She sighed. “Did you get what you were looking for?”
“It definitely explained some things.” Jack rolled onto his back.
“Okay.” She turned and snuggled into his side.
“You’re not mad?”
“I’m actually a little relieved. I’m sure you still have questions, but I don’t like talking about it, remembering it.”
“Will you answer my questions someday?”
A few seconds passed. She nodded.
chapter
TWENTY-SIX
After Jack left on Saturday morning for his gig in Tampa, Emily spent the rest of morning writing and then called the Sullivans and accepted their offer. She still wasn’t certain about quitting her job, but she didn’t need to decide that now.
And even though she didn’t fully understand what went wrong in her relationship with Sully, it didn’t matter so much to her anymore. He’d never shown any signs of jealousy. She’d known he’d gotten a lot female attention, and she hadn’t been surprised when she’d met Tiffany at the company Christmas party that she’d gushed over him.
Early in their relationship, he’d told her that he liked that she was independent, but he’d thrown that in her face. She remembered the huge fight they’d had when she’d decided to cut her hours so she’d have more time for writing. It had never occurred to her to seek his opinion because they’d only been dating for four months.
Eight more days until she’d see Jack. She’d imagined being apart would get easier, that they’d make the most of their time together, and she’d get used to the large blocks of time until their next visit. So far, she hadn’t. It took a couple days to adjust back to her normal life after Hurricane Jack blew through. This had only been Jack’s third visit, and her baggage had blown up all over them.
Emily still hadn’t told anyone at work that she was seeing someone, but she’d arranged dinner with Eddie and Sheryl over Jack’s month-long break in August.
After their week together around Father’s Day weekend, they’d be separated for over a month. And after their break in August, the band would be in Europe for six weeks. She wouldn’t be able to visit him, and Jack wouldn’t be able to fly to see her nearly as often, if at all.
On Tuesday, Emily and Cassidy walked out of the office just after five. As Emily approached her car, her spirits dropped. “Just great.” She knew how to change a tire; her dad had made sure of that when she’d gotten her license, but she’d never needed to before. Emily opened the trunk to get the spare tire.
Cassidy stood between their cars. “That’s not gonna help.”
“Why?” She walked to where Cassidy stood. Fuck. Just fuck. The front tire was flat, too. What the hell had she driven through? She’d been rushed this morning but didn’t remember running over anything. Now she’d have to call for a tow.
Cassidy unlocked her car and threw her stuff inside. “I’ll wait with you.”
Emily was still on hold, when Ben called out from the second story window. “What’s the problem?”
“Flat tire.”
“Flat tires,” Cassidy corrected.
Emily shook her head. It had already been a long, frustrating day, and she just wanted to get home and soak in a hot tub. The tow would be at least two hours, and if they said two hours, it’d probably be closer to three.
She leaned up against the trunk. Ben, Jerry, and Jerry’s son, AJ walked toward them.
Cassidy leaned over and whispered, “AJ is a total hottie. Dawn told me that he modeled in college.”
Emily snickered. “He’s also married. But yes, he modeled for a calendar for charity.”
“How do you know that?”
“Ben told me.”
Ben smirked as they approached. “I’m surprised you don’t know how to change a tire, young lady.” Ben waved his hand indicating his nephew. “AJ will have you good to go in no time.”
Emily shook her head. “As it happens, I do know how to change a tire; unfortunately, I have two flat tires. Tow will be two hours.”
AJ knelt and inspected the tire, mumbling something as he stood and moved to check the front tire. His grim face set Emily’s nerves on edge. “Emily, your tires were slashed.”
“What?” Emily pushed off the trunk and knelt by the rear tire.
“See here, that’s a slash. You’re gonna need two new tires.”
Emily’s head throbbed. Sully had been really pissed, but she couldn’t believe him capable of this. But, then, she hadn’t thought him a cheater, either. When would her past stop invading her present? Emily stood and kicked the tire. They weren’t that old, and now she had to shell out several hundred bucks for new tires. She needed to call Jack.
“I’m calling the complex manager,” Ben said. “Maybe security saw something.”
“I need to make a call.” Emily walked over to the steps and sat. Ben and Jerry watched her intently but allowed her privacy. Cassidy chatted with AJ.
She turned her phone over in her hands. Just hearing his voice would make her feel better, but he had a gig tonight, and she didn’t want to worry him. Calling him to vent about her day would be selfish, but she really wanted to be selfish right now. It wasn’t right to lean on him when he was a thousand miles away. He didn’t belong to her exclusively; she had to share him with the world, but she didn’t want to. Emily put her phone away.
She’d been so focused on Jack’s fame and how she didn’t want any part of it that she’d never considered how their time apart would affect her. She had feelings for him, deep, intense feelings. Would they be enough to help her deal with his lifestyle: the fame, the intrusion, and the photographers? But those things were nothing compared to the empty feeling, the loneliness, and the long nights without him.
A burning developed in the pit of her stomach. She had no idea what to do here, and her best friend wasn’t around for her to talk to. She needed Nicki. She couldn’t discuss Jack with her other friends since they didn’t know about him.
Emily had promised not to shut him out. He hated it when she didn’t talk to him about everything, even though that degree of openness was alien to her. She had doubts that she could ever be what Jack needed her to be. She didn’t want to repeat her mistakes, so she pulled out her phone. After a few seconds of hesitation, she tapped Jack’s picture, but it went straight to voicemail. Damn, soundcheck. She hung up without leaving a message because she didn’t know what to say.
As she stood, her phone rang.
“Hey, baby, what’s up?”
“Why do you think something’s up?”
“You never call me from the car.” When she hesitated, he said, “What’s wrong?” His voice filled with alarm.
“I’m okay, really. I don’t want to make the same mistakes again.”
“Baby, just tell me.”
“I’m waiting for a tow truck. My tires…”
“Em?”
Why was this so hard? “Were slashed.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, AJ looked at them.”
“Who’s AJ?”
“Jerry’s son.”
“Are you alone?” Alarm was replaced by panic.
“No. Cassidy, Ben, Jerry, and AJ are waiting with me. You know how my bosses feel about their employees.”
Jack sighed. “Yeah, I do.” She could hear him smile. “Tell me exactly what happened.”
“I was leaving for the day, I saw I had a flat tire, then Cassidy pointed out that the front tire was flat, too.”
“That’s it? No one saw anything?”
“Ben’s calling the complex manager, but if security had seen anything, I’m sure they would’ve let us know.”
Jack swore. “You think it was the fucker?”
Emily sighed. “Maybe, but it’s not like him.”
“It’s okay, baby. What did you mean when you said you didn’t want to make the same mistakes again?”
Blood pounded through
her head. “My first thought was to call you, but then I talked myself out of it.”
“Why?”
“Because you worry, and you have a gig tonight, and there’s nothing you can do.”
“Em, I’m glad you called me, but I’ll always worry about you. I love you.”
She was in trouble here. Deep shit trouble.
J
I would’ve loved to have seen the look on that stupid whore’s face when she found her tires slashed. Just thinking of tears streaming down her whore cheeks lifts my spirits. Once she realizes how vulnerable she is with Jack away all time, she’ll smarten up. And if she doesn’t, I’ll just have to get more…persuasive.
Jack and I are meant to be together. How can he think he could move on without me?
I’ve dispatched another love letter. Men are so easy. A little flirting and a blow job, and they’ll do anything for me.
J
Jack had received another letter when he’d checked into the hotel in Pelham, Alabama on Monday afternoon. It was addressed to him at the hotel, and they’d received it on Friday. The letter hadn’t mentioned Em directly, only obstacles keeping him and the psycho apart. Obstacles that wouldn’t stop her from being with him. The creep factor had been upped tenfold. He hadn’t told Em about the letter, and Jeff had agreed.
But when she’d had her tires slashed on Tuesday, Jack felt in his heart that Emily was in danger. He’d talk to her about having Fletcher reinstated. If she said no, he’d do it anyway. She’d be pissed when she figured it out, but until then, it was the only solution Jack could see. He missed her so much, and if anything happened to her, Jack would never forgive himself.
Sunday morning, Jack and Jeff arrived at the airport to find the flight was delayed because of bad weather along the East Coast. Their flight arrived around one, and by the time Jeff dropped him off at Emily’s, the storm that had kept them apart devolved to drizzle. Before he even started up the walkway, she opened the door and ran to him. He dropped his bags and lifted her in his arms. Their mouths met, and tongues clashed. “Baby, I missed you.” Jack carried her toward the apartment.
“Bags,” she said between kisses.
“Oh shit.” He set her on the steps inside her apartment and jogged out to retrieve his bags.
When he got upstairs, she wasn’t there. “Em?”
“Bedroom.”
He stripped off his shirt as he strode down the hallway, stopping short when he reached the door. Emily lay naked on the bed. Jack wasted no time in removing his jeans and underwear.
“Bring that to me.” She held out her hand. “Now.”
He obeyed. She stood and kissed him and then pushed him to sit on the bed. When she dropped to her knees, his dick jerked in anticipation. Then he was in her warm, moist mouth, her tongue caressing him. “Damn, baby.”
Over and over, she ran her tongue along the length of his cock, up and over the tip and back down the underside. As a warm-up to sex, a little oral couldn’t be beat. “Em, stop.” He needed to fuck her.
Instead of releasing him, she tilted her head up and winked. Oh fuck. She wanted him to come in her mouth. He cupped her head with his hand, stroking her hair as she sucked him off. His nuts tightened, and she grabbed the base of his cock, concentrating her tongue on the tip. “Gonna come, baby.” And he did, in long spurts, all captured in that dirty, beautiful mouth of hers. She relished every drop, and when she released him, she licked her lips. She sat back, her neck and chest flushed with desire. He loved that blowing him made her horny.
Helping her up, he pulled her to him, resting his head against her breasts. Jack stroked her back as he cuddled her. Tilting his head to the side, he was treated to the lovely view of her amazing ass in the dresser mirror. “Does that mirror move?”
“No.”
“Too bad.” He scooted back on the bed, and she stretched out next to him. He grabbed a pillow and propped it under his head. Em used his shoulder for a pillow. Since they were laying across the bed, he couldn’t pull the covers up over them, but from this angle, he could see them in the mirror. Emily was nestled into his side, an arm and leg thrown possessively across his body. She tilted her head and smiled up at him. “What?” he asked.
“So far so good.”
“That was more than good, baby.” His dick stirred in concurrence. Jack sat up and shifted so he faced the windows. “Sit on my face.”
She straddled his chest, her pussy inches away from his eager tongue. He couldn’t wait to taste her. He let her tease him for a bit and then grabbed her hips and held her in place as he opened his mouth on her. Her musky scent invaded his senses as his tongue laved her clit. He closed his lips around her and sucked her swollen nub into his mouth, swirling his tongue around it like she’d done to him. “Watch yourself in the mirror.”
She stroked her breasts, tugging her nipples as he held her in place. “Oh,” she moaned.
“That’s it, baby, come for me.” He sucked her clit hard then released it. “Then I’m going to fuck you.” He couldn’t get enough of her; he licked and sucked, her moans egging him on.
With a wail-like cry, she came, her body trembling from the crush of her orgasm. He licked her until she begged him to stop. He scooted out from under her and then bent her forward so she was on all fours, facing the mirror. Grabbing a condom, he protected them. He used her juices to coat his dick and then, without warning, thrust into her hard.
“Fuck, yes, baby,” she moaned.
Em took the words right out of his mouth. Every time he pushed into her, she pushed back. He leaned forward so he could kiss her back, nibbling her shoulder. “You like that, don’t you, baby? You like it when I fuck you hard.”
“Yes. Hard, fuck me hard.”
He straightened and did just that, impaling her with his cock, watching her tits jiggling in the mirror, the look of pure ecstasy on her face, and he was lost. She tightened around him, and as he pounded into her, Jack came with a primal growl. He pulled out, disposed of the condom, and returned to bed, pulling her limp body up next to his. She snuggled closer as he yanked the covers up over them.
Her breathing evened out, and Jack felt sleep pulling him under. “Another One Bites the Dust” wafted through the air. Shit. His phone was in his jeans pocket on the floor, and it was Dex. It was also Sunday. He deserved a day off, so he ignored it. As sleep continued to pull him, the song busted into his consciousness again. Fuck. He slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Em.
Grabbing his jeans off the floor, he answered just in time. “Dex, what’s up?”
“Wayne Ettinger called, needs to speak to you.”
“Shit.” Jack rubbed a hand over his face. “Thanks, Dex, appreciate it.” His heart pounded.
“Everything okay?” Emily asked.
“Christie’s dad wants me to call him.”
Emily pressed her body up against his back, her arms circling around him. “Want privacy?”
“No.”
She snuggled closer and rested her cheek on his back.
Jack took a deep breath and dialed Wayne. His heart pounded and his throat tightened up. He prayed—
“Jack, thanks for calling me back.”
“What’s up?” Jack held his breath.
“Christie says she’s ready to go into rehab.”
Jack exhaled, and his throat relaxed. “Thank God. That’s great. I was afraid you were calling for another reason.”
“Sorry, I should’ve led with that.” Wayne cleared his throat. “Listen, there’s just one thing…”
Jack had promised, and he’d honor his promise. “Wayne, don’t worry about it. Whatever it costs, I’ll pay.”
“It’s not that, but Carla and I really appreciate it.”
“What then?”
“Christie will only go if she can see you first. She wants to make amends. Will you come?”
Jack’s heart hit the floor. She’d given up calling Dex by the end of l
ast week, and obviously, she’d come up with a new plan. “Wayne…” What could he say? That Jack thought this was just a way for Christie to see him, that she wasn’t serious about getting the help she needed? But, what if she was? He leaned back into Em’s embrace. He needed to discuss this with her.
“Jack, please? I know she’s been harassing you, but she’s our baby. Please come?” The strain in Wayne’s voice was evident. It had been horrible for them, watching helplessly as their little girl sank deeper into drug and alcohol use. Jack knew how they felt. Emily tapped him on the shoulder. “Hold on.” Jack muted the call.
Emily sat next to him. Her beautiful hazel eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “You have to go.” Leaning in, she kissed his lips gently.
Knowing he had her blessing melted his hesitation. He wiped away a single tear that rolled down her cheek and kissed her nose. “Wayne, I’ll call you back when the arrangements are made.”
Wayne heaved a sigh of relief. “Jack, thank you.”
He dropped the phone on the bed and then pulled her into his arms and kissed her, pouring all his love into the communion of their lips. Tears welled in his eyes. Hopefully, this time, Christie would accept the help and be able to break free of the devastating hold of addiction. “Thank you. Gotta call Jeff.”
“Do what you have to. I’ll start dinner.” She grabbed his T-shirt and slipped it over her head. Before leaving, she turned and smiled.
Jack called Jeff and let him know the change of plans and then made the necessary arrangements. The first flight to John Glenn International was Monday morning at 6:25, and Jack reserved an SUV for the sixty-mile drive to Mount Vernon.
He found Emily in the kitchen at the stove. “Smells good.” He snaked his arms around her. “I’m starving. What’s cooking?”
Emily leaned back. “Roasted chicken, spicy rice, and balsamic carrots.”
“No you?” He kissed her neck just below her ear.
“I’m dessert.”
And just like that, he was hard.
After dinner, they watched a movie, then made love, and Em fell asleep in his arms, but he still woke every time she moved away from him.
No More Yesterdays: A Rock Star Romance (Rocked in Love Book 2) Page 27
