Moment of Weakness - The Esquire Girls Series - Hailey (Book 1) (9 page)

Chapter 26

Jackson’s body has become an addiction for me. And I’m not ashamed to say it. I fall asleep dreaming about it at night. I wake up craving it in the morning.

I want him in a way that’s barely sane. A way that’s borderline obsessive. It’s way too much… It’s way too soon…I know…

When Ruthie called me to say that Michael would be taking her to the Hamptons to rekindle their romance, I wasted no time inviting Jackson over. We barely made it through a tour of the apartment before we were both naked and pleasuring each other’s bodies.

After three exhilarating hours, we’re both sticky and exhausted. We share a shower and end up making love again underneath the stream of hot water. I don’t think I’ll ever get over how good he feels inside of me.

I leave Jackson toweling off in the bathroom and go to the kitchen to grab two glasses of water. That’s when I hear loud, insistent banging on my front door.

I’m not expecting anyone.

I adjust the towel around my body and approach the door cautiously.

“Hailey,” I hear my name coming out in a whimper.

I stand on my tiptoes and see Matt staggering back and forth in the hallway.

What the hell!

I open the door a crack and shoo him away. “Matt! What are you doing here? Go away!” I say sticking my head out the door.

With a heavy shove, he pushes the door wide open. “That bitch! She won’t let me see my child, Hailey! She won’t even let me see my child!” He reeks of alcohol.

What the hell is he talking about? “Matt, get out of here!” I scold as I throw a nervous glance over my shoulder. I never told Jackson that Matt is the man I was sleeping with when we met. I don’t want him to find out this way.

“But she won’t let me see my daughter!” he reaches out and rests his hand on my shoulder.

I shrink away. “What daughter, Matt? Who won’t let you see her?” I’m so confused.

“That bitch, Amelia! That bitch!” he roars.

I distantly register the sound of my bathroom door swinging open. I need to get Matt out of here. Now.

“Matt, now isn’t a good time,” I say giving him a light push.

He staggers his way inside. “I know your roommate is out of town. Michael told me. So let me in. I wanna fuck you.”

“Matt, no! No!” I say firmly, taking a step back.

“Let me fuck you, Hailey,” he growls loudly as he yanks the towel off of my body.

Just then, Jackson comes storming down the hallway. “What the –”

Everything happens so fast. I’m not quite sure the exact order in which the events occur.

All I remember is the sound that pours out of Jackson’s body as his fist makes contact with Matt’s jaw.

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I scramble to wrap the towel around my naked body just as Jackson grabs Matt by the collar, lifting him like a rag doll and pinning him to the wall.

“Jackson! No!” I shriek as Jackson’s arm rears back, his fist aching to make contact with Matt’s face again. “Stop! Please!”

But Jackson continues to pound Matt’s pretty-boy face. Matt makes feeble attempts to fight back but even if he were sober right now, he’d have no chance against my infuriated marine.

“Enough!” I yelp as I pounce on Jackson and grab him by the shoulders. My touch finally gets him to stop.

He takes a few steps back and glares at Matt, a pathetic, bloody heap on the floor.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I scream, pushing him in the shoulder with all my strength. “That’s my fucking boss, you jerk!”

Jackson doesn’t even flinch. He just stands there, shirtless with his jeans low on his hips. “Get the fuck out of here. Now,” he seethes glaring at Matt.

I watch horrified as Matt crawls on all fours to my door. He’s all wobble as he grabs ahold of the doorframe and slowly brings himself to his feet. His eyes are swollen half shut and blood drips from his face.

“You’ll pay for this,” he growls at Jackson but his voice is so weak it’s barely a whisper.

“Get the fuck out of here before I stomp your teeth out!” Jackson roars.

I clasp my hands to my chest as I watch Matt wobble towards the staircase.

Oh sweet Jesus!

I hope I don’t lose my job over this.

Jackson puts his arm around my shoulder. “Are you okay?” he asks in a soft voice.

I shrink away from him. “I think you should leave,” I say as calmly as I can. I’m fuming on the inside. Matt is an asshole, no doubt. But he can make or break my legal career and my ‘boyfriend’ just beat him to a bloody pulp.

Jackson gives me a confused look. “Hailey…”

“Jackson – I need you to leave,” I say again.

He just shakes his head as he walks off towards my bedroom. When he reemerges a few moments later, he’s fully dressed. I hold the door open for him. He tries to kiss me on the cheek as he steps over the threshold, but I turn away.

A part of me feels a bit bad about leaving things this way, but the bigger part of me is pissed. He acted like a complete brute. All fists of fury, no questions asked.

Just before he steps onto the first stair, he turns back to look at me. I don’t wait to hear what he has to say. I just slam the door. So hard my whole apartment shakes.

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