CHAPTER 19
My eyes widened as I took in Jay and Mikey, followed by Tyler towering over my doorframe. What the fuck were they doing here?
One single glance at Lily and Mikey glided to her side, taking the ice pack from Katy and pressing it on a shocked Lily instead.
Jay’s eyes flowed through the room until they landed on me, the glint in his eyes hardened when it lowered down to my neck. I flushed as my hand immediately crept over the marks on my neck.
“What happened here?” he repeated, and his voice held a cold undertone this time.
Katy shook her head. “We came back from the restaurant, and a guy was waiting for Evy and started arguing with her about some money. Lily and I tried to stop him, but he shoved Evy, choking her against the wall, and pushed off Lily when she tried to grab him off her, and she fell, hitting her head. But thankfully, he fucking left. And when we finally came inside, the apartment was completely thrashed.”
Jay’s jaw clenched as he strode toward me in two quick steps. “Who the fuck is he, Evelyn?”
I swallowed as I met his furious eyes. “It’s some guy I owe money to,” a scratchy whisper left my lips.
The tick in his jaw only intensified. “If the guy you owe money to knew you this well to visit your home, then you fucking risked my sister’s life by bringing her here. You put my sister’s life in danger, Evelyn.”
My eyes glassed as I sobbed. “I’m sorry.” My palms covered my lips as I broke out a cry. “I would never put Lily’s life in danger, you know that.”
The glint in his eyes didn’t vanish a bit.
“Emmie, stop it. It wasn’t her fault,” Lily called out from behind him while her gaze darted to mine. “Evy, I know it’s not your fault.”
Jay held up a hand, halting her.
“Mikey, get my sister and Katy out of here and get a doctor to check on Lily,” he steeled out, leaving no room for argument.
Mikey nodded, pulling a protesting Lily and Katy out of the apartment.
“Tyler, make sure they’re okay.” Jay’s eyes slid to him, and the latter mumbled a quick yes while he followed them out.
My thumbnail flicked on my index finger as I watched him turn back to me. My eyes widened as he closed in, so close that he was barely a whisper away.
The blood pumping my heart pulsed heavily.
A sharp inhale left my lips as he brought a finger to my neck, tracing the burning lines. “Does it hurt?” he murmured.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, taken back by his question. “A bit,” I cracked. My throat was still feeling raw and dry from the earlier ministrations.
“You put yourself in danger, Evelyn.” He brought the same finger from my neck and cupped my cheek. “Do you know what could’ve happened if the girls weren’t here? Do you know that you need to be more careful when you’re living alone in the city?” he bit out, and the vein in his forehead throbbed with each word.
“I didn’t know he was going to be here,” I mumbled. “I swear if I knew I wouldn’t have put them at risk.”
His chin lifted ever so slightly as his gaze danced over my apartment again. “You have ten minutes to pack all the shit that you need, and then you’re coming with me.”
“What?” My lips parted as I gazed at his determined blues.
“The clock is ticking, Evelyn.”
“But, Jay, I’ll be fine. He’s not going to come back, and I just need to get the lock fixed.” I gestured to my door.
He raised his brow. “Nine more minutes.”
My eyes bugged, and I realized he wasn’t going to relent. I quickly scrambled as I tried to pack the shit that I needed.
One silent car ride later, we arrived at the basement parking of Blueline. The air in the golden elevator sizzled like a stone fire. Jay held my weekend bag with a white-knuckled grip. And Strawberry circled us, wagging her tail, obviously not reading the radiating tension.
I faltered as I took tiny steps into his apartment. Strawberry immediately ran inside to explore the new place with curious eyes.
I shadowed Jay as he led me upstairs. He stopped short at the guest bed opposite his room.
“You can take this room.” His gaze fell upon my neck. “I’ll bring you something for that.” He waved his finger at my neck.
I nodded thanks as he left the room. A heavy sigh breathed out of my lips as I closed the door behind him.
This was the largest guest room in the apartment. Soft gray walls, beige beddings, and dark furniture.
I slid into the luxurious bathroom, eyeing the rainforest shower. I glanced at my ghastly self in the mirror; wild hair, pale eyes, chapped lips, and an angry neck. Lines of dark red covered my neck, a glaring mix of deep marks and light flares.
A moan slipped past my lips as I fell under the hot shower. The steady drops of forceful water ran down my back, unknotting the muscles I didn’t know were knotted. I cleaned every inch of me, soaping over and over again, getting his grimy touch off me.
I didn’t know what I was going to do.
Although I was safe on top of this blue tower, I knew David and his little lackeys would be relentless until I gave them what I owed—more like what she owed.
And I only had one day to think of something.
As I trotted outside, I tied a soft, fluffy towel around my body.
A thud slapped through the room as the door opened. Jay’s hand stilled on the handle as he stood by the doorway.
My eyes widened as I gripped the towel around me tighter. “I just took a shower,” I mumbled.
His dark eyes swept over my dripping body as he nodded.
What he didn’t know was that I was dripping everywhere, especially between my thighs.
“I brought you an ice pack.” He placed it on my nightstand. “Here, take this.” He handed me two small white pills and a bottle of water.
“Thanks,” I muttered, too shy.
“I’ll get going then.” His eyes flashed to me.
I didn’t know what came over me as I gripped his wrist. “Don’t go,” I breathed. The towel holding together my nakedness loosened, slipping away slowly.
His eyes followed it, and a sharp inhale left him. “Evelyn,” he warned.
“Please,” I whispered, and my towel fell to the ground, pooling over my feet.
A shiver ran through my wet, naked body. I bit my lips as his eyes dragged over the slopes of my creamy breast, my diamond-hard pinky tips, and my heated folds wet from his presence.
I could hear my heartbeat and felt the silence in the room as he brought himself close to me, my nipples brushing the wool of his sweater. Droplets fell on his finger as he curled a strand of my hair around it, forcing my head up to meet his gaze.
“You want to be fucked?”
I swallowed the rasp down my throat as I whispered, “Yes.”
All our battles were swept under a blanket as his lips crashed on mine. His tongue swiped over the depths of my mouth as a moan escaped me. Though our minds were at war, our bodies always called out to each other.
His hands glided to my breasts, squeezing them so hard that a groan escaped me.
His lips left mine as he ever so slowly dragged his tongue over the side of my face. I stood frozen, squeezing the throb pulsating my clit. His eyes never left mine as he continued down my neck, licking all the droplets away.
His rough stubble moved over my sensitive nipples. “I fucking hate you.” His teeth grazed my nipples hard.
I moaned, my fingers threading through his hair, gripping them hard.
“But then you’re a fucking temptress, aren’t you, Evelyn,” he mumbled against my tips, leaning in he took it in his mouth, sucking so hard that his cheeks hollowed. He used his teeth, dragging them while he devoured my breasts.
His hand trailed over my waist, circling my hips as he rubbed the inside of my thighs. And without a warning, he slid two fingers inside me, drawing out a loud cry from me.
“Jay.” I writhed, but he held still, standing tall as he detached his lips from my glistening breast.
My pussy throbbed over his fingers. I wiggled my hips, trying to get him to move, but he didn’t falter an inch.
“Fuck your cunt on my fingers if you want my cock, Evelyn.” The sound of his zipper crackled through the room, lacing in with my ragged breath. He pulled out his massive cock that was throbbing hard, a pearl of precum studded on the tips.
I licked my lips, trying to grind the fingers that he held frozen inside me.
His blues flickered to mine. “Go on, fuck that cunt good.”
Heat blossomed on my pink cheeks. “But Jay,” I whispered. It was weird and at the same time hot to stand naked in front of him while he held his fingers deep inside me.
A breath escaped as he plunged his fingers an inch more. I could feel the tips of them caressing the deepest part of me. “Either you fuck it with your cunt or I leave.”
I swallowed the nervousness, as embarrassment flashed up my heated cheeks. Too horny to care, I raised on my tiptoes holding his gaze as I slowly moved my hips in and out.
His other hand left his cock and gripped my hips, holding me in place. The pleasure intensified, and soon any shame that I had went right out the window as I squeezed my pussy hard, riding his finger. Hard and fast, his calloused rubbing my inside in that one spot that made me quiver over and over again.
“Yes, just like that, good girl. Ride it good. See how fucking good your cunt is made for me?” he praised.
That only made me go harder, wilder like an unhinged fool as I grasped his shoulder as my orgasm hit me. I screamed his name as I came, shaking in his hold.
My vision came back to focus as he grasped my chin and pressed a kiss on my lips. “Hold on to the wall, and don’t let go.”
“Jay,” I whispered. My heart was almost up my throat at this point. The look in his eyes told me he wasn’t budging until I did what I was told. My eyes dashed to his cock, standing tall and thick through his open fly. It almost felt too vulnerable that I was completely naked while he was fully dressed with just his cock out.
I slowly spun around; my hands splayed stark pale over the light gray walls.
I jumped as a zing stirred through the room, a gasp leaving my lips as he spanked my ass. “Arch that back for me, Evelyn.”
I moaned, my pussy dripping as I went lower, bowing my spine as much as I could. The softness of his sweater met my back as he slowly slid his warm cock inside me inch by inch, ever so slowly. I squirmed, wanting more, but another slap reverberated off my right cheek. “Patience, Evelyn.”
I nodded, my toes curing over the plush, padded beige carpet. After a long minute, he was fully seated inside me. “Are you ready?” he whispered, grabbing my hair in a low ponytail.
“Yes,” I breathed out.
I rocked forward as he drove in, pulling himself completely out of me and driving in with such force that I was mewling incorrigible sounds, trying hard to keep my grip from sliding off the wall.
I leaned into my forearm, inching closer and closer to the wall from his harsh driving force.
But it was exactly what I needed to forget this complete mess of a day. Just one touch from him and reality was the least of my worries.
“Yes, take it just like that.” He bit the shell of my ear.
If it wasn’t for him holding me, I would’ve been weak-kneed to the floor by now.
“Jay,” I moaned. “I’m going to come.” I felt the pressure building inside me, ringing my ears, blinding my vision, and I couldn’t hold back any longer.
He slid his finger between us and gave one harsh flick on my clit, and I screamed so loud through my raw throat that I almost lost my voice as I came in waves and waves as turbulent pleasure filled every nerve of my body.
Jay roared along with me, gripping me so tight as he spilled himself deep inside.
I fought back the dizzying haze as my arms gave out. He lifted me in one swoop and carried us to the bed with his cock still throbbing inside my pussy.
My face fell on the soft, warm mattress, and he slowly glided out of me, his cum trickling down my thighs. He draped a thin sheet over my heated body and adjusted his jeans.
My shaky hand circled his wrist. “Don’t go.”
His blues met mine as he pried my fingers away from him. “This was just a one-time thing, Evelyn. What I said earlier still stays. We are done for good. This…” He waved his hand between us. “It won’t be happening anymore. I’ll let you stay here till you sort everything out, but after that, you should go your own way.”
My heart sank as he gave me one last look before he scurried out.
A sharp inhale left me as the door closed. My eyes drew back to the ceiling, watching the flickering shadows dancing on the wall.
Why was I always weak when it came to him?
I felt a bloom of shame hit me; I thought I was trying to move on, but now my traitorous body started singing in his presence.
It was going to be like cutting off an addiction, yet slowly but surely, I had to do it. And soon my eyes drifted off as the heavy weight of exhaustion hit my eyelids.
The following morning, I ventured downstairs, a bit of trepidation swirling in my stomach as I headed to the kitchen. I stopped short as I took in Jay and Strawberry rolling around and playing on the floor.
I guess he was best friends with her now.
A happy whine left her as he ruffled her ears, cooing her praise.
I shook my head as I turned to the kitchen, and a flush blazed over my body as Helen gave me a warm smile.
“Good morning, Evy. Master Emmie told me that you’ll be joining us for a while.”
“Umm yes,” I mumbled, embarrassed. “Morning, Helen. I’ll just make myself a cup of coffee.”
The sound of my voice made Jay’s head snap in my direction. I gave a small jittery smile and redirected my attention to the coffee machine. I could still feel his gaze on every move I made, and the awareness of it made me spill some coffee on the counter.
Fuck.
I took my shaky feet to the living room, trying hard not to splash my coffee as I eased onto the sofa. Strawberry immediately left Jay and cuddled by my side.
“Where are you going?” he asked, noticing my dressed-up attire. He was still on the floor, spread out as he leaned back on his arms.
“I have work.”
He raised a brow. “Where?”
“Hmm, with the Smiths. I take care of their son, Theo, while I help around. It’s close to here.”
He gave me a slight nod. “Tyler will take you.”
I shook my head. “No, that’s okay. I can get there by myself.”
His impassive gaze remained the same. “Don’t argue, Evelyn. Not after what happened yesterday.”
“But…” The look on his face told me otherwise, so I just nodded.
“Great.” He shifted closer, his jaw ticking. “Now tell me everything about the man who visited you yesterday, and why do you owe him money?”
I faltered, taken aback by his question that a drop of the burning coffee hit my fingers. His expression commanded an answer, so I had no choice but to admit everything.
“His name is T; he works for this man called David, who is a local drug dealer in Seattle. I didn’t even know he existed until six years ago. It was during Auntie M’s funeral that I received a letter from her, telling me that her sister, a.k.a. my mother, stole something from him. I’m assuming it was a shipment of his high-grade drug, and with her disappearing into thin air, he has been tormenting Grandma and Auntie M to pay back everything. Auntie M never told me about all this, and they only met with a dead end when they tried to find her. I didn’t even know if all of this was real, and it totally slipped my mind because I was stuck in the hospital in LA. But T paid me a visit and said that if I ever wanted to live to see another day, then I shouldn’t delay the payments anymore. So…” I sighed. “For the past six years, I’ve been trying to pay back the debt, but his interests only kept getting higher and higher. I managed to get it to a smaller sum. I’ll figure something out.” I shrugged. “I always do.”
The tic in his jaw only increased with each word I spilled as a grim look overtook his face. “That’s why you wanted the assistant job.”
I breathed an exhale. “Yes, with that, I would’ve been able to pay back the debt completely and be finally free from it, but with Gabe’s little accident, I have nothing left.” I waved a hand as I explained, “He broke his teeth and needed the cash.”
Jay gave me a firm nod as he rose to his full height, towering over me in his tall frame. “You don’t have to worry about this anymore. I’ll take care of it. Consider yourself a free woman.”
“What?” I shot up to my feet, my heart stilling. “What are you going to do? You can’t possibly pay him back. That’s my responsibility, not yours.”
He smirked, bringing his face so close that our eyes were on the same level. “I told you not to worry, Evelyn. So don’t. I’ll deal with this.”
“But Jay.”
He rolled his eyes, pulling my empty mug out of my hands. “Enough, now go. You’re late for work.” He walked to the kitchen without sparing me another look.
“I’ll find a way to pay it back to you.”
He looked up at the ceiling and blew out a heavy breath. “You either leave now or I’ll throw you over my shoulders and take you myself.”
My eyes almost bugged out of my head when I realized he was serious. I quickly mumbled a goodbye, giving Strawberry a good rub as I darted out.
Tyler magically stepped inside as the elevator touched the first floor.
“Ma’am.” He gave a tilt of his head as he entered and pressed the button to the basement.
I guess I was going by car today.
I blinked as he led me to a huge black car with tinted windows. “You don’t have to call me ma’am, Tyler. It’s Evy. I thought we were friends,” I said as he opened the car door for me.
“Yes, ma’am.”
I sighed as I slid into the plush leather seat, and we cruised through the city. I had to admit that it did feel good to be driven around the city although I mustn’t get used to it.
Though, it was quite funny to think that a maid would be dropped off to work in a luxurious car.
I puffed out a misty breath as I stepped inside the ‘Blueline.’ The snow has melted in NYC and the rain was in full force. After work, somehow Tyler again was magically waiting for me outside the Smiths’.
I didn’t ask a single question as I settled inside because as much as I loved the rain, the sticky crowd of the subway at rush hour was one I wanted to avoid at all costs.
I pressed the button to the twenty-second floor, one floor below Jay’s. Lily, Mikey, and Matt were housed here. When they decided to move to NYC, the guys purchased the top two floors so they could all be close.
Mikey and Matt settled for the two large apartments on the twenty-second floor while Lily moved into a smaller apartment on the same floor while she completed her internship. There was also a huge loft at the front where renovations were underway for the guys’ studio and den for practice and recording.
“Lily, I feel so bad. I’m so sorry.” I apologized as I eased into her apartment and pulled her into a tight hug.
“Evy.” She smiled. “Honestly, I’m fine. I don’t even have a bump on my head.”
“But it’s still my fault that you got hurt. You shouldn’t have gotten hurt in the first place.”
“Shut up, Evy.” Lily shook her head, linking her arm with mine and dragging me to her living room. “Come on, we’re watching Love Island .”
I scrunched up my face. “What’s that?”
My bewildered eyes took in the drama playing out in front of me. “So you’re telling me, that guy.” I pointed at the tall, handsome dude wearing trunks. “Loves that girl and promised to be with her.” I moved my finger to the girl looking like a goddess. “But went to another house and came back with her.” A disgusted sound left my mouth as I gestured to the fake Barbie clinging to the guy’s arms.
Katy’s beautiful face filled with laughter. “That’s Love Island for you.” Katy was staying with Lily while she helped Matt set up everything they needed for his nonprofit.
“But isn’t that like cheating?”
“Yes, it is,” Lily added while she munched on Cheetos.
“How can he do that to her? I don’t understand, she’s gorgeous.” My eyes landed on the girl again. She was crying while the other contestants tried to console her.
“Men don’t need reasons to cheat, Evy.” Katy shrugged; her gaze fixed on the TV.
I sighed. “I still don’t understand.”
We girls had been wasting the past hour watching TV and gossiping about literally everything. I repeated to them the whole story that I told Jay this morning. They all started cursing my mother along with me and was sad that I had to deal with all this alone for so long. They assured me that Jay would take care of everything and that I didn’t need to worry anymore. It’s the same thing he told me this morning, and I don’t know how to feel about it.
“That’s my brother.” Lily shot off from the couch as she read something from her phone. “Food is here, so let’s go up. I’m so hungry, and Cheetos are not cutting it.”
I wanted to protest, but then it struck me that I actually lived there. Thankfully, Helen filled up Strawberry’s food bowl and took her out for a walk so I didn’t worry the entire day, but it seemed like now I had to return to my temporary home.
I slowly followed the girls, glad that the ache in my knee was dull and nonexistent these days.
We headed to the TV room, where everyone was already in their designated places. The girls immediately took the two empty seats by Matt, so the only open seat was the loveseat occupied by Jay. I internally sighed as I sauntered to his side. Strawberry was already here getting all the love from Mikey, who was throwing around a wool ball as she chased it around the room in glee.
“Hey,” I mumbled as I slid in next to him.
Although inches separated us, the heat from his presence radiated down to my body, making my heart harden with a lump. I settled in for some burger and fries while the gang bantered as usual. It was like going back in time, watching them interact while I felt included.
I missed it.
I smiled as I got up. It had been well over an hour since I polished off my dinner, and I was ready for bed. But first, I wanted to make some tea for my throat. It was still killing me. Thank God it was winter so I could wear a turtleneck because my neck looked wild this morning, all red and bruised.
I seeped in the hot water in a mix of chamomile, lavender, and ginger while I waited for it to brew.
“Is your throat still hurting you?” a familiar voice asked from behind me.
“A bit,” I said as I pivoted, giving him a small smile.
He nodded as he opened the drawer by the sink and pulled out some ibuprofen. “This should help.”
I mumbled thanks as I took it from him, my eyes instantly landing on the broken skin on his knuckles. “Jay,” I whispered as I held his hand which he tried to recede but I wouldn’t let go. I traced a soft finger on the split red marks. “What happened?” I asked, frowning as I met his gaze. It looked like he punched someone hard.
“You didn’t think I was going to let the man who put his hands on you and my sister get away that easily, did you?”
My breath hitched as my heart thundered a hammering pulse. “You punched T?” I shrieked.
He shrugged, his face giving nothing away.
“But he’s a dangerous guy, Jay.”
“Not to me, he’s not, Evelyn. I think you forgot that I’m not the same guy anymore. But he won’t bother you again.”
I nodded, not knowing what to say. “You need to ice it,” I muttered as I dug around for an ice pack and wrapped a towel around it.
I pressed it to his knuckles, rubbing my thumb along the calluses on his fingers. He watched me with an intent gaze, not saying a word.
“You need to be more careful. It’s your guitar-playing hand.”
He raised a brow. “It’s not the first time I punched a guy because of you.”
A burning blaze swallowed my throat. “You’re never going to trust me, are you?”
“No,” he stated like he truly believed it.
Well, I did what I could in the name of our love. If this was what the universe had in store for us, then I couldn’t do a thing to change destiny. But a soulful smile tugged at my lips as a freeing breath left me. I was finally free, though. Free from the debt and the secret that had been haunting me for years. If Jay didn’t believe me, that was his problem. I got to live my life now, something I should’ve done a long time ago.