Hana
We were beginning to figure out how to navigate our lives in the outside world. Jack was scheduled to start interviews and shows with Adam for their album and he asked me to go with him. It was only in Manhattan, but it was as if Jack still didn’t trust me alone with Michael. Was he trying to protect me…or keep me away? Michael stayed at the apartment, informing us that he was starting a new business deal with some former college mates and needed to work, although he seemed hesitant about me and Jack going somewhere alone.
On the train ride to a recording studio in midtown, Jack kept glancing at his phone, seeming distressed.
“What’s wrong, babe?” I asked, wrapping my arms around him as he sighed, holding onto the overhead railing for support.
“Adam is being fucking weird. Do you think Emily told him something?” he asked as he looked down at me.
I wouldn’t be surprised if she did. I told her we would be open about our relationship, but I’m sure she didn’t leave out any dirty details. I bit my lip as I looked down at my phone.
“I don’t know. Why don’t you ask him?” I suggested, putting my phone back in my pocket.
Jack sighed heavily, anger clear on his face. “I knew you shouldn’t have told her the truth. She’s going to fucking ruin everything,” he hissed, not looking at me.
I let go of him and crossed my arms. “I’m not lying to her anymore, Jack,” I huffed.
“Yeah well, let’s see what fucking good that does.”
The subway stopped and the doors pinged open; Jack quickly stormed out, but not before grabbing my hand to pull me along with him.
I kept up with Jack as he quickly walked toward the studio, the warm, late April weather finally feeling like spring. We walked into a tall building and headed to the seventh floor. I stood on the opposite side of Jack in the elevator with my arms crossed and, I’m sure, a scowl on my face.
“I’m sorry for snapping, love,” he started quietly. “I just don’t want this to affect the relationship I have with Adam. I need to know if Emily gave him all the horrid details or not.”
I couldn’t be mad at him. It was probably a really bad idea for my well-meaning, but very loquacious, cousin to have this sort of information.
“It’s okay, babe.” I shrugged, still trying to shake off my bad mood as I glanced up at him.
The warm weather prompted him to wear a plain white T-shirt that showed off his strong, muscular arms. His tattoos poked out from under his sleeve.
“Fancy having a fuck in here?” Jack quipped, slyly showing me his dimples as the elevator doors pinged open.
I wasn’t able to contain my smile; I wanted him, and he knew it.
“After you, Mrs. Maynor.” He motioned his hand toward the elevator doors, waiting for me to move.
I turned on my heel, and we walked into a sleek music studio with neon signs, art work, and gold albums of famous musicians lining the wall. An older man who already knew Jack greeted us excitedly. I assumed he had been here before and was well-liked judging by the treatment he was receiving.
“This is my wife, Hana.” Jack introduced us, and my heart swelled at those words: my wife. It had turned from a feeling of impending doom to loving, welcomed words.
“I’m Sal, the owner here. Great to meet you. Your husband is a rock star!” Sal widened his eyes for effect, patting Jack on the back. “Go on to room three. They’re all set up in there.”
Jack grinned down at me as he took my hand. I sensed he was nervous. Maybe he really only wanted me here for moral support and not just some way to keep me in check.
We walked into a huge acoustic room with several people already walking around, professional cameras and lights pointed at Jack’s drums and Adam’s guitar. I noticed a few couches lining the walls and realized Emily was sitting there, looking at her phone and oblivious to our presence. I gasped with excitement then quickly realized that Jack might not have been so excited. I turned to him, and he eyed me hesitantly but nodded anyway.
“Go on, love. Enjoy the show with your cousin.” He winked at me before giving me a passionate, slow kiss. If he was trying to turn me on, it had worked very well.
I stood there for a moment watching Jack walk away, gathering my wits as my nipples hardened underneath my thin black T-shirt.
“Han!” Emily exclaimed from behind me.
I turned, and she stood. Her face was lit up like I was the rockstar in this room.
“Em.” I smiled back at her before I wrapped her in my arms.
“It’s so good to see you. Can you believe our boys are going to be fucking famous?” She laughed then turned to look at Adam who had just approached Jack.
They stood close together, talking alone, and Jack laughed loudly. He shook his head and turned to look at me. Adam followed his gaze, clearly confused. He turned to look back at Jack and quickly put his hand to his shoulder, smiling uneasily.
“I told him,” Emily blurted.
I turned to her with a frown. “You did?”
Her eyes were full of uncertainty. “You didn’t ask me not to,” she defended.
I nodded as I sighed. “It’s fine, Em. Let’s sit.” I motioned to the couch behind her. “Did you tell him…everything?” I asked curiously as I sat down and crossed my legs toward her.
She mirrored me as she nodded. “Yeah. He’s…he’s really surprised. I mean, I told him everything. As I told him, it sounded so insane, but like…you’ve lived it. I can’t believe your strength, Hana.” She shook her head at me.
My face turned hot as I stared at her. I wasn’t sure how I felt about her last statement. I decided to ignore it.
“So…what, he’s accepted all of this?” I inquired quietly.
I looked over at the front of the room and realized Jack and Adam were starting to set up.
“I don’t know. He didn’t really talk about how he felt. That’s just…the way he is,” Emily answered.
I sighed and watched Jack warming up on the drums, doing a mic check as Adam played with buttons on his extensive guitar pedal. Adam looked uneasy; I wasn’t sure if it was nerves or if being close to Jack made him feel that way after what he’d learned. Jack looked content as he rested his hand on his thigh and then looked over at me. I went into full on groupie mode again when he winked at me and smiled.
“Are you doing okay? Are they treating you well?” Emily asked quietly, leaning into me.
I nodded. I knew she was concerned about me but I didn’t want to be looked at like I was some helpless victim. I used to be, but now I was in control.
“Like I said, Emily. I’m finally happy.”
That’s when the person maneuvering the camera yelled, “Quiet on set!”
The room went quiet. Emily and I looked at each other with wide eyes before we both turned back.
“Camera rolling. When you’re ready,” the camera person said to the guys.
I could see Jack’s chest moving up and down quickly before he nodded to Adam; Jack began banging on the drums perfectly in sync when Adam started stroking his guitar. Jack kept his eyes on his drums before he turned his head to his mic and began singing. This was the dark song Emily had told me about; I knew it as Jack began singing about heartache, betrayal, taking what’s his. He continued with the chorus, singing about how he was a fool, bloody hands, broken promises. Emily looked over at me, probably wanting to see my response to Jack’s words. All of these songs were written when I chose Michael, and it was clear how broken he felt about it. The song ended with Jack banging on his drums passionately. Jack looked over at me, out of breath, his eyes someplace else…in his dark, scary place that made my heart drop and my cheeks red hot.
Someone appeared out of nowhere with a mic in his hand and began asking Jack and Adam questions like where they were playing in NYC, when the album was coming out, and what inspired them to write the song they just played. Adam glanced over at Jack expectantly, raising his eyebrows at him.
Jack put the mic up to his mouth. “I wrote it when I was in a really dark place in my life. I was heartbroken and depressed and angry. The whole album is basically based around that.” He smiled shyly.
He looked so nervous as he spoke, but they finished the interview quickly. The next song they played was the one about the monster and its prey that I had heard weeks ago. It sounded even better the second time around. Soon enough, they were done.
I sighed heavily, not realizing I was shaking until I let out my uneven breath.
“You okay?” Emily asked as we stood.
I feigned a smile, the one she had believed for weeks until she learned the truth.
“Yeah.” I nodded.
Jack was by my side instantly, his eyes wide with desire, quickly putting his hand behind my neck and pulling me in for another passionate kiss. I forgot there was a room full of people until we parted and I saw several people staring from the corner of my eye.
“I’m fucking wound up. I need you right now,” he growled quietly.
I nodded, heat rising in my chest. I felt the exact same.
Jack took my hand and pulled me out of the room and into the hallway. We entered a private bathroom, and he locked the door behind us before pushing me against it and holding my arms up beside me.
“Everything I felt while writing those songs came back to me. You fucking destroyed me, Hana,” he spit out angrily, yet his hard erection pressed against me eagerly.
Tears started running down my cheeks.
“I know.” I nodded, my heart desperately trying to jump out of my chest.
“And now you’re all mine and you’re still destroying me.” His confused eyes scanned my face as he said the words.
His grip tightened against my wrists. I nodded again, emphatically turned on even as fear rose in my chest.
“You know you still belong to me, don’t you? You know that you love me more than him,” he stated straightforwardly.
“Yes, baby. I do.” I started to cry. The realization suddenly hit me, and it was terrifying.
Jack quickly let go of me then pulled down his zipper while I eagerly stripped out of my jeans. His erection sprung free before he took my wrists again and slammed me against the door. I wrapped my legs around him as he thrust inside of me, his hips slamming against me while he furiously fucked me.
“Come on, sweetheart. Show me,” he said into my ear.
I felt my orgasm building as he continued to thrust, my moans and his grunting loud enough for the whole building to hear.
“Come for me. Now,” he ordered forcefully.
His voice pushed me over the edge, and I came loudly, my legs pulling him closer to me as my whole body exploded with pleasure. It wasn’t long after that Jack moaned into my ear and his hot breath turned into bites on my shoulder as he came inside of me. When he finally released my wrists, I wrapped my arms around him and started sobbing. He held onto me tightly, knowing exactly what was happening: He was taking control over me again. And I was letting him.