Today's Promises (Promises #2)(39)

I know exactly what Jaynie wants, what she craves. Near the end of our time in this godforsaken place, when life started to turn really bad, we’d sneak up to this secret spot to be alone. And once we were by ourselves, we found solace in becoming one. We felt like we were dead inside, but coming here and making love made us feel alive.

She whispers, “Please, Flynn, give me back my life.”

I lean down and touch my lips to hers, soft nipping kisses and then, more urgently. I nudge her mouth open, allowing our tongues to touch. Those deep kisses make me hard in no time, and I hoist Jaynie up so she can wrap her legs around me.

With my hands in her hair and our lips locked, I back her toward the copse of pines where we’ve shared all of our secrets and every inch of our bodies so many times before.

When I lay her back on a thick bed of soft pine needles, we finally break apart. Both of us are panting, and Jaynie is frantically pushing her leggings down over her feet. She digs her heels in the ground and slips off her sneakers, and then I toss everything off to the side.

Bare from the waist down, Jaynie spreads her legs and shows herself to me. “Flynn, look how much I want you.”

I groan, because God, does she ever. All wet and pink and… “Shit. I’m right there with you, baby.”

I shimmy out of my jeans and boxers, my rock-hard want for her springing free. Slowly, I lower my body to hers and with one shift, I’m home.

“Jaynie… God, Jaynie.”

I want to go slowly, but I can’t. She can’t either. Urgency and the need to find healing to reaffirm this life we share overtake us.

For each frenzied thrust I give her, she rises to meet me. Her hands ply at my ass, urging me to go faster. I do, and soon her cries of pleasure are echoing off the tall pines as they watch us engage in a dance as old as time.

This is what Jaynie wants, and this is what she needs. She whispers those exact words to me, over and over. Maybe I need this too, this act of love that feels like we’re confronting everything that’s been holding us back from moving on.

This is so much more than what it appears.

This is the two of us going back to where we were.

This is us pulling ourselves out of the past, a past that was at once dangerous and full of death.

And this is us grasping at a future, one that is safe and full of life.





Jaynie



I’m on a high when Flynn and I leave the forest. I don’t even care that we spent too much time in our secret spot and now the light of the day is dying. I needed that closure and healing, the kind only Flynn could ever give me, and only in our place. I needed it before we move on to the real reason why we’ve come to the Lowry property.

Despite what’s ahead of us—searching for evidence of a young girl’s demise—I feel better than when we first arrived. Now, I have the fortitude to do what we must. And even if this newfound feeling lasts for only a few hours, I know in my heart that healing is finally within my grasp.

We won’t always need to come to the forest to find peace. Flynn is the key, and I can be with him here, or anywhere, and find that love. It was always here, and within me; I just needed to awaken it.

Hand in hand, Flynn and I emerge from the woods and make our way down through the fields. I can’t help but glance over at my ruffled-hair boy and smile. His hair is mussed because of our time in the forest. It reminds me of old times, and better yet, the happier times ahead.

“You look like you’re feeling better,” Flynn remarks, one brow raised when he catches me staring.

“Hmm, I wonder why that is?” I squeeze his hand and add, “Seriously, though, Flynn. I know now that I’m going to be all right.”

“I’ve always known you’d be fine,” he replies. “I’ve always believed in your strength.”

“Thanks, Flynn.”

I feel so good, confident even, but some of that positivity dissipates when we reach the barn where we used to toil away the days. Memories of starving and being forced to work for hours on end slow me to a skidding stop in front of the big, sliding wooden doors, which now stand ajar and askew.

Despite my hesitation, I know I can do this.

Sighing, I nod to the wreckage in the dark, cavernous recesses of the barn. “I guess vandals got to this place too.”

“Yeah,” Flynn replies. “Remember how I told you that after my first trip back here.”

“Yeah, I remember now.” I nod, recalling how Flynn also shared with me how he kicked the shit out of one of the old work tables, simply to relieve all the stress coming back had brought him.

“I kind of feel like kicking something myself right now,” I say under my breath, too low, by choice, for Flynn to hear.

“Hey, you know what…?” He lets go of my hand and turns to me. “Maybe we should come back another day. I think it’s too dark now to see much of anything, and I sure as hell don’t want you to trip over something and get hurt.” Softly, he adds, “I think this place has caused you more than enough pain.”

“There’s no need to be concerned about my mental health,” I counter, giving voice to what he’s really trying to convey.

“It is something to consider, Jaynie.”

He has my best interests at heart, but I decided when we were up in our secret spot, and when we were out in that lot off the ramp, that I’m no longer going to run and hide.