Page 42 of Strings Attached
My whole body went cold, my eyes widening. “What...” He straightened, pulling out almost completely, then thrusting back in. “Oh!” My heart was going too fast; I couldn’t calm down anymore.
“That boy toy of yours... He caved in so fast under pain,” he spoke in a soft voice. “Admitted you...only needed something that looked...sophisticated.” He pumped in and out faster, and another wave of climax filled me to my core. At the same time, terror mixed in with the pleasure, and I trembled violently. His cock pulsated inside me, and he let out a harsh grunt as he spilled himself inside of me.
As soon as he pulled out, I pushed away from him and took several steps back. Tears rolled down my cheeks as my legs shook beneath me, but I couldn’t seem to stop backing away from him. He pulled off the helmet, and I could suddenly see the serial killer again. How long had he known? When had he gotten to Martin? Was he in his basement waiting to die, or had Jack already murdered him?
Jack approached me as he buckled his pants, and I raised my hands, trying to keep some distance between us. He didn’t stop, though, and as soon as he reached me, I tried getting away. It was like fighting against a hard wall. One that gripped my chin and forced me to look at him.
“No more lies between us,” he said quietly. “This doesn’t change anything, except that you don’t need to pretend to input that PIN every evening.”
“It changes everything,” I almost shouted, wrenching away from him. “That was the one thing keeping you from...” I didn’t want to finish my sentence, but I had to. “From killing me.”
“I love you, Jill.” The words hit me, so I just blinked at him. “I don’t want you dead.” He pulled me closer, a gentle smile curling his lips.
I gripped his tactical jacket, tears still flowing down my cheeks. “I love you, too.”
27
Cursed
Iflipped through the channels, trying to find something to watch. But at this hour, there wasn’t much in terms of programming. There was only a week left for Jack to come back, and I was growing restless.
Breaking news.
“Now what...?” I stopped on the channel as I watched on.
The woman on the television was speaking about a shooting, but it was the text beneath her that caught my attention. Toronto nightclub. My chest squeezed as I grabbed my cellphone and sent a quick text to Jack. I hoped everything was okay and if he could just let me know he was safe.
Minutes passed by as I glanced from the television to my phone. Still nothing.
People had been shot. A security guard was brought to the hospital in critical condition.
My stomach churned, and I tasted bile in the back of my mouth. I called the number this time. It just rang. It wouldn’t stop ringing. Why wasn’t he picking up?
I bolted to my feet, pacing the living area. What should I do? My finger hovered over David’s contact; Jack had given it to me in an emergency. Did this count? He might’ve been working and just couldn’t answer. That wasn’t an emergency; that was a needy girlfriend.
Still, no one could blame me as I watched the news unfold. The same nightclub he worked at. No names released.
I tapped on David’s name and waited. And waited.
Nothing. With a scream, I nearly threw my smartphone against the wall but instead tightened my grip on it.
My device buzzed, and I answered it without even checking the name. “Jack?” I shouted.
“It’s David,” his voice sounded strained. “Jack’s been...shot.”
The world around me vanished until I stood in nothingness. Everything around me was still there, but it stopped existing in those few seconds I stayed on the line. David continued about Jack being in the hospital. That he’d keep me posted, but I barely registered any of it.
“Jill?” David’s voice brought me back. “Hey. It’ll be alright. He’ll be okay.”
“Yeah... thanks.” I dropped my phone onto my couch and walked a few steps before collapsing on the floor. My hands curled into fists, and I pounded against the wood, not caring if my downstairs neighbor complained. I didn’t care. Not about anything. Why had this happened? I’d known I was cursed, but I still let him get close because I loved him. But if I’d really cared, I would’ve pushed him away.
I staggered to my feet and went straight for the drawer of my nightstand. Codeine. What was left of it. This pain could go away if I took some. Even if it was only for a few minutes, I just needed the anguish to stop. I needed to breathe.
What if David calls with an update, and you’re passed out?
The little voice inside my mind was right, and I bit my lower lip. Instead, I took a chance and called Nina.
She answered on the fourth ring. “Jill? What’s the matter?”
