by Stacey Lynn
“You think that’s what is happening here?”
“I’ve known you for five years…”
“And I’ve wanted you for five years.”
His admission startled me. I mean, he had told me this before, but somehow in this moment, it sounded….heavier. More important, maybe.
“What?” I asked, just barely breathing.
He smiled widely at my bemused expression.
“Would it help if I told you I was falling madly in love with you?” Holy shit. Jack looked nervous. I couldn’t tell if he was messing with me to get me to smile – which worked, by the way – or totally serious. Jack didn’t let anyone close enough to love them; or care about, really. But yet, he had gotten close to me. He had broken all his dating rules for me and Logan and I instantly felt like a shmuck for bringing this up now.
“Are you?”
His lips twitched a bit into a smile but then he frowned- like maybe he wasn’t so sure himself what he was feeling.
“I don’t love anyone, Emma,” he said and my heart dropped to my stomach. Without another word, he grabbed my hips and flipped me around so I was no longer sitting next to him, but straddling him. Thankfully, my floor length black silk gown had two slits cut up to the mid-thigh or the outrageously expensive thing would have ripped. The movement was so quick it caught me off guard and a gasp left my lips. Jack’s eyes darkened as he looked at my slightly opened mouth.
I blushed as I thought of all the things I’d like to do with my open mouth.
He made a face and then closed his eyes shut. When he opened them again, his expression was softer and my body warmed all over. “I think I could make an exception for you. And Logan.”
I think that was the closest expression to being in love with me I was going to get. But I had to make sure.
“What are you saying, Jack?”
He sighed heavily before grabbing my hips and pulling me toward him. I went willingly with a small little smile on my lips.
“I think that what I feel for you scares the shit out of me, and if it’s love, then I have no fucking idea why people choose to do it willingly.”
I could have been offended, but I saw a teasing smirk on his lips. This was Jack. The Jack who claimed I caused him to be out of control and all sorts of crazy. If that was his idea for love – I was all for it, because I often felt the same about him.
Before I could give him any shit, or change the subject, he continued. “For the first time in my life I find myself wanting to leave work early just to see you. I walk by stores and want to pick out crap for you and Logan.” I rolled my eyes at crap, but wisely shut my mouth. “When you’re not around, you’re all I think about. When you’re in my home – I never want you to go. This shit is all new to me and it’s confusing as hell most of the time, but the rest of the time I just fucking love it.”
Well hell. What’s a girl supposed to say to that?
Easy. Nothing. I answered Jack in the only way I knew he’d understand completely.
I slowly began hiking up the bottom of my gown that kept me separated from him and leaned back. I quickly pulled his dress shirt out of his pants and unbuckled his belt. He lifted his hips – and me at the same time, while my shaking fingers nervously undid the button and zipper on his pants so I could pull them down.
I pulled away from the kiss and stared down at his enormous erection, standing straight up, waiting for me. I licked my lips in anticipation.
And then noticed he wasn’t wearing any underwear.
I smiled. “Commando?”
I watched his breathing become shallow as he looked down at his own erection standing at attention between us. Without speaking, his hand went under my dress and slowly dragged up my thigh. I shivered in anticipation. All my nerves immediately left as his hand travelled further up my thigh.
He grinned victoriously and immediately plunged two fingers deep inside me.
“Ah!” I cried out loudly and sank into him. I shifted against him, trying to move against his fingers but his other hand grasped my hip, restraining any movement. I peeled back from his chest slowly and looked down on him through half-opened eyes.
“I’m sorry for doubting you,” I whispered as I laid my head against his temple.
He shook his head at the same time he moved his hand against my clit. I moaned and tried to shift against him but his hand on my hip prevented me reaching the spot where I knew I would find the most pleasure. I groaned in frustration as his eyes darkened in front of me. His lips pursed.
“I’m going to bury myself in you until you forget that you ever doubted for a single second that I don’t want you for more than three fucking meaningless dates.”
I didn’t have any time to consider what he said because his mouth was on mine, moving ferociously against mine. I opened immediately, allowing him to plunder me with this tongue. His plan was working. He made me forget my doubts, my fears….my name. His hand ground against my sweet spot roughly and his fingers moved inside me roughly I was almost ready to come. Never in my life could anyone turn me on so quickly
“You want it, don’t you?” He asked me roughly and I saw the desire in his eyes. I couldn’t take my eyes off his gorgeous cock. I wrapped one hand around the base firmly and pulled up slowly, putting the exact amount of pressure on the underside that I knew drove him wild. I rubbed the drop of pre-cum gently over the tip and smiled as I watched his perfect abdomen muscles tighten.
He bit into my neck causing the perfect amount of pain and pleasure while he licked me to soothe the pain away. His fingers pressed into my pussy again. I felt my insides pulsating around his fingers and knew I was just a few more shifts away from exploding all over him.
I moaned when his hand moved against me again and my stomach clenched. I wanted that release. I needed it. He leaned in and kissed me roughly, taking away my every breath and worry before quickly moving away and resting his head against the back of the headrest. An evil grin spread across his lips and I cried out in sorrow when his fingers abruptly pulled from me. I bit my tongue as I watched him lick my cream off them.
“Yes. I want you.”
“I want you, too. I’ve wanted you for a really long time.” He grabbed both hips firmly and thrust me right down over his erection. I gasped loudly as he filled me completely.
“You’re so tight,” he moaned into me and shifted his hips up. I braced myself with both hands on each side of the back of his chair next to his head. I couldn’t move my hips. I couldn’t do anything except take everything he gave me and I wanted it. I wanted him like I had never wanted anything more in my life.
He thrust into me harder and I smiled.
“You’re mine,” he growled against my lips. “I promise you. I will protect and care for you and Logan as long as you let me.”
Sounded fan-fucking-tastic to me. He moved against me and as my orgasm grew closer, all worry about Jack and Marcus left me. All I could think about was the amazing man in front of me who wanted my son and me.
I cried out and collapsed against his chest. I came so quick and hard I thought my heart was going to explode but Jack kept pounding into me, over and over again and another orgasm quickly began to bloom in me.
One of his hands cupped my cheek. He lifted my face so I was inches from his and the lighter grip on my hip allowed me to move against him.
“I fucking love you Emma. I know it’s fast and crazy and there’s a whole load of shit we have to deal with, but you need to know that.”
I couldn’t have taken my eyes off of him if I tried. The way he stared at me, while I moved against him left me feeling lightheaded and dizzy.
With one more fierce lift of his hips, I found my release in him as Jack clenched his jaw and pulled me down hard on top him. My clit hit the perfect spot on his groin and we released together, our eyes locked on one another.
FOURTEEN
“Wha….what did you say to me?”
“You heard me,” Jack said and brought his lips
to mine, gently. They felt like a soothing feather against my swollen lips. “I love you.”
Holy shit. He did say it. I wasn’t imagining it.
“That’s not exactly what you said.” My lips twitched in humor. I wanted to throw my arms around him and make him take the limo back home and I wanted to laugh. And then I wanted to throw up. Jack McMillan, the man who doesn’t get close to anyone, loved me.
Holy shit. Again.
He scowled. “I said I fucking love you. And you’re starting to piss me off with that look full of all sorts of crazy you’re giving me right now.”
“Well, that sounds more like you,” I said and leaned in to kiss him again, both of us wearing small smiles.
“You drive me crazy, you know this right?”
I hmmed against his lips and kissed him again. “I’m in shock. I don’t know if I know what to say right now.”
“How about you love me too?”
I pulled my eyes to him and saw him in a way I never had before. This man – the financial genius – looked more innocent and like a needy little boy than I had ever seen anyone in my life look before. He was vulnerable before me. Baring his heart and soul in a way he had probably never done before. He could be an arrogant asshole. He could command me to do things my body instantly did without any thought. And he promised to protect me and Logan. We were his.
And he was mine.
I lusted after him for two years. I knew him better than almost anyone, probably. And there wasn’t a single thing I didn’t love about this man in front of me.
I cupped his cheeks softly with my small hands and rubbed them against his soft stubble. I leaned in a kissed both of his cheeks and then his jaw, before moving to his mouth.
He sat still, letting me move against him and kiss him tenderly. He seemed frozen in time as if the intimacy and tenderness of a woman to him was unexperienced.
“I love you,” I whispered into his ear as I leaned forward. “There isn’t a single thing about you I don’t love.”
It wasn’t the most romantic setting; straddling him in the back of a limo while we professed our love to one another. But the instant his lips touched mine, I knew it was perfect. It was how Jack did everything with me. I pictured him setting up spreadsheets and graphs and commanding a boardroom and creating a pro and con list of reasons why and why not to love me. And then I pictured him seeing me in a doorway and throwing all of it on the floor in a mad second of craziness, like he always said he felt around me.
It was us. Messy and wild and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Slowly, the car pulled to a stop and Jack pressed the intercom button next to him. “Give us a minute before opening the door,” he told his driver, Shane.
I blushed a thousand shades of pink as I looked down between us.
Slowly, I climbed off him and adjusted my dress while he tucked everything back into his tuxedo pants.
He took my hand firmly and steeled his dark brown eyes on me. “I want you to know before we go in there that I mean every word. I didn’t say this because of Marcus or whatever bullshit we may face tonight.” I took a deep breath before he continued. “You and Logan are my world and I love you both. I will do anything to protect you and keep you both safe. You get me?”
I got him. I wiped away a tear and gently pressed a finger underneath my eyes to prevent my mascara from running.
He not only loved me, but he loved Logan. That alone was more powerful and emotional than anything he could have just said to me.
I couldn’t speak for fear of more tears so I simply nodded and took in Jack’s eyes as he smiled at me. His dimple appeared on his left cheek. I leaned forward and licked it.
“I’ve always wanted to do that,” I said with a smile.
Jack threw his head back, laughing. “Get out of the car, Emma.”
I had never attended a charity ball before in my life. And as I walked into the ballroom at the Omni Hotel, I hoped I never had to attend one again. This wasn’t my life. This was Macy or Tate’s, and obviously Jack’s. I knew for a fact Macy had her cotillion in a hotel just like this when she was a teenager and introduced to Chicago’s elite society.
The thought made me snicker as we crossed the threshold into the hotel and the most extravagant setting I’d ever seen. Crystal chandeliers dripped everywhere. Lights sparkled all over the place as if we’d stepped out of the city and into heaven with streets paved with gold. I was walking on clouds and living in the stars at that exact moment. Women drenched in diamonds and emeralds and jewels I couldn’t place walked by us with the dignity of royalty and their men looked just as regal.
I had never felt so homely. Odd considering Macy picked out my dress and on the outside, I probably looked like I fit right in. Inside I was a quivering pool of insecurity.
Jack gripped my elbow tighter and pulled me to him. “You are the most beautiful woman in the room tonight.”
I looked up at him and smiled as he looked down on me. I wondered if anyone could see our swollen lips or our mussed up hair. Hopefully not.
“I’m good,” I whispered back and smiled even though I felt my lips tremble slightly and my knees felt like they could give out at any second.
Jack nodded and removed his arm from my elbow and wrapped it around my waist, securing me to him. “Let’s go find Martin and Marissa and get you a drink.”
Best plan I had heard all night. I followed Jack as he led me through the room. I didn’t miss the looks from the women with one eyebrow raised and pursed lips as they perused me on his arm or the way they flicked their hair and their mouths dropped slightly as they looked at him. They were all wondering what in the hell I was doing with Jack McMillan.
It was, ironically, the first time I had wondered the same thing.
By the time we reached Martin’s table, Jack’s arm around my waist was tighter and my entire body was humming with nervous energy. I expected any minute for Jack to furrow his brows at me and tell me to tap my shit down. But he didn’t, and I was oddly disappointed. Strange that that one sentence from him could be so calming.
“There’s my favorite girl.” Martin affectionately leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
“Good evening, Mr. Crawlson,” I said softly and turned to his wife when he let me go. “Mrs. Crawlson.”
“Emma,” Martin scolded me and I wrinkled my nose.
“Fine. Martin and Marissa, it’s lovely to see you both.”
“Finally!” Martin exclaimed with an energetic clap of his hands, “Five years and you’ve finally called us by our names.” Jack chuckled softly and Marissa lovingly held her husband’s elbow.
“It won’t become a habit,” I assured him with a large genuine smile. I took the champagne that Jack offered from a nearby waiter and soaked in the room.
We spoke with the Crawlson’s and a few of Jack’s business associates and competitors until it was time for our sit down dinner. I felt more comfortable in the company at the table while I listened mostly to the men discuss business and the women discuss designers and fashion. I wasn’t completely ignorant when it came to fashion. Macy had been my best friend long enough that I was able to hold my conversation, but I spent most of the night distracted – looking for Marcus, who I knew was there somewhere.
I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, for my moment to tell him about Logan and potentially, when my life would change.
I must have tensed up because Jack pulled me closer and stopped his discussion with his CFO and turned to me, concern marring his features.
“You okay?” he asked me as he leaned down and brushed his lips against my ear. To anyone else, it seemed like a typical whispered conversation, but that one simple touch – of his breath so close to me - sent chills down my spine. Jack laughed softly and flicked his tongue out barely grazing my earlobe. “Later, babe. I promise. Now tell me what’s wrong.”
I shook my head to clear my thoughts, and then tensed completely when I saw him. Marcus looked just as hand
some as he did when we were younger as he approached us with his perfectly fitted tuxedo. He was dateless, and stopped to shake a few hands. I grimaced when I saw him smile. His dad, the effervescent politician, used the same manufactured smile.
I hated it.
Anger and disappointment rose in me and I tightened my shoulders. I felt the pain in the palm of my hands and looked down to realize I was clenching my fists tightly together. I had never wanted to hit anyone in my entire life; but at that moment, when I saw that slick smile, I wanted to push it off his face and scream all sorts of obscenities at him. I wanted to embarrass Marcus like he had embarrassed me.
I wanted him to feel the pain I felt when I opened the door the night we were supposed to elope only to see his father standing in front of me with that same damn smile, his eyes filled with malice, and his hands filled with a large padded envelope.
I took a deep breath and looked to Jack. His jaw was tense and I noticed his hand on my hip was holding me so tightly he might actually bruise me.
“I don’t know if I can do this, Jack.” I looked at him with frightened eyes but rolled my shoulders back, standing as straight as I could trying to mask my fear. I refused to let Marcus see how much he affected me. I had to get control of myself before my fantasies of pain and revenge played out in a room full of some of the most prominent members of Chicago’s society.
Jack turned me to him so my back was to Marcus and placed his hands firmly on my shoulders. He slowly brought his eyes from Marcus down to me and smiled. It took a minute for the tension to leave, but slowly I watched the affection he felt for me fill his eyes.
It helped immensely. I needed the reminder I wasn’t alone and that Jack was here to support me with this.
“We’ll tell him after dinner so we can leave immediately if you need to.”
My bottom lip trembled and tears filled my eyes. “I can’t, Jack.”
He softly brought his hands up to my neck and laced them together behind me. His thumbs came up and brushed just under my chin. I loved when he held me like this. His hands were large and strong and I loved how the roughness of his hands rubbed against my soft skin.