Chapter Six
Jack’s uneasy with Amber driving the car into town on her own, although he doesn’t think she’ll drive straight to the police station and give him up. He trusts her. When they opened their bodies up to each other, Jack felt a connection, something unspoken, yet profound. But Jack’s not used to trusting others.
If this is some elaborate plan on Amber’s part, then she’s an amazing actress. She’s thrown herself headlong into the investigation. She’s made him go over that night repeatedly, and has memorized every small detail. At first it was painful for Jack to recall that trauma, but after the hundredth time, the memories had lost some of their teeth.
“What made you go to your father’s office?” Amber asks. They’re sitting on the couch. Her legs are draped over his lap. She’s wearing another one of his T-shirts and no panties. Jack would rather slide his finger up her thigh, tempt her to open her legs for him, instead of going over this once again. “I keep going back to Chloe, the waitress. Could she have had any part in this?” Amber shakes her head. “Maybe I’m reaching.”
Jack bends and kisses her knee. “You know I don’t remember.”
Amber looks at him, shaking her head in frustration. She presses a fingertip against his third eye. “Just think, all of the answers are right there, locked away in your skull. If only we could just pry them out.”
“It’s possible they’re not there at all. My therapist said that my brain shuts off during blackouts. It doesn’t make memories. So, nothing’s there.”
“Hmmm.” Amber squints in the distance, considering this. During this quiet moment, Jack takes the opportunity to plant a soft kiss on the outside of her thigh. He doesn’t want to think about the case. He wants to enjoy Amber’s body by fucking her repeatedly. Amber sighs, her knees parting slightly. “I have to go now.”
Jack wraps his hand around her thigh. “Now?”
“Yes, now. We talked about this. Meg’s bartending a couple towns over. She only does that once a week.”
Jack leans into her chest, and bites her nipple through the T-shirt. “Are you sure no one will notice you?”
Amber licks her lips, fighting her desire. “There aren’t any neighbors nearby. This isn’t Manhattan.”
With regret, Amber pushes him away. He’s made her wet, but there will be plenty of time for that later. As comfortable as his T-shirts are, Amber is starting to miss wearing actual pants, and having clean underwear. She walks to the kitchen and grabs one of Jack’s coats.
“You’re going to freeze to death,” Jack says, eyeing her bare legs.
“I’m going to be quick.” She reaches across the counter for the car keys. By the time she turns around, Jack is on her. The ledge of the counter presses against her back as he leans into her.
“Don’t take too long,” he says, with possessive intensity. “Don’t make me come and find you.”
Amber laughs, but she knows he’s dead serious. Ever since they’ve gotten intimate, Jack watches her every move. He behaves as if she’s his property. This might offend a normal woman, but Amber finds it rather hot. Standing on her tiptoes, she plants a passionate kiss on his lips.
“I’ll be right back,” she says.
*
Amber understands why this would make Jack feel insecure, but he needn’t worry. She has no intention of leaving him behind. In fact, she can’t wait to get back to him. She races down the quiet streets, fueled by an intense energy. She’s never been involved in something so exciting, so dangerous, and the fact she gets to enjoy Jack’s cock is the delicious icing on the cake, and the icing is Amber’s favorite part.
Meg lives a few miles outside of town in a brick house left to her by her grandmother. The house was built in the fifties. The garage that Amber’s been living above was an add-on, and shoddily built. Instead of the beautiful brick of the house, the garage is covered with the cheapest vinyl Meg’s contractor could find. In Amber’s room, the floor groans with each step. She has to be careful not to close the doors too hard, or the frame will warp. Amber always thought that one day she’d end up falling through it, onto the hood of Meg’s car underneath.
Amber peeks through the window of the garage. Meg’s car isn’t there. No one’s around, which is good. If anyone saw Amber right now, they’d definitely question her appearance. She’s shivering violently despite Jack’s warm coat. Amber lifts up the welcome mat and finds the spare key to her room. Once inside, she jams as much as she can fit into a duffel bag. She takes off Jack’s shirt and puts on an old sweatshirt and a pair of jeans. Before she leaves, she gives her bookshelf a passing gaze, fantasizing about seeing Amber Louise Parker printed on one of the spines.
While driving back, her pocket begins to buzz. She realizes her phone’s in Jack’s jacket. Slowing down, she checks the screen. The battery is nearly dead, and she doesn’t recognize the number. Amber’s the kind of person who answers every call, and out of habit, she swipes the screen.
“Hello?”
No one answers. There’s music playing in the background. It sounds like something classical. Other than that, there’s faraway breathing.
“Hello?” Amber asks again.
There’s an exhale. Amber can picture someone smile.
“Looks like he didn’t do it,” says a male voice. “Jack must like you.”
The statement sends a chill down Amber’s spine. Out of fear, she drops the phone in her lap, and accidentally swerves on the shoulder of the road. After regaining control, she picks up the phone, hoping the caller is still there. But the phone’s completely dead.
*
Amber’s back at the cabin within an hour. Jack watches the car approach, and satisfaction snakes through his core. This is what he needs, a woman like Amber on his side. As headlights sweep over the window, he’s filled with a powerful determination.
As soon as she walks through the door, Jack’s on her. He hooks his arm around her waist, tipping her back for a kiss. Amber kisses him back, but her body’s a bit stiff.
Doesn’t matter. I’ll get her loosened up.
Jack slips his hand down the slopes of her breasts, and studies her new outfit.
“I liked you better half naked,” he says, inserting his hand into the sweatshirt.
Amber sighs when he cups her breasts, but the stiffness remains. “Jack, I need to ask you something.”
Jack lifts the sweatshirt, exposing the bottoms of her breasts. He buries his face in them.
“Go ahead,” he says.
Amber digs into the pocket of the jacket, and pulls out her phone. Jack glances at the dark screen.
“That thing’s dead,” he says.
Amber carefully extracts herself from his embrace. In the duffel bag, she finds her charger, and plugs the phone into the wall. After a few seconds, she’s able to open the screen.
“Do you recognize this number?” she asks.
All Jack has to do is glance at it. “Henry.” He swoops back in to kiss her, but she backs away.
“Well, Henry called,” she says, sarcastically. “He was surprised you hadn’t killed me yet.”
Jack deepens his smile, then laughs darkly against her neck. “You know I’m not going to kill you.”
“I know.”
Jack’s working on unbuttoning her jeans now, making it hard for Amber to concentrate.
“Are you sure you can trust him?” she forces herself to ask.
“Don’t let him scare you. He was just being an asshole. He has a dark sense of humor.”
“But Jack, if his father set you up-“
“We need him.”
Amber shakes her head. “Why?”
Jack takes a few steps back. Even with some distance between him, Amber still feels caught in his magnetism. He crosses his arms over his large chest, staring at her intensely.
“We’re going back to New York. We’re going to find my father’s killer, clear my name.”
Amber wants to jump up and down. This is what she’s been waiting to hear from Jack, but she’s been careful not to press the subject.
“That’s exactly what we need to do.” She steps toward him, taking her hand. “I’m on your side, Jack. I’ll do whatever it takes to help you.” She catches his chin and turns his face towards her. “And I’ll never betray you.”
A deep smile carves into Jack’s face. He bites her earlobe, a growl rumbling from his throat.
“You don’t need Henry,” Amber says before desire invades her brain. “You have me.”
Jack kisses her neck, unperturbed. “We need him. He owns residential property in Queens. He can get us an apartment there under my alias.”
Amber is quiet while he traces her collarbone with his lips. Jack’s right. Where else could they go that wouldn’t arouse suspicion? Any other landlord would require more than a forged ID. Amber didn’t have any credit, so she couldn't rent a place herself.
Jack wraps his hand around her throat, forcing her to look up at him. “Now, are you going to go to the bedroom willingly, or do I have drag you there?”
Amber forgets her questions for a moment, and lets the desire embrace her. She plants her feet on the floor, giving Jack a coy smile. His expression darkens. He picks her up, throws her over his shoulder, and walks straight to the bedroom.