Jack Hammer (The Stripped Duet Book 2)

by Vargo, Tabatha

  Making my way to the bedroom, I stood in the doorway and watched as she slept. Her chest rose with her slow, steady breaths. She was sleeping so sweetly, and I wasn’t about to wake her. She needed the rest, and I knew it was going to be a while before she woke up. I wanted to be back before she did. I wanted to be the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes.

  Our night together was rough. We spent the night coming to terms with our past, all while trying to heal each other. I stayed up most of the night, watching her move around the bed restlessly with nightmares, and when she’d jerk awake, I’d hold her until she fell back asleep.

  But we’d made it through together, and I could only hope that once she woke, we could continue to heal and grow together. I wanted to be with Chelsey for the rest of my life. I wanted to start over and maybe one day start a family. The thought of kids had never really crossed my mind, but now, knowing I’d already lost a baby, the possibility warmed my heart.

  When I closed my eyes I could picture Chelsey swollen with our love, her stomach hard and full of a child. I wanted to spoil her. I wanted to wake up and go to the store at three AM for ice cream and pickles. Anything she wanted or needed. Anything. It was hers.

  I pulled my shirt on and grabbed my keys from the nightstand. My eyes fell on the black and white picture. The blurry spot in the center, the spot I knew was our baby, was more noticeable. Picking it up, I folded it and stuck it in my wallet. I wasn’t going to keep it, but I wanted it close to me for a little while.

  Leaning over Chelsey, I pressed a kiss to her forehead, and then I left.

  I wasn’t going to be gone long. Just long enough to get clean clothes from home and pick up a few things at the grocery store.

  I stepped into the sunlight and started toward my car. I pulled open the door and got ready to climb in, when someone sucker punched me in the back of my head.

  I shook the pain from my head and turned. My eyes landed on one of the frat boys from the party the night before.

  “Let’s see how tough you are now, you piece of shit,” the frat boy hissed. “You broke my friend’s nose, and now there’s going to be hell to pay.”

  “Bring it on, motherfucker,” I growled.

  I went for him, shoving my shoulder into his chest and knocking him on his ass. My knuckles ached when I punched his cheek, and he turned his head to the side to spit out blood. I raised my arm to hit him again, but then I was pulled away. I struggled in the hold of three guys, as another one appeared in front of me, and then another behind him.

  Nice. Six against one. That’s how Ivy League bitch boys liked to play.

  I was held there, while three of the frat boys beat the shit out of me. It wasn’t my first real ass beating, and I was sure it wouldn’t be the last. I held my head high as they took turns punching me in my stomach and in my face. And when one of them got close enough, I spit a mouthful of blood in his face.

  The beating got worse from that point on. At some point I began to black out. Still, I refused to go down like a pussy. I fought against their hold, and was able to break free and get a hit in before they knocked me to the ground and started kicking me at the same time. Their boots dug into my sides and head until the world around me tilted and everything went black.

  **********

  WHEN I WOKE UP, I was in the hospital. My eyes were blurry, but no matter how much I blinked, I couldn’t clear them. The memory of the guys jumping me moved through my head, and I tried to lean up. The fuckers weren’t going to get away that shit. I was going to find them, and when I did, there would be hell to pay.

  Pain moved through my side, making me gasp, and I fell back onto the bed. It was then I felt something warm in my hand. I looked down to find Chelsey sleeping at my side, her fingers intertwined with mine.

  I smiled.

  Squeezing her fingers, she jumped and sat up with wide eyes.

  “You’re awake,” she rasped.

  “I’m awake.”

  I sounded like shit, my voice was broken and my body was bruised.

  “What happened? Who did this to you?” she asked.

  It wasn’t important. She didn’t need to know the details. I didn’t want her to feel bad or blame herself.

  “I don’t know,” I lied. It was for the best. “How’d you know I was here?”

  “Lynn and Marshall found you in the parking lot outside my apartment. We called the ambulance and I rode with you. You’ve been here for three days.”

  Three fucking days. That was crazy.

  My eyes moved over her face and I saw the strain in her expression—the dark circles around her eyes—and the sunken skin of her cheeks.

  “When’s the last time you ate? Have you been here the whole time?” I asked, worry moving through me.

  “It doesn’t matter. All that matters is you’re okay.”

  “Yeah,” Lynn said from the doorway. She stood there with her arms crossed with Marshall at her side. “Don’t let her lie to you, Blaine. She’s been by your side for three damn days. She won’t eat and I can barely get her to take a nap.”

  My eyes met Chelsey’s and she blushed.

  “I couldn’t leave you,” she whispered, before she leaned over and pressed a soft kiss on the top of my hand. I opened my fingers and ran them through her hair. “After all the terrible things I’d said to you. I accused you of killing our baby. I’m so sorry, Blaine. I shouldn’t have said that.”

  I smiled at her, my cheek aching. I was sure most of the bones in my body were broken, but none of it mattered. All that mattered was I was alive, and my girl was at my side.

  “Don’t apologize,” I said, running my fingers through her hair. “Let’s move past all of it. Let’s do it together. I want to start over with you Chelsey.”

  She nodded. A tear moved past her lashes, and she lifted her hand to wipe it away. My eyes landed on her finger, and I smiled when I saw she was wearing the promise ring I’d given her on her eighteen birthday.

  I took her hand, running my thumb over the ring. “You kept it.”

  “Of course I kept it. You gave it to me. I guarded it with my heart.”

  “I love you so much, Little Doe,” I said, bringing a smile to her face.

  “I love you, too. That’s all that matters. The rest can wait until you’re all better.

  “You’re here,” I said, brushing my lips across her fingers. “That’s all the better I need.”

  EPILOGUE

  CHELSEY

  SEVEN YEARS LATER

  “CHELSEY WESLEY.”

  I stood when my name was called and walked down the aisle to the stage. My palms were sweaty and I felt dizzy, but I pushed forward without regard to the crowd of people there for the Commencement Ceremony. There were camera’s everywhere and the road running in front of Butler Library was completely blocked off. The ceremony was a big deal, and the amount of people who were in the audience showed that.

  Tucking my fingers into my light-blue gown, almost an exact match to my husband’s eyes, I took the stairs. A tornado of nerves twisted my stomach as I walked toward the man holding my future as a doctor in his hands. I swallowed hard over my parched throat and smiled into the audience.

  I needed to see him. He was my sense of calm, he was person who made everything right in our family. I found his handsome face among the sea of people, and instantly I felt at ease. I smiled through my tears as Blaine held our bubbly two-year-old on his lap, holding his chubby, little arm, and waving it back and forth at me. Our daughter bounced up and down in her chair next to Blaine, pulling on her daddy’s arm and pointing in my direction.

  Blaine’s grandma had passed two years before, and Maddie now lived with us. She was growing like a weed and starting middle school soon. Still, she stood next to Blaine and smiled up at me with the love of a sister in her eyes.

  Lynn and Marshall, who’d married right after Blaine and me, were a row behind my family. Lynn waved with a smile as she clutched her newborn daughter to her chest. Mar
shall turned out to be amazing. He’d even made sure the frat boys who’d beaten Blaine years before got what they deserved. Actually, all the men at The Golden Banana had made sure of that.

  With a heart full of love, and a deep breath, I took the few short steps that brought me face to face with Dean Michael’s. He smiled at me as he held my diploma out in my direction. I shook his hand and he nodded.

  “It’s been my pleasure to have met you, Mrs. Wesley. Congratulations on all your hard work. You’re going to do great things.”

  “Thank you, Dean Michael.”

  I took the diploma and turned around to share one of the biggest moments of my life with the most important people in my world.

  I laughed, my heart flooding with love for the chaos that was my beautiful family. Blaine was standing with our babies as they cheered at the top of their lungs for me. He winked, whistling loudly, before mouthing I love you. I mouthed it back and blew them a kisses.

  I caught my father’s eye and I smiled at him, loving him more than anything for being there for me, too. He stood next to Blaine, his hand on my daughter’s shoulder, and so much pride in his expression. My father and I had been through a lot over the years, but we were closer than ever.

  It’d been four years since my parents divorced, and as much as I hurt for my father, he actually seemed happier. He was seeing a nice woman, Linda, who was visiting her sick sister in California for weekend. She was the complete opposite of my mother, and even though I was way past the age of being mothered, she was doing a great job at being a grandma to my kids.

  I walked toward the side of the stage, feeling a sense of pride over everything I’d accomplished over the last seven years. I went through years of therapy with Blaine for the loss of our baby, and then I married him. He was the most beautiful and loving man on the planet, a man who worked hard for his family and was there no matter what.

  I had a daughter with icy eyes and olive skin like her Daddy, with the attitude to match, and a son who was my twin. Blaine called him Mini Doe, and every time he looked up at me with his big, brown, doe eyes, I knew the name was a perfect match.

  Life was good, and I’d never been so happy.

  I gave Blaine one more glance before I stepped off the stage, and his blue eyes were waiting for me. He was older, and like a fine wine, he’d gotten better with age. He was tall, dark, and handsome and totally mine. Even seven years later, he was still able to work my body into a frenzy and leave me breathless in bed.

  After the ceremony, we went out to dinner as a family. By the time we pulled up at home, I was exhausted. The kids were asleep in the back seat, and I found myself nodding off in the passenger’s seat. Blaine and I unloaded the kids and took them inside. We dressed them for bed and tucked them in for the night.

  By the time we made it to our room, I was dead on my feet. I fell back onto the bed with a sigh.

  “Today was the longest day of my life,” I said with closed eyes.

  “Today was the greatest day of your life,” Blaine countered. “I’m so proud of you, baby. Have I told you that today?”

  I smiled. “Yes you have, but I’ll have you know today was not the greatest day of my life. I have quite a few of those and they all star you.”

  “Is that so?” he asked, kneeling on the floor in front of me and peeling my heels from my feet. I moaned with satisfaction when he began to massage the balls of my feet. “Tell me what they are.”

  “Well, there’s the day I met you.”

  “Uh huh. And?”

  “And there’s the day we got married.” I sighed when he moved his hand over the bottom of my foot, digging deep into the soreness. “The day our beautiful kids were born. I think those were the best.”

  “Definitely the best days,” he agreed.

  He continued to massage my feet, moving his adept fingers and making my eyes roll in pleasure. Then he moved his hands up my ankle, followed by the back of my leg. He worked his way up my leg, his fingers loosening the sore muscles, and I was in absolute heaven.

  “God, Blaine. You make me so happy, baby,” I sighed.

  “I aim to please, Mrs. Wesley,” he said. I could hear the grin in this voice.

  “Yes, you do.”

  He chuckled. Then his hands moved up higher, his fingers tickling the sides of my panties. I bit into my bottom lip and enjoyed his touch.

  “Is there anything else I can do to make you happy?” he asked, his lips brushing the back of my knees.

  I sat up, sliding myself to the edge of the bet and wrapping my legs around his waist. I leaned down and kissed him, his tongue teasing mine and making me groan with want.

  “Actually, there is something you can do for me,” I said, pulling at his tie.

  “Oh really?” he asked with a lifted brown. “Anything you want, baby. Just name it.”

  His eyes were dilated, his breathing erratic. I pulled his tie from around his collar and tossed to the floor before wrapping my arms around his neck.

  “I want to be teased and pleased,” I said, biting into my lip. I grinned slyly. “Now, strip for me, Jack Hammer.”

  READ CHAPTER 1 OF NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

  LITTLE BLACK BOOK

  WILMA AND BETTY FUCK LIKE porn stars. I knew from experience, I’d been fucking them for the last four months.

  I dug my fingers into chocolate hair and pressed down, until the back of her throat massaged my slippery tip. A flat tongue added pressure underneath my shaft as a dainty hand massaged my sack. A moan pressed against the back of my teeth and Betty giggled on the head of my cock. The loud slurping filled the hotel room, as she sucked me like my come was the answer for world peace.

  Strawberry blonde hair moved up and down between Betty’s thighs. She moaned over and over again, as Wilma licked and sucked her sweet, pink folds. The wet smacking noises were an aphrodisiac, pushing me faster toward release. It was a beautiful thing to hear and watch—nerve candy for the five senses.

  I couldn’t hold back any longer—especially not with two sexy women fucking and sucking everything in the room. I let go, coming hard and fast with a string of curse words. Both ladies captured my spray, lapping it up like a fine wine, licking their lips as my personal flavor coated their tongues. It was truly a thing of beauty.

  Later, with both women asleep beside me, I peeled back the sheet and crept from the bed. Wilma muttered something in her sleep as I slipped on my pants and buttoned my shirt. My expensive jacket covered my arms and the tie around my neck was perfectly tied. When I left the hotel room, I was thoroughly sated and ready to take on the chaos of New York City at night.

  By the time I made it back to the club, Vick was waiting in my office.

  “You look like you’ve been thoroughly fucked and sucked into oblivion,” she said, pouring me a glass of my favorite scotch.

  “Wilma and Betty…” I hummed. My fingers wrapped around the glass of Johnnie Walker, as I melted into the leather of my favorite chair.

  I’d spent many nights with the redhead and brunette. They were my favorite threesome go-to girls. Wilma ate pussy like a starved woman, and Betty sucked dick like she was going for a gold medal in blow jobs.

  “I’m surprised you’re not bored with them yet,” Vick snorted.

  She pulled off her jacket and threw it across the back of the black leather couch in my office.

  “Not yet.” A grin stretched my face and I swished my scotch around, making the ice clink against the sides of the glass.

  Victoria, a.k.a. Vick, was my assistant, and had been for the last six years. We grew up in foster care together, and she was my right-hand man. We covered each other’s asses when shit got out of control, which it tended to do when we were younger. She was the only person in the world who knew every detail of my life—the biggest hard-ass I knew—and the only woman in my life I hadn’t fucked.

  It wasn’t that Vick wasn’t attractive, she was sexy in a Laura Croft: Tomb Raider kind of way; it’s just she was more like a s
ister to me. I didn’t have any siblings. Hell, I didn’t have any family, so our relationship was special, even if I never told her so.

  Men found her attractive. Her long, dark hair was always pulled into a tight ponytail and her wardrobe consisted of black. She had pouty lips that were formed into a permanent frown, and big cerulean eyes. Vick made her resting bitch face look sexy—like she was minutes away from slinging a whip and fucking you senseless.

  I kicked lots of ass over her growing up. Then, I ran away from the system, leaving her to fend for herself. It killed me when I found out she’d earned money selling her ass during the years we were apart. Needless to say, when I became the rich fuck I am today, I pulled her along for the ride. I made sure she’d never have to lie on her back for money again.

  “Any luck finding your Jessica Rabbit?” she asked, fingering the night’s paperwork, putting together figures.

  Tilting the glass to my lips, the smooth liquid slid down my throat, igniting a burn in my chest. I set the glass on a table and stood. “Jessica Rabbit is a myth. There are no Jessica’s in the world, but if I find one, you’ll be the first to know,” I winked. “What’s it looking like?”

  She held up a paper with a smile. “Tonight was good. Ten grand more than last night. Looks like the article in the New York Times paid off. Of course, the fact they named Clive’s the ‘hottest new nightclub in New York’ didn’t hurt.”

  I took the paper from her and looked down at the percentages. She was right. Clive’s had brought in almost double the revenue from the night before. The fact I was banking so much on a weeknight meant I had single-handedly built Clive’s into a success.

  I’d come a long way from the seventeen-year-old punk I used to be. I owed it all to Clive… the nightclub, and the man himself.

  When I was nineteen, I came face to face with the end of Clive’s shotgun. What could I say? I was into some crazy shit. He could have turned me in. Hell, he could have killed me, but instead he gave me a job at his hole-in-the-wall bar and taught me everything he knew about the business. He became like a father to me. The only father I knew, since mine had dropped me off on a set of church steps with a shitty diaper wrapped around my ass.