Twisted Fate (Twisted Fate Series Book 1)

by Emery Jacobs

  “What about it. I’m not going back. I’m done.”

  “You’re not done. Get your ass up now,” he says as he rolls me off the bed.

  “Fine, I’ll go to work, but school is out of the question.”

  I pull a t-shirt over my head and look around for jeans and boots.

  “Wait a second. Carry your nasty ass to the shower. You haven’t been out of this apartment for over a week, so something tells me that it’s been at least that long since you showered.”

  He’s right. I haven’t done much of anything but lay around in bed—on the couch—on the floor. Just wherever my ass lands is where I sleep.

  * * * * *

  I stagger into Southern Stain behind Fish. It’s quiet, which means everybody’s busy. I make it to my station and unlock the door. Annie is waiting for me on the other side. Not surprising.

  “Before you say a word, I’m not discussing my life with you today. The only reason I’m here is because Fish would have picked me up out of bed and brought me against my will. So I saved him the trouble and came on my own.” I deadpan.

  “It’s not your fault. The guy responsible is in jail. Nobody got him out. And Caleb’s gone. Came in, got all his shit, and left. Looked like hell, by the way. I went to the funeral alone. I felt like I owed it to her and of course, to you. Your parents left right after you woke up. Your dad wants me to be sure you get back to school ASAP. Did I forget anything? Hmm… Oh, and stop blaming yourself. I know that’s why you’ve been on lockdown in your apartment.”

  “Are you done?”

  “Yes, unless you want to talk about what exactly happened that night?”

  “No. I’m not discussing what happened the night I found her with Caleb. The only thing I will say is that I should have made her get out of my truck. If I would’ve, she’d still be alive. But I didn’t, so she’s gone. So, yes, it’s my fault. And I will never forgive myself for it. I failed at taking care of her. And that’s all she ever wanted from me.

  “She was sleeping with another guy, too, Jack. I know this hurts, but she wasn’t yours to protect.”

  “Yes, she was. Even after all the lies and fucking around, I still loved her. That night, I was so angry I pretended like she never mattered, but she did. Hell, I was ready to give up my life to follow her across the country. So, just because she was fucking Caleb doesn’t shut my feelings off. It actually makes everything worse.”

  “Worse? How?”

  “To know that I loved her so much, and she didn’t love me back. There’s no way she could have loved me like I loved her. Because I would have never fucked another chick. She was it for me.” My eyes are burning, itching. I’m a grown man—one who cried like a baby that day in the hospital when I found out that Piper was gone. But, since then, I’ve been able to refrain from letting the tears fall. And today will not be any different.

  “Maybe you need to talk to somebody. You know, like a counselor. Someone to help you deal with the feelings your having,” Annie says as she walks over to me.

  “Fuck no. I’ll be fine. Just let me grieve, alone. Please.” She wraps her arms around my waist and rests her face against my chest.

  “I love you, Jack. And we’re gonna get through this. Just promise me you won’t let this change you. You’re a kind soul, and I don’t want you to ever lose that.”

  I bend over slightly and kiss the top of her head. I want to tell her that I’m already changed. My life has no purpose now. But I don’t want her to worry, so I just agree with her, and hopefully, she will let me be. At least, for a while. “I’ll always be Jack. That will never change. I just don’t know how long it’ll be before I am able to find my way back to this life.” She releases her hold and looks up into my eyes. Smiling, she walks toward the door.

  “I’m just one door down if you need me. Just promise you’ll stay most of the day. Then maybe we can grab dinner. Just you and me.”

  “Sounds great. Pull the door too, on your way out.” She nods and closes my door. Leaving me alone. And alone is exactly where I want to be.

  Chapter 27

  Present day

  Jovie

  The vibration of the tattoo machine sends chills down the left side of my body and around my waist. There’s no pain, only a sensation of wanting more. But with the small starter tattoo Jack is creating along my rib cage, more will be a definite possibility. It’s Valentine’s Day and Annie’s birthday, so we have double celebrating to do.

  “This is the same tattoo that you were gonna get the first day you showed up here. You know, the day you got the piercing?” Jack asks as he makes fluid strokes spreading the ink along the skin over my ribs.

  “Yeah, I already told you that. Did you forget?”

  “No. I was just wondering if you had that piece of paper with the sketch of the ‘just breathe’ encased in an infinity sign when you came in the shop that day,” he mumbles.

  “Yes, remember? I had it out but put it back in my purse when I changed my mind.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. I do remember, but where did you tell me you got the sketch?”

  “I found it in a box under my sister’s bed. She didn’t… have a tattoo, but this is the one she always wanted. At least, I think it was.”

  I have spent every night in Jack’s bed since the bar fiasco. Every night all night. He’s thrown away all of those stupid rules for me. I’m the one person who makes him feel real again. At least, that’s what he says. For me, placing my ear on his chest above his heart gives me the rhythm I need to cover me with the peace that has freed me from my anxiety. I didn’t go home for Christmas or New Years. Spending the holidays with him was difficult. He shuts down during certain times. And those holidays were the worst. He’s never told me his entire story, and I don’t pry because he will. When he’s ready. I know something bad happened to him several years ago that involved a girlfriend. And he’s never picked up the pieces and moved on until me.

  “Did she have anxiety, too?” he asks.

  “Not really sure. I was so much younger than she was, so we didn’t talk about those kinds of problems. We mostly talked about my friends, her college classes, and how she loved her life.” My eyes fill with moisture, but I don’t understand why. We talk about her some, but I don’t usually feel like crying. Maybe it’s because I’m getting this tattoo. Her tattoo.

  “This tattoo is perfect for you. And it looks beautiful,” he says as he leans in closer to finish his task.

  “Do you care if I hang on to the sketch? I want to show Annie.”

  “Sure. I don’t need it anymore. I have the real thing.”

  He sprays the antiseptic onto the tattoo, and the coolness feels amazing against my hot skin. Jack folds the sketch into a small square and shoves it into his pocket. Then he helps me up off the chair and grabs the mirror.

  “Wow. Jack. It’s beautiful. More beautiful than I would have imagined. You are so talented,” I mumble as I twist my body slightly to get a better view.

  Getting this tattoo is a sign. It’s my okay to go back to the gravesite. My life is better—since I found Jack. My anxiety is nonexistent. I’m only seeing Dr. Birch twice a month. School is great. And I’m happy. This is the life I’ve been missing. This is the life I’m meant to have. And it feels unbelievable.

  “You’re beautiful. Thank you for not giving up on me. And for loving me in spite of, well, you know, my multitude of problems.”

  “We all have problems. Look at me. I’m a living, breathing, walking, talking, bundle of issues.”

  “Yeah, but you’re mine. And that’s all that matters.” He takes the mirror from my hand and lays it on the counter.

  His hands drift from my bare stomach up to my bra. Greedy lips follow behind. He carefully unhooks my bra and it falls to the floor. He gently walks me backward until I’m pressed against the wall. Warm lips find my nipple. Slow, gentle tugs followed by painful nibbles are the perfect combination. He alternates between my right and then my left before moving up
my chest to my collarbone. His warm tongue moves from my shoulder to my neck. The moisture growing between my legs quickly turns to a drenching wetness with a throbbing that needs his attention—now. As if he could sense my desire, he slides his hand down my stomach and into my leggings.

  “No panties?” his breath warm on my neck.

  “Hmm… is that a problem?” I whisper.

  “Not. At. All.”

  He slides his fingers through the wetness as I squeeze my legs together and press my hips into the movement of his touch.

  “I need more,” I whisper into his lips.

  My tongue darts out, quickly licking his lips, and then moves along his jaw line to his neck.

  “Tell me what you want, Jovie.”

  “For you to take my leggings off, put your dick inside of me, and make me scream,” I say between kisses and nips on his neck. My heart is hammering against my chest wall. I’m losing control of the grinding of my hips. Faster. Harder. Faster. Harder. I grab his hand with mine and press it into my center. Then my fingers and hips move in unison with his. Deep breaths in and out, and holy fucking shit, it hits me like a load of bricks. The tingling sensation starts at my toes, travels up my legs to the pit of my stomach.

  “Jack. Oh, God,” I bellow, not caring who is listening outside the door.

  I ride out this feeling for what seems like minutes or hours, and then I’m spent. His hand slides out of my pants, hooking his fingers on the waistband and pulling them down past my ass and my knees. I manage to step out of them and kick them to the side. Then I drop to my knees. I bite his inner thighs softly alternating right and then left. He’s still clothed, but I like to tease him, and I’m not in any hurry to rip his pants off—yet.

  My mouth moves up his leg to his crotch. God, that smell. It’s all Jack, and it freaking turns me on just about as much as anything he can do with his mouth or fingers.

  I inhale deeply as I place my mouth over his covered dick. My warm breath is toying with his need. I can feel it. I feel it in the heaviness of his erection and tightness of his inner thigh. I nip, bite, and rub until he’s on his knees in front of me. His mouth crashes against mine as he pulls my naked body onto his lap. He moves his hips causing friction against my already sensitive spot. I don’t know how much stimulation I can take. Those jeans have to come off. Now. I wiggle a couple more seconds and then lean in closer.

  “Your pants, take them off.”

  Unbuttoning them, I push the waist down and he lifts his ass off the floor. I lift my right leg moving off him while he shimmies out of his jeans and boxers. Then I return my leg so I’m straddling him once again. My fingers fidget with his shirt before he yanks it off over his head. He throws it across the room and then focuses his attention back on me. His hands caress my body—sliding up my stomach, arms, breasts, shoulders, neck, and when he reaches my face, he holds onto each cheek. He tilts his forehead until it’s resting on mine.

  “You’re so fucking beautiful.” The whisper of his voice drives me crazy.

  I close my eyes and move my lips to his. The kiss is slow, wet, and a bit sloppy, but it’s fucking what I need as I slide my wetness over the length of his dick. Back and forth. Up and down. The tip slides in and then back out. He does it again and again. He’s teasing me.

  “Jack, stop playing with me and give me what I want.”

  He wraps his hands around my waist, lifts me up quickly, and then slams me down onto all of his hardness. This doesn’t give me time to adjust to his width, so I scream and then take in a breath, and then cry out again. He immediately places his hand over my mouth.

  “Shh! I don’t want Fish or Stone coming in here. And they will come with all the screaming. Are you okay? Did I hurt you?” He’s stopped moving. I’m sitting here with all that is hard, stretching me, preparing me for what is yet to come.

  “No, it just felt so good. Sorry. I forgot where we were.”

  He slides the tips of his fingers up my back. The light touch of his fingertips sends a chill down my spine. I grind my hips into him, and he meets me with thrust after thrust.

  “Open your eyes, Jovie. I need to see you. To know it’s you here with me. Feeling every single movement with me.” He moans.

  I give him what he wants—forcing my eyelids open, I’m greeted with his brown eyes staring, watching, wanting.

  “This is forever,” he says before he throws his head back, closes his eyes, and rides his orgasm to the end.

  I wrap my legs tighter around his waist and shift forward, placing all of my weight on him. I rotate my hips as I press forward. He moves his hand up my leg and to my center, but I’m there. I scream again, but the tingling running all through my body is so intense, this scream won’t stop until the end.

  When I’m back from the most amazing feeling in the world, my eyes find his—again. He greets me with his sexy as hell grin.

  “Sorry for that last scream.” I giggle.

  “We’re gonna have to stop doing this in public places, woman. I never think of you as a screamer at home, but damn. Get you in a building with people shuffling up and down the hall and you scream so loud, they can hear you two buildings over.” He winks and smiles.

  I know he’s kidding, but I can’t help myself. The sex is freaking great.

  “It’s your fault,”

  “How is it my fault you scream every time I put my dick inside you?”

  “Because you’re the best. You cause me to lose all self-control, so I scream. It actually makes my orgasm last longer.”

  “Screaming makes your orgasm last longer?”

  “Yes. Can’t explain it but it does.”

  He lifts me off him. We trek across the room to the restroom. He cleans both of us up with a warm washcloth and then we dress. I know he has more clients today, but I’m feeling needy.

  “How late do you have to work tonight?” I ask.

  “Until about seven. You know it’s Annie’s birthday party tonight.”

  “Yeah, I forgot, but I can go. I’m off.” I smile as he leans down and places a soft kiss on my cheek.

  He wraps his big arms around me, squeezing so tight, I can hardly breathe. I’m about to scream—again—when he releases me and looks into my eyes.

  “You know you didn’t ask about the pill this time. Did you forget?” I ask.

  He always asks me if I’m on the pill before we have sex. At first, no condom, no sex. But now, since we have an agreement that we are together—only us. Then he’s okay with the pill.

  “No, I trust you. And believe me when I tell you, you are one of only about a handful of people I trust. If you weren’t on the pill, you would say. So I’ve stopped worrying about it.”

  “Thank you for trusting me.” I slide my hands up his chest and back down. I wrap my arms around his waist pulling his body into mine.

  “I wish we could stand here like this for the rest of the day, but my clients are going to start rolling in,” he utters.

  I place a kiss on his chest before he walks with me out of his workstation and to the lobby.

  “I’ll see you tonight.” I smile.

  “Can you be dressed and at my place by seven?”

  “I can do anything for you.”

  He leans down and kisses me on the lips.

  “Text me later,” he says.

  I’m smiling because he makes me so freaking happy. I open the door, walk into the parking lot, and head for my car.

  Chapter 28

  Jack

  “Champagne.” I give the bubbling liquid to Jovie and she accepts with a smile.

  “Mr. Alexander, are you contributing to the delinquency of a minor?” She laughs.

  Personally, I don’t find it amusing, but I’ll let her have her fun.

  “Very funny, Ms. Blake. Hilarious. You’ll be twenty in a few weeks, anyway.”

  “Twenty is still not old enough to drink in this state. Even though I can sell it, I’m not supposed to consume it. But tonight is a special occasion. So
I’ll drink as much as you want to bring me.”

  “You’re not worried I’m trying to get you drunk so I can take advantage of you?”

  “Why would I worry about that when you can take advantage of me sober? You taking advantage of me is my favorite past time.” She takes a sip of her drink. She looks at me over her glass. Those incredible blue eyes that scared me away at first now allow me to see inside her soul. And it’s beautiful just like her outer appearance. With her help, I have been able to pick up the pieces of my broken life and put it back together.

  “Are you still going with me to my sister’s gravesite tomorrow?

  She steps in closer before resting her hand on my chest.

  “Yes. But I want you to be absolutely sure that you are ready to go.”

  “I’m ready. Dr. Birch says it’s time. I need the closure. I need to be able to go without having a nervous breakdown. Well, not a real breakdown. I’m better now. My life is good. I have you.”

  “You’ll always have me. I’m not going anywhere. At least not without you.” I laugh.

  She told me the story about her sister dying. Well, not really the story. A few weeks ago, she explained that she had an older sister who died several years ago. That is the source of her anxiety. She’s buried somewhere in town. And tomorrow she wants to introduce me to her. Sounds creepy, but Jovie is my light. She pulled me out of a place I never want to go again. So I will do anything for her. Anything.

  “Jack, can you come here for a minute? Fish needs you out front.” I look over my shoulder and it’s Stone. His blue eyes are wild, continually scanning the room. Something is up.

  “Sure.” I reach for Jovie’s hand.

  “No, just you. Naomi will stay here with her. It’s a guy problem.” I give my glass to Jovie and force a smile. She shrugs her shoulders and takes my champagne.