by Evie Knight
“I’m not breaking things off.”
“You think she’s going to stay and wait for you when there’s never been anything serious between you two? Dude, don’t be surprised if, when you come back, she’s not waiting for you with open arms.”
Chapter Fifteen
After the cocktail ended, Jack drove them straight to his condo in Downtown LA. It was Wednesday and Tori had brought a change of clothes since she knew she’d be spending the night. She’d already gotten too used to his place. Her office was minutes away from where he lived, which saved her a long commute.
He’d been quiet on their way back. She sensed something was worrying him, but she wouldn’t press. She reckoned he’d tell her when he felt comfortable sharing what was bothering him. Tori expected him to ravish her the moment they walked into his place, but he didn’t. When she mentioned she’d just go home, he pulled her into his arms, kissed her, and asked her not to leave. But then he moved away, leaving her yearning for his touch.
To say she was confused by his actions would be an understatement. Tori decided to stay and planned to take his mind off his worries. Her lips curved into a smile, looking at her reflection in the mirror of his master bathroom. She’d donned a new lacy black negligee, and happy with what she saw, she walked out of the bathroom.
He lay on the bed in his pajamas, his shirtless form propped on pillows. Legs crossed, he read from a tablet he held.
“Are you working?” Tori asked.
He looked over the rim of his glasses, fixing his gaze on hers. “Is that new?” he asked, setting the tablet on his lap.
She sauntered toward him. “Yes.” Tori took his tablet and placed it on the nightstand next to him. She got on the bed, straddling him. “Don’t you like it?” She pouted, running her hands up his strong chest, stopping by his nipples, making light circles with her nails.
Jack shifted, stroking her thighs. He gripped her hips, pulling her up and pressed his groin against her sex. “I like it a lot.”
Tori pinched his nipples, casting a glance at him. “I thought you would.” She leaned forward, leveling her gaze with his, her mouth hovering over his. The warmth of his breath mingled with hers. She slid his glasses off and brushed her lips on his.
He took his glasses from her and placed them on the nightstand. “I think we need some music,” he said against her mouth. Jack reached for a remote control to dim the lights. The beginning to “No Ordinary Love” by Sade played softly in the background.
She glanced at the ceiling, letting the melody fill her ears. “Do you have a thing for Sade or something?”
“You’re as sultry as her music, and there’s nothing wrong making love to the rhythm of a song.” He held her gaze. “I can shut it off if it makes you more comfortable.”
Making love? His words warmed her all over and her pulse raced. “N-no. Don’t. I love it.”
“Good.” Jack sat up straight, circling his arms around her, pulling her to him. He crushed her lips with his.
The heat of his chest seeped through the thin layer of lace. She raked her nails along his arms to his nape and tangled her fingers in his hair. Jack deepened the kiss, his hot tongue exploring the inside of her mouth. Every stroke, every lick, set her blood to boil, consuming her inside out. He drew her tongue in his mouth, swallowing her moan.
He broke the kiss and trailed his lips down her neck. He cupped her breasts, his thumbs stroking the tips through the lace. Tori threw her head back when his mouth closed around her nipple, sucking it inside his mouth and grazing it with his teeth. An electric current surged through her, her muscles contracted, and her swollen clit pulsed. Jack switched to her other breast, giving it the same detailed devotion he’d given the other.
“God, Tori.” He groaned, holding her by the waist. Jack lifted her of him and pushed her back on the bed until he positioned himself between her thighs. He supported himself on his arms, hovering over her, grinding his cock on her core. Jack inclined his head and touched the tip of his nose with hers. “Now is your chance to tell me to stop, because if you don’t, you’ll be mine completely, Tori,” he said in a low voice.
His searing gaze held her in place. She searched his face, replaying his words in her mind. She was already his… didn’t he see that? The question was, would he ever be hers? “Don’t stop,” Tori whispered.
Jack angled his head and captured her mouth in a fierce kiss. He didn’t ask or demand, he just took, robbing her of all the air in her lungs. The heat of his lips burned her skin inch by inch, making her body melt under his. A soft cry escaped her lips when he broke the contact and dragged his lips down her middle to her sex.
She jerked her hips when he spread her legs farther apart and covered her pussy with his mouth. His hot breath seeped through the thin layer of her drenched thong, making her muscles spasm and her swollen clit ache even more. Her legs quivered as desire flared through her body. She’d give him anything he asked if it meant she’d get to be with him for a while longer, because forever remained questionable.
Jack slid his fingers under the thin strap of her thong and pulled in the opposite directions, tearing it apart. Her heart pounded and her breathing grew labored. Tori brought her hands to her head and tangled her fingers in her hair. She closed her eyes, arching her back, wanting more of his scorching tongue tracing her folds and then licking her clit.
“I’m coming,” she murmured.
He dragged his tongue along her length and sat back on his knees. “No. You’re not.” Jack gave her bared pussy a gentle slap, and the heat of the sting traveled up her body, making her muscles clench. If she could close her legs a fraction, she’d cry with pleasure. She’d barely stirred when Jack turned her on her stomach.
He left her for a moment and then he was back. Tori blew out her hair, stealing a glance at him. Jack had stripped off his pajamas and knelt, fully naked, between her legs. He reached for her, gripped her hips, and pulled her ass to him. “Tonight, your beautiful ass will be mine.” He slipped two fingers in her entrance, drew them back out, and dragged them to her puckered hole.
He grabbed a tube of lube and poured some in his already-wet fingers. He slid them down her crack, massaging her tiny hole.
Tori squeezed her eyes close, her body blazing in anticipation. Now, she’d truly be his and his only. This had always been taboo for her. She couldn’t explain why it didn’t feel taboo with him. Things had changed with Jack. What should feel wrong felt so right.
“I didn’t think I’d get to use this on you,” he said.
Tori opened her eyes, twisting her head to look at him over her shoulder. He held the pink E-Glass Screamer Glass Dildo she’d sent him. “Are you serious?”
“When am I not?” Jack stroked her ass and gripped her hip with one hand. He slid the tip of the massager down her cleft and pressed it at her opening, stretching it little by little until the smooth tip slipped inside her. He dropped his hand to her pussy and his fingers massaged her clit.
Tori moaned at the coolness of the glass stretching her as Jack slipped it farther in her. Making it past tonight without surrendering to him every last bit of control she still had within her would be impossible. The pressure of the beads filling her ass, moving slowly in and out of her, combined with the way his fingers played with her bud, sent a flood of pleasure through her, a blanket of heat that enveloped her from head to toe. “J-Jack,” she cried, burying her face in the bed sheets. If he put a little more pressure and quickened his pace on her clit, she’d come.
“Hold on, sweetheart.” Jack slid the massager out. Seconds later the sound of tearing foil filled her ears. He spread her cheeks and positioned the tip of his cock on her hole. “I’ll make it good for you, I promise,” he murmured, pressing gradually into her until his full length slid in, filling her. He remained still for a few moments as her body adjusted to him.
Tori took deep breaths as he filled her. She didn’t remember how she’d felt when she’d lost her virginity, but from what
she did recall, she hadn’t felt this way. How could something feel weird and wonderful at the same time?
His fingers played with her bud as he drove in and out of her. Each movement, each stroke of his fingers, brought her closer to the edge she craved.
This was such a different kind of pleasure, yet so satisfying, and she wanted more. Jack thrust faster, picking up the pace on her clit. Heat crept up her legs, and her muscles tightened as her body burst into flames of ecstasy. Tori cried out her rapture, trembling alongside his body. Tonight she’d given to Jack what she hadn’t ever given anyone—and then some. Every cell in her body, every thought, everything that made her her, she’d surrendered to him without asking for anything in return. Was it love? Yes, she supposed it was. She’d fallen in love with him, and there was nothing she or anyone could do about it.
“Fuck,” Jack said under his breath, his body vibrating next to hers. He slid out of her when he caught his breath again. Leaning forward, he placed a kiss on top of her head. “Thank you,” he whispered in her hair. He got up from the bed and walked to the bathroom.
The sound of water running drifted to her in the bedroom. Tori was exhausted and couldn’t find it in her to move, not right after the events from moments ago. Especially when she was still trying to process the fact that she was in love with him, her nemesis of years.
He came back, scooped her up into his arms, and took her to the bathroom.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
He kissed her temple. “Taking care of you.” Jack stepped in the bathroom and set her down.
Tori stepped in the Jacuzzi tub, welcoming the heat of the water clambering up her legs. Jack followed her in and slid down, taking a seat. He pulled her to him, and she sat in front of him. Tori rested her head on his chest, sinking until the bath bubbles touched her chin. Closing her eyes, her muscles loosened with the warmth of the water enveloping her.
A mix of excitement, fear, and doubt filled her chest. She hadn’t planned for any of this to happen—or to fall hard for him. Giving it some more thought, how could this not have happened when, during the past three months, she’d spent more time with him than with her friends? When she’d spent more time at his place than at hers? Did he feel the same way she did? God, she hoped so because she didn’t know how she’d react if he didn’t.
“Victoria,” he said.
She shifted, burying her face in his chest. “Yes.”
Jack stroked her arms. “I’m leaving.”
Her back stiffened. The water temperature changed from warm to cold—at least, it felt that way to her. Those simple words had the power of a punch, leaving her out of breath. “Where are you going?” she asked, not wanting to hear the answer.
“Tokyo.”
“Tokyo?” Shit. He couldn’t go any farther away.
He exhaled. “Yes. I have some business issues I have to deal with.”
She squeezed her eyes close. Of course this would happen when she felt most vulnerable. “When are you leaving?” Tori bit the inside of her cheek, hoping the self-induced pain would take her attention away from the heartache building little by little in her chest.
He remained silent for a moment. “Tomorrow night.”
“Tomorrow? You haven’t even packed.” Did he have any idea of what this did to her? Tonight had been a great deal for her, letting him do with her body whatever the hell he pleased, and for what? He’d be leaving tomorrow. She wouldn’t make a big deal, that wasn’t her style. Even if she did, it’d be useless. He’d had many opportunities to tell her before now. She hated to admit it was evident that he’d decided not to say a word. What did he expect her to say? How would any other woman feel or react to something like this? She had willingly surrendered her body to him, thinking there could maybe be more. What a stupid thought.
“Yeah, I’ve got my stuff ready at my other place.”
Tori swallowed back the lump in her throat. She wouldn’t cry—no, she couldn’t. “How long will you be gone?” She hated asking those questions. She sounded like the girlfriend she wasn’t—and would never be.
“A month or two, tops. It depends on how things go.” He wrapped his hand around her nape, his fingers kneading her tense muscles.
She could ask him why he hadn’t said anything until now. She should, but what would she gain? He’d leave, she’d stay, and there’d never been anything close to serious between them. She took deep breaths, trying to control her disappointment, sadness, and most of all, the damn tears pooling in her eyes. His leaving wasn’t a real breakup because he couldn’t break up something that never existed.
“I hope things work out for you.” She pushed away from him, ready to stand, but he held on to her waist.
He cupped her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Tori, I’ll call you every time I get a chance. All right?”
She studied his expression, wishing she could see deeper than his troubled blue gaze allowed her to. “I’m sure you will.” She choked out the words. Deep inside her she knew he wouldn’t call. She hoped he’d prove her wrong because it’d hurt too much if he didn’t.
“I promise.” He kissed her.
Chapter Sixteen
One week later
“Hi, Jack. It’s Tori. Um… I called to say hi. Hope all is working out for you. Call me when you have a chance.”
Jack glanced around his hotel suite, playing her message a few more times before he saved it. He looked at the time and ran a hand over his face. The sixteen hour difference between LA and Tokyo wasn’t exactly on his side, or maybe it was. He wanted to call her, even if just to hear her voice on her voicemail, but thanks to his friend’s unsolicited advice, he had a lot of thinking to do.
Who the fuck believed three months were enough time to decide whether to continue seeing someone or not? Three months weren’t enough. Fuck. Six months wouldn’t be long enough either—not in his opinion. He couldn’t put a timeframe on stopping or continuing to date someone. Things worked out or they didn’t, regardless of time spent together. Who does that? Fucking Ethan. He had him to thank for the confusion pestering his mind.
He’d call Tori when he was ready.
* * * *
Two weeks later
“Hi, Jack.” There was a pause. “I-I. Hey, listen. I hope all is well with you. Guess work must be keeping you busy. Call me if you get a chance.”
Jack tapped the screen of his cell phone to check the time and let out a long breath. It was freaking seven o’clock at night on his side of the world, and three o’clock in the morning in LA. He eased back on his chair, lifting his gaze from the conference table to the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. He wasn’t ready to contact her yet. He needed to make up his mind, to figure out what exactly it was he felt for her, what she meant to him.
Ethan’s words still looped in his mind. What do I feel for Tori? Their relationship started based on revenge, and developing an attachment wasn’t meant to be part of their hate and lust equation. Accepting that he’d fallen for her would be hard—he wasn’t ready to admit it. He didn’t want to fall in love with her. Not with Tori.
The possibility of falling in love and being rejected—once again by the same woman—wasn’t something he cared to entertain. Jack wouldn’t allow her to reject him twice because he hadn’t fallen for her. No, he hadn’t. What the fuck am I thinking?
* * * *
One month later
“Hey, Jack. I thought maybe I’d catch you at this time. I’m guessing you’re either still at work or asleep. Who knows, I may even have the times mixed up.” A soft giggle escaped her, then she continued, “Talk to you… I don’t know… soon… whenever.”
Jack pressed number seven on his phone keypad, saving her voicemail just as people walked in the conference room for the meeting he was getting ready to facilitate. If things went right today, he’d be able to go home by the end of the week.
He missed Tori. His day job had been taking every minute of every day, weekends included, making i
t hard for him to contact her. Not a good excuse, he knew that, but it was his only excuse. He’d had some time to think about them and what they had. Jack still had to sort through some things in his mind, but part of him was ready to move forward. He made a mental note to send her an email later tonight.
* * * *
Six weeks later
“Jack, it’s Brandy. I just received a box here at the office. It’s from Tori. Can you please email me to let me know what you’d like me to do with it? I’m not sure if you want to keep it in your office or have one of the guys take it to your condo or your home in the valley. Talk to you soon.”
Jack frowned. A box? Had Tori just packed the clothes and other belongings he’d left at her place and sent them back to him? Fuck. He dropped the pen in his hand on the desk, staring at the graphs on his laptop screen. He’d been such an asshole. He hadn’t even taken the time to email her. He could’ve at least tried, but that damn part of him that wasn’t ready yet to fully admit his feelings for her hadn’t let him.
The fact remained that he had deeper feelings for her, and fighting what he felt was useless. Whether he admitted it or not, he’d fallen for her.
He breathed out. Wrapping up things here and heading back to LA soon was his top priority now. He had to see Tori. He had talk to her. He yearned to hold her in his arms again, kiss her and most of all, to make love to her. Did Tori feel for him the same way he did for her?
Jack looked at the time—it was four in the morning in LA. He didn’t give a shit anymore. Ready or not, he wasn’t about to lose the woman who occupied his mind all hours of the day. He picked up the phone and dialed her number. Tapping his fingers on the desk, he listened to the tone of the call going through. He’d wake her up, and the asshole he was didn’t care. He needed to hear her voice. She’d be upset that he hadn’t kept his promise of calling her and he’d make it up to her. He swore he would.
“This is Tori Michaels. I’m unavailable right now. Please leave a message. I’ll call you back at my earliest convenience.”
