Chapter 54

Jack thought he was going to die. For the second time, because of him, Ana was in danger. He felt like a fucking idiot, standing here and not being able to do anything.

When Ana had fainted, he had felt his heart fall to his stomach. It was like he had taken a punch to the gut. Coupled with the fact that he had gotten his own mother arrested, yes he had all rights to feel shitty.

But he didn't let that drain him. Ana was more important than him at this point. And besides, she was the one who was pregnant and had fainted.

The nurses had hurriedly put her back to bed and the doctor had been called immediately. Jack was not ashamed to say that he was legit scared. He was scared of losing the woman he loved, he was scared of losing his baby.

He didn't know how they did it, but they had wheeled an ultrasound machine into the room and promptly sent him out. It frustrated Jack, the fact that he couldn't even stay to see how she was faring. Or that if she woke up and called his name, he wouldn't be in the room with her.

He was pacing outside the room. Every time a nurse walked out, he accosted them. He was impatient and he knew it was probably driving them crazy but standing outside with no news was driving him mad.

"Sir if you keep being so agitated, we are going to have to tell you to move to the waiting room," one of the nurses said, frowning at him in disapprobation.

Jack didn't give a flying fuck. He didn't care whether this woman approved of him or not. He was going to stay out her until Ana's condition was pronounced stable.

"Look here lady, I don't know who the fuck you think you are to talk to me like that. My fiancee and my baby are fighting for their lives in there and you expect me to go lounge in the waiting room. That's laughable," Jack said with a chuckle sorely lacking in humor.

The nurse had the grace to blush and she walked away primly. After that, no one else tried to bother Jack. They worked around him and tried to answer his questions as best as they could.

It had been about three hours since Ana had fainted and Jack was still outside. But he was no longer pacing. He was leaning his head against the wall in an almost woe-be-me attitude. But he had hope. And that was what was keeping him standing.

"Mr. Knight?" someone called out and he turned towards the voice. It was a make nurse, standing tall at 6ft. Jack didn't even have the strength to summon jealousy. He just wanted to know in what condition Ana was.

"Yes," he answered.

"Your fiancee is up and asking for you sir," the nurse said.

Jack hesitated a little, turned to the man and asked, "How is she?"

"She's okay. And the baby as well," he reassured Jack without the latter even having to ask the question.

Jack didn't need to be told twice. He rushed into the room and saw Ana laying there helplessly on the bed. This was the second time he was seeing her like that and it hurt him.

"Ana? Ana I'm so sorry," he said, holding both of her hands in his.

"It's okay Jack. It's not your fault," she said with a small smile. She looked tired but she was still extremely beautiful.

"It is. If only I had trusted you. I was dumb. Will you ever forgive me?" Jack asked earnestly, looking at the woman he loved.

Ana stared at Jack and shook her head a little with a laugh. "Jack, I have already forgiven you. Stop bothering yourself over it. I love you despite the dumb mistakes you always seem to make," she said earnestly, then stroked his cheek.

"I promise–"

"Shhh. No promises Jack. Let's live out our love," Ana interrupted.

Jack looked down at her and wondered how he had ever gotten so lucky. Ana was everything and much more. Understanding, loving, caring and most of all, she was his.

He placed his lips on hers and coaxed them open with his skilful tongue. When he came up for air, both of them were breathless but completely satisfied.

***

Two days later, Ana left the hospital. She felt exhilarated. To be honest, she would not have forgiven Jack if not for one tiny detail. When Landon had come to the hospital, instead of intruding on their time together, Jack had quietly withdrawn. If that didn't prove that he trusted her, even with someone she knew he considered his rival, then Ana didn't know what else would.

Jack had refused categorically to let her go back to her apartment. It was almost like he would never let her out of his sight. It was adorable, sometimes, but Ana was used to being independent. And all this confinement did not agree with her.

She stared at Jack mutinously as he walked in. He came towards her and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. And that was it.

Another bad thing about this confinement. All Jack wanted to do was place chaste kisses on her forehead, or peck her lips. He never seemed to want to move further than that. And she was fucking annoyed by it.

"Hey. What's wrong?" he asked when he noticed the petulant look on her face.

"All this is wrong!" Ana exclaimed and Jack got a panicked look on his face.

"All this?" he whispered.

"I don't mean us Jack. I'm sick and tired of being confined. I am tired of being in all day. And I am most especially sick of those dry pecks you call kisses!"

Jack looked at Ana and his lips twitched in amusement. He didn't want to laugh outright because he knew she might very well shoot the spatula she was holding at him.

"It's not funny Jack!" she exclaimed, tears coming to her eyes.

At that Jack rushed to her. "I know baby. I'm sorry. I just don't want to see you hurt again. But I understand that you're lonely in here. So I planned a couple of surprises for you," Jack said, punctuating each of his sentences with a kiss.

Ana stared up at him with wide eyes. "What do the surprises entail?" she asked, thinking she could charm him into telling her with her beautiful brown eyes.

"That look might have worked before, but not now. Go get your sweet ass changed and we'll proceed with the first one," he said with a chuckle.

Ana all but skipped up the stairs, then she stopped herself and asked, "Formal or informal?"

"Formal," Jack said with a straight face, not letting anything seep through. Ana continued up the stairs with glee.

It had been such a long time since she had dolled herself up. She was enjoying it. As she was getting ready, she paid no mind to Jack who had taken a shower and changed into a fitted suit. He looked like dessert and she had a sweet tooth.

Jack leaned across the door and watched Ana. She was putting makeup on. Then she slid into her dress. And his jaw almost fell. Ana was the most beautiful picture he had ever seen in his life.

He walked towards her with something in his hand. She looked at him curiously but did not utter a word. Jack stood behind her and fastened the most beautiful necklace she had ever seen around around her neck.

He stood back and admired her. He loved looking at her. And seeing her with his jewels around her neck made him even more happy. She was his. He wanted the whole world to know that.

"It's beautiful Jack," she said breathlessly. Then she stood and kissed him. It wasn't one of the kisses he gave her usually. This one was full of passion.

It was permission, Jack realized. Ana was giving him permission to ravish her. He smiled and hit her firm ass. She jumped away from him and looked at him crossly. All he did was give her an innocent smile.

"Come along," he said and Ana followed him. At that moment, she didn't care. He could have taken her to the ends of the Earth and she would have thanked him.

They walked outside to his car and Ana laughed. It was the car he had been using the night they had met. It seemed so long ago. But it was a breath of fresh air. It seemed like they had been stifled for so long.

Jack brushed the driver away and opened the car door for her. She got in with his help and he got in after her. As soon as he closed the door, he took her into his arms.

"Jack wait. You're going to mess up my makeup," she protested, setting herself far from him

Jack looked at Ana with a chuckle then gave into her whims. He was going to let her think he wasn't kissing her because of her makeup. That wasn't it.

Jack knew that if he started kissing her, he was not going to stop until his hard length was sheathed in her warm heat. And this was not the time for that. They had dinner to eat.

"Jack, I don't want to put a damper on tonight's mood but– she– how..." Ana started then she trailed out. She didn't know how to ask Jack.

But Jack knew her. And he understood without her needing to explain anything to him. "She's in a psychiatric institution. Getting the help she needs," he answered, swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat.

Ana didn't say anything. Just came close to him and took his hand in hers. Then she placed an open mouthed kiss on his palm, then one on his lips. She drew away but Jack didn't let her.

He took hold of her waist and pulled her towards him then placed a hard kiss on her lips. Both of them sighed breathlessly.

"Hi," Ana said, lifting up her head.

"Hi," Jack replied, grinning deviously. There was so much he had planned for later and he couldn't wait to get her to their room.

Soon enough, they got out of the car into the restaurant. It was the same one they had had their first date at. Ana's favorite restaurant. She had mentioned to him a couple of times how much she had enjoyed the food.

They walked in and Jack didn't even need to say his name. The maitre d' had already walked towards them with a welcoming smile.

"Welcome Mr. Knight. Nice to see you again," he said and Jack nodded. Ana frowned at him but did not say anything. He was rude but she decided to let him off the hook for this once.

They followed the maitre in silence until they reached their table. Or rather, their space.

Ana was shocked speechless. They were standing in a cozy part of the restaurant and it was decorated in Ana's favorite color. A shade of plum.

She turned to Jack with tears in her eyes. "You did all this for me?"

"No. My date is coming later on in the evening," he teased and she hit him with her hand.

"I love you," he said, looking at her earnestly.

Ana didn't think she would ever get used to Jack saying those words. But she whispered, "I love you too."

They sat and it was like they couldn't keep their hands off each other. And their eyes said all what their mouths couldn't.

If you asked Ana to name the food they had eaten, she couldn't have. It was most probably good. But with the sexual tension building up between her and Jack, it was a wonder she didn't spill everything over her body.

At the end of the dinner, Ana and Jack were grateful. Finally, they were going to do what they had been longing to do. Explore each other's bodies. Thoroughly.