CHAPTER FOUR
The first night I stayed at Eric's place, I slept with one eye open. Part of me didn't trust him, though I had no reason not to. He had offered to share his bed with me, a courteous thing to do, but there were other motives behind it, I was sure. Naturally, I had declined, and found myself on the couch. While Eric had been nice enough to offer to share his bed, he didn't seem interested in taking the couch himself. Wasn't that the gentleman thing to do? I guess it was different when I was moving in and not just staying the night.
My last night with Jack Kemble played through my head like a recurring nightmare. It made me feel better to pretend that drinking had been my downfall. Would I have offered myself to him had I not been drunk? Would he have accepted me? There was really no way of knowing, since that's not what happened. Either way, the embarrassment of the situation was enough to make me never want to see Jack again.
When I went home the day after Halloween, I slept off my hangover. And when I awoke on Sunday, the first thing that I did was pack my things. A promise was a promise. If I was going to quit my job, then I couldn't stay with Mandy any longer.
I didn't tell her I was leaving until I was already packed and ready to go. While I would have preferred to leave with the clothes on my back, there was the matter of furniture I had collected over the years: a bed, a chest of drawers, and two night stands. “I hope you don't mind if I leave them for the time being. As soon as I can save up some money for storage, I'll come back and get them. For now, you can use them for whoever comes in as my replacement roommate. Or, if you want to get them out right away, I'll call my parents and have them come pick them up,” I told her.
“Jen, what happened?” Mandy's hazel eyes were large with concern. She was taking this harder than I had expected.
“I don't want to talk about it. I can't go back to Sygex,” I insisted.
“Did he do something to you? Did he hurt you? Just because he's rich doesn't mean he's above the law,” she said, obviously expecting the worst.
“No. It's not what he did. It's what I did. I just . . . really don't want to get into it. Maybe after time has passed, I'll tell you about it. For now though, I'd rather just drop the subject.”
Mandy seemed displeased that I didn't want to talk about it but dropped the subject all the same. “Are you going to stay with Eric?”
“Mhm.” I nodded.
She saw me off with a sad expression, and I cried all the way to Eric's apartment. It wasn't where I wanted to be, but it was my only option if I didn't want to go live with my parents. Hopefully, living with Eric would light a fire under my ass and make me take my job search seriously. The faster I got a job, the faster I could go back and live with Mandy, if she hadn't moved someone else into my room by then. It was a depressing thought.
With my less than impressive resume, I hit the streets and the internet. Following Mandy's model of finding me employment, I put myself in for every job I thought I qualified for. The calls came pouring in and I put my best foot forward, lying my ass off in an attempt to get hired as quickly as possible.
After a few weeks, I was able to get a job as a cocktail waitress at a strip club, but the first time a guy smacked my ass was the last time I came to work. My next employment adventure was at a small diner. That job lasted for less than a week too. The boss was such a nasty cunt I couldn't stand to be around her. She seemed to think her measly salary entitled her to talk to her employees like they were crap. I was standing for none of that.
Jack had called me a couple of times since discovering I had no intentions of coming back to work. He left messages saying he wanted to talk, but I never returned his calls. What was there to talk about? I couldn't stand to be around him anymore.
At the time, ignoring Jack's calls seemed like the wisest thing to do. Now, however, I was becoming desperate. A month had come and gone already, and Eric was beginning to drop hints that there were other ways for me to pay rent.
No, I chastised myself. I won't go crawling back. He'd have me right where he wanted me. How did Jack want me exactly though? Judging by the last night we had spent together, he didn't want me at all. The thought still hurt—even more of a reason not to return his calls.
It seemed like I had traded one bad situation for another, but it was too late to turn back. Jack's phone calls had stopped weeks ago, and I was sure I was long forgotten, replaced by a more willing blonde with perfect tits and spread legs. He was probably happier now that I was gone. And I was miserable.
After a while, it seemed like I had applied at every available job in New York City. The listings were beginning to repeat themselves, and I had lost hope.
One afternoon, Mandy offered to take me out to dinner. It was a nice change from the endless nights sitting at home in front of the television watching sports with Eric, though I felt bad that I couldn't afford to pay my share. What money I did have needed to be used for gas to get back and forth to job interviews.
“So, you've had no thoughts towards going back to Syngex?” Mandy asked, avoiding my eyes since she knew I wouldn't like the subject.
“No,” I sighed. “My position has probably been filled already anyway.”
“Probably, but it never hurts to try. As I recall, Jack Kemble seemed rather fond of you.”
Not fond enough, or else he would have taken me when I offered myself to him. Rejection was a bitter beast. “I don't think he was.”
“That note about the ball was pretty romantic. I wouldn't think he'd do something like that if he had just wanted to get you into bed.” She dipped a fry into ketchup.
“Jack has lots of money. I'm sure he's done more extravagant things to get women into bed with him.”
“He showed up at the apartment a few weeks ago. I about died when I opened the door. Good lord the man is attractive. I still don't understand why you didn't jump on that. I would have raped him if it wouldn't have landed me in jail.”
“Mandy!” My eyes widened at her, though I wasn't sure if it was because of what she had just said or because Jack had stopped by the apartment. “Why didn't you tell me he came by?”
“Because I didn't think you'd care. At any rate, it wasn't that long ago, so your job might still be there. That's why I think you should give him a call.”
“No. I absolutely refuse to go back,” I insisted, though it was a curious thing he had come looking for me so long after I had quit. “Did you tell him where I was?”
“No. I just told him you'd moved out. He asked if you had found another job, and I told him I didn't know. He also asked if you had your phone shut off. I assumed that was because you weren't returning his calls.”
“It's weird he'd come by like that, almost stalkerish.”
“That's why I think there was something more there. Anyway, are you ever going to tell me what happened that made you want to quit. Eric told me you didn't stay out all night with him on Halloween.”
I felt bad. The night of Halloween when I had left the party, I told Eric I was going home. That hadn't been true though. At the last minute, I'd decided to make a detour to the Masked Ball. In all honesty, I hadn't expected Jack to still be there, but he had been, and everything went downhill. If I hadn't of shown up, things would be completely different now. It was sad how one drunken decision could ruin everything.
I tried to explain what happened as best I could, though recalling specifics made me cringe at myself. To say the least, I had been a bitch to Jack, showing nothing but displeasure from the moment I laid eyes on him. Most of my words throughout the night had been cynical or rude. Then when I offered myself to him . . .
“Maybe he just didn't want to take advantage of you while you were drunk,” Mandy suggested.
“He showed me his dungeon. I'm pretty sure he meant for us to have sex before I took off to his bedroom like a spoiled little brat.”
“It sounds like you might have just crossed his comfort zone. As you said, Jack Kemble isn't used to having women in his bed.”
“And he obviously didn't want me in it either.” My heart sank. It was all the proof I needed to know I was nothing special to Jack.
Mandy shrugged. “Well, it's over now. Forget about the past. Look forward to the future.”
“What's there to look forward to?” I huffed. Every day was spent stressing over the next. It wasn't a pleasant way to live.
Sensing my discontent, Mandy changed the subject, “So, how are things going with Eric?”
I took a deep breath. This was yet another topic I didn't really want to discuss. “I guess they're as good as can be expected. I haven't woken up with him on top of me, but a month has come and gone and I haven't paid rent so it's only a matter of time before he expects something more from me.”
“I think you're worrying for nothing. Eric's not like that.”
“All men are like that. And you don't know him as well as I do, no offense.”
But Mandy was offended. I could see it in her eyes. “I suppose I don't. After all, I've never lived with him before.” There was a hint of jealousy in her tone, and I suddenly felt guilty. Here I was bitching and moaning about getting hit on by two men she found attractive. Mandy would have jumped at the chance to be with either one of them. She rarely got hit on at all, and when she did, it was never by someone she was actually interested in.
I decided to shift the conversation to avoid further unpleasantries. For the rest of the meal, we talked about Mandy''s job and graduation, which was quickly approaching. It scared her to think she'd soon be leaving the bowling alley to venture out for better employment opportunities, but I assured her it was long overdue. Mandy was absolutely brilliant. I still couldn't understand why she had stayed with the bowling alley for so long.
When the meal was over, I was forced to return home, if that's what it was. Every mile closer to Eric's apartment filled me with dread. He had been getting bold lately, blatantly eying me and touching me more than normal. I had decided to take the same approach with him as I had with Jack Kemble, exposing as little skin as possible when we were together. Those baggy pajamas I had bought for business trips still came in handy, though unlike with Jack, they did little to deter Eric.
One afternoon, he came home from work beaming a smile brighter than the sun. I had just spent another unenthusiastic day planted on the couch watching reality television. Almost as soon as Eric walked through the door, he was sweeping me off my feet and twirling me around the room.
“Good lord, man, put me down.” I clung to his shoulders in fear. “What the hell?”
“I got a promotion.” He jumped up and down, making my teeth chatter in my head.
“Congrats,” I said, not knowing what else to say. This wasn't Eric's first promotion at the tech company he worked for. In fact, it seemed like he was getting one every few months.
“We'll get to move into a house soon with the money I'll be making.”
While I was happy for him, it did little to lift my spirits. I was just along for the ride, much like I had been with Mandy before I had gotten the Syngex job. Whatever he decided to do, I had no choice but to follow.
“I'm glad you got promoted. Now can you put me down?”
“Oh, yeah.” Eric set me down. “We have to celebrate tonight. This is big, big, big. My pay increase is ridiculous. I still can't believe it happened.”
“Calm down, stud,” I joked. “You deserve the success.”
“You really think so?” There was a hopeful look in his eyes, as if he might be expecting a different sort of celebration. Maybe calling Eric a stud was the wrong choice of words. He didn't seem to pick up on the playfulness behind it.
“Y-yeah,” I replied hesitantly, though my smile stayed in place.
“Go get ready. We're going out.”
“Where are we going?” I asked as I watched Eric jog to the bedroom. His enthusiasm was contagious, and I couldn't help but grin.
“Let's go to Rudy's. Call up everyone you know. I'm buying rounds for everyone.” He disappeared into his bedroom, presumably to change out of his daily business attire and into something more casual.
“I only know Mandy,” I muttered before going to pick up my phone and punch in her number. By the grace of God, she miraculously didn't have to work that night, though she did have an early class the next morning. With a little begging, I was thankfully able to convince her to come.
Eric and I carpooled as normal. It didn't make sense to take two cars when we were going to the same place. We drove in his white Bentley, a lavish graduation present he had received from his parents after college. I couldn't image what it must be like to be born into wealth, or to have parents who loved you enough to buy a car for you for graduation, for that matter.
Mandy was already waiting for us at the bar along with some of Eric's friends. I gave her a gentle hug before we lined the bar and spilled over into a few booths. For most of the night, Eric chatted with his friends, ignoring me completely, but as people began dropping like flies due to whatever other engagements they had, we eventually consolidated down to a single booth with me, Mandy, Eric, and a friend of his. Said friend just happened to be a beautiful brunette, and I was thankful that he seemed more interested in her than me. The alcohol had definitely taken a hold of Eric. I could see his hand moving at his side, likely rubbing the girl's leg. While she seemed comfortable enough, every once in a while she'd jump and slap at him, telling him to behave.
Finally, the girl left. Eric walked her to her car, giving Mandy and I some time alone together.
“See, he's more interested in her than you. You have nothing to worry about,” she told me.
“Eric is interested in anything with boobs when he's had enough to drink,” I replied casually.
She scowled, probably thinking about how he didn't seem interested in her. “That girl was pretty.”
“Yeah. Hopefully, they'll get something going on together.” Not that it would stop Eric from hitting on me. The last time he had a girlfriend, he still flirted non-stop. Commitment wasn't one of his strong points.
“You should start looking for a boyfriend too. Have you thought about it?”
“It's hard to find a boyfriend when you don't go out. Besides, what do I really have to offer? I have no job. I don't have my own place.”
“Guys don't care about that.” Mandy grinned.
“Some do.”
“Jack Kemble didn't.”
“Isn't that a four-letter word?" Eric appeared around the corner and slid back into the booth.
“Jack Kemble is a nice man,” she said defensively.
“How would you know?”
“Because I met him. He came over looking for Jen a few weeks ago.”
“I bet you felt graced by his royal presence,” he huffed, taking a drink of the half-full beer that his friend had left behind. Her lipstick rubbed off onto Eric's lips, but I didn't bother to say anything about it. Mandy, on the other hand, was more courteous, gesturing that he should wipe his mouth, which he did. “Thanks.”
“It was like having a movie star in my apartment,” she confessed. “He's so handsome.”
“Pfft. Pampered bitches like that usually are. They get their hair and makeup done like women. Jen needs a real man.”
“He wasn't any different than you,” I said, my tone dipping a bit.
“Of course he is. I work for everything I have. He just sits atop his high tower and has it handed to him. Plus, I don't have women throwing themselves at my feet. Lucky bastard gets to bang a different girl every day of the week.”
“He wasn't banging anyone when I quit,” I told them.
“That's because he was holding out for you,” Mandy insisted.
“Not likely.”
“You should call him.”
“Are you nuts?!”
“No, I'm drunk,” she confessed with a titter. “Here, let me have your phone. I'll call him.” Mandy reached across the table, but I made no attempt to move, clutching my phone tightly in hand.
“I don't have his number anymore,” I lied.
“Well you suck. Who would throw away Jack Kemble's phone number?”
“Someone who doesn't want anything to do with the rich piece of shit anymore.” Eric sounded jealous.
“He wasn't that bad,” I said.
“You sure made him sound bad.”
I had, hadn't I? Evil Jack Kemble, who helping me fix my flat tire, who gave me a job when no one else would, who bought me an entire new wardrobe because I was too poor to afford even a few outfits, who took me to business trips, allowing me to see and experience the world as I never had before, and who was sweet enough to try to romance me when nothing else seemed to work to get my attention. What had I done? This man had given me more chances and opportunities than anyone, and I had been a complete selfish brat and thrown it all away because the one thing he wanted from me I didn't want to give without having more attached to it. Where else would I get the opportunities I had been given with Syngex? No where. That's where.
“Fuck,” I whispered under my breath, my good mood taking a nosedive like a lemming off a cliff. The bottom of the bottle was calling me again, and I was falling, falling oh so hard.
“That's all over. You have me now. You don't need that jerk.” Eric nudged my leg under the table.
“Well guys, I need to get going. I stayed out way later than I had planned,” Mandy said, scooting out of the booth.
“Aw. Don't go,” I begged, not wanting to be left alone with Eric.
“Sorry. I have to.”
My eyes followed her out the door, wishing my body was as well.
“It's getting late. We should call it a night,” I told Eric, giving him a hopeful look.
“Bah. Don't tell me you're tired already. It's Friday night. Everyone else may have had their excuses, but I know you have no good reason not to stay and drink with me.” Unfortunately, he was right. Living with Eric made it impossible to lie to him. I had no choice but to stay. “I really don't understand what's so great about that Jack Kemble guy,” he commented, still stewing over it.
“Let's not talk about it anymore, okay?”
“Yeah. It's a four-letter word, after all,” Eric agreed.
“I need to go to the bathroom.” I realized.
“I'm not stopping you.” He threw up his hands. “But before you go, what do you want to drink?”
“I'll take a bloody mary,” I replied as I slid out of the booth, thinking of the bloody mary that Jack had made me in his mansion. My mind was back obsessing over him again, and the fact that there was a line to the bathroom didn't make it any better. What was he doing right now, I wondered? Was he at a party? Maybe sleeping with some other girl? The thought was painful.
Absentmindedly, I scrolled down the list of contacts in my phone. Jack Kemble Cell Phone. No, I definitely hadn't deleted it. But why had I kept it? This was one memento that couldn't go in my pile. Then again, I supposed I could always write it down on a piece of paper and shove it into the envelope that my Masked Ball ticket came in.
A curious thought passed through my mind. What would happen if I dialed the number? Would he pick up, or would he ignore me as I had ignored his calls dozens of times before? Whatever the answer would have been, I wasn't brave enough to call him.
Patience wasn't one of my virtues, and the line was moving at a snail's pace. In exasperation, I looked several girls past me toward the front. Did someone accidentally flush themselves? It sure seemed like it.
Despite my annoyance though, my mind kept drifting back to Jack Kemble. I did a lot of stupid things when I was drunk. Would it hurt to do one more? Out of sheer boredom and curiosity, I sent Jack a text. It simply said, “I'm at Rudy's Bar & Grill.” Then I shut off my phone, half from embarrassment and half because I didn't want my feelings to get hurt if he didn't respond. I could check my messages in the morning, if he left any. At best, I was expecting a “Who is this?” response, in which case, I would just delete it and go about my business.
It felt like another thirty minutes had passed before I was finally able to use the bathroom and make it back to where Eric was sitting. He must have gotten tired of waiting too, because he had drunk both his beer and my bloody mary.
I gave the empty glass a sarcastic glare. “Couldn't wait for me, huh?”
“You were taking forever. I thought I was going to have to call search and rescue.”
“I thought they were going to have to call search and rescue for some of the girls in front of me. I'll never understand why it takes some women so long to use the bathroom.”
“You and me both.”
Eric ordered us another round of drinks and we drank and drank and drank. Soon, my text to Jack Kemble was forgotten. We talked about stupid stuff and laughed until our sides hurt. Then we drank some more.
It wasn't long before the night began to fade, my memories coming in spurts. One minute, Eric and I were laughing about an incident from college. The next minute, he was in the booth beside me with his arm wrapped around my shoulder. I was uncomfortable, but I did my best not to show it. Then Eric was whispering sweet nothings into my ear, telling me how he loved me and wanted to be with me. It had to be the alcohol talking, or maybe it wasn't. Either way, the feeling wasn't reciprocated, and I tried to tell him that as gently as possible. The mood soured a bit. We were stumbling outside. In a moment of drunken passion, Eric grabbed me by the wrists, forcing me up against the wall while his mouth assaulted mine. I struggled and said, “No.” For a split second, I was desperately afraid, but we were in public, so I knew he wouldn't take things too far. Then I thought I saw Jack, but I didn't know how or why. Words were exchanged. I was throwing up. Someone was yelling. And then the world went black.
The morning sun was an unpleasant sight, streaming through the window to wake me up. Reflexively, my hand groped for a pillow to cover my face with but instead landed on hard naked flesh. There was a man laying beside me, and I didn't know who it was. My breath hitched in panic. Had I given in to Eric?
Cautiously, I turned my head to see who I was laying with. A mess of dark disheveled hair peeked up from under the comforter. It took one look at my surroundings to recognize the room I was in—Jack Kemble's bedroom. And the person laying beside me was none other than the man himself. But why?
It was then I realized I was naked, though I couldn't tell if he was or not. Last time we had been in bed together, he had slept with his boxers on, and I wasn't about to look to see if he was wearing them.
The room was spinning beyond control, and I knew it was only a matter of time before my stomach gave up its contents. Desperately, I crawled to the side of the bed, but as soon as I was about to set my foot down, I saw the bucket. Instinctively, I bent to retch into it. The vomiting came on sudden and violent, and there was no hope that I could be quiet enough not to wake Jack up. My entire body ached from the effort, my stomach and throat burning having already expelled so much. The bucket had been half full before I added to it. Somehow I didn't remember waking up in the middle of the night to vomit.
Before I even knew what was happening, Jack was kneeling behind me, holding my hair out of my face. By the time I finished, I was breathless. I crawled back a bit, and he made way for me to lay down. He disappeared from my line of sight for a moment only to return with a wet washcloth, wiping the sweat from my brow and the bile from the sides of my mouth. I looked up at Jack in confusion and embarrassment, but I felt too sick to talk, so I just groaned instead.
“Shhh, it's alright,” he told me. “I'll take care of you.”
“What happened?” I coughed out, turning to retch again. Jack was wearing boxers, I realized, though I wasn't sure if I was relieved or disappointed about it.
When I finished coughing up a whole lot of nothing and rested myself back on the bed, he said, “You had a bit too much to drink last night.”
“That's the understatement of the year.”
“You should rest today.”
I wanted to say that I needed to go home, but in truth, I really didn't want to go home. Vaguely, I remembered something happening with Eric—something not good, though I was too afraid to ask about it. Most of the night after Mandy had left was a mystery to me.
I slept off and on all day, and Jack was always there to tend to my needs when I awoke. He helped me take down water when I thought I could stomach it, then fed me dinner in bed later in the afternoon. Finally, when the world had stopped spinning, and I felt like I could sit up for more than five minutes without vomiting, I mustered up the courage to ask what had happened.
“You don't remember any of it?” Jack didn't sound surprised.
“Most of the night's a blur,” I confessed. “I definitely don't remember how I got here.”
“You sent me a text from the bar. I replied, and when you didn't respond, I thought something was wrong, so I came looking for you. Some guy was kissing you outside the bar. It looked like he was forcing himself on you, so I stepped in. He claimed to be your boyfriend, but all you kept repeating was no, so I brought you back here. I'd ask who he was, but it's none of my business.”
“He was a very aggressive friend. Not my boyfriend,” I insisted. “We didn't? I mean, me and you?”
“Oh, no. You threw up all over yourself, so I took your clothes off and had them washed. And I wanted to stay next to you in case you needed me in the middle of the night, which you did, several times.” He eyed the fresh vomit bucket he had set down for me. The previous one had filled the room with the lovely aroma of the night before. I felt bad that Jack had to sit there and smell it.
“I really appreciate you taking care of me,” I replied shyly. “In truth, I didn't think you'd recognize my number.”
“Then why text me?”
My cheeks flushed. “Because I was drunk . . . and thinking of you.”
“Mandy told me you moved.”
“I did. I couldn't afford to stay with her any longer since I quit working at Syngex. She didn't deserve the heat from her father over me not paying rent.”
“You didn't have to leave, you know.”
“Yes, I did.” I sighed. “That last night I was here, things were weird. I was getting tired of all the awkwardness at the office. I couldn't do it anymore. I'm sorry.”
“It didn't have to be awkward.”
“It would have been. I'm not like those other girls. I can't just sleep with my boss and pretend nothing happened. Maybe they're wired to operate like that, but I'm not. You should know by now I'm not the most stable person. My mind gets the better of me at times and—“
“You should rest,” Jack cut me off.
“Yeah,” I agreed, feeling small and mouse-like. He obviously didn't want to talk about it—was upset I had quit but too nice to throw me out of his house.
We lazied around for the rest of the evening. I could tell Jack was trying to force me to sleep, but it wasn't working. He laid beside me reading a book on his Kindle, ignoring me, for the most part. Occasionally, I'd let my eyes crawl over the tight muscles of his stomach, soaking him in and writing my own naughty story in my head. Not that I could act on my desires. I was still too sick and weak. He wasn't interested anyway, I thought sadly.
When it became apparent that I wasn't going back to sleep, Jack made me take a shower while he changed the sheets on the bed and sprayed the room with air freshener. By that time, I had quit vomiting, so my puke bucket could be removed.
I slipped my freshly laundered panties and bra on and crawled back in bed beside Jack, not much caring what he saw of me anymore. After all, he had already seen me naked, so what did it matter. As if nothing had happened, he turned over onto his side and went to sleep. I, on the other hand, was wide awake thanks to slumbering the whole day through, so I laid there and watched Jack breath and thought about what an angel he was. How many men would come to my rescue off of just a text message with no further information? He had slept beside me despite my stench and woken up every time I had just to make sure I didn't vomit on myself. These were things he didn't have to do. I was no one to him. But he did it anyway. Why? Was he just being a good friend? Was Jack Kemble my friend? It was a strange thought.
The next morning, we rolled out of bed together, and I joined him downstairs for breakfast. Sergio, the chef, looked over-the-top in his tall toque and white double-breasted jacket. I couldn't help but grin as he made us breakfast with the flare of a hibachi grill, tossing our eggs in the air to flip them. Jack gave me a queer look when I clapped after Sergio sliced a tomato in thin air without spilling a single seed.
“What, he's like Fruit Ninja,” I commented, wide-eyed with wonder.
“He likes to show off when I have guests,” Jack whispered.
To that, Sergio only grinned.
After breakfast, I checked my cell phone to find half a dozen text messages and voice mail from Eric. All of them sounded angry, though he made no indication that he wanted me to move out, which I was thankful for. Somehow, I would have to patch up things between us, so I could stay. Otherwise, I'd end up living back with my parents, which was something I really didn't want to do.
“I hope I didn't piss your friend off too badly,” Jack said, looking over my shoulder.
“He wasn't a fan of yours to begin with,” I admitted.
“Why not? Did you tell him what a horrible monster I am?” He smirked.
“No. I never told him you were a monster.” Though I had said some other choice words.
“Or maybe you told him about my womanizing ways. He probably thought I whisked you off to have my way with you.”
“Probably more something like that,” I laughed.
“Well, he'll be pleased to know I returned you unharmed and with your maidenhood intact."
“Pfft. Maidenhood.”
“What, you're not a maid? I'm shocked, my lady,” he said playfully.
“You're silly.” I grinned, though it wasn't long before my smile sulked at the realization I had to go home soon. What would happen after I left? Would I ever see Jack again?
My stomach felt sick as he walked me to the door with my things, though it wasn't from the hangover. While I still wasn't completely better, this illness was more from nervousness. Eric would surely be mad that I hadn't contacted him all weekend. And I was worried about what would happen between Jack and I, even though I knew I shouldn't be. There was a strange desperation inside me to cling to these moments with him for as long as I could. It was a stupid thing to want after all I had put him through. I had been nothing but trouble since Jack laid eyes on me. Hell, he was probably secretly happy to be getting rid of me.
“Thanks . . . for everything,” I told him as we stood in the doorway. “I don't know how to repay you for everything you've done for me. I feel like I've really made a mess of things.”
“Don't worry about it.” Jack reached up to brush a strand of hair away from my face, and I leaned into his touch. The warmth of his skin graced my cheek for but a second before he moved his hand, and our eyes locked in a way they never had before.
As if we were in sync for the first time ever, Jack bent down while I went onto my tip-toes. It felt like my heart might explode, and then our lips collided, and my entire body flooded with warmth in one climatic moment of emotion and passion. Our mouths moved together hungrily, exploring and tasting and caressing. Jack's hands gently found my hips, while mine curled into the back of his hair, pulling him to me. This is what I want. This is what I've secretly wanted forever.
Before we had even broken free of the kiss, we were clawing at each other's clothing. Subtleties were lost as I aggressively pulled Jack's shirt over his head, and he ripped the front of my blouse open, burying his face between my breasts while I pressed them up against him, tilting my head and moaning out my pleasure. Without even looking at where he was going, Jack guided me back against one of the sofas in his formal living room. I fumbled with his zipper, pulling his hot pulsing sex from his pants. For a moment, I thought of sinking to my knees, but Jack seemed to have other plans. He hoisted one of my legs over his hip and tugged my panties aside, taking only the briefest moment to put on a condom before he plunged deep into my welcoming wetness. I gasped as he entered me, shuddering slightly from the sudden intrusion. He was bigger than I had imagined, and it hurt a little, but I knew I could bear it.
I panted as Jack's mouth nipped at my collarbone and bra for a moment before he forced one of my cups down, exposing a heavy breast. His tongue skillfully painted around my thickened nipple before he sucked and tugged on it, sending shivers straight to my sweet spot. My back arched as he pressed deep into me, and I worried we might move the couch. Jack didn't seem to care though. All that mattered was us.
I held on for the ride, listening to his heavy breathing, and moaning out my encouragement. It wasn't long before Jack was spent. His body tensed up against me, and I knew it was over, though I didn't want it to be. I could have gone on forever—wanted to go on forever.
Jack's mouth found mine as he began to back up, but I grabbed him around the waist and pulled him into me once more, feeling his manhood spearing my depths. I groaned before attacking his lips with heated kisses, worshiping his face.
“You're a very passionate woman,” Jack breathed when I finally let him up for air.
“Passionate? I thought I was strange?”
“That too,” he let out a breathy laugh. “I don't want you to go.”
“Good, because I don't want to go.”
We kissed again, and the whole world disappeared under the warm weight of his sweet lips—those perfect lips I could kiss for all eternity, soft and burning with desire—desire for me. The thought that Jack didn't want me to go sent butterflies swirling around my stomach. I couldn't remember the last time I felt more giddy—or lovestruck.
Oh God, I was in love with him, I realized suddenly. How did it happen? How could I let it happen? The answer to the first question was a no-brainer. A better question would have been, how could I not have fallen for him sooner. I knew I was setting myself up for heartbreak, but I refused to think about it now. Thinking about it would only ruin the moment, and I was so savoring the moment. This was one of life's little gifts, and I planned to enjoy it to the fullest before I had to wake up to reality.
Jack took me by the hand and led me to the dungeon door. Without looking back at me, he punched the number into the keypad. My mood soured for a moment as I stared at the door, waiting for it to open. This was still what he wanted, and it was something I still didn't want to give. This room had a bad vibe to it—bad meaning surrounding it. When the door slid open, Jack turned to me.
“No,” I said firmly.
“Why not?” He quirked an eyebrow, frustrated.
“I don't like this room. I thought we'd been over this before.”
“But these are the types of things I like to do.”
“Then let's do them in your bedroom. I can see your rack of paddles and whips from here. I assume they detach from the wall.”
Now he was confused. “So, you'll do the BDSM stuff with me, you just won't do it in here?”
“Mhm.” I nodded.
“That's not very submissive.”
“I never claimed to be a submissive. Nor am I a slave, or a pet. I suppose I'm not really into the whole power play aspect of it. I'm more into the kink.”
“That's a bit disappointing,” Jack admitted.
“Have I ever been anything but disappointing to you?” Why had I said that? I knew I wouldn't like the answer.
His eyes softened a bit. “You've been many things, Miss Strayer. Exciting, passionate, opinionated . . . highly opinionated.” He grinned. “Disappointing isn't one of them though.”
“Even though you just said I was?” I smirked, refusing to allow myself to swoon. Jack said all the right words, he always had.
“I didn't say you were disappointing. I said that was disappointing. There are a lot of things in this room I enjoy using.”
“And a lot of women who would willingly go in there with you. I am not one of them though. If we do this, it's on my terms.”
“Is that why you ran to my room on Halloween? You wanted things to be on your terms?”
The fact he picked up on it made me blush. “Looks like you found me out,” was all I could think of to say.
“I don't usually bring women into my bed,” Jack admitted.
“But I've already slept there twice, so I don't see how a third time could hurt.”
“This is true.” He gave me a thoughtful look. “Why is this so important to you?”
“I thought you would have figured that out by now.” I turned to walk down the hall, talking to him over my shoulder. “You may be rich, Jack Kemble, but you're really dense sometimes.”
When I got to his room, I began disrobing. I couldn't help but grin at the front of my blouse where buttons had been ripped out in his desperate attempt to get to my chest. It looked like I'd be wearing one of Jack's shirts when I left unless he planned on taking me on another shopping trip.
After stripping down naked, I hopped onto the bed and got comfy. Time ticked by, and for a moment, I thought he might not show. Maybe Jack decided he didn't want to have sex with me in his bed. Perhaps he was rejecting me again. The thought stung my heart and made me uncomfortable, but I was too nervous to move, so I just laid there, waiting.
Eventually, Jack rounded the corner with a flogger in hand. I grinned wickedly, trying not to wiggle from excitement. Whatever he had planned for me, I was sure it would be loads of fun.
“Do you know what this is?” he asked, holding up the flogger. It was long and leathery, with more strands than I could count.
I rolled my eyes briefly. “I thought we went over this already.”
To my surprise, Jack stepped forward, lashing me across my breasts and making me cower back. “Submission,” he demanded. “This is a compromise. We will play in here, but it will be by my rules.”
Fair enough, I thought. This was a game I knew, at least. “Yes, Master,” I replied respectfully, bowing my head.
“Good. It seems you do know a thing or two. However, I would prefer to be called Sir. You would only have the right to call me Master if I took you on exclusively as my own.”
The implication made me cringe a bit. I did not belong to Jack, but how I wanted to. “Yes, Sir,” I corrected myself.
“Good girl.” He leaned over, grabbing me roughly by the jaw. The soft kiss he placed on my lips counteracted the roughness of his touch. “On the bed,” he told me when he pulled away. “On your hands and knees. Ass towards me.”
“Yes, Sir,” I responded, wondering if it was necessary. It was better to be safe than sorry though. The pale skin of my breasts was already beginning to redden and welt from the first strike. One thing was certain, Jack took his punishment seriously.
I climbed onto all fours, inching myself back towards him with my legs slightly spread so he could step between them. Jack set the flogger down to cup my ass cheeks, squeezing and exploring and spreading and rubbing his hands all over them. It took everything in me not to groan just from his touch. I jolted slightly as his hand slapped hard against my skin, sending warm sensations through my backside. It felt better than I had imagined, and soon my body was rocking from alternating spankings. All the while, Jack watched his hands, never looking up to meet my eyes. That didn't bother me at all, as long as he allowed me to watch too. Jack spanked me until the stinging was almost unbearable. When he saw me wincing with pain, he'd move to my cunt, rubbing a thick fingertip across the length of my lips. This felt absolutely exquisite, and I couldn't help but moan, wishing more than anything that he'd stick a finger inside of me, or preferably his cock. A few soft slaps to my pussy sent my clit pulsing, and then he was moving back to spank my ass some more, leaving me wanting. You are a dirty evil tease, Jack Kemble. If we weren't playing by your rules, I'd push you down on the bed and fuck you ragged.
“Stand,” he told me, and when I did, he maneuvered me around until I was exactly how he wanted me, with my hands clasped in front of my stomach and my back as straight as a board. “I usually prefer to do this with manacles to keep your hands up, that way you don't move when I flog you.”
The first lash against my already abused backside made me stumble forward a bit. Jack growled at my movement, but he thankfully didn't punish me for it. “Try to steady yourself.”
“Yes, Sir,” I responded reflexively, finding my center so that I wouldn't waver again.
Each time the leather straps cracked across my ass, the room filled with the sounds of my muffled cries. Jack hadn't bothered to ask what my limits were before this all began, but I supposed he knew I would tell him to stop if I didn't like it. While I generally enjoyed being spanked and flogged, my butt had gotten too much attention. Still, the anticipation of things yet to come kept my body hot and ready.
Jack abandoned the flogger and stepped up behind me, roughly grabbing my breasts and squeezing them to the point of pain. I could feel the thick bulge in his pants pressing against me, and my whimpers quickly turned into moans. If this is the price I have to pay to take you inside of me, I'd pay it thirty times over.
It took everything in me not to grind back against him, not to turn and feel his warm lips on mine. Jack's hot breath was on my neck, sending shivers down my spine. His fingertips groped at my nipples, pinching and rolling them.
“Oh yes,” I whispered, unable to hold my tongue any longer.
“You like that, huh?” there was a hint of cocky wickedness to his voice.
“Yes, Sir.” .
I couldn't figure out if it was a punishment or a reward when Jack told me to crawl back up onto the bed in the same position. Part of me wanted his hands on my breasts, playing with my sensitive nipples. The larger part of me wanted to get to the fucking though. My body felt empty without him inside of me.
After I had climbed onto the bed, Jack treated my bottom to a few more slaps, igniting the pain already there. Then his finger went back to pet between my lips, teasing me relentlessly. Surrendering to my desire, I lowered my shoulders, spread my legs a bit wider, and pressed against his finger. For a moment, I thought I would be punished for acting of my own will, but Jack seemed to get the queue immediately. A thick finger poked teasingly at my opening, while a second finger came to rub tight circles against my clit. Slowly, the finger at my entrance pressed inside of me, probing gently until it was all the way in. My muscles clenched deliciously around it. The skill with which Jack's finger worked my clit was unmatched. I groaned as he massaged my little nub with one finger while fucking my pussy with the other. Soon, the combined sensations were more than I could bear, and my entire body shuddered into blissful orgasm.
“There it is,” Jack whispered, pleased as he felt the contractions rolling against his fingers. He dipped in to lap his tongue across my clit until they finished, something that drove me absolutely insane.
“You are evil, Sir,” I whispered.
“How so?” The grin was plain in his voice.
“I want you badly.”
“What do you want?”
“For you to fuck me, Sir.”
“Beg for it.”
“Please, stick it inside of me, Sir. I need your thick cock inside of me.”
A soft laugh escaped his lips. “I want you to do something for me first.” The finger left my pussy, and I was sure it was dripping with all the wetness of my pleasure. “Turn around.”
I knew what was coming next, and I welcomed it. By the time I turned, Jack had already pulled his manhood from his pants. It pointed at my mouth like a spear, perfect and thick and veiny, with a nice bulbous head. For a moment, I lapped at the slit, tasting Jack's pre-juices, but then he grabbed a fistful of my hair and tugged me forward, making me swallow his cock whole. I gagged a bit before he allowed me to come up for air, but then I knew what he wanted, and he was able to leave me to my own devices. Feverishly, I sucked and lapped and pleasured Jack's phallus until his pre-seed was all I could taste, delicious and salty and masculine. His grip loosened on my hair, and I listened in pleasure to his soft moaning while I sucked him off. Oral wasn't my favorite thing to do, but it was something I was very good at, at least that's what I had been told. Judging from the sounds coming from Jack, I hadn't been lied to.
After a few minutes, his grip tightened on my hair again, and he pulled me away, letting his slicked member fall from my mouth, streaming a trail of pre-juice and my saliva. I lapped it up as best I could, but Jack seemed ready to move on to other things.
“Turn around,” he urged me again.
Obediently, I took the same position as before, listening to the crinkling of foil as I moved. Almost before I was completely turned, I could feel Jack's hands on my hips, his thick glans finding my hole and bucking inside. I cried out in pleasure as he filled me, giving me what I truly desired. His fucking was carnal and untamed, pounding into me so hard at times I thought the bed frame might break from it. The intense friction quickly brought me to climax again, and Jack soon followed, pulling me up against him and cupping his hands over my breasts while he spilled into the condom.
By the time he was done, we were both breathless. Jack pulled away, giving my ass a final slap before telling me I could lay down on the bed if I wanted. I nodded to him and then crawled on top of the comforter and turned over onto my back, watching as he pulled off the condom and discarded it into the wastebasket.
“Will Sir take off his clothes for me?” I asked, realizing Jack was never completely naked around me.
“You don't have to call me Sir anymore,” he said as he sat on the side of the bed to take off his shoes before disrobing the rest of the way. “Now, I'm just Jack.”
I smiled at his back, loving him more than ever. It would hurt when I had to leave—to leave and be replaced by another woman. What this day had meant to me, it surely hadn't meant to Jack.
When he was finished undressing, he climbed up onto the bed beside me, pulling me into his arms to cuddle. “Did you like it?” Jack inquired, though there was no doubt in his voice.
“Liked it is an understatement,” I admitted.
“Good. I liked it too.”
“I would hope so.” A hand crept down between my legs to rub my swollen clit.
“You don't have to,” I told him. “You already made me come twice.” Just saying it brought a blush to my cheeks.
“I know I don't have to. I want to.”
With that, I parted my legs slightly, letting Jack's hand drive me to the heights of pleasure one last time before I rested exhausted against his chest. “You're evil, and wonderful,” I told him.
“I'm not evil at all.” Jack smirked.
“Yes, you are,” I insisted.
“If you say so.”
The sex was so good that I found myself falling asleep in his arms. Whether he slept or not, I don't know, but I didn't wake up until late afternoon. Part of me wished my eyes had never opened. The day had been absolutely perfect, and I didn't want it to end.
When Jack realized I was awake, he whispered softly, ”Good morning, princess,” sending a flutter of butterflies up through my stomach again. Whenever I was with him, I did feel like a princess, I realized. Jack was everything I ever wanted and more. Smart, kind, wealthy, handsome, kinky, and an amazing lover. It was strange how I had hated him in the beginning, fought my feelings for so long. Now I was completely vulnerable though, and that was something I didn't enjoy.
“Good morning, stud.” I pushed away from his chest, sitting up before I stretched and yawned. “I guess I have to go home soon,” it pained me to say.
“Where is home anyway? You never told me.”
“You know that guy you rescued me from? I've been staying at his place.”
Jack looked displeased. “He really is your boyfriend, isn't he?”
“No. I swear it.” I shook my head. “I wouldn't be staying there, except I have nowhere else to go. Things with my family aren't good, and I can't stay with Mandy any longer. It was the last place I had to go.”
“So, you don't want to be staying there?”
“No.”
“Then don't stay there,” he said plainly.
“Where would I stay then?” I quirked an eyebrow, suddenly feeling guilty. He was a problem solver. Jack had come to my rescue too many times already. More than likely, he'd offer to get me an apartment or hotel until I could find a place of my own. I didn't want him to have to do that for me.
“Stay with me.”
This shocked me a bit. “With you?”
“Yeah. Why not? I said I didn't want you to leave, didn't I?”
“Yeah, but . . . for how long? I don't have a job, and—”
“I'll give you your old job back,” Jack interrupted me.
My stomach churned, but this time it wasn't from happy butterflies. “No offense, but I really don't want my old job back. Don't get me wrong, it was great and all, but I can't work around you. It makes me uncomfortable.”
“Does this have something to do with being one of the other girls?” he asked suspiciously.
“Yes,” I admitted.
He sighed. “Fine. Well, you can still stay here.”
“I don't know how long it will take me to get a job. I don't want to be a burden.”
“You're not a burden,” Jack insisted. “Would you want to stay with me?”
I hesitated, “Yes.”
“Then it's settled. Robert will come with you to help get your things to make sure that guy doesn't harass you again.”
“He won't harass me, but thank you.”
And that's how it all began. Jack moved me into one of the guest bedrooms, but I never slept there. Every night, I would find myself in his bed and wake up beside him the next morning. The sex was always amazing, better than I could have ever dreamed.
It took a few months, but I finally landed a steady job. Jack told me I could stay with him until I had saved enough money for my first month's rent, but when the time came around for me to move out, he begged me not to leave. He was as in love with me as I was with him, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.
Years passed before he finally proposed, and only nine months after we were married did I give him an heir to the Kemble fortune, a boy whom we named John. A few years later, our daughter was born.
It was hard being married to a wealthy multibillionaire, especially when I had come from such humble beginnings. His parents didn't like me at first, thinking we were an ill-suited match, but whenever their grandson was born, that all faded away into acceptance. I wasn't going anywhere anyway, so they would just have to get used to me.
Occasionally, a rumor would surface in the tabloids that Jack had been seen out with some starlet or model, but he came to me at night all the same, and I honestly never suspected he was cheating on me. We were too happy for that—a perfect family.
Growing up, I didn't believe that fairy tales ever came true, but Jack had given me my happily ever after, and that's more than a girl like me could hope for.