Page 27

CHAPTER

TWENTY-SEVEN

ANNALISE

I t’s been three months since my mother passed and almost as long since I spoke to my father. In my heart, they both died on that day. I had to grieve both of my parents because having my father in my life was no longer an option. He’s never been good for me. Now that I finally see it, I’m putting my happiness and the happiness of those I love first.

My father and I shared a few civilized exchanges, seeing that we had an audience, at my mother’s funeral, and that was the last time we’ve had any contact. The funeral was as beautiful as one can be. I had no question my father would make it a gala to remember. When others’ judgments are at stake, no expense is spared. Oddly enough, the funeral wasn’t one of the worst days of my life. It was sad to say goodbye to my parents. Death is never easy. With Jaden at my side, it was bearable. In a weird way, it felt cathartic because I knew it was the final step until I broke free.

I’ve since sold my place in LA. Jaden and I bought a gorgeous house here in Michigan, a few miles away from the arena and close to all of his teammates. We picked it out and decorated it together, and when I’m here, I’m completely at peace. I’m home. Of course, anywhere Jaden is will always be home for me. My oasis has one flaw, and it’s the weather. This Cali girl has yet to warm to the cold, snow, and ice of a Michigan winter. Jaden reassures me that I’ll get used to it, but I highly doubt I will. I suppose nothing is perfect.

I’ve been seeing a therapist twice a week and attending support groups for children of narcissists. Apparently, these groups are a thing, and not only that, they’re surprisingly well-attended. All these years of feeling hopeless, never knowing I was living under a veil of abuse. So many of my life decisions and behaviors make sense to me now.

I still love everything about my craft and have no intention of giving it up now that I’ve moved away from Hollywood. Ideally, I want to find a project I can produce and direct here in Michigan so I can be close to home. Jaden assures me that no matter where my career leads me, we’ll figure it out, and I believe him. The main difference in me is that I’m no longer afraid. I’m living a life surrounded by hope and love—real love—and it’s pretty incredible.

I eye the large framed selfie of Jaden and me from our first date at the apple orchard. It’s displayed above our bed. In the corner of the frame beneath the glass is the four-leaf clover I found. Every time I look at the picture, I smile. When he snapped the selfie, I remember thinking no way would there be a second date, but at least he had a photo to remember our singular outing by. There was never anything wrong with Jaden. I was always the problem, too wrapped up in my insecurities. He was handsome, charming, and sweet from the start. He’s been a constant in my life since I first met him. I was emotionally closed off while chasing some faux sense of security that would never be found.

Grateful doesn’t fully grasp what I feel when I think of Jaden’s persistence. My constant rejection could’ve shattered his ego. He could’ve easily moved on and found happiness with another woman. Yet he remained steady, sure that I was the one for him, and I’m so damn fortunate he did. I guess a four-leaf clover brings luck after all.

The front door opens and closes, indicating Jaden’s return from practice. “Babe!” he calls out.

“In the bedroom,” I call back. I’m standing in front of a full-length mirror wearing nothing but a tiny pair of black satin panties, a matching bra, and a lacy garter belt holding up a pair of thigh-high pantyhose with clips. Jaden is picking up my dress from the dry cleaners on his way home.

He steps into the room. “I have your dre… what the fuck, babe.” His mouth falls open, and he tosses the plastic garment bag containing my dress onto the chair. He makes it over to me in two big strides and smooths his hands down my sides. “You are the hottest woman I have ever seen.”

Standing behind me, he takes in our reflection in the mirror. “How much time do we have?”

“Not enough.” My grin fades as he circles his arms around me and trails his fingers over the swell of my breasts.

He moves my hair to the side and presses soft kisses over my shoulder, all the while keeping an eye on me in the mirror. “How long?” his hot breath whispers against my skin.

“An hour, max,” I groan as he slides his hands into the front of my bra and twists and tugs at my nipples.

“So. Much. Time,” he says between kisses as his lips make their way up my neck and to the base of my ear.

I sigh as he removes his fingers from my bra and trails them down my sides, goose bumps appearing in their wake. “But I’ve already showered and…” My protest decreases in volume until it diminishes altogether.

“Okay, well… tell me when to stop.” His fingers slide under the front lace of my panties, tickling my delicate skin. I stare into the mirror, holding his gaze as he kisses down the side of my body, following the path of his fingers.

He kneels behind me, hooks a finger under the band at the top of my pantyhose, and snaps it against my skin. “You should wear these every day. They look amazing on you, but then everything does.” His hands slide back up and find the waistband of my panties. “But just for fun, let’s see what these look like a little lower.” He shimmies them down until they’re around my thighs, leaving me exposed.

Pushing my leg to the side, he widens my stance and slips a hand through my thighs from behind, still watching every move I make through the mirror’s reflection.

I reach my arm out to the wall beside me to steady myself as one, then two fingers slide inside me. “Should I stop?” His fingers move in and out of me.

I shake my head, unable to get a word out as a euphoria of sensations finds me.

He places two fingers from his free hand in his mouth, wetting them. Circling his hand around my thigh, he slides his wet fingers between my legs to find my bundle of nerves. He deliciously fucks me with one hand while the other rubs me into a frenzy. I begin to moan and clamp my eyes shut as my legs start to shake.

“Anna, baby. Open your eyes. Look at me.”

I do as instructed and hold Jaden’s stare as he works me higher. His mouth falls open to accommodate his heavy breaths, and his expression is carnal with desire. His fingers pump harder and cry out, the sensations exquisite.

“You are so beautiful, Anna. I love the way you fall apart at my touch. Look at you,” he growls.

My skin is flushed with patches of pink, and my expression looks pained from pleasure. I cover Jaden’s hand with my own as he pushes me over the edge. His fingers thrust deeper as an orgasm hits. My head falls back between my shoulders, unable to hold the connection, and I cry out as I fall over into ecstasy.

As my twitching muscles slow, he leads me to our bed, splays a hand across my back, and pushes my front against the bed. Feet on the floor, he nudges them as wide as they can go with my underwear still around my thighs. He frees himself from his jeans before he slams into me from behind. I rock forward on the bed and fist the duvet cover as he pounds deep inside me. My cheek against the bed, my eyes clamped shut, I’m still boneless as I relish the feeling of him inside me. He slams into me again and again. The room is filled with the sound of our skin slapping together and our lusty moans.

He grabs my ass, pulling my body back against his.

“Touch yourself, Anna.” His voice is strained, and I know he’s close.

I slide a hand between my legs and rub my sensitive mound. In a matter of seconds, the warm, tingling sensation in my body crescendos, and a wave of pleasure erupts. Jaden moans as we find our release together.

He pulls out of me and plops onto the bed. “God, I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

I roll over on my back and thread my fingers through Jaden’s.

“Are you excited for today?” he asks.

“Yeah, I am. I hope it’s as wonderful of a movie as I think it is. It felt great while filming. You just never know how it may change in editing.”

“It’s going to be great. I know it. The editors would have to really suck to make it anything less than amazing.” He squeezes my hand. “I saw one of your scenes after all, and it gave me chills.”

“Even if I sucked, you’d never tell me.” I chuckle.

“True, I wouldn’t. But I’m serious when I tell you it will be amazing.”

I release his hand and roll to my side, propping my head up. “I’m good. If it’s amazing, great. If it sucks, I’m okay with that, too. I know I did the best job I could. The rest is out of my hands.”

“Good attitude. When we get back from the premiere, can we recreate the motorcycle scene?”

I laugh and smack his chest. “There isn’t a motorcycle scene in this movie.”

“I know, but I still want to recreate it.” He pouts out his lip, causing me to smile.

“You don’t even have a motorcycle.”

“True. I could borrow one.”

“No.” I roll my eyes. “I’m not recreating the motorcycle scene. That scene haunts me. I swear if I go to hell, it will be me sitting in a room watching that scene over and over.”

This time, Jaden laughs. “You’re way too good to go to hell.”

I point a finger toward him. “Yeah, we’ll see. Mention a motorcycle again, and I might just lose it.”

“Fine. I have an idea for another role-play type of scene. It will be better than the scene not to be mentioned, too. You’ll find out tonight.”

“I can hardly wait.” I shake my head and stand from the bed.

“Am I sensing a little attitude?” He sits up and raises a brow.

I take his face between my hands. “Yes, because I now have to go shower again.”

“But it was worth it… yeah?”

“Yeah.” I kiss him. “It’s worth it.”