Page 44 of Jack

She had no idea how she made it home.Sliding into the parking area around the back, designated for her andZach, she sat there, fingers clenched on the wheel. The securityguard had glanced up at her and wished her goodnight, his expressionneutral, but she knew how she looked, like a woman who had beenravished. Flipping down the visor, she uttered a distressed moan asshe took in the tangledcurls andher swollen lips. She was not wearing a bra, because he had destroyedit. Nor was she wearing panties.

And she realized that if she stepped footinside the bar, everyone would see what she had been up to, includingher brother. Especially her brother. Closing her eyes, she laid herhead back on the headrest and took several deep breaths. He had notsaid a word to her. Just told, no – ordered her to get dressed.

She had gone and done it now, she thoughtin despair. She had had sex with Jack Hadley. Why the hell had shegone to his place? Why hadn't she the common sense to just say whatshe had to say over the phone and be done with it? Why go to hisoffice? Rubbing her moist hands over her jeans, she switched off theengine and pushed the door open. She would go up the back stairs andtake a shower. All she wanted to do was to curl up in bed with thesheets over her, but she had a responsibility to the bar. And she wasnot going to indulge herself and give into her misery.

As she entered the back door, she foundherself desperately wishing she could turn back time. She had neverfelt so exposed, so vulnerable. The dim light in the hallwayflickered as she ascended the stairs, each step echoing her regret.

Upon reaching her apartment, she swiftlylocked the door behind her, leaning against it as if it could somehowshield her from the emotional storm raging inside her. The silence ofthe apartment pressed heavily on her shoulders. She stood there for amoment, just breathing, trying to gather the strength to face herreflection in the mirror.

She stumbled into the bathroom, her legsweak, her heart pounding. The sight that greeted her was worse thanshe had imagined. Her eyes were wide and haunted, her lips red andswollen, her hair a chaotic halo around her face. She could stillfeel his touch, the imprint of his hands branding her skin.

Turning on the shower, she stepped beneaththe cascading water, hoping it could wash away not just the physicalremnants of their encounter, but the shame and confusion that grippedher. She scrubbed her skin until it was raw, tears mingling with thewater as they streamed down her face.

After drying off and dressing hurriedly incomfortable clothes, she forced herself to head downstairs to thebar. Each step felt like a march towards judgment. When she entered,the familiar buzz of conversation and clinking glasses greeted her,but tonight it felt like an alien world.

Her brother Zach looked up from the pint hewas building, staring at her with narrowed eyes. Without sayinganything, he turned to hand the drink to the guy waiting at the bar.

"So, we are still at odds," shethought with a pang. Just what she needed when her emotions were soraw, and she was feeling vulnerable. Jazmine was not here tonight butwas taking the time to arrange her apartment and for that, Zuri washappy. She did not need her friend trying to find out what had takenplace on her trip to Jack Hadley's office.

She moved behind the bar, immersing herselfin the rhythm of work, finding solace in the routine. Yet, every timeshe paused, Jack's face loomed in her mind. She knewshewould have to face him again, and the thought terrified her. But fornow, she poured drinks, listened to patrons, and pretended everythingwas normal, while inside, her world had been irrevocably changed.

*****

It took him several minutes to stir himselffrom his sightless gaze out the window. Moving towards the bathroom,Jack shrugged off the shirt and grabbed a sweater from the closet. Hewas about to tug it over his head, when he got a good look at himselfin the mirror.

His thick brows shot up. There were redwelts, jagged ones on his chest. His hair was disheveled, and helooked as if he had been poleaxed. Hurriedly pulling the sweater overhis head as if to block out the evidence of their animal mating, heturned from the mirror. But he could not get her out of his mind.Instead of abating his hunger, he still felt the desire coursingthrough his body.

Striding into the office, he went to hisdesk and sat on the edge of it. The scrap of material wedged betweenthe chair caught his attention. Pushing himself off the desk, he wentto get it, closing his hand around the scrap of lace he had torn offher. Sinking down in the chair, he brought the material to his faceand inhaled her scent. Intense need swamped him.

Closing his eyes, he relived every moment.The taste of her, the feel of her satiny skin. The feel of herwrapped around him.

Breaking off a groan, he leaned back in thechair and closed his eyes. He had a problem, he decided grimly. Heshould not have touched her and now that he had, he wanted more.Whereas in the past he could always walk away, this time wasdifferent. He wanted her with a fierceness that was frightening.

He had never met anyone like her. The womanhad the uncanny ability of pissing him off royally and making himwant like never before. He did not want this. Getting involved withher was not in his plan. But he had a sinking feeling that for thefirst time in his life, he had no say in what happens next.

*****

"Honey are you okay?"

She stirred herself, forcing the smile onher lips as she turned to look at her friend.

"Just woolgathering." She lookedaround the cozy living room with the gaily patterned throw rugsdraped artfully over biscuit-colored sofas and nodded in approval."This place is really coming together."

"Isn't it?" Jazmine walked overto pour more wine in her glass. "And I am so happy you were ableto come tonight. You are spending the night?"

"Of course. Serves Zach right to beleft to handle things on his own."

Her friend glanced at her anxiously as shepicked up her glass and took a sip. "Things still not rightbetween you two?" She had spoken to Zach about it just lastnight when he had spent the night with her, but he had only shruggedand said that his sister was not herself, whatever that meant.

"We go out of the way to avoid eachother. I think he's keeping secrets."

So are you. The voice echoed inside herhead.

She was so caught up in her own thoughtsthat she missed the guilt on her friend's face.

"What makes you say that?"

Shaking her head, she stared at Jazminewith a frown. "What?"

---