Willow's Struggle

Threats

    As I drove to work the next morning, I heard my cellphone ping a few times, but I ignored it for the moment.  As I walked into the café, it pinged again.  I went straight to Savannah's office and pulled the phone out of my purse, only to see that Evan had texted me three times.  I didn't even bother to see what he had to say and shoved the phone back into my purse, then it dinged again.  What the f**k is his deal today, I thought as I pulled my phone back out of my purse.

    When I unlocked the screen again, I noticed it was Evan again.  I sighed as I opened up the message tab and scanned the four vulgar messages.  Instantly getting pissed off, I turned the phone off and shoved it back in my purse.  I huffed as I tied my apron around my waist, then filled it with the necessary supplies that I would need.

    I found Savannah in her usual area by the coffee maker and asked, "Where do you need me today?"

    She flashed me a warm smile as she responded, "Section B, what's wrong with my star?"

    I shrugged before I said, "Oh, you know, typical Evan bullshit.  He has been blowing up my cellphone with vulgar messages the whole way here."

    She scrunched up her nose, then replied, "Don't let that dumbass get you all rattled.  He's not worth another thought."

    I thought about what she said and straightened my back as I proudly responded, "You are right.  He is not worth another thought.  I don't need him or any of his stupid bullshit."  With that thought in mind, I turned on my heel and got started with my work day.  

    We were getting ready for the lunch rush when Jackson showed up for his shift.  "Hey there, cutie," he said as he walked by me, sliding his finger across my shoulders in the process.  I was in the middle of taking an order, so I could only flash him a smile in return.

    Once I had the order taken and sent to the cook, I walked back to the kitchen and was immediately engulfed by Jackson's muscular arms.  As he hugged me, he took a deep breath, then asked, "Are you wearing perfume?"

    I giggled causing him to pull his head back and stare at me.  "I might have sprayed a little," I replied as I shrugged.

    He ducked his head back down to my neck and took a big whiff of the perfume, then moaned a little before he mumbled, "You should wear that one more often.  You smell amazing."

    I giggled again before I replied, "I will keep that in mind, but I need to get back out there."

    He kissed me on the cheek before he let me go.  I darted back out to the lobby to check on my customers.  The rest of my shift went pretty good.  We were steady and I made some good tips, so I was happy.  After I grabbed my purse, I walked over to Jackson and said, "I'm getting out of here.  Will I see you later?"

    He smirked as he said, "Do you want to see me later?"

    "I wouldn't be opposed to the idea," I playfully replied.

    "Can we do whatever I want?" he asked as he winked.

    "I don't know.  I guess that will depend on what you want to do," I responded as I smirked at him.

    He licked his bottom lip before he smiled and said, "I want to kiss you."

    I pecked him on his lips, then replied, "See you later."  Before he had a chance to respond, I spun on my heel and walked out of the kitchen.  I told Savannah bye, then headed home.  I knew Jackson only had a few more hours left until he would be done at work, so I took a quick shower.  I threw on my black sundress after I put my hair in a messy bun.  I didn't bother with any make-up, but I did spray the perfume on myself again.

    I slipped on my black flip flops and grabbed my ukulele before I went to the porch and plopped down on the porch swing.  As I played my ukulele, I thought about how nice it is going to be to play these fun songs while sitting on a beach in front of the vast ocean.  Yep, that's me.  Daydreaming about living somewhere warm along the coastline.  Not that it's not warm where I live right now, but winters can be brutal.

    When I finished the third song, I laid my head back against the porch swing and closed my eyes.  In my mind I was picturing the waves crashing against the shore behind my s*x God of a boyfriend, when I felt a soft set of lips kiss me.  My eyelids fluttered open to reveal the piercing blue eyes of my s*x God and I instantly smiled wider.  He kissed me again before he sat down beside me.  He grabbed my hand as he said, "You look stunning without make-up."

    "What can I say, I have a natural beauty that most girls dream of," I replied conceitedly.

    He chuckled as he brought my hand up to his lips, then placed a soft kiss on it.  He gazed into my eyes as he said, "I'm so glad I moved here and met you."

    I could see the truth in his eyes and it warmed my heart.  I cupped his cheek as I said, "How did I get so lucky?"

    He chuckled again before he admitted, "I'm the one that should be asking you that?"

    "I was getting ready to head back inside.  Are you going to join me," I said as I winked, then stood up.

    He smiled as he said, "If you are going to kiss me in there, then definitely."

    I held my hand out to him and he grabbed ahold of it as he stood up.  We walked into the house, then I pulled him to the stairs.  He followed me to my room and sat on the chair at my sketching table.  I closed my bedroom door, then walked over to my bed.  After I sat down on the edge, I patted the bed beside me as I flashed him a smile.

    Wasting no time, he quickly made his way over to me and sat down where I patted.  He sheepishly smiled at me before he said, "Your bed is so soft."

    I laughed at his choice for a conversation starter before I replied, "Yes, it is very soft."

    He laid back with his hands under his head propping it up slightly.  When I looked back at him, he flashed me a smirk as said, "Come here."

    I smiled at him before I laid the opposite way, resting my head on a pillow.  I had already slipped my flip flops off and as soon as he noticed, he kicked his on shoes off, then repositioned himself so that he was laying beside me.  He rolled to his side and smiled at me as he said, "So, where is my kiss?"

    I playfully pushed him onto his back, then hovered over him for a second before I smashed my lips down onto his.  Instantly his arms wrapped around my sides as he pulled me down onto him.  He licked my bottom lip and I parted my lips granting him entrance.  As his tongue danced with mine, his hands reached down to grasp my ass.  

    When I broke the kiss, he flipped us over and smirked at me before he said, "Now that's what I was hoping for."

    I smiled at him before I replied, "Now what?"

    He smirked at me mischievously before he suddenly started tickling me.  Luckily for me, he only tickled me for a few seconds.  When he stopped, I glared at him as I said, "Never do that again."  Unable to hold my glare any longer, I smiled and laughed.

    He laughed with me before he replied, "I would love to see you squirming under me for a better reason."

    I smirked as I said, "I am sure you would."

    "You have no idea how bad I want to taste and feel you," he huskily said as he winked.

    "So why don't you show me," I quietly replied.

    He stared into my eyes for just a second, before he smiled, then brought his lips to mine and passionately kissed me.  I tangled my fingers in his hair, deepening the kiss until we had to break apart for air.  He moved his lips to my ear and leisurely licked and nibbled on my ear lobe.  He continued to kiss down my neck, then across my collarbone.  

    Every kiss made the butterflies in my stomach go crazy.  I felt the need for him to touch and kiss me everywhere.  He kissed his way back up to my lips before he initiated another passionate kiss between us.  When we broke apart this time, I pushed him back onto his side of the bed and sat up.  Surprised by my sudden action, he sat up and wrapped his arms around me then asked, "What's wrong?"

    I sighed before I responded, "Look, I really like you a lot, and when I am with you, I feel things that I have never felt with anybody else.  I don't want to take things too fast and f**k everything up."

   Jackson kissed my cheek before he said, "We will take things as slow as you want."

    "Thank you for being understanding," I said as I leaned against him.

    He chuckled before he gently pulled me into the crook of his arm as he laid us back on the bed.  I rolled to my side and draped one of my arms and a leg over him.  He grabbed my hand and brought it to his lips, then brushed a few kisses over my knuckles before he laid it back down on his chest.  I glanced up at him and saw he had his eyes closed but was smiling from ear to ear.  He whispered, "I could stay like this all night."

    I moved my hand to his side and gave him a little hug in response.  He chuckled before his wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tight.  We laid there like that for a while before his phone pinged.  He sighed then said, "That's probably my brother.  He gets worried when I don't let him know if I am going to be out late."

    I reluctantly sat up and threw my legs over the side of the bed.  He did the same, then reached over my lap and grabbed his phone from my nightstand we where had both set our phones.  I grabbed mine and turned it back on for the first time since I've been home.  Immediately it pinged about ten times in a row.  As soon as I seen Evan's name pop up, I sighed, then tossed the phone behind me and looked down at my floor.

    Jackson who had not missed a single one of my actions, quickly grabbed the phone and pulled up the messages.  I looked over at him and watched his eyes scan over the message.  His jaw clenched as his lips formed a scowl, then twitched a few times.  His eyes were narrowed as he continued to read more of the ridiculous messages.  

    When he was finished reading the messages, he turned my phone back off and leaned over me to set it back on the nightstand.  He grabbed my face and looked me straight in the eyes as he said, "I am not leaving you and your mom here alone.  If it makes you more comfortable, I will sleep on the couch downstairs."

    I narrowed my eyes, then asked, "What the f**k did Evan say in those damn messages?"

    "Nothing good and I don't trust that guy," he deadpanned, then in a softer tone said, "Please, let me stay and make sure he doesn't try to act on his threats."

    Threats? I thought to myself.  Oh, hell no.  He did not.  I grabbed my phone and turned it back on.  Jackson sighed as he ran his hand through his hair.  As soon as it was booted back up, I opened Evan's message tab and immediately saw several different threats.  I dropped the phone and ran to the bathroom, because I knew I was going to puke.  As my stomach revolted, Jackson held the loose hairs that had fell out of my bun.  

    After I rinsed my mouth and brushed my teeth, I walked back to my bed and plopped down.  I looked over at Jackson as I thought about my mom.  I jumped off of my bed and sprinted to my mom's room.  As I barged into her room in a panic, she dropped the book she had been reading and looked at me with a worried expression as she asked, "What's wrong, honey?"

    "I just turned my phone on and there were threats from Evan and I had to make sure you were okay," I rushed breathlessly.  

    She jumped off of her bed and engulfed me in her arms.   I hugged her back as I sniffled a little.  She pulled back and stared in my eyes, as she said, "Honey, that little piece of s**t is not going to do anything to me.  I keep a taser and a gun in my purse.  Don't forget that."

    I smiled at her as I said, "Okay, momma, I will try not to forget that.  Jackson will be staying the night in case Evan tries anything."

    "Okay, honey, don't have too much fun," she said as she winked at me.  

    I chuckled as I turned to leave the room.  Jackson was leaning on the doorframe smiling at me.  I left my mom's room and pulled her door shut, making Jackson have to move from the doorframe.  I grabbed his hand and headed to the stairs.  As we walked down I asked, "Will you help me check the doors and windows to make sure they are all locked?"

    "Of course cutie,," he replied.  We walked around the house together and checked every single window and both of the doors.  When we were finished, he smiled at me as he asked, "Where am I sleeping?"

    I smirked at him, then asked, "Where do you think?"

    "The couch," he deadpanned.

    I giggled as I walked over to him, then kissed him on the cheek before I replied, "No you aren't."  I grabbed his hand and led him back to my room.  After I shut the door, I said, "I'll be right back," then walked into my closet and changed into a pair of pajamas.  When I exited the closet, Jackson was sitting on the edge of the bed, still fully clothed.  I eyed him before I said, "You might as well get comfortable.  I don't expect you to sleep like that."

    He grinned at me as he kicked his shoes off.  He stood up from the bed and stripped off his pants and shirt.  He climbed onto the bed and laid down.  I laid down beside him and pulled the covers over us.  He pulled me over to him, so that I was laying in the crook of his arm like earlier.  He gently pulled the scrunchy out of my hair and played with my curls as he said, "Goodnight, cutie."

    I smiled and replied, "Goodnight, Jackson."  We cuddled for a little while before we both drifted to sleep.