More Nights With Kate (Jack Ryker) (3 page)

Kate

After freshening up my face and a quick change of clothes, I
spent a rather painful 20 minutes staring at the TV while my mind remained
preoccupied with Jack’s latest text.  If nothing else was resolved that
evening, I at least wanted clarification on what he meant by his weakened
heart.  Normally I don’t obsess over things, but the strangest feeling had
gone through me upon reading those words.  It was if I had subconsciously
known that something was wrong with Jack all along.  Judging by the
queasiness in the pit of my stomach, those words were more than a simple
metaphor.

When the limo finally arrived, Jack greeted me with that
charismatic smile and kiss on the cheek.  He kept the conversation light
on the way to the restaurant.  He had once again connected with a famous
London based chef and restaurateur who happened to be in town and would
personally oversee the creation of our meals. 
Over-the-top once again,
Jack.
  Mouthwatering as always, I enjoyed a Mediterranean Sea bass
dish called Loup de Mer.  Keeping with tradition, Jack ordered a highly
marbled rib cap accompanied by butter poached lobster tail.  It was a shimmering,
decadent dish sure to be frowned upon by any reputable cardiologist.

Watching Jack eat his meal was akin to watching Mom’s facial
expressions during her favorite Broadway play.  Jack truly loved food and
richly marbled beef was his quintessential dining experience.  There was
no way I could bring up the topic of his heart while watching this gastric
symphony. 
That really does look amazing.  He will never give up
beef, regardless of any health issues.

Jack

It was a pleasure dining with Kate again.  In some
ways, it was as if nothing had ever strained our relationship.  In other
ways, it seemed like we were on our first date.  Guarded conversation
often followed by awkward periods of silence.  Overall, though, everything
went much more smoothly than I had expected.  The conversation remained
light and she seemed to be enjoying herself. 
I’ve really missed waking
up to those beautiful eyes the past couple of mornings.

“Are you ready to discuss a few things?” Kate asked as we
finished our entrees.

“Not here.  I have a suite for the night.  It will
give us a little privacy.”

“Alright, but we
are
going to talk,” she smirked.

I have never been one who enjoyed having personal
conversations in public.  That’s why I chose a restaurant attached to a 5
star hotel.  Having a room for the night would give us a place to relax
and talk in private.  I thought about booking one at the St. Regis again,
but it seemed more appropriate to choose neutral ground, so I decided I would
try a new place.  Walking through the lobby, it was very apparent that
they catered to Kate’s generation the same way that the St. Regis caters to the
older generation. 
I want to be part of the younger generation again.
 

Kate

Jack’s suite was just as amazing as the one we had at the
St. Regis, but totally modern instead of the European charm.  It was
called the atrium suite, so our living room was solid glass on all sides,
including the ceiling.  Having spent my entire life in the city, I had
never seen a more spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline.

“Kristen suggested this place.  She said the views
alone were worth the price,” Jack told me as he led me toward the windows.

“She was right, it’s totally amazing.”

After another extended pause, Jack broke the ice asking, “What
do you want to talk about first?”

“I think that we should start with the real reason why you
ditched me.”

“First of all, I had always planned on leaving town the day
the sale of the company closed.  That plan was in place long before you
and I met.  As for the letter I wrote you, there are several reasons, most
of which stem back to the fact that you are 27 years younger than me.”

“That fact has been obvious since day one, Jack.  It
feels like there is something else wrong.”

“The thought of leaving you prematurely is something I would
have a hard time living with,” Jack replied with a tortured look on his
face.  “However, I feel incredibly lucky to have found another woman who
makes me feel the way I did with Eva.  When I got back to the ship, I
immediately realized that I just couldn’t walk away,” he explained as tears
began to mist his clear blue eyes.

“I know… there is nothing easy about this.  Sunday
morning, I knew that you were going to leave.  I could just feel it deep
inside of me,” I sobbed recounting that terrible morning.  “I wanted so
badly to tell you that I was willing to accept the consequences, even if it
meant spending the rest of my life alone.  If we only had 20 or 25
fantastic years together, it would be worth it.”

“If I could guarantee you 20 good years, I probably wouldn’t
have hesitated.  In fact, I would’ve even considered starting a second
family with you,” he said as another wave of tears rushed to the surface.

I instantly felt a stabbing feeling in my chest and a pit in
my stomach, as my heart sank.  I knew that the text he sent me earlier had
been in preparation of something he wanted to tell me.  His weakened heart
was for real.  That’s why he had stumbled out of the shower that day and
went to visit his doctor before going to Paris. 
Damn it!
 

“How bad is it Jack?”

“What?”

“Your heart.”  As if he didn’t know what I was
referring to.

“I’m not in imminent danger or anything, but my last heart
scan showed continued deterioration.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, feeling a sense of
betrayal. 
I could’ve killed him for god sake!

“I didn’t tell you because I knew that things would change
between us.  I was having a great time with you and I didn’t want it to
end.  Some of those things you did to me were worth having a heart attack
over.”

I felt my lips curl up a bit as I reflected upon those
times.  “Isn’t there something they can do for you?”

“It’s a rare genetic cardiomyopathy that runs in our
family.  My great grandfather was a dock worker who died at age 45, my
grandfather built skyscrapers and he died at 53.”

“But your dad is still alive.  How old is he?”

“He’s almost 70, but he hasn’t done much living in the last
30 years.  He took our family history seriously getting annual checkups,
taking every precaution, popping supplements like crazy, even avoiding alcohol
and rich food.  He also takes a nice, slow walk for two hours every
evening to make sure he gets enough non-strenuous exercise.  That’s not
living, it’s just avoiding death.  I’ve lived a much different lifestyle
than him and apparently it has taken its toll.   That’s why I decided
to try testosterone therapy.  I was tired of being tired.  It’s not a
solution, but at least it helps me feel better.”

“Is that safe with your heart condition?”

“After watching my father all of these years, I’m not
interested in safety.  My heart is dying.  Next week I’m going to the
Heart Institute in the Bahamas and talking to them about cardiac stem cell
therapy.”

“Wow, isn’t there anything they can do for you here?”

“Sure, if I have a heart and lung transplant right now,
before any further damage occurs in my cardiovascular system. They tell me I
have an 85% chance of living 7 more years.”

“7 years?”  I felt my heart sink again.

“They also gave me a 50/50 chance of living to age
60.” 

“Wow that’s depressing.” I tried to be strong as tears
welled up in my eyes.

“Now you know why I’ve given up on traditional western
medicine,” he admitted to me.

“What can stem cells do for you?”

“There’s no guarantee, but if it works, my heart will begin to
regenerate itself.”

“Then you could have a normal life?”

“I’m hoping for a better than normal life.  There are
some risks, though.  That’s why I was trying to make sure that everyone
was taken care of before I left town.  I figured if something happened to
me, it would be best if Jayne was with Julian and you were in a successful
business with Brandon.  I’m sorry everything was so orchestrated.”

“Actually, I’m a little relieved, Jack.  At least now I
understand why you were acting so strange.  I was starting to wonder if
you were losing it.”

“I know.  I didn’t want to tell you about this until
after I knew my prognosis.  If the prognosis was bad, I could slowly die
out of sight.  If the prognosis was good, then I could come back and
explain everything.”

“And what if I had fallen in love with someone else in the
meantime?”

“That’s exactly why I’m standing here today.  I
couldn’t stand the thought of that happening.  It’s a chance I wasn’t
willing to take.  I knew that I had to come back and lay all of the cards
on the table.”

“I’m really glad you did.  I would’ve been devastated
if you went off and died on me.  I’m not so sure I could’ve ever recovered
from something like that.”

“Then I’m glad I made the right decision,” he replied
squeezing me tight.

It was strange how so much energy could radiate from a man
who was so sick.  When he held me, I felt so safe and secure.  It was
unlike anything I have ever felt.   With all of that positive energy,
I couldn’t imagine that he wouldn’t respond well to whatever treatment he
pursued.

Now I understand the dichotomy that surrounds Jack. 
He’s 49, but most people would look at him and think that he was in his late
30s or early 40s, but he always talked like his life was almost over. 
Until today, I never really made the connection that there was something
terminally wrong with him.  All of that extra testosterone must be doing a
good job of masking his symptoms. 

~~~

Jack

After hearing my explanation, Kate slowly seemed to come
back to her normal self, but she was still disturbed by the thought of me going
off to die without her.  That wasn’t really my intent, but I can see how
she could construe it in that manner.  Standing there, holding her in my
arms, I felt strong.  I was prepared to use my resources to take on any
health challenges that were in my future.  The thought of spending the
next 30 years with Kate had inspired me to go wherever I needed to go and do
what needed to be done.  I had lived with the knowledge of this genetic flaw
for as long as I could remember and it was time to see if I could put it behind
me for good.

The reason I hadn’t told her in the first place was because
I didn’t want her to treat me like I was sick.  The only thing more
annoying than being sick is being treated like you are sick.

Pulling back, I assured her, “Don’t worry about my
heart.  At my last appointment, my doctor assured me that I’m not on the
verge of anything catastrophic.”

“That’s good because I don’t even remember how to do
CPR.  We learned it in high school gym class, but I need a refresher.”

“Actually, I have several portable defibrillators that I
will show you how to use.  Hopefully you won’t need to worry about it,
though. The Bahamas are becoming the nerve center for cutting edge stem cell
treatments.”

“And you think stem cells can regenerate your heart?”

“That’s what a friend of mine tells me.  He’s provided
funding for several of the new clinics down there.  He claims there are
miracles occurring every day down there.”

After a few seconds of contemplation she proposed, “If we
finish up with all of the plant retooling details with Brenda this week, I
would love to go with you.”

“Nothing would make me happier.  In fact, I’ll sit in
on the meetings and help you put it all together,” I replied as I cupped the
side of her jaw in palm and began to kiss her beautifully plump lips. 
“God I missed you.”

“Good.  So you promise not to ditch me again?” she
asked, pulling back slightly.

“I promise Kate.  Whether I’m here 7 more years or 37,
I would love to spend every one of them with you.”  By the look in her
eyes, I could see that those were words she had been waiting to hear.

As our lips crashed against one another it suddenly felt as
if a giant weight had been lifted from my chest.  It was hard to believe
how much pain I had experienced in the past couple of days.  I knew that
it would be hard, but I never imagined just how deeply she had penetrated my
soul.  We had been together for less than a month, yet suddenly, I wanted
to spend every waking moment with her. 
How does this happen?  How
do two people meet, spend a short month together and find themselves absolutely
and unequivocally in love with one another?  It really doesn’t seem
possible, much less rational.  But, I honestly love her and I can’t
imagine how empty my life would be without her.  Thank God, Jayne brought
me to my senses before it was too late.
 

~~~

Kate

Every article I had ever read in
Cosmo
told me that I
should’ve played hard to get.  I should’ve made him grovel and beg for my
forgiveness.  I should’ve been more of a bitch about the fact that he left
me with nothing but a Dear Jane letter… but I couldn’t.  The fact that
only two days after leaving he was standing in front of me and committing his
future to me just blew my mind. 
Why me?
  He could’ve had
anyone he wanted, but instead he chose me. 
I know that some people
won’t understand it.  But, I honestly don’t care.  I have always
loved Jack, and until my dying breath, I always will.  I just wish he
would’ve trusted me with the truth.

As if he was reading my mind, Jack said, “I’m sorry for not
being completely honest with you.  It will never happen again.”

With that, he swept me up in his arms and carried me over to
the couch.  We paused momentarily to take in the panoramic view of the
beautiful skyline and the bustling city below.

“Have you ever thought about making love while being
completely surrounded by windows?” he asked with a smirk.

“Actually, the thought has never, ever crossed my mind.”

He set me down on the couch and knelt in front of me. 
He slowly moved his hands up the insides of my legs.  I instantly felt a
surge of energy travel up my inner thighs and strike deep within my core. 
For the past two days, I had struggled to push Jack out of my mind, but
instantly he had recaptured my full attention. 
There is no place on
earth I would rather be than right here.

When he reached my hips, he hooked his fingers in the sides
of my panties and lifted me slightly to slide them down.  I felt a gush of
hot juices as he began kissing his way back toward my overheated pussy. 
No one had ever made me feel the way I felt with Jack.  I couldn’t imagine
ever being about to recreate those intensely erotic moments with anyone else
. 
I only want Jack,
was my final thought, as he ran his tongue along my slit
and teased my clit.  Any thoughts of him being sick quickly faded into the
background, as he began to work me with the same intensity that he had our
first week together
.  My god that feels so good.  He definitely
knows exactly how to melt me.

Jack

There was only one thing that I wanted to prove to Kate that
night in the Atrium Suite; the fact that despite living with a heart condition,
I had every intention of fucking her with all of the intensity I could
muster.  She had consumed my every thought since I left her apartment on
Sunday.  I translated all of the emotions I had been feeling directly into
sexual energy.  I could hear myself moaning as I moved along her tender
folds and began to roll her clit between my upper lip and tongue.  Her abs
began to flex as she moaned and squirmed, letting me know that I was achieving
the desired effect.  Nothing made me happier than hearing her cry out in
ecstasy, but I was in search of multiple orgasms.  Since Kate was willing
to spend her life with a much older man, I was determined to deliver as much
satisfaction as possible.  I slipped my fingers inside of her and began to
rhythmically stroke her G-spot, while continuing to massage her clit with my
tongue.

“Oh God, Jack…. that’s so intense,” was all the
encouragement that I needed to turn up the heat another notch.

Her body went rigid as she clenched my hair tightly with
both fists.  Even though she had a pretty strong hold, I overpowered her,
burying my face as deep as possible into her while continuing my assault on her
G-spot.  Her shallow, staggered breaths continued until she finally let
out a scream of submission and began to squirm her way across the couch.

“I love making you squirm,” I said as I grabbed the hem of
her dress.  Sliding her back toward me, I pulled her to her feet and slid
the dress up over her head.  In nothing but her sexy little bra, I turned
her toward the side windows.

“What if people can see us?” she asked, instantly realizing our
proximity to other guest rooms.

“Kind of exciting isn’t it?” I teased.

“It’s pretty wild,” she replied as I grabbed the clasp of
her bra and released it.

I kissed down the length of her back while undoing my own
pants, allowing them to drop to the floor.  I could feel my cock throbbing
as I reached around her, rolling her nipples between my fingers. 
I
just love how her tits fit so perfectly in my hands.

Kate sighed as my rigid cock came to rest against her
drenched folds.  I resisted the urge to dive right in and began to slide
the tip slowly along her hot, slick pussy.  Squeezing her nipples between
my fingers, I moved slightly deeper, just enough to get inside.  I could
feel her inner muscles respond as they gripped me, delivering increased
intensity with each shallow stoke.

Kate

Jack always had the ability to bring me to my knees. 
He’s
such a damn tease.
 
God, I love how his head feels against my
G-spot.  
Each time he hit that spot, the intensity continued to
build.  I could feel my fingers losing their grip as they began to slide
down the glass.  If Jack’s arms hadn’t been wrapped around me, I probably
would’ve hit the floor.  With one smooth motion, he lifted me to the
ledge.  I was on my knees, kneeling in front of a large pane of
glass.  I swore at the time that people were looking right at us, but
wrote it off as a figment of my imagination.  I have to admit, the thought
of people seeing us was actually kind of a turn on at the moment.

I braced my hands against the glass once again as Jack moved
deeper inside of me.  This had become my favorite position ever since the
first time we had done it.  He grabbed hold of my hips and slowly plunged
his huge dick all of the way inside me.  I almost came with that very
first thrust.  He then began to deliver slow, powerful strokes, causing my
hands once again to begin their slide down the glass.

Sensing my instability, Jack released my hips and grabbed
both of my arms just above the elbows.  He held me up as I began to use my
hips to move up and down on his cock.  He gave out a rather loud groan as
I practiced flexing my kegel muscles the way Jackie had taught me. 
Suddenly, it was a competition to see who could put the other over the edge
first.  Jack was doing his best to make sure that he was hitting me in
just the right spot, and I was returning the favor by squeezing tight with
every upstroke.  The sounds coming from Jack were so primal and sexy that
I began to pound him with everything I had.  After several moments of wild
action, he let out a deep groan and I felt his dick pulse deep within me. 
The feeling of his load being unleashed made me quiver as I joined him in a
shuddering climax.  Despite wanting to keep stroking his ultra-sensitive
cock, I couldn’t subject my own overheated parts to any further stimulation.

“I love you,” Jack whispered as he wrapped his arms around
me and squeezed me tight.

A hot stream of tears returned and began to flow down my
face.  My brain was obviously recalling the highly emotional encounters we
had shared in the previous week.  My emotions still felt so raw and
overwhelming.

“I love you, too, Jack,” I managed to whisper.  “Always
and forever.”

In that moment of serene silence, staring out at the
Manhattan skyline, wrapped in Jack’s arms… I knew that I would never have to
worry about him leaving again.  He had made that mistake once, and after
learning the reason for his departure, all had been forgiven. 
The
makeup sex was spectacular, too.

Jack

Lying in bed with Kate, I was relieved to be past the first
hurdle in our relationship.  The longer I held her, the more I knew that
everything was going to work out for us.   There would undoubtedly be
more bumps in the road, but the love that we had for one another was more than
real. 
True love can overcome any obstacle, as long as we choose to
focus on it instead of the obstacles.
  I continued to hold Kate as
close as possible until I drifted off to sleep. 
There is no place on
earth I would rather be than right here.