"Then baby, why do you still have tears in your eyes?"
He heard her sigh as she looked down at the floor. He shut the bedroom door and locked it, walked her to the bed, and sat her down. He got on his knees, wedged himself between her legs, and wrapped his arms around her hips.
He made sure they were eye to eye before he said, "Now tell me."
Alexis knew there was no fighting Jack when he wanted something, and right now, he wanted her to tell him what was wrong. She also knew he wouldn't let it go until she told him.
Alexis closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I overheard a conversation while I was in the bathroom. What was said ... I wish I never heard. But, I did. So I had to process it, come to terms with it, and move on from it. I thought I did, but I guess I'm still working on it. But, I'll get there, so no worries."
Jack gave her a slight squeeze. "Tell me."
She pushed against his chest, and he leaned back, giving her some space. She stood from the bed and paced the floor. He watched her with careful eyes, tracking her movements.
She stopped at the window and looked out. "All this is new to me, Jack. I've never even dated before you. And, all of the emotions that go along with this are new to me, as well. Rationally, I understand you're a thirty-year-old man, who in that time, has had his fair share of women. Rationally, I understand that they did not mean that much to you, because where are they now?" She flung out an arm, "Not here." Irrationally, the thought of them touching you. You touching them. Doing the things we do. Things that I thought were so special," she paused, bringing her hand to the window, fingers splayed. She rested her forehead against the pane then continued, in the saddest fucking voice Jack had ever heard. "Hearing that hurt so deep, it felt like a knife in my gut, twisting." She turned away from the window and slowly looked up. Tears streaked down her cheeks.
Jack was crushed by the sight of her tears. He couldn't stand it a second longer, he had to touch her.
* * * * *
She watched as he slowly made his way to her. He took her about the waist, walked her to the bed, and carefully laid her back. He covered her with his body, putting most of his weight on his arms, boxing her in.
"You're right, I have had my fair share of women." She closed her eyes against the pain. She knew he'd spoken those same words once before, but the impact of them cut deep this time. "Look at me, baby." She opened her eyes. "But you're wrong, too. What we have is special. Those other women, they were just a fuck. Just a body. Just a release. That is not what you are.
"I do not fuck you. I make love to you. You are not just a body. I worship your body. And, when I come inside you, it is not just a release, I feel it here," he picked up her hand and brought it to his heart, "every damn time."
"Jack—"
"No Alexis. No more bullshit. I don't want to scare you, but I'm done waiting for you to figure this shit out. I'm laying it out for you, right here, right now." With his weight on his elbows, he grabbed the sides of her head, pinning it so she couldn't look away. "You belong to me. We are not in a temporary relationship or whatever fucked up nonsense you want to call it. We are real, and you are mine. You became mine the first time I held you in my arms, and I swore to myself, I would protect you always." She wanted to look away, but he held her head firm. "And, I became yours when you gave me your virginity.
"You are it for me, Alexis. Do you understand what I'm saying? There is only you. There will only ever be you. I love you."
Alexis gasped, "You love me?"
Jack leaned his head down and nuzzled his nose alongside hers. "Yeah, baby, I do. An insurmountable amount."
Alexis wrapped her arms and legs around him and squeezed tight. "I love you, too, Jack."
"Thank God." He spoke softly against her lips before taking her mouth in a deep kiss.
* * * * *
"Please tell me you didn't have sex on my bed."
Those were the first words out of Mase's mouth when Alexis and Jack made it back to the pool. The blond was still draped across his body, but Gage was no longer around.
Jack ignored Mase and turned to Alexis. "You want to get in the pool?"
"Sure." Alexis stripped off her clothes and threw them on the lounger.
He swore under his breath at the sight that was revealed.
"What?" Alexis asked.
"Wish you would've picked a suit that has more material."
Alexis laughed, "Your mom picked this out for me."
Jack growled, "I'll kill her."
Still laughing, Alexis said, "Come on if we get in the water no one will see me."
"So true," Jack said, lunging. He scooped her up and jumped into the deep end.
Alexis shrieked before hitting the water. She came up sputtering. "You're gonna pay for that," she said, wiping the water from her face.
Jack reached into the water, grabbed her ankle, and pulled her to him. "You think I'm scared of you, little girl?"
Alexis wrapped her arms around his neck. "I don't know. Are you?" she purred an inch away from his lips.
"Terrified." Jack closed the distance, taking her mouth in a long, deep, wet kiss.
* * * * *
An hour later, they were out of the pool. Jack had taken Mase out to his car to give him his birthday present (some kind of electronic device that Jack thought was "the shit", and after a detailed explanation, Alexis still didn't understand what it did). Alexis laid on a lounger, trying to catch the last rays of the sun. The blond with Mase— her name was Peggy— laid on the lounger beside her. She was nice although a bit stuck up, but they seemed to get along well enough for pleasant conversation.
"I'm gonna get a margarita. Do you want one?" Peggy asked, sitting up.
Alexis looked over at her, her hand shielding her eyes. "Sure, thank you. Do you need help?"
Peggy waved her hand. "No, I've got it. Be back in a sec."
Alexis closed her eyes and laid her head back down. She was thinking about flipping over, to dry the back of her suit, when a shadow fell across her face. Alexis smiled and opened her eyes, expecting it to be Jack. She was surprised to find a tall, curvy blond in a barely-there, white, string bikini hovering over her.
"Is this lounger taken?" she asked, indicating the one Peggy was using.
"Alexis sat up. "Yes, but that one is free," she said, pointing to the lounger on her other side.
"Great! Thanks." The blond sat and got herself situated. She held out her hand. "I'm Janet, by the way."
Alexis took her hand and smiled. "Alexis, nice to meet you."
Peggy showed up with the margaritas and handed one to her. "Thanks." She took a sip. "Woo, that's strong."
Peggy took a sip then nodded. "Yeah, they don't skimp on the liquor here." She gestured with her head. "Who's your friend?"
Alexis made a quick introduction. She set her glass down on the concrete and adjusted the lounger into an upright position before leaning over to reclaim her glass. She looked over at Janet and found her staring at her. "What?"
"Oh, nothing." She waited a beat. "Well, if you really want to know. Now, don't take this the wrong way because I mean it as a complement, but I noticed you don't seem to care what people think about you."
"What do you mean by that?" Alexis asked, eyeing her over the rim of her glass.
"Well, it's just that you're not wearing any make-up, and your hair is a mess." Janet giggled. "Like I said, no offense. It's ... refreshing."
"I think she's adorable." Peggy leaned forward to glare at Janet.
Alexis wrinkled her nose, adorable had the same feel as being called cute. And, unfortu
nately, she was sandwiched between two gorgeous women.
"I saw you in the pool with Jackson Cole earlier," Janet said. When Alexis looked over at her, she continued. "I just thought I'd warn you, give you the heads-up, you know, woman-to-woman." At Alexis's blank stare, she said, "Anyway, whatever you thought was going on earlier, between you and Jack, not gonna happen."
"Oh yeah, and why's that?" Alexis asked, trying her best to sound nonchalant.
"Because, I'm going home with him tonight. We've already made the arrangements."
Alexis had one moment of doubt before she shook her head at herself for being silly. Not even an hour ago, Jack had said he loved her. There was no way in hell he was going home with Janet. "Have you now? Well Janet, I really hate to disappoint, but I'll be the one going home with Jack."
Janet gave her a sinister sneer. "Oh honey, you do not want to go head-to-head with me."
"I don't need to go head-to-head with you because you've already lost."
Janet laughed, "You think some kisses and light petting in a pool means you've won? I hate to disappoint, but you're not his type. Sure you've got that sweet girl-next-door thing going on, but Jack likes his women more ... well, like me."
Alexis was done with this ridiculous conversation. She didn't need to fight to be at Jack's side. She was already there. "Okay Janet. You do whatever you feel you have to do, and at the end of the night we'll see who he goes home with." Alexis polished off the last of her margarita. She turned to Peggy, who had been silent during the whole exchange, and said, "I'm going to get us more drinks."
On the way to the bar, she thought about Janet. Is that how it was always going to be with Jack? Having to stake her claim. He was a ridiculously handsome man and women were always going to want him. She would just to have to cocoon herself in the love he had for her to shield herself from the jealousy. If not, it would consume her, and it wouldn't be Jack that destroyed their relationship, but her. She had to believe, no mater how bizarre she found it, that she was the only one Jack wanted. And she wanted him. She wasn't going to let anything jeopardize her happiness with Jack, not even her own insecurities.
Alexis walked up to the bar, her shoulders straighter in new-found confidence, confidence that Jack gave her. She placed her order, and while she waited, she thought about Janet again and realized she had absolutely nothing to be jealous about. Jack was hers. He wanted their relationship. Pushed for it. And she would be going home with him because she lived with him, and he wanted her there. Fought for her to be there. Jack never once faltered in his pursuit of her, so now, she wasn't going to falter in her faith in Jack.
Janet was gone by the time Alexis came back with the drinks. She handed one to Peggy. "Where did our friend go?"
Peggy shrugged and took a sip of her drink. "She left when you did. Probably off to search for Jack. You need to be careful. Seems she wants to stir up some trouble."
"Yeah, well I figure, being with Jack I'm going to need to grow a tough skin."
Peggy looked at her with an assessing eye. "I don't know, seems you're pretty strong already." She took another sip of her drink and looked at Alexis, unease written on her face as she asked her next question. "Any chance she's right, and she'll be going home with him tonight?"
Alexis couldn't hold in her bark of laughter. "No," she said, shaking her head. "I live with him. I'll be going home with him tonight."
Peggy's eyes widened at that announcement. "Well, I guess you will be going home with him then." Then she laughed, too. "I don't think Janet knows about that development."
Alexis smiled. "No, I don't think she does. But, I have a feeling she'll know it by the end of the night."
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Jack and Alexis were in the hot tub with Mase and Peggy when Janet made her reappearance. Alexis had filled Jack in on the events that had transpired while he was gone. His face had transformed from confusion to disbelief then finally to anger.
When she asked him why he was so angry, he replied, "I'm angry with myself for leaving you alone for so long. I know how people at these parties can be. They're backstabbing and petty. I should have protected you better." He stared off over her head, his jaw tense and his eyes blazing.
"Hey, look at me," Alexis said, cupping his jaw and pulling his face down to meet hers. "I've told you once already, I can take care of myself. You can't be with me all the time and, unfortunately, things like this are going to happen. I'd take on a hundred Janets in one day and be happy doing it, as long as I know your waiting for me at the end of that day."
Jacks eyes softened as he gazed at her. "I don't know what I did to deserve you, but if destiny or fate or whatever you want to call it, made a mistake, I'm not giving you back. Hell, no. That's their fuck up not mine."
All eyes were on Janet as she stepped into the water, made her way across the spa, and sat on the seat between Mase and Jack. "Hello all," she said, smiling at Mase and Peggy. She turned her gaze to Jack. "Hello again, Jack," she purred.
Alexis picked up her third margarita for the evening and downed the last of its contents in two gulps. She watched as Janet placed a hand on Jack's shoulder, her breasts pressing into his upper arm, as she leaned in close to speak quietly (but loud enough for Alexis to hear) in his ear. "Are we still on for tonight?"
Alexis stood up. "I think I need another drink." She wobbled a little as the last margarita hit her system.
Jack grabbed her hand and tugged her back to her seat. "As soon as I deal with this, I'll get you another drink. No way in hell I'm letting you parade around in that bikini. Especially when you're tipsy.
Peggy giggled. Alexis looked over at her and rolled her eyes. "He can be a bit possessive."
"I can see that," Peggy smirked.
Jack grabbed Alexis's ankle and pulled her foot out of the water. He gave her a diabolical look. "Did you just roll your eyes at me?" He pulled until her foot was a few inches from his mouth.
Alexis fell back in the water, she threw her arms behind her, grabbing onto the seat for support. "Don't you dare tickle me, Jack." Alexis laughed at his evil grin.
"I asked you a question, Alexis," he said, inching his mouth closer to her foot.
Alexis shrieked, "No, don't. I won't do it again." She tried to pull her ankle out of his grip. "I promise."
He dropped her ankle and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her against him to straddle his lap. He planted his lips on her neck and mumbled, "See that you don't."
"Hello, Jack! I asked you a question."
Alexis sighed. She had forgotten about Janet during their play. Jack groaned. Apparently, so had he.
He turned to look at Janet. Alexis noticed it was not a happy look.
"What?" He asked. Alexis tried to scoot off his lap, but he held her firmly.
"What's going on here? I thought we had plans." Janet kept on, unwisely Alexis thought.
"Why would you think we had plans?" Alexis sincerely hoped Jack never used that tone of voice on her.
"Because you said—"
"What, what did I say? Because I remember exactly what I said in our thirty-second conversation." Alexis stroked Jack's back in an attempt to calm him. It seemed to work, as he relaxed in her arms.
"You said that you would see me later."
"I said, maybe I would see you later. And, honest to God, the only reason I even said that was to get away from you. I was in a rush to find Alexis."
Janet sneered, "Alexis, really. Out of all the women here, myself included, that's who you're going to settle with for the night?"
Alexis stiffened at the insult. Jack growled. Mase apparently thought it was time to interfere. He stepped in front
of Janet, blocking Jack's view of her, and said, "You've insulted my best friend's girl. You need to leave. And I don't just mean the area. I mean my property."
Alexis couldn't see Janet, but the noises she made pretty much summed up how she felt about Mase's statement.
They watched as Janet shoved Mase out of her way. She splashed to the stairs, stomped up them and dripped across the sidewalk, until she disappeared into the crowd. Everyone was silent for a moment, then Peggy declared, "Good riddance. Now, who's getting the margaritas!"
The room was silent. The only light, that of the moon casting it's beams through the uncovered windows. They laid in bed, Jack on his back and Alexis draped across his chest. His fingers played with her curls as her foot ran up and down his shin.
"You still drunk?" he whispered against the top of her head.
Alexis giggled. "No, but maybe a little tipsy still."
"What she said wasn't true you know."
Alexis lifted her head and looked at Jack.
"Will you remember this? It's important."
Alexis smiled. "I'm not drunk." Her smile faded at his serious expression. "I'll remember."
"I want you to know, you are nobody someone would settle for."
"Oh Jack, don't worry. Her words didn't hurt me." They so did. More than they should have.
"Don't lie to me, Alexis." His hand cupped her face, and his thumb moved across the crest of her cheek. His stare was intense as he devoured her features. "You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."
"I'm glad you think so." She kept her tone as serious as his. "You're pretty spectacular, yourself." She reached up a traced his jaw. She loved the feel of his rough whiskers against the pads of her fingers.
He traced her eyebrow with his fingertip. "When I look at you. When I see you. I wonder how I can ever live up to all that is you. I don't deserve you, Alexis."
"Jack, you—"
Jack brought a finger to her lips. "Shh. I don't want to hear any more lies tonight."
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