When the third and final day was complete, and the time to leave the island was at hand, Kris felt as though her heart might break in two. There were a million and one things she wanted to say to Jack, and a million and one more ways she wanted to make love to him.
By the time she began donning her professor clothing, the actions of the past three days were making themselves felt. Her nipples ached from being sucked on, her pussy was sore from having Jack’s cock constantly buried inside of her, and her clit was overly sensitive from being sucked on more times than she could count.
And yet she still wanted more—and more and more and more.
With a sunken heart, she silently admitted to herself that all vacations have to come to an end. And that’s what this excursion had been, a vacation. In real life Jack could afford to date, and chose to date, perfectly gorgeous women with perfect bodies—not passingly pretty women with imperfect bodies.
Kris sighed as she tossed the black handcuffs into her valise. She wanted to have an intimate souvenir of the hedonistic nights they’d spent together and the black handcuffs were about as intimate of a reminder as she could think to take with her.
Her eyes flew to the knotted pine bureau. She smiled nostalgically as she walked over to it and picked up her spectacles. She thought back on last night when Jack had teased her about them.
“These are the ugliest glasses I’ve ever seen, professor.” He held them up as if studying them. “Where’d you buy them? Nerds-R-Us?”
She looked up from her crème broulee long enough to chuckle. “Actually at Geeks-R-Us,” she teased him back. “There’s a distinct difference between the two, you know.”
He grunted, setting them back down on the bureau before joining her at the small, intimate table in the hut…
She smiled. After that they’d talked and they’d talked. They’d discussed everything and nothing, speaking on topics as diverse as San Francisco’s art scene, university politics, and the city politics he often had to sort through to benefit McKenna Construction.
“I don’t regret buying the company,” Jack admitted, digging into his own dessert. They were both naked and very comfortable being that way with each other. “But basically I’m a works-with-his-hands kinda guy. I dislike dealing with all that other bullshit.”
She smiled. “And you’re very, very good at working with your hands,” she said sexily. It amazed her how seductive she could be where Jack was concerned. Before Jack had charged into her life she’d felt about as seductive as the bearded lady at the circus.
That eyebrow of his shot up. “Come here, professor,” he murmured…
Kris sighed, smiling to herself as she absently toyed with her spectacles. Snapping out of it, she shook her head slightly, then threw them into the valise.
“Hey professor,” Jack grumbled as he strode into the hut. “Your plane awaits you.”
She turned on her heel, her heart simultaneously thumping and constricting when she saw him. He was dressed in another Italian business suit, and she guessed that he probably had a meeting to attend later in the day or something.
Kris smiled at him fully, even though she felt like she was dying on the inside. “Thank you for letting me know, Jack.” She took a deep breath, then nodded. “I guess I should be on my way then.”
Jack studied her broodingly, but didn’t say anything to waylay her departure. “I guess so,” he muttered. He sighed, running a hand over his jaw. “Thanks for everything, professor,” he said in the gentlest tone of voice she’d ever heard him use. “I had the best three nights of my life with you.”
She wanted to cry. She also wanted to tell him that they could have many more nights that were just as wonderful. She smiled instead, nodding again. “Me too,” she whispered.
Kris took a deep breath, fearing she might do something completely embarrassing like tear up. She blinked a few times in rapid succession, then extended her hand to Jack. “Thanks for everything. I’ll see you at the university, I’m sure.”
Jack looked at her hand, but didn’t take it. He took a deep breath instead, then drew her close and hugged her tightly.
Kris closed her eyes just as tightly, determined not to cry. Luckily he couldn’t see her face, so he couldn’t know how close she was.
“I’ll definitely see you at the university, Krissy,” he murmured into her hair. “And you better not avoid me like you used to.”
She smiled, her eyes still closed. “I won’t,” she promised. “Avoid you that is.”
“Good.”
Jack gave her one of his bear hugs, a gesture she loved as much as his lovemaking. “Take care of yourself,” he said gruffly.
“I will.”
When he released her, Kris took a steadying breath, picked up her valise, and smiled brilliantly up to him, a dimple popping out on either cheek. “Goodbye, Jack.”
He nodded, his dark eyes mesmerizing her dimples, her cat-like green eyes. “Goodbye, Krissy.”
She was miserable without him. A week had already came and went and every day, every hour, had grown more unbearable than the last. She wanted to see him, to touch him, to hear him growl and grunt at her. Anything. Any contact would be welcomed contact.
Kris sighed, then shoved another spoonful of chocolate ice cream between her lips as she watched the ending of her new favorite movie—
How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
“Don’t fall for it, Cindy-Lou,” she muttered to the screen as the reformed Grinch served up the Christmas feast to the Whos. “The damn man will wine you and dine you with who-pudding and rare who-roast-beast, and then he’ll leave you, cleaving your heart in two.”
She frowned. “God I’m pathetic,” she mumbled. “It’s been a week and he hasn’t come for you, Kris. He’s not going to come for you—get it through your head already.”
Flicking off the television set, Kris stood up with a sigh, then plodded into the kitchen to put her ice cream bowl into the sink.
It was time to move on. It was time to stop obsessing over Jack.
* * * * *
He was miserable without her. A week had already came and went and every day, every hour, had grown more unbearable than the last. He wanted to see her, to touch her, to growl and grunt at her. Anything. Any contact would be welcomed contact.
Jack sighed, then shoved another spoonful of chocolate ice cream between his lips as he watched the ending of his new favorite movie—
The Nutty Professor.
“Don’t fall for it,” he muttered to the screen as the professor took the only woman he coveted out on a date. “The damn woman will let you wine her and dine her with prime rib and crème broulee, and then she’ll leave you, cleaving your heart in two.”
He frowned. “God I’m pathetic,” he mumbled. “It’s been a week and she hasn’t come for you, Jack. She’s not going to come for you—get it through your head already.”
Flicking off the television set, Jack stood up with a sigh, then plodded into the kitchen to put his ice cream bowl into the sink.
It was time to move on. It was time to stop obsessing over Krissy.
* * * * *
“I can’t stop thinking about him!” Kris wailed dramatically, bemoaning the fates that had conspired against her. “He’s in my every thought, my every…” She waved an impatient hand. “…my every everything.”
Her friend chuckled, the single mother of an adorable blue-eyed, golden haired baby boy shaking her head in disapproval. “So go tell him how you feel. How do you know he isn’t feeling the same way if you don’t tell him how you feel?”
Kris frowned as she fell into her chair. “He’s too good for me,” she mumbled. “He’s a thousand times more good looking than I am.” She sighed. “He’d never want a woman like me for keeps.”
Her friend sighed too, glancing away. Her eyes were remote, distant, as if remembering a long ago moment in time she preferred to keep sealed away. “There was a man once…” She smiled, still looking away. “A man I loved. But I was too scared to tell him how I felt and too scared to ask him how he felt.” Her friend glanced up, at last meeting her gaze. “I’ve always regretted it,” she said quietly. “Because I’ve lost him forever.”
Kris’ eyes widened. “Why don’t you try to find him?”
Her friend was quiet for a long moment, but eventually she shook her head. “We weren’t meant to be,” she said softly. “We just weren’t meant to be.”
* * * * *
“I can’t stop thinking about her!” Jack wailed dramatically, bemoaning the fates that had conspired against him. “She’s in my every thought, my every…” He waved an impatient hand. “…my every everything.”
His best friend John Calder chuckled, his blue-eyed, golden haired head shaking in disapproval. “So go tell her how you feel. How do you know she isn’t feeling the same way if you don’t tell her how you feel?”
Jack frowned as he fell into his chair. “She’s too good for me,” he mumbled. “She’s a thousand times smarter and more good looking than I am.” He sighed. “She’d never want a man like me for keeps.”
John sighed too, glancing away. His eyes were remote, distant, as if remembering a long ago moment in time he preferred to keep sealed away. “There was a woman once…” He smiled, still looking away. “A woman I loved. But I was too scared to tell her how I felt and too scared to ask her how she felt.” John glanced up, at last meeting his gaze. “I’ve always regretted it,” he said quietly. “Because I’ve lost her forever.”
Jack’s eyes widened. “Why don’t you try to find her?”
John was quiet for a long moment, but eventually he shook his head. “We weren’t meant to be,” he said softly. “We just weren’t meant to be.”
“Good morning, Dr. Torrence.”
“Good morning, Dr. Moore.”
Kris frowned as she strolled into the faculty lounge, her surly mood evident. She was dressed in a conservative navy business skirt that ended at the knee, a white cotton shirt that was buttoned all the way to the top, and her mass of dark red curls was secured in a tight bun at the nape of her neck. Completing her usual ensemble was a pair of black spectacles perched at the tip of her nose.
Clearly, she felt about as good as she looked. But then she’d never placed much importance in fashion anyway.
Kris inclined her head to Dr. Moore as she plodded by him, feeling as glum as glum could be. “How are you doing today?” she asked conversationally. “I’m sorry I’m late.”
I was busy brooding over the Grinch!
“Has anything happened around here I should know about?”
Dr. Moore nodded, his pompous tone as annoying as it had ever been. “Quite a bit actually…”
She listened to her colleague’s rather long-winded answer with half an ear as she poured herself a cup of what most people would call beans and water, but what the university called, or tried to pass off as at any rate, coffee.
Kris ignored Dr. Moore as she sipped from the steamy mug of cheap quasi-Columbian brew, and reflected back on the conversation she’d had with her best friend last night. Maybe she had been right. Maybe she should tell Jack how she felt.
“Oh,” Dr. Moore continued, breaking her out of her reverie, “I almost forgot to mention that Mr. McKenna is in your office.” He shook his head, perturbed. “He’s waiting to speak to you,” he said disdainfully as he adjusted his tie.
Kris’ heartbeat began to race. “Mr. McKenna? As in Jack McKenna?” She swallowed roughly as she looked at her colleague, her eyes wide. Could it possibly be true? “Are you certain?”
“Afraid so.”
“Did he say what he wants?” she breathed out.
“Why don’t you ask him yourself,” a dark voice growled from behind her.
Kris whipped around, almost spilling her coffee at her surprise as she did so. Dr. Moore cleared his throat uncomfortably while nervously readjusting his tie. “Jack,” she breathed out. She shook her head slightly, remembering that Dr. Moore was in the room. “You wanted to see me, Mr. McKenna?”
“Hell yes I want to see you,” he growled. He jabbed a finger in the general direction of her office door. “Let’s go talk, lady.”
Kris frowned severely, but smiled on the inside. Jack was here! He’d come back! If even just to growl at her…
As soon as they reached her modest office, and the door was shut firmly behind them, she turned to look at him, smiling as she drank in the sight of him. She knew she should probably play it cool, but good lord he looked wonderful to her Jack-starved senses. “How are you?” she asked, wanting to know everything. “It’s so good to see you.”
His jaw clenched as his dark gaze broodingly raked over her face. “Is it, Krissy?” he grumbled.
She blinked. “Well, of course.” She shook her head. “I’ve missed you, Jack,” she admitted, deciding to be honest about at least that much. She’d been so hungry for his presence that all of a sudden she no longer cared how much of a fool she made of herself. “I’ve missed you a lot.”
Jack’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You know what I’m up to and you’re trying to throw me off the scent, aren’t you?” His nostrils flared when she gazed at him as though she had no idea what he was talking about. “Well it won’t work,” he growled.
Jack grunted—music to her ears!—then whipped out a large envelope she hadn’t noticed him carrying under his arm. He briskly opened the envelope, pulling photographs of her out of it. Photographs, she noticed when he placed them on the desk, that were of her at Hotel Atlantis—naked and smiling on Jack’s lap while he held her labial lips apart with his callused fingers.
Kris’ heart sunk while her pulse simultaneously sped up. She felt as though she was going to be sick. “You’re here to blackmail me?” she whispered. Her stomach and heart clenched painfully. “That’s why you’re here?”
He nodded, his jaw clenched. “That’s right, professor. You can either accept my conditions and have a long, prosperous career, or you can turn down my conditions and accept the consequences.”
She glanced away, wanting to be alone so badly she could cry. In fact, she wanted to be alone so she could cry. “I see,” she said quietly, her voice monotone. “And what are your conditions?”
As if she cared. She didn’t care about anything anymore.
“Marry me,” he whispered.
Her head shot up. Her heart began thumping wildly against her chest. Surely she hadn’t heard him right… “What?” she breathed out.
Jack’s dark gaze bore into hers. And for the first time in two years he looked vulnerable to her. “I said marry me.” He glanced away, sighing as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “I know you’re too good for me…”
She could only gape.
His hand left the bridge of his nose as he turned back to glare at her. “…and I know you don’t love me the way I love you…”
She was going to faint. She was certain she was going to faint.
“…but I’ll take what I can get.” His jaw clenched as his hand slashed definitively through the air. “I need to be with you, Krissy, and I don’t care how manipulative I have to be to get you.”
Jack shook his head, looking more resigned than she’d ever seen him. “I’m miserable without you,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry I have to do this to you, Krissy, but I promise I’ll be the best husband on earth. I—”
“Oh Jack shut up! Of course I’ll marry you!” Kris flung herself at him with such force that the big bruiser grunted at the impact. She wrapped her arms around his middle and hugged tightly, smiling like a doofus. “I’ve been so miserable without you that all I’ve done since I left the island is eat chocolate ice cream, watch television, and whine to my best friend.”
“Me too,” he growled as he put his arms around her and squeezed. “John is sick to death of my bitching,” he admitted on a grumble. His face fell to her hair and he breathed in the scent of it. “Goddamn I’ve missed you,” he said hoarsely. “I love you so much, Krissy.”
“Oh Jack, I love you too.” She held onto him tightly, her eyes closed and her lips smiling.
“Thank God you caved easily,” he sighed, mumbling as if to himself. “I was afraid I was going to have to pull out the big guns and quote Kenny Rogers.”
She didn’t know what he meant by that, and didn’t particularly care, so she let the enigmatic statement go right on by, too overjoyed to give it any thought.
Jack ran his hands over her backside, then rotated his hips to let her know his erection was there and seeking attention. “Come on, professor,” he growled, reaching under her skirt. “It’s time for daddy to get you out of those grandma drawers.”
She chuckled as she gazed up at him. “I’m wearing a black thong,” she admitted. “I burned the grandma drawers.”
“Well goddamn,” he drawled as his hands found the thong in question and he pulled it down, letting it drop to the floor. “I always knew you were made for me.”
She unzipped his pants, nodding her agreement. “And I always knew that you were made for me.”
Jack plopped her on the desk, grunting primitively when she spread her thighs wide for him. Her pussy was already wet and waiting—just like he liked it. Then again, he liked Krissy’s pussy any way he could get it.
“And that's not all,” he growled. “You're not just gonna marry me. You're gonna have my kid too,” he arrogantly announced as he guided his cock to her opening. “
It’s time to work on Junior, sweetheart,” he said through gritted teeth as he plunged his cock deep inside of her, his nostrils flaring when her wet flesh immediately enveloped him, suctioning him in.
Kris gasped, clinging to him. “You want a baby already?”
“Already?” he groaned, sliding in and out of the flesh he’d missed so damn badly. “I’m over forty, baby. It’s now or it’s never.”
She grinned and then groaned, her head falling back as he picked up the pace of his thrusting. “Now,” she moaned.
He grunted arrogantly, liking the idea of putting his baby in her belly. “I love you, Krissy,” Jack rasped out as he plunged deep inside of her. “I’ll always love you.”
Kris smiled, happier than she’d ever thought to be. “I love you too, Jack. Always.” She cupped his face with her palms. “You’re lucky you came to get me, you big bruiser. I was giving you one more day and then I was coming after you myself.”
“It woulda been a short walk,” Jack admitted unabashedly. “I was camped out in front of your place with binoculars every night this past week making sure no man touched what’s mine.”
Kris threw her head back and laughed, then moaned when he began taking his thrusting seriously. “Never,” she promised on a half moan, half wail. “For the rest of my life there will never be any man for me but you, Jack McKenna.”
Jack made love to her on the desk, and then again every day for the rest of forever. Surreality had become reality, and reality had become something more beautiful and enduring than either of them had ever thought they’d have.
They married two weeks later on the island they’d fallen in love on. Nine months later Jack Jr. was born, and one month after that they moved with their son and their ten cats to the Fantasy Island John Calder had created from the ashes of Hotel Atlantis.
And then the Grinch and the Nutty Professor lived happily ever after.