Caught in the Storm (15 page)

Jackson was right. She didn’t have to face this alone; all she had to do was open up and let him in. He’d shown over and over that he’d be there for her. Hell, he’d searched for her, for
years
. He’d kept the fact he knew her, a secret. She went back in her head to the last night they were together. She had completely relaxed with him, and given all she had, it was the best night of her life. She wanted that, and the woman she used to be, back. It was coming, slowly, but maybe there was something she could do now.

Leaning against the counter, she rubbed her hands over her face, wondering if she could do this. Knowing that if she did, it would change everything. It would mean Jackson meant more to her than her need for revenge. It would mean she’d have to start relying on someone else, knowing they would be relying on her too. She’d actually be in a relationship. As damaged and broken as she was, she really wanted this; she wanted it with Jackson. She needed him in her soul.

Having made her decision, she quickly undressed, folding her clothes neatly and putting them to the side. Taking a deep breath, she climbed in under the covers and called to Jackson so he would come in.

He slid into bed behind her and reached for her. She knew the instant he knew she was naked; his hand stilled on her shoulder and his breath caught.

“Are you sure?” he whispered.

Turning over so she was facing him, she said, “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

She felt his hands shaking as they traced down her arm and across her belly, leaving a trail of goose bumps. Her eyes closed and she enjoyed being touched by him.

“I don’t want to do anything that will scare you,” he said as he kissed the side of her neck, just under her ear.

She pulled his t-shirt up so she could touch his chest. “Remember that last night we were together?”

“How could I forget?” His breathing became more rapid.

“Nothing you did then scared me. I was yours, completely. Take me. Take all that I am.”

She felt him go still for a second as her words sunk in. The next thing she knew, his lips captured hers and their tongues fought for dominance.

She pulled and tugged at his shirt, wanting to feel his skin against hers. Their mouths briefly separated as he yanked the shirt off over his head. They crashed back together, the years they spent apart melted away as their bodies remembered.

Once they were naked together, he slid into her and she shuddered, finally feeling complete. She matched him thrust for thrust, wanting more, demanding more from him. Rolling off the mattress, the cool marble floor was in direct contrast to the heat coming off his body.

Using his strength, he moved them back onto their makeshift bed and she enjoyed the feeling of being in charge, setting the pace as she straddled him. Her breathing coming faster as his fingers teased her nipples. Leaning down, she took his mouth with hers. She pulled back, but he wouldn’t let go. Sitting up, he wrapped his arms around her as they continued to rock with him buried deep inside of her.

Feeling the orgasm building, she raked her nails down his back not able to control herself. His fingers bit into her ass as his held her close to him. His cock throbbed inside her, wanting its release.

Running her hands through his hair, she got a handful of it and pulled his head back. Looking into his eyes in the dim light, she knew she’d come home.

Screaming his name, they toppled over the edge together.

Kat slowly came awake, feeling a body behind hers. She didn’t even have a second of hesitation; she knew who it was, Jackson. A small smile teased her lips as she remembered why she was naked, pressed against another naked body.

“Good morning,” he said as he trailed his fingers up her arm.

“What are you doing up already?”

“People typically get up in the morning.” He continued to trace patterns across her neck and shoulder.

“But you were never up first and you’ve never been a morning person.”

“People change.”

“Not about being a morning person; you’re either born that way or not. What gives?”

Jackson shrugged.

“Tell me. Please.” She turned over so she was on her back looking up into his tired face.

“I just thought if I stayed up all night, you wouldn’t disappear on me again.

Kat closed her eyes and rested her head on his chest. The pain she’d caused him could never be taken back. She didn’t know how to make it up to him. Maybe if she was there for him and could prove to him that she wasn’t going anywhere this time, maybe time could heal his pain.

Jeremy sat in the hotel room looking at the costume he had picked out for the night. Somehow he thought the Phantom from Phantom of the Opera was perfect. While the Phantom’s face was disfigured and he hid it from the world, Jeremy felt his soul was disfigured and he hid that from everyone. Plus, he needed to hide his face from the world since the authorities were looking for him.

Walking over to the dresser, he picked up the invitation he was able to get and tapped it against his mouth. Maybe tonight he’d be able to get his hands on one of those bitches who’d escaped him and changed his luck. Alexia, the one who escaped twice. The whore. He had to get her. He had to kill her. He had to make everything right again. He could feel the desperation building inside him. He didn’t like this and didn’t know what to do. Getting down on his hands and knees, he crawled under the bed, curled into a ball like he used to do when he was young, and hid until the feeling passed.

She spun around in her pretty light blue gown. She had always loved dressing up, but they never had anything this nice while she was growing up. Crossing to the bed, she looked at her weapons; she knew it was going to be hard to sneak anything into the party tonight, but she had thought ahead and had camouflaged them to look like something a woman would typically have in her purse. They wouldn’t be able to do as much damage as she’d like, but maybe enough to have him worried. She smiled at the thought of making him bleed.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she wished Mama could see her now. But that bastard had taken her away. He had to pay. She had tried to keep her personal emotions out of this; to just take the facts and let them speak for themselves. But knowing she was this close, she couldn’t keep them buried any longer. She missed her mama so much; things would have been so different if she hadn’t been killed.

Jeremy walked out of his room and down the hall. As he turned the corner he noticed someone coming out of a room. He knew who it was. It was the head of Noah’s security, Bruno.

He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out his knife. He knew he’d have to be careful, but thankfully he was in a black suit, the blood wouldn’t show up as much. Coming up quickly behind him he shoved the knife into his back effectively pushing him back into the room he’d been exiting. Once they were inside he closed and locked the door.

Sighing he turned the body over, it was too easy. He should have been paying closer attention. Some head of security. Jeremy looked around the room there had to be something he could do. He didn’t want to just leave him there the blood seeping into the carpet. He had to make more of a statement.

Glancing out the open window he saw the sun was setting. He quickly walked over to the drapes and pulled them open testing their strength. Looking back at the body he moved quickly to suspend him upside down and spread eagle. Once it was complete he stood back and watched as the blood slowly seeped out of the cuts he had made on the body and run down the window. The light coming through the window had a reddish tint to it because of all of the blood. Jeremy thought it looked nice in the mostly white room.

Kat paced the room. She felt so awkward with the pregnancy bump on her stomach. She fought the urge to rub it, knowing that would be the closest she would ever come to actually being pregnant and having something grow inside her.

Earlier, when the four of them stood side by side in the mirror, you couldn’t tell the two couples apart. Lexi and Noah were downstairs doing their part of the night and would soon be back up here to change places. Kat felt naked without her gun, but she knew she wasn’t going to be able to take it in there. She also knew the costumes of the men who were there to protect them, and they had guns. They were supposed to be within ten feet of them at all times. All she would need to do was get to them.

“Come here,” Jackson said as he patted the seat on the couch next to him.

Sitting down, she turned to him and gave him a look. “How can you sit there so calmly and read? Seriously, it’s not natural.”

He shrugged, “This is nothing; now playing in the Superbowl that is nerve wracking. This, it’s just a little party where I get to dance the night away with you in my arms. That is easy.” He distracted her by telling her about when the Steelers won against the Cardinals.

She kept focused on him until she heard the door open and leapt up off the couch, her heart feeling like it was going to beat out of her chest in fear.

Jackson stood and put his arm around her. “Easy now. It’s going to be okay.”

Kat closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them, Lexi was standing in front of her with her brow furrowed.