Memories on the Ozarks (Close)

[TabascoKV]

His words brought a new wave of emotion. She would not have imagined that she had so many tears within her, but it seemed like she could not turn off the faucet of overwhelming tears. The feather light touch was soothing, and the earnest look in his eyes only furthered her trust in him. She reached up and covered his hand with hers, her eyes closing as his lips grazed her forehead.

“I’m so scared that he’s going to find me.” This was the first time in six years she had spoken to somebody else about her relationship with Nick. The first time he’d ever hit her, she’d immediately told her father, and he had just written her off.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

He decided right then and there, because of the situation last night and what they were facing right now; neither one of them would be going in to work today. He’d manage the farm over the phone. They would do without him for a day; they’ve done it before – not very often, but often enough to know that if they took advantage of him not being there, he’d knock their heads good.

Dan put on the coffee pot and when it was finished, poured them a couple cups. “You really should have started making some changes around here when you moved in. First off. You gotta talk to people, hon.”

His mind raced as he made mental checklists of things to do. “Now that you’ve finally made that step, we can move on protection. We can get things set up so that if he shows up here; he’ll have plenty to reckon with. I think I’m gonna move in up here with you until you feel safe again. So if you have comp’ny comin over, they will just have to bunk down at my place.” His voice was firm as if his mind was already made up on the matter.

He suddenly realized that that might come across as being just like her ex – a controlling, demanding, and very disturbed freak. So, he quickly added a “so long as it’s ok with you.” But in his mind if she didn’t allow him to stay up at the main house, he would set up a solid twenty-four hour a day rotating watch outside the house.

"For now, though, I want you to tell me about it. And don't worry none," he nodded emphasizing what he said, "Anything you have to tell me will stay right here between us, unless you say otherwise."

 

[TabascoKV]

As he made the coffee, just moved on weak legs and sat down at the table. Her eyes followed him around the kitchen, amazed that he hadn’t written her off as some weak, unworthy being.

“What were you apologizing for when I opened the door?” She had just remembered his apology before he’d kissed her, and it occurred to her that she didn’t know what he was apologizing for. Taking the warm cup from him, she sipped the coffee.

Her eyes dropped to the table as he lightly chastised her about keeping her silence. It had become a normal part of her life, not talking about it. The burden was hers to carry, and she had not come to the conclusion that he wouldn’t find her here. Until she felt assured that he had stopped looking, or at least had given up on the farm, Becca needed to hold people at a distance. It made it easier when she had to pack up and leave without any warning. Her eyes lifted to his, the pain of all those years evident in her gaze.

“I met him my first year in college. He seemed like the perfect man. He was always bringing me flowers or gifts, cooking for me. He went to Harvard the year before I did, so we spent a year apart. When I got to Harvard, we picked up where we’d left off. After he graduated he got a job working for the biggest defense attorney in the state, and he was good at what he did. It didn’t occur to me that he was so good because he had no sense of morals or any scruples.” She took another drink of her coffee in an attempt to warm the coldness that was pressing down inside of her.

“For four years, we had to the perfect relationship. When I moved in with him, it only took two months for me to start to see the real him. We had gone out with some friends to a local club, and one of his friends asked me to dance. Nick said he was okay with it, and it was completely innocent. When we got home that night, he gave me the scar on my arm with a beer bottle he busted against the table.” Her voice had grown thick and she felt like she was reliving every moment of it.

“I called my dad, but he said Nick didn’t mean anything by it.”Shrugging, she drank her coffee. “He and Nick both made me feel like I was the one who had something wrong with me. And, after awhile, I believed it. Which is why I stayed with him for two more years after that. I can remember every fight we had, every time he hit me, or pushed me, or forced me into bed.” Her eyes closed, and she was thankful that she didn’t have any more tears to shed.

“That was the worst part of it.” Her eyes reopened and a small, sarcastic smile crossed her face. “He would hurt me, and then make me have sex with him. It was his way of reminding that he was in control of me.”

“We were working our first case against each other. I’ll never forget the irony on that case. A man had battered his wife so severely she had a permanent limp and she had been left at a low functioning level. The wife wanted a divorce and an injuction, and the husband wanted neither. I won my case, and I already knew that when I got home, I was in for it. When I walked in the door that night, he was waiting for me. That is the one time I don’t remember everything that happened. I remember him throwing me onto the dining room table, and I remember him throwing a chair at me at some point. The next thing I knew I was waking up, in bed, and he had left for work. I got out of bed, packed my stuff, and went to the hospital. They wanted to admit me, but I wouldn’t let them. I have scars on my back, and I don’t have a clue what they came from. I also had a concussion and three broken ribs. My whole body felt bruised.” She stopped talking. That was all she could get out, and she was proud of herself, because she felt like she’d told him a lot. Certainly more than she had ever told anybody else.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Dan sniffed hard and his eyes filled with tears. This was all hitting way too close to home for him. He had watched as his father laid waste to his mother on countless times. That was part of the reason why he had such a troubled youth. Dan could see it in his mother's eyes that she was once a strong and proud woman that had the life beaten out of her. When he was fifteen, he finally stood up to his father. The fight hadn’t lasted long; Dan’s father was a master at family ass kickings.

His father had figured something out that day, however; it wouldn’t be too much longer until Dan started to put on muscle and then the fights might be a little harder to win. As it was, Dan’s father had whipped out an axe handle and broken Dan’s collar bone. The doctors said that Dan got lucky; a few inches further up and it would have most likely broken his neck instead.

The weeks that followed had Dan pleaded with his mother. “But, ma, you can leave. You don’t have to take it anymore. I’ll work. I’ll provide. I promise.” He could see her trying to envision a life without his father, but in the end, she was too far gone. She didn’t have the will to carry on, so she stayed.

Dan tried to keep tabs on her and was semi-successful. Whenever his father would find out that he had called, she’d catch another ‘lesson’ in behavior management. It was after one such call that she was taught the final lesson. Dan blamed himself for his mother's death.

Dan’s father was sentenced to ten years in state prison for second degree murder/manslaughter. He was paroled in five. The reason? A successful completion of an anger management program and prison over-population.


“Darlin, that’s called rape in my book. I don’t care if you are married or just casually dating.” Dan was feeling disgusted. He was disgusted and ashamed. He hated it when other men made him look bad, just for being man. If he shows his ass here, I’ll personally make sure he don’t ever see the inside of a court room.

Dan wasn’t feeling comfortable sitting in the kitchen so he asked if she would move to the living room with him. Once they were settled on the couch, he held her hand as he began to ask for details on what he looked like. If she had any pictures, full name and anything else that he could use to identify him. “I’d also like to bring Matt in on this. He has his issues, for sure, but I still trust him to have my back – and yours, if it comes down to it.”

He grabbed a phone book and a pad of paper and began making notes on things he needed to have done today. Dan planned on turning the main house into a fortress. “Hey, here’s a question for ya. You know how to use a gun?” His eyebrow arched quizzically.

 

[TabascoKV]

“You didn’t answer my question. Why were you apologizing when I opened the door?” She reproached the subject from earlier.

Her insides churned at that word, and she forced that sick feeling down in her stomach. This was too much for one day, and the fact that she hadn’t slept was only making it more difficult. Her head ached and her body felt drained. She didn’t have any pictures, but it would be easy enough to get one off the internet. When he began to flip through the phone book, she laid down on the couch, curling up. Before she knew it, her eyes were closing as he listened to him talk.

“I haven’t used a gun since I shot a deer when I was ten, and swore I’d never pick up another gun. I have Matt’s pistol in my truck. I didn’t want to leave it with him.” Her voice came out softly as she spoke, her exhaustion beginning to overwhelm her body. It didn’t occur to her that he probably didn’t have a clue as to why she would have Matt’s gun.

“Dan, what happened with you and Sheila last night?” The question was random, but she had to know. The way that woman had been staring at Dan had clearly told a story about what she wanted.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Dan stopped looking through the telephone book and gently lifted her head. He set it back on his lap and started rubbing her head. “I was apologizing for the way I acted over the past week. I was a real ass.” He shook his head. “I guess I really didn’t know how to deal with… anything. And Sheila… Well, with Sheila, you see… she and I had a sort of history. Ancient history you might say. Prior to Matt history.”

“Nothin’ happened. I think she was lookin’ for some… uh… revenge sex. About the time she saw Matt dancin with you… It was all she wrote. Matt had told her about the kiss, I guess. Mentioned making amends and then he went and danced with you. He could have picked any other woman on the dance floor and she wouldn’t have tripped out.” He chuckled a little. “Those two. They sure have seen some rough spots, but I think they were made for each other.”

 

[TabascoKV]

“I know about the two of you. Matt told me.” She felt a tinge of contentment when he began running his fingers through her hair. It was the simplest of touches, but her body as a whole began to relax. “Rough spots is an understatement. She’s been cheating on him. He caught her a year ago for the first time. Matt doesn’t deserve that.” It felt awkward knowing that Matt had disclosed their kiss to Sheila.

“Dan, is there anybody in West Plains you haven’t slept with? Other than me?” It seemed like every time she turned around, there was an ex-lover batting her eyes in his direction. That did little to reassure her self esteem.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

“Oh, he told you did he?” A grin played at his lips, “Seems ol’ Matt been tellin a lot of things…” Dan laughed aloud. “Did he also tell you that they had an open arrangement at the time? Or that he, himself had been 'caught' the week prior with the waitress down at the Sugar Shack? Or what about the threesome they had with the same farm hand Sheila bedded down with the night before she got caught?”

Dan knew Matt and Sheila well. Not that well, he thought and chuckled again. "One thing you should know, Matt doesn't lie, but he may not offer up the entire truth all the time. It's just the way he has always been. Matt was just pissed that I chose to get even with him by dancin with his ol' lady."

“As far as anyone that I haven’t slept with…” Dan fell quiet for a moment, to make it seem as if he was thinking about the topic before he continued, “There’s the old widow, but in my defense she was near sixty when I was still seventeen.”

He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Hon, let me tell you this. I may be a bit… umm… experienced, but I have never cheated on any of them. Ever. You can ask around, if they are honest, they’ll all tell the same story.”

 

[TabascoKV]

She hated to think of Matt being so lewd, and she couldn’t help but feel a little played. Her eyebrows furrowed together and she opened her eyes, looking at him. Sitting up, she turned to face him.

“What were you trying to get even for?” That same light anger she’d felt most often around Dan was beginning to crop back up. “I can’t believe that you would play that game, knowing how fragile he was with this whole situation.”

 

[pa1ndru1d]

This is no game… he thought to himself.

“Becca…” he began, “Just before he kissed you, he told me how much he loved his daughter and his wife. He spoke of how much he wanted his family back.” The truth was that Dan had been hurt by his friend’s actions but he wasn’t sure how to express that to her.

“I felt like I was the one that had been played. And it made no sense to me, why would he lie to me about it?” How could he make a move on you when I feel the way I do?

 

[TabascoKV]

“You just told me he wouldn’t lie.” She moved her legs around so that her feet were on the floor. “Did he also tell you that he hadn’t had sex with his wife in a year?” Why she was defending Matt so adamantly, she didn’t know. Shaking her head, there was an exhausted fire in her eyes. “Do you know what I went through last night because of your actions? Matt tried to kill himself, and I stupidly couldn’t walk away. He was drunk and waving his gun around ready to blow his brains out because he was sure that you and Shelia were spending the night together.” Her voice had risen as she spoke and became heated. Becca left out the fingerprint bruises now on her upper arm from when he had tried to make her leave.

“Yeah, they’ve both screwed up, but he doesn’t need you making it worse for him by acting affectionate towards his wife who clearly wants to jump in bed with you.” Standing up, she left the room and stormed to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Dan cocked an eyebrow at her sudden tirade. “Now wait just a damn minute,” he said as she stormed off, “all I did was dance with the woman. Don’t you dare get all pissy with me just cuz you was kissin on a married man!”

Dan’s voice rose in level the further she got from him. He had just managed to get the last word out when he heard the door slam.

He got up and made sure the doors were all locked before going in to the spare bedroom and slamming the door hard just to one up her.

 

[TabascoKV]

When she stood in the middle of her floor, her chest heaved out of anger and she tried to catch her breath. It took her a moment before his words settled with her, only fusing her resentment more. How could she want to make love to him one minute and strangle him the next? His door slammed, and she turned around throwing the door back open. She didn’t bother to knock before she stomped into his bedroom.

“He kissed me. He initiated it, and yes, I kissed him back for like a second, but then I put an end to it. I’m not the one who’s slept with the majority of the population of the opposite sex.” She was still yelling at him, her face slightly red.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Dan was standing there, having just stripped out of his pants and shirt. His boxers were the only thing left between him and buck nakedness. “He kissed you, you kissed him – all amounts to the same thing… you’re just pissed off cuz he ended up gettin’ you to give up some suck face!”

He wasn’t ashamed of his sexual endeavors any more than he was of his body. “You ever stop to think that maybe the reason I got laid by half the county was because I’m just that damn good? Maybe you’re jus’ jealous that you’re the only one who hasn’t tasted me yet?”

I can't believe the shit that's comin out of my mouth!

 

[TabascoKV]

“You are unbelievable! How can you be so arrogant? I’m not interested in jumping on board the Daniel Collins train.” That wasn’t entirely true, and they both knew it. “I’m not like other women. I don’t throw myself at every good looking man, and I don’t throw myself out there to have a good time. If you’re looking for one of your sluts, then you are barking up the wrong tree.” Turning, she left his room, slamming the door behind her and trying her best to forget the image of him nearly naked. She stood in the hallway for a few seconds trying to decide where she wanted to go.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Damned if that woman doesn’t turn me on. She has a fire in her…

Dan through the door back open, planning on heading back in to her room to continue this heated discussion. He was hot, but it wasn’t from anger.

“If I wanted a slut, don’t you worry none, I have my pick.” His voice was still raised, but it lowered dramatically. Dan was surprised to find her standing outside his door. He looked at her from behind and his heart changed gears. “But I don’t want any of them, what I really want…” Dan gently placed his hands on her shoulders and spun her around to face him, “what I really want, Miss Rebecca, is you.” His voice had taken on a husky sound that he wished he could control.

 

[TabascoKV]

When she heard his voice loudly right behind her, she jumped, wishing she’d simply darted into her room when she had had the chance. Her body tensed as she felt his hands on her shoulders, and she turned reluctantly. The irritation and anger was still in her eyes when she looked at him, her chest tightening as the heat off his body brought a whole new awareness to her body.

“Don’t call me that.” There was still a hint of hostility in her voice when she spoke. Every time she heard him say her full name, it reminded her of Nick.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Dan moved his hands up to the sides of her face, cupping her cheeks. He moved his face in closer to hers. His voice was barely a whisper. “Ok then, what would you have me call you?”

His eyes locked with hers, Dan’s were full of desire. His breathing became heavy and his body felt as if it was on fire. “It’s getting hot in here, Becca.”

 

[TabascoKV]

Becca hated the way her knees became weak and her body seemed to melt underneath his touch. It was feelings like this that had gotten her in trouble the first time around. The anger and enmity was forgotten at the sound of his voice, and her eyes closed as his fingers played on her skin.

“Anything but Rebecca.” It was a struggle to speak, and when she did, she spoke in a whisper. Her eyes opened partially as she met his intense gaze. Swallowing thickly, she nodded at his question, feeling dizzy.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

His lips found hers, working together, and their tongues darted between parted lips. Dan’s left hand moved down to the small of her back; his right hand slid to the nape of her neck. Lips pulling away from lips, he travelled down her neck, his teeth nibbling as he went.

Dan slowly inched forward, his body pressing against hers, forcing her to move backwards until she hit the wood paneling of the hallway. “Becca…” he sighed against her skin, “I want you.”

As bothered as he was, Dan was still in control of himself. He would not do anything unless she said she wanted to do it, regardless of what her body told him.

 

[TabascoKV]

A whimper of desire coursed through her body as he his lips claimed hers and his hands wrapped her into him. Her hands rested against his bare chest, a shiver of excitement making her weak. Gasping as his lips trailed down her neck, her eyes closed in contented passion. She had only ever been with Nickolas Jakobek, and they had not slept together until she’d moved in with him. Their sex had never been considered making love, and she had always been disregarded during it.

Daniel had already evoked more want inside of her than she’d ever felt. His words created a storm inside of her, and she felt like she was walking in a dream.

“Take me to bed, Danny.” Speaking between gasps of air, her words came out a wanton whisper.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Bed? Who needs a bed? The thought came and went just as quickly. Dan’s mouth moved with a frenzied passion. His hands moved to her shirt and unbuttoned the top two buttons. Dan pulled it up over her head and reached a hand behind her back, a quick twist of his fingers and the bra clasp came undone.

Calloused hands worked hardened nipples, Daniel judging his movements by her gasps and moans. He kissed down her neck again, this time following her collarbone down to her shoulder. The hallway was dark, but he made out a series of bruises on her upper arm.

Dan was determined not to allow anything to interrupt this experience for her, or him.

He allowed one hand to drop to her waistline, to the side of her skirt where he unbuttoned and then unzipped it and allowed it to fall to her feet. Dan moaned aloud as his hand brushed between her thighs.

 

[TabascoKV]

He left her little time to feel self-conscious about her body or fret over whether he was comparing her to other women he’d been with. She felt like she was neglecting his excitement, but the sensations he brought to her were so new all she could do was react. Her body arched towards him when his rough hands slid so gently over her skin.

Becca sought out his mouth, kissing him fervently as she hunted his tongue with hers. Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer to her. When she felt his dick against her stomach, a coy smile appeared on her face. She slid one hand down, running her fingers over his chest and down his stomach. Moving shyly, she brushed her hand between his boxers and his skin, wrapping her fingers around him.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Their tongues worked against each other, alternating the mouth they chose to dance in. Dan’s well defined stomach jumped a bit as Becca brushed her fingers against it. He tilted his head back and shuddered as her fingers found his dick.

Dan found himself again and took control, his hands grabbing at the crotch of her panties. With only a little strain, he tugged and the panties came apart. His fingers worked at her clit and pussy while she writhed against the wall.

 

[TabascoKV]

Becca no longer had control of herself, and she felt every nerve in her body on fire. She pulled her hand up and pushed his boxers down. It had been too long since she had felt a man’s body pressed against hers.

“I need you.” Speaking between gasps of air, Becca planted kisses along his collar bone before recapturing his lips in a kiss.