Page 42 of Alluring

"Where are we going?"

"Home."

"Jack, no. We're here so you can spend time with your friends. We're not leaving."

Jack stopped by the bedroom door, pulled her close, and kissed the tip of her nose. "You either tell me why your upset, here, now. Or we go home, now and you'll tell me there."

"Please, can't we just go enjoy the rest of our day and talk about this later."

"Alexis, what you're not understanding is, I can't enjoy my day knowing you're upset about something."

God, this man, so sweet. "I was upset Jack, but I'm not anymore. I'm over it."

"Then baby, why do you still have tears in your eyes?"

He heard her sigh as she looked down at the floor. He shut the bedroom door and locked it, walked her to the bed, and sat her down. He got on his knees, wedged himself between her legs, and wrapped his arms around her hips.

He made sure they were eye to eye before he said, "Now tell me."

Alexis knew there was no fighting Jack when he wanted something, and right now, he wanted her to tell him what was wrong. She also knew he wouldn't let it go until she told him.

Alexis closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I overheard a conversation while I was in the bathroom. What was said ... I wish I never heard. But, I did. So I had to process it, come to terms with it, and move on from it. I thought I did, but I guess I'm still working on it. But, I'll get there, so no worries."

Jack gave her a slight squeeze. "Tell me."

She pushed against his chest, and he leaned back, giving her some space. She stood from the bed and paced the floor. He watched her with careful eyes, tracking her movements.

She stopped at the window and looked out. "All this is new to me, Jack. I've never even dated before you. And, all of the emotions that go along with this are new to me, as well. Rationally, I understand you're a thirty-year-old man, who in that time, has had his fair share of women. Rationally, I understand that they did not mean that much to you, because where are they now?" She flung out an arm, "Not here." Irrationally, the thought of them touching you. You touchingthem. Doing the things we do. Things that I thought were sospecial," she paused, bringing her hand to the window, fingers splayed. She rested her forehead against the pane then continued, in the saddest fucking voice Jack had ever heard. "Hearingthat hurt so deep, it felt like a knife in my gut, twisting." She turned away from the window and slowly looked up. Tears streaked down her cheeks.

Jack was crushed by the sight of her tears. He couldn't stand it a second longer, he had to touch her.

* * * * *

She watched as he slowly made his way to her. He took her about the waist, walked her to the bed, and carefully laid her back. He covered her with his body, putting most of his weight on his arms, boxing her in.

"You're right, I have had my fair share of women." She closed her eyes against the pain. She knew he'd spoken those same words once before, but the impact of them cut deep this time. "Look at me, baby." She opened her eyes. "But you're wrong, too. What we have is special. Those other women, they were just a fuck. Just a body. Just a release. That isnotwhat you are.

"I do not fuck you. I make love to you. You are not just a body. I worship your body. And, when I come inside you, it is not just a release, I feel it here," he picked up her hand and brought it to his heart, "every damn time."

"Jack—"

"No Alexis. No more bullshit. I don't want to scare you, but I'm done waiting for you to figure this shit out. I'm laying it out for you, right here, right now." With his weight on his elbows, he grabbed the sides of her head, pinning it so she couldn't look away. "You belong to me. We are not in a temporary relationship or whatever fucked up nonsense you want to call it. We arereal, and you aremine. You became mine the first time I held you in my arms, and I swore to myself, I would protect you always." She wanted to look away, but he held her head firm. "And, I became yours when you gave me your virginity.

"You are it for me, Alexis. Do you understand what I'm saying? There is only you. There will only ever be you. Iloveyou."

Alexis gasped, "You love me?"

Jack leaned his head down and nuzzled his nose alongside hers. "Yeah, baby, I do. An insurmountable amount."

Alexis wrapped her arms and legs around him and squeezed tight. "I love you, too, Jack."

"Thank God." He spoke softly against her lips before taking her mouth in a deep kiss.

* * * * *

"Please tell me you didn't have sex on my bed."

Those were the first words out of Mase's mouth when Alexis and Jack made it back to the pool. The blond was still draped across his body, but Gage was no longer around.

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