Waiting to Lose

by Dawn L. Chiletz

  “See anything you like?” she asked as she strutted toward him. “I say we just put these rumors to rest and finally make them a reality.”

  Jake quickly turned his head away and closed his eyes. It would be easy to retaliate and just use Allison to get back at Madi for breaking his heart. But no matter what Madi had done, he still loved her. He needed to go see her. He needed to know what she was thinking and if there was still anything left worth fighting for.

  “Allison, you’re a very beautiful woman, but I’m seeing someone.”

  Allison looked around the room. “I don’t see her here now. What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.” As she sashayed her way closer to him, she began to unbutton the few clasps on her next-to-nothing shirt.

  Jake put his hand up to stop her. “Allie, don’t do this. It’s not going to happen.” Jake shook his head in disgust. “I need to get out of here.”

  He rushed past her, opening the door and descending into the crowd. He suddenly felt small and insignificant. He couldn’t see the door from where he was standing, but he instantly wanted to find it. He needed to get the hell out of this party. Caleb stood in front of him with his mouth gaped open as Allison slipped out behind him, buttoning her shirt. Jake glared at Caleb and followed his line of sight back to Allison with a pained expression. He didn’t care what he thought. He needed out. His head dipped down to the floor. He lifted his eyes as he turned back toward the door and stopped dead in his tracks.

  Standing next to Ang was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. His breath caught in his throat. The first thing he noticed were red stockings on long, luscious legs, leading up to familiar red garter belts and tiny red shorts. The sight of her thighs sent a heated pulse through his body. As he slowly scanned her, he noticed her thin blouse made of red, yellow and orange sheer waves, covering her chest. It was low cut with a slight amount of visible cleavage—just enough to make him want more. The blouse met her wrists and flared out to bare arms and back up to meet at her shoulders. She looked like walking fire. Her face was covered with a mask of the same color that flared out to the side. Her long brown hair flowed in waves around her head, stretching down almost to the middle of her back. Jake stood motionless as his eyes made their way to her face. Her lips… They were red and familiar. He felt his heart make a small leap out of his chest as all the pieces fell into place. It was her.

  Her eyes bore into him before pouncing to Caleb, then to Allison Gregory as she buttoned her blouse. She turned on her heel and bolted toward the door.

  Jake pushed past the crowd and reached for her arm. The first thing he noticed as he approached her was the way she smelled. He immediately felt his heart mend and fire ignite his blood. She turned back toward him, pushing his hand off her. He immediately pulled her into a kiss. She attempted to push away at first, but the second his lips met hers, she melted into his mouth as if his lips made her forget her anger. Her hand reached up and wrapped around his neck. His mouth molded into hers and she returned his kiss with equal passion and equal fire. After several seconds, she pulled back and looked him in the eyes, stunned. Her eyes turned dark and cross

  “Do you even know who you’re kissing?” she asked with anger in her tone.

  Jake shook his head. He was just as mad. “I know the girl I’m kissing right now is obviously not the girl who Nate just told me had her tongue down the throat of some guy at a fraternity party.”

  Madi’s mouth gaped open. Jake took her by the hand and pulled her back to the office from which he’d come. She followed him willingly. When they were safe inside with the door closed, Madi removed her mask.

  “Surprise!” She tossed it across the room and plucked the loose strands of hair out of her face.

  Jake smirked as his head tilted to the side, watching her, then following the lines of her body, taking her in. He leaned on the door and folded his arms, slowly staring at her from her feet to her mouth.

  “Stop checking me out! I’m hoping you have a really good explanation for what I just saw.”

  A smile dangled on the corner of his lips before he let loose and laughed. His hands ran through his hair as he smiled and inched toward her.

  Madi placed her hands on her hips. “Do you know how hard it was to keep this a surprise from you? I was so worried that you’d be angry that I didn’t tell you. I was so worried that you’d think I didn’t want to see you. I rush through my classes and fly all the way here and what’s the first thing I see?”

  Jake smiled as he rubbed his chin and listened.

  “I see YOU, walking out of this very room with Allison Gregory buttoning her shirt.”

  Jake stopped moving and bent down at his waist, resting his hands on his knees. He seemed to take a deep breath and then stood, exploding into hysterical laughter.

  Madi’s face crumpled in horror as she moved quickly past him toward the door. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her back. Her arms flailed as she attempted to fight him, accidentally hitting his face.

  He released her as she backed away. “Baby, nothing happened. She came on to me and I told her I had a girlfriend. She started to unbutton her shirt and I practically ran from the room. Ask anyone. She was only in here a minute before I bolted for the door.”

  Madi let out a huge sigh as her face softened. “Why didn’t you just say that?”

  He made a small move toward her cautiously, with his hands in the air, as if he were approaching a cornered wild animal.

  Her body relaxed as he approached her. Her eyes turned soft and a smile pricked her lips.

  “Hi,” he said as he came closer.

  She bit her lip and grinned at him, shifting her weight to the other side. “Hi.” She glanced down at the floor before meeting his gaze. “Why were you laughing?” she asked.

  His cell phone rang in his pocket. He pulled it out, turned it to mute, and tossed it on the chair in the corner of the room without evening looking at it.

  Jake placed his hands in his pockets and sighed. “I was laughing because five minutes ago, I was pretty sure I was going to die. I was laughing because you’re not in Chicago, you’re not at a party, and your tongue is certainly not twisting into the mouth of a frat boy. So I laughed, because I’ve never been so close to going out of my mind and I’ve never been so happy to see anyone in all my life.”

  Madi gritted her teeth and cringed. “I’m sorry.”

  He stepped toward her. “You’re here.”

  “I’m here,” she said with a smile. She reached her hand out and gently touched the stubbly cheek she’d just hit. Jake cringed.

  “Oh my God! Did I hurt you?” she asked in a panicked flurry. He smiled and she shook her head. “You’re an ass.”

  “Yes I am.” He reached his hand up and pulled on a strand of her hair, twirling the length around his finger. Her eyes followed his movement. “Your hair is longer,” he said. “I like it. A lot.”

  She moved in closer and touched his hair. “Your hair is shorter. I didn’t think it was possible for you to look even better than I remembered.”

  “You’re the hot one,” he said as his hand gripped her waist, pulling her in quickly, causing her to crash into him.

  She took a sharp breath, then rested into his arms. “I am a flame, after all.”

  “Is that what you are?” he asked seductively as his mouth nuzzled her chin.

  “Is it warm in here?” She fanned herself with her hand as he bent his face to the side, inching closer to her lips.

  “If you’re too hot, I’d be happy to put your fire out with my hose.”

  Madi pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh, but couldn’t suppress it. Jake smiled with her, showing the extreme whites of his teeth. “That was so cheesy,” she said as her mouth moved in closer to his.

  Jake nodded his head and his expression changed. His eyes smoldered with desire as the smile drifted from his face. He turned his head toward her and pulled her tightly against him. Her breath hitched and her smile faded wh
ile her chest rose in anticipation. He flicked his tongue over his lips before pressing them hungrily into hers. Her hands gripped his shoulders as he slid his tongue into her mouth. She met his tongue with hers, relaxing into him. His hand slid down her back and grabbed her from behind, moaning through their kiss. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she pressed her body into him. She lifted her leg around his and he bent to lift her onto the desk. He steered his body into hers and she moaned. Her hand reached back and grabbed his ass, pulling him into her. Jake pushed several items off the desk and lowered her back so he was on top of her and she was straddling him. He grinded into her and she arched her back to accept him. His growing erection pressed into her and she moaned in appreciation. As their mouths remembered each other, he began to move his hands up her leg to unfasten her garter belt.

  There was a soft knock on the door. Jake ignored it as his mouth moved down to Madi’s neck and he fumbled with the clasp on her thigh.

  Madi lifted her head to the sound of the knocking. “Jake… someone’s outside the door.”

  “I don’t care.” He continued to kiss her neck as his hand caressed her breast.

  Madi laughed. “Jake!”

  He stopped kissing her and sighed into her neck, slowly lifting himself off of her.

  She stood and fixed her clothes back into place. Jake adjusted himself and Madi bit her lip.

  “Don’t. Do. That.” He looked at her lustfully, and she smiled at him before puckering her lips. She lifted her hand to his mouth and attempted to wipe away the red lipstick that was smeared all over his face.

  “You look like you got mauled.”

  Jake bent his head to kiss her again when the knock intensified at the door.

  “Come in,” Madi said as she leaned on the corner of the desk, facing the door, and Jake faced her, not taking his eyes off of her for one second.

  “Everything okay in here?” Caleb asked as he peeked into the room.

  “Madi? Is that you?”

  “Hi, Caleb. It’d better be me.” She winked at Jake as she walked toward Caleb with outstretched arms. Jake’s eyes followed her the entire way. Caleb hugged her and crinkled his face at Jake.

  Jake twisted his face in frustration as he stared at Caleb. He glared at him through the tops of his eyes as he wiped the corners of his mouth. “What do you need, Caleb?”

  Ang popped her head in the door. “Surprise!” she said with a nervous smile.

  Madi walked over to Ang and put her arm around her.

  “You were in on this?” Jake asked as he pointed back and forth between Ang and Madi.

  Caleb sighed before turning to face the women. “Could you explain everything to him later? I need to have a moment with Jake—alone.”

  Jake frowned then turned to Madi, planting a small chaste kiss on her cheek. “Give me a minute, baby.”

  Madi nodded as she and Ang walked out into the party. Caleb closed the door behind them.

  “What’s so damn important that you had to interrupt me?” Jake asked in a huff.

  “What’s going on with you? You’re completely unfocused. There are people here tonight that could help your career, and you’re too busy to take the time to even speak to them?”

  “Is that what this is about? Jesus, Caleb. I haven’t seen her in months. I don’t care about seeing producers. I care about seeing her.”

  Caleb shook his head. “That’s not why I asked to talk to you. Where’s your phone?”

  “My phone?” Jake asked with surprise.

  “Dave’s been trying to call you. They lost him.”

  ***

  MADI AND ANG turned the corner toward the bathroom. Madi ducked inside to reapply her lipstick. A few minutes of kissing Jake Morgan and she completely fell apart. She could still feel his erection on her leg and it left her with a pressing need. She smiled as she tightened her muscles, thinking of what the night had in store for them. She knew she missed him, but seeing him in the flesh made her insides warm and tingly. Her eyes rolled back into her head as she thought of him in his costume. The pants fit him snuggly in all the right areas, and the red suspenders on his bare chest… Dear lord, the man was fine.

  As she blotted her lipstick with a tissue, she remembered the moment when she saw Jake come out of the office with Allison Gregory. He looked distraught, possibly guilty, and her heart had dropped into her stomach. Madi frowned as she replayed his words in her mind. Obviously Kendra had gone to the party early and Nate had followed. She wondered what had gone through Jake’s mind when Nate told him she was supposedly kissing another man. Madi shook her head. Poor Jake. He must have felt so betrayed. Her heart ached for him and she decided Caleb had had him for far too long.

  She opened the bathroom door and saw Ang speaking to Annie. Annie smiled in surprise as she hugged Madi. It was so good to see them both. In a weird way, it felt like she’d come home. Ang and Annie went off to get a drink, and Madi explained that she was going to find Jake.

  She made her way through the crowd. There were creatures and clowns at every turn. One particularly frightening zombie costume caught her eye. She continued forward with her eyes trailing backward, taking in the details. She walked smack into a wolf.

  “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

  “Not a problem, Red Riding Hood,” he said.

  There was something familiar about his voice. “Do I know you?” she asked.

  He nodded his head. She stepped back and eyed him over, rubbing her hand over her chin as she’d seen Jake do so many times before.

  “Judging by your height, I’d say you’re not Trey.”

  He shook his head no.

  She laughed. “Did we work together?”

  His hand teetered back and forth.

  “Kind of?” she asked.

  He nodded again.

  Madi stood with her hands on her hips. “Hmmm… I think I’m going to need to hear your voice again if I’m going to figure out who you are.

  He crossed his hairy arms over his chest.

  “Curtis?” Madi said with a grin.

  “No,” he replied.

  Madi concentrated hard. He leaned in toward her. “You’re not afraid of the Big Bad Wolf, are you?”

  Madi’s mouth twisted as she tried to place his voice.

  “You look as beautiful as ever. Did you see Allison Gregory is here?” She warily followed his pointing finger to where Allison was standing, talking to several men. He whispered in her ear, “Don’t trust him,” as his fingers trailed down her back.

  Madi gasped and turned around quickly, but he was lost in the crowd. Madi felt sick to her stomach and uneasy. She hadn’t felt this way since… Madi hurried toward the office door. She had to speak to Jake.

  Just as she reached for the door handle, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She jumped and turned defensively.

  “Jumpy little thing, aren’t you?”

  Allison Gregory was standing beside her, glaring into her eyes. Madi furrowed her brows. Who did this bitch think she was? First, she throws herself at her boyfriend, and now she had the nerve to try to talk to her? Madi’s eyes skimmed over her, contemplating whether or not she could take her. She wanted to drop-kick the bitch all the way back to the hospital the little nurse escaped from.

  “I’m Allison Gregory,” she said as she held out her hand to Madi. Madi glanced down at her hand and crossed her arms, unimpressed.

  “I know who you are,” she replied with a frown.

  “Oh, have you seen my movies?” The arrogance that surrounded her seemed to have a life of its own.

  “I’ve seen your movies. Mediocre at best. The reason I know who you are is because Jake told me you threw yourself at him. That’s pretty pathetic, don’t you think?”

  Allison’s lips curled into a smile. “Listen, little girl. Jake is way more man than you could ever handle. All the rumors about us? They're true. Every one of them. Who do you think keeps his bed warm at night on the road?”


  Madi’s hand clenched into a fist. Her hand lurched back, and just as she was about to deliver her blow, a hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

  “We need to go. Now.”

  Jake took her hand and led her away from Allison. As Jake pulled Madi through the crowd, she glanced back toward Allison and smiled, waving her middle finger.

  Allison shook her head in disgust and crept back into the depths from which she came.

  Madi smiled as Jake swiftly pulled her into a waiting car. She laughed, thinking he was in a hurry to get her home to bed. That was, until she saw the fear plastered on his face.

  “JAKE, PLEASE TALK to me. You’re scaring me.” Madi curled her arm around his as she sat next to him in the back of a darkened car, studying his face. Jake’s driver, Felix, was driving them home. Jake’s fingers intertwined with Madi’s as he stared at their hands.

  “I know you’re scared and I’m sorry. I’ll explain everything when I get you home.” Jake’s mind raced as he pulled out his phone and checked it to see if he’d missed any calls. He could feel Madi’s eyes on him and he turned to face her. “Everything will be fine. You’re here with me, where you belong,” he said.

  Jake could see her mind was fast at work, analyzing him, analyzing the night, analyzing everything. She reached down to her left and unbuckled her seatbelt, sliding onto his lap. Under any other circumstances, Jake would have insisted that she re-buckle herself. But tonight, he needed her as close to him as possible. She clenched her arms around his neck and he buried his face in hers. She smelled like home. He’d never been so happy to see anyone in his whole life.

  Madi pulled back and cradled his face in her hands. “I know something’s wrong, and I know you said you’d tell me when we got home, but I want you to know, whatever it is, it’s going to be okay. We can handle anything as long as we’re together.”

  His brows wrinkled as he studied her face. Would it really be okay? Would she ever forgive him for lying when he told her the truth? He loved her and he needed her. How had he functioned for so long without her in his life?