by D. A. Young
The finality of her statement was too much for Jack, and refusing to admit defeat, he grabbed her shoulders, pulling her close to him. Noelle struggled to push him away, but he held firmly, turning her around and cupping her face gently. He could see her eyes dilate and her breathing quicken in response to his touch. So she wasn’t immune to his touch after all, but still, her mind remained stubborn and unyielding.
“We will never be done, Noelle. You belong to me, and I belong to you. That will never change. Clearly my being away for two days has left you a little confused, so let me remind you,” Jack said determinedly before claiming her mouth in a wildly brutal kiss. She attempted to resist, trying to turn her face away while clawing at his wrists to break free; but the effort was futile as Jack kept kissing her, dominating her mouth, tongue teasing at her lips until she stopped fighting and wrapped her hands around his wrists to hold him to her and her mouth opened under his. Instantly the kiss gentled as he walked her backwards the side of the bed.
Something wet and salty mingled in their kiss, and Jack pulled back long enough to see the tears falling from her beautiful gray eyes. His heart ached from the pain he was causing her. “Stay with me,” he begged; and she shook her head. “Stay.”
“I hate you,” Noelle whispered in a subdued voice; and her words were like a knife slicing his chest wide open, even as she pulled herself up to exchange kisses with him.
“No, you love me, just like I love you,” Jack said persuasively and followed her down onto the bed. Noelle didn’t even have time to process his shocking admission as she was soon swept away by his touch, eyes closed. His lips trailed close to her ear as his warm hands slipped under her blouse to caress her breasts through her bra. Her hoarse moan was filled with desire and heartache.
“You’re mine. I will never let you go….” he whispered raggedly then proceeded to show her how true his statement was.
***
It was two in the morning when Jack finally left the bed. He looked down at an exhausted Noelle sleeping as he slowly dressed. Shame and remorse filled him, leaving him feeling sick to his stomach as he saw the love marks he’d left on her body.
He’d taken her over and over again, driving her body to dizzying heights of pleasure and only giving her release when Noelle correctly answered the question of whom she belonged to. Jack refused to let her body come down from one orgasm before he was wringing the next one out of her as she screamed and moaned that she belonged to him while he gorged himself on her sweet pussy. In the end, she begged to be left alone, but still he couldn’t help himself as he gently turned her over onto her stomach and urged her to get on her knees.
It was like a force, stronger than a category five hurricane, that was driving him as he spread her ass cheeks apart and pleasured her pussy and rosette mercilessly with his tongue, taking long licks and repeatedly plunging into both holes until she was frantically pushing back into his face for more. Driving two fingers into her soaked channel, he scooped the mixture of their juices onto his cock and her tight hole for lubrication before placing his throbbing member at her tiny entrance. Damn, she was so tight, but he knew she was ready for it the way she inched back on to the tip of his cock.
“Do you want it, Noelle?” Jack asked through clenched teeth, fighting for control. He smacked her ass and she jerked, moaning with pleasure as he sunk in a little deeper. “If you want it, then say it.”
“Mmmm, yes there, Jack,” Noelle begged helplessly, and he slid in inch by inch until he was in to the hilt. The feeling was unbelievable. She winced, and he gave her a moment to adjust as his fingers slid underneath to play with her overly-sensitive clit. She shuddered and slowly pulled forward then back to test her limits. Jack was perfectly still, sweat running down his tense body; watching as his dick slid in and out of her tight, dark hole. He needed to move, to punish her for thinking she could leave him; to savor how exquisite the feeling of being with her like this was. She wiggled her ass and turned to look at him expectantly, licking her lips with invitation in her big eyes. Jack gently nudged her forward, driving her slowly down into the soft mattress. “Lie down flat.”
Noelle did and Jack followed her, lying on top but to the left side of her. He raised her right leg higher at an angle and braced himself by holding onto the back of her knee. Slowly he began to tunnel in and out of her ass, and her breathy sighs turned into deep-throated groans of ecstasy. Jack yanked her hair back, so her face was exposed, and whispered into her ear, “I feel like I’m going to explode in your sweetness, darlin’. Do you like how it feels?” His thrusts became rougher and deeper.
Noelle threw her ass back at him, loving the fullness inside of her. He was so thick, so big, so…perfect. Never in a million years would she had ever thought that she’d like anal sex; but the way Jack was doing it, was so right that he had her clawing the sheets begging for more. “I love it, please don’t stop. Harder… uhhh… harder.”
Jack stopped and Noelle whimpered in protest. “Who do you belong to? Whose pussy is this? This ass that I’m fucking?” He gave her two deep thrusts that had her convulsing as he pinched her clit gently. “Answer the question, Noelle!”
She exploded clenching and unclenching around his cock as she screamed “You! I belong to you, Jack Sullivan!”
“As I do you,” he groaned into her neck. The pressure of her squeezing tightly around his dick was too much for Jack; he shoved her leg higher and proceeded to fuck her harder, his balls slapping against her ass as he increased his teasing of her clit. Noelle came again in convulsions, her eyes rolling back in her head. He finally joined her, shooting his hot semen into her with deep shudders before collapsing on top of her. By the time he pulled out, Noelle was beyond exhausted. As he pulled the covers over her, she curled up and whimpered, “No more. Please.”
Jack was ashamed of how he’d treated Noelle and used her body against her. All he’d ever wanted to do was love her, but instead, he’d broken her. Like his father did his mother. His father’s maniacally twisted face flashed in his mind.
“Yer mine, Moira! Ya hear?? I’ll never let you go!!”
His guilt was suffocating him. He had to get out of there. Hurriedly he put on his shoes and grabbed his shit before letting himself out the front door quietly. His conscience taunted him.
Run, you fucking coward, run! You’re just like him! Sullivan men do nothing but hurt those around them! Run! He barely made it out the front door and down the steps before he threw up in the bushes.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Four Months Later…
A knock on the door caused Noelle to look up from the spreadsheet she was examining. Avery stood in the doorway of her office with a binder clasped to her chest.
“Our eleven a.m. interview is here. You ready?” she asked as she munched on a carrot stick, and stepped further into the office. Noelle leaned back in her chair and smiled back at her, happy at the changes her friend was making that seemed to bring her inner peace.
In the past couple of months, Avery had lost fifteen pounds and was feeling great about it. Oh, she’d always have boobs, behind, and hips, but now she wasn’t so self-conscious about them. She seemed to have embraced it wholeheartedly, a fact that seemed to drive her fiancée Pierce crazy as he tried in vain to keep her covered up and on lockdown. Much to his dismay, Avery wasn’t trying to hear anything he was saying.
“Actually you go ahead; I trust your judgment. I’m going to finish reviewing our budget spreadsheets before heading out to lunch with Uncle Ian. Do you want to join us? If so, I can wait,” Noelle suggested as she pushed her black, framed glasses on top of her head.
“Nah, go ahead. Tell him I said hi. We can review my notes when you get back. Don’t forget we have that Skype meeting with Cinnamon Farms at 4 p.m., and I can’t wait. Honey, have you ever had a conversation with Farmer Hayes?” Avery asked, pretending to fan herself. “Good lawd, that man’s voice is sinfully wet-panty inducing! Toodles!” she waved as she left the doorway then
popped back in. “Not to dampen your day, but the usual envelope came for you today as well.”
Noelle refused to look up from her computer screen. “Put it in the outgoing mail with the usual return to sender label please and thank you,” she replied politely even though she was screaming on the inside. She could feel Avery staring at her but refused to look up from the papers in front of her. Avery spoke in a soft voice, “Noelle…honey it’s been-
“Please don’t, Avery. Just...don’t,” Noelle spoke firmly, letting her friend know the conversation was over. Avery left the room without saying another word.
When she was sure the coast was clear, Noelle quickly got up and walked to the bathroom. Quietly she shut the door and observed herself in the mirror. Her face was thinner, making her large eyes and full mouth more prominent. The look that she dubbed ‘Traumatized by Love’ was garnering a lot of attention from the media. At first, she was known as Jack Sullivan’s love interest. Then she was known as the woman who dumped Jack Sullivan on his ass, causing him to become a recluse. Ian confirmed to her that Jack was the one who leaked this story to the media to make it work in her favor. How thoughtful of him. Bastard.
Now she was known as an “IT” girl and successful business owner. She and Avery were in high demand to plan the hottest events in town and constantly photographed for daily fashion and gossip columns. On a Whim was so successful, that they were finally able to purchase a loft in Brooklyn where they hired a full staff of caterers and florists. All of the blessings should have made her feel happy and carefree; but they didn’t, and she wasn’t.
Jack had left her. He’d said he loved her and spent the entire night worshipping her body, making her do and say things that still made her blush. And then the next morning he was gone. She called his cell repeatedly, only to be turned over to voicemail. By noon he still wasn’t back so she called his office. Margo said that he was in when she got there but left before noon. Noelle stayed in her apartment all day, staring out the window and waiting for him to reach out to her.
She didn’t bathe because she didn’t want to wash the scent or feel of him away. She lay in bed, breathing in the smell of him as the tears rolled down her cheeks, crying into the pillow. The next day there was a knock on the door, and she opened it, knowing she looked a fright, to accept the envelope from Sullivan and Associates in D.C. A feeling of dread settled in the pit of her stomach as she opened it and read its contents. The first page was a letter stating that Jack Sullivan was requesting that she divorce him on the grounds of irreconcilable differences. He would pay all her legal fees and a generous alimony for the next ten years. Noelle balked at the sum of seven thousand dollars a month. They’d barely been married a month!
The next few pages were divorce papers drawn up by Casey. All she had to do was sign them. Noelle tore the papers up and called for a courier service, sending the shredded pieces of paper back to Casey and got back in bed. Her world had just ended. Jack didn’t want her anymore and was now trying to buy her off to ease his guilty conscience. It was just as she’d thought. She’d been nothing but an expensive piece of ass to him. That first week was the hardest and, she refused to do anything but lie in bed, go to the bathroom, and call his phone. Then Avery came. She banged on the door and wouldn’t stop until Noelle threw the door open and yelled “WHAT?!?!”
Avery leaned back with a frown and covered her nose as she directed Noelle back into her house. Once inside, she led her down the hallway to the bathroom. Noelle scowled as she watched Avery squirt an obscenely generous amount of toothpaste on her toothbrush and handed it to her. Brushing her teeth, she watched in the mirror as her friend calmly drew her a bubble bath, then got her fresh clothing and waited expectantly by the tub. Noelle reluctantly took off her clothes and sank into the warm, fragrant bath surrounded by bubbles. Tears filled her eyes as Avery took her hair out of its ratty bun and gently began to comb through it, before washing and conditioning it.
“How did you know?” Noelle asked quietly and Avery knew she really meant: How did you know that I was dying? That my heart was gone?
“Darby,” she said gently, and Noelle started to cry in earnest. Once she started, she couldn’t stop; and by the time Avery dragged her from the water, it was ice cold. Noelle insisted on drying herself and when she came out of the bathroom, Avery had a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup waiting for her. She greedily ate the food, not realizing how hungry she was until Avery set a second sandwich in front of her, and she devoured it too. Soon she was sleepy. Avery tucked her into the fresh sheets and lay on the other side of the bed, flipping through magazines as she slept.
Avery had Pierce bring her clothes over; and she stayed until Noelle was initiating conversation and eating three meals a day. She was worried about her friend’s condition and kept Sidra posted as she was away on the tour but checked in daily. When Sidra confessed to Avery that she’d emailed Jack a very threatening message and would need a solid alibi should something happen to him, she was very surprised that instead of lecturing her on restraint, Avery didn’t try to talk her out of it. She simply said, “Make it hurt twice as much as you originally planned,” then went back to caring for Noelle.
Three weeks later when Noelle asked what their next project would be, Avery knew she was going to be okay. By then the second package arrived from Sullivan and Associates, and Noelle forgot about being heartbroken and moved into Phase2: State of Fury, where she had since taken up permanent residence.
Noelle opened the envelope and read its contents before sending for the courier service again. If Jack wanted a divorce so badly, he would need to be the one to file. Fuck him. She was done letting him pull her strings, so she threw herself into her business wholeheartedly. With a loan from Ian, she paid off Rothman Investments and took their business to another bank. Business was doing so great; they were able to pay Ian back in two months. On a Whim was in the black and booked solid for the next six months.
No one had seen Jack in months. Noelle’s mother was on a mission to sue him for negligence and job abandonment, since he turned his clientele over to Ian who was merciless on Alicia. When Noelle spoke to Darby, he said Jack was in Whiskey Row, but he hadn’t actually SEEN him, whatever the fuck that meant. The envelope came every week like clockwork; and every week she sent it back because deep down, she knew she still loved him and always would. There was no one else for her because his sorry behind was what her traitorous heart wanted more than anything.
A month later, she discovered that there was someone else for her, and that someone would be coming in less than eight months. Noelle was shocked as hell when she went to her doctor’s office to see what could be done about her constant state of exhaustion. After running a few tests, her family doctor said, “At this time I’m going to prescribe plenty of rest, healthy foods to keep your iron up, along with some pills. Prenatal pills. Congratulations, my dear. You’re pregnant.”
She’d reminded him of doctor-patient confidentiality, lest he spill the beans to her parents; and for the next week, Noelle walked along in a daze as she tried to get used to the reality of being pregnant. Immediately she wanted to call Jack and tell him the news, but her pride wouldn’t let her. He left HER, not the other way around. So she kept the news to herself, not even Sidra and Avery knew yet. When the nausea kicked in, she tried to work from home as much as possible without alerting Avery, but her overly concerned friend feared that she was becoming suicidal; so Noelle had to drag herself to the office and fake the funk.
Glassy eyes stared back at her from the mirror as she struggled not to cry. Some days were good, and some were bad. Envelope Day was always a bad day, but the pain had receded slightly due to her little secret. Breathing deeply through her nose, she counted backwards from one hundred until she felt calm again. She then splashed cool water on her face, before looking up at the sign above the mirror. Make today your bitch!
It always made her smile, and it was a goal she strived to accomplish daily. After ma
king sure the door was locked again, Noelle pushed her flowing, Kelly green kimono to the side and lifted up her white dress shirt to peer at her small bump covered by her maternity skinny jeans.
“Hi, baby. How’s Mommy’s angel?” Noelle whispered lovingly to her belly as she caressed the bump gently. She was rewarded with flutters in her belly for her efforts. Jack had better come around soon, she thought achingly, or he was going to miss all the really good parts.
Noelle straightened her clothes and pulled her huge gemstone necklace into place. The trick to hiding her baby bump was to have people focus on a statement piece from her wardrobe. Today’s piece was a large, gold link necklace with turquoise and lime green stones set in a triangle shaped middle. It was bold and paired with a bright orangey-red lip gloss; the look was stunning and effective, keeping all eyes above her chest.