I patted the bed beside me. I needed to feel some comfort after the day I'd had, and even though we were both stressed and on edge, I knew that comfort was one thing I could always count on from Jack.
He lowered himself onto the bed and pulled me into in his arms, my face resting on his chest. I listened to his heartbeat for a while, enjoying the simple silence of the moment.
"Sweetheart, what happened?" Jack asked.
I told him everything, leaving out only some of the more specific insults Donnie had hurled at me. I felt him tense up more and more with every word, and I started rubbing his arms, his back, anywhere I could reach just to try to get him to relax a little bit.
"What about you?" I asked.
Jack was quiet, jaw tight. Finally, he said, "More or less the same thing, I guess. Donnie was an asshole, and I suffered for it. He's the one who's been vandalizing the site and Neil had to let me go to save his skin."
"That's a bit harsh."
He grunted. "I don't blame him. Donnie's vendetta was expensive from the other side."
It wasn't fair. None of this was. The fact that Donnie was still getting to dictate my life, even though we were so over it wasn't funny, made me mad as hell. But what could I do? I couldn't retaliate, not the way I wanted to.
"What are we going to do?" I let the question hang in the air, unsure of whether I expected Jack to respond or not.
"I uh, I got an offer tonight," he murmured. "One fight, win or lose the take is four grand."
I shuffled around in his arms until we were face to face, until I could gaze into the limitless depths of his eyes.
"What did you say?" I asked.
I was trying to be calm, even though it would kill me to hear that he'd already accepted the offer. I could still talk him out of it, but I liked to think he would consider me a little in his day to day decisions.
Jack held my gaze but chewed on the inside of his lip. "I'm considering it. I wish I wasn't, but I am. If I do it, we can finally get out of here, take the four grand plus the little extra we've got and go from there. We wouldn't have to ever hear the name Donnie Beringer again."
I had to admit it sounded tempting. If it were anything other than Jack's health and safety on the line, I would have jumped at the chance to leave now. The thought of anything happening to Jack, however, overwhelmed any and every impulse to take the money.
"There's no future for us if something happens to you," I replied. "Four grand is a lot of money, sure, but I've seen the aftermath of one of these fights. It could be so much worse than that. Plus, there's no saying that one hit in the wrong place isn't going to do irreversible damage. It's too dangerous. I can't risk it. I won't. Please don't do the fight."
He looked at my face, like he was taking it in for the last time, eyes, cheeks, nose. His tender expression was so out of place amongst all the tattoos and muscles, like a daisy among thorn bushes, but it was uniquely Jack. It was an expression reserved for the people he cared about, and I loved that.
I loved him.
The thought popped up from the depths of my mind, where it had obviously been forming for some time now. No wonder I was so frantic not to see him harmed. No wonder it hurt me so much to know that this whole town wanted us apart.
"I won’t do it," he said. "I only wanted to hear what you thought, but I’m not gonna do anything that will upset you." He leaned in for a kiss, feathering his lips against mine.
I sighed and pressed in close to him. He was so hot, feverish almost, and his body was so hard. He tasted like heaven, and I drank deep, letting him pull me so close I wondered how we'd ever peel ourselves apart.
"I love you," I murmured into his lips.
Jack stopped, pulling back enough to look me in the eye. His mouth curved into a half smile that took my breath away.
"I love you too," he said. "So much that it fucking hurts."
When he kissed me again, he kissed me hard.
Chapter 26
Jack
I knew I would have to face everything that happened today sooner or later, but for now, I got to escape. I got to escape into her.
Melissa was my sanctuary, my paradise. She always had everything I needed and more, and she was always willing to give it. Between the sheets, we were different people with different lives, but we were still perfect for each other.
Hearing that she loved me... Fuck, it was the greatest rush I'd ever known. And finally getting to say it back felt so good that I let the rest of the world fall away into the background and rode the swell of happiness to another world.
I took her mouth in a rough, demanding kiss. I was so pent up that just holding her made me instantly hard, and the kiss sent showers of sparks tumbling down my spine to my balls. I ached to drive inside her. I wanted to hear her scream.
Melissa's hand dove between us to wrap around me, squeezing me through the fabric of my pants. I groaned and bit down on her lip, then rolled atop her and dragged her hands away.
She blinked up at me in confusion, but I hid my intention behind a devilish smirk and pulled her wrists over her head. I loved the feeling of her hands on me, but right now I needed something else from her. I needed her release.
In one smooth movement, I pulled my belt free from its loops and wrapped it around the top of the headboard, securing her delicate wrists to the wood. She could easily get out of it, but that wasn't the point.
Melissa's eyes widened, pupils dilating with want. Her nipples pebbled through the front of her t-shirt, and I couldn't resist riding the fabric up to her neck to get a taste of them. My mouth covered one delicate pink nub. Melissa moaned, arching up and panting as I continued to suck and bite along her fleshy mounds, alternating between them. I moved down her stomach, trailing kisses tortuously slow until I reached the waistband of her shorts. Her legs always looked so damn good in these. It was the only thing I'd miss about her working at the Alibi.
I slipped the shorts down her tanned thighs and stroked my finger back up, brushing the soaked front of her panties. She squirmed, groaning in frustration.
"I want you so bad," she moaned. "Please, Jack."
I grinned. "You know, I quite like the sound of you begging." I kissed up her thigh, fanning hot air over her sex. She wiggled again. "Maybe I should leave you tied up here all night, soaking wet, so that I can hear you beg a little more."
I would never do that, and Melissa knew that, but the fantasy was turning me on so much that I thought my cock my rip through my jeans. Seeing her so tied up and helpless was worth it, though, as were the words that fell from her swollen lips.
"Please, Jack. I'm dying here. Please touch me, fuck me, do whatever you want with me." Her eyelashes brushed her cheeks as she sent a pleading gaze down at me. "I feel like I'm going to explode."
I took my time pulling the little scrap of cotton down to expose her pussy in its full glory, pink and swollen with need. My mouth watered and I licked my lips, grinning up at her.
"Fuck, sweetheart, I just can't deny you a goddamn thing."
With no further warning, I dove between her thighs. Melissa arched off the bed and cried out, body shaking. I pulled her legs over my shoulders to get deeper, deeper in her heat. I grabbed handfuls of ass in each hand and pulled her up against my face. She tasted like sex, and I could eat sex for every fucking meal. I swirled my tongue around her clit then sucked on it hard, and the moans above started to sound almost like sobbing. She needed this. I needed this too.
I released one of her cheeks and inserted two digits into her pussy, stroking her g-spot as I suckled on her tender clit. She was tight, squeezing my fingers. I thought about how good she was going to feel on my dick and nearly came in my pants. What was it about this girl I found so irresistible? Every little thing she did was the sexiest thing ever. Every moan. Every wiggle. I was surprised I ever let her leave this bed.
Melissa's moans were growing in volume. She was getting close. I inserted another finger, stretching her and thrusting in and out whi
le I swirled faster with my tongue. She writhed on the bed, tits jiggling enticingly. It was a hell of a fucking view and one I wouldn't soon forget. She was trussed up and powerless against my assault, and I was taking her all the way.
"Oh my god!" she screamed. "Yes! Jack! Oh god!"
Melissa came hard, flooding my fingers with moisture and squeezing them hard. I kissed and sucked until the spasms began to subside, but beyond that, I gave her no time to recover. I couldn't wait a second longer to fuck her.
Melissa's eyes cracked open when she heard me rustling with my clothes, just in time to watch as I spread her legs wide and rammed my cock deep inside of her. She bucked up, moaning, and I bit down on her nipple while I thrust into her furiously.
"Feel good, baby?" I hissed into her ear. "You like when I fuck you rough?'
"God yes!" she panted. "Don't stop!"
I had no intention of stopping, not until I'd had my way and filled her with my seed. I kissed and sucked on her neck between ragged breaths. Sweat coated my brow, my back, but I barely noticed. It felt so good to be inside of her.
I kept up a punishing tempo, alternating between long, deep thrusts and shorter ones, keeping her on her toes. I nearly lost it when I felt her long, slender legs wrap around my hips and urge me closer, trying to gain some semblance of control even when she was at my mercy.
We were perfect together, and nothing showed that more than when we fucked. We became two wild, exotic beasts who could communicate without speaking, without even a look. And as Melissa climbed toward her second orgasm, crying my name out over and over again, I sank my teeth into the soft skin of her throat and growled like an animal. She screamed.
Pleasure churned in my balls, an explosion on the horizon. The second her pussy clamped down on me like a vice grip, I lost it, thrusting wildly as I came hard.
My head spun from the force of my climax, from the sheer deliciousness of it. I peppered soothing kisses along her neck as I recovered. She panted, catching her breath. Neither of us spoke.
My body was sweaty and limp atop her, and my heart beat powerfully in my chest—enough to vibrate through her like we shared a pulse.
I wasn’t used to being the one to call Roddy. It didn’t surprise me that he picked up right away, even though it was well past midnight. Scumbags kept different working hours, I supposed, and I was this particular scumbag’s favorite meal ticket.
“Hey man,” he answered. “I’m glad you called. I was starting to worry.”
I was out in the motel parking lot, an unlit cigarette dangling from my free hand as I stared up into the night. The cloudless sky was speckled with stars, and the moon hung heavy and low. It was a good night to make a change.
“You’re going to be disappointed then,” I said. “I’m only calling to tell you I’m not interested in the fight.”
Roddy chuckled. “You wanna play hardball? That’s fine, man. I’m sure I can find another couple hundred bucks to throw on top. You’re worth it.”
“Not interested.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m fuckin’ not, okay?” I bit out.
I didn't like being questioned, especially by some sniveling suck-up who only pretended to give a shit. Roddy would happily see me beaten to death if it meant he got a fat enough paycheck.
“I’m done with fighting.” I stuffed the smoke back into my pack. Right now the only thing I was craving wasn’t a thing at all, but a gorgeous woman who happened to be sleeping not far away. The sooner this conversation was finished, the better. “Don’t call me again. I don’t care how sweet you think the deal is. I’m done with that shit.”
“You’re making a big mistake!”
I laughed bitterly. “Sure.”
“I mean it!” he snapped, just as I was about to hang up. “I could make things very bad for you.”
I could practically smell his desperation through the phone, and it only made me roll my eyes. I hung up the phone and walked back to the room.
I'd grown accustomed to living as a man with nothing to lose. I lost more at a young age than I ever thought I would, and for a long time, my sister was the only thing keeping me from going off the deep end. Where that kind of dive might've taken me, I don't know, but I'm glad I never got to find out. I needed her innocence during those dark years after my mom's death because the chaos in my head tempted me to toss away the last of mine.
It was different with Melissa. I didn't need her to keep me in line—I kept in line because I needed her. I wanted to be the kind of man she deserved. Her happiness was my happiness, and I wasn't fucking that up for anything. I should've stopped fighting ages ago. Then again, if it brought me to her, maybe I was quitting at just the right time.
I crept back into the room as quietly as possible, but Melissa still stirred a little. She didn’t wake fully, just enough that she cooed as I slid back under the covers and bundled her into my arms. She burrowed into my warmth and let out a deep, contented sigh.
It was such a simple moment, one I knew would probably get lost in the depths of my memory by the time I awoke the next morning, but perfection is often in the simpler things. A cool breeze on a hot day. That first taste of a frosty beer.
And the sigh of the woman I loved as she nuzzled into my arms.
Chapter 27
Melissa
Not surprisingly, Jack and I didn't have an easy time finding jobs in Cannon. He soon had his fill of slammed doors and decided to go look for work in another town, so he dropped me off at the laundromat one sunny Wednesday morning and went to do just that.
I didn’t intend to sit by idly, either. I loaded up the washing machine with clothes and set it going before taking a seat at the back of the room and pulling out my aging laptop. It sputtered to life, clicking and groaning for several minutes before I could even open up a browser window. Finally, however, I was all set to look for jobs.
Cannon didn't even have its own Craigslist, and it was no surprise that the online job listings for the immediate area were few and far between. Apparently, like Jack, I was also going to have to go a bit off-book and find something outside of Cannon. That was fine. We could end up in another small town, but would that be the end of the world? If nothing else we could do the same thing we were doing here. It wasn't like we had a place we'd have to pack up or anything. That was one of the few benefits of living in a motel.
It took me a shorter amount of time than anticipated to apply for jobs. I only hoped Jack had better luck. I couldn't say for certain how long we'd last in this town on the savings we had, but I knew it wouldn't be long. We'd be on food stamps before either of us knew it.
I didn't have any hang-ups about accepting charity. Lord knows I'd done my fair share of relying on strangers to provide the very basic of necessities. The ultimate foster kid pipe dream was acquiring some rich old folks who just want a kid to spoil and love, and each time I got moved I dreamed about what my perfect new family was going to be like. In the end, even the ones who seemed promising at first soon showed their true colors. It wasn't until I got much older that I understood why people who seemed to hate children would willingly take in strange ones. The whole time I assumed it was out of the goodness of their hearts because they needed someone else to love and I needed someone to love me. I didn't realize how many foster parents only took kids because they got money from the state, or how little they cared about my wellbeing.
My perfect happy family never came. I didn't dwell on that anymore. I got out of there and that was all that mattered. I was a free woman now, even more so since I'd ditched Donnie and found somebody who loved me with no strings attached.
Being in foster care did teach me a great deal about humility, about savoring the kindness of strangers when and if it came—albeit with a healthy dose of skepticism. And you know what? Accepting help from the state was a helluva lot less demeaning than accepting help from Donnie, and I’d been doing that a lot longer than I ever should have.
I knew that if our m
oney ran out and we were forced to scrape the bottom of the barrel for a bit, we’d pull through just fine. It was still a situation I greeted with almost as much trepidation as I would hopping back in Donnie's bed.
Trying not to think about my potentially bleak future, I looked up at the washing machine to see how much longer I had on my load. I sighed. All out of jobs to apply for and I still had twenty minutes left on my first wash. Bummer.
I returned to my senior computer, navigating my Facebook for a couple of minutes before an idea struck me. I quickly pulled up the website for the University of Arizona and clicked through to look at their fine arts page.
Jack was an inspiration to me. I wanted to paint his face in a thousand colors so other people could see what I saw there, see the ever-changing facets of his personality in stark relief against his handsome features. He was the one who'd finally gotten through to me about the importance of following my dream. I felt I owed him for that, even though I knew he'd never accept anything more than a kiss in gratitude. The fact that there were professors at the U of A who thought I was talented was incredible, and I figured it couldn't hurt to have a look at what their program offerings were, even if I couldn't hope to afford it anytime soon.
Washers and dryers buzzed, people chatted around me, but for a little while, I was in another world. I constructed a fantasy out of course outlines and projects for what my life could be. The school offerings drew me in, and the second I noticed the link to the scholarships and funding page, I clicked through without hesitation.
I applied for several scholarships. So what if I didn't stand a chance in hell? If I didn't try, I'd never know. The only break I took was to change over the washing and put on a new load, but then I sat back down and got right back to it. Some of the applications I had to leave half filled out since I would have to gather up a portfolio, but there were a few I sent off right away. It felt good. Even if I never heard even a whisper from U of A, at least I'd started working toward something. It may have looked like standing still, but I was finally moving forward.
Protecting Her Heart Page 37
