed my thighs together in shame, avoiding his eyes. After a long pause, his low, husky voice sounded by my ear. “Breakfast is ready.” Jake left my room. I threw off the blanket, panting from the heat. Even after getting dressed, I still couldn’t find those soaked panties from last night. No big deal. Probably stuck in some crevice. They didn’t grow legs and walk out. I did careful makeup, picked a light blue sweater dress that hugged my figure, slipped on sheer nude stockings, and fixed my loose wavy hair. In the mirror, the pretty woman struggled with her necklace. “Jake, help me.” He stepped behind me, pinning me between the sink and his body. His fingers were cool from washing his hands. They brushed my hair aside, grazed my neck, then took the necklace ends from me. The touch made me shiver. “Hold still.” He murmured near my ear, so close that one turn of my head and I could kiss those thin lips… I zoned out watching him in the mirror, focused on fastening the clasp. “Done.” His hands rested on my shoulders. We smiled at our reflection together. We were so close. Leaning against his chest, I felt his strong heartbeat. The boy who once barely reached my height had quietly become a man. Standing together, we looked like a couple in love. Staring at us, I lost myself…
“Miss Emily?” Someone pulled me out of my daydream. The guy across the table looked annoyed. “Sorry, I didn’t sleep well last night. What did you say?” “I said we’re not getting any younger. My mom wants you to marry into our family soon and give her a couple grandsons. Sure, you’re very pretty, Miss Emily, but with your background and age, you’re not likely to find anyone better. Think it over and let me know. I’ve got another date to get to. Bye.” He rambled on, then got up and left. I even paid for his coffee. What a loser. Fuming, I called my best friend. We did spa treatments, caught a movie, had a candlelit dinner. Thinking of that jerk, I snapped a few cute pics and posted on social media: [Thanks babe, heading to the bar next. Such a full, happy day! xoxo~] At the bar, we clinked glasses. She asked my plans. “What plans? Keep dating, I guess. Lately I’ve been desperate. I need a strong, fit guy!” “Strong and fit? Isn’t Jake right there? Only seven years apart. You’ve known him forever—safe choice…” She teased me about Jake, but her words rippled through my calm heart like a stone dropped in a lake. Suddenly I really wanted to see him. I ditched my friend and took a cab home. The house was dark. I tripped over shoes at the entryway and nearly fell, landing in warm, solid arms. Buzzed from drinks, I ran my hands all over Jake. Had he been working out secretly? I felt abs. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven… A low groan escaped him. He caught my wandering hands. His breathing grew heavy in my ear. Maybe my alcohol rubbed off on him, because he gripped my waist and kissed me wildly, like he wanted to swallow me whole. “Jake…” Why did I start this? I raised him! He’s young and hot-blooded. I can’t mess up. With the last of my morals, I pushed him away. But he pinned me against the door, one hand holding both of mine above my head. “Who’s your ‘babe’? Who’d you go to the bar with tonight?” In the dark, I couldn’t see his face, but anger laced his voice. He’d never spoken to me like that. A thought hit me—could Jake actually like me? Alcohol slowed my brain. I didn’t know how to handle us, so I closed my eyes and pretended to pass out. He sighed helplessly, scooped me up gently, and laid me in bed. He didn’t do anything else, but before leaving, he brushed a light kiss on my lips. My eyelids grew heavy. I drifted off and, unsurprisingly, dreamed of Jake. Little Jake always trailed me calling “Sis, sis.” Grown-up Jake only called my name in that deep, sexy voice: “Emily.” When had he stopped calling me sis?
Next morning my head throbbed. Coming out of my room, I saw Jake had breakfast ready on the table. “Up? Eat. All your favorites.” He acted so normal I wondered if last night was just my fantasy. “Our Jake’s so domestic. Some lucky girl’s gonna snag you.” I teased, testing him. He went quiet. Awkwardness filled the air. I sat and sipped oatmeal silently. “Emily, since I’m so great, how about you take me?” My heart jumped. I couldn’t look up, nearly burying my face in the bowl. “What are you saying? I’m seven years older…” “So what?” He cut me off, pulled out the chair beside me, and sat. That nice woody scent filled my nose again. “Emily, I’ve liked you for a long time. If other guys are okay, why not me?” His sudden confession left me flustered and annoyed. His gaze burned too hot, making my cheeks blaze. But I couldn’t accept this yet. We both needed space. I made an excuse about work and fled the house, staying away four whole days. After living together over ten years, Jake knew me. He gave me time, didn’t push. Those four days I went on more dates, thinking a boyfriend would make him back off. But the guys were worse than ever—ugly and full of themselves. Compared to them, I started considering Jake’s offer. At least he was handsome, young, energetic, and could satisfy me. Days were painful with bad dates. Nights were torture. Staying at my friend’s, I heard her and her husband every night through the wall. They tried to keep quiet because of me, but the muffled sounds crawled into my ears anyway. The guilty thrill of listening only made it worse… I couldn’t stay there. I had to go home. To avoid awkwardness, I picked midnight. I crept in like a thief, quietly opening and closing the door. Then a familiar voice hit me. “Oh baby, I love you so much. I’ve wanted to do this to you forever…” Jake sounded pleased yet tormented, mixed with rhythmic heavy breathing that struck my nerves. Heat flooded me. My panties soaked through. My body wanted him, but anger burned hotter. He claimed to like me, yet four days apart and he brought another woman home? Furious, I stormed barefoot to his room. The door was ajar. Through the crack, I saw him. Naked on the bed, right hand stroking himself steadily, left hand holding fabric to his nose, inhaling deep. Eyes closed, brows furrowed, face twisted in an expression I’d never seen. He kissed the cloth. In the dim light, I recognized it. My body grew even wetter. Those were the panties I lost days ago! How did Jake have them? He was… “Ah…” “Emily, I love you…” His voice rose. His hand sped up. A white arc shot through the air. He finished, panting hard, eyes opening. Our gazes locked. I should have left, stopped watching. But my legs stayed rooted. My eyes couldn’t leave his body. First time seeing a grown man’s body in real life—strong, beautiful. I imagined being held by it. Jake grabbed his robe, put it on, opened the door, and stood before me. He towered a full head over me, blocking the light. I looked up at his shadowed face. My heart pounded again. I always knew he was gorgeous. After staring at him so long, how could I settle for the losers out there? Suddenly he pulled me into a tight embrace, bending to rest his head on my shoulder and neck. Hot breath tickled me. I squirmed. He held tighter, like reclaiming lost treasure. I thought I felt wetness on my shoulder. I reached up and rubbed his hair like when he was little. “Jake, I’m home.”
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