Tough Love (Hidden Secrets)

by Belden, P. J.

  This made me laugh. “Such an eager beaver, you are.”

  Jack may not know he’s mine but he will soon enough. This little bitch won’t know what hit her once I’m finished with her. She thinks she can go around holding my man’s hand, move into his house. I mean seriously how is a woman supposed to watch her man sleep now when there’s some naked whore next him or a kid and a disfigured something. This woman has pissed me off and I will make sure that my frustrations are taken out on her.

  “Yeah well let’s just say my tactics aren’t working. Tell me what you got.”

  “You’re tactics are too tame. All you’re doing is calling her. She needs to know that the person on the other end is more than just tormenting her. She needs to be afraid of torture. You will continue your calls, but you need to let her know you’re coming for her. Now don’t come right out and say it. It’s the fear that will eat at her.”

  “What do I get out of all this, because we are talking about family here.”

  “What do you want?”

  “One hundred thousand dollars.”

  “Oh honey it’s not worth that much.”

  “Oh but I think it is. If you want my help then you will pay me that money. You know how to reach me.” Then he hangs up the phone.

  Damn it! This chick was causing me more problems than it’s worth! Grabbing my TV tray, I threw it across the room. How the hell am I going to get him this money and still be able to keep my lifestyle to grab Jack’s attention?

  An idea starts to form in my head. I won’t be the one paying for his help. This little bitch will be helping. I start laughing as the plan starts to take form in my head.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Shannon

  Time with Jackson has flown by. Watching Jackson and the boys together makes me long for my own kids, husband. When I approached my parents about taking back my life, I had been talking to this guy on the internet that I thought could have been the one. I looked forward to his conversations, but suddenly he quit talking to me. I’m not sure what happened to him, but I know I pray that he’d found happiness and is safe. Hell with my luck he may not even have been real. He might just have been a figment that I’d longed for at that time. Either way, he was what I needed at the time. It kept me from going insane.

  Before Jackson, there had only been one other guy, and only one other time. I was nineteen. To say that the experience was a mess was saying a lot.

  “Hey Trav,” I greeted him wringing my hands in front of me.

  “Hey Shannon,” he whispered as he leaned in and kissed me.

  I’m not sure what to think of his kisses. They were sloppy and sometimes his tongue swirled around the outside of my mouth more than it was inside my mouth. He seemed to be happy with them so I was happy with them.

  “Are you ready to go?”

  “Yeah, I think so.” I said, as I pulled the door shut behind me.

  We walked silently to a restaurant nearby. He couldn’t drive because he’d had his license revoked due to him driving under the influence. Because he was twenty-six, he always tried to take me to places I wasn’t old enough to go to, or frankly was just uncomfortable with. He was a good guy though, never seemed to push me into things, but I worry that his interest was leaving.

  “I thought we’d go to this seafood place I love,” Trav says after a while.

  “I’m not really fond of seafood.” I whisper.

  “Oh you’ll love it. Let’s go.”

  The dinner was a disaster honestly. I couldn’t handle even the smell of the seafood and had to run to the bathroom to get sick. Oblivious to my turmoil, he happily ate his food. Once we left the restaurant, we walked along a path that overlooked an amazing view of the mountains. It was then he took my hand. My head snapped in his direction and I stared down at our joined hands.

  “What? You act like it’s a crime to hold my girlfriend’s hand.”

  “Well no, but you never have. You said you didn’t like public displays of affection.”

  “Tonight, I changed my mind.”

  All I could do was nod my head. I was dumbfounded, but slowly a smile spread across my face. He was going into uncomfortable territory for me. That meant so much more to me than he will ever know. We walked back to my apartment.

  “Would you like to come in? We could watch some movies or something.”

  He smiles big. “Sure.”

  Trav sat down on my couch while I dug out movies. Once we agreed on one and I put it in, I made my way back over to the couch. Once I sat down, Trav reached over and pulled me to straddle his lap. He started kissing me. I went with the flow. We’ve been dating for about eight months, so we weren’t really moving fast and still he stayed with me. This was the first time since we started dating that I’d invited him into my apartment though. Normally we went back to his.

  “Why don’t we move this party to the bedroom?”

  Nervously, I nod my head and we go to my room. He kisses me as he removes his clothing and I, more tentatively, followed suit. He guided me to the bed, where I laid down and watched as he moved over me. Nudging my legs apart, I watched as he slipped on a condom smiling down at me. He pushed into me. I felt a pinch, but I couldn’t really feel anything beyond that.

  “Make noises,” he breathed as he grunted in my ear.

  I started making low little whimpers, but honestly I wasn’t feeling anything.

  “Louder, let me hear how good I’m making you feel,” he breathed as he continued to thrust in me.

  So I increased the volume of my moans. If this is what sex was like, then I’m glad I’d never had it before and honestly am in no hurry to do it again. I close my eyes as he raises above me, grabbing my legs and starts to really smack into my body. Still nothing was feeling good. Then he roars, as his whole body shudders. Well at least someone enjoyed themselves.

  He collapses down on top of me, “That was amazing. It’ll feel even better for you next time.”

  “Hmmm,” was all I could say.

  I pretended to fall asleep and he got up, dressed then left.

  That was the only time we had sex. I went over to his house the next morning because he’d forgotten his wallet. I let myself in with the key he gave me and found him in bed with another girl. It wasn’t my finest moment. I threw his wallet at his head, called him a pencil dick and walked out. His face was actually hilarious as he stared down at the girl after I told him what I thought of him.

  Shaking my head, Jackson wasn’t like that at all. He thought about me first and himself next. It’s been a long time since someone has thought of me first. Could that be why I love him already? But as soon as I ponder the thought, I know that’s not why at all. It’s Jackson I love not his actions. This man is Romeo material for sure, but without the death. He is my prince charming. Just as my Dad had said, he’s that for me.

  When I hear the ding of the elevator, I focus back on what I’m doing. Stirring the contents in the pot, I waited for my favorite moment of the day. I’ve been enjoying this moment for the past three months. Listening I hear his keys hit the table, a couple other things are set down before I feel his arms wrap around me holding me tightly against him. He sighs into my neck, pressing a kiss to the curve where my shoulder and neck meet.

  “Rough day?” I ask leaning back into his embrace.

  “The worst made even worse when I didn’t get to see your beautiful face to make it better.”

  Turning around in his arms, “I’m sorry. Why don’t I make it up to you?” I say huskily before taking his mouth in a soul searing kiss.

  His arms wrap tighter around me as he moans into my mouth. Running my hands forward, I push his jacket from his shoulders and let it drop to the floor. His hands start massaging my ass as I begin to unbutton his shirt before pushing it to the floor in the same fashion as his coat.

  Breaking the kiss, he pants, “The boys…”

  “Are with Kayla and Jason. I plan to ravage you like you’ve never been before,” I whisp
ered against his lips.

  “Oh this day just became the best day ever,” he breathed before scooping me up in his arms and running to the bedroom.

  I screamed as he tossed me on the bed and jumped on top of me. Laughing, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down for another kiss. Rolling us over, I break the kiss.

  “I said I was ravaging you,” I said as I crawled off our bed.

  He groans. “You’re going to torture me aren’t you?”

  I smirk. “Close your eyes.”

  He shifts leaning against the headboard then closes his eyes. “You are definitely going to torture me,” he fake pouts.

  After I run and change, I climb back on the bed and stand with a foot on either side of his legs. My nerves were starting to get the better of me, but I wanted to give this to him and to myself.

  “Keep your eyes shut and give me your hands.”

  He ran his hands up my legs before reaching my stomach and then my breasts. I toss my head back moaning, just enjoying the feel of his hands on me. When I felt his tongue on my leg moving upward, I snapped back to the plan. Quickly I clamped his wrists in the cuffs I had hidden on the bed. His eyes snap open and look up at me.

  “No, you’re not going to torture me. You’re going to kill me,” he groans. “Oh what the hell are you wearing?”

  Stepping back, I slowly spin around. “The lady at the lingerie store said it would drive you wild. Does it?”

  I was wearing a see through top that covered my breasts but then flared open leaving my stomach exposed. I was also wearing the matching underwear.

  “Princess,” he starts.

  “Wait, you have to see this,” inside I’m laughing.

  I raise my foot to his shoulder. His eyes meet mine in confusion. I advert my eyes down telling him to look. His eyes run down my body, heating me as they go, until they found the reason I raised my foot to his shoulder.

  “Shannon,” he growls, pulling against the cuffs.

  I giggle. “What?” I ask stepping away, kneeling down to remove the remainder of his clothes.

  Now he lay there, handcuffed and hard. Damn now this was an amazing sight to see. This man was mine, all mine. How did I ever get so damn lucky? There was no way, I was going to let a moment pass that this man didn’t know how much he meant to me.

  “You are so damn sexy,” I breathe, moving between his legs.

  Leaning down, I ran my tongue from his balls, up to his shaft, and around the head. His hips buck up at the contact. His moans were only spurring me on. Grabbing his shaft, I stroked it slowly from root to tip and back down again. As I lower my head down to take him in my mouth, I look up and lock eyes with Jackson’s fire consumed ones. Slowly I took him into my mouth, never breaking eye contact. As I pressed him into the back of my throat, his eyes shut and his head fell back on a loud long moan.

  “Fuck baby. I’m not sure how much more I can take.”

  I hummed around him as I continued to work him. After a few minutes, I could feel him start to tighten and I pulled off him. I leaned back on the bed and began to play with my breasts.

  “Fuck me! I need to touch you. So fucking bad!” He roars as he jerks forward only to be stopped by the cuffs.

  Moving my hand slowly down my body, between my legs, where I began to run my fingers through my slickened folds. After a minute, I leaned forward and put my finger in his mouth. He eagerly sucked my juices off. Pulling my fingers from his mouth, I claimed his mouth in another consuming kiss. My tongue danced with his eager one. The kiss turned frantic in no time. Breaking the kiss, I trailed kisses across his jaw up to his ear. Running my tongue around his ear before I pulled his earlobe between my teeth on a moan.

  “Fuck! I need you,” he begs.

  My plan to tease him ends with the overwhelming desire to have him. Straddling his hips, I slowly lowered myself down on him. His hips bucked up as I was coming down and it caused me to cry out. Slowly, I lifted off of him then dropping down to him pushing his hips up. We continued this rhythm for a little while.

  “Shannon, please. Please let me free so I can touch you. I need to touch you,” he begs.

  Quickly I reach up and release his hands, fumbling for a minute. The minute his hands are free he flips me to my back ripping my top and underwear off me. He starts frantically pounding into me. My moans grew louder and louder. Jack leans down and takes my mouth with his. Both us start groaning as our orgasms consume us. He slams into me one last time, my nails dig into his back and we both cry out each other’s names.

  He collapses down on top of me, neither of us wanting to move. We just laid there holding each other. Eventually Jack leans up on his arms, looking down in my eyes.

  “Let me take you out tonight. We’ve never actually been out on a date. The boys aren’t here so it would be perfect.”

  “But I made chili already,” I said smiling up at him.

  “Chili is best as a leftover,” he grins.

  “Okay,” I whisper as I lean up and kiss him lightly on the lips.

  Chapter Twenty

  Jackson

  My smile widens. Damn she was sexy. What she just did was straight from my fantasies. I’m not even sure she realizes how incredibly sexy she is. Hell, walking in and seeing her standing at my stove cooking supper for us was a sexy as hell sight.

  Working was getting way out of hand, so much so that I fired Rachael today. Because I fired her, I had to go and get someone to change the locks and recode the system. I need someone there that I can trust. Rachael went and scheduled four patients at the same time, but didn’t tell me and I left to go to lunch with Shannon and they were at the office waiting. This of course set a sour note with them, rightfully so. They had no clue that suddenly Rachael didn’t know how to do her job. It was one hell of a mess, but I’m hopefully going to start working it out here soon. Part of me is just glad I didn’t have her schedule Sebastian’s surgery, Lord knows what she would have done with that.

  Firing her was a nightmare all in its own. Hiring her had been a rush decision, but she worked out well. Worked hard and proved herself, but then her actions as of lately. I just don’t understand.

  Walking out into the reception area, Rachael was gathering her stuff. It was now or never and frankly, I couldn’t handle another day like today or hell the past month. I’ve given her enough chances to work out whatever she was going through and get back to business as usual, but it didn’t seem to be happening. So, I was left with no choice.

  “Ms. Clark, I need to speak with you.”

  “Yes, Dr. Williams,” she smiled sweetly, but I could see the anger in her eyes.

  “Ms. Clark,” I stated walking further into the room. “I’ve given you far too many chances to get out of whatever funk you’ve been in. Frankly after today’s stunt I can’t keep giving you those chances. I’m going to need your keys. Today was your last day.”

  “What!” She yells. “You can’t fire me!”

  Staying calm even though I wanted to scream right back, “I can and I have. You’re fired. Now again, I need your keys.”

  She starts laughing. “You’re funny Jackson. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She turns and starts walking out the door.

  “No, you won’t. You’re fired. Now you can either give me my keys back or you will be charged for the cost of replacing the locks,” I started to get angry.

  “You’re firing me because of her,” she hissed. “She feels threatened by me and she should.”

  I raise an eyebrow at this statement. “No. I’m firing you today for the inability to complete your job in an efficient and productive manner. You’re ignoring office rules and in the end have cost me two clients. That is what I’m firing you for and that is why you need to give me your keys and get out of my office.”

  “Jackson, don’t you get it. This is what she wants you to do. She wants you to push away your friends and family. She’s trying to break you, honey, can’t you see that?”

  My fists clench at my
sides. “Ms. Clark, if this was all some elaborate scheme to get me to break,” I put quotes around ‘break’, “then she wouldn’t be messing with you because you are neither friend nor family,” I hissed at her.

  Rachael gasps, “Jackson, you don’t mean that. Can’t you see she’s got to you?” She starts walking toward me and I step back holding my hand up.

  “The only thing she’s got is me, and she’ll have me for as long as she wants me. Never has there ever been you. Ever! Now for the last time, give me your keys and get out of my building!”

  She hurled her keys at me and stormed out screaming, “You’re going to regret this! Mark my words, you’ll be begging me. You’ll see.”

  Not trusting her, I called up a buddy of mine and he came by and replaced my locks and I called the security company and changed the codes. As bad as the day had been, coming home to Shannon made it all worth it, but I didn’t expect her to do that and you wouldn’t find me complaining either.

  I stand here pacing the living room waiting for her to get ready. In the time I was waiting I had already planned the date. It really was our first date alone. We’ve gone out, but the boys have been with us. The boys always entertained and they were part of the package. It never bothered me having them. But on a day like today, when we were alone, I couldn’t ignore the need to show her she’s more than a bed warmer.

  When I looked up there was a vision before me. She had left her beautiful hair down and wore a beautiful sleeveless black dress. It made her eyes pop from her face.

  “You look breathtaking,” I breathed, wrapping my arms around her. “Maybe we can stay in after all.”

  She laughs, “No. I went through all this trouble to get ready. You’re taking me out.”

  “Fair enough beautiful,” I lead her to the elevator.

  We drove in silence to the restaurant. It was a beautiful Italian restaurant, but the room I rented was private and allowed us to really just enjoy each other. It was dimly lit by candles with a beautiful arrangement in the center of the table. We talked about our days and the boys.