Chapter 125: Chapter 125

Andrea denied it, smiling. "Come on, let's head back; we left our bags out there."

Elena nodded while eyeing her suspiciously before heading back to their table. "If you aren't pregnant, then why did you suddenly vomit?" she demanded.

"I think I had too much to drink, and it gave me cramps. But it tasted too good, and I didn't want to stop; I guess that serves me right," she chuckled softly, and just then her cellphone began to ring. Andrea picked up.

"Hey, I'm good. You're outside? Alright, just give us a sec," Andrea said. "Jacob is here. We need to get going," she added after hanging up.

"Why is he here? Did you tell him we're here?" Elena asked.

"Where did you think the VIP membership card came from? Of course, it was all Jacob's idea. We went for massages and facials today," Andrea said, handing Elena the VIP membership card and saying it belonged to her.

Both ladies walked to where Jacob parked his black, flashy SUV. "Here's your woman; I'll get going now. The kids are waiting for me at home." Andrea waved at them and quickly rushed off before Elena could say anything.

Elena exchanged looks with Jacob while fidgeting nervously. "Hi," she forced out a smile.

"Hi. Let me help you with this," Jacob said, taking the bag filled with products from the spa salon and placing them in the back seat for her. He then opened the door to the front passenger corner for her to get in.

Elena smiled and got in, murmuring "thank you" to him. Jacob got in, and before starting the car, he stared at Elena and then leaned in, causing Elena to tense up. "What are you doing?" Her voice came out barely above a whisper.

"Shhhh... relax," Jacob said in his softest tone, causing her heart to pound faster. At that moment, Elena felt a mix of excitement and anxiety and didn't know what to do except stay still and wait for his next move.

Jacob pulled the seatbelt close to her head and accidentally brushed his hand against her cheek. Elena immediately felt a chill run down her spine at the feel of his touch.

He buckled her seatbelt and said, "And that's done." He moved away from her, and Elena finally took a deep breath as she felt her nerves relax.

"So, you must be starving, right?" he asked.

Elena couldn't stop staring at him, so she nodded her head. "Me too. I just got off from work; my schedule was too tight, and I couldn't grab lunch today," Jacob said as he ignited the engine.

"You shouldn't skip meals; it's not healthy," he added.

"I'm craving someone's food, and today was the day I would finally get my taste buds satisfied." Jacob said it confidently.

Elena raised an eyebrow. "Your mom's?" she asked.

Jacob chuckled, shaking his head. "Guess again."

Elena rolled her eyes. "Andrea's?"

He shook his head again, a sly smile spreading across his face.

They drove in silence until they arrived at their destination, a bustling grocery store.

"You're probably wondering why we're here," Jacob said, turning off the engine.

She looked at him expectantly, and he continued, "Remember when I told you about my food cravings? Well, they just so happen to belong to you."

Elena's jaw dropped as she took in the surprise revelation. "How could you? You didn't even ask me if it's convenient, and you just drove me to a grocery store."

"I'm sorry. I promise to help you cook, okay?" Jacob gave her his irresistible pitiful eyes, and she found herself nodding her head in agreement.

*****

As they finished dinner, Jace and Jasmine remained in the kitchen. Jace scrubbed the dishes while Jasmine sat on the counter, munching on grapes. She looked up at him with a curious expression.

"What do you think of my performance? Do you think Mom likes me already?" Jace asked, wiping his hands on a towel.

"Honestly, I don't think Mom really likes you," Jasmine said, her voice laced with humor. "But don't worry; with time, she'll come around. The only reason she asked you to stay for lunch is because you're a decent guy, and she didn't expect someone like you."

"What do you mean?" Jace asked, his curiosity piqued.

"My type has always been bad guys," Jasmine replied with a sly grin.

Jace's eyes narrowed. "What makes you think I'm not a bad guy?"

He moved closer to her, his eyes burning with intensity. In one swift motion, he grasped her waist possessively and pulled her closer to his chest.

"You want to know how bad I can be with you?" His voice turned husky as his eyes swirled with desire.

Before Jasmine could respond, Jace lifted her off the counter and laid her back down. Her skirt had ridden up, giving him easy access. Jasmine opened her mouth to protest, but only moans of pleasure escaped.

Shh, don't make so much noise," Jace whispered, his breath hot against her skin. "Be a good girl and remain quiet unless you want Mom to see us like this."

Jasmine clapped her hand over her mouth as Jace's tongue worked its magic. Her moans grew louder, but Jace's grip held firm.

.....

Elena began to regret her decision to cook dinner tonight. He had shamelessly promised to help her learn how to cook earlier, but all he was doing in the kitchen was munching on a big pack of chips.

"When you said you'd assist me, is this what you meant or did you just change your mind?" Elena asked sarcastically, her tone dripping with frustration as she chopped the onions aggressively.

"I don't think you need my help; you seem fine, and I don't want to ruin your food by getting involved," Jacob replied nonchalantly, earning an eye roll from Elena.

"Don't worry, I have the perfect task for you," Elena said with a smile, handing him a knife and green pepper to slice.

Jacob took the knife from her reluctantly after a failed attempt to use his puppy eyes to gain her sympathy. "Lazy asshole! You think that look will work on me again? Nice try," Elena said, chuckling and going back to her work. The sounds of Jacob chopping vegetables became music to her ears.

As she focused on cooking, Elena suddenly noticed the silence in the kitchen. She turned around and saw Jacob's finger covered in blood. "Oh no! How did this happen? Have you ever even used a knife before?" Elena's face scrunched up in concern as she took in the severity of the cut.

"It's no big deal. Just stop looking at me like that; it's not my fault." Jacob chuckled softly at her expression.

"This is not a time to laugh. Let's get your wound cleaned up," Elena said, guiding him to the living room and quickly locating the first aid box.

As Elena prepared to clean the wound, she warned, "This will hurt a little." The cotton ball soaked in spirit made contact with his cut, and a shrill scream escaped his mouth, causing Elena to burst out laughing.

"Mr. Jones, you didn't tell me you're such a baby," Elena teased him as she wrapped his wound with a bandage.

Elena's eyes crinkled as she laughed, revealing her white teeth like pearls. Her casual hair flip and infectious smile made Jacob find her cute. He couldn't help but smile too.

"It's done, crybaby," Elena said with a chuckle, rising to her feet and walking out of the living room. Jacob's eyes followed her, retracting from view.

Jacob thought to himself, "Did she do that on purpose? Damn!"

Minutes later, Elena set the dining table and invited Jacob to join her. They dug in until there was nothing left to devour. Jacob discovered that Elena had a big appetite, which he found endearing. Most of the women he'd met were picky eaters and would claim to be full after just a few bites.

Elena thought this was the perfect opportunity to tell Jacob about her stalker, Megan, who had been harassing her for days. After sharing the information with him, Jacob became upset that she hadn't told him sooner and promised to take care of the situation.

"Cheer up; you don't look good when you're worried," Jacob assured her. "Trust me, I'm fine; it's just a minor injury, and Megan isn't worth worrying about."

Elena chuckled and picked up the dishes to quickly clean them. As she emerged from the kitchen, she glanced at the time and realized how long she'd spent at Jacob's. She grabbed her bag from the couch and headed for the door.

As she reached for the handle, Jacob caught up to her. "Elena, it's late already. I don't think it's safe for you to be out there considering Megan is still stalking you," he said softly.

"But it's okay; I can still get a cab that will take me straight home," Elena replied. "I need to be at work early in the morning anyway."

Jacob's face was filled with concern. "My mind won't be at peace knowing you're out there all by yourself. If something happened to you, I'd never forgive myself, Lena."