Chapter Twenty-Three
November 12th, 1913
New York City, New York
Rose didn't even bother opening her umbrella as she walked through New York City. Many people looked to her as she marched through the rain, her coat soaking it in, her hair becoming heavy and straight against her head. She didn't care, though. She had only one thing at the forefront of her mind. And it was Jack. It was all she was focused on.
The hem of her dress was growing heavy as it became wet, slinging against her ankles that powerfully strode forward, splashing through the puddles. Water speckled to her ankle, sliding down into her pump, but still she walked without the slightest care in the world. As the skyline dipped, she knew she was approaching the edge of the industrial section. Rose threw her umbrella onto the ground as she paused, looking up at the large building before her.
Just above the entrance of a door painted red, it said FRENCHIE'S STUDIO in bold black lettering along the threshold. Rose looked to the door, the rain pattering on her shoulders. She felt a chill come over her as she glanced to the sky, rain drops bouncing off her cheeks and forehead. Rose sighed, shifting her arms slightly in her sopping wet coat.
Without a second thought, Rose threw the door open and entered, letting it shut heavily behind her. The door echoed through the empty space. Rose slowly wandered in, holding her chattering teeth shut as she glanced robotically amongst the empty space. There was a large communal table covered in papers and paint brushes. Along the walls, there were tall canvases beggining to be painted. Rose turned in a full circle as she walked, soaking the workspace in.
She paused in front of a painting she recognized. The one sole painting that had not sold at the art show that fateful night. A scene of debutauntes. Rose scuritinized every part of the scene. It reminded her of her time as a debutaunte. Rose paused, however, upon noticing a red headed debutaunte at the top of the stairs. Her eyes darted to the side to notice another red head on the dance floor. One in front of the window. Rose's breathing shallowed as she wondered if Jack had painted it. Rose shivered in her peacoat.
"Rose?" She was startled, swirling around towards a door she hadn't noticed along the the back wall. Jack was standing there with a glass of water in hand, his attire loose and simply thrown on. He seemed just as shocked to see her.
"Jack, I-"
"You're soaking wet," Jack set his glass on the table and crossed to her, pulling the peacoat off of her. She allowed him to. He set the heavy garment across the table to allow it to air dry. He looked to her with arched eyebrows, his hand lingering at the edge of the table.
"I have something to tell you," Rose said from across the studio. Jack felt himself tremble as the background that surrounded Rose was of the red headed debutauntes, barely different than how she was meerly two years ago. Rose crossed to him now, "I told you I was a fool. I meant that. I am an idiot. You have no idea how long I dreamt about you, pined after-"
"Yes. I do," Jack told her softly. She pasued, her breath hitching in her throat as she looked up to him, "Rose, I read those letters you gave me. Did you not expect me to?" Rose didn't say anything. Her eyes became glassy as she looked at him.
"I wrote them with the intention of never being looked at again. What I said might-"
"No, you meant what you said," Jack told her. He reached out, touching her chilled skin, "Rose, you don't have anything to explain to me. I understand and I'm sorry..." He lowered his eyes for a moment, "Tim still seems like a genuinely good guy, though. I can't compete."
"I'm not asking you to," Rose shook her head.
"What are you saying?" He asked, his blue eyes stunning her.
"Jack," Rose said breathily, stepping even closer to him. He felt a droplet of cold rain water on his hand as her wet hair shifted on her shoulders, "I'm telling you I want to be with you. Only you."
"But what about Tim?"
"If I knew you were alive, I never would have given him a second glance," Rose told him. She was growing cold in her wet attire now as she stood before Jack, "This is different, Jack."
"How so?" He cocked a bold brow up.
"I'm not promised to him," Rose said, her green eyes darting between his, "I'm not engaged. I'm not his. I'm not his belonging. The only person I belong to is you, Jack."
"So you're really just going to leave Tim for me?" Jack looked to her, something inside of him trembling. How dearly he wanted to give in to her, but still, he felt something holding him back. It was his own self. He only wanted what was best for Rose. He truly thought she was doing well between the two of them in the amount of time that had passed. He was rather astounded to hear that Rose wanted to throw it all away, again, to be with him.
"Yes, I am," Rose nodded. She came closer to him now, their faces only inches apart, "Do you know how long I've waited to see you again? I thought it would have taken so much longer, until the end of my days," She reached up, her cool hand touching his prickly jaw, sending goosebumps across his skin. His breathing shallowed, his eyes flickering to her lips momentarily, "And do you think, now, that I'd let anything stop me from being with you?"
Jack slowly brought his hands to her waist, her dress cold and moist beneath his sweaty palms. He licked his lips and swallowed roughly, "This is what you want?" He whispered, putting every ounce of himself into keeping his voice steady, "Please, really, just think about everything you've done... everything you've accomplished without me."
"Jack," Rose smiled and he melted at the sight of it. She gripped his wrists tightly, "just put your hands on me again."
Jack didn't need to be told twice. His head surged forward, meeting her lips with great urgency. The kiss deepened and their tongues met momentarily. Jack looped his arms around Rose's waist and effortlessly lifted her. He twirled them in a circle, placing her to sit on the table. Jack's hands hungrily ran down her thigh, then back to her waist, knotting her dress in his hands. Rose ran her hands through his blond hair, relishing in every moment of his hands on her. It felt right, finally. She felt as if she had acheived the equilibrium her body had been begging her for. Her entire body felt so hot, so electrified. This was how it was supposed to be, she told herself.
Jack nibbled at her neck, tickling her. She giggled, pressing her cheek against his silky hair. She wrapped her legs around Jack's torso, bringing him closer, if that was even possible. Their bodies were melding together as they continued their passionate kisses. Rose tugged Jack's shirt off his shoulders. Since it was unbuttoned, he was easily able to shrug it off and let it crumple to the floor. She then tugged at his undershirt, grinning all the while. He returned a rather bashful smile before tearing it off as well, exposing his bare chest. She noted he was paler than he once was, but felt as if she knew his body as well as she used to. Jack's hand tenderly grazed up her leg, slipping beneath her skirt. A heat welled up inside of Rose as she felt his familiar fingers and those rigid callouses.
Rose tilted her head back and let out a breathy sigh. It seemed to her he still remembered everything about her body as well. A feeling of ecstasy was radiating from within her. She scrunched her toes up in her heels, glancing towards her skirt, watching the shifting of his hand beneath the wet cotton. Jack reached up behind her, yanking the zipper down on her dress. She laid out across the table, allowing him to pull it off of her. Jack dropped the dress to the floor, removing her heels in the same deft movement. He took a moment to look over her porcelain skin. He touched her bare stomach gently, sliding his hands across her. Jack nearly shook at the thought. She felt exactly how she did in every dream he had of her. And here she was, all for him.
Rose propped herself up on her elbow and grinned at him. He leaned in close to her face, gently cupping her breast, "I see you've stopped wearing corsets. Not like you ever needed one," He whispered hotly. Rose felt herself throb beneath his touch. He lowered his hand again, all the while meeting her lips over and over, "Is this what you wanted?"
"You have no idea how long I've dreamt about this," She whispered, her hands sliding through his hair, over his ears, and down his neck, "I've craved you for so long, Jack..." She gasped slightly as his hands ran over a sensitive spot. He smiled, continuing right there, watching her shudder in pleasure, "Don't ever go away again, Jack, please," She whispered, pressing her forehead to his.
"I'm not going anywhere," He said.
"Good," Rose said curtly, brushing her skin against his, "I wouldn't let you, anyway."
There was a heat mounting in Jack as he continued to touch and kiss Rose. He hadn't indulged in this pleasure in well over a year and it's as if all dreams came true that he could enjoy it with Rose once again. Rose's breathing shallowed as his hand continued. He watched her hungrily, nearly trembling at the sight of her fluttering eyelashes. He still couldn't believe it, that she was here in the flesh. That he was touching her, hearing that melodic voice, seeing those flaming curls. Jack almost partly thought he was simply dreaming, napping away upstairs, rather than actually living in this moment. He glanced fleetingly to the door but was drawn back to Rose as she gripped his shoulders and tilted her head back, a moan rising from her. He grinned as he felt her muscles tighten, her legs wrapping around his hips and pulling him into the side of the table. Her voice resounded in the studio, bouncing off the walls that had confined him for nearly a year.
She pulled Jack against her as her moans began to recede. Breathily, she pressed her forehead back to his. Rose giggled and Jack pulled his head back, looking to the flushed girl who was grinning all the while. He couldn't help but smile, too, "What's so funny?" He whispered.
Rose's green eyes pierced his, her smile still spread across her face, "I haven't felt this feeling in over a year," She brushed some of his blond hair from his forehead, "Not this kind of pleasure."
Jack grinned lop-sidedly, his hand running along the curve of her body, "Me either."
Jack grabbed Rose's hips, pulling her closer. She laughed breathily at the rough gesture and looked to his eyes which were gleaming with anxious anticipation. He took a moment to stroke her soft skin, making her shudder. Rose bit down on her lip as Jack continued to simply run his palms over her. Her heart was racing in her chest. She reached for his belt, grabbing hold on the buckle and making him pause. They stared into each other's eyes for a moment.
"What are you waiting for?" She smiled, her slender fingers grazing down his chest.
"I just can't get over how beautiful you are."
Rose felt her blood throbbing beneath her skin, "Then take me," She whispered, "Take all my beauty in."
Jack crushed his lips against her's again. She heard the clattering of his belt buckle as he fumbled with it, nearly hurried to get it undone. He didn't even bother removing his pants, he simply unzipped them and did what he dreamt of for nearly a year. Rose gasped upon feeling him, her nails digging into his bare skin. A shudder ran up her spine as she felt the missing puzzle piece complete her. For Jack, it was nearly an overwhelming feeling. One he had thought about daily. One that kept him up at night. He gave himself fully into the moment, relishing each ticking second. His eyes flickered towards Rose's face, who seemed to be lost in the pleasure herself.
Jack's entire body began to tingle as finally it ended just as quick as it started. He inahled sharply, pressing his forehead to Rose's shoulders. His entire body was shifting between heat and a chill as he finished. Rose wrapped her legs around Jack's torso again, relishing in the feeling of him throbbing before her. They remained where they were for a few short moments after that, wrapped in each other's arms, each breathing heavily, weighing between waves of pleasure and bouts of shock that this had finally happened.
Rose reached up, cupping Jack's cheek. Tears brimmed her eyes as she analyzed his face, soaking in that he was really here, standing right there in front of her. As the tears began to stream down her face, she smiled, and whispered, "I love you."