Michael jumped from his seat and reached out to grab my arm. “Syd, talk to me. You know…”

“Get your f**king hands off of her.” I heard Jack’s voce before I even saw him.

Michael turned toward the voice and didn’t see it coming. Jack’s fist collided with Michael’s cheekbone and I heard a loud crack. Michael fell onto the table and struggled to regain his footing.

“What the hell?”

Michael mumbled as he stood holding his cheek.

Jack’s arm reached out and pulled behind him and he took a step closer into Michael’s face. “It didn’t look like she wanted you touching her.” Michael looked to me, confused.

“Syd, who is this guy?” The whole thing happened so fast, I just stood there looking at Michael.

“Babe, are you okay?” Jack’s voice was softer when he spoke to me, but the anger was still there.

“I’m okay, he didn’t hurt me.”

“Babe? Who is this guy Syd?” Michael’s voice was angry. Did the ass**le really think he could show up to my job to apologize after what he did to me and then get jealous and angry?

“He’s my boyfriend Michael, as if it was any of your business!”

“Michael?” Jack looked to me for confirmation if it was that Michael. I just shook my head.

I didn’t expect Jack to be happy to have met Michael, but I also didn’t expect him to haul off and punch him again. The second punch landed on Michael’s nose and blood flew everywhere.

Security surrounded us, not that Jack needed any help. “Are you okay, Mr. Heston?”

“I’m fine. Why wasn’t someone here to keep an eye on Syd?”

The security team scrambled for an excuse. “Ummm…she finished playing and the club was almost empty and we were changing shifts…”

Jack didn’t give them time to finish. “Get this ass**le out of here and be in my office at 7am. I’m not dealing with this tonight.”

“Yes sir.” The three security guards helped Michael to his feet and for a second I felt bad for him.

Jack grabbed my hand and took a two steps toward the door before realizing I was still standing there. “Syd. Let’s go.” His voice brought me back to reality and I took one last look at Michael before I started to walk hand in hand with Jack to the door.

***

Mateo was waiting outside and I didn’t say a word until we were half way to Jack’s. Then I remembered why I had been confused to see Jack, he was supposed to be out of town until tomorrow. “I thought you were out of town until tomorrow?”

“Is that why you were with him Syd?” Jack turned to face me, his face was masked and unreadable.

“What? No. I didn’t even know he was coming, he just showed up.”

“I came back because I didn’t want to sleep without you next to me.” Jack said it like he was laughing at himself even saying it, no less feeling that way.

I didn’t know what to say. His words were so sweet, but the tone they were spoken in contradicted their meaning. “You don’t believe me?”

“I don’t know what to think Syd. I walked in and saw that ass**le touching you and I lost it. Then I saw your face, and him reach for you, and I wanted to kill him.”

“I’m sorry Jack.” I reached for his hand and saw his swollen and bruised knuckles for the first time.

Jack turned to me, “What are you sorry for Syd?”

“I’m sorry that he showed up. I’m sorry that it’s my fault that you hurt your hand.” I spoke each word into his eyes and watched as his eyes softened and I knew he believed me.

“It’s not your fault.”

***

Jack stood in his kitchen, his back against the island countertop, legs crossed at the ankle, arms folded across his chest, watching me put together an ice pack. I stood in front of him silently waiting for him to give me his bruised hand. “Hand.” I demanded.

Jack raised his eyebrows at my tone, but I caught a twitch upward at the corner of his mouth that he tried to conceal.

He gave me his hand and I saw him try to hide his wince as I held the ice to his bruised knuckles that were already a lovely shade of purple.

He looked down into my eyes

“What did he want Syd.”

“He tried to apologize and tell me that we belonged together and he wants me back.” My voice was low.

Jack closed his eyes for a minute and I waited anxiously for his response to come. “Do you want to go back to him?”

“What?” I was shocked he would even ask such a thing. “No! I can’t even stand to look at him! It took me a while to realize it, but I never really belonged with him.”

Jack took the ice pack from my hand and tossed it on the counter behind him. He took my hands in his and pulled them behind my back, securing them with his as he pulled me tightly against him.

“Who do you belong to Syd?” My heart melted knowing that such a strong, controlling man needed my reassurance.

“You, Jack.”

“Say it, Syd.” He pulled me tighter so that there was no air between our bodies.

My heart fluttered wildly, I knew it was true, but I hadn’t admitted it out loud.

My voice was a whisper as I looked up at him. “I belong to you.” Jack’s grip on my hands behind my back tightened. His pale green eyes turned almost gray, dark and wild. “Say it again. Louder.”

I raised my voice and matched his gaze. “I belong to you.” His lips covered mine urgently and our mouths slid harshly as our tongues collided with insatiable need. He lifted me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist. I felt his hardness pressing into me and I un-wittingly gasped. My reaction drew him into even more of a frenzy. His hand on my ass pulled me deeper into him as our kiss deepened into an almost violent state. His other hand wrapped in my hair and he forced us apart purposefully. “Say it again.”

I was breathless and panting. “I belong to you, Jack.”

He growled and I felt his hand dive between my legs, sliding his fingers under my underwear, quickly finding my clit with his thumb. He pushed down gently and massaged small rapid circles. I knew he was making sure I was ready to take him. Even in his own frenzied state he put my needs before his own. When he was sure I was wet and ready, he turned us so that my ass rested against the countertop as he opened his pants, freeing his enormous erection.

I felt the wide crest of his c**k at my entrance and I tried desperately to free my hands from his strong hold behind my back, desperate to touch it, glide my hands up and down its massive length. But my attempt was fruitless under Jack’s strong grip.