The heat of his hands against her inner thighs made her jump in surprise. He pressed the heel of his hand against her, and pleasure bloomed behind her eyelids.
"Did you lock the door?" Gwen whispered.
Jack stopped. He thought for a moment before going to the door and locking it. "I wouldn't be too loud, though. Unless you want everyone to hear you."
Gwen blushed scarlet. The last thing she needed was a patron or employee hearing her moaning Jack's name! She nearly told him that she needed a rain check, but then he was kissing her again.
Gwen was helpless against Jack's kisses. He was just too damn good at it.
"I'm glad you're wearing a dress," said Jack.
"You are?"
"Gives me easy access."
That made her laugh. Although she was wearing a dress, she was also wearing tights due to the cold. As Jack trailed his hands up her torso, he soon discovered that getting the tights off her wasn't going to be a simple task. He grunted in frustration as he tried to find the top of the tights.
"Where the hell do they start?" He flipped the skirt of her dress up.
His frustration only made Gwen giggle. "Are you having trouble? Do you need help?"
He squeezed her waist. Then he tore her tights down the middle, making her gasp.
"That's better," he growled.
"You ripped my tights!"
He cupped her sex again, the contact against her clit making her moan. "I'll buy you ten new pairs," he said.
Gwen soon forgot all about the ripped tights. She could only focus on Jack stroking her as he kissed her. Her toes curled, and her body was on fire. He played her like an instrument. Soon, she was gasping and biting the inside of her cheek to keep herself from being too loud.
"You're gorgeous. I love seeing you like this." His breath was hot on her cheek. "You drive me insane."
"You're the one driving me insane—" Gwen let out a mewl when he pushed a finger inside her tight sheath. She felt herself clench around him.
"Gwen—" He growled something she couldn't hear. "I need you."
Gwen floated on a haze of ecstasy, her body still taut with the orgasm that was just within reach. She watched, heavy-lidded, as Jack took out his cock, stroking its length.
"Touch me. Christ, touch me, please." He took her hands; she didn't need any more encouragement than that to squeeze and fondle him.
He was already iron-hard. As they kissed, she reveled in how she could make him shake and beg. She suddenly felt empty, desperate for him to fill her.
Then he was hitching her legs up around his hips and pressing the tip of his cock inside her.
He was big—bigger than Tim, that was for sure. When he met some resistance that included a bite of pain, Gwen froze. Suddenly, the pleasure collided with fear.
It was all too much right then: Jack, pressing into her, his large body keeping her captive. The way he made her feel split open. Vulnerable.
"Stop." Her voice wouldn't work. Why was she so quiet? Why couldn't she get his attention? "Stop. Jack. Stop—salmon!" She yelled the safe word nearly in Jack's ear.
Jack's entire body stilled. Then he was climbing off her and zipping himself into his jeans with clumsy fingers.
Gwen hugged her knees to her chest. She wanted to cry, but no tears came. Mostly, she felt defeated, exhausted, and hopeless.
"Jesus, Gwen." Jack was shaking his head. "What's wrong? What happened?"
Gwen felt a lump in her throat. "I don't know," she whispered.
When Jack reached out to touch her, she flinched. His expression instantly turned stony.
"I shouldn't have come here. This was a mistake," he said.
Gwen wanted to fall into the deepest, darkest hole. "I'm sorry."
Clearly frustrated, Jack just kept shaking his head. "I'm an idiot. Stupid fucking idiot. Christ, I should've known better."
He didn't offer any further explanation for that statement. But then he was handing Gwen her shredded tights and placing the jacket he'd been wearing on her shoulders.
"Do you want me to go?" he said quietly.
"I think it'd be best."
She hated how hurt he looked. Mostly she hated herself. When he hesitated, she nearly broke and begged him to stay. But at the same time, she wanted to be alone, to collect her thoughts.
"I'll talk to you later." He looked like he wanted to touch her, but then he stopped himself. That made Gwen's heart sink into her toes.
He left without another word. Gwen eventually sank to the floor and hugged his jacket, letting the scent of him calm her pounding heart.
Chapter Seventeen
Jack stood at the edge of a cliff, gazing at the ocean. Normally, he found the sound of the waves calming. But he wasn't in the mood to be calmed.
He'd fucked up. Badly. He should never have pushed Gwen like he had today in her office. He'd been mindless with wanting her and it'd made him stupid. If he would've just used his brain for one millisecond, this entire catastrophe could've been avoided.
Jack had hated leaving Gwen. He'd only done it because she'd asked him to. In his mind's eye, he saw her with her arms wrapped around her, her eyes filled with fear.
Fear. She'd been afraid of him. It made Jack loathe himself for making her feel that way.
He'd texted her an hour ago, but she hadn't replied. He'd almost called her; he resisted the urge. Even as he wanted to take her into his arms and make that fear in her eyes melt away, he knew that she'd need to initiate next time.
Jack went home when it got dark. He ate some tasteless frozen dinner. He drank more than he knew he should. He even considered calling Luke again, just to hear another human voice.
But the thought of telling his friend everything made Jack hesitate. The thought of spilling his guts to Luke made Jack want to drink another glass of whiskey. Probably the only way he would tell Luke about all this shit was if he were raging drunk.
When Jack heard a knock on his door, it was so faint that he assumed it was the wind. When it happened a second time, Jack lurched to his feet, frowning.
And on his doorstep was Gwen Parker. It wasn't raining this time, fortunately.
Jack wondered if he'd drunk so much that he was hallucinating.
"Are you real?" he said.
Gwen looked down at herself. "I think so. Do I look not real?"
"You look like an angel and a demon all in one."
Gwen let out a startled laugh. She stepped inside, undeterred that Jack hadn't invited her in.
"A demon? That's not a very nice thing to say to your friend." She wagged a finger.
"Because you haunt me. No matter what I do. I need an exorcism."
"I think ghosts haunt people, not demons." Gwen went over and touched Jack's cheek. "I'm sorry, for today. For everything."
He closed his eyes, leaning into her touch. Pressing her hand that lay on his cheek, he said, "I'm the one who should be apologizing. I scared you." He opened his eyes to see her face. "I never, ever, want to see that look on your face again. If I vow anything, it's that you will never have cause to be afraid of me."
"You stopped, Jack. You did exactly what I needed."