Chapter 13 Jack

I t's been an amazing night so far. Elyse and I shared a huge plate of dim sum before coming to this nightclub. It's supposed to be the hottest venue in town, at least for this week. I take her hand and walk confidently past the line of people waiting. It earns me some dirty looks, but mostly, people seem excited to catch a glimpse of Jack Ford, captain of the Firebirds.

When we get to the front of the line, the bouncer gives me a nod and lets us in. I lead Elyse through the crowd, which parts for us like the Red Sea. Everyone wants to see who I'm with tonight. After that TV interview, they'll know she's my girlfriend. They won't know it all started as a fake relationship and almost a joke, because there's nothing fake about how I feel now.

The music is loud, and the bass vibrates through my chest. I pull Elyse onto the dance floor, and we start to move together. She's a good dancer, and I'm not half bad myself. I spin her around and dip her, and she laughs, her eyes sparkling.

I lean in and kiss her, and she responds eagerly. Her lips are soft and warm, and she tastes like the strawberry daiquiri she just finished. She wraps her arms around my neck, and I pull her closer, deepening the kiss.

People around us cheer and whistle, reminding me we're not alone. I break the kiss and grin at her. She smiles back, her cheeks flushed.

"You want another drink?" I ask.

She shakes her head. "No, I'm good. I think I'd rather go home with you." She bites her lip, and I swear softly. "I'd rather do a different kind of dancing."

Sweat beads my brow as I take her hand, rushing to the door. I'm not sure if it's the heat of the club or the effect she has on me, but I'm burning up.

We get a cab and make out the whole ride to our place. I'm already hard as a rock, and I can tell she's wet for me. When we're stopped at a light, waiting to merge onto the freeway, I slide my hand between her thighs, easing away the elastic of her panties.

She gasps, her eyes widening before her gaze flicks to the driver. He seems immersed in the traffic, so she relaxes a little. Still, she whispers, "What are you doing?"

"Just getting a taste," I whisper, sliding my fingers over her slick folds. She's soaked, and I groan, my cock throbbing. I tease her clit, and she whimpers, her hips bucking.

"Oh, Jack…" Her voice is a breathy moan, and I have to fight the urge to fuck her right here in the backseat.

I keep teasing her, my fingers stroking her sensitive flesh. She's trembling, her eyes squeezed shut, and her thighs quiver. I know she's close, and I'm dying to feel her come apart on my hand.

The light turns green, and the cabbie merges onto the freeway. I keep my hand between her legs, rubbing her clit in slow, deliberate circles. She's panting, hands clenched into fists, and she's so fucking sexy I can barely stand it.

"Come for me, Elyse," I whisper, my lips brushing her ear. "Let go, baby. Let me feel you come."

She cries out, her body tensing as the orgasm crashes over her. She's not exactly silent about it, and the cab driver looks into the rearview mirror, meeting my gaze. I just smirk at him, and he quickly averts his eyes.

Elyse slumps against me, her breathing ragged. "You're a bad man, Jack Ford."

"You love it," I say, kissing her forehead.

She laughs, her body still shaking. "Yeah, I do."

When we get to the apartment, I pay the cabbie and help her out of the car. My shoulder twinges as I pull her to her feet, and I try to hide the grimace.

"Are you okay?" she asks, her eyes wide with concern.

"Fine," I lie, taking her hand and leading her to the front door. "Just a little sore from practice today."

She nods, but I can tell she doesn't believe me. Once we're inside, I lock the door and turn to face her.

Her eyes are bright, and her cheeks are flushed. She's so beautiful, and I can't resist pulling her into my arms. I kiss her, slipping my tongue into her mouth. She moans, her body melting against mine.

My cock is already rock hard, and I press against her, letting her feel how much I want her. She gasps, her eyes fluttering open. She pulls away, her gaze locking with mine. "Your shoulder—"

"Is fine," I finish for her, my lips finding hers again.

We stumble toward the bedroom, our mouths fused together. I push her against the wall, my hands roaming over her body. She's so soft and warm, and I can't get enough of her.

I kiss her neck, teeth grazing her skin. She moans, her head falling back against the wall. I reach for the hem of her dress, tugging it upward. She lifts her arms, allowing me to remove the garment.

I toss the dress aside and take a moment to admire her. She's wearing a black lace bra and matching panties, and she looks absolutely stunning. I run my fingers along the edge of the lace, my eyes never leaving hers. "You're so fucking sexy."

She blushes but smiles. "So are you."

I grin before my lips find hers again. I kiss her deeply, my hands cupping her breasts. She arches into me, her nipples hardening against my palms. I trail kisses down her neck and across her collarbone before she pulls away from me. I let out a sound of protest until I realize she's just getting onto her knees.

She reaches for my belt, unbuckling it. She tugs down my jeans and boxers, freeing my cock. She wraps her hand around the base, stroking me slowly.

I groan, my eyes closing. Her mouth is so warm and wet, and I thrust into her. She takes me deeper, her tongue swirling around the tip.

"Fuck, Elyse…"

She continues driving me wild. I grip her hair, moving her head faster. She sucks me harder, her gaze locked on mine. She's so fucking hot, and when she swallows me whole, I nearly lose it.

I pull her off me, my cock throbbing. "Get on the bed before I fucking lose it in your mouth."

"I don't mind." She licks her lips slowly.

My cock throbs, and my groin tightens. "I want to be in your pussy. Lay down on your stomach." I use my captain's voice, and she scurries to obey. With a slight detour to grab a condom, I'm soon behind her, staring down at the luscious globes of her ass spread before me.

"Do you know how many times I've fantasized about this?" I ask, running my hands over her smooth skin and squeezing her cheeks. "How many times I've imagined spreading you open and burying myself inside you again?"

She gasps as I slide a finger between her folds, teasing her clit. "Tell me."

"Every day since I met you," I say huskily. "And every night before I go to sleep. I stroke my cock and imagine it's your pussy I'm fucking when you aren't in bed beside me." I press against her clit. "Do you touch yourself and think of me?"

"Yes." Her voice is breathless. "All the time."

"Good girl." I reward her by sliding a finger into her wet heat. She's so fucking tight, and I can't wait to feel her wrapped around my cock again. "Now, tell me what you think about."

"You…fucking me. Hard and fast. Making me scream your name."

I add another finger, stretching her. "Like this?"

"Yes. Please, Jack. I need you. I want you to completely dominate me." She sounds a little embarrassed to make the admission.

"Don't worry, baby. I will, but first, I'm going to fuck you with my fingers until you come all over them. Then, I'm going to lick them clean and fuck you so hard, you won't be able to walk tomorrow. Do you understand?"

"Yes." She moans as I add a third finger, pumping them in and out of her. "Please, Jack. I'm so close."

I lean down and lick her ear. "Come for me, baby. Let me hear you scream my name."

She does, and I'm rewarded with a flood of wetness that coats my hand. I keep thrusting, drawing out her orgasm until she's a quivering mess beneath me. Her round ass begs for my hand, and I slap a cheek without thinking about it.

She stiffens for a second before moaning and arching back against me. She asked me to dominate her, and I'm going to absolutely wreck her. I suspect I'm wrecking myself for all other women too, but that doesn't matter right now. I'm too lost in physical sensations to fight emotions.

I pull my fingers out of her and bring them to my mouth, sucking them clean. She tastes sweet and tangy, and I'm instantly addicted. I'm going to have to eat her out again later, but for now, I'm going to give her exactly what she wants. I roll on a condom and line my cock up with her entrance. "Are you ready for me, baby?"

"Yes. Fuck me, Jack. Make me yours."

I grip her hips and slam into her, burying myself to the hilt. She's so wet and tight that I almost lose control. I grit my teeth and hold still, giving her time to adjust. "Fuck, Elyse. You're so damn tight. Your greedy little pussy is fluttering around me, trying to force me to come. I'm the one in charge." I punctuate that with a deep thrust that makes her moan. "Do you understand?"

"Yes. I'm sorry. I can't help it. You feel so good inside me. I've never felt this full before."

I grin and start to move, setting a slow, steady pace. "That's because I'm the only man who's ever been inside you like this. I'm the only man who will ever be inside you like this. You belong to me, Elyse. Tell me you understand that."

"I do. I'm yours, Jack. Only yours."

Her words send a surge of possessiveness through me, and I pick up the pace. I want to make her mine, to brand her with my cock and my cum. I want to leave her so sore that she'll feel me for days and ruin her for any other man.

I reach around to grasp her hair, wrapping the ponytail around my hand and using it to pull her pussy and body closer to me. She lets out a moan, and I let out a cry as pain flares in my shoulder. She's too far gone to realize my sound was one of pain, and I awkwardly shift her hair to my other hand, letting my injured shoulder take a break by resting my arm against her ass.

I'm not going to last much longer, and I need her to come first. I release her hair and slide my hand down to her clit, rubbing it in small circles. She cries out and clenches around me even tighter. "Come for me, baby. I want to feel your pussy squeezing my cock while I fill you with my cum."

She screams my name as she comes, her body shaking with the intensity of her orgasm. I thrust into her a few more times before I follow her over the edge, cock pulsing as I empty my load into the condom while wishing I was riding her raw. I collapse on top of her, careful to keep my weight off my bad shoulder.

We lay there for a few minutes, catching our breath. I finally roll off her and remove the condom, tying it off and tossing it into the trash. Elyse and I lie tangled in the sheets, our bodies still buzzing from our lovemaking. Her head rests on my chest as I gently stroke her hair. In these quiet moments, I feel a sense of peace and contentment that's too rare in my life.

"Jack?" Her soft voice breaks the silence.

"Hmm?" I murmur, planting a kiss on the top of her head.

She shifts to look up at me, her eyes filled with concern. "I've noticed you favoring your shoulder lately. Is everything okay? Is that injury from last season still bothering you?"

I tense, the mention of my injury stirring up unpleasant memories. Elyse must sense my discomfort as she reaches up to caress my cheek.

"You can talk to me, you know. I'm here for you."

"I told you how it happened, but I didn't tell you that Dr. Kleiner, the team doctor recommended surgery to repair the damage. Coach Matthews insisted I play through it. He said we were too close to the playoffs to have me sidelined. When the season ended, he decided it would take too long to rehab, putting me out of commission during a season that we're defending a championship, so nothing was done except more painkillers and home physical therapy exercises that are useless without having the surgery first."

Anger flashes in Elyse's eyes. "That's unacceptable. He can't just disregard your health like that."

I shake my head wearily. "In his mind, winning is all that matters. He's put immense pressure on me to keep performing, no matter the cost."

She sits up, the sheets pooling around her waist. "Jack, this is serious. You need to take time off and get the proper treatment. Your career and maybe your future are at stake here."

Her words strike a nerve. As much as I want to heed her advice, the thought of defying Coach Matthews fills me with dread. "I can't," I say, my voice sounding strained. "If I go against his wishes, he'll make my life a living hell. You don't know what he's capable of, and what it could cost me."

Her expression hardens. "Then we need to do something about him. That lawsuit against the team, the one I'm working on…maybe it's our best chance to expose his unethical practices."

The last thing I want is for Elyse to get tangled up in this mess.

"No, absolutely not," I say firmly. "I won't let you risk your career over this. Matthews is a vindictive bastard. If he finds out you're involved, there's no telling what he might do." Rising from the bed, I begin pacing the room, agitated.

Elyse watches me with a pained expression. "Please let me help you. We can fight this together."

I whirl to face her. "Don't you understand? I can't let anything happen to you. You mean too much to me."

The words hang in the air, raw and vulnerable. Her eyes widen, glistening with unshed tears.

"Please let me help."

Sinking onto the edge of the bed, I bury my face in my hands. "I can't ask you to risk everything for me. Your life will be so much simpler without me in it."

Elyse moves to kneel beside me, her hands gently prying mine away from my face.

"Jack Ford, don't you dare push me away," she says fiercely. "I'm not going anywhere until we figure this out together."

Her determination both awes and terrifies me. Before I can respond, she presses on.

"Speaking of figuring things out, there's something I need to tell you…" She takes a deep breath, clearly steeling herself. "I ran into your ex, Karina, at the grocery store yesterday."

My blood runs cold. Karina. The mere mention of her name is enough to send shockwaves of dread through my body.

"What did she say to you?" I demand, gripping her shoulders perhaps a bit too tightly.

She winces but doesn't pull away. "She tried to warn me off, said some horrible things about you using women, but Jack, you have to know I didn't believe a word of it once I calmed down."

Relief washes over me, quickly replaced by protective fury. The thought of Karina anywhere near Elyse fills me with rage. "You need to stay away from her," I say, my voice low and intense. "That woman is unhinged. She's capable of anything."

Elyse nods solemnly, understanding the gravity of the situation. For a moment, we simply hold each other, drawing strength from our embrace.

Finally, I pull back, cupping her face in my hands. "Maybe it would be better if we took a step back, for your safety." The words leave a bitter taste in my mouth, like ashes on my tongue. Every fiber of my being rebels against uttering them, but I must. Elyse's well-being is paramount, even if it means sacrificing my own happiness.

Her olive eyes blaze with determination, and she shakes her head vehemently. "I'm not going anywhere." Her voice is firm.

"Elyse, you don't understand. Karina is unhinged. She's capable of anything when it comes to sabotaging my relationships."

She crosses her arms defiantly. "So…what? You expect me to just walk away because of some jealous ex-girlfriend's threats?" She scoffs. "Not a chance."

I grip her shoulders, my fingers digging in a little too tightly. "This isn't a joke, Elyse. Karina is dangerous. She stalked me for years after our breakup, harassing any woman who got close to me."

Elyse's expression softens, and she reaches up to cup my face. "I'm not afraid of her. We can handle this together."

I want to believe her words, to draw strength from her, but the memories of Karina's twisted obsession still haunt me, casting a dark shadow over my newfound happiness with Elyse.

Pulling away, I pace the room, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. "You don't know what she's capable of," I mutter, more to myself than to Elyse.

"Then tell me." Her voice is gentle, coaxing. "Help me understand."

I pause, considering her request. Perhaps it's time to shed light on the demons that have plagued me for so long.

With a weary sigh, I sink onto the couch, gesturing for Elyse to join me. She settles beside me, her warm presence offering solace.

"You know how it ended—with me finding her in bed with a teammate, but there's a lot of crazy before that. She followed me and accused me of infidelity at every turn. She went through my things, and weeks after we broke up, a P.I. I hired found tracking devices on my car, listening devices in my house, and even an RFID chip sewn into my duffel bag. I couldn't prove she'd done that, of course." "She became obsessed, stalking me, showing up at my apartment, my practices, and my games. She even confronted women she thought I was interested in, making wild accusations and threats."

Elyse reaches out, her fingers intertwining with mine in a comforting gesture.

"It went on for years, Elyse. Every time I thought I was finally free of her, she'd resurface, more unhinged than ever." I squeeze her hand, drawing strength from her touch. "That's why I've been so hesitant to get involved with anyone else. The thought of putting another woman through that kind of torment was unbearable."

Silence stretches between us, heavy with the weight of my confession. Her eyes shimmer with unshed tears, and she shifts closer, wrapping her arms around me in a tender embrace.

"Jack, I'm so sorry you had to go through that, but you can't let Karina's actions dictate your life forever. You deserve to be happy, and I'm not going to let her scare me away."

I hold her tightly, savoring the warmth and solidity of her body against mine. "I can't lose you, Elyse," I whisper. "If anything happened to you because of me…" I square my shoulders. "No, it's best if the world thinks we aren't together anymore."

She grabs my hands, holding them firmly. "We can fight Karina. I'm not scared of your stalker ex."

I pull my hands away, frustration bubbling over. "It's not just about being scared. You don't know what she's capable of. She's obsessed, Elyse. She won't stop until she's destroyed everything."

Elyse steps closer. "Then we deal with her. Together."

I step back, my frustration boiling over. "No. You're not listening. This isn't just about us. It's about survival, and if that means letting the world think we're not together, then so be it."

She flinches, her eyes filling with hurt. "You're breaking up with me, just like that?"

I force myself to stay strong, even as my heart breaks. "If that's what it takes to keep you safe, then yes."

Elyse's shoulders slump, and for a moment, she looks as if she's been struck. "I thought you were stronger than this, Jack. I thought we were stronger."

I clench my jaw, my voice turning cold. "It's not about strength. It's about making sure you have a future, even if it means I'm not in it."

She shakes her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I don't want a future without you."

I grit my teeth, my heart aching. "You might not have a choice."

Her eyes widen, shock and disbelief written all over her face. "You're really doing this. You're really throwing us away?"

I force myself to meet her gaze, my heart breaking with every word. "It's for the best." I want to take it back, but I don't. This is the only way.