Twisted Fate (Twisted Fate Series Book 1)

by Emery Jacobs

  I manage to hold back the tears. Hoping like hell he didn’t see the one that got away.

  “Please, don’t tell me that you have a disease. Because if that’s it, then you’re gonna have to count me out.” At least, that would make sense. Why he hasn’t followed through. And it would make me feel a whole lot better about myself.

  “No! I don’t have a disease. I can’t believe you would even say that out loud. Damn.”

  “Sorry.” I sigh. He leans in kisses my cheek and then laughs softly.

  “I want this with you tonight more than I’ve wanted anything in a long time, but I have to be fair to you. I want you to understand how this has to work. You and I tonight on this dock will fucking rock. But it can never be more. No dating. Because I don’t date anybody. It’s nothing personal. We can maybe hang out occasionally, but it’s only before or after sex. It will never change.”

  “Wow. Okay. I’m not really sure what I expected you to say, but I understand.”

  He doesn’t explain. He gives no reasons why. Just point blank—we will fuck on his schedule and if I don’t agree, then we’re done.

  He laughs as he moves his hand to my shirt that’s still half hanging off my body.

  “I assume that’s a ‘yes, I agree with your terms, Jack. So, you can fuck me now’,” he whispers against my skin.

  I manage a nod. Then he slides my shirt off and unhooks my bra. My lips are on his chest, then his neck, and finally, his mouth. This kiss is more aggressive. He’s not holding anything back. I’m doing this knowing that I’m right back where I was in Brownsboro with Liam. No regrets. This is what I want.

  His hands travel… moving much faster than before… more determined to get what he wants. The tips of my fingers move lightly over his skin until I reach the front of his jeans. The button pops open easily. He tugs and twists, lifting the both of us off the dock until he’s completely naked—or rather naked down to his knees because those damn boots are halting all progress. Obviously, he’s a pro because, within seconds, his boots, pants, and my shorts are all scattered around us.

  The light of the moon is now directly over us shining so brightly, I can see every bit of his tattooed skin. So damn gorgeous. Each and every inch of him.

  “You’re so fucking beautiful,” he mumbles as he moves his lips across my jaw and down my neck to my shoulder.

  His touch becomes softer. He’s taking his time with every deliberate movement. The tension is building with each touch. With each stroke until I can’t take it anymore.

  “I need you inside of me, now,” I moan.

  He scrambles for his pants quickly and then hands me a small foil packet. As I scoot back onto his lap, I rip it open. Not my first time, but only the second guy I’ve ever been intimate with. So the nerves kind of take over. I breathe in deeply before I look down. He’s hard. So freaking hard. Oh, God, I’m really doing this. Once the condom is on, Jack lifts me off his lap and slowly lowers me onto his erection. I grind my hips to adjust to his size.

  “Okay?” he asks.

  Once he’s all the way in, my body tenses and then relaxes. I wrap my legs around his waist and meet his every movement.

  “Uh-huh,” I groan softly.

  I throw my head back. His lips find my most sensitive area just below my ear. The combination of his warm breath on my ear and his lips on my skin are driving me crazy. He wraps his arms around my waist pulling me—squeezing me until there is so much friction. Too much. Until I can’t take it anymore. My breathing increases until I’m a bit lightheaded—in a good way. Our bodies are so synchronized it seems like we have done this a thousand times. My orgasm finds me starting at my toes. Traveling up my legs until my entire body is tingling. It’s teasing me. Then it takes over with one final shiver traveling up my spine. I fall looking into those eyes. His eyes that say more than his voice ever will.

  “Oh, Jack,” I holler.

  His breathing quickens, as his moans grow deeper. He lifts me off and then presses me back down—again, and again, and again until he finds his release.

  Immediately, reality sets in. How am I supposed to act? What am I supposed to say? Did I make a mistake? Too late now. Should have run those questions through my mind before having incredible sex under the moonlight with this tattooed god. Now I’m shivering, but I’m not cold.

  “You, okay? You’re shaking,” he says.

  “Yeah, I’m good.”

  Lifting our bodies slightly, he grabs the blanket and pulls it out from under us. He throws it over my shoulders and wraps his arms around me tightly as he burrows his face into my neck. I will my body to stop shivering. This moment is developing into something that’s making me uncomfortable. He says only sex, but he’s holding me like it’s more.

  “Thank you,” he mumbles into my neck.

  “For what?” Please don’t say for sex because that would be downright weird.

  “Thank you for understanding my no dating rule. The sex was fucking hot. And as long as we both know going into this how things are gonna work then the hot sex doesn’t have to end.”

  He kisses my neck as he slides out from underneath me. I’m left sitting on the dock wrapped in a blanket wondering. Wondering if I want this type of relationship… again. And wondering who else he has had sex with on the blanket I’m currently wrapped up in. Ewe. I throw it off me as I stand and search for my clothes. He’s disposed of the condom and dressed before I can even locate my panties.

  “You’re welcome, I think.”

  “You think? What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It just feels strange to say you’re welcome after sex, Jack. I don’t know. But I agree with everything you said. Let’s just not say thank you or you’re welcome after sex anymore.”

  “You’re right. I will never say thank you after sex again.” He laughs.

  After I’m completely dressed, he rolls up the blanket, and we head up the hill to the Jeep. As I climb into the driver’s seat, I take one last look at the moon hanging low over the pond. Somehow, I know that tonight will more than likely be my only visit to Jack’s peaceful oasis.

  Chapter 18

  Seven years and four months earlier

  Jack

  “Let’s leave Houston for a while. Maybe a year or so. Just you and me. We can take the time off from school. Travel the east coast and live in little beach towns. Work for a while, and when we get tired of one place, we move on to the next. It’ll be fun,” Piper says as she pulls herself out of the water and sits next to me on the dock.

  She looks so hot in her little black bikini. I’m glad Stone reminded me of this place. Swimming, tanning, and fucking. Not a better combination. Especially when Piper’s involved. But she’s always up for fucking no matter where we are.

  “You know I would do it, but my dad would shit himself. He has me on a plan, and according to him, I can’t alter it at all. You know he doesn’t really even like me working. Especially not at Southern Stain.”

  “My parents won’t be thrilled either, but if we both work, then we won’t need their money.”

  “It’s not the money, Piper. It’s just I promised my dad I would finish school within a reasonable amount of time, so I can go back home and work with him at the firm. He’s not bringing anybody new in because he’s counting on me.”

  She swings her leg over my lap and straddles me. Her wet bikini bottoms are so thin I can feel her heat. Her teeth find my earlobe, and she gives it a gentle pull.

  “Come on, Jack. Just you and me. I need you to take me away. I want this. You won’t regret it,” she whispers.

  “Give me a little time. Let me see if I can even do it without facing the wrath of my dad.”

  I’ll never be able to explain this one to dear ole dad. He’s a rule follower and therefore, expects everyone else to be. He sent me to school to graduate with a degree in accounting, become a CPA, and take over his precious firm. Never veer from the course. My entire life. Becoming a tattoo artist and working at Southern
Stain have been my only choices. And he’s not happy about either one, but he allowed it because I’m still on course. Now Piper is about to shred dad’s dreams to pieces.

  “Okay. I can do that.” She winks before she slides off me and jumps back into the pond.

  “Come in, Jack. The water is great. It’ll be better once you’re in here with me.”

  I dive in and swim out to her. We make our way to the small island in the center with the fucking huge ass tree. How in the hell this happened, I’ll never know. But it does give the place character. She falls to the ground on her back. I hover over her kissing every inch of her skin I can reach with my lips. She wiggles underneath me. She’s so damn ticklish.

  “What’s wrong, Piper,” I ask between kisses.

  “Please, Jack, you’re—” She’s laughing.

  I alternate licking and kissing while sliding my hands up and down her bare skin. She breaks free and backs up against the tree.

  “That’s enough,” she screeches

  “I’m just getting started.” I move in closer so she knows I’m not done.

  “No more kisses. No more licks. Fuck me, Jack. And then take me home. I have a meeting tonight.”

  “You know I want to but no condom.”

  “You don’t need one. We’ve been over this a thousand times. I’m on the pill.”

  “And a thousand times I’ve told you… no condom… no fucking. But the good news is. I have a box of condoms in the truck, so let’s get the hell off this island.”

  She dives in first and I follow behind. She reaches the dock, pulls herself up, slips on her shoes, and runs for the truck. By the time I get there, she’s dressed and sitting in the passenger’s seat looking at her phone.

  “What the hell. I expected you to be naked and waiting in the back of the truck.”

  “You should have taken advantage when you had the chance. The mood’s passed and I have a meeting. So you can take me home now.”

  Sometimes I think there is something seriously wrong with this chick. One minute, wide open and the next minute, quiet and reserved.

  “Yeah, okay. Do you want me to take you to your meeting tonight?”

  “You know I like to go to the meetings alone. It would make me too uncomfortable to have you there. I love you, Jack. But my family problems are mine, and I only share them in the group because everyone else there suffers from the same issues. I don’t want to drag someone in who wouldn’t understand. You know what I mean?”

  “Sure, Piper. I understand that you want me to give up my life to travel across the country with you, but yet you don’t even want me to go with you to an Ala-non meeting. But it’s cool.”

  “I’m so glad you understand. My family is a complete mess. Maybe one day you’ll have the opportunity to see for yourself. But until then, I think it’s best if it’s just you and me without any family.”

  So I do as I’m told—crank the truck, throw it in drive, and take her home.

  Chapter 19

  Present Day

  Jovie

  “I’m so happy you decided to not spend Thanksgiving alone. Today is perfect. I have so much to be thankful for. You—my best friend, and Sebastian—my boyfriend.” Layla giggles.

  I look out the car window and notice the leaves are finally showing their true fall colors. I love fall.

  “Did I tell you Ryker texted me last week?” I ask.

  “No, what about?”

  “About today. He invited me to Thanksgiving dinner too. I guess maybe Sebastian told him what I said about not wanting to impose or whatever, so I’m sure he’s only being nice.”

  “I call bullshit, Jovie. No guy is just nice. They all have motives. You know that. And most of the time it involves you getting naked. Speaking of getting naked—heard any more from Mr. One Night Stand?”

  “Who?”

  “You know who I’m talking about. The hot, tattooed god. Well, that’s how you referred to him when you told me about the night on the dock.”

  “Oh—you mean Jack. Nope, not a word.”

  At least, that’s what I want her to think. She doesn’t need to know I’ve crawled into his bed every night since. According to his rules, me being at his place is kind of a no-go, but I assume he’s allowing it because of my living situation. I told him, I didn’t want Layla to know. It’s not her business. So it’s our little secret. His and mine. Nobody else needs to know.

  “You don’t think it’s strange?”

  “What’s strange about it, Layla?”

  “That he hasn’t called or texted or made any contact. I thought you said he wanted to hook up and hang out, just not date.”

  “No. What I said is that he wants to fuck. And not date. You must have misunderstood me.”

  “Don’t let him do that to you, Jovie. It’s not right. You’re too good to let him use you.”

  “He’s not using me. Please, Layla, can we not argue about this today? I swear you and Naomi. She says the same shit. It’s Thanksgiving. I purposely didn’t go home because I wanted a bitch free day, so don’t make me regret staying.”

  She turns onto a narrow road that looks like it may be the driveway. One can hope. Because I’m ready to get out of this car.

  “Sorry, Jovie. You know I love you. Just watching out for my best friend.”

  “I get it, but I’ll tell you just like I told Naomi. I’ve got to make my own mistakes and move on. Not saying that Jack is or was a mistake, but still—just let me deal with it.”

  She pulls up into the yard. Yes, the yard. Because the circular driveway is completely full. And there are already several cars parked on the grass, so I guess we’re okay. The place is packed.

  The house is dark brick with a huge wrap around porch. Very warm and inviting. The front door opens and a tall brown-haired guy walks out onto the porch. Sebastian.

  “So? I texted him to come get us. You know I don’t like to feel awkward. And us walking into the unknown would be… well, awkward,” Layla says as she shrugs and opens her door.

  She squeals, giggles, and then jumps into Sebastian’s arms. They kiss and kiss and kiss. Damn them. I should have stayed home, made cheese dip, and watched the Macy’s Day parade. My phone vibrates in my purse, which, thankfully, pulls me away from watching the rubdown going on just outside my window. I grab it from my open bag. The smile that finds my face is unavoidable. Smiling at the sight of his text is so juvenile, but I love the way it makes me feel to know he is thinking about me at this very minute. Hell, it’s Thanksgiving. I have no idea where he is or who he’s with, but at this moment, it’s me—at least, in his thoughts. I slide my finger across the screen and punch in the code to reveal my message.

  Him: Meet me at my place tonight. There’s something I want you to see.

  Me: I thought that’s what I’ve been doing every night for… well, every night.

  Him: You have, but there’s a painting I just finished this morning, and I want you to be the first to see it.

  Me: Can’t wait.

  And those two little one-line messages just made my day. After tossing my phone back into my bag, I open the door and exit the car. Wet sloppy kissing and moaning are two sounds I prefer not to hear. Unfortunately, it’s the torture my ears are met with as I walk away from the car.

  “Would you guys stop it? If you’re gonna fuck, just get back in the car and do it already. Because what you’re doing out here in the open for everyone to see is disgusting.”

  “Jovie!” Layla yells.

  “Really, Layla. Let’s either go inside or leave. I mean, don’t you guys do it every day, anyway?” I raise my hand in front of my face before continuing, “Oh, wait. Yes, you do, because I listen to it every night from across the hall. Ugh!”

  “Hi, Jovie. Sorry you have to experience our fucking on a daily basis. Maybe we need to go back to my place more often and share the experience with my roommates.” He throws his head back and laughs.

  Yeah, he thinks I’m kidding, but trust me I�
��m not. Sometimes guys are so gross. Except for Jack. He’s not gross. Ever.

  We head for the front door, Sebastian still laughing and Layla grinning from ear to ear. And me, well, I just want this day to end so I can see Jack. Before we make it inside, Ryker is standing in front of the doorway. He’s really cute. Sandy blond hair that falls just below his eyebrows. Blue eyes with freckles scattered over his fair skin. And one small dimple in each cheek. His boyish grin gives off the vibe that all is right in the world. Luckily, today that’s true. At least in my world.

  “Jovie, glad you’re here.”

  “Thanks for inviting me. I guess I didn’t realize you guys have such a big family.”

  “Yeah, holidays are always crazy. Y’all come inside. We’re about to sit down for lunch.”

  He reaches for my hand and immediately, guilt sweeps over me. Jack isn’t my boyfriend. I’m not doing anything wrong, but I don’t like feeling as if I am.

  Layla and I drop our bags off in the hallway before following the guys into the dining room. There are people everywhere. A baby crying, kids running around and around the large table, and some old guy in the corner smoking a cigar. This is great. Nothing like a huge family to make it easy to blend in. I like blending in.

  Ryker and Sebastian introduce us, but no one is paying any attention. They are too involved in their own conversation. Not counting, I would guess twenty-five people, maybe thirty. Ryker points me in the direction of our chairs and Layla follows Sebastian to the opposite side.

  “What do you think?” Ryker asks.

  “It’s great. At home, it’s only my mom and dad and me. And holidays are just regular days. So I think you’re lucky to have all these people.” I smile as I sit down next to him.

  My eyes move from right to left, examining every single person at the table. Then I make my way back to the person sitting directly in front of me. Shit. Ivy. I mean, I know she’s Ryker’s sister, but I completely forgot about her being here. She has a look on her face like she can’t wait to say something mean. What a bitch. I’m sure she’s the reason her brother doesn’t have a girlfriend. Nobody wants to put up with her. Well, except maybe Jack. Don’t think about it, Jovie. He’s not here with her. Hell, he’s not with me either.