His movements were wild and I didn't even try to hold back my cries of pleasure. I needed this. He brought us both to release within minutes and when those first waves crashed over me, I had no doubt that Jack was just fine with public affection. In fact, I was pretty sure he was insisting on it.
He kissed his way down my spine, along the delicate lines of my tattoo, down to the beginning of my scar. God, it didn't matter how much he touched me, I would never get used to the emotions that swarmed me every time his fingers came into contact with my skin. His hands softly brushed down over my ass as he pulled out of me and when he gently cleaned me up, I thought I might burst from the need for more.
We took a few minutes to straighten up the papers that had fallen from his desk and he helped me adjust my clothing and hair enough to make our time in his office not so fucking obvious.
"You good?" he smiled and kissed my forehead.
"I'm good."
Amanda refused to look me in the eyes even though she had been teasing me about Jake hearing us less than an hour before. Jack walked around the room with a devious smile, making sure his clients had everything that they needed.
"You deserve this, Ari," Amanda said halfway through our work out. "You both do."
"We do," I agreed. "I just hope I won't ruin him."
"You can't ruin him, Ari. He loves you too much."
Is it enough? I asked myself.
Amanda didn't say anything else until we were both sweating and exhausted.
"I feel like I'm about to collapse," she gasped. "Maybe we need to take a break this week. I don't think my body can take anymore, especially since I'm working a couple doubles."
"I can't. Jack isn't training me again until after the weekend. I need to keep going so I don't lose any endurance," I replied and wiped my face with a towel.
"Don't you think a couple days of relaxation will be good for you?" she asked, her brow furrowing as she looked at me.
I shrugged and kept going.
Once we finished our work out, Jack was ready to leave for the night and I was still thinking about being bent over his desk. All the exercise in the world wasn't going to erase that from my mind anytime soon.
"You ready?" Jack said and lifted my bag over his shoulder as he kissed the tip of my nose.
"I need to shower before dinner," I informed him, still stuck in my head.
"Oh, I know. I'm going to help you," he winked.
Amanda grumbled something about disgusting brothers and waved goodbye before she ran out the door.
"You really should be careful what you say in front of Amanda. She doesn't get mad, she gets even."
Jack laughed and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "Serves her right for all the shit she has given me over the last few months." He kissed my lips chastely and led us out the door. "But you're right. I owe her for taking care of you. Now let's get home and wash your back. It's filthy."
I burst out laughing and didn't stop until we had stepped into my apartment and Jack ripped off my clothes and pulled me under the steaming hot water to thoroughly wash my back.
***
The shrill ringing of a cell phone woke me with a start the next morning. Jack turned away from the cocoon he had engulfed me in and looked at his phone, grumbling when he saw who was calling.
"Good morning, Dad," he said sleepily and rolled back over to pull me into his body.
I sighed at the warmth radiating off of him and wiggled my hips to get closer, feeling the hard evidence of his arousal pushing against my ass.
He grunted and dropped his head to my shoulder. "Yeah, I'll be there all day today. Got a couple sessions and some paperwork to organize," he said with a smirk into the phone, moving his hand to my stomach and holding me still.
He pressed silent kisses to my shoulder, the curve of my neck and behind my ear while he spoke to his father the whole time.
Waking up with Jack was unlike anything I had ever experienced in my life, but waking up in his bed, in his home, was mind blowing.
He told me to pack an overnight bag before we left to meet everyone for dinner and afterward, he brought me to his house. A house, I might add, that was the exact design I would have picked for myself. His kitchen was massive with the state of the art stainless steel appliances. It was open and spacious without feeling like a museum. The floors were all a dark hardwood, the furniture was leather, and the bedroom was all Jack. It felt like a home with its warm decor. The pictures on the walls were of his family and my family. Pictures that I had forgotten about and never thought I would see again. Jake and Jack in school, me and Jake and him lounging in our pool, Amanda and me blowing kisses to the camera. In all the years he had been away, he hadn't erased us from his life even a little bit.
It only took about two minutes for me to tear up once we walked in and Jack had comforted me by carrying me to his bed - his extremely comfortable bed - and making love to me slowly and passionately. We'd fallen asleep, my back to his chest, and hadn't moved for the rest of the night.
"I don't know, Dad. I'll ask her and see if she's up to it. Yeah, I think it would be, too. Okay, tell Mom I love her, too. Bye."
He tossed the phone somewhere behind him on the massive bed and wrapped both arms around me.
"Good morning," I smiled sleepily and let myself melt into him.
"Good morning, beautiful. How did you sleep?" he nipped at my ear.
"Mmmm, this bed kicks ass," I sighed.
He chuckled and turned me over to face him. "No, you in my bed kicks ass. I don't want you sleeping anywhere else from now on."
I rolled my eyes and cupped his cheek in my hand, "I don't think I can get out of my rental agreement."
"Hmm, I'll have a chat with the owner. I'm sure we can work something out," he smirked.
I laughed and pulled him down to kiss me. He moved over me and settled his hips between my legs, his erection pressing into my belly. His lips explored my neck and chest as we lay there for a few minutes in silence. Soaking each other in. I lightly ran my fingers through his hair, down his neck, over his back, his muscles rippling as I passed over them. I loved the feel of his skin beneath my hands, his powerful body bending to my touch.
"Mmm, I love when you touch me like that," he murmured against my collar bone before lifting his head to kiss me. "Did you have fun last night?" he asked, his lips a breath away from me.
"Reggie is crazy," I chuckled and he nodded in agreement.
"She is, but she's good people. They all are. Molly and her go together like glitter and glue."
A beeping sounded in the room and Jack groaned as he rolled off of me and found his phone. "I've got to get up and get going, baby. We made a mess of my office and I got to do some filing." He kissed me quickly and climbed off the bed.
"Well, next time prove your point where there isn't so much paperwork around us."
He burst out laughing and walked into the bathroom, his naked ass flexing with each step. I loved looking at him. I swear I could stare at his sexy body for days and never get tired of it.
"By the way, my mom and dad wanted to take us to lunch this weekend sometime. You up for it?" he called from the bathroom and the sound of the faucet turning on pulled me out of my fantasies about the many muscles covering his body.
"Oh, um, yeah that would be nice."
He peeked his head out the door, a toothbrush in his mouth and his hair wild and messy from sleep. He looked fucking adorable and I couldn't stop the smile from stretching across my face.
"Have you canceled lunch with Sean yet?" he asked and my smile fell away.
"Shit, no. I completely forgot."
He nodded and stepped back into the bathroom.
"I'll tell him this afternoon. I'm working a short shift with Molly for the lunch rush since Janet is still sick and he always has lunch there on Fridays."
"Good, let him know I'll be calling him later, too," Jack said.
"You will?" I panicked, wondering what Jack could possibly
have to say to Sean that wouldn't be about me and their stupid rivalry. I slid out of bed and found one of Jack's shirts on the floor before pulling it over my head and hurriedly walking into the bathroom. "What do you need to talk to him about?"
Jack finished brushing his teeth and dried his mouth before wrapping his arm around my waist and kissing me tenderly. "Don't worry about it. I just wanted to clear the air with him. Nothing serious, okay?"
"You promise?"
He smiled and smacked my ass before stepping away, "I promise."
"Okay."
"Now get back in my bed, naked. I want to make you come before I leave."
I didn't hesitate. I ran out of the bathroom, tore off his t-shirt and jumped onto the bed with Jack laughing behind me.
He dressed quickly and moved like a predator as he approached the bed. Then he proceeded to do exactly what he said he would before he left for work, leaving me panting and sleepy in his bed.
My mind wandered to the last thirty six or so hours with him. They had been the happiest of my life and I couldn't imagine ever being without him again. Even dinner the night before had been a new experience. The anger I had been feeling for so long wasn't there and I enjoyed my time with my brother and all of our friends, laughing and talking about anything and everything.
I thought Reggie might be a little more reserved around the guys, but I was wrong. If anything, she was more blunt and with Molly by her side, it was a miracle any of us got any food down with how much we were laughing. Reggie had the best stories about her time with West Ink and most of them had to do with piercing parts I had no idea could be pierced. Jack and Jake blushed many times during dinner and had threatened to fire her ass more than once if she didn't shut her mouth.
It didn't stop her and I couldn't stop encouraging her. Jack had watched me with a panty dropping smile and every few minutes his hand would slip under my skirt to tease me and whisper in my ear how much he loved my laugh.
Marie had hired a new waitress and both Molly and I hoped Janet would be able to show up to dinner, but she had been home sick. Something that Jake asked a few too many questions about. He'd met Janet a couple of times when the girls would pick me up for girl's night or class. Being a regular at McCall's hadn't necessarily made it possible for him to officially meet the girls, but the last few weeks, I noticed Jake always sat in Janet's section or at the bar when she was working. They had a few stilted conversations that ended with Janet giggling and walking away while Jake watched her go. When I asked Jake about it, he just smiled and shrugged.
Molly, however, pushed it a little further and we all ended up teasing him about his little crush on my friend. It didn't take long for him to shake his head and tell us all to shut the fuck up or the next tattoos we asked for would be stick figures and smiley faces.
I laughed to myself as I stretched out in Jack's comfortable bed and buried myself under the blankets.
I had missed those things.
The laughter, the closeness, the friendships. It was another kind of freedom that I hadn't lived in years. The freedom to be myself and not worry about the consequences. I didn't have to worry about getting reprimanded for having a dirty mind or being suspected of flirting with anyone.
The memory of Roger and the shit he had put me through wasn't something I wanted in my mind while I was lying comfortably in Jack's bed, but it was there now.
And so was the fear.
What would happen if he found me again? When he found me again. No one knew where he was and I prayed he was lying dead in a ditch somewhere from pissing off the wrong group of people. A part of me knew he wasn't, though, and that part wouldn't stop whispering in my ear that the happiness I was feeling these last couple of days would be taken away from me.
They had always been taken away from me so why would now be any different?
No, Ari. Stop it. Don't let him ruin this for you.
I repeated the words in my mind and out loud, fighting the fear that would consume me. The very fear that could ruin Jack if I let it control me.
No longer able to relax, I climbed out of bed and took a shower, the hot water doing nothing for me except allowing me to think more. I needed to find a distraction.
I dressed quickly and called Marie who said it was no problem if I wanted to come in early and work a little bit.
So I did. I distracted myself with work. Molly could tell that something was off, but she kept quiet. Jim and Marie constantly asked how I was doing and I always answered them with a smile and told them I was just fine.
When Sean came in with a couple other detectives, he easily accepted my cancellation of lunch with him. In fact, he seemed to expect it.
"Jack just needs to look at you and everyone can see it, Arianna," Sean said with a sad smile. "He's a lucky bastard, but he deserves it. You deserve something great, too."
"Thank you, Sean. I consider you a friend and I appreciate everything you are doing to find Roger. Will you keep me updated?"
He narrowed his gaze at me, but nodded. "Sure. If that's what you want."
"It is, thank you."
I hurriedly walked away before he could ask any questions. If I needed to find Roger myself and end this, I would do it. If it meant protecting Jack from the darkness in my life, I would do it.
I couldn't let my past take away any more of my future.
Time moved quickly and before I could blink, I was being pushed out of the pub and Jake was driving me home.
"Can we stop at the store?" I asked as Jake pulled out into the street. "I want to make dinner for Jack tonight."
Jake smiled and made the turn for the grocery store. "The new guy is covering appointments for the rest of the night. I'm free to join you if I'm invited," he winked.
I smiled back at him. "Sorry, but it's just for the two of us. I need to do something for him after everything he has done for me."
"And what is that?"
Oh shit! I scrambled for an explanation that wouldn't spill the beans on the things Jack was teaching me.
"Never mind. I don't want to know," Jake laughed, letting me off the hook. He shook his head and the rest of the ride was filled with awkward silence. No matter how much Jake had wanted me and Jack together, I was still his little sister.
I made good time in the store and got the supplies I needed to make something special for Jack. I wanted everything to be perfect. I needed it to be perfect. My stress only heightened when I walked into my apartment alone. Jake had left me with the reminder that he was just downstairs and to call him if I needed anything. Jack had called and said he would be over in the next hour so I raced around the apartment trying to get everything ready. The spaghetti sauce was just right and the noodles were boiling. I just needed to broil the garlic bread and everything would be ready just in time.
Jack walked in the door as I was draining the noodles and straight into the kitchen to wrap his arms around me and kiss my neck. The relief I expected to feel with his touch didn't come. I had already buried myself back under the shit and it made me want to cry. It didn't stop me from getting aroused, however. Jack would always be successful with that.
"God, I missed you today," he growled against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine. Heat pooled low in my belly and I had to squeeze my thighs together to keep from melting into a puddle right at his feet. "Is this for me?" he asked in surprise when he looked around the kitchen.
"Yes, now go sit down and I'll bring you a plate."
He kissed my cheek and sat down at the table, watching me as I moved around the kitchen.
"How was work?" he asked.
"It was busy. I went in a little early and it's a good thing I did because everyone came in early to eat. Molly was really relieved."
"Was Sean there?"
"Yes. I told him I wouldn't be having lunch with him tomorrow and he took it really well. In fact, it was almost like he was expecting it. But I forgot to tell him that you were going to call him later."
"No nee
d. I spoke with him before he went to McCall's."
I dropped the wood spoon into the pot and sauce splashed out onto my shirt. "You did?"
"I did. I just told him that you and I were together now and that if he wanted to be friends, I was fine with that, but I didn't want him flirting with you anymore."
I stood there, plate piled with spaghetti and my mouth gaping open, staring at the sexy smirk on his face. Should I have been upset? I have no idea. Other women might be, but I couldn't find the need to be. In fact, I was a little relieved because I was too chicken to tell Sean those things myself.
"Ari?" Jack started to stand, but I shook my head and finished dishing up our plates and set them down on the table. He watched me cautiously, as if preparing for my wrath.
"I'm just surprised, that's all," I said and sat next to him.
I looked at the table and realized I had forgotten our drinks. "Oh, hold on. I forgot your drink. Sorry." I stood quickly bumping my hip into the table. I rubbed at it with a hiss, but didn't stop even when Jack asked if I was okay. I raced to the fridge to remove the bottle of wine I had gotten at the store.
Pouring each of us a glass, I sat back down and realized Jack was watching me warily out of the corner of my eye.
"Please tell me you have that awesome garlic bread you make," Jack said after a moment.
"Oh shit, sorry. I forgot to put it in the oven. I'm so sorry. I can't believe I forgot about it. Let me hurry and -"
Jack's fingers gently wrapped around my wrist as I stood and my entire body froze, waiting for what was next. My mind flashed with the memories of so many nights of forgotten dishes or overcooked meals and the consequences I faced by not being more careful.
"Ari, baby, stop," Jack said softly.
I cleared my throat and closed my eyes, trying to force away the images that kept feeding my fear. "Stop what?"
He pulled me down onto his lap and cupped my face in his hands. "Stop thinking that there is even the slightest chance that I am anything like him."
My eyes widened and I opened my mouth to apologize and tell him that I didn't think that at all, but he pressed his finger against my lips to stop me.
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