by Lexxi Chase
“What d’ya really want Jake? To prove you’re the winner? Guess you win by default ‘cause, despite Wade wakin’ up from his coma this morning, I don’t consider him in the running, and Tyler, for years since I met you, fell outa the race. So here I am,” she spread her arms wide in mock welcome, “yours for the taking...except I’m done with your ignorant, spiteful, sick games.”
Looking at her, he knew she meant it. She’d never, ever, stood up to him like this before. Jesus, he thought, so after all the years and mounds of bullshit she’s the one who ends it. She’s the one to take ownership, then throw it away. He straightened, stood tall despite the sharp twinge in his stomach. Despite the gnawing, simmering nausea twisting and turning and rolling in his gut. And the raw panic surging threw him. The mounting desolation and dread and pangs of regret.
“You’re done, are ya,” he snickered, “after everything we went through. That’s nice, ‘cause I was through way ahead ‘a you. Only came here to make sure ya weren’t gonna keel over. Didn’t want a dead ex-girlfriend hangin’ over my head.”
Fucking prick, she seethed. Heartless, cruel, ignorant bastard. But his words cut deep, like dull knives steadily slicing inside her chest and along the folds of her heart.
“Fine,” she said softly, precariously holding onto her composure. “Then I guess we’ve got nothing left to say.”
He nodded, noble and gentlemanly, and gestured towards the table.
“Enjoy your meal,” he said, turned and sauntered out her bedroom door.
She stood there at first like a tossed off groupie. Watching him walk serenely straight out of her life. Before he’d arrived she’d been feeling so much better. Full of hope and happiness again, thrilled to be alive. Now devastation and utter desolation draped over her, entombing her like a shroud. No way, she thought, does he get to dismiss me. No way, she agonized, will I never see him again.
She ran to the table and flung the lunch he’d made her, all over the carpet and against the wall. Then slumped, sobbing hysterically, over top of the table before crumbling to her knees. The room spun ominously around her. Jake was gone, really gone forever this time and she was hopeless, helpless and alone.
“No!” she screamed, shattering the emptiness and silence around her. “No fuckin’ way!” she yelled as she raised herself up and ran like a lunatic down her hall, down the stairs and across her house all the way out her side door.
And there it was, she saw it. His silver Ferrari. Its steel demon emblazoned on the hood, glinting and glimmering in the bright sunlight. So far up her driveway at the front of the house. She had to get there, before he was leaving. In the driver’s seat, Jake heard her racing footsteps and labored panting. He uncrossed his legs and lifted them off the dashboard, pushed the seat back up forward and cranked the motor to life.
“You fucking bastard, don’t you dare think of walkin’ out on me like this!”
She slammed against the driver’s door and yanked it open, yelling even louder when she saw the cell phone in his hand.
“Who you talkin’ to this time, you ignorant prick? Can’t wait to get outa here before callin’ one ‘a your whores?”
She might have controlled herself if he hadn’t been laughing. So smug and secure and full of himself. She reached inside the car in a fury, yanking at his hair and clawing his face. He scrambled sideways to safety and quickly wriggled out the passenger door. Ranting and shrieking, Amanda barely noticed he was still smiling, laughing and holding up his phone.
“Look, you crazy bitch!” he screamed.
But she couldn’t see clearly through her tears and fog of despair. He held the phone over the roof of the car towards her. Its display was on stopwatch and the numbers still raced.
“Oops,” he laughed, leaning over and stopping the time clock. “Guess we should shave a few seconds off. Ya got here, let’s see...in six minutes, twenty-two seconds. Not bad for someone still recuperating from a nasty water accident.”
He’d managed, yet again, to move the ball to his court.
“We got a keen audience,” he said, nodding his head and looking behind her into the distance.
Alvirez and Marcus had heard the commotion and ran to the top of the stone staircase leading up from the tiger house. They didn’t look happy. They looked angry and scared. But who could blame them after everything that happened? Amanda turned towards them, forcing a smile.
“It’s OK guys. It’s all good. We’re cool,” she yelled and waved.
“Let’s go in the house and talk,” Jake pressed her. “No privacy out here.”
He turned off the car and they walked back silently together in steps Amanda never dreamt she’d take. She’d been sure, in her misery and panic, that he’d be gone when she got there or that he’d cruelly race out of the driveway, timing his grand departure for when she arrived. She was keenly aware of the house’s grim silence as they walked through it. The twenty or so stairs up to the bedroom hallways felt like a thousand and her own room seemed so far away. As they approached it, Jake still said nothing but groaned loudly as soon as they got there.
“Fuck, what ya do?” he stepped back. “Ya really oughta watch that temper Amanda.”
She was about to apologize but noticed he was smirking.
“Where the hell’s Katelyn?” he asked. “She should be here cleanin’ up this goddamn mess.”
“Gone,” Amanda said. “I sent that fuckin’ cunt packin’.”
“Fired her?”
“Guess so,” she shrugged her shoulders. “Wouldn’t be surprised if she’s gone to visit Rachel. I tossed that other bitch out before I even got home. Told Katelyn to pack her shit and get outa my sight before I killed her. If she hadn’t ‘a let Morocco out he wouldn’t’ve got shot.”
Jake huffed.
“But ya don’t mind Tyler around after he shot me.”
His voice was cool with a rough edge. He had a point and she knew it.
“I’m way, way beyond pissed at Tyler. But I was in no shape to make decisions or even begin to take care of my cats.”
Partially satisfied, at least for the moment, Jake backed off, sauntered across the room and sat down on her bed.
“Heard ya postponed Vegas.”
She laughed bitterly, “What choice did I have?”
“Yeah well, don’t feel so fuckin’ bad. I had to reschedule the rest ‘a the tour. But it’s been extended. Sold out within an hour ‘a new tickets goin’ up. Amazin’ what a little violence and drama will do.”
She smiled. Tyler told her the Luxor had been more than happy to reschedule. They’d bent over backwards to make sure she still appeared. Her run had been extended too.
“So...” he sighed, leaning back on his elbows, “What happens now? Where do we go from here?”
Isn’t that the million dollar question, she wondered. Where could they go when they’d gone much too far already?
“I don’t know,” she answered quietly. “I’m not sure we go anywhere.”
Stunned, Jake just laid there for a second. Maybe she sustained brain damage, he thought. Maybe her forced dip in the pond deprived her of oxygen just a touch too long.
“Come on Amanda,” he said softly. “We both came outa this alive so let’s not waste it.”
“Waste it?” she had to control herself from yelling.
All she could think of was Morocco. And then suddenly, Misty.
“What’s the matter Jake? Your video porn star busy today?”
He snickered.
“Really Amanda? Ya really wanna go there today?”
No, she didn’t, and shook her head glumly. But she wasn’t quite ready to go anywhere with him right now. She walked over to her vanity and turned her back to him as she braced herself against it.
“Christ Amanda,” he sat up abruptly. “What the fuck d’ya want me to say?”
“Nothing,” she murmured, but he knew better.
He scrambled off the bed, crossed the room and pressed up close behind her
.
“Bullshit,” he rasped seductively in her ear and she finally caved.
“Jake all I’ve ever wanted is for you to know, for you to believe how much I love you,” she turned to face him. “All I’ve ever wanted is to know that maybe, even just a little bit, you love me too.”
Jesus, he groaned. Different day, same old bullshit. She still hadn’t learned how to leave things alone. She stared at him searchingly, her eyes full of hope and determination. Still his for the taking, if he wanted to take it. He stepped back, gazing at her intently. Knowing he couldn’t get out of this, not anymore.
“Don’t even say it,” she whispered before he said anything, “We’re fire and ammo together, just like you told me after your trial.”
She lowered her head but lifted it after a few seconds, surprised he hadn’t walked away. Christ, he thought, our obsessions and desires are going to kill us. And realized with a start what frightened him more. He swallowed hard, acknowledging how much he hated being vulnerable. It scared the living shit out of him more than anything else. He couldn’t give her what she wanted, what she coveted and almost died for. He couldn’t tell her what she longed to hear and craved.
But he pulled her to him anyway, tangling his fingers in her hair and gently pressing her head to his chest. She was crying, defeated and hopeless, and before he knew it, his own tears of despair were flowing too. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, leaning over, veiling her face beneath his long, comforting hair. They held each other, except for the bitter sounds of their crying, in total silence. Neither of them willing to shatter the precarious truce of the moment, to rip their tilting world apart and perish in the frigid chaos that would ensue.
But she wanted more, so much more than he was willing, than he could give her. She finally tore herself from his arms, hot tears still streaming down her face.
“Please go home Jake,” she whispered. “We can’t do this to each other anymore. The only way we’ll ever stop hurting each other is to really truly stay apart.”
Her words were chilling finality. A stinging, ripping, shredding stab in his gut. It was now or never. With his stomach rolling, mind racing, he took a deep breath, swallowed hard and stepped forward, firmly grasping her face in his hands.
“Fuck Amanda, ya just won’t quit, will ya? I fuckin’ love you, you idiot...” Then after a long silence, “Satisfied?”
“Oh my God!” she gasped and would have answered quicker but she had to remember to breathe. “I knew it!” she squealed, laughing. “I knew it all along,” she screamed and dove back into his arms.
“Yeah well, don’t let it go to your head,” he snickered, playfully shaking her and tousling her hair.
But she was overwhelmed with happiness, excitement and elation. Consumed with newfound vitality and the will to not only live but thrive. She’d vowed to continue on, mainly for the sake and love of her tigers and lions, but now, finally, she had something magnificent and glorious to live for. The one thing in her life she’d barely managed to hang onto. The one person who truly mattered. Jake.
He looked down at her still pressed up close against him. Wondering, wary how his monumental revelation changed the game. But for now she was happy, satisfied and smiling. For now at least, she was content with their status quo.
“Now what?” he crooned.
“You tell me,” she whispered, leaning into him seductively.
Their foreheads touched and breath exchanged.
“Winner takes all, right?” he rasped.
Before she could say anything, even think of answering, he scooped her up in his muscular arms, carried her across the room and laid her triumphantly on the bed. Time for her reckoning and his sweet absolvement. Time literally, for time and space to suspend while they explored, experienced and found each other again.
“Jake...” she murmured, breathless as he slid on top of her eagerly, tangling his hands in her hair and gently, then more firmly, kissing her neck.
Nothing mattered anymore in those moments. Their so-called final and absolute final incidents faded and melted away. She pressed up hard and determined against his hot trembling body, running her hands feverishly up along his arms and shoulders, wrapping her fingers tightly in his long sensuous hair. He claimed her, kissed her long and hard and deeply, tasting of power and lust, past sins and atonement. Giving himself freely, without boundary, with conviction. Drawing her soul and energy as much as he gave his away.
He smiled and moaned softly as she slid her hand underneath his muscle shirt, flicking and caressing his nipple and lightly tugging on the piercing there.
“Hurry up Jake, get naked for me,” she whispered.
He laughed innocently, “Jeez Amanda, aren’t you in a hurry? We got all the time in the world to play.”
“Guess you’re right,” she giggled, realizing this time, he wasn’t going anywhere. “Now that you mention it,” she crooned sweetly, “that nurse in the hospital after my rehearsal accident told me you said on the phone you were my fiancé.”
“Christ...” he threw his head back, laughing. “Don’t even go there.”
He covered her mouth with his hand to keep her from talking.
“Not another word,” he scolded, but she laughed and spoke anyway when he removed his hand.
“What ya gonna do to keep me from talkin’?”
“Hmmm...” he looked down at her lecherously. “I think I just may have a much better way to occupy your mouth.”
She feigned shock and innocence as he sat up abruptly, pulling his muscle shirt off and slithering quickly out of his shorts.
“What ya got for me?” she moaned sweetly. “Sure it’ll take my mind off a wedding?”
“We’re skippin’ that,” he murmured, “and goin’ straight for the honeymoon.”
He crawled up beside her and knelt down expectantly. His hard, throbbing cock was inches from her face. She took him in her mouth eagerly, sucking hard on her way down and even harder as she slid her lips back up.
“Fuck...” Jake moaned, overcome with ecstasy and arousal. “Swallow it for me Amanda...suck it for me just the way I like.”
Within minutes, he was dripping, pulsing hot and horny with his pre-cum and her saliva. The sounds of slippery-sweet wet suction filled the room. As his grunts and moans grew louder, he tangled his hands more tightly in her long silky hair.
“Want an extra treat?” she stopped bobbing for a moment and smiled up at him generously.
His face was flushed, his eyes cloudy and dreamy. Sweat already plastered his hair to his shoulders and chest.
“Oh yeah?” he rasped. “It’s not even my birthday.”
But he smiled wickedly as she motioned him up higher on his knees so she could change position and slide backwards beneath him on her back. He leaned forward and braced himself, groaning, as she skillfully massaged his balls and inched her hands backwards to rub and caress his ass. When she felt his cheeks tighten, she spread them, leaned forward between them and ran her tongue hungrily around his butt hole. His breathing hitched and quickened as she flicked her tongue and slid it inside.
“Jesus...” he moaned, tensed and shivering, lost in the carnality of pure uninhibited pleasure as she licked and worked his ass.
She reached forward to grasp his cock and jerk him but found that his hand was already there. They pulled and pumped it together in frenzied unison. She moaned, rough and deeply as her pussy grew wet and heavy with emptiness and anticipation. She spread her legs wide. On cue, Jake leaned forward and braced himself over her sweet spot. When he kissed her there hungrily, she groaned and sighed.
“I know what you want...” he crooned.
His ass was soaked and throbbing from her. She knew what he wanted too.
“Taste me baby,” she begged breathlessly, and he eagerly complied.
Pressing his mouth over her pussy, he sucked her hard, generously, and teased her lips and clit with his tongue. When her gasps and moans grew louder and more frequent and he
felt her tension and pressure build, he slid his fingers deep inside her and pumped them in and out until she screamed she was going to cum. Like a soldier of fortune, he hooked his fingers in her G-spot, just as she slid two of her own up hard inside his ass. They both pushed and pumped as their orgasms mounted, slowing down and finally quitting when they’d climaxed and their hands were hot and soaked with each other’s cum.
Jake lifted his leg and dismounted off her slowly, flopping down on his back, exhausted, on the bed.
“Fuckin’ forgot how good ya do that,” he smiled as she crawled up beside him.
“I can do even better,” she whispered, “We’re not done yet.”
He laughed.
“Hey, gimme a minute. I’ve been shot, remember? I’m still recuperatin’ from my wound.”
Oh God, she realized, she’d lost herself in passion and completely forgotten. She leaned over him, wincing as she lightly traced the scar with her fingers. It ran up his left side and wound slightly around his back. The bullet had ricocheted inside him but luckily missed major arteries, organs and bone.
“I’m sorry Jake. Does it still hurt a lot?”
“Not till now it didn’t,” he snickered.
“You gonna be OK?”
“Why?” he crooned, “Ya wanna get fucked?”
She smiled sweetly, leaned over and kissed him, brushing his wet, wispy bangs from his stormy eyes. He was glistening with sweat all over, just the way she liked him. Just the way he’d been when he did her in Portland, before he tossed her out on her ass and everything crumbled. Before she’d posted the tweet that nearly cost them their lives.
“I want you inside me,” she whispered urgently, leaning over so her lips touched his and her long, shimmering blonde hair draped smoothly across his chest and face.
He smiled.
“You do the work,” he stretched and maneuvered until he got comfortable and clasped his hands behind his head.
“You asked for it,” she purred as she slithered on top of him to give him the ride of his life.
Before long they were both moaning and gasping again in sheer ecstasy. Holy Christ, can she fuck, Jake thought as he watched her on him. Can she ever move and pump and grind. Leaning forward, Amanda braced herself on Jake’s strong shoulders, flexed and tightened the muscles of her pussy, slid up and down hard on his moistened stiff cock.
