“It’s not the same. The Court, the reach they have, it’s a lot more than anything your family can do.”
“What’s The Court?”
“The organization my family is in. Fuck, I shouldn’t be telling you this.” He starts pacing the room.
“Just tell me, Jake. Help me understand what’s going on here.”
“There’re six families, all old money. One representative from each holds a position of power in The Court, rules over everything from business ventures to, well, a lot of shit,” he says.
Something clicks.Old money families.Bradley’s family is old money. “The Levines too?”
“Yeah.” Jacob nods.
“That’s why you don’t trust him?”
“His knowing you’re here isn’t a good thing, Jazzy. It puts you at risk. If they know we’re friends, or anything else, they will come after you.”
“Why? If all of your families are in this Court thing, why are they coming after people you love? Not that you love me, but I’m assuming that’s what happened to your parents,” I quickly correct myself.
Jake stares at me. “You think I don’t love you?”
“I’m not digging for that, Jacob.”
“I do,” he says. “Love you.”
I suck in a lungful of air. It’s not the first time I’ve heard him say this, but it has been a really long while. I’m an idiot for believing those words from his mouth, but I do believe them.
“Every choice I’ve ever made is because I love you, Jazzy. My parents, they’re dead because I chose you. You can’t seriously think that I don’t love you.”
My eyes widen. “What do you mean you chose me?”How are his parents dead because of me?
“I always have. It doesn’t matter. I need to get you out of here, and you have to promise not to come back. Not to seek me out,” he says.
“I’m not doing that.” I shake my head. I’m not making that kind of promise. “Let me help you.”
“You can help me by staying far away from me. That’s the only way for you to keep off their radar,” he says.
I stand and my knees buckle slightly. The fear of being rejected is strong, but I need to try. I want to comfort him. I want to be here for him, and I want him to use me as an escape, even if it’s only my body he’s using. I can give him that. It’s not like I haven’t before.
“I want a redo,” I say, stopping when I’m right in front of him.
“A redo? Of what?”
“Prom night. We were sixteen and neither of us knew what we were doing. I want a redo. Right now,” I clarify, my cheeks heating up at the thought.
“You came twice.” He smirks, as if he’s proud of that fact.
It wasn’t hard. He just had to touch me and my body came alive like it never had before. And never has again. Don’t get me wrong… I’ve had good sex. Great sex even. But It’s not the same. I’ve never loved anyone else.
“So, you don’t want a redo? You don’t want to see if what we had that night was a fluke?” I lift a challenging brow. “I’m not a little girl anymore, Jake. I’m not asking for a marriage proposal or expecting you to be there when it’s over.”
Reaching behind my back, I pull the zipper of my dress and let the fabric drop to the floor. Until I’m in nothing but a pair of pink lace panties and a matching bra.
“Fuck!” Jake growls, his jaw closed tight as his gaze roams all over my now-exposed body.
“Show me how much you love me, Jake. You say you do. Make me believe it.” I have no idea where this bravado is coming from. On the inside, I’m shaking, terrified he’s going to send me away. But I have to know. I need to see if he still feels everything that I do when I look at him.
Chapter Fourteen