He withdraws again, then pushes further inside me. It hurts some, but feels good, too. Those little contractions happen all over again and I can’t stop myself from clutching him tighter as he begins moving back and forth inside me. A final grunt and Jack is releasing inside me. He is still semi-hard and it hurts when he pulls out, but it’s followed by a gush of our juices mixed together. He holds me in his arms and our heart rates slowly return to normal. I doze off and feel a faint kiss on my forehead as Jack gets up, covering me with the blanket.
Chapter Eight
Jack
Edith continues to sleep, clearly exhausted. I woke her up once more and took her again. She welcomed every thrust…taking me on top, riding me, and begging me for more. I would have taken her again, but my poor girl was recovering from being sick. I’d already forgotten a condom twice. I got so wrapped up in her, I forget to be responsible and I worry I’m making life more complicated for her. Now, looking at my phone, I see three missed calls from Amanda. I’d clearly fallen off the wagon. I feel like each time I have Edith, she is more and more mine.
My phone rings again. I dread picking it up. “Hello, Amanda.”
“Jack, why didn’t you answer my call? I’m back and I want to come by and see you. Aren’t you home?” she purrs into the phone and I wonder what, besides an easy lay and decent conversation, I saw in her? She uses me as much as I use her.
“Listen, Amanda, I’m sorry to do this, but things are just not what I thought they were.” I suppose I’m an asshole, but we had an understanding. Clearly this needs to end before it mixes with what I want to have with Edith.
“What are you saying, Jack? We had an arrangement.” I can hear her voice rise and know she is angry because she isn’t getting what she wants.
“I’m saying that I can’t do this anymore. I thought I wanted the causal arrangement we had, but I don’t.”
“Jack, if you want to marry me, all you have to do is propose.” Amanda laughs, causing me to wince. “I’d be happy to curtail my work and travel if you want a commitment from me.” She has a tone in her voice that probably sends most men running and screaming. She has been planning this, hoping for this.
“Amanda, I don’t want to marry you. I like you and I enjoyed our time together, but I don’t want to continue our relationship.”
“Oh, Jack. I get it. You need something different. Look, I’m going to London for a few weeks so when I get back, we’ll talk about this then.”
“Amanda, no.”
“Jack, I know you.” She pauses, drawling it out in her soft accent. “You need to think about this, so go and do that however and with whomever you need to. But know I’ll be calling you when I get back.” She hangs up and I dread her calling again. I’m not firm enough and I know it is going to come back to haunt me but, frankly, all I want to do is spend time with Edith.
I lay back down next to her, watching her breathe. The worry line that generally fixes her face when she is awake is smooth. For a moment, I wonder what she will look like in twenty or thirty years and, as much as I feel the love growing for her, I want to see if I can make the worry line less prominent in the years to come. Edith is so damn independent. I don’t know how I will convince her to permanently stay with me. She has one more semester of school after this one and if we get caught together, who knows what the consequences will do to her. I can handle the rumors, scandal, and bad press, but I can’t do that to Edith.
She stirs and slowly opens her eyes. “Good morning, beautiful.”
“Um, hi.” She is unusually quiet and blushing a rare shade of pink, which has nothing to do with any lingering fever.
“Are you embarrassed?” I nudge her.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Edith pushes me away, but still avoids eye contact with me.
“Hmm. Well, I have a few ideas on how to break you of this habit.”
“Oh, really? Do share.” Edith rolls her eyes and, as cute as that was, it stung my male ego.
“Law of averages.” I smile at her.
“What? Are you quizzing me while I’m lying naked in your bed?” Edith groans.
“Or, if you like, we can revisit the laws of probability.”
“I cannot believe you just said that to me, Jack Hamilton.”
“You say statistics like it’s a bad word.” I laugh watching her face contort between frustrated and slightly turned on, by the blush in her cheeks.
“It is.” Edith looks pretty disgusted with me, so I am going to have to work this with all the charm I have.