His blue eyes sparkled with laughter as Alice, the love of his life, stepped from the small boat into his arms. She was everything he had dreamed his woman would be, petite and feisty with glorious auburn hair and large blue-grey eyes that enthralled him. He knew from the first that she would be his. It had taken Jason two months to get Alice to accompany him to the beach cabin, but then, Jason had an easy charm and a teasing smile that women found difficult to resist and Alice was no exception. He had sleepy bedroom eyes that sent shivers down Alice’s spine. His kisses held a promise of more to come later.
Jason briefly held Alice close to his too thin body, and then secured the boat to the dock. As they walked up the pebbly path to the cabin, Jason’s love for Alice swelled in his heart and his spirit soared. Alice belonged to him and no one else. He would never share her with anyone again. Every time she smiled at another man, it caused him pain and made him furious. Now all the smiles would belong to him. Jason knew Alice did not love him with the same passion but he didn’t care. Possessing her was all he wanted. No, he needed more. Her very spirit had to be his and now he had her, body and soul.
It was a hot summer day, not a cloud in the sky, with a light breeze that made the heat tolerable. Alice took Jason’s hand, pulling him along with her. She wanted to get as far from the beach as possible. She needed the security of the cabin, and Jason filled her thoughts with excitement and yearning. There was something dangerous about Jason that drew her to him. Alice thrived on danger but she didn’t want to let Jason know this. It suited her purpose for him to believe she was sweetness itself. She knew what she wanted and for now, at least, it was Jason. Needing to get away, Alice finally allowed Jason to convince her to go with him to the private beach cabin. Alice was in control of her destiny and Jason was only a way to achieve her hearts desire. She just needed to bide her time.
Jason allowed Alice to lead him toward the cabin. He had planned well and was more than happy with himself. He knew Alice was not nice. That was part of the attraction. He would have been bored with a sweet-tempered woman. It amused him that Alice thought she had him fooled. It was a game with him, to see how far she would go with her act.
After he unlocked the door, Jason swooped Alice up in his arms, and laughing, they entered the large, well furnished room. It was a perfect hide-a-way. No one knew where they were, nor would they be missed if they stayed. Jason gave Alice a long, gentle kiss before she slid out of his arms, appraising the room; Jason was well pleased with what they saw. Bright light poured through the large windows, enhancing the glow of the polished wood floors and the knotty pine panels on the walls. The sofa and chairs were overly large, but then Jason was a tall man. There was a small, cheerful, kitchen area at one end of the room. At the other end was a king size bed, done in a rich mahogany wood. A large fireplace faced the windows and would make for cozy nights.
Alice had led Jason a merry chase but he knew in the end she would be his. As he looked into her blue-grey eyes, the deceit was there to be seen even as hard as she tried to keep it hidden. Even so, he loved her with an all-consuming passion.
They prepared a light meal together and fed each other between kisses and caresses. Jason had never known happiness so complete and there was a moment of sadness when he visualized the final outcome of their union. There could be no other solution, as he knew Alice would betray him. It was her nature, and he swore no other man would have her but him. He did not know Alice harbored her own thoughts of the future, one in which she would be free to be herself, and belong to no man.
The days of summer continued as hot as their lovemaking and they lulled each other into a false sense of well-being and peace. Jason knew the time was near when he would end their love forever, but not yet. He needed a few more days with Alice, making memories to relive later in a future without her.
***
Alice could wait no longer. She had planned this moment carefully as she hid the sharp knife under her pillow. Tonight would end it. At the heighth of their passion she would plunge the knife into Jason’s heart and be free.
Alice had a moment of regret as she truly enjoyed Jason and reveled in his love, but this was something she had to do for herself. She was unprepared for Jason’s hand grabbing hers just as she was making the plunge with the knife. Even so, her momentum broke through his grasp and Jason cried out in pain as the knife sunk into his chest. His hands closed around Alice’s throat and she could not break his hold. This was not how it was suppose to end.
In death they were together forever.