Ramsey veered her towards the guest bedroom on the top floor and left her to get dressed for the evening. She changed into her own sleeping clothes and brushed her teeth. A soft knock sounded on the door and she pulled it open. Ramsey stood before her clad in nothing but a pair of black athletic shorts. Her eyes traveled to his six pack and then back up. She gulped unsure if she would be able to control herself if he came into the room.
“I wanted to give you a proper good night,” he informed her bending his head and crushing their lips together. She breathed him in enjoying every bit of pressure he was exerting onto her lips. She could tell he was trying desperately to keep himself from going further just like she was. She wasn’t exactly known for her ability to resist temptation. Her body was still flush against him when he pulled back, his breathing ragged, and his pupils dilated.
“I...uh,” he muttered pulling back a fraction of an inch.
“Yeah,” she agreed her own breathing coming out in short puffs.
“You know you never did answer me earlier this evening,” he said resting their foreheads together.
“About?”
“Will you accompany me to the birthday festivities?”
“Sure,” she said just as he captured her lips again. She moaned as his tongue slid against her own. Satisfied with her answer, he pulled back again.
He cleared his throat and stepped back into the hallway. “Well, good night.”
“Good night,” she whispered closing the door and leaning back against it.
“Shit,” she muttered to the empty space. “What have I done now?”
CHAPTER 14
DECEMBER TWO AND A HALF YEARS EARLIER
“How could you tell him?” she asked breaking down into tears for the second time that morning.
“What are you talking about?” Jack asked glancing helplessly into Lexi’s bloodshot eyes.
“You told Clark about what happened. You told him everything.”
“Lexi.”
“How could you do that?”
“Lexi…”
“I’ve been lying to him for months, he confronts you about it one time, and you tell him everything. And for what, Jack?”
“Lexi, please let me…”
“No! For what? What could you possibly gain from telling him? Do you think he’ll spare Kate the knowledge of what we did? Because I don’t.”
“Geez, Lex, can you give me a minute?”
“A minute? Oh yes, so you can try to explain? No, I don’t want your explanations. I already know what happened. You told him, and he’s going to tell Kate. All because you told him. I can’t believe this is happening,” she said her breath coming out uneven. She could feel the characteristic tingling feeling in her fingers and lips that let her know she was hyperventilating.
“Lexi,” he said stepping towards her, mouth hanging agape.
“Don’t touch me!” she shrieked pulling away from him. “I can’t believe you.”
“Could you listen to me for one goddamn minute?” he asked finally raising his voice.
She stopped her rampage. “Fine, say what you wanna say.”
“I didn’t talk to him. I didn’t say anything.”
Lexi’s eyes shot up to his face, her heart full of hope. Then she shook her head. “How did he know? He said you told him everything. You must have told him, Jack.”
“I told you I’d never lie to you again. Look at me,” he commanded. “Lexi, look at me. Look in my eyes and tell me I’m lying.”
Her eyes lifted to him once again. She searched those beautiful blue eyes for some sign that he wasn’t telling the truth. For anything that made him seem like he would tell her boyfriend to spare himself. Anything at all that said he didn’t care about her. But she found nothing there. He looked as sincere as he could get.
But how could she believe him? He could lie his way out of a lie detector test if need be.
“I...I don’t know what to think. Why would Clark say that if it wasn’t true?
Jack’s face had gone pale at the realization of what she had said. In his earnest desire to let Lexi know he hadn’t breathed a word to Clark, he had completely skipped by the fact that Clark knew.
“He trapped you, and you told him everything,” he finally said soaking in the information that Clark knew...and Kate would soon follow. “Fuck.”
“Oh God, this is so fucked up,” she cried falling to the couch. “He actually didn’t talk to you. The conniving little...” she trailed off. It was useless to be angry at Clark. She should have told him in the first place, and it was her fault that he was finding out this way. How could she have let this happen? How could she have let this thing with Jack spiral so far out of control?
She was acting just like Jack had while he dated Danielle. Only three years ago, she had screamed at him for doing less with her behind his girlfriends back. Now look at where she was. How had she changed this much over the past couple years? She would never have let herself get into his kind of position with anyone else.
Damn it! Why did Jack do this to her? It was so exhilarating being in his presence that sometimes she felt like she never wanted to leave. After the amazing night they had shared, she couldn’t believe they were sitting here like this. Less than twelve hours since that amazing kiss, lying wrapped up in his arms, and here they were arguing and freaking out about the people they were actually dating finding out. God, they were pathetic.
Beyond that, she had no idea what to do. She had come here ready to be angry at Jack for the rest of eternity, and now what? He hadn’t done anything wrong. In fact, she had been the one to spill the beans. If anything, Jack should hate her, but the way he was looking at her said a different story.
“What are we going to do?” she whispered through her fingers. Her head rested in her hands and tears trickled down her face collecting in a pool in her palms. She felt the sofa adjust next to her as Jack’s weight shifted the cushions. He slowly brushed her hair back several times pushing a few loose strands behind her ear just like she habitually did.
“We’ll figure it out,” he said soothingly.
Lexi sobbed into her hands as he continued to stroke her hair. There was nothing he could do or say that would make her feel better at that moment. She was lost in her own misery.
“Are you going to tell Kate?” Lexi asked finally looking up at him.
His hand stilled at the nape of her neck as their eyes met. “I…uh…I dunno.”
“Jack, you know he’s going to tell her about it. He was so angry. If you had seen him, you’d understand what I’m talking about.”
“Did he say he was going to tell her?” Jack asked her.
“Uh…well, no,” Lexi admitted. She assumed Clark would tell Kate everything. If she was in his position, that’s what she would do. Jack had ruined Clark’s life. It seemed only fitting for Clark to return the favor.
“Maybe he won’t tell her,” he said wistfully.
Lexi stood swiftly. “So, what? You’re just going to go on with your life?” she asked through her tears. “You’re just going to go back to Kate? I don’t understand you at all. Even if he doesn’t tell her, she’s sure to find out. She’s not all that bright, but she’s not an idiot. She had to know something was up. Clark did.”
“I doubt she would find out,” he said looking down.
“What? How could you say that?”
“You said it yourself. She’s not as bright as Clark, who obviously figured this all out on his own. If he didn’t say anything about telling Kate, then maybe he’s not going to tell her.”
“And you’re not going to tell her?”
He met her fierce gaze. “I don’t see why I would.”
“Oh…you don’t see why you would.”