Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 94716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Nope. Not sticking around for that shit either. Once I turned the corner, I stuck to the shadows just in case he decided to follow.
Reaching Jack’s apartment complex, I took the stairs two at a time until I got to his front door. The apartments all had outside access; I didn’t have to go into a shared area, avoiding any curious questions. I knocked hard three times and waited, rocking back and forth from foot to foot. There wasn’t an answer and I nearly collapsed when I thought about my phone sitting on the kitchen table. That sure would’ve been handy right this second.
I was such a dumbass.
Backing myself into the corner, I sat and started picking at the potted plant when I noticed the top of a key sticking out directly in the center. I nearly let out a shout of exultation and snatched the key from its hiding spot.
Score.
Once I got inside, I was instantly calmed by his scent clinging to the air. I sat hard down on the edge of the couch, and then thought better of it and curled up on his rug instead, trying to avoid getting his stuff stained with my blood. The rug would survive, seeing as it was dark brown.
Exhaustion invaded my body and I fell asleep instantly.
It was the grating sound of a woman’s high-pitched voice that jarred me from my exhausted sleep.
“Thank you, Jack.” A woman purred at the door of Jack’s apartment.
The woman’s voice was familiar, but without her face, I couldn’t tell you how I knew her.
“You’re welcome.” Jack sighed.
Confusion poured through me and I wasn’t sure what to do. Should I leave? I thought we’d shared something, but if he had a woman at his door, then obviously he didn’t feel the same way.
Then the anger hit.
I was so very mad. How could he just tell me he wanted to explore something between us, and then today bring a woman home?
Getting uncomfortably to my feet, I made my way to the door and listened.
“It was just a ride. Don’t get used to it.” He answered.
“It meant a lot to me. You’re such a good man; I knew you wouldn’t leave me at that bar by myself.” She purred.
“I don’t treat women like shit. You need to find better taste in men. Now, I’m tired; I’ll see you later.” He dismissed her.
“Jack, would you like to come to my place and have a drink?” She asked seductively.
“No, what I want to do is call my girl. Then I want to get in bed. Thanks.”
“But, Jack, that girl I’ve seen you around town with is just a child. She can’t possibly make you happy; nor can she give you what I know you need.”
My short temper got the best of me, and I yanked the door open and glared out at Lily Joe Trammel. Queen bitch of Kyle, Texas.
“Oh, I think I can please him alright. Now, shoo. You’re attracting vagrants.” I smiled sweetly.
It wasn’t until I felt the pinch of my lip and the slow line of warmth that oozed from the cut that I remembered. Jack was staring at my face in horror. One second I was five feet away from him, and the next I was in the apartment and he was closing the door. His arms were wrapped around my waist holding me to his body.
“What the fuck?” He growled low.
“Uhh, I’m sorry I broke into your apartment. I had a fight with my sister. Then I saw her boyfriend following me and I got scared.” I shivered.
He dragged me in his wake to the bathroom before sitting me down on the vanity and pulling a first aid kit from under the sink. He worked in silence, cleaning up my face. Growling low at each whimper of pain that escaped my lips.
Damn, but who would’ve known getting busted in the face with a straightening iron would hurt so much? “I’m gonna need stitches, huh?”
“Yeah, looks like you will. It’s split pretty bad, from the inside to the outside.” Jack said carefully.
It was obvious that he was very upset and holding it in for my sake. I was grateful for that; I didn’t want to get into all the details right now. They were extremely embarrassing and I didn’t want to scare him off with my fucked up family before we even got started.
Helping me down off the counter with his hands at my hips, he let me slide down the length of his body. I finally became aware of the compromising position we’d been, and still were, in. I felt another shot of anger pour through me as I realized that Stormy screwed with this moment we were having, too. If my face weren’t bleeding, this situation might be something entirely different right now.
Jack’s eyes ran over my face, and then trailed down to my t-shirt. “We should probably get you changed. You look like a Slasher victim.”
Leading me into his room by the hand, he stopped me in front of his closet and helped me get the t-shirt over my head. “I’ve never seen Slasher. I’ve ruined my only white t-shirt.” I said distractedly.
I was trying to divert myself from the fact that he had one huge ass bed. It reminded me of one I’d seen on the internet one time. Hugh Hefner’s bed was very large; it accommodated over seven people. Of course, this wasn’t that big, but the black satin sheets that were covering it just made it appear larger.
“I’m sure plain white t-shirts aren’t hard to find, honey. See, I have one right here.” He said, withdrawing a white t-shirt that looked like it been worn and worn well.
He slipped it over my head, carefully avoiding my split lip, and then helped me thread my arms through the holes. It was massively large on me, but I was ecstatic to have it. He went behind me and gathered the extra material at my back and then tied it into a knot.
“There, now it doesn’t look like a dress. I have an extra leather jacket in here, too. You need to wear it. The trip is about a twenty minute ride from here and I don’t want you to be hurt if something were to go wrong on the bike.”