by Andria Large
Warwick and I go back to our hotel room, where I flop down on the bed with a big sigh. “What a day. That was fantastic, Warwick. Thank you for bringing me.”
“You’re welcome, mate,” he murmurs and sits down at the head of the bed.
There he goes calling me “mate” again. I thought earlier was just a fluke, but I guess not. He’s been calling me “love,” but now he’s back to “mate,” which is what he used to call me when we first met. Not gonna lie, it hurts. Can’t say that I blame him. After what I said earlier, he’s trying to put distance between us.
I roll onto my stomach, then push up onto my hands and knees. Warwick watches me out of the corner of his eye as I crawl over to him. I see his blue eyes darken with lust when I stop between his legs, my hands on either side of his hips. He may want to distance himself emotionally, but he won’t distance himself physically.
I lean in and kiss his neck. He tilts his head, giving me better access. He moans breathily, his hands finding the hem of my T-shirt. He pulls it up and over my head before tossing it away. I sit back on my heels and do the same to him. I may not know what’s going to happen next week when Warwick has to go home, but I do know I’m in love with him, and I’m going to show him that tonight.
Chapter FOURTEEN
WARWICK
A FAINT buzzing pulls me from my sleep. Rolling over, I grab my phone from the nightstand. I see it’s a text from Diandra. It’s just a silly meme about missing me. I miss her too. I’m ready to go home and get back to work. I miss that too. The month here seems to be never-ending, even though I know we only have about a week left.
I glance at the time—it’s six thirty in the morning. I’m wide-awake now, but it’s too early to wake Jack, so I’m going to head down to the hotel gym and get in a workout. Maybe work off some of this stress.
I get ready as quietly as I can, then head to the gym. It’s fairly empty, with only a couple of other people in there working out. I go over to the wall with the dumbbells and grab a bench. I think it’s going to be a chest and triceps day. Once I’m done lifting, I hop on one of the treadmills to run a couple of miles.
My entire workout takes about an hour and a half. I’ll bet Jack is still asleep when I get back to the room. I open the door to the room as quietly as I can, and yep, I was right—he’s still sleeping. I take a shower and get dressed. Jack rouses just as I pull my shirt over my head.
“Hey,” he murmurs groggily.
“Morning, sunshine.”
“How long have you been up?”
“Well, long enough I already went to the gym and took a shower,” I reply with a small smile.
“Oh. Wow. Okay, then.”
“Do you want to get some breakfast, then head out to see a couple more things before we go back to Birmingham?”
Jack roughly rubs his handsome face, then rakes his hands through his hair. “Yes. I’m getting up.”
I watch as Jack sits up, yawns, and stretches his arms above his head. He whips the sheet off his legs, exposing his nakedness to me. He shoves to his feet, his hard cock jutting out from between his legs. Fucking hell.
“I’m gonna hop in the shower,” he mutters absentmindedly and heads for the bathroom.
“Okay,” I croak.
The man has a beautiful body and the perfect cock. I ogle his arse as it disappears into the bathroom. I really hope one day he’ll let me fuck that sexy arse of his.
I sit at the little table in the corner while I wait for Jack to get ready, and I check my emails on my phone. While I’m doing that, a text comes through, so I look to see who it’s from. An unknown number. Dread forms in the pit of my stomach. I don’t usually get texts from unknown numbers.
Do you really think you can keep me from him?
I bite out a curse and debate whether I should text back or not. Fuck it.
You stay the fuck away from him.
No. He’s mine.
No, he’s not. I better not see your face anywhere near us.
What are you gonna do about it?
Anger makes my body flush and my muscles tighten. I would love to get my hands on this arsehole, give him a taste of his own medicine.
Try me and find out, tough guy.
He doesn’t respond to that, which I’m happy about. Maybe he got the hint. Probably not.
“Hey, are you okay?” Jack asks in concern, startling me.
I was so lost in what was going on with the texts I didn’t hear the bathroom door open. I fumble my phone and almost drop it. Clutching the phone in my hand, I take a deep breath and try to calm myself. When I glance up at Jack, he’s got a worried look on his face.
“What’s going on?” he asks, his grip tightening on the knot of the towel around his waist. Shit. He knows something is up; I can’t lie to him.
“He texted me,” I tell him stiffly.
Jack’s face screws up with a mixture of confusion and fear. “What?”
“Greg texted me. He’s trying to scare us, Jack.”
Jack drops his arse to the edge of the bed, raking a hand down his face. He looks over at me. “Let me guess—you’re not scared,” he states, a hint of bitterness to his tone.
“Fuck no, I’m not scared of that douchebag,” I scoff.
“Well, I am. I’ve learned firsthand what he can do.”
“Jack, I won’t let anything happen to you,” I assure him.
“Yeah, but you can’t be with me twenty-four seven, Warwick,” Jack snaps.
I open and close my mouth a couple of times as I try to argue, but I got nothing. Jack shakes his head and gets up from the bed to go to his suitcase, where he takes out some clothes. He tosses the towel to the bed, then pulls on his briefs, tan cargo shorts, and royal blue T-shirt.
“I’m telling you, Warwick, as soon as I step foot back in Baltimore, he’s gonna come after me.”
“You don’t know that for sure. He’s just trying to scare you.” God, I hope I’m right.
Jack laughs, but it’s not a happy laugh, more like a dry, bitter one. “Yeah, right.”
“You can’t let fear rule your life, love. You’ll forget how to live that way.” I stand and go to him. Stopping in front of him, I cup his face in my hands. “I’ll do my best to make sure you’re protected. I’ll hire you a bodyguard if I have to.”
Jack rolls his eyes, his lips twitching with amusement. “Shut up,” he huffs.
“What? I’m serious.”
“Get outta here. I’m no celebrity.”
“You don’t have to be a celebrity to need a bodyguard.”
“That just sounds ridiculous.”
“I’d do anything to keep you safe,” I murmur, then lean in to give him a soft kiss on the lips.
Jack’s stomach growling loudly has us smiling against each other’s mouths.
“I guess it’s time for breakfast.” I chuckle.
“Yes, please. I’m starving,” he replies.
JACK
THE RIDE to Birmingham is fairly quiet. We both seem lost in our heads. I made Warwick show me the texts when we were at breakfast. I haven’t told Warwick yet, but it helped solidify my decision to try to stay in England. I still have to work out the details. Greg is waiting for me in Baltimore; he’ll come after me in a heartbeat. Lord knows what his plans are when he gets to me.
I glance at Warwick. How am I going to tell him? He’s going to be devastated. Every time we talk about it, he gets upset. I don’t want to leave him, but I don’t feel like I have much of a choice here. Even though I’m not with Greg anymore, he’s still running my life. It’s fucking ridiculous, but I don’t know how to change that.
It’s late by the time Warwick and I get to his parents’ house. We’re both exhausted and end up going right to bed. I’m actually a little surprised Warwick didn’t decide to sleep in his room and instead snuggled with me in my bed.
The next morning, I wake up before him and go downstairs to make some tea. Coffee isn’t as big over here as tea is. I’ve come t
o enjoy tea a little more than I did before.
I add water to the kettle and place it on the stove. While I’m waiting for that to boil, I sit down at the table and on my phone, I look up local interior designers I can apply to. If I’m going to stay here, then I’ll need to work so I can have money. And I would want my own place too; I’m not going to stay with the Aldridges any longer than I absolutely have to.
The kettle starts to whistle, making me jolt in my seat. Shit, I got really engrossed in what I was reading.
“Why are you looking at local interior designers?” Warwick’s wary voice asks from behind me.
I jump again and whip my head around to look at him. He’s eyeing me suspiciously. “Jesus, Warwick. You scared me.”
“You’re not coming back with me, are you?” he rasps brokenly.
The look on his face makes my heart shatter into a million pieces. I never wanted to hurt him. “I’m sorry, Warwick. I just can’t,” I say, my throat tightening with the emotion bubbling up.
“You mean won’t,” he snaps.
“Warwick, please. Put yourself in my position. What would you do?”
“Not let him win, Jack. That’s what I would do. I’d live my fucking life the way I want,” he grits out angrily.
“You don’t understand! He’ll beat me to death if he gets his hands on me again, Warwick!”
“I won’t let him—”
“You can’t protect me every minute of the day, dammit!” I shout irritably.
He makes an aggravated noise and scrubs his hands over his short hair. I fight the tears that threaten to fall. When his gaze lands on mine, the look in his eyes makes my breath seize in my throat.
“I love you, Jack. I don’t want to go back without you,” he croaks. “I want us to stay together, to be together….”
The tears slip down my cheeks as utter devastation rolls through me. He had to say he loves me, didn’t he? I’ve lost my voice. My mouth is working, but nothing is coming out. What am I supposed to say to that? Of course I love him too, but is that supposed to make me change my mind?
Shaking my head, I whisper, “I can’t.”
Warwick closes his eyes and rolls his lips in. When he opens his eyes, they are swimming with unshed tears. “Guess this is goodbye, then,” he says, his voice rough.
He backs up a few steps before turning and trudging up the stairs. I flinch when he slams his bedroom door shut. I drop my face into my hands. I didn’t want things to end this way. I didn’t want them to end at all, but what else could I do?
Chapter FIFTEEN
WARWICK
IT’S BEEN a long fucking day, but I’ve finally made it home. I drag myself through the front door and drop my bags off to the side; I’ll bring them to my room later. I make my way into the kitchen so I can get a bottle of water from the fridge. Quick footsteps from the hallway have me turning. Diandra appears, and the bewildered look on her face when she sees me makes me smile.
“Warwick? You’re home early,” she says, then looks around the living room and kitchen. “Where’s Jack?”
Jack. His name being spoken out loud makes my heart squeeze painfully. I shake my head. “He’s decided to stay in England.”
She blinks stupidly at me. “What?”
I press my lips together as a lump forms in my throat. I can only nod. As soon as I bolted from the kitchen and locked myself in my room after our little spat, I booked the first flight out of there. There was no way I could stay there with the guy who just shattered my heart. I didn’t even say goodbye to him; I just walked out the door without looking back.
Diandra’s face falls. “Aw, baby. I’m sorry,” she coos and comes to me with open arms.
I let her pull me into a tight hug and take the comfort she’s offering.
“He’s just scared, Warwick. Give him time. He’ll come around.”
I shake my head. “I don’t think so.”
She pulls away and takes me by the shoulders, which is kinda funny-looking since she’s so much shorter than me. “Listen to Diandra, m’kay? That boy loves you.”
“I told him I loved him, but he didn’t say it in return. So maybe you’re wrong this time.”
Diandra gasps in mock outrage. “I am never wrong. You take that back.”
I can’t help the small lopsided grin that pulls at my lips. The girl always knows how to bring a smile to my face.
She gives me a soft smile. “Everything will be okay. I promise.”
I pull her into another hug with a heavy sigh. “I’m glad to be home.”
“Ugh, you have no idea how glad I am to have you home. We can never live apart. I swear, even if we’re married, we have to live together.”
I chuckle. “Sounds like a plan to me.”
After we separate, she claps. “Can I make you something to eat? Maybe my famous shrimp tempura?”
I moan. “That would be fabulous. I’ve missed your cooking so much.”
“Awww, that makes me happy.” She giggles and goes about getting what she needs to cook.
“While you’re doing that, I’m going to take a shower, okay?”
“Sure, sweetie,” she replies.
I smile to myself as I walk through the living room to get to the bathroom. Leave it to Diandra to ease my broken heart a little bit. I take a quick shower, then go to my room to get dressed. As I’m pulling on my clothes, I wonder what Jack is doing. Does he even care that I left? I can’t believe I told him I loved him and all he could say in return was that “he can’t.” He can’t what? He can’t love me back? He can’t come with me? He never did specify. I’m going to assume he meant both.
I’ve been hurt before, but I’ve never felt like this, so raw and exposed. I really put myself out there with Jack and gave him all of me. I’m heartbroken and sick over the whole thing. It’s my own fault, though. I knew better than to get involved with someone so damaged.
A knock on my door brings me out of my thoughts. “Food’s ready, Warwick,” Diandra calls.
“Okay. Be there in a minute.”
I quickly get dressed, then make my way to the kitchen. Diandra sets out a couple of plates filled with food on the breakfast bar. We both sit and enjoy our first meal back together.
That night, we catch up on some of our favorite shows before Diandra has to go to bed because she has to be up early for work tomorrow. I sit on the couch by myself watching TV, dreading the fact that I’m going to be sleeping alone for the first time in a couple of weeks. There will be no Jack in my bed to snuggle with. Makes me not want to go to bed. Maybe I’ll just stay up all night and watch TV. Nah, that’s ridiculous. Be an adult, Warwick, and deal with it.
Eventually I pull up my big boy undies and shut the TV off. I turn out the lights and make my way to my bedroom. I shut myself in and strip out of my clothes. Slipping into the cool sheets, I lie on my back and stare at the ceiling. This fucking sucks.
A FEW days later, I’m back at work. It feels good; plus it keeps my mind off Jack. For the most part, the ER has kept me busy, but it’s the lulls like right now that have my mind wandering.
I’m sitting in the cafeteria, phone in hand, thumb hovering over the Call button with Jack’s number displayed on the screen. What would happen if I hit Call? Will he even answer? What would I say? I could beg him to reconsider, or just see how he’s doing. But what about his answers? What if he says no, and that he’s doing well there? That would crush me.
My pager beeps. I jolt in my seat and exit out of Jack’s number so I don’t accidentally call him. Putting my phone away, I check my pager and see there’s an incoming trauma. Taking a deep cleansing breath, I stand and quickly make my way to the ER.
It’s a motorcycle accident that comes in. Some broken bones and road rash are the extent of the injuries. The guy got extremely lucky. I’ve just finished washing my hands as Cheryl stops next to me.
“How was your vacation?” she asks.
“It was nice,” I reply. “It was good to get away f
or a while. I’m glad to be back, though.”
“How’s Jack doing?”
I internally sigh. I really don’t want to talk about him. “He’s doing really well.”
“That’s great to hear. I was so afraid that boyfriend of his was going to end up killing him,” she murmurs.
“He’s safe now,” I reply softly.
And he is. He’s safe where he’s at. Probably safer than he would be here. The realization hits me square in the face. Cheryl’s right, Jack might have ended up dead had he stayed with Greg or even in the city. Greg had been looking for him—is still looking for him. How could I want Jack to come back here and put himself at risk? Because I was being bloody selfish. What an arsehole I’ve been. Jack made the right decision to stay in England.
“That’s fantastic,” Cheryl says and gives my arm a squeeze before walking away.
I wander aimlessly down the hallway, completely flabbergasted by my lack of understanding and sympathy when it came to Jack’s safety. All I could think about was me and my feelings. Jack must think I’m such a wanker.
The rest of the day is somewhat slow, which is both good and bad. It gives me time to think things over. I’ve come to the conclusion I need to call Jack and apologize. As much as I want him to be with me here in Baltimore, I’d rather he be safe and alive in England.
When my shift ends, I make my way out the door that leads to the back employee parking lot. It’s late, so it’s dark with the only light coming from the poles in the parking lot. As I get closer to my SUV, I notice someone is leaning against it. My heart rate increases. He’s too big to be Jack, but the perfect size to be Greg. Who else would be waiting for me?
The closer I get, the more I can make him out. It’s definitely Greg. Fucking prick. He better not have fucked with my car.
