by Alice Raine
After a few more breathless seconds I decided that if I wanted to live long enough to enjoy Jack a little more, I did need to breathe, so I tried to adjust his arm and shift it carefully down.
At first I managed quite successfully but then he began to stir. The offending arm lifted, and he ran his fingers through his hair. Jack’s eyes opened, blinked a few times, then eventually settled on me.
The way his expression changed was hilarious. He started off with a smile, but as he fully woke up and took in his sprawled position, his eyes opened wider and he began scrabbling in the blankets to push himself up.
‘Oops. I must have shifted in my sleep,’ he muttered, grumbling when his legs got even more tangled in the sheets.
I simply wrapped my arms around his shoulders and pulled his lovely warm body back down. ‘Don't apologise, I like it,’ I murmured softly, rubbing a hand over his chest and causing Jack to relax with a happy sigh and a growl that made my heart race.
After years of being so isolated from anything remotely sexual I really was quite shocked at my recent bravery. It was like Jack had managed to erase my memories and fears with his goodness.
After a few seconds of lovely cuddling, an unfamiliar noise made its presence known somewhere in the room with an annoyingly high-pitched beeping. Jack buried his face in my neck with a groan. ‘I wish I didn't have to work today.’
Propping himself on his elbow, he gazed at me, his eyes working their way around my face as if committing the details to memory.
‘God, you’re so beautiful,’ he murmured, causing my cheeks to heat. It was first thing in the morning; I hadn’t brushed my hair, teeth, or washed my face. But on top of that, I wasn’t used to being showered with compliments all the time, especially by a Hollywood star.
‘Don’t blush, it’s true,’ he said, smiling lazily, ‘I would like nothing more than to stay in bed with you all day,’ he mumbled as he placed a light kiss on my lips that caused my stomach to tumble with excitement. But before we’d got to the good stuff, his alarm went off again.
‘Damn it. I’m sorry, Caitlin, I’m going to have to go.’ Caressing my cheek, he grinned. ‘I slept really bloody well last night. Apparently you make an excellent pillow,’ he added softly, making me chuckle and blush even redder. At this rate I’d be the colour of a beetroot by the time he left for work.
‘So, in an effort to make amends for my seriously appalling behaviour I think we should spend some time together. Sound good?’
It sounded am-az-ing. I tried, and probably failed, to look cool as I nodded my response.
Jack slid from my arms and stood, before turning and gazing down at me. His body was stunning in the bright morning light, and my eyes were trying to take it all in so desperately that they must have looked like a marble zooming around a pin-ball machine, and even though I knew it was rude to stare, I couldn’t stop myself.
‘Glad you like the view,’ he joked. And boy, was he right. I seriously loved the view. And the way he smelt. And the feel of him curled around me in bed. And...well, the list was pretty endless.
‘Sorry,’ I replied, even though I wasn’t really sorry at all.
‘Don’t apologise, I got my own eyeful last night when I saw you in the tiny thing you call a nightdress,’ Jack teased as he began slipping on his shirt. ‘I’m busy all morning, then I’ve got a golf lesson with Sean at lunch then a few more hours at the studio, but can I see you later? Maybe we could have dinner at my place?’
He was willing to have another night off from his Greg search so he could spend time with me. Nodding happily, I struggled unsuccessfully to avoid the distracting sight of Jack bending to pick up his trousers, so I was another few notches redder by the time he dropped another kiss on my lips and donned his shoes.
‘It’s Saturday tomorrow and I know you’re off work, so bring an overnight bag and you can stay.’ Seeing my raised eyebrow, Jack smiled sheepishly. ‘No funny business, I promise. I’ll be more than content just to have you with me.’
‘I know. I actually find it funny how hard you’re trying to be honourable,’ I joked.
‘Well, your honour is important to me,’ he fired back smoothly.
My stomach was tumbling with excitement so frantically that I pulled my pillow down and hugged it to my belly. As I did so I saw Jack’s eyes narrow and then an affectionate smile curved his lips. I wondered what his look was for as he sunk down onto the mattress beside me and reached above me for something.
‘Are these mine?’ he questioned.
Looking at his hand, I suddenly felt my stomach drop when I realised what he’d been reaching for – his two handkerchiefs. The ones he’d given me when I was crying that I’d never returned. Oh shit. Much to my mortification he’d discovered my collection, which still resided under my pillow for some stupid reason.
‘Ummm...’ What could I say? The truth would make me sound like a stalker, because the reason I’d kept them was simple; I’d been so madly infatuated with him that I’d liked keeping them close.
Thankfully, Jack spotted my rising mortification, because he simply re-folded the cotton squares, placed them on my bedside table, and gave them a little pat. ‘I’m glad you like them. You keep them,’ he whispered.
OK, that hadn’t been nearly as embarrassing as I’d expected.
‘Right, I gotta go, sweetheart. I'm running late. See you later, hopefully we’ll wrap up at about six.’
‘OK, sounds good.’ Barely stifling a yawn, I stretched out lazily under the covers.
Jack shook his head at me, clearly jealous at my chance to stay in bed. Then after blowing me a kiss he left. I heard him quietly making his way through the house and out of the front door before I allowed myself to grin and roll around in the sheets that still held his gorgeous scent.
Allie
I had literally been sitting on the edge of my bed for half an hour, waiting to hear Jack leave so I could grill Cait on what had happened last night. Sean had left twenty minutes ago, and finally, one minute ago, I had heard the front door open and close again.
Not wasting a single second, I leapt up, still in my pyjamas, and dashed towards the spare room where Cait was staying.
‘I’m awake!’ called Cait cheerily before I’d even had a chance to knock.
‘How did you know I was out there?’ I asked, as I burst in to find Cait still in bed, sitting up against the headboard as she smiled ruefully at me. ‘You sounded like a herd of elephants running down the corridor, it would have been pretty hard not to hear you.’
‘Oh.’ Perhaps I had been just a little keen to get here. ‘So, come on, fill me in! I assume from the fact he stayed the night that things are back on track?’
I could see Cait was trying her best to look nonchalant but failing miserably; her face was lit up with excitement, her eyes twinkling with happiness.
‘Yep, things are good.’ She paused and grinned. ‘Really good.’
Cait gave the elastic bands around her wrist a ping and I couldn’t help asking the obvious.
‘Did you two...you know...do the deed?’ Cait’s cheeks flushed at my question, giving the distinct impression that they might have had sex, and I found myself so thrilled by the juicy gossip that was unfolding that I could hardly stand still.
Jumping onto the bed, I flapped my hands impatiently before grabbing a pillow and hugging it to my stomach. ‘Come on! Tell me, Cait!’ I exclaimed desperately.
‘No, we didn’t sleep together ... well, obviously we shared the bed, but you know what I mean, we didn’t ... you know...do it.’ Cait’s cheeks were bright pink now, so I suspected something more than just sleeping might have taken place.
Seeing my questioning look she grinned and dropped her head into her hands, laughing. ‘This is so embarrassing!’ Rubbing her face she looked up at me again. ‘We kissed and we had a bit of a cuddle and a...well, we had a bit of a feel of each other, but he was really tired so that’s all we did.’
I nodded thoughtfully, act
ually rather glad that Jack was living up to the gentleman status I’d given him.
‘Is his body as nice as it looks through his clothes?’ I asked, unable to help myself.
Cait almost gurgled with laughter, her cheeks blooming with so much heat I could almost feel it from where I was sitting. ‘Yeah ... he’s pretty ripped, actually.’
Grinning, I only just supressed the urge to high five her, but decided to tone down my excitement before Cait got too overwhelmed. ‘So, when are you seeing him again?’
She drew in an excited breath before licking her lips. ‘Tonight, after work. I was actually just writing a text to him asking if I can go to our house today with Tanya to get some clothes. Do you want to come?’
‘Definitely. It’ll be good to grab a few more bits and pieces. I need some clean undies! I’ll meet you there.’
After a full exchange of gossip, I left Cait to get ready for work and decided to spend the morning writing some of my much neglected novel.
Forty-two
Cait
It felt strange sitting outside my little rental house after so long. With both Sean and Jack insistent that Allie and I didn’t endanger ourselves while Greg was still on the loose, I’d had to spend the last few weeks making do with some clothes and bits and pieces that Sean had picked up for me.
After Jack left me in bed that morning, I’d thought about our upcoming date and messaged him to persuade him to let me come back to pack a bag properly. It was only dinner at his house, but it would be nice to have my own make-up and choice of clothes. Allie would be joining me soon too, but I’d come straight from work and it seemed I’d beaten her to it.
Jack made me promise that I’d get Tanya to check the house out first. Just a few minutes later, she arrived back at the car and knocked on my window so I unlocked the door and got out. ‘It’s all clear inside. No evidence that anyone has been in since you left.’
Now I had the all-clear, she told me she’d wait in the car while I ran inside and grabbed my stuff. After asking Tanya to keep an eye out for Allie, I headed to the house, and I was so ridiculously happy at the prospect of getting some of my own things back I almost skipped across the car park.
Grabbing my phone, I lifted my bag onto my shoulder and decided to call Jack to thank him for arranging Tanya for me. I’d not really been thrilled to have her around at first, so I’d hardly been appreciative, but I had to admit she did make me feel so much safer.
Scrolling for his number as I walked, I couldn’t help the grin that broke out on my face. I wasn’t able to get him out of my head: his handsome face, the devastating grin that seemed to be able to simultaneously make me heat with warmth and blush with arousal, his gentle hands, his gorgeous body...I had a feeling that soon, maybe even tonight, I was going to jump the final hurdle and sleep with him.
Mmmm. A shiver of pleasure ran through me, and my smile turned to a full on smirk as I imagined what it would be like.
I was a lucky girl, that was for sure.
With my phone in one hand, I slid the key into the front door and shoved it open with my hip. Stepping into the cool interior of our little house, my attention was still on my phone, but a small, muffled cry brought my gaze up and my heart seemed to come to a stop as my entire world froze.
Greg.
Greg was here. In my house.
But...but Tanya had literally just said it was OK...
What had I just been saying about being a lucky girl? I must have laid a serious jinx on myself.
My lungs felt like they were freezing up. Icy panic slithered through my system, clenching my muscles and trying to take me away from reality towards the darkness of a panic attack.
It had been my body’s response to fear for so many years, as if my brain understood that it was the only way for me to cope, but I couldn’t give into it today, because to my utter horror, Greg and I weren’t alone in the room.
Allie was here.
The sight of her on her knees in front of Greg shot terror to my heart. She was facing me as he stood behind her with an ominously sharp blade pressed against her throat. Considering how easily panic attacks usually came to me, it was incredible how much clarity the sight gave me. Greg was my ultimate nightmare, but I needed to dig into my recently bolstered confidence and be strong, for both myself and Allie.
‘You have a personal security guard?’ Greg sneered derisively. ‘Not a very good one, though, she didn’t even check the coat cupboard in the downstairs toilet.’
As I stood there, my breathing seemed to completely fail me, but my eyes desperately sought Allie’s.
Her blue eyes were swollen and red as tears streamed down her face, plastering her hair to her cheeks and soaking the strip of grey fabric that had been shoved between her lips as a gag, but her eyes seemed to be urging me to run as she darted constant looks towards the door.
There was no way I was leaving her. No way. I knew just how screwed-up Greg was. He didn’t just have a few screws loose; he was barely held together, and about as unstable as they got. If I ran away to get help, then God only knows what he might do to her.
‘I skipped the pleasantries, didn’t I? Hello, Cait.’ The snide, oily quality of his voice slid over me, making my stomach turn with disgust and causing the hairs to stand up on my arms. Fuck, fuck, fuck...what the hell could I do? How long would it be until Tanya thought to check on me?
‘Drop the phone and keys. Right now.’ His tone left little room for manoeuvre so reluctantly I put my only possible lifeline down on the table and placed my keys on top with a shaky hand.
‘Lock the door behind you.’
Saying goodbye to my freedom, I clicked the lock in place as my mind raced.
‘Let her go, Greg. Allie has nothing to do with this,’ I stated, totally fucking amazed that my voice sounded as rock solid as it did.
‘I don’t think so, sweetheart.’ The blood in my veins chilled until I shivered. Sweetheart. He’d called me sweetheart. Was that a sick coincidence, or had he somehow heard Jack and I together?
I felt well and truly thrown. Pulling myself together, I schooled my features into a blank mask.
We were in a locked room with a psychotic man and his large blade. I was really struggling to see an outcome where this didn’t end badly for me, but the only thing I could hope was that I could keep Allie and Jack out of it.
‘Well, at least put the knife down,’ I tried again, but this time a sick leer spread across his face as he shook his head, his long hair brushing around his shoulders as he did so. Ugh. I couldn’t believe I’d ever found him and his lanky hair attractive, it looked like hundreds of slimy rats tails.
‘Nah.’ He twirled the knife with skill before placing it back against Allie’s reddened skin. ‘This might be your house, but we play by my rules.’ My stomach plummeted and Allie’s breathing audibly increased until she was panting through the gag.
Greg seemed to notice her distress too, as if he’d suddenly remembered she was in the room, and with a sneer he lowered his head next to her ear and whispered, ‘If you scream, I’ll slice you.’ Then he slid the gag from her mouth.
Allie stared at me, her tears dry for the moment while she sucked in deep breaths and gave me a helpless ‘what the hell are we going to do’ look.
I had no fucking idea.
Where the hell was Tanya?
Whichever way I looked at it, there seemed to be only one way out of this, and it wasn’t going to be pleasant. It was time to suck it up and be brave. He wanted me.
Sucking in a deep breath, I said the words I’d never thought I’d say. ‘I’m here now. You can do what you want to me, Greg, but let Allie go.’
Greg’s eye’s visibly dilated, his ego almost becoming tangible as his chest puffed up and his shoulders straightened. ‘Nice offer, but no deal.’ His piggy eyes trailed down the length of me and back up before he licked his lips.
‘But I’m glad to see you offering yourself to me. Not that you needed to bother, you sh
ould already know. You’re mine, Cait. You’ve always been mine.’ His words held a clarity, and I struggled for breath as his eyes pierced into me from across the room. After three years, he really believed that I was his?
‘Come a little closer.’ His instruction was low, but all I could think was that it took me further away from the door and the slim chance of escape.
‘Have you been good these past three years? Mmm?’ Keeping the blade pressed to Allie’s neck, he raised his free hand and caressed my cheek. The feel of his cool fingers on my skin made me shudder, but I did my best to mask it. ‘I tried to keep an eye on you, but you made it very difficult. You always did like to play hard to get.’
I didn’t know what to do. My obvious reaction was to scream and flail, but the blade in his hand held me back. Should I fake feelings? Was he nutty enough to believe me?
‘I...I’ve been good.’ Now I was closer I could smell the same aftershave he used all those years ago and my confidence began failing as my throat tightened with the rush of terrifying memories.
‘Really?’ He looked intrigued, and I nodded jerkily. ‘What about the guy who interrupted us? Mr Glamour-Boy and his fancy car?’ I desperately fought to keep my features blank. ‘That’s right, Cait. I’ve been watching you. He’s been touching you, I saw him.’
Greg leaned in close, his movement pressing the blade more firmly against Allie’s neck and causing her to let out a terrified squeak. Greg didn’t seem to notice and I panicked that he really didn’t even acknowledge that she was there. ‘Touching what was mine.’
‘We’re just friends.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘Is it just him? Or have you let other men touch you, sweetheart?’ He drew in a breath that flared his nostrils. ‘How many men have you fucked when you should have been fucking me?’
I could barely breathe. A cold trickle of sweat ran down my neck and onto my spine as I tried to formulate an answer that would please him. Before I could even speak Allie wriggled below us, drawing our attention.
‘She hasn’t slept with anyone, you fucker!’ she spat viciously. ‘You left her too screwed up!’
