Amy could see he was beginning to lose his temper.
Jack looked to Amy for the answer. His face was blank as if he was in a state of shock.
“We’ll get it all sorted when the police arrive,” she said.
“It was all lie.” It wasn’t a question. Jack was simply stating a fact. “My father lied.” He looked pointedly at Amy. “You lied.”
Amy felt the weight of guilt crush her. Patrick moved beside her. He put his hand on the small of her back and began rubbing her gently.
“We’ve only done what needed to be done.” Patrick spoke as if he was trying to be conciliatory, but his voice still had a hard edge.
Jack’s eyes narrowed. “And what do I need to do? Perhaps, I should follow through with my father’s plans? I’m his sole heir. I can make life very difficult for you Patrick.”
Patrick’s jaw clenched. “You do what you have to do, just remember: you’re half the man your father was and he couldn’t stop me.”
Jack only smirked, rose and exited the room. Amy braced herself and prepared for the next fight.
9
“I know you don’t mean that.”
Amy had Jack cornered. The dramatic events of the last few days left her feeling beaten, but not broken. Jack’s threat to carry out his father’s plans and destroy Patrick left her feeling more exhausted than afraid.
She was convinced Jack’s threat was insincere. He was hurt, grieving, and now that Hunter was dead, alone to make important decisions involving countless lives and obscene amounts of money.
Amy was sure that his words to Patrick were emotional and reactionary. She refused to give up on the belief that deep down Jack was one of the good guys.
When Amy discovered that Jack was hiding out at Anna Belle’s house, she drove their immediately. Patrick protested, but she had to speak to Jack alone.
She’d waited outside of Anna Belle’s house for hours until she was sure that Jack was home alone. She snuck inside, eager for a confrontation.
When he saw Amy he immediately threw up his hands and said, “It’s done. Don’t even bother. Your boyfriend’s finished.”
He turned and tried to flee the room.
“I know you don’t mean that,” Amy repeated herself, stepping in front of Jack blocking his exit.
Amy found herself chastising him like she was his mother. “We’re not through yet.” She stood in his way, preventing him from leaving.
“We are beyond through, sweetheart.”
He tried to push her aside, but Amy refused to move. “That’s cute. I like it when you call me sweetheart,” Amy said sarcastically.
Jack smirked. “I’m happy I entertain you. Now, if you’ll kindly move out of my way. I have my father’s funeral to plan.”
His words stung. Even though Hunter was corrupt and dangerous he was still Jack’s father. As far as Amy knew, he was good to Jack. It was no wonder Jack hated her.
“I’m not going to pretend that I understand how you feel right now.” Amy felt on the verge of tears. She didn’t want to care about Jack, but she did. She hated to see him suffering, especially since it was partly her own doing.
Her vision blurred as tears filled her eyes. Amy looked down shamefully. “I just wanted…”
What did she want? Peace, for one. Happiness and financial security for Patrick and herself. In the face of everything that had happened the money seemed trivial.
“I don’t want you to hate me.” Her voice faltered, but she managed to get the words out without breaking down.
Jack sighed heavily. “Amy…”
At the sound of her name on his lips she began crying. Sobs wracked her body. She covered her face and moved away from the door. If he wanted to leave she wouldn’t stop him.
Instead of running away, he gently wrapped an arm around her and led her to the end of the bed. As she sat down he handed her a handkerchief from his pocket. Amy rubbed the tears off her cheek. Her face and eyes were red and her mascara was smeared. She knew she looked a mess, but there was nothing she could do. Here she was, warts and all.
It felt oddly comforting to be so naked in front of Jack. If Jack could look at her in this state without judgment, he couldn’t be all bad.
“Amy, I don’t hate you. I wish it was that simple.”
“You should hate me. I lied to you… used you to get at Hunter. But you have to understand, the things Hunter was doing- to me, to Patrick. He threatened me, ran me off the road and tried to kidnap me. Do you know he was planning on getting rid of me when I was no longer of any use to him? He would have done the same with Patrick and as for you… Well, I don’t know how you fit into his plans, but…”
Talking about Hunter made her angry, she was beginning to babble. “I didn’t want anyone to get hurt- including you, especially you,” she added lamely.
“You have a funny way of showing it.”
Amy swallowed hard and looked down at her feet. Tears began to well up in her eyes again.
“Hey, don’t cry.”
Jack sat down on the floor in front of her. He rubbed her leg slowly. It was meant to be comforting, but Amy felt a different emotion burn inside her. His touch aroused her. Her nipples grew hard under her thin blouse.
Guardedly, her hand went to her chest. Again, she felt naked in front of him- only now she felt self-conscious.
She started to rise to her feet. She felt as if she had to flee. The agreement Patrick had reluctantly conceded to, allowed for Amy to sleep with Jack until they had resolved their business issues.
Sleeping with Jack now would be cheating. Of course, Amy thought, their business dealings weren’t really finalized. Jack could still cause a lot of problems for them.
She knew she was rationalizing the situation. She wanted to fuck Jack, but she didn’t want to hurt Patrick. If she could convince herself it was for the greater good, then maybe she wouldn’t feel guilty?
Jack rose in front of her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
Amy only nodded.
“You look like you’re about to pass out. Sit back down.”
Amy obediently followed his instruction.
“Just breathe.”
Jack inhaled deeply and motioned for Amy to do the same. Amy followed suit. He began rubbing her arms as he exhaled slowly.
“Good,” he whispered.
A new look crossed his face. It was a look Amy was familiar with. It was an expression of need and desire. She could tell he wanted to kiss her. Instead, he swallowed hard and looked down.
His hands found their way to her legs. He began caressing her thighs. He moved up and down her legs stopping at her hips.
Amy began to breathe heavily. She felt herself grow wet.
His hands suddenly went down to her lower legs. She was wearing a tight pencil skirt. Foolishly, she’d chosen it earlier with the belief that it look professional, unattractive. But now she was extremely aware of how tightly it accentuated her curves.
Jack began moving his hands slowly up her legs. Goose bumps broke out on her skin. Tiny shivers of anticipation shot through her body. She wanted him, there was no denying it. She couldn’t lie to herself anymore.
Jack’s hands stopped at the hem of her skirt. He looked into her eyes. She knew he was looking for disapproval. He was waiting for her to say no, but she couldn’t.
He never broke eye contact with her as his hands slid up her skirt and gently parted her legs.
Amy gripped the bed as if she was anticipating a great blow.
Jack’s hands caressed the inside of her thigh, excruciatingly close to her vagina. She inched forward on the bed, encouraging him onward.
Something in Jack’s eyes seemed to change, a fire burned behind them. They gleamed brightly with excitement.
Amy’s pulse raced. He began caressing her over her underwear. It was a cruel tease. She wanted him inside her, but he was making her wait.
Amy began to feel hot. She unbuttoned her bl
ouse and let it fall to the floor. Jack watched her undress with hungry eyes.
When he caught sight of her large breasts he began fingering her roughly. Amy arched her back and moaned. She spread her legs invitingly, but Jack lingered. He was playing a game Amy couldn’t follow.
Foreplay was of no interest to her, she wanted him now. She unhooked her bra and began squeezing her breasts. Suddenly Jack was on top of her, pulling at her underwear. He began kissing her neck as he unbuttoned his pants.
Before he entered her, Amy pushed his head down to her breasts. Jack eagerly took her nipple in his mouth and began sucking. Amy wrapped her legs around him and squeezed. She wanted to hold onto the moment forever.
His lips held her firmly as he drained the sweet milk from her body. Amy felt her whole body go slack as Jack emptied one breast and moved on to the next.
She sighed deeply. It was a sound of peace and satisfaction, known to too few people. By the time he slid his cock into her, Amy had already come.
He moved languidly as if under the influence of a drug. His movements were gentle and delicate. Amy could smell the sweetness of her own body on his breath. In that instance Amy knew this was the end. She could never see Jack again after this. Her heart belonged to Patrick.
The sense of urgency that had overwhelmed her now faded to a bittersweet moment of indulgence. Even now as Jack moved gently in and out of her, her mind drifted to her next meeting with Patrick.
She would miss the sex with Jack, there was no doubt of that, but she needed more than just physical gratification. Patrick understood her in a way that no one else ever had. He accepted her, treated her as a partner and wanted to build a future with her. Jack was young and sheltered, sweet, but naïve. In many ways he was still a boy, where Patrick was a man.
“You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?” Jack had finished and moved to her side. Her mind had drifted away.
“We can’t see each other again,” she responded.
Amy avoided directly answering his question. She knew it would upset Jack and she wanted to part on good terms.
“So what was this? Your way of negotiating?”
“What?” Amy was genuinely confused.
“You want me to forget my father’s plans for Patrick’s company, right? So you come here, seduce me, and leave with what you want?”
“Jack, I came here to talk you out of it. What happened here was…” She was at a loss for how to explain it without sounding cheesy. “Look, I don’t want you to hurt Patrick or the people that work for him. The last time we were together you told me that you wanted to do the right thing. This is your chance. I know you’re a good person.” Unlike your father, she thought.
“If you think I came here to fuck you so you’d do the right thing, then just forget it. Do what your father would have done: destroy the company, the lives of the people that work there, Patrick, me- it won’t make you any happier.”
Jack swallowed hard. Amy felt a small twinge of guilt when he looked away. It was like scalding a small child.
“You should do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do, not out of revenge or greed… and so should I. Hunter and your sister threatened me and I acted rashly. I ended up hurting you and I’m sorry. I’ve gone about this the wrong way from the beginning… but I want to end it right.”
Amy rose and dressed.
“I like you, a lot, but this is the end. I love Patrick. If you hurt him, you hurt me too. And if you care about me at all you’ll keep that in mind.”
Amy was starting to ramble. She suddenly wanted to leave. She’d said all she could; it was over. Or, it would have been over had Anna Belle not chosen that moment to throw open the door to Jack’s bedroom.
When they made eye contact, Anna Belle’s face twisted and turned red. She made a sound of disgust and flew at Amy.
Amy didn’t think she just reacted. She raised her fist and smashed it into Anna Belle’s nose, dropping her to the ground.
Jack rose and began to go to Anna Belle’s aid, when he caught Amy’s eye he stopped. He considered for a moment then said, “Go.” His voice was barely a whisper.
Amy was sorry it had come to this, though a part of her was thrilled to give Anna Belle what was coming to her.
“Jack!” Anna Belle screamed in a nasally voice, “Don’t let her get away.”
Ignoring her, Jack gestured for Amy to go. She walked out of the room and never looked back.
~
“I saw your bride-to-be,” Amy said jokingly as she strolled into Patrick’s office. She looked around quickly, leery of any figures lurking in the shadows. Fortunately it was day and the room’s ominous quality was washed out by sunlight.
“Oh?” Patrick had been engrossed by a financial report he was reading, but at the mention of ‘bride’ he looked up. “Are you okay?” He looked her over as if he was searching for battle scars.
“Fine. I don’t think she’ll be bothering us for a while.”
“No. Anna Belle’s not nearly as cunning as her father. Hunter was the real problem.”
“What about Jack?”
Amy immediately regretted asking. Oddly, she didn’t feel guilty about her sexual encounter with Jack, but she didn’t want to talk about it either. That chapter in her life was closed, for good, she hoped.
Patrick watched her closely. Amy had a hard time keeping a secret and Patrick knew her well. She wondered if he guessed what she’d done. With time she was sure she could make him understand her need for closure with Jack but Patrick was prone to jealousy. It would be a slow road to acceptance. For now they had bigger problems.
“He’s just sent over the paperwork,” Patrick said.
“And? What does it say?”
“He’s going to help us climb out of debt- give us enough capital to keep operating until we get back on our feet. He’s also left me in charge.” Patrick swallowed hard as if it pained him to admit this.
“That’s good, right?” It sounded like the best possible solution. Jack wasn’t going to dismantle the company. Everyone they employed would keep their job and Patrick would keep his family’s business.
“Yes.” Patrick said flatly, then returned to his paperwork.
“I don’t understand. Why aren’t you happy?”
“After everything we’ve been through? Everything you’ve had to do? Yes it appears that everything will work out, but at what cost? Meeting me was the worst thing that could have happened to you.”
“Patrick… I’ve never been happier in my life than when I’m with you.” Amy felt embarrassed by the confession. “We’ve both done a lot of things…” Her face grew red. “We just have to accept it and move on together. We can’t build a life on a rocky foundation filled with doubt and suspicions. You do still want to have a life with me?”
“Of course, I just…”
Patrick moved around the front of his desk, placed his hands on her hips and pulled her to him.
“You and me…” he began. He sighed and rested his forehead against hers. “This work-the company, the hard part starts now. As for us… you’ve been here for me again and again. It’s not fair to you.”
Amy couldn’t stand listening to Patrick speak this way. It sounded like he was about to break up with her.
“But things will get better now: Jack’s not his father; Anna Belle is a spoiled brat, but not a threat. Life will get a lot easier. I promise.” Amy was in no position to make promises. She had no idea what the future held, but it felt like the worst of their problems were behind them. “I can’t lose you now.” She hated the desperation in her voice.
“Hey.” Patrick lifted her chin so she would meet his eyes. “Who said anything about losing each other?”
“I just thought…”
Patrick kissed her. He wanted to stop her tears and take away all the painful experiences life had dealt her. His lips were soft, but firm. His hands held her face protectively. Amy leaned into him for support. It was nice to be able to coun
t on someone to hold you.
When their lips parted Amy inhaled deeply. She hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath. The pain was still there, but its sharpness had dulled. Being close to Patrick felt transcendent.
He ran his fingers through her hair, twisting and coiling it before tucking it behind her ear. He traced the soft line of her jaw. His thumb passed over her mouth. It lingered there following the curve of her full lips.
Amy kissed his fingers sweetly. She took the tips of his index and middle fingers into her mouth and sucked gently.
Billion Dollar Milkmaid: The Complete Series Page 10
