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"Ah, fuck!" Jade shouted, standing on the porch. Resigned, he leaned against the railing with his elbows and lowered his head.
He'd been outside Tabitha's house for minutes, trying to work up the courage to knock.
Jade looked around him. The sky had already turned orange and pink, warning that night was coming. "Shit," he muttered under his breath.
Jade buried his face in his hands and let out a loud grunt, then quickly straightened up.
"Okay, man, just do it," he said to himself as he walked up to the door. He hesitated a moment before finally knocking a couple of times, harder than he'd originally planned.
Leaning against the doorframe, he waited and listened for any sound on the other side. Jade didn't hear any movement.
"Great," he said when no one answered. With relief and disappointment mixed on his face, he pushed himself away from the door.
He spun around and started walking away. Just as he reached the first step, the door behind him opened.
"Jade?"
Turning back, he found a surprised Tabitha standing in the doorway.
"Hi," she said.
For a while, silence stretched between them as they simply stared at each other. Jade seemed to be waiting for some kind of response from her, but when it didn't come, he broke the stillness himself.
"Tabitha," he breathed out, moving closer to her, "I... I have to tell you something."
She hesitated, thinking about it for a moment before stepping aside to let him in. "Come in."
Without waiting for her to close the door, Jade walked in quickly and made his way straight to the living room.
"Look... I understand this is all weird and new to you," he began, turning to face her. "I get that. I really do. But you deserve to know something."
"Jade," Tabitha said with a sigh, coming toward him.
"After we finally remembered," Jade went on, speaking faster, "and after everything in the tunnels, and what happened to..." he cut himself off, choosing not to say his name. "After all the shit we've been through together, I need you to know—"
"Jade! I already told you, I'm not—"
"Tabitha, please," he asked, reaching out for her but stopping short of touching her. "You have to let me say this because I might not be able to do it again."
She sighed deeply but stayed quiet.
"I really want you to know that I meant what I said back in the tunnels. You're important to me, Tabitha," he said, letting the words sink in. "Not because of some shit that happened ages ago, but as a person... as a woman," Jade corrected himself fast.
She studied him carefully when he finished speaking. Her expression softened as their eyes met.
"I needed you to know that," Jade added more quietly, finally placing his hands lightly on her shoulders.
A gentle smile spread across her face. "Jade..." Tabitha said softly.
Suddenly, he released her. Already heading toward the front door, he said, "I should go."
"Jade!"
He didn't look back at her, even though he must have heard her footsteps following him. Instead, he grabbed the handle and threw the door open.
"Jade! Wait!" Tabitha caught his arm before he could leave. "It's getting late."
He looked out in front of him. The sun had fully set, bathing the town in a peaceful dusk that felt like the calm before a storm. She was right. Sure enough, in a few minutes monsters would start showing up on the streets.
"I will be fine," he said, though he wasn't sure he could make it in time.
Tabitha tightened her grip on his arm. "You should stay here for the night."
Turning his head, Jade looked at her. He just stared at her for a moment, keeping his hand on the doorknob.
"It's getting late," Tabitha repeated, quieter this time.
"But what about Julie and Ethan... I don't want—"
"Ethan's been with Julie all day. It won't be a problem," she told him.
Tabitha tugged at him gently. "Jade, please."
He glanced at her hand holding his arm, then took one more look at the town ahead, the darkness slowly settling over it.
"Fine!" Jade shut the door with a bang and freed himself from her hold. "But I'm taking the couch," he added, throwing up his hands.
Watching him walk back into the living room, Tabitha whispered, "Okay."
She straightened the talisman hanging on the wall, making sure it was secure. "Okay," she repeated to herself.
Tabitha walked down the stairs carefully enough not to disturb Jade, who was sleeping in the living room. Before making her way to the kitchen, she glanced over at him briefly.
The lamps were still on. He had one forearm draped across his eyes. His cardigan hung over the back of the couch.
Letting out a small sigh, Tabitha stepped away. She picked one of the mugs by the sink and filled it with cold water.
A monster shrieked somewhere in the distance, but she barely paid it any attention anymore.
After just one sip, she heard a sound coming from the living room. She turned to look in that direction.
“Hey,” Tabitha said when she noticed Jade moving and went over to him. “Aren’t you asleep?”
“No,” he mumbled, without taking his hand off his face. “But it seems like I’m not the only one awake.”
She was silent for a while before speaking. “I was thinking about what you told me earlier.”
Jade stirred and pulled his hand from his eyes to look up at her. “Forget about it,” he said quickly. “I shouldn’t—”
“You are important to me too.”
“What?” he asked, frowning. “You can’t just—”
“Jade.” She put the mug down on the coffee table and sat next to him on the couch. “Now you have to let me tell you something.”
He fell silent and focused on her.
“I know what I said back in the barn. I didn’t mean that. I was angry and sad that Jim…” She trailed off with a sigh.
“I know,” Jade whispered, sparing her from having to finish the sentence.
Tabitha nodded and reached for his wrist. “Everything got so confusing when we remembered. And I was too afraid to acknowledge what I was feeling back then.”
She ran her hand over the fabric of his t-shirt, exploring his stomach. “But I acknowledge it right now.”
He glanced down at her palm, then back up at her, questioning.
“You’re important to me, too, Jade. As a man.” Her fingers kept wandering over his body. “Can you feel that?” she whispered.
Jade drew a sharp breath and sat up. When their eyes met, he reached out and took her face in his hands. His thumb brushed gently across her cheek.
“I guess I can,” he murmured.
Without wasting any more time, Tabitha leaned in and eagerly pressed her lips to his. Jade froze only briefly before kissing her back and deepening it. His hand moved to the back of her head, tangling in her hair as their tongues met. They kissed in a way that made it obvious this night wasn't going to end with just a make-out session.
Tabitha reached for the hem of his shirt and tugged it up. Pulling away from her, Jade raised his arms, helping her do what she wanted. The t-shirt landed somewhere on the floor, and they went back to tasting each other.
Right after her hands started exploring the unfamiliar contours of his chest, another screech of monsters rang out outside the window.
Still pressed together, they both turned to look toward the sound, listening closely. It was louder than before, as if it were coming from somewhere closer.
"We should probably go upstairs," Jade said, meeting her eyes again.
"Yeah," she agreed.
Tabitha meant to pull back and stand up, but Jade beat her to it. Effortlessly, he gathered her into his arms and lifted her off the couch. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.
He carried her all the way from the living room up the stairs, ignoring the monsters' screams following them. They were safe inside.
While Jade walked with her across the second floor, Tabitha opened her eyes and glanced toward the room where Julie was with Ethan. The door was closed, no sound coming from inside. They had to be sleeping. That was a relief.
Jade crossed the threshold of her bedroom and hurriedly kicked the door shut behind them. The noise it made was louder than Tabitha would have wanted her kids to hear.
"Jade," she drew back slightly. "Quieter."
"Sorry," he panted, setting her down on the bed.
She watched him as he pulled off his jeans, standing in front of her in nothing but his boxer briefs.
"Jade," she whispered, making him look at her, momentarily unsure.
Tabitha hungrily tugged him down beside her, kissing him with the intensity of a teenage girl who had finally gotten her hands on the boy she liked. Jade wrapped his arms around her, drawing her onto his lap until she straddled him. Her hands cupped his face to deepen the exchange.
He slid his hand under her shirt, as if asking her. Tabitha broke off their kiss. In one fluid motion, she grabbed the fabric and pulled it over her head.
"Jesus, Tabitha," Jade mumbled, his eyes fixed on her bare chest.
He moved his hands to cup her breasts, giving them a light squeeze. His thumbs brushed over her hardened nipples.
"I always thought you were a beautiful woman," he murmured, staring at her chest. "I never got the chance to tell you," he added, just before taking one nipple into his mouth.
"Jade," she moaned softly.
While he sucked, teasing her with his tongue in turns, Tabitha threaded her fingers into his hair.
"Wait, Jade."
Reluctant, he pulled back from her breast and looked up at her. She pushed him with her hands, hard enough to make him fall back against the pillows.
"Taking charge, huh?" he said, caught off guard, watching her slide off her pajama bottoms and underwear together. "I won't complain."
Jade helped her out of her clothes, tossing them onto the floor without a second thought.
Completely naked now, Tabitha reached for his boxer briefs with clear want. Even the dark fabric couldn't hide how ready he was, rock hard. She pulled his underwear down, exposing him in his full glory. Jade followed her every move.
Tabitha took him in her hand, stroking slowly from his balls up to the tip, drawing a deep groan out of him. She lined him up against her entrance.
"Tabitha!" he called out, stopping her before she could go further. "Wait!"
She looked over at him. His chest was rising and falling rapidly, just like her own.
"I don't want you to regret it in the morning," Jade said simply, though the doubt in his voice clashed with the desire burning in his eyes.
They held each other's gaze for a few long seconds.
"I won't regret it."
With a steady and smooth movement, she lowered herself onto him, taking him fully inside her.
"Fuck, Tabitha," Jade gasped, gripping her by the hips.
Sitting on top of him, she took a deep breath, letting herself adjust to his size. Her hands found his chest, grounding herself as she began to move.
"You're perfect," he breathed, hands going back to her breasts.
Riding him rhythmically, Tabitha tipped her head back in pleasure. Jade kept his eyes on her face while she did it.
He squeezed her breast gently. "Jesus, you're perfect."
He reached out and brushed back a loose strand of her long hair that had fallen. In answer, she leaned down and kissed him, surprisingly calm given she was adjusting the angle at the same time.
"I won't last long if you keep doing that," Jade said between kisses. "It's been some time."
"Okay," she whispered. Tabitha straightened up on him and picked up her pace, determined to make him come.
He shifted his hold on her hips to help her along. "Tabitha."
"It's okay." Her voice was breathless. She gripped his stomach tighter.
It took only a few more movements before Jade groaned in release, spilling into her. A louder moan of her own escaped from Tabitha's lips when she felt him come inside her.
Even after he had finished, she continued rocking on him a little longer before finally stopping. He loosened his hold on her slightly, his breathing gradually calming down.
Jade gazed up at her, searching for something in her expression. Not finding what he was looking for, he yelled, "Fuck!" and buried his face in his hands.
"You're not satisfied. We shouldn't have done this," he blurted, his voice muffled. "I shouldn't have stayed here. You're not happy." Despite it all, his defeat was audible.
He lowered his hands from his eyes to get a good look at her.
Tabitha hadn't moved, still straddling him, her gaze fixed on him. She gently brushed the skin of his chest with her thumbs. But she was completely quiet.
"I shouldn't—" he stopped. "Say something," Jade said desperately.
Instead of using words, she leaned in again and kissed him deeply. His hand moved to the back of her head, drawn there by the force of her intensity.
"I want more," she whispered into his lips.
"Are you kidding me?"
"I want more, Jade," she repeated.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pushed himself into a sitting position, keeping their bodies still joined. Circling her wet clit with his thumb, Jade started working her slowly. He swallowed the moan that almost tore from her throat.
Tabitha held onto him harder while he repositioned them, laying her down on her back.
"Let me be in charge now," he breathed against her skin, beginning his thrusts.
The monsters roaming outside let out another screech, but they were both too occupied with each other to notice.
Tabitha moaned, throwing one leg over his hip.
Tabitha was lying on the bed, her eyes fixed blankly on the window. Rays of the rising sun, breaking through a gap in the drawn curtain, softly warmed her naked body. Lying next to her, Jade's rhythmic breathing grazed her arm.
Watching the sun, she felt something in her chest she hadn't experienced since arriving in this place. It hadn't been there when the memories hit her. Not even while Jim was still alive.
Beneath her, the sheets were still damp. The evidence of last night remained between her legs, and she hadn't bothered to wash it away yet.
Did she actually regret it? She couldn't say.
Tabitha turned her head at the feel of Jade's fingertips trailing along her arm.
"So what do we do now?" he asked quietly, taking her hand and intertwining their fingers together.
"I don't know, Jade," she whispered. Without thinking, she tightened her grip.
Tabitha looked away again, back to the window. "I don't know."