Freeing Destiny (Fate #2) (23 page)

I tilted my head, rubbing my nose against his. He dipped down to kiss me and I felt my soul soar to unexplainable heights. Jack was addicting. Everything about him. It had started out with his presence. Just his smile, wit, and good humor reeled me in. As I spent more time with him, I fell deeper under his spell by learning more about his big heart and tender ways. But now, after tonight, he’d given me his heart and I’d gladly handed mine over to him too. I was no longer addicted. I was obsessed. I’d never get enough, and I wasn’t planning to wean off of him anytime soon.

“Hey, Jack?” I ran my fingers through his hair.

“Mmmhmm,” he moaned against my chest.

“You think we could do that again?”

He perked up on his elbows and nipped my lip between his teeth. “Round two. Coming right up.”

Stella

I felt . . . different. Besides the sweet ache and tender soreness between my legs, there was a spring in my step and a skip to my heart that hadn’t been there before. And I wasn’t merely talking about sex, although adding that to my life had given me yet another reason to be a giddy fool.

Jack and I had an amazing thing going. I’d seen lots of other couples. Happy ones who giggled together, touched each other often, and spoke about the other when they weren’t around. Jack and I, we had that, too. And so much more. Maybe it was the fast pace at which we’d thrown ourselves into this crazy, delicious love affair. Or maybe it was fate and all of its incredible magic. But whatever it was, I’d never been happier.
Ever.
I couldn’t recall one single moment in time when the purest joy and deepest wonderment drove me to wake up every morning and spread my good mood wherever I could.

Don’t get me wrong, I missed Mom and Nina, but Jack filled that empty space for me in ways only your best friend and soul mate could. Yes, I was sure now. A month with this man as mine and I knew he was it. My everything. The one intended for me and only me. When I told him I loved him the first time I feared he’d run scared of commitment, like most men his age. But if there was one thing I learned in the time I’d been with Jack, it was that he broke the mold when it came to men.

“Nina, I’m so nervous. Are you sure it’s not bad if I tell him first?”

“Would you listen to yourself? It’s not a game of who says it first! You’re talking about genuine feelings, Stells. I hear how you talk about him. I feel what you feel. I’m your twin, remember? You love him! You wouldn’t have stayed behind if you didn’t and you wouldn’t be calling me every . . . single . . . night to gush on and on about how stupid-happy you are!”

“Hey! You told me you liked hearing me this way!”

“I do! Of course I do, but . . . never mind. I
am
happy for you, and that’s why I think you need to tell him already. They’re just words, Stella.”

“Words that hold the weight of my heart in them. It’s a big deal. I’ve never said this to any guy before.”

“Listen,” my sister huffed. She was right. I had been calling her non-stop to fill her in on every last detail of my time with Jack. I never stopped to think that it might be a little annoying. I owed her for letting me drone on the way I had the last few weeks. So I sat up tall and gulped down my fears, ready for whatever advice it was that Nina had for me.

“I’m all ears.”

“Actions speak louder than words, right?”

“Yes, Confucius. Go on . . .”

“Think of all the ways you’ve
shown
him you love him. Unexpected kisses just because, cuddles and hugs only to be close to him, extra time and care cooking his favorite meal, putting his pleasure before your own when you’re doing the good stuff, and most importantly . . . staying behind, for him.”

I thought long and hard about what she was saying. I’d put him first. I’d made him my priority. I’d given him parts of me that never belonged to anyone else before. I showed him my love every single day in the tiniest, silliest of ways and in the most monumental and exceptional ones too. “You’re right, Nina! You’re so damn right! Thank you. I’ll tell him tonight.” My cheeks heated, my insides squirmed, and my sex throbbed—all clear indicators that I was making the right move. I loved Jack and he needed to hear me say the words, even if he already knew by my actions that I was head over heels and hopelessly devoted to him.

“Go get ’em, tiger! You got this. And don’t call me right after . . . it can wait a day . . . or two.”

I hung up with my sister and set out to prepare something special for dinner. I didn’t want to make it obvious that I’d gone all out just to speak those three little words, but I did want the mood to be right. There was nothing to worry about. The mood was always perfect when we were together.

“Oh my God! This is incredible!” Jack mumbled through a mouthful of the lasagna I made.

“It is, isn’t it?” I’d used my mother’s recipe—the one passed down to her by my grandmother—and it was simply mouthwatering.

“I’m taking the leftovers, if there are any, for lunch tomorrow. It’s all mine. Hands off. You’ve had enough.” He pulled the tray closer to him and hovered over it as he chewed.

He was adorable. Gorgeous. Perfect. And in the same way he wanted to keep my lasagna all to himself, I wanted to cherish him forever and hold him hostage to my heart.

“I love you, Jack.” I could have waited for him to swallow, or not to have that cute smudge of gravy on the corner of his mouth, but I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I loved every damn thing about this man.

Jack’s chomping sped up and I could almost see the chunk of food travel down his throat as he swallowed. His face lit up and his blue eyes sparked to life. “What? Seriously? You mean it? Because, I’ve been wanting to tell you for weeks now that
I’ve fallen so much in love with you, Stella. I love you so much I can’t think about anything else throughout the day, but I know it’s so soon and I didn’t want to freak you out, or have you run off to New York. I was so—”

“Jack, take a breath.” I stood from my chair, walked over to his seat, and settled myself on his lap.

His hands found my face; he cupped my cheeks and gazed into my eyes.

I licked my thumb and swiped the sauce from his face, dipping down to lap at the rest with my tongue. His tongue peeked out to meet mine and even though it was kind of weird to be making out mid-dinner, the taste of lasagna still on our tongues, I didn’t mind in the least. I was in awe. I was in love. “I love you, Jack Davis. I’m not going anywhere—until I have to—but until then, and even after, I’m all yours.”

“Oh, Stella. My Sunshine. I love you so damn much.”

We’d settled into a routine that worked for us. Jack’s schedule was haphazard with appointments at various hours of the day, but it wasn’t terrible because he made his own hours and never had to be up at the crack of dawn. I, however, was idle. I hadn’t looked for a job because there was nothing I could commit to for such a short period of time. It would be a waste to settle in somewhere to make a few bucks, just to have to pack my stuff and leave right before the holidays.

So, instead I made myself busy at Jack’s. I kept things tidy, I spruced things up, I added touches of me to his man cave, and I enjoyed the space he so graciously invited me to live in while I was here. Pangs of sorrow crept up every now and then when I thought about leaving.

I didn’t want to. I wished in the worst way that I could make other arrangements and just start fresh. Jack’s life was here, but my new life was there. There was no way around it. No magic trick to make it work. We’d have to make a go of the long distance thing and just hope our love was strong enough to carry us through the lonely times.

But I refused to dwell on that when he was around. Instead, we did things together to create memories that would keep me warm on those cold New York nights. And lucky for me, like any woman newly introduced to the wonders of sex, I was making lots of memories between the sheets.

“You are a fucking animal. How the hell did you ever hide this side of you?” Jack stared up at me as I bounced up and down on his cock. He pinched my nipples with his fingers and I rode him like the stud he was.

“It was in here all along, just needed the right man to come out and play with.” No truer words had ever been spoken. Jack made me this way—crazy with hunger and love. It was nothing short of astounding.

Our bodies rocked together in fast, vicious friction. I could sense it coming. My body had become so alert when Jack was inside of me. I focused on the dark, aroused hue of Jack’s eyes and the pleasure splayed across the rest of his features, allowing myself to let go.

“Oh, Jack!” My head fell back, my hands fisting my hair off my back. “So good. Always so good.”

He grabbed my waist and locked our bodies together as he arched his hips off the bed. With strong, deep thrusts, he pumped into me and finished with a loud, “Fuck!”

That word from his mouth in moments like these made me feel like a goddess. We were perfect together. We fed off each other. We knew exactly what the other needed and when.
Match made in heaven.

“Jesus, Sunshine. You’re killing me . . . and I love it.”

I laughed, lifting off his lap and snuggling next to him on the bed. “And me. Don’t forget how much you love me too.”

“Sex and Sunshine . . . the combo is spectacular.” He kissed my head and spooned me as we drifted off to sleep the same way we did most nights—tangled together in naked paradise.

Aubrey

No, no, no, no, no! I had to be seeing things. What was she doing here? Why was he with
her
? My eyes had to be playing tricks on me, or was it karma just kicking my ass?

What a fucking homecoming! He must’ve been real worried about me. His baby sister. Gone for months. Not even so much as a phone call to try and talk to me. I’ve been dealing with my demons. Alone. I had no one to turn to. And he’s been sleeping like a fucking baby, cuddled up with
her.

I took in a deep breath and balled my fists.
Disgusting
. I couldn’t stand to look at them anymore. Bile hiked up my throat and caused me to gag. This was wrong. I felt wrong. I shouldn’t be here even if I did have every right, and a key. I felt like an intruder—well, technically I was. It probably wasn’t the smartest idea to show up here unannounced, in the middle of the night. But I figured I could crash for a night or two until I settled things with Mom and Dad and begged them to take me back in. He was my brother. We were blood. He’d forgive me for my mistakes. That was the plan.