My Soul Keeper by Ker Dukey Page B

onto my neck. I rest my head back, giving him better access. His hand flutters down between my breasts and leaves me gasping for air.
    “Simone?”
    I bring my head forward. Shamar’s hands have stilled and he’s looking over my shoulder. I turn to see Liam and Leah standing there. Liam’s face is confused and worried; Leah has a smile spread all the way to her eyes.
    “Wow, that was hot, girl,” she hums. Shamar lifts me gently from his lap.
    “Hey,” I say, looking to the grass, embarrassed.
    Shamar’s hand lifts my chin. “Never look down, Simone.” He plants a gentle kiss on my lips and leaves.
    Liam raises his eyebrow; his eyes stalk Shamar’s back across the field. “What’s going on? I was worried about you so I went and got Leah.”
    “Thank you. I need to go. I have to see Jacob.”
    I walk away, hearing Leah’s laughter. I smile and bite my lip. God, Shamar can kiss.
    I see Jacob exiting the hospital as I arrive; his dad is pushing him in a wheelchair.
    “Am I late?” I ask, checking my watch and seeing it’s only twelve.
    “Got out early. I tried your phone but it went to voice mail.”
    “Oh, battery must have died.”
    He smiles at me. “I’m glad you came.”
    He looks over his shoulder at his dad, who pats his shoulder and tell us he needs to bring Jacob’s luggage down.
    “So Dad’s taking me straight from here. I don’t think they want me to see all my football stuff in my room.” The strain in his voice knots my stomach.
    “I have faith in you. You will get better and play again.”
    “Will you come see me at the lake over break?”
    I push my hands into my jeans pockets and tilt back on my heels. “Sure, that would be nice. Maybe Liam and Leah could come too.”
    Silence falls between us. I bend down and wrap my arms around his neck. “I’ll miss you. I’ll call you.”
    He squeezes me tight. “You better charge that phone.”
    I kiss him on the cheek. He grabs my face and pulls me to his lips. I don’t feel anything like what I feel with Shamar, but I let him press harder to my lips and I smile as I pull away.
    “See you, Jacob.” It feels so final and I know he feels it too, as he watches me walk to my car.

    I feel eyes on me as I walk into my house, yet the house is empty. Walking to the fridge, I drop my purse on the counter and see a note on the fridge door from Mom. She had an appointment, so she suggested I help myself to pasta she made earlier.
    I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and go to the stove. Lifting the lid, I flinch from the assault on my nostrils; Mom never was one for cooking. I replace the lid, grab a few cookies instead and head upstairs. My eyelids feel heavy as soon as I lay on my bed.
    I open my eyes to a silhouette filling the doorframe; my breathing becomes hitched as Lucas steps forward. It’s dark in my room except for the moonlight that shines through the window and dances over his skin, lighting his face. He lays himself over me and my body responds to him; I don’t know why. The heat floods my body as his lips touch my neck. I feel it all the way down to my core. I am on fire with lust.
    He rips open my top, making me gasp; his lips roam my skin that’s bared to him. My body rises and falls but my mind starts to think of Shamar and I realise I only want him to touch me. I feel his calming presence fill the air around me.
    “No, get off me, now!” I scream. Lucas looks at me, confused, and then glances around my room. “Get off,” I shout again. My eyes shoot open. I’m still dressed, on my bed. Lucas is nowhere. My body is dampened with sweat and I can still feel myself shaking. I rush for the shower and let the water wash away the dream.

Watching Simone suffer with a nightmare and not being able to hold her was unbearable; her screams nearly broke me. Her body looked like it was in pleasure, not pain, until she started screaming.
    I stay with her as she comes from the shower and goes to lie on her mom’s bed next to her