Trusting Jack (10 page)

“Thanks.  The O2 was amazing, the movie was beyond wonderful.  This club, the party?  This is incredible.”

“First premier, huh?”  Thomas grinned.  “They are fun.  If you promise to give me great reviews, I’ll
get you into all the ones you want.”

Emma laughed with him and looked at Jack.  He had straightened and stiffened, his blue eyes frosting over, as he watched a bombshell blond in an extremely low cut gown make her way towards them.

“Well, well,” Thomas muttered.  “Sarah Reed, in the flesh.  Watch yourself,” he warned Emma in a low whisper.  “I’ve worked with her.  She’s nasty when she doesn’t get her way.”  He squeezed her arm and walked away.

 
              “Hello, Jack.  It’s nice to see you.”  Sarah walked up to him and kissed him on the cheek.

Jack stiffened even more.  “Sarah,” he coolly greeted her.  “Emma, this is Sarah Reed.”

Sarah’s doe brown eyes looked Emma up and down, and then dismissed her.  “I’ve missed you,” she told Jack in her breathy voice and placed a proprietary hand on his arm.

“I’m afraid I can’t say the same,” he replied curtly.  He stepped away from her and closer to Emma.

Sarah pouted and tucked her honey blond hair behind her ear.  She looked at Emma again.  “Our Jack looks wonderful tonight, doesn’t he?”

“He does,” she agreed even though she bristled inwardly as Sarah’s use of our.  “You’re dress is very pretty,” she told her in an attempt to change the subject.

Sarah ran her hand along the deep red gown.  “And yours is delightfully…simple.  Tell me—Emma, isn’t it?”  At Emma’s slight nod, she continued.  “Are you in theater or film?  I’m afraid I don’t recognize your name.”

“Neither,” Emma told her.  “I’m a personal assistant.”

“An assistant,” she repeated and laughed softly.  “Oh, Jack, I can’t believe you brought an assistant to a premier when I was available.”

Jack kept a smile on his face so they wouldn’t attract any undue attention.  “My taste is improving.  C’mon, Emma, we’ll leave now.”  Jack took Emma’s hand and they walked away without a backwards glance.

Sarah watched them leave with a frown on her face and jealously in her eyes.

Chapter 10

Emma was quiet at they made their way to the hotel.  Her hands were shaking.

             
“Changing you mind?” Jack asked quietly.

             
“No,” she replied.  I want to be with you.  It’s just…” her voice trailed off and she looked away.

             
“Just what?”

             
She looked back at him and bit her lip.  “She’s so pretty.  Sarah,” she explained.  “You were with her for a long time; you’ve seen her naked a thousand times.  Probably lots of other women, too.”

             
Jack gave a startled laugh.  “What’s all that got to do with this?”

             
“I’m scared,” she admitted in a small voice.  “What if you don’t like my body, what if I don’t make you happy?  I’ve only…well, I don’t have a lot of experience.”

             
“Darling,” Jack’s voice softened and he tilted her chin up so that he was staring directly into her eyes.  “I’ve seen you half naked before, remember?”  He grinned when Emma blushed.  “I liked what I saw then, and I’m damned eager to see the rest.”

             
The limo stopped at the hotel and Jack retrieved the room key.  He kept Emma’s hand in his as he opened the door and led her inside.

             
She caught her breath in wonder.  The room was bathed in candlelight, and there were flowers everywhere, softly scenting the air.  Champagne was chilling on a small side table.  Emma smiled, and then noticed one of her travel bags on a chair.  “What’s that?” she asked.

             
“I asked Norah to pack a small bag for you.  I thought you might want a change of clothes.”

             
“How clever of you.  Jack…the room, the candles and flowers, the champagne…it’s all so romantic.  Like a dream.”

             
“Would you like me to pour you a glass?”

             
It’s now or never
, Emma thought, standing completely still.  “After,” she whispered.

             
Jack stepped forward and took her hand.  He raised it to his lips and placed a kiss over the racing pulse at her wrist.  He pulled her closer and dropped a heated kiss on her shoulder as his hands unfastened the zipper of her dress.

             
It slid to the floor with a silken hiss and Emma stepped out of the black puddle.  His eyes took in the black lace covering her breasts and the black lace riding low on her stomach and high on her hips.  Her stockings stopped at her thighs and her legs trembled slightly in the heels she still wore.

             
“You’re delectable.”  His gaze was molten, and his voice was seductively low. “I want to taste you.  All over.”  He cupped her face and his thumbs traced her cheekbones.  “Starting with your mouth.  It’s so soft and sweet.  Your lips were made to be kissed, Emma.”

             
He brushed her mouth with his once, twice, before claiming a long, slow kiss that left her breathless.  He buried his hands in her hair and the pins scattered across the floor.  Her hair tumbled down like a waterfall.

             
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.  He took her lips again, and trailed his hands down her arms.  Lightly pinning them behind her back, he feathered kisses down her neck.

             
Emma’s head fell back and she sighed with

pleasure.  He nuzzled her and worked his way back up

to her mouth.  His tongue delved between her

welcoming lips and she matched his fire with her own.

              Jack released her arms and cupped her breasts.  He lowered his head and kissed her through the lace.  He flicked the hook open and her breasts spilled out into his waiting hands.  “So beautiful,” he said again and drew her into his mouth.

             
He gently circled her nipple with his tongue.  Emma threaded her fingers through his hair and urged him closer.  He transferred his attention to the other breast and rasped his lips over her.  Emma whimpered and felt heat pool low in her belly.

             
Jack knelt and picked up Emma’s foot.  He slipped her shoe off and ran his hand slowly up her leg to where her stocking met her thigh.  He placed a soft kiss there and peeled away the material.  He repeated the actions on her other leg. 

             
Emma grasped his shoulders when he stood.   She slowly unbuttoned his shirt and he shrugged out of it.  She kissed his chest, his neck, his mouth.  Her hand reached lower and she felt him, hard as iron, through his trousers.  His eyes darkened with passion.

             
Jack scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bed.  He lay her down gently and removed the rest of his clothes.  Emma watched him and, when he joined her, she took him in her hand, stroked him again, enjoying the smooth hard length of him. 

He drew a sharp breath.  He ran his hands down her legs and hooked his fingers around the waist of the panties she still wore.  He pulled them off and trailed his mouth across her stomach and hipbones.  He moved his hand over her and found her hot and wet. 

              Lust threatened to overcome him and he fought

the urge to take her fast and hard.  He wanted to drive

Emma crazy first.  He slipped two fingers inside her and her hips bowed towards him.

             
“Jack,” she breathed.  His fingers kept moving, slow and steady, as she whimpered with pleasure.

             
“Come for me, Emma.”  A strangled breath tore from her lips and he felt her begin to shudder.  “Come for me, love.”

             
And she did, arching her hips off the bed with a moan.  “Jack, please.”  Her breathing was ragged.  “I need you inside me.  Now”

             
He pushed her back and covered her body with his.  Her legs parted for him.  There was only need now, mutual and demanding.  They kept their eyes on each other as he entered her.

             
She clamped around him like a vise and he struggled to hold on to his control.  “God, you’re so tight,” he muttered.  “You feel so good.”  He began to move, slowly at first, then faster when Emma raised her hips to meet his.

             
Together they rocked and Emma’s breath began to quicken.  She whispered his name as she moved closer to the edge.  He plunged harder and she gave a strangled moan.  He watched her eyes glaze and felt her begin to tremble.  He shuddered hard once and then fell with her.

             
After a few minutes, when his breath had returned to normal, Jack moved and Emma made a sound of protest.  “I’m too heavy for you, love,” he told her and shifted her so that her head lay on his chest.  “That was incredible.”  He kissed her hair.

             
Emma raised her face to his.  “You’re incredible,” she whispered.  Her voice was laced with sleep.  Jack smiled and drew her back down.  He pulled the sheets over them and held on as they drifted off.

***

             
Jack slowly opened his eyes.  He smiled and stretched when he heard the shower.  Last night had been everything he’d imagined and so much more.  The water cut off and he stood to wait.

             
Emma stepped out of the bathroom and started when she saw Jack grin.  “Good morning,” she managed.

             
“Yes, it is,” he replied and her smile blossomed.  She slipped her arms around his neck and lifted her lips for a kiss.  He obliged and set her back.  “Are you hungry?”

             
“Mmm.  A bit,” she told him.  “But not for food.”

             
Jack cocked a brow.  “Oh, really.”

             
“Really,” she drawled.  She pulled him over to the bed and pushed him down onto it.

             
“Gotten over being nervous, have you,” he murmured.

             
“The second you touched me.”  Emma straddled him and the short robe she wore hitched up.

             
Jack snaked a hand under the robe and found her already slick with need.  He went rock hard.  His hands went higher and he dragged his thumbs across her nipples.

             
Emma moaned low in her throat.  She lowered herself onto him and smiled when he bucked.  He held her hips tight and groaned as Emma rode them both to a panting finish.

             
Much later, Jack swallowed the last bite of his sausage and washed it down with coffee.  “I’m disappointed that you’ve put on clothes.”

             
Emma laughed and bit into a slice of bacon with relish.  “Being naked might have scared the room service boy,” she pointed out.

             
“Cause him to have sex-filled fantasies, more like,” he returned and made her laugh again.  “I suppose it’s time we left.”  Jack stood and held out a hand.  Emma took it and leaned into his hug when his arms came around her.  “It’s back to work tomorrow.”

             
“Norah’s thrilled about being able to live in the house for the duration,” she told him as they gathered their belongings.

             
“The only on location scenes left is where Edward II flees to Whales and Edward III goes to Hainault, to marry Philippa.  Or Germany, rather, since Hainault is no more.”

             
Emma frowned.  “That’s wrong,” she told him as he hailed a cab.  “They were married by proxy in 1327, and then Philippa traveled to England.  They were formally married in 1328, at York Minster.  Then—“

             
Jack placed a hand over her mouth and chuckled.  “OK, professor.  We had to speed things up for the movie.”

             
“Still,” Emma grumbled.

             
“Chris is right.  You are a dork-ass.”  She swatted at him, but grinned.

             
When they pulled up in front of her house, Jack gave Emma a lingering kiss. “I’ll miss you,” he said.  “I’ll call you later.”

             
Emma nodded.  She stepped out of the cab and waved as it drove off.  She turned to go inside and wait for Norah to come home and demand details.

Chapter 11

Emma was kept busy for the next few weeks.  She made sure Norah was at the set on time, made sure her bills were paid, made sure she kept her appointments, and kept the house clean and tidy. 
Ah, the life of an assistant
, she thought with amusement. 
Part friend, part keeper, part maid
.  She loved it.

             
She and Jack managed to find time to be together.  They would sometimes sneak away for dinner.  He took her for drives in the countryside and let her explore to her heart’s content. If they had a free moment on the set, he would seek her out and just sit and talk. 

The nights they managed to spend together were spent in a haze of passion.  Jack knew how to drive her wild, and she thoroughly enjoyed her time in his bed.

              She was falling for him, she realized, and falling fast.

             
On Monday, Emma looked on as Norah and Jack filmed the banishment scenes.  She loved to watch the scenes come together, and it thrilled her to imagine this was how it very likely could have happened.  She stood beside Alison and watched.

“My lord…my son.  Please, I pray, do not do this.”  Norah knelt at Jack’s feet and her black velvet skirt pooled around her.  “Do not banish me from your court.”

              “Mother, you know well why I have ordered this.  You grow too powerful.  England can have but one ruler.”

             
“You are taking away everything I hold dear, Edward.  First Roger, and now my home.”

             
Jack’s voice deepened and he let anger flow through.  “Mortimer sought more power than was his right.  As do you.  I am king.”

             
“We put you on your throne, my son.”  Norah stood and anger came into her voice as well.  “If not for us, your father would still be ruler, and you would not have your beloved queen.”

             
“It is for Philippa, as well as me, that I do this.  You try to steal my wife’s power.  There can be but one Queen of England as well.  Do not fret, Mother; you will have every creature comfort you desire.”

             
“And if I desire court, or the pleasure of my children and grandchildren?”

             
“We will visit you, of course.  However, court will be forbidden to you.”

             
Norah inclined her head sharply and bowed.  Thomas yelled cut.

             
“Well done!  One take and we got it!  Perfect!”  He was grinning.  Norah and Jack grinned back, and Emma applauded.  “Let’s take a lunch break.  We’ll start again in two hours.”

Suddenly, Alison sucked in her breath and grabbed Emma’s hand.  When Emma looked at her, she pointed to the floor.  Water pooled around her feet. 

“Oops,” she managed weakly and her smile trembled.

             
“It’s ok, it’s alright,” Emma soothed.  “Jack,” she called, “Alison’s water broke.  She needs to get to the hospital.”

***

When Jack was finished for the day he went

straight to the
hospital to wait with Alison’s husband. 

Emma promised to come as soon as Norah

was wrapped up. 

By the time she managed to get there, Alison had been in labor for six hours.  “How’s she holdin’ up?”

              “She’s getting tired,” Jack answered.  “Her contractions are getting stronger.  Jacob-her husband-is with her.”

             
A few minutes later, Jacob came into the waiting area.  He shook Emma’s hand and said, “Alison’s told me about you.  She enjoys your friendship.”

             
“The feeling is mutual.  She’s fun to be with, even when she’s waddling around after Jack.”

             
Jacob chuckled.  “She’s gotten so huge I’m surprised she didn’t topple over from the extra weight.”  He glanced at Jack as he excused himself to take a phone call.  “Alison told me about you and Jack, as well.  She’s pleased he’s found someone as kind as you.  She never did care for Sarah.”

             
Emma smiled.  “She’s one of the reasons I took Jack up on his offer.  I’m glad I listened to her.”

             
“Why don’t you and Jack go in to see her,” he said as Jack rejoined them “I’m going to call Alison’s parents and update them; they’re driving from Bristol.”

             
Emma knocked lightly on the door as they walked in.  Alison looked over and smiled.  “Hello,” she said almost cheerfully.  “Welcome to the Chamber of Agony.”

             
Emma laughed.  “At least you’ve got a TV.”  It was turned to a soap opera no one was paying attention to.  “And a husband to curse at when it hurts.”

             
She giggled.  “I’m well on my way to being miserable.  Jacob says—“She broke off as a contraction hit.  Pain rippled across her face.

             
Jack propped her up and rubbed her back as she gripped the bed rails and waited it out.  “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” she chanted.  When it was over, he wiped her forehead and gave her a light squeeze.

Watching him, Emma felt her heart tilt.  She was, she admitted to herself, more than half way in love with him. 

It scared her.

Suddenly, machines began beeping wildly.  Nurses rushed in, Jacob hard on their heels.  After checking a printout, a nurse said urgently, “Get the doctor, quick!  The baby is in distress and its heart rate is dropping.  We’ll have to do an emergency C-section.”

Alison’s eyes filled with tears as panic gripped her.  She clutched her husband’s hand and whimpered as the doctor came in. 

After checking for himself he nodded.  “Everyone out,” he said curtly.  “We’ll take her down and prep her.  It won’t be long till she on the operating table,” he told Jacob.  “You’d better suit up if you want to be with her.”

As they prepared to wheel her out, Jack gave her an encouraging smile.  “You’ll be fine, darling.  We’ll be waiting.”  She nodded, tears still in her eyes.

Jack paced the waiting area while Emma sat and watched him.  “You love her,” she said.