4- Back off

I gazed outside the window of the black jeep thinking...

Sebastian wasn't pleased about the idea of me coming back to San Fernando without him. But he doesn't own me. We married for convenience and we have sex because we enjoy it, and although I've grown feelings for him, he is a heartless son a bitch who doesn't deserve an ounce of it.

But it's not easy to just turn off the feelings. It's my fault for falling for his enchantment when he is such a dickhead with me. I wonder why I agreed to the marriage. Probably because I felt alone and saw someone good in there. The way he helped me escape, the things he did, and the shelter he offered when I had nowhere to go. But even then, I knew he wasn't good for me.

I was stupid, that I can tell.

"The bag is underneath your chair," Gabe voiced interrupting my thoughts.

I nodded and pulled the item from its place. I opened it to verify its content and pulled them out.

"This is your passport," I told Jake as I handed it to him along with other papers.

He stared at it perplexed. "How did you get these?"

"I was in San Fernando for a few days. I had time to get things done." I skipped the detail of Sebastian doing all movements to get it done.

He didn't say anything but he need not. I knew what he was thinking.

"Mom helped me. She is happy for you Jake. Please know that."

"I don't get it. " He shook his head.

I looked back.

"She knows Mike is not a good man. She agreed to help me escape but she doesn't do it herself?"

Immediately I looked away. It was not only because she is afraid but also because if she left, Mike would move heaven and earth to find us. She was buying time for Jake...for me and her.

"She still thinks he can change," I lied looking out the window. It was easier to lie to him when I wasn't looking.

"Bullshit!" he kicked the passenger seat where I sat.

Jake had suffered a lot back there and now, it was only me who was there to protect him. I cursed Mike. He deserves to pay for everything he has done. Seeing Jake broken, made me feel sick.

Gabe was silent as he witnessed the pain consume us.

"Jake," I whispered looking at him from the side mirror.

"Please don't. Let me think okay?"

His brows were furrowed in confusión as he stared down at his hands. He then closed his eyes as he massaged his temples and rested his head on the seat.

I watched him sleep until we made it to the airport. Gabe didn't say much and to that I was grateful. I need peace and looking at Jake hurt made me want to throw myself out of the car.

We made it to the Private Jet. To that, Jake smiled a little. I was able to see that he was enthusiastic about his first time in one.

"Wow, woman! Which bank did you rob?" he chuckled when we stepped inside.

I laughed at his comment and showed him around before we departed. Gabe made sure to check that we were safe and that Mike wasn't following us.

His contacts assured us that he was running crazy but so far no one was able to locate us.

Seeing Jake scared of heights made me laugh. I was glad Mike didn't get time to ruin him completely.

"Heights make me shit my pants," he commented and intertwined his hands with mine when we departed. My heart swelled in love and I wished time remained frozen and untroubled.

We slept for most of it and when we landed, I expected Sebastian to be there. To my surprise, he wasn't.

"He just called me," Gabe voiced, "he won't be coming."

I stopped looking around and glared at him. He got to be kidding me. Recently, he is playing hard to get.

"It's a joke right?"

He shrugged and walked past me to arrange the car. Jake stood beside me aware of my situation.

"Who forgot what?"

I smiled at him. "It doesn't matter. Just a friend."

He was about to ask more questions when Gabe appeared with the car.

Even if I didn't want to, I slammed the door when I got in. I was pissed and Sebastian better have a good excuse.

The house was silent when we strolled in. I didn't dare say anything because I was fuming and I didn't want Jake to see that side of me. At least not now. I didn't want to ruin his moment.

He was astounded when I opened the door to my penthouse. Sebastian had given me this when we married promising that this was safe enough for my living. It is beautiful; sitting on the top of the building with a great view of his family's business a few blocks away.

Newly married, and we tried staying in the same house for a few days but it was a disaster and I had to move out.

He'd come over when he pleased to either make love or scream at me, which as a result also ended in sex.

I shook my head to erase his image.

"You can leave the bag there," I told Gabe before he departed.

Jake didn't say anything but in his face, I was able to see the excitement consuming him. "How did you get this?"

I didn't want him to know that I was married. Not yet. He was already dealing with his own demons to try and protect me from the man I was falling in love with. "Let me show you around. You can pick your own room."

"Cool!" he chuckled as he looked around.

I showed him the kitchen which was tiled in black and white, the movie and game room which he loved most, and then his room which was a grey interior. He was happy to have his own bathroom. He called it proper privacy.

"Are you happy?"

He was grinning. "Should you even ask that?"

I shrugged. "I want to see you happy."

"Don't get it wrong. I am happy but you aren't forgiven." He sprawled on his bed. "Awesome!"

"I know." I gave him a sad smile. His forgiving me was my only priority now.

"You still haven't answered me how you get all this? Are you in the mafia? If that's so, please don't get me included."

I glared at him but didn't respond.

There was a knock on the door. "I'll go open the door. Look around." With that, I stepped out of his room and headed to the front door.

If I told Jake that I was married he'd ask too many questions and think I left him behind to get a better life. I need to talk to Sebastian first.

"Hello Amanda," he spoke when I opened the door.

His cologne was the first thing that hit me followed by the image of his handsome face. My legs jellied underneath me but I tried my best to maintain my composure.

"Sebastian. I thought you were busy."

"I had other things to do," he shrugged and stepped inside.

I didn't give him the key. I prefer he knocks on the door like a human being would do and wait as I take my time to open it for him.

He'd usually let me know when he was coming over because it pissed me off when he appeared uninvited.

"This is for you, babe." He pushed a bouquet. I really hated red roses but it was normal of him to do things I didn't like.

I studied the flowers with a forced smile as I took them. "What do you want?"

"You are welcome." He continued walking to the kitchen to serve himself a cup of bourbon that was in the cupboard. It was special for him. He doesn't know but I made sure it was always there. That bastard. He made me do things I didn't want to.

"I am glad you made it home safe and sound. "

I placed the bouquet on the counter and walked to him. "I think I heard you saying that you missed me. Where is the love you spoke of through the phone?"

He choked on his liquid and then smiled. "Don't tell me you believed it. You are the same Amanda I remember." He drank again.

There was a pang of rejection but I pushed the hurt away. "Weren't you the one who was worried about Mike following us?"

His face contorted in anger. "Do not bring that dickhead into this conversation. You know the rules. "

"What rules Sebastian? It's my place."

"Let's not do this again. I helped you go to San Fernando because it was your brother but there was an agreement."

I crossed my hands over my chest and leaned against the cupboard. "I am not sorry about anything. If you wouldn't have let me go, I would have done everything behind your back."

"You are going to kill me one day."

I gave him a flirting smile. "Maybe that's what I want."

He chuckled. After placing his cup on the counter he strolled toward me and caged me still.

My knees turned weak and my heart accelerated. I looked past his shoulder to avoid his gaze but he cupped my jaw and forced me to look into his eyes. "You make me crazy, Amanda. You know that right? It's the bickering that makes this all interesting. I get so tired of it but then when we aren't arguing I feel like you don't care about me and I can't let that happen."

My breath hitched and I felt myself surrender to him. I closed my eyes to control myself but even in the darkness, his face was the only thing I was able to see. "Back off," I found myself saying but it was a weak whisper he couldn't hear.

"You know I can't do that, Amanda. I've tried. You even moved out but here we are again, going wild for each other. Feel my heart," he grabbed my hand and placed it on his chest. It was slamming in rhythm with mine.

"Don't do this to me," I begged. Each time it was harder to stay away from him but if we continued with this stupid game, one day one of us would end up hurting.

"I came to meet your brother but I could come another time...however I'd love for us to finish this. " He mumbled against my lips.

He wasn't playing fair. He probably suspected my feelings and was using them against me. It was a nasty game.

I tried to keep my eyes away from his lips but he was tempting me and I was a terrible player when he was being the coach.

I closed my eyes to receive the impact of our lips colliding. It was hot, sweet, and mixed with bourbon. The feeling of it on his tongue made me aroused. His lips melted my knees and when I was about to fall, he sat me on the counter to continue his winning game. My toes curled under his influence and my knees pressed him closer to me. He squeezed my thigh as I gave him access to my jaw and neck.

In the midst of my mistake, the perfume on his shoulder made me freeze. I smelled it again and it stroke me. It was Pollen's favorite and only perfume. When I looked closer there was lipstick staining his white button shirt which was underneath his black suit.

Full of anger, I pushed him away. "Back off!" My hand automatically flew across his face and his skin touching the palm of my hand resounded in the room.

"What the fuck!"

"You son of a...That's why you couldn't come to the airport, right? You were so entertained with her that you had no desire to keep your promise?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Next time you get laid and then decide to appear on my door make sure you get well cleaned and bring no proof."

He massaged his jaw in frustration and let out a loud sigh. "I wasn't with Pollen."

I laughed. "Make sure you get checked for STD next time you plan on getting in my bed. Why am I so stupid? " I jumped off the counter and walked around. I heard Jake's door open and cursed under my breath. Bad timing.

"That's why we couldn't make this work. You are crazy!"

"Don't make this about me. If you would at least keep your dick in your pants then we'd have no problem. Get out of my house!"

"Amanda," he muttered. "I swear it's not like that. I haven't been with another woman."

"Check yourself, sweetheart. I said get out!"

He lifted his hands in surrender after he picked his clothing from the ground. "I'll get the fuck out then!"

Jake appeared in the kitchen, his face full of surprise. "What's going on?"

"Hey Jake," Sebastian forced a smile. "See you next time." With that, he left.

I was left there with a flustered face and a ready-to-pop-vein.

"Who's that?" Jake asked again. This time his face was a little softer.

"A dickhead, that's who he is," I replied exasperated. "I'll take a bath. You can order anything. There is a menu on the fridge with the number. "