Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
This just isn’t fair. ‘How would you feel if you found me with one of these?’ I ask, pointing at the mark, flinching as I imagine her hand connecting with his face. His beautiful face.
Jack’s low, threatening growl gives me my answer. ‘Don’t ask silly questions, Annie.’
‘It’s not silly, it’s genuine. I want to know.’
His face looks murderous. ‘Kill.’
‘I rest my case.’ My lips form a straight thin line.
Jack visibly gathers patience. ‘I didn’t come here to argue with you. Please, just let me deal with it.’
I open my mouth to argue once again, but he covers it with his palm. My eyes become angry slits.
‘Please.’ His plea pierces my fury like a needle, and my swallow is lumpy. I’m stressing him out more, giving him something else to worry about. And though I’d love nothing more than to rip his wife limb from limb, I relent, pulling his hand down from my face so I can speak. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘Never be sorry for loving me that much.’ His fingers thread through my hair and grip at the base of my neck. ‘Do you hear me?’ I nod, and Jack nods in return. ‘Good. Now, make us some coffee.’ He plants a kiss on the tip of my nose, turns me in his arms, and sends me on my way with a tap on my arse.
I set about preparing us a strong, steaming cup of the good stuff, but I pause as I spoon some granules into my gigantic mug. ‘Where is she?’ I ask, swinging around.
‘On her way over for coffee,’ he replies flippantly.
I’m not in the least bit amused by his attempt to lighten our mood. ‘You’re not funny.’
‘She’s gone to her parents’.’ He rolls his eyes, like I should know that. ‘We . . .’ His forehead wrinkles a little. ‘Well, it didn’t go too well when I got home.’ He points to the mark on his face, and for the first time I ask myself why she hit him.
Oh fuck, has she figured it out? Yesterday gave a chain of clues. Did she rewind through it all and piece things together? Or did Jack tell her he’s leaving? I start to sweat, and then steel myself to ask the operative question. ‘What happened?’
‘The usual.’ He shrugs his big shoulders dismissively. ‘I didn’t say what she wanted to hear, so the fingernails and screams come out to play. She’s gone to her parents’. It’s her father’s birthday. They picked her up and took her home for the evening to join in on the jamboree with all the family, friends and business associates. The thought of sitting there pretending my life is perfect, pretending to be the perfect couple, doesn’t appeal. Funny that.’
I spoon two sugars in his coffee – just the way I know he likes it – and stir, watching him, thinking how casually he reeled all that off. Because he’s used to it – the drama, the fights, the lashing fingernails – and that isn’t good. I hand him his coffee and rest back on the worktop, cupping mine with my palms.
‘Anyway.’ He takes a quick sip and rids his hands of his mug, then proceeds to try to take mine. I put some resistance up, taking a big gulp of caffeine before he can take it away. He laughs under his breath as he slides it onto the counter, and then takes my hips, hunkering down, getting his face close to mine. ‘Enough of all that. You’re supposed to be my happy place.’
‘Happy place?’ I ask, slowly pulling back when his palm slides over my waist before drifting down a little and stroking over my inside thigh, just a fraction away from my crotch. I go rigid.
‘My happy place,’ he declares, restraining his grin.
I gasp, shocked, totally forced. ‘Cheeky!’
Jack laughs, a true happy laugh that sinks straight beneath my skin and impales my heart. He dips and hauls me up over his shoulder. I yelp, laughing, as he strides out of the kitchen, holding me in place by the backs of my thighs. ‘My coffee!’ I protest, not really giving a fuck about my caffeine, but feeling the need to put up a fight.
‘Fuck the coffee,’ he scoffs. ‘I have something far tastier to wake you up.’
I grin like an idiot and hold his hips, eyeing his arse as he hauls me down the hallway to my bedroom. I land on the bed, laughing. Jack pulls off his suit jacket and tosses it to the side carelessly, yanks his tie free, and then his fingers are quickly working the buttons of his shirt. I remain still and happy while I watch him strip down, licking my lips provocatively when he pushes his trousers down his sturdy thighs. He kicks his shoes and socks off, and finally his trousers, leaving him graced with only his boxers. My eyes drop to his groin. He’s hard, the shape of his cock prominent and calling for me. Slipping his finger into the waist of his boxers, he pushes them down and it springs free. I lose my breath, my anticipation building.