Page 41 of Alluring

She attempted to stop the sobs that wracked her body but it was no use, she was frightened. Afraid the one thing she told herself she couldn't let happen with Jack, did.

She always though that when she fell in love, she would feel joy but that wasn't the case. Loving Jack caused nothing but terrorizing panic. Panic at what would happen when this all ended. How could she live without Jack? He made her crave him. Want him. Need him. He was like a drug and she couldn't walk away. Didn't want to walk away.

Her tears stopped. Her heartbeat slowed. Peacefulness settled over her body like a warm blanket. She was in love with Jack. She couldn't stop it. She couldn't undo it. Her heart knew what it wanted and it wanted Jack.

She stood and turned to the mirror. She was surprised she didn't look any different. She would have thought such a life altering realization should have changed her outside as much as it changed her inside.

She turned on the tap and washed away her dried tears and in the process washed away her panic and her fear. She was in love with Jack. The damage was done. She was going to enjoy the time she had with him and when the time came for them to part, she would deal with the heartache. No sense worrying about something that was unavoidable. Yeah, she would just keep telling herself that. She looked in the mirror and tried to smile. God, she was pathetic.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

"Would you get in the pool already, Jack. What the hell you waiting for?" Mase asked, while treading water.

Jack watched a blond swim over, carefully keeping her face out of the water, and attach herself to Mase. Jack sighed, grateful he didn't have a prima donna like that, attached to him. He loved that Alexis didn't care what she looked like, and he always thought she looked beautiful. "I'm waiting for Alexis." Jack looked around, not spotting her. "I'm gonna go look for her."

Mase laughed. "You're whipped, man."

Jack looked over at Gage. His back was against the pool, arms out supporting his weight, body hanging in the water. "You think I'm whipped?"

"Yeah, but in a good way." Gage gave him a slow smile. "In the best way possible."

Jack smiled back and gave him a nod, "Yeah." He stood from the lounger. "I'll be back."

As Jack made his way through the crowd, he felt a tug on his arm and turned. Standing before him were two women. Both pretty. Both young. Both with great bodies in almost non-existent bikinis. His dick didn't even twitch.

The one holding his arm spoke. "Jack, it's so good to see you again."

Jack gave her a thin smile. "Nice to see you too. Now, if you'll excuse me." He turned to leave.

"Wait!" She gripped his arm harder. "Maybe we can get together later."

Jack didn't want to be rude, but he really wanted to get to Alexis. "Look um ..." Shit, he didn't remember her name.

The woman's smile faltered a bit. "Janet."

"Janet." Jack gave her a small smile. "I'm looking for someone right now," he removed her hand from his arm, "but maybe we'll see you later." He walked away quickly before she could respond.

He made his way into the house and took the stairs, two at a time, up to the master bedroom. The bathroom door was closed. He tried the knob, but it didn't turn. The door was locked. "Alexis," he called out.

"I'll be right out."

He heard the knob click, and the door opened. He was standing in the doorway, and he startled her.

She looked up at him and laughed. "You scared me. What are you doing, looming in the doorway?"

"Waiting for you, beautiful," he said, cupping her cheeks. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Why?"

"You've been crying."

"I just splashed water on my face."

"No, your eyes are red. Tell me why you were crying. And don't lie to me."

Alexis sighed, "Can we talk about it later?"

Jack looked at her closely. Her eyes were shiny with unshed tears, and there was a slight tremor to her lips. She was clearly upset. He couldn't let it go. "Come on." He took her hand.

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