Jack murmured in his sleep, struggling to stay asleep as his body began to stir. He moaned and balled his fist, waking when he caught a fistful of tangled curls. The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was Kate, curled with her back against his chest and her mouth was taking every inch of him. He rubbed her back and was rewarded by her soft moans which sent vibrations from the tip to the shaft. Everything she did, every sound she makes made him harder.
After he came, he grabbed her waist and kissed her wildly. "I need to shower," she giggled in between kisses.
"Never stopped us before," his lips were on her neck, making her crane to give him access.
"You also wore protection all those times," she whispered. "It's a little different without it…" she grabbed his chin and pulled him so his lips brushed against hers. "You can always join me…" She noticed an expression she'd never seen before and tilted her head. "What is it?" She asked with one hand on his shoulder.
"I didn't want you to shower," he whispered.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"I didn't want protection. I didn't want you to shower. I wanted—" he sighed and shook his head as if he could shake the thoughts out. "I wanted us to have a chance to get pregnant."
"What?!" Kate sat up, her green eyes wide. "That's a stupid idea, Jack."
"Is it? You wanted a little girl. I wanted a little girl. Spencer doesn't deserve to be inside you let alone knock you up—"
"Jack!"
"Why are you with him, Kate? Why did you tell him you'd be home in a few days instead of leaving him? Why can't you forgive me?" He demanded, jumping off the bed in a huff. He pretended he didn't see the way Kate winced, clearly wounded by his words and the way he raised his voice.
"I'm going to take a shower. And then you're going to take me home," she said flatly before heading to the bathroom.
When she returned, Jack was sitting in bed, his head in his hands. "Kate, I'm sorry. I just—" he saw the look in her eyes and his heart sank. "Don't say it was a mistake," he begged. "Don't tell me that."
"It wasn't a mistake," Kate offered a smile but it only broke his heart more.
"We should go," Jack said abruptly, grabbing his keys.
The car ride was quiet. Kate stared out the window, afraid to speak. She hadn't even considered Spencer until Jack threw it in her face. She'd forgotten he existed the minute she was in Jack's arms. The longer she stared out the window, the quicker her thoughts raced and the pain magnified. She had given him everything she had. She had talked openly about the miscarriage, their relationship and even Spencer. She had let all her walls down and it wasn't enough for him. He hadn't even discussed whether it was the right time or place. They both wanted it but she didn't think it was the right time. How could Jack not understand?
Jack's knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel. He knew he was wrong. He had woken up angry, knowing they had to return to the real world. Jealousy had been brewing all morning as the idea of returning Kate to another man was becoming a reality. He felt it when she rejected him. He knew it was her body and he had no right to it but he needed to have her, to mark his territory. He needed to plant a seed inside her; he needed the world to know that she was his. He needed her to be his again and he had gone about it all wrong.
After what felt like days, they arrived back at Kate's house. He opened his mouth to speak but saw the hurt in Kate's eyes and couldn't bring himself to say a word. He'd hurt her so badly. Again. He'd done the one thing he vowed he would never do again.
"I'm sure you''re dying for the bathroom," he chuckled.
"Always," she smiled, rolling her eyes. "If you need to…"
"That would be great," Jack said too quickly. "I guess I should have stopped on the way."
While Jack waited for Kate to finish in the bathroom, he stood in her kitchen, studying all the artwork, photos and reminders on there. Seeing Aaron's art and Kate's handwriting made him homesick. This was his home.
Memories were engraved in his mind. He had spun her around and pinned her to that same refrigerator, taking her from behind.
He was interrupted by Spencer, who stormed past and grabbed a beer.
"There's beer if you want it," Spencer offered. "Game's on, too." Jack couldn't believe he was so naive.
"Spencer, I just fucked your fiancée. For two days. And I'm going to fuck her again any chance I get."
"I thought you and her were sleeping together this whole time." He shrugged and sipped his beer, "I'm glad it's all in the open though."
"You aren't mad?" Jack asked.
"I'd be a hypocrite if I was," Spencer laughed. The idea of Spencer thinking he could do better than Kate both amused and angered him. He didn't think there was better than Kate. "That's not important."
"So what is important?"
"Bro, c'mon. She's Killer Kate. The most beautiful fugitive in the world. I'm going to be the stepdad of the Stepfather Killers son." Jack stood in shock. It wasn't about Kate, it never had been.
"Bathrooms all yours," Kate offered a forced smile, studying the two men. She could sense the tension and yet they seemed to almost get along.
As he walked through the hallway, looking at the photos, mostly of Kate and Aaron. Some photos with him had been replaced with Spencer's goofy grin; a few were Jack and Aaron. When he got to a photo of Kate and Spencer he stopped and stared at it. The photo only made him angrier. It was never about Kate to him. He hadn't fallen for her because of the little noises she makes as she nuzzles against you as she sleeps. It wasn't the way she took care of Aaron or the way he made her entire face light up. He didn't fall for her because she never stopped trying to be a better person. No, Spencer loved the idea of magazine covers and celebrity endorsements. He loved the idea of a juicy memoir once his fifteen minutes were up.
Jack studied Kate and Aaron's smiling faces. They looked like the models in the fake photos the frame comes with. They looked like a picture perfect family. His picture perfect family.
Suddenly, losing Kate was not an option.
