Alluring (18 page)

Peggy showed up with the margaritas and handed one to her.  "Thanks."  She took a sip.  "Woo, that's strong."

Peggy took a sip then nodded.  "Yeah, they don't skimp on the liquor here."  She gestured with her head.  "Who's your friend?"

Alexis made a quick introduction.  She set her glass down on the concrete and adjusted the lounger into an upright position before leaning over to reclaim her glass.  She looked over at Janet and found her staring at her.  "What?"

"Oh, nothing."  She waited a beat.  "Well, if you really want to know.  Now, don't take this the wrong way because I mean it as a complement, but  I noticed you don't seem to care what people think about you."

"What do you mean by that?"  Alexis asked, eyeing her over the rim of her glass.

"Well, it's just that you're not wearing any make-up, and your hair is a mess."  Janet giggled.  "Like I said, no offense.  It's ... refreshing."

"I think she's adorable."  Peggy leaned forward to glare at Janet.

Alexis wrinkled her nose, adorable had the same feel as being called cute.  And, unfortunately, she was sandwiched between two gorgeous women.

"I saw you in the pool with Jackson Cole earlier," Janet said.  When Alexis looked over at her, she continued.  "I just thought I'd warn you, give you the heads-up, you know, woman-to-woman."  At Alexis's blank stare, she said, "Anyway, whatever you thought was going on earlier, between you and Jack, not gonna happen."

"Oh yeah, and why's that?"  Alexis asked, trying her best to sound nonchalant.

"Because, I'm going home with him tonight.  We've already made the arrangements."

Alexis had one moment of doubt before she shook her head at herself for being silly.  Not even an hour ago, Jack had said he loved her.  There was no way in hell he was going home with Janet.  "Have you now?  Well Janet, I really hate to disappoint, but I'll be the one going home with Jack."

Janet gave her a sinister sneer.  "Oh honey, you do not want to go head-to-head with me."

"I don't need to go head-to-head with you because you've already lost."

Janet laughed, "You think some kisses and light petting in a pool means you've won?  I hate to
disappoint,
but you're not his type.  Sure you've got that sweet girl-next-door thing going on, but Jack likes his women more ... well, like me."

Alexis was done with this ridiculous conversation.  She didn't need to fight to be at Jack's side.  She was already there.  "Okay Janet.  You do whatever you feel you have to do, and at the end of the night we'll see who he goes home with."  Alexis polished off the last of her margarita.  She turned to Peggy, who had been silent during the whole exchange, and said, "I'm going to get us more drinks."

On the way to the bar, she thought about Janet.  Is that how it was always going to be with Jack?  Having to stake her claim.  He was a ridiculously handsome man and women were always going to want him.  She would just to have to cocoon herself in the love he had for her to shield herself from the jealousy.  If not, it would consume her, and it wouldn't be Jack that destroyed their relationship, but her.  She had to believe, no mater how bizarre she found it, that she was the only one Jack wanted.  And she wanted him.  She wasn't going to let anything jeopardize her happiness with Jack, not even her own insecurities. 

Alexis walked up to the bar, her shoulders straighter in new-found confidence, confidence that Jack gave her.  She placed her order, and while she waited, she thought about Janet again and realized she had absolutely nothing to be jealous about.  Jack was hers.  He wanted their relationship.  Pushed for it.  And she
would
be going home with him because she lived with him, and he wanted her there.  Fought for her to be there.  Jack never once faltered in his pursuit of her, so now, she wasn't going to falter in her faith in Jack.

Janet was gone by the time Alexis came back with the drinks.  She handed one to Peggy.  "Where did our friend go?"

Peggy shrugged and took a sip of her drink.  "She left when you did.  Probably off to search for Jack.  You need to be careful.  Seems she wants to stir up some trouble."

"Yeah, well I figure, being with Jack I'm going to need to grow a tough skin."

Peggy looked at her with an assessing eye.  "I don't know, seems you're pretty strong already."  She took another sip of her drink and looked at Alexis, unease written on her face as she asked her next question.  "Any chance she's right, and she'll be going home with him tonight?"

Alexis couldn't hold in her bark of laughter.  "No," she said, shaking her head.  "I live with him.  I'll be going home with him tonight."

Peggy's eyes widened at that announcement.  "Well, I guess you
will
be going home with him then."  Then she laughed, too.  "I don't think Janet knows about that development."

Alexis smiled.  "No, I don't think she does.  But, I have a feeling she'll know it by the end of the night."

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Jack and Alexis were in the hot tub with Mase and Peggy when Janet made her reappearance.  Alexis had filled Jack in on the events that had transpired while he was gone.  His face had transformed from confusion to disbelief then finally to anger.

When she asked him why he was so angry, he replied, "I'm angry with myself for leaving you alone for so long.  I know how people at these parties can be.  They're backstabbing and petty.  I should have protected you better."  He stared off over her head, his jaw tense and his eyes blazing.

"Hey, look at me," Alexis said, cupping his jaw and pulling his face down to meet hers.  "I've told you once already, I can take care of myself.  You can't be with me all the time and, unfortunately, things like this are going to happen.  I'd take on a hundred Janets in one day and be happy doing it, as long as I know your waiting for me at the end of that day."

Jacks eyes softened as he gazed at her.  "I don't know what I did to deserve you, but if destiny or fate or whatever you want to call it, made a mistake, I'm not giving you back.  Hell, no.  That's their fuck up not mine."

All eyes were on Janet as she stepped into the water, made her way across the spa, and sat on the seat between Mase and Jack.  "Hello all," she said, smiling at Mase and Peggy.  She turned her gaze to Jack.  "Hello again, Jack," she purred.

Alexis picked up her third margarita for the evening and downed the last of its contents in two gulps.  She watched as Janet placed a hand on Jack's shoulder, her breasts pressing into his upper arm, as she leaned in close to speak quietly (but loud enough for Alexis to hear) in his ear.  "Are we still on for tonight?"

Alexis stood up.  "I think I need another drink."  She wobbled a little as the last margarita hit her system. 

Jack grabbed her hand and tugged her back to her seat.  "As soon as I deal with this, I'll get you another drink.  No way in hell I'm letting you parade around in that bikini.  Especially when you're tipsy.

Peggy giggled.  Alexis looked over at her and rolled her eyes.  "He can be a bit possessive."

"I can see that," Peggy smirked.

Jack grabbed Alexis's ankle and pulled her foot out of the water.  He gave her a diabolical look.  "Did you just roll your eyes at me?"  He pulled until her foot was a few inches from his mouth.

Alexis fell back in the water, she threw her arms behind her, grabbing onto the seat for support.  "Don't you dare tickle me, Jack."  Alexis laughed at his evil grin.

"I asked you a question, Alexis," he said, inching his mouth closer to her foot.

Alexis shrieked, "No, don't.  I won't do it again."  She tried to pull her ankle out of his grip.  "I promise."

He dropped her ankle and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her against him to straddle his lap.  He planted his lips on her neck and mumbled, "See that you don't."

"Hello, Jack!  I asked you a question."

Alexis sighed.  She had forgotten about Janet during their play.  Jack groaned.  Apparently, so had he.

He turned to look at Janet.  Alexis noticed it was not a happy look.

"What?"  He asked.  Alexis tried to scoot off his lap, but he held her firmly. 

"What's going on here?  I thought we had plans."  Janet kept on, unwisely Alexis thought.
             

"Why would you think we had plans?"  Alexis sincerely hoped Jack never used that tone of voice on her.

"Because you said
—
"

"What, what did I say?  Because I remember exactly what I said in our thirty-second conversation."  Alexis stroked Jack's back in an attempt to calm him.  It seemed to work, as he relaxed in her arms.

"You said that you would see me later." 

"I said, maybe I would see you later.  And, honest to God, the only reason I even said that was to get away from you.  I was in a rush to find Alexis."

Janet sneered, "Alexis, really.  Out of all the women here, myself included, that's who you're going to settle with for the night?"

Alexis stiffened at the insult.  Jack growled.  Mase apparently thought it was time to interfere.  He stepped in front of Janet, blocking Jack's view of her, and said, "You've insulted my best friend's girl.  You need to leave.  And I don't just mean the area.  I mean my property."

Alexis couldn't see Janet, but the noises she made pretty much summed up how she felt about Mase's statement.

They watched as Janet shoved Mase out of her way.  She splashed to the stairs, stomped up them and dripped across the sidewalk, until she disappeared into the crowd.  Everyone was silent for a moment, then Peggy declared, "Good riddance.  Now, who's getting the margaritas!"

The room was silent.  The only light, that of the moon casting it's beams through the uncovered windows.  They laid in bed, Jack on his back and  Alexis draped across his chest.  His fingers played with her curls as her foot ran up and down his shin.

"You still drunk?"  he whispered against the top of her head.

Alexis giggled.  "No, but maybe a little tipsy still."

"What she said wasn't true you know."

Alexis lifted her head and looked at Jack.

"Will you remember this?  It's important."

Alexis smiled.  "I'm not drunk."  Her smile faded at his serious expression.  "I'll remember."

"I want you to know, you are nobody someone would
settle
for."

"Oh Jack, don't worry.  Her words didn't hurt me."  They so
did
.  More than they should have.

"Don't lie to me, Alexis."  His hand cupped her face, and his thumb moved across the crest of her cheek.  His stare was intense as he devoured her features.  "You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."

"I'm glad you think so."  She kept her tone as serious as his.  "You're pretty spectacular, yourself."  She reached up a traced his jaw.  She loved the feel of his rough whiskers against the pads of her fingers.

He traced her eyebrow with his fingertip.  "When I look at you.  When I see you.  I wonder how I can ever live up to all that is
you
.  I don't deserve you, Alexis."

"Jack, you
—
"

Jack brought a finger to her lips.  "Shh.  I don't want to hear any more lies tonight." 

He replaced his finger with his lips.  She felt the desperateness behind the kiss.  His need.

He rolled her onto her back, broke the kiss, and leaned his forehead against hers.  "I want to be consumed by you.  Take your beauty and wrap it around myself, so I become a better man.  The man you deserve."

Alexis was silent for a moment, collecting her thoughts.  She didn't know why he felt this way.  To her, he was perfect the way he was.  "I don't understand.  Why would you want to change?  I love you just the way you are.  I wouldn't change one thing about you."

"You're good, sweet and gentle."  Jack ran the tip of his nose along the line of her jaw.  He stopped when he reached her ear and whispered, "Adjectives I would not use to describe myself." 

Alexis furrowed her brow.  "But, you are good.  You're always doing things for me and taking care of me.  And sweet, You say the sweetest things to me, making me feel special.  And, you're always gentle with me whether it be with your words or your touch."

"I'm afraid the world doesn't see me the way you do, Alexis.  Nor do I."

"You are my world, Jack.  And that's how I see you.  I don't care what anyone else thinks."

"But you do care.  Or you should."

"I don't.  And no, I shouldn't.  And neither should you.  You should only care how I feel about you."

"So you shouldn't care what Janet or any other jealous women think about you.  All that maters is what I think about you.  Right?"

Alexis slapped her hand to her forehead.  "Wow, I walked right into that one, didn't I?"

"With a little help."  He smirked.

"I take it all back.  You're a bad, bad man, Jack."

"But you love me anyway.  Don't you, sweetheart?"

Alexis sighed in mock defeat.  "Yeah, I do."