Jack didn’t know what was going on with them until he felt the way he was kissing her roughly and his hand that was now trying to have a hold of her gown and his lips trying to kiss not just her lips but below. Her neck, the jawline that caught his attention the first time he had bumped into her in the airport. She was still in his arms and he knew a minute more if he kept on kissing her and the way she kissed him back. Oh, the way she kissed him back was eccentric. He felt the way she was moving her hand through his hair and he knew she would likely be the end of him of things moved further.
It took him a lot of self-discipline, that too with too much willpower before he was able to break their lips apart and she couldn't open her eyes to look at him. She calmly rested her head on his chest and Jack smiled, she looked flushed and he looked the faint red he saw on her lips. With aplomb, Jack tore his eyes off her face, and he began to walk slowly now because man, that kiss had weakened him. He had never felt this way after kissing another woman but Anna, and what prompted him to kiss her was still unknown to him and he was still unknown to her as well. It wouldn't mean love, of course, it can never be love, but maybe she attracted him to the point that he couldn't resist her again.
He didn’t know how he was able to hear the directions she had given him when at the time, Jack was certain his eyes were fixed on her lips. But somehow, they were now standing in front of the mansion she had said, and he was staring at her face, her eyes were still closed, and he had noticed the way she was able to calm down her racing heart before he walked that distance. “Asleep?” He asked softly and Anna shook her head lightly.
“I don’t know if you can walk in now or I'd have to do that for you as well. Or maybe someone that can help you inside?” He asked again, because he wanted to see the color of her eyes, the flush and amazing look she had in them. And when she slowly squinted them open, she took him unawares, they were now so blue that it looked as though he was staring at the morning sky and he softly smiled at her, not knowing how or why.
“I can I can walk now.” She returned the smile and carefully, Jack placed her down while she straightened her gown. “You saved me today.” She smiled brightly at him, and he noticed this was her way of saying thank you.
“Yes I did, Anna. And you’re welcome. Now, get in so I'll be sure you’re safe.” She was just staring at him, in just a short moment it felt as though the Jack she had known had been changed for her. This wasn’t the man she knew anymore. He would never be the man she knew, the man she had always fought with.
“I should.” She said calmly and took a few steps toward the entrance of the house. She was aware of his eyes that were fixed on her back and just when she wanted to turn and have a glimpse of him, she heard her name being called. “Anna?” And she sighed before she turned to look at him, oh god! No one had ever called her name as perfectly as Jack did.
She immediately gave herself a mental smack, what was wrong with her? Was she fantasizing about Jack just now? She watched him rushed toward her and she thought maybe this change of behavior was part of his plan to hurt her the way he had promised he would. But she didn’t give a damn, she enjoyed this, and she would get this to the end of her soul. “I forgot to kiss you goodnight.” And he lifted her chin with one hand, before she spoke, Jack had merged their lips which forced a moan out of her mouth.
She kissed him back and this time when felt his hand on the edge of her back as he pulled her closer, she felt the way her knees had been melted and she gave in to whatever it was he wanted. What was happening to the today? And since when had he known how to kiss so well? This explained a lot, why Clara was always clinging to him and kissing him at any chance she had gotten. She had her fingers already in his hair and they kissed even harder than he had kissed her before. She knew it would be so hard for them to stop themselves if they exceeded this limit they were about to, and she pulled the strength within her to do them both the favor.
“Jack...” She whispered as she placed both her hands on his chest, and he placed his head on top of hers while he liberated his breath.
“I know, Anna.” He broke apart from her and when he looked into her eyes, she looked rather sad, “Good night. And make sure to take care of yourself.” And he turned to leave without even waiting for an answer from her because he knew if he stayed longer than he should, this would longer be just a prick of desire between them. It will turn to him cheating on Clara and her Charles, and to them for now it wouldn’t matter who they were cheating with, it was about their feelings. And by tomorrow morning when they got a hold of what they had done, he knew they would hate each other even more than they hated each other now.
Anna stared at his retreating back and when she was sure he had walked away from her and would never come back, she sighed and walked into the house, her index finger placed on her lips as she felt as though she was still being kissed by Jack. Whatever happened to both of them, she didn't know and would never want to know so long as they weren't going to kiss the way they did again. She slumped on her bed and had never been so glad when Charles told her he would take a separate room because he didn't want the maids to tell her mother they stayed in the same room. How much she wanted to be alone.
She had to take a shower even though she had taken one just when she was about to go and look for the swing. She got into her most comfortable night dress and laid on bed, not wanting to speak because she felt if she spoke or worked a few more minutes, she would forget how it felt like to be kissed by Jack. She draped the duvet over to her neck and turned the lights off, not that she was going to sleep because she knew sleep would be the last thing her eyes would succumb to today, but she wanted an entire peace and silence, and she was certain the darkness could only add more to her pleasure.
She was aware of when Charles walked into the room and he turned on the lights, but when he saw her head nuzzled into her pillow, he turned them off and walked deeper into the room. He stared at her face and smiled before he leaned down and kissed her forehead. Anna had never been so glad that he hadn't kissed her lips until today, because if he had, she knew she couldn’t keep on with the act of sleeping she might cry out loud at him for ruining what she wanted to keep until tomorrow. Because she knew this sentiment was just for today, by the time she woke up tomorrow she would forget about everything and Jack’s hatred would be the only thing left in her mind. Charles walked out of the room and she sighed heavenly and kept on with her fantasy on Jack.
The way he whispered, ‘Damn the consequences.’ So, this was the consequences he knew they would have to deal with, right? Because he was certain that if they kissed even if it was once, they would have to be sleepless for the whole night. But what amazed her was, she wasn’t angry at him even for once, and she didn’t regret what had transpired between them even though she felt bad for acting as though she was sleeping to Charles.
❦
Clara wasn’t back until after midnight and Jack was still slumped on the resting chair in their room. She smiled at him and he flashed her one of his weak smiles. She walked up to him and sat beside him while she kissed him on both cheeks. “Jack, are you alright?”
He shook his head and pulled her to him as he hugged her tightly. He didn’t know what was wrong with him, but he knew that he needed to hug someone until what he was feeling was gone from his heart. This feeling was just for tonight, he reminded himself and clung more to Clara. And he stopped himself because he loved and respected this woman. If he wanted, he would’ve had a one-night stand with Anna even though they would likely kill each other in whatever room they had slept in the next morning. But more of his control came when he remembered Clara and he knew she deserved all the goodness he could give to her.
Clara peeled her body from his and she looked worried, “Jack, is everything alright? What’s wrong with you? Are you sick?” He chuckled and sat upright.
“Clara, what makes you think that I'm sick? Of course, I'm fine. I'm just feeling weak and one hug from you is the best.” He grinned at her and held both her hands, silently hoping that she wouldn’t kiss him on the lips because if that happened, he didn’t know what he would do because he might end up screaming at her for he wanted to feel Anna on his lips for the rest of tonight. By tomorrow, as they flew back to California. He can forget about this moment they shared and think of what would be the best way to avenge on her. Because he had promised himself that he would avenge on what she did to him, certainly.
“Aww, come here baby.” She buried his face on her bosom and despite the way Jack’s heart was heavy, he chuckled and hugged her as tighter as he could. And they sat that way until he felt his chest lighter and he broke their hug, “I think we need to pack out belongings, it seems like you’re enjoying your stay in Spain.”
She pouted her lips and nodded her head, “Can’t we just relocate here?” She whined, and Jack pinched her cheeks playfully.
“What will you say to both our families?” She stood up and he held her waist firmly. “I forgot to tell you; Willa knew.”
Abruptly, Clara turned to look at him with a widened expression on her face, “Do you mean it? Oh my god, what did she say? Did she threatened to tell your Dad? I'm certain Mom will be fired.” Tears were already accumulating in her eyes and Jack had never felt terrible while he was Clara with Clara until today. So, she knew how horrible his Dad was and he could fire her mother just because her daughter dated his son, and he was so proud to let this kind of relationship happen under his watch.
He pulled her to his chest, “I thought you’d be happy if you hear this, Clara. Oh god, Willa can never do such a thing, you know.” She was sniffling on his chest and he rubbed his hand on her back. “I'm so sorry that it makes you sad.”
She lifted her face from his chest and looked deeper into his eyes, something Clara hardly ever did, looking into his eyes. “Jack, I don’t know where our relationship is going, this is surely taking a toll on me.” Oh god, please not again. He wasn’t emotionally stable to take this kind of conversation. And before he found the best answer to her first statement, she said another one. “I live in fear every day, Jack...” She was crying now, “Only I knows how much this work means to my mother and I can’t snatch it away from her knowing so well if any of your parents know about us, it will be the end of both our relationship and our work.”
“Clara...” He began and there was a pleading tone on his lips, but she shook her head. And he didn’t know what she meant by that gesture.