Circumstances Unraveled Read online

  I laugh and shake my head at her silliness. “Okay, fine. Things are better than great. Jack’s fucking amazing. Is that better?” I say as I stick my tongue out at her. I pull my legs up on the bed and get comfortable. But seriously, although I was super nervous deep down before, for the first time in my life things feel right. I want Jack’s touch more than I wanted anything else before. I feel love with every kiss, every caress. The way he looks at me. He’ll help me heal. He already is.” I haven’t had girl talk in so long. It feels good to leave the rest of the world outside of these walls and just be us girls. “What about you and Gabe?” I raise my eyebrows.

  “Well…” She looks over to see that the door is still shut and turns back to me. “…when Gabe brought me to his place all those months ago, after my surgery, he showed me his room.” I nod my head to show her I am listening. “At that time, I was a bit shy, you remember with everything going on.”

  “Yes, I do. Not a time I want to relive.” I frown. “But anyways, go on.” I tell her.

  “In his room, I found some intriguing things.” She smirks.

  I bite my lip and raise my eyebrows. “Do tell.”

  Her cheeks start to pink as she speaks. “Hand cuffs, lubricant, a cock ring and vibrators.” She bites her lip and her blushed cheeks get darker.

  I’m shocked to hear this. I remember hearing the men mentioning something about control a while back, and I have of course read many of books that discuss kinky things, but never once did it cross my mind that Gabe was a kinky man. “Wow. So, do you and Gabe do the whole kinky sex play thing? You know, like in the books?” My interest is thoroughly peeked.

  She nods quickly and whispers. “Yes.”

  I start to bounce on the bed, excited for my friend. “That’s awesome. Do you like it? Are you not scared or nervous?” I need to know. When I read about it, it sounds amazing, so one can never know for sure.

  “It took me some time to get the nerve to agree to play time, but oh my God, YES. It’s worth it. The best orgasms I’ve ever had.” Belle gushes as she looks to the door again, afraid that someone might come in.

  I look to the door too, out of habit. “I’m so happy for you.” I take a hand of hers and squeeze it. “I hope one day I can be brave and talk to Jack about that stuff. By the way Gabe and Jack talk, I’m sure Jack would be up for it.” I smirk.

  Belle nods in agreement. “I think he is.”

  “Belle, let’s go, babe.” We hear Gabe yell from the living room.

  “Awe. Well, we’ll have to have girl time again soon.”

  “For sure.” I tell her as we get up from the bed and head out of the room.

  I watch as Gabe and Belle pull out of the driveway. Locking the door, I turn off the lights and head to the bedroom. I find Mel bent over digging through her bag, probably for some clean clothes. I sneak up behind her and place my hands on her hips.

  Mel gasps. I smile.

  She’s only wearing a towel, wrapped snuggly around her slender body. Her long, dark tresses hang over her shoulders. I push them aside so I can kiss her shoulder. I press my lips to her exposed skin, smelling her. Cocoa butter—such a wonderful smell coming from her soft skin. I nip at her shoulder moving up to her neck, sucking until I reach her ear. I whisper. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

  Mel stands up straight and slowly turns herself in my arms. Pushing her hair over her shoulders, she looks up at me. “Am I now? Prove it.” She stares into my eyes, watching me, waiting for my next move.

  I raise my lips in a lazy smile. I accept her challenge. Moving my hands from her hips, I grip the ends of the towel, release its hold on her and allow it to fall to the floor. There she stands, gloriously naked before me. I lean down and press my lips to her pink lips in a hard kiss.

  I scoop her up into my arms and walk over to the bed and set her on it.

  I take a moment to take in her beauty, trying to believe that she’s really here, that she’s really mine, then I’m quick to strip myself of my clothes.

  I lay on the bed beside Mel, leaning on my elbow. I face her so I can watch her reaction to my touch. I want to see her. I need her to know that I want to see her, to know that I want her and only her. I reach a hand over and brush her hair out of her face, caressing her cheek, down around her chin. Leaning toward her I kiss her forehead lightly, whisper touches with my lips to her eyes, her nose, her cheeks, her chin, and finally her mouth. I press harder, opening my mouth taking her bottom lip in and sucking lightly, nibbling.

  Her breathing increases as she opens for me. I slip my tongue in and press further. I take control letting the passion between us sear our mouths together in bliss. I move my mouth down her neck, around to her ear and nibble lightly. Caressing her arm with my hand, up and down, around to her breast until I find a nipple. Working my way down, I lick, nip, and suck. I take the other nipple in my mouth and roll my tongue around it, sucking while my fingers work the other to a hard peek. I switch breasts as I look up at her.

  Her eyes sparkle with lust as her chest heaves, starving for breaths. “Do you believe me now?” I taunt.

  She licks her dry, pink lips and pants. “Almost.” She grips the blankets with her small hands and I continue.

  I glide my hand down her soft skin, down her stomach, until I reach the warmth between her legs. Mel moans to my touch. I move my body down on the bed and lick right above her mound, leaving a little wet area. I blow my warm breath over it and watch goose bumps rise. I love how she reacts to me. I slip my hand between her legs and she’s wet. Fuck. “Wet already, firecracker. I love that.” I swipe my fingers up and down a few times before I press a finger in her warm pussy.

  “Jack…” She moans.

  I use my thumb to search out her most sensitive area and press. Her clit is swollen and my teasing has already gotten her far. I know it won’t take long. I circle my thumb around the nub and press harder. I insert a second finger and thrust fast, listening to the sounds she makes. Her smell drives me crazy. My cock is demanding relief. I don’t think I’ll be able to tease for much longer.

  I feel her pussy clamp around my fingers. Mel’s breathing is rapid. Her hips have started to move to the same rhythm as my hand. I move faster. Harder. “Do you believe me now?” I ask as I breathe harder, trying to control myself. I need inside her so fucking bad.

  I feel her body start to shake. Her pussy grips my fingers tight and she screams. “Yes, Jack. Yes. I believe you.”

  “Thank fuck!” I yell and I thrust my fingers in and out until she finishes coming. I pull them out, stick my fingers in my mouth and groan. So, fucking good. I pull Mel over me so she straddles me and smile at her. “Never forget that. You’re beautiful.” I look into her eyes as I hold her. I don’t know if or when it’ll ever be the best time to tell a woman about your feelings, but I don’t give a shit anymore. What I feel for this woman, is everything and I need to tell her. “One other thing. I love you, Mel.” I lean up and press my warm lips to hers giving her everything I have in that one kiss.

  She takes me and gives back. She lifts herself so I take the opportunity to line my cock up with her damp pussy and she slowly slides down on me. I groan.

  “I love you too, Jack. I have even before I knew who I was. I was just afraid to say anything.” She takes all of me and grinds her pelvis against me. And fuck doesn’t it feel amazing. Rising up, she drops back down setting a rhythm.

  I grip her hips and help set the pace. I move faster, and harder, meeting her beat for beat. “Never be afraid of me, firecracker—never. I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe.” I thrust up as she slams down. Fuck, I won’t last. It feels too damn good. Up, down, grind. Up, down, grind. Fuck. “Baby, I’m gonna come.”

  Mel speeds up her pace. She must be close, too. I meet her pace as I feel her pussy clamp down on me. We both scream out as we release.

  “Jack.”

  “Mel.”

  She falls down on me, sated. When we finish I roll
her to the side so we can cuddle. My beautiful, strong, sassy, firecracker means the world to me. I don’t care that she has a past. I know she has obstacles to get through, but I’ll get her through them. I’ll be by her side through it all. Once I thought I’d always be a bachelor, but now I’m a one-woman man. I’m Mel’s man. Forever. Starting tomorrow, we flush all the shit down the toilet and start fresh. Move forward. Mel deserves that. I’ll give her what she deserves.

  I wake with my head resting on Jack’s naked chest. His arms wrap around me, our legs tangle together—and it’s the best thing I’ve experienced in my life so far. I breathe him in. His smell is intoxicating. He’s every girl’s wet dream. I lift the blanket that sits just above our waists, sneak a peek, and smile. Perfect—and he’s all mine. I feel his breathing change. I think he is awake so I tip my head and look up at him.

  Jack’s smirking, he knows he caught me. “Looking for something?” He asks.

  I giggle. Busted. “Can a girl not look? I thought I was dreaming, so I had to check.” I suck at lying, but fuck I have to say something.

  Jack shakes his head and grins, squeezing me tight (but not to hurt) he tips his head down and kisses my forehead. “Not a dream, baby. It’s all me.” He waggles his eyebrows and I don’t know what he’s going to do. Suddenly, he whips the blankets off of me and I shriek.

  “Jack, what are you doing?” I laugh, scrambling for the blankets, but it’s of no use. They’re on the floor now.

  Jack untangles his body from mine and lazily moves his eyes up and down my body. “Fair’s fair, baby. You looked, now it’s my turn.”

  I suppose he’s right. I turn and hop off the bed. I stand beside the bed and slowly turn in a circle. “You like?” I ask as move slowly around, lifting my hair and letting fall over my naked breasts.

  Jack growls and starts to crawl toward me from the bed.

  I giggle because I know I’m teasing him. Being around Jack I feel that I can be me again—the woman who jokes around and plays. So that’s what I’m doing. I’m being the woman I want to be, the woman who I’m meant to be. “Stop.” I tell Jack before he pounces. “Play time later. Now we need to get dressed, eat, and head to Gabe’s. Isn’t Dex meeting us all somewhere this morning?” I raise my eyebrows in question.

  “Shit.” He frowns, looking sad like a lost puppy. Oh, my poor man. I’ll make it up to him later. Right now we have things to deal with. “You’re right.” He gets up from the bed and walks toward the dresser. Along his way, he smacks my ass. “Get in the shower. I don’t want to make everyone jealous.”

  I wrinkle my nose in confusion. “Jealous? How?”

  “You smell like sex, baby. Poor Dex might get jealous—and jealous Dex makes for poor working conditions.” He winks and smacks my ass again. “Get moving.”

  I laugh and head to the bathroom. “Okay, Mr. Bossy pants. But if I have to shower you do, too.” I call over my shoulder.

  We get to Gabe and Belles just before noon. Jack called Dex just before we left his place and told him to meet us there. Sebastian left the box of evidence at Jack’s so I grabbed it before we left to bring with us. Jack pulls up in front of Gabe’s place and parks. He reaches over to his glove compartment and pulls out a gun. I’m shocked to find that he has one. He tucks it in the back of his dark wash jeans and gets out of the truck. Walking around the vehicle, he opens my door and waits for me to exit. I bite my lip, thinking if I should ask him about the gun. I know his job’s dangerous at times. He has connections with government agencies, so why wouldn’t he have a gun? I shake my thoughts and step away from the truck. “Can you grab the box?” I ask him.

  “No problem.” He says, reaching in and grabbing it from behind my seat. He turns, shuts my door, and follows me in.

  Gabe greets us at the door and takes the box from Jack. “Dex’s already here. Come on in.” Gabe tells us.

  I remove my shoes and head over to the couch where Belle sits. I set my purse on the table and sit beside her. “Hey.”

  “Hey, you. Sleep well?” She asks.

  I nod and smirk. Belle laughs. Just as I get comfortable my cell beeps from inside my bag. I reach for it and instantly the hairs on my neck stand up. I look around the room and a chill runs down my spine. “Where are Sebastian and Lilly?” I stutter in fear.

  Everyone looks to me, I don’t stutter, ever. So, when I do, everyone’s attention is on me.

  “On their way. What does the phone say, Mel?” Gabe asks, his tone very stiff but full of concern.

  I look at my phone again, take a breath and read it. Lilly looks just like her father. Would be a shame if something happened to her on this beautiful day.

  I read the message as clearly as I can. My emotions are getting the best of me, as usual. I look to Jack who’s already moving toward me. He leans down and touches my shoulder. “Breathe, baby.” He takes my phone and gives it to Dex. The pair of them sit at the table with laptops open and start doing all the techy crap that we know nothing about.

  I hear Gabe talking, but I don’t know to who. Then I hear Sebastian’s name. I blow out a breath and a weight lifts. Gabe is talking to him on the phone. Apparently, I didn’t hear it ring a moment ago. “He just pulled up. He and Lilly are fine.” He goes to the door and heads down to let them in.

  When they make it up the stairs and come inside, I rush to them and give Sebastian a hug. The look he gives is shock, but who blames him. He doesn’t know what’s going on. Next I lean down and give little Lilly a hug. She hugs me back and smiles. Lilly takes her bag and heads over to Belle who’s waiting with arms wide open for a hug, too. Then she sits and opens her bag of toys to play.

  I need a minute to myself so I head to the bathroom. I close the door and lean on the vanity. Closing my eyes, I start taking slow deep breaths. Why does life have to be so complicated? People need to leave sleeping bears lie. I hadn’t thought of my father in years and now because of two assholes who wanted revenge on me, my past also wants revenge. I hate this. Just when I find love, I put it (and the man that means the world to me) to the ultimate test—to survive the wrath of revenge. I keep my tears at bay, blinking several times. I face the mirror, turn the water on, and lean down, splashing some water on my face to calm my nerves.

  I hear a commotion in the living room. I wipe my face dry, open the door and head down the hallway. In the living room, everyone is surrounding the table, faces are red and everyone is arguing. “She can’t do that.” Belle shouts.

  “It might be the only way.” Dex returns.

  “I won’t ask her to do it.” Jack says.

  I have no idea of what’s going on. I pass sweet little Lilly who’s playing with her toys still, ignoring the adults and press my way into the mess of people. “What’s going on?” I shout.

  Everyone stops talking and looks at me. Jack moves to me and wraps his arms around me. I push him off of me. “NO, why’s everyone arguing?”

  Jack looks to everyone then back to me. “There was another text.” He grimaces.

  “And?”

  Jack blows out a breath and reaches for my hand. I allow him to take it. “Your father wants to meet with you.” He squeezes my hand gently and watches me, gazing into my eyes waiting.

  I think about it for minute. If I meet with him he will kill me, but if we plan it right we can arrange it as a set up and bust him. Then again there are chances for errors. Ugh. I return Jack’s stare and then glance around the room. All these people—my friends—would do anything for me. I can’t let them get hurt. I have to do something. I look behind me and watch Lilly for a minute. My heart sinks. If not for me, I have to do it for that innocent little girl. My decision’s made. “I’ll do it.” I look each of them in the eye. “I’ll meet with him and see what happens. He might very well just want to talk, right?”

  “No!” Belle yells.

  “Baby, you don’t have to. We’ll find another way.” Jack pleads, pulling me close. He tucks my head under his chin, wrapping his arms around me. I
let him this time.

  “I need to.” I whisper. “This needs to end.”

  Her decision’s made. She won’t change it, I know. Of what I have learned about my woman is that she’s stubborn. We’ll have to make do with what she has decided and protect her in any way possible. I kiss the top of her head and release her. She and Belle move to the couch to watch over Lilly. I sit in a chair at the table and pick up her phone. Since we are doing this, we are doing it right.

  Where and when?

  I type in a message and send. I look to Dex who sits behind his laptop. “See if you can get a trace. A location, anything.” He nods and starts typing. “Do you think any of your men would come help out on this job?” I ask.

  “I have a few, yeah. We’ll keep her safe, Jack. We got this, man.” He says as his fingers fly across the keyboard at quick speeds.

  Friday. Don River Bridge. 6pm. Alone.

  An abandoned bridge area. What the fuck is the man up to? I don’t trust him. I don’t think he wants to just talk, that’s for sure. I crack my neck to relieve some tension and type back.

  I’ll be there.

  I put the phone down and look over at Dex who’s still busy typing away. “Anything?”

  He looks up and grimaces. “It’s a burner phone, which we figured. It’s bouncing off of several towers in the area. So we know he's close, but I can't pinpoint his location. He is for sure in the area though.”

  I nod my head in understanding. I remember when we were searching for Mike, the bastard that was hunting down Belle. He too used a burner phone. I wish our technology could bust through those stupid things.

  “Thanks, man. He wants to meet Friday. So, if you can get some men here for then, that’d be great.” I begin to plan what needs to be done. I won’t let anything happen to Mel.