Chapter 43

"Is everything okay?" Jack asked when he put his seatbelt on. He and Ana had gotten into his car and she had been unusually quiet.

It was obvious that something had happened between Geralds and Ana. He could attribute her silence to the shock but it was obvious from the tension that something had gone down. He just didn't know what.

"Ana," he insisted when she didn't respond. Ana shook visibly and turned tired eyes on him.

"Huh?" she asked. It was almost like she was looking through him. He did not like it. It did not bode well.

"I asked are you okay?" he repeated, creasing his brow worriedly.

"I- I don't know," she said and she honestly sounded lost.

Jack was silent for some time. The silence was not a comfortable one like it usually was between them. It was uneasy. Not tense. But just really awkward.

"What happened? Why did you sound so scared?" Jack asked breaking the silence. For a while he though Ana hadn't heard his question. But as he was about to repeat his question, she answered.

"I- there was someone in my apartment," she said, choosing her words carefully. She didn't know why she was being so reticent with Jack. He was supposed to be her other half, her soulmate, her partner. The person she told everything to.

"Someone broke into your apartment?" Jack asked urgently and suddenly Ana felt guilty. Look how worried he was about her and she was being so unlike herself with him.

"I- yes Jack. They left a note," she said, scrutinizing Jack's profile for any change in expression. But nothing. He looked grim.

"What did it say?" he asked. Ana knew that he had come to one conclusion, the most obvious one anyways.

She paused then she said quietly, "Snitches get stitches."

She saw his Adam's apple bob up and down as he swallowed nervously.

"Ana," he said somberly, "Do you think my mother is behind this?" he asked, looking so vulnerable all Ana wanted to do was to take him into her arms and tell him everything would be alright.

"I... don't know," Ana replied. She was scared of Dorothy Knight. The woman was a dangerous one to cross. And Ana was dreadfully scared of the consequences- if she decided to tell Jack how she felt.

"Tell me Ana," Jack asked and Ana sighed. She was tired of all this. She wasn't tired of Jack. She still had feeling for him. But she was confused. With his mother's hostile attitude. And then Landon's kiss- she had been a willing participant! And she had actually enjoyed it. And she didn't feel half as guilty as she was supposed to feel.

"Jack what else am I supposed to think? As soon as I tell you about what she did, this happens. I'm just so- lost," Ana admitted and her voice caught on a sob.

Jack didn't respond but his eyes were searching and when he found a corner he could park into, he stopped the car.

He removed his seatbelt carefully, then proceeded to remove Ana's own as well. He held her in his arms and rocked her until the sobs subsided.

When he heard nothing but small sniffling, he lifted her head up and asked gently, "Are you okay?"

Ana nodded then laughed nervously and tried to pull away from him. "I'm pretty sure I look horrible right now."

Jack observed her face under the dim light of the car and shook his head. She was beautiful. She was always beautiful. Apparently even when she spent over ten minutes crying. And he said as much.

"You," he started, emphasizing on each word with a kiss, "Are," kiss, "Beautiful," kiss.

Ana blushed and turned her face away. Jack had that effect. He had a way to make her feel so shy but so confident of herself all at once. After this, comparing him to Landon seemed a bit silly.

Landon was her best friend. He had been her pillar for a long time. And she had to admit that there were times when both of them had used the other very unhealthily as a crutch.

But now, she realized that Jack, she didn't know what exactly she could call the feelings she had for him, but it came really close to love. She just hoped he felt the same way.

Jack restarted the car and the journey to his place was a mostly silent but comfortable one. He had managed to reassure Ana and for that he was happy. But there was still one thing he was curious about.

"What happened between you and Geralds?" he asked finally, unable to bear the questions that were burning on his tongue to be let out.

Ana looked at him sharply with a frown. The thoughts in her head were getting mixed up. Did she tell Jack she had kissed Landon? Or did she just omit that part? She didn't want them to be cold towards each other. But she didn't want to lie by omission either.

Her lengthening silence confused Jack. "Ana?" he asked, a small frown on his face.

"I- we got into a small argument. He was pissed I went into the apartment even after I noticed the door was unlocked," Ana said finally then let out a deep breath.

She knew Jack would be worried, he might even scream at her. But maybe that would be better than facing his cold rage if he knew she had kissed Landon and she had been a willing and active participant. And to top it all off, she had enjoyed it.

"You got into your apartment even after you noticed the door was locked," Jack said, in a deceptively calm voice. Ana swallowed then nodded when he looked her way.

"What possessed you to do something as stupid as that? What if the person who put that note there was still in the room? What would you have done then? Think about your safety Ana. Think about how the people who love you would feel if anything happened to you. Think about how I would feel if anything happened to you," the last sentence was said softly and it took the fight out of Ana.

She had been ready to argue. She had already set up the "battle" in her head. Buy hearing him saying he would be affected if she got hurt did something to her.

Ana softened her voice deliberately. "I'm sorry Jack. I just- I wasn't thinking. I just wanted to know what was behind that door."

"Don't ever put yourself in so much danger Ana. I mean it. Don't try it. Think of yourself. Think of me. Think of the baby." Jack whispered the word baby reverently making Ana smile.

"I promise Jack. I promise," she said and placed her hand on his thigh. He placed his free hand on hers and squeezed it.

Suddenly, the atmosphere wasn't calm and gentle and soothing. That chemistry that Ana had thought gone was there. She flushed as she felt Jack's strong thigh quiver under her touch.

She lifted her hand and before she could withdraw it, Jack caught it in his. He peppered small kisses all over it but still managed to keep control over the vehicle.

Ana gasped lowly when he kissed her pulse point. At her gasp, Jack gave her a slanted stare. It was teasing but sensual and it promised a lot more than he could have ever out in words.

For the remainder of the ride, Ana and Jack were touching each other in some kind of way. Whether she was holding his hand, or sifting her fingers through his hair, or placing her hand on his thigh.

Finally, they reached Jack's home and after he quickly, opened her door, they got into the apartment. Jack scooped Ana up into his arms and carried her into his place.

As he stepped over the threshold with her in his arms, he couldn't resist looking down at her and saying teasingly, but seriously, "This is how it's going to be when we get married."

It had the intended effect. Ana hid her face in his arms and giggled. But the cute atmosphere soon dissipated. Jack let Ana down slowly and looked at her as if he was seeing her for the first time.

He pressed a soft kiss on her forehead, then kissed her mouth gently. Not with pressure, just a sweet kiss. He peppered kisses all over her face then came back to her mouth and kissed her again.

This time around, they kissed in earnest. Jack's fingers found the zipper on Ana's dress and pulled down then they broke off the kiss so she could step out of it.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered reverently, placing a hand on her rock hard tummy.

Next thing that came off was Jack's shirt, and a button or two might have popped off because of their earnest passion.

Dropping a trail of clothing items along the way, they soon reached the master bedroom. Jack broke off the kiss, looked at Ana, then led her to the bed and made her lie down on it gently.

He started with her feet, kissing them, then he went up to her calf and placed some more kisses. Then her inner thigh, making sure to tease the hidden cleft with his breath but making no move to touch it in any way.

"Jack," Ana breathed out in frustration. Jack chuckled and dropped his boxers. Then lay atop her carefully. He kissed her again, then trailed his kisses to her neck, delicately nibbling on the pulse point there, seemingly encouraged by Ana's short gasps and moans of pleasure.

Then he took one of her nipples into his mouth and teased it lightly with his teeth, then suckled gently on it. He moved his attention to the other nipple until both nubs were glistening.

Jack then spread Ana's legs gently and rubbed on her clit, until her pussy was soaking wet. Then he positioned himself over her and plunged into her wetness.

Ana let out a sound, relieved pleasure. Her small moans grew louder when Jack started thrusting in earnest, careful not to hurt her.

"Jack! Oh my gawdddd!" Ana screamed as Jack brought her to ecstasy.

Then he let out a muffled grunt and he came in her. He stayed slumped over her for a while, then rolled over.

He kissed her forehead again then went to the en suite. He came out with a damp towel and cleaned Ana. Then he held her to himself.

"I love you," he shocked both of them by admitting.

Ana stared at him with wide eyes. She had never thought she would hear him say it. And if she was being honest, any doubts about him were dissipated.

"I love you too," Ana said with a smile, realizing just how much she meant it.

They kissed, a gentle and undemanding kiss, then lay there until they fell asleep in each other's arms.