by Maggie Cole
I looked at Jack in awe. “You did all this?”
“The nonprofits I’m working with will run it. I only bought the building and coordinated it." He shrugged.
“Jack, this is amazing!”
He held up his hand. “Maddie, I’m only showing this to you because I will always be haunted by that night. But at least I can try to play a role in helping those who have been victimized.” He stepped forward, grabbed my face, and tilted it toward his. “You aren’t a victim. I’m not a victim. We have the ability to move forward. Some people don’t.”
I let Jack’s words sink in. He was right. I made my own choices. I needed to figure out how to move forward from them.
“I’m trying to move forward, in a good way. You’re part of that. You’re good in my life. You’re moving forward in yours. Hopefully, you see me as a good part of that, no matter what my past is?”
“Yes, Jack, you’re a good part of it.”
“Don’t ever tell me again that I deserve someone better than you, I won’t have it.” His voice was authoritative, and he raised his eyebrows at me.
I bit my lip.
“I’m choosing to move forward with you. I know it’s quick, but I’m a man who knows what he wants, and what I want is you. So you can live on your own as long as you want and figure out your shit, but at the end of the day, don’t ever question your worthiness or the type of person you are. I can give you time, space, whatever you need, but make sure I’m part of whatever you figure out, okay?” There was confidence, yet vulnerability, in his eyes.
I reached up to grab his neck and pulled his face to mine. "Okay, Jack. I understand.” I kissed him. He was mine, and he wouldn’t let me forget it. And he was right. I needed to figure out how to move forward and put the past behind me.
Jack drew back from my kiss and grabbed my hand. “Come on, Maddie.”
“Where are we going now?”
He laughed and gave me his schoolboy, full-dimpled grin. “To try out all those beds!”
19
Jack
I don’t know what he did to her. The FBI, Claire, no one would tell me…and especially not Maddie. It drove me crazy, but I wouldn't push her, because I knew she was already close to a breaking point.
When she mentioned she shared a bed with him, my stomach flipped. Yes, I knew they had, but I still didn’t like to think about it. When I heard the words flow out of her mouth, I swallowed hard not to have the contents of my stomach come up.
They kicked me out of the penthouse, and that upset me. As much as I didn’t want to think about Maddie and Michael together, I also felt like I needed to know what he had done, so I could help make it better.
I sulked my way to the lobby and out into the street, where I ran into Collin.
“Hey, where you off to?” Collin must have been out for his run because he was sweaty and wore his running gear.
“Did Tom fill you in about the FBI questioning Maddie?”
“He called me this morning to fill me in. Today, right?”
“Right now. She kicked me out.”
He gave a low whistle. “Why did she kick you out?”
“They inquired about Maddie and Michael’s sex life, and she made me leave.” New anger started to boil in my blood.
Collin put his hand on my shoulder. “Listen, I know this isn’t easy, but don’t push her to talk to you about it when you go back up there. Give her time, and she’ll eventually tell you when she’s ready. One thing I’ve learned from Meg is that there is a lot of shame involved in any abusive relationship. I don’t know if she was abused, but if she was in any way—”
I cut him off. “I don’t know what happened, but he was emotionally and verbally abusive to her, but I’m not sure if it went past that.”
"Then take it from me, Jack. Let her know you are there, but allow her to process and deal with it a bit. If you know everything right now, it isn’t going to fix it, and it could make her feel worse.”
“Noted,” I told Collin.
“Give her some time. She will eventually tell you.”
I nodded. “Any progress with the other investors?”
Collin shook his head. “They are stuck on no proof, no clause.”
I rolled my eyes in frustration. I wanted this to be over. "Well, I appreciate all you’re doing.”
“Hey, I’m always here for you, man.”
I patted Collin on the back. He was secretly working with Tom and me to try and get the investors to revoke Michael’s shares of the marina.
“I’ll see you soon. If I don’t get back, Meg will kill me. We’ve got a full day ahead of us.”
“Okay, thanks for the advice.”
I thought about what he said. I definitely didn’t want to make Maddie feel any worse than she already did. That’s why I decided to let it go and not press her.
And I know I pressured her to make sure she figured out her life with me in it, but I couldn’t help myself. I needed her to know I wanted her. Now and in the future.
We went bed shopping. Then I made the hard phone call I didn’t want to.
Maddie wanted to move into her own place. I was sad, but I tried not to show her. I knew how important this was to her, and I wouldn’t be the guy who made her feel bad or guilty.
No, I would be happy for her. So, I called the movers and scheduled her move.
I was concerned about the security though. The day shift had been there forever, but the night shift seemed to have a lot of turnover. That was a red flag to me, but there hadn’t been any security issues in the building ever, according to Tom.
The day she moved her stuff out of my place, reminded me once again how empty my penthouse was. When Maddie was there, it felt like a home. I would walk into my house and feel life inside it. But once she moved out, it felt like before.
Empty.
And now that I was with Maddie, I couldn't run from it anymore. I couldn't fly off somewhere and stay away to avoid it. I needed to be in New York for her, so I would have to deal with it.
She left a few items at my house for sleepovers, but my heart dropped the day I walked into her closet and found it almost empty. I knew that it was important to her to live on her own, but it still stung.
I would stay at her place or mine. I didn’t care where we were, as long as she was with me, but I longed for the day she would come back to me permanently. I would give her the time and space I promised her.
I prayed it wasn’t too long.
* * *
Maddie
A week later, I fully moved into my apartment. My new bed arrived, and Jack’s movers quickly filled my apartment with all my stuff. I woke up in Jack's arms when I heard his alarm.
“No, stay in bed where it’s warm.” I grabbed him when he tried to get up.
He chuckled softly, “Time for my run, babe. You can come with me if you want.”
“No chance!”
He shook his head and stood up naked.
I grabbed his semi and licked my lips. “You sure you don’t want to stay?”
A small but cocky grin came on his face, “The five orgasms I gave you last night wasn’t enough?”
“Nope.” I bit my lip, and he quickly swooped in and tickled me.
“Jack, stop,” I giggled, as he straddled me. His knees were on both sides of my rib cage, his butt was on my stomach, and his dick was near my cleavage.
He stopped and gave me another cocky grin. “What now, Maddie? What should I do to you?”
Quickly, I leaned up and licked the tip of his dick, then rubbed my spit all over it before I put my lips around his cap. I gently sucked before I slid his shaft between my breasts.
“Fucking, beautiful dirty girl!” Jack’s eyes lit up, and his dimples popped out.
I gave him my innocent eyes and continued to rub him as I grabbed his balls and massaged them.
Jack groaned, hard.
I took more of him in my mouth and kept him positioned between my breasts.
> “Jesus, Maddie,” Jack muttered, as he gazed down at me and enjoyed his view.
His hands played with my nipples, and I started to moan while he was in my mouth. “That’s my girl,” he whispered as I moaned. “Now squeeze your beautiful pussy for me, baby.”
I squeezed and sucked his cock as he continued to play with my nipples. I closed my eyes, surprised at how good it felt.
“Pretend you’re squeezing my big cock.”
I did as Jack commanded, and my lower region began to drip.
“Does it feel good?”
I nodded as Jack started to pull on my nipples gently.
I gasped and sucked him harder.
“Shit, Maddie!” He closed his eyes and opened them back up quickly, as he pushed my breasts together and thrust his dick through them.
“Are you wet for me, baby?” Jack gazed into my eyes, on his power high.
Loudly moaning, I tried to nod, while I kept control of my mouth on his cock. I had no idea how he knew what to tell me to do, but it didn’t take long for my body to respond. My body was on fire, as my chest heaved from my labored breath. Jack continued to thrust through my breasts, and I savagely sucked any part of his cock I could get.
“Move your hand and play with yourself while you keep squeezing,” Jack commanded me.
I hadn’t touched myself in front of anyone ever, but I did as I was told, once again, without reservation. It never mattered what Jack told me to do, I always did it without hesitation or question. I moved my hand from his balls to my clit then took my other hand and put it back on his balls.
I grabbed my wetness and made circular motions on my sex, as I continued to squeeze and release.
“Rub harder, Maddie.”
I did as Jack wanted and knew I wouldn’t be able to last long. Loud moans started to fly out of me.
“Your so delicious, Maddie,” he whispered to me for the thousandth time since the night we first met.
Like an injection of heroin, my lower region sped into Neverland, and my back arched with Jack on top of me. My nipples grew harder, as Jack continued to manipulate them, with his big, beautiful cock in my mouth.
“Let me taste you, baby,” Jack demanded.
My hands left my body and pushed into Jack’s mouth. He sucked on my fingers as I felt his girth pulse against my breasts. I knew I needed to cum, but he wasn’t far behind me.
I grazed my teeth on him, and he groaned, as his chest heaved. I shut my eyes for a minute.
He released my fingers. “Touch yourself again.”
I put my hand back on my clit and instantly started to whimper, as my body responded, and I brought myself back up to the edge.
“Open your eyes, Maddie, and make yourself cum,” Jack ordered, with his eyes full of the same wild-and-craziness I felt.
Ready for my apex, I moved my hand quicker and let myself go. My body lifted further into Jack’s. My eyes rolled as I continued to suck his dick. He started to throb, and I released his balls and grabbed his hips to push him further into my mouth as he erupted all over me. I continued to shake and moan, as I drank his hot juice, and he cried out my name in ecstasy.
In the aftermath, he rolled off me and grabbed my hand. He stroked my fingers with his, as we both lay on our backs and tried to catch our breath. I looked over to see his schoolboy grin on his face as he stared at me.
“What?”
“I think you just made every dirty fantasy I ever had come true.”
I laughed. He leaned over me and kissed me, “Don’t freak out, but I love you, Maddie.”
I grinned and kissed him. “Not freaked out. I love you too, Jack.”
He kissed me harder, jumped off the bed, and swatted my ass. "Okay, time for my run.”
* * *
Jack
I loved Maddie more than I ever loved anyone. I thought she would freak out when I told her, but she didn’t, and she loved me, too.
As I ran through Central Park, my thoughts in the clouds, I didn’t realize it, but I ran straight toward Michael Duponte. I froze.
My time with Michael over the last year had all been calculated. I wasn’t prepared to bump into him on my run, and especially in New York City.
“Jack.” He stopped.
“Michael, I thought you would be in Tampa?” I quickly recovered as my blood began to boil—just like every other time I spent in his presence.
Something seemed off, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. It must be because I’m not prepared to see him.
He snickered. “You like to keep me there, don’t you?”
The hair on my neck stood up. “Sorry?”
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
I wasn’t sure what to say. Finally, I asked, “You going back soon?”
He paused, then nodded. “Yep. See you around, Jack.” He ran off.
My body went colder. Something is off.
I picked my phone out of my pocket and called Creedie. “I just ran into Duponte. What’s he doing in New York? I thought he was in Tampa?”
“He left last night.”
“What do you think he’s doing here? Shouldn’t he be in town if a shipment is coming in?”
“We would assume.”
I kicked a leaf on the ground. “Assumptions aren’t enough. Don’t tell me you guys aren’t going to nail them this time.”
“Jack, calm down. We’re doing the best we can.”
I grunted. “Really? It’s been over a year, and we aren’t any closer. If he’s in town, something is off with your intel. He isn’t going to miss a party.”
Creedie sighed. “Look, Jack, we’re on it. You need to have a little more patience.”
I sneered, “Patience? It’s been over a year!”
“I know. We need more time. Trust me. We will get them.”
“In the meantime, he’s running around New York in the same city as Maddie. Creedie, you either take care of this or I will.”
“Jack, don’t do anything stupid. You’ll put yourself and Maddie in more danger,” Creedie warned.
I knew he was right, but I still wanted to go over to his place and cripple him.
“Jack?”
I kicked the ground again. “Yeah, I hear you.” I hung up.
Duponte needed to get out of the city and as far away from Maddie as possible.
I called Casey. “Put a trail on Maddie. Don’t let her know. Duponte is here.”
I closed my eyes. This thing really needed to end.
20
Maddie
The weeks turned into months. Jack and I only became closer. We traded nights at each other's places. We didn’t care where we were, as long as we were with each other. Our clothes and other personal items were at both places, and we traded keys.
The investigation with the FBI continued, but I stopped asking Jack about it because I realized that I couldn’t make it happen any faster. Our prior conversations weren’t positive, so it was easier for me to ignore it. I knew Jack was still heavily involved and stressed out by it, so I made it my mission to do whatever I could to make him happy and laugh when we were together.
The winter turned into summer. Jack was out of town again, and I was outside my work building when I saw him. As I grabbed my lunch from the street vendor, I spotted a man with a long lens camera, taking pictures of me.
At first, I thought maybe I was wrong. I went and sat on a bench. Sure enough, the man from far away took more pictures. I quickly pulled out my phone and pretended I was FaceTiming someone. I zoomed in and snapped a photo of him.
My insides quivered but I told myself to hold it together. I didn’t want to worry Jack while he was away, so I walked back inside and directly to Liv’s office. She and Meg were meeting at her desk.
“Hey, Maddie, what’s wrong?” Liv wrinkled her brows at me.
“I can come back.” I turned to leave.
Liv called my name and told me to come back in. “Maddie, what’s going on?”
I showed the p
icture to Liv and Meg and told them he photographed me. I tried to zoom in on the photo I took, but it was too far for a clear shot.
“Crap, Maddie.” Meg walked over to the window and pointed. “Look, he’s still there.”
Liv and I both joined Meg at the window. Liv snapped photos, but like my phone, it was too far away.
Meg picked up her phone. “Collin, are you here yet or on your way for our meeting?”
She paced. “I need you to do something. Some crazy guy is taking pictures of Maddie. I’m going to text you where he’s located. Can you get a better picture?”
Quiet filled the room as Meg listened.
“No, we’re inside Liv’s office, safe and sound. I can see him from Liv’s office window.” Meg listened as Collin spoke. "I’m texting you a picture now,” Meg hung up and sent him a picture, then told me to airdrop her my pic so she could send it as well.
Liv glanced at me. “Have you called Jack?”
“He’s out of town. I don’t want to worry him. It could be nothing. I could have imagined it.”
Liv gave me a serious look. “You need to call Jack.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to worry him.”
Within a few minutes, Collin sent us a picture. The guy wore sunglasses and a hat, but there was no doubt who he was. My knees buckled, and I sank into the chair.
“Maddie? Do you know him?” Meg questioned me.
“It’s Bo Crumo, Mike’s friend from California.” I shuddered.
Within minutes, Jack texted me the same picture Collin sent us. My Facetime rang as Liv’s phone rang as well. She stepped outside before I heard her say, “Hey, Tom.”
“Maddie, what’s going on?” Jack demanded to know.
“I was outside grabbing lunch and saw him taking pictures of me. I couldn’t get close enough to see who it was, so Meg called Collin to get a picture.”
“Do you know who he is?”
I quietly nodded.
“Maddie, for God's sake, who is he?”
“Bo Crumo, from California. Inform the FBI…they know about him.” I turned away from the phone and knew Jack would ask questions.