House on Fire

Chapter 28

  When Jessie came off the plane from Colorado, it was all I could do to keep my jaw off the floor. Sometime in the last couple months my sister had become a stunning young woman. She had grown an inch and her thin torso now gave way to subtle hips. With her large, dark eyes and thick raven hair braided down her back, she could have stepped right off the cover of Seventeen.

  She saw Dad first and a huge smile flashed across her face, blinding against her bronze skin.

  She ran to him, skipping across the lobby. Dad grabbed her in a great bear hug, lifting her a foot off of the floor. Her arm muscles rippled as she returned Dad’s embrace.

  When she saw me, Jessie squirmed away from Dad, literally leaping into my arms. She crushed herself against me, simultaneously solid and soft. I bent down, burying my face close to her ear, inhaling her familiar scent. After what was probably too long for siblings, we released each other. She held me at arm’s length and looked into my eyes, right into me. The contact was an electric jolt, nearly buckling my knees.

  “Oh my God, Cory. I’ve missed you so bad!”

  “You, too,” was all I could manage, barely able to breathe.

  The whole afternoon I had to consciously force myself not to stare at her. Every time I did look, though, she’d look away and glance at Dad. He didn’t seem to notice, but he did give me what might’ve been a stem look. Maybe I wasn’t as subtle as I was trying to be, or maybe I was just paranoid.

  That night I woke to Jessie’s slender body sliding under my quilt.

  “Oh shit, Jessie – what are you...”

  “Shhh. Be quiet. We can’t wake Dad.”

  My blood flooded with terror and dizzying excitement.

  “You’re not wearing anything!”

  “We don’t need clothes for what I want,” she cooed, hugging herself against my chest. “Do you have condoms?”

  “Um, yeah…Why?”

  “Good point. My shots are up to date. We don’t need them.”

  Every fantasy I’d ever had raced through my mind. Jessie’s scent enveloped me, her lips pressed against mine. Her palm traced a line from my ribs to my thigh and I shuddered right down to my soul.

  “Jessie, I can’t... we can’t anymore...” My need to hold her struggled with my need to stop her. “Dad, he...”

  “I don’t care, Cory. I’ve waited so long...”

  “No. Seriously,” I whispered urgently, trying to push her away. “You can’t be here. You don’t understand.”

  “I do understand. I figured out why you said you were gay. It was sweet of you to try to protect me. I know it’s trouble, Cory, but I don’t care. I need you. I want you right now.”

  “Jessie! No!” I hissed. Oh, my God! I ached for her with my whole being. Maybe I could at least buy some time.

  “Not now. Not here. You have to go!”

  “But...” She looked me in the eyes, confused.

  “It’s way too dangerous. We can talk tomorrow, okay? When we’re alone. I’m serious.”

  It took a minute while she searched my face, finding only desperation. Down the hall, Dad stopped snoring. We froze, neither of us breathing. After a few seconds we heard him start again.

  “You’re right, it’s not safe now,” she whispered. She started to get up, then kissed my lips again. Mine responded against my will. “G’nite Cory, I love you.”

  She stood next to my bed, her lithe, naked form a shadow against the dark walls.

  “G’nite. I love you too… Sis.” I said that on purpose. She clearly caught it, holding my gaze as she slipped silently out of the room.

  Alone again, I strained to hear Dad’s breathing over my pounding heart. I thought of how his radar had caught me so many times before, and I prayed that he’d slept through Jessie’s visit. I trembled as the adrenalin ebbed. Finally my respiration slowed enough that I could hear him, sawing away, regular and deep. Through the heat vent I heard Jessie moan softly. I relaxed a little.

  But only a little. What was I going to tell Jessie tomorrow? I was back to square one. I’d have to lay out the whole thing... the laws, the consequences, and the fact that nothing could happen between us and that nobody could know. How would she take it? Judging by her visit, not very well. She wouldn’t care. She didn’t mind breaking rules – in fact, I think she enjoyed it. How could I protect her without her cooperation?

  Daniel’s words haunted me. I’d have to break it off – it wasn’t her way. Even telling her why was useless. She’d have to believe that it came from me. What could I possibly say to convince her? This was going to be the hardest thing I’d ever done.