•An amazing cover made by krissthetic - I'm in love with all the covers you have made for this story!•

"Is there anything he isn't good at?" My sister released an animated sigh, placing the pie on the table and nudging my shoulder. My eyes followed the person in question. Jake was in the kitchen, helping mom with the turkey seasoning.

"I guess, nothing. Unless winning over mom's heart counts." My heart warmed with the smile on his face as he tossed a piece of ham to the brown furball whining around his leg. Mom rolled her eyes at him, but I could feel she was trying hard not to show her admiration. That was the happiest I had seen him in a year.

A lot had changed in twelve months. I moved out of the dorm into a new studio apartment and started working at a local bookstore. It turned out the only decent way to deal with the crazy stories in my mind was to live among them. Dad wasn't happy at first, but he didn't stop me from finding my tic.

Finally, the finals were over, and we were to start a new year the following week. We did end up going to the charity ball, and as promised, he pleasured me physically and soulfully later that night. There had been bad days, even the worst ones but all of them seemed utterly blissful with him. He was regretting less and accepting more. The pup he saved turned out to be a lost soul, and when two lost souls find each other, they end up making a home.

"She seems to like him more than I thought she was capable of showing. Although, I must say those tattoos are the only thing that makes her frown. Otherwise, they are bonding well over the cooking." Molly said, gazing at the intricate patterns of the ink visible through his rolled-up sleeves. "Damn, those tats are sexy as hell."

"Stop, eye-fucking my boyfriend, you creep." I shot her a glare and threw a napkin ball at her.

"Jesus Christ, girl," Molly propped an elbow on the table, dodging my attack. "I'm eighteen months older than you. Do you mind ignoring the f words with me? Stop behaving like a jealous girlfriend."

I tossed another tissue ball at her, but soon we both laughed at our silly conversation. We had always been more friends than sisters, and it wasn't the first time we were talking about guys, but somehow the curly-haired, black-eyed guy with tattoos was the only guy I felt possessive about.

We both shifted our attention to the kitchen, where mom was helping Jake with the salad cutting. My brother Joshua and dad struggled with the lighting decoration mom had set them. The creases on dad's forehead showed his displeasure. He preferred to help with the turkey than put up my brother's lousy behavior.

Jake was wearing the watch I gifted him with my first salary. The tux was my choice too. For someone who wasn't going to hide his tattoos, he tried hard to conceal as much ink on his skin as possible.

"How do I look?" Jake checked himself in the rearview mirror and pulled up the shirt's collar, trying to cover up his tats.

"You always look handsome, haven't I told you that before? Stop behaving like a high school student. How do you even manage as the CEO in training?" I brushed some of his black curls back in their place and straightened the lapel of his charcoal suit jacket. Maze barked twice from the back seat. "Even Maze agrees with me."

Jake had grown closer to his father over the past few months, or at least they were trying to fill up the gaps in their relationship. He surprised me two weeks ago over a fancy dinner with the news that he had finally retired from the fight club and had decided to help his father with the business. Seb had joined his company after graduation and was helping him with his role. For some reason, I didn't see the spark in his eyes, the one he has while painting, but it was better than getting wounded in a fighting ring.

"Excuse me for trying to impress my girlfriend's parents." He huffed as we stepped onto the front porch of my house. "God! I've never been this nervous in my entire life. I hope your mom doesn't force me to freeze out here."

"That depends on her mood today. If you're lucky, she might welcome you with one of her motherly hugs." I rose on my tippy toes to kiss out his nervousness, but at that very moment, the front door flung open. We both stepped away at lightning speed and blinked at my mom's mottled face as she squinted her eyes at us.

"Oh boy! Certainly not a perfect start." Jake mumbled beside me, his fingers tightening with mine.

"Have you talked to him about the email?" Molly asked a bit louder, then bit her tongue in realization.

"Shh," I shushed her, scanning across the room before glaring at her. "No, I haven't."

She frowned. "Why not?"

"I guess I wanted him to tell me about it." I shrugged, anxiety creeping up in my throat. Last week when I went to his place, he had been acting on edge. Then in the middle of the night, I saw him frowning at his laptop. When I asked him about it, he tossed it away, saying it wasn't that important. It never left my mind, though. Not even during our intense moment later in the night. In the morning, while he was in the shower, my curiosity got to me, and I ended up going through the email. I wouldn't have gone through the length of checking his search history or anything if he hadn't left the mail open.

With her back to the kitchen, she narrowed her eyes on me. "Do you think Jake hasn't told you about it because he is not considering it?"

"Maybe," my eyes locked with Jake as he grinned suggestively in my direction while he drank the orange juice mom had poured him earlier. It had become our thing. Whenever either of us drank OJ, the other one had to kiss them.

"You want him not to consider it, am I right, Amy?" Molly smiled.

"I don't know, Molly. Can we not talk about it now. I don't know why he would hide something like that to me." I couldn't figure out my feeling towards it.

"You should talk to him about it. In my experience, the conversation is key to a healthy relationship." She squeezed my hand before heading towards the kitchen.

As her words sank into me, I released a long-drawn sigh. For one week, I had avoided the confrontation, but it was time.

Was I ready for it?

Did I want him to consider it?

What would happen to us if he did it?

"Amy! Jake spilled water on his shirt. Can you take him to the laundry room and help him put it in the dryer. There's still time for the dinner." Molly's shrill voice cracked through my reverie.

My eyes moved past her to Jake, who was spatting away the water droplets from his shirt. The fabric stuck to his stomach, giving me and everyone a perfect few of his abs.

"Can we hurry a little? I might catch a cold," Jake billowed his shirt and walked in my direction. The look in his eyes screamed that he was up to something. He bent down just enough to whisper in my ear. "After you, Amy."

"Um, okay." I looked up at him, suppressing the excitement under a tailored smile. On our way to the laundry room adjacent to the kitchen, I caught Molly beaming at us before distracting mom with her silly queries on cranberry sauce.

Jake stalked behind me and leaned against the door closing it. His dark eyes followed me as I strutted to the opposite side and turned in time to see him unbutton the cuffs on his sleeves.

"Did you do it on purpose?" I asked, leaning my backside against the dryer.

"Maybe." He looked up through his thick lashes, his head still down, and the devastating grin on his lips stirred all of my senses, reaching straight to my heart. He stripped out of the soaked shirt and handed it to me, showing off the ripples across his exposed torso. He kept the distance intact between us as I threw his shirt in the dryer and fumbled with the switch. As soon as the whir of the dryer came on, he turned me around, pulling me into his arms.

"Have I told you today that you look breathtakingly beautiful in this white, fluffy sweater?" He whispered against my mouth, brushing my cheek with his knuckles.

"Yes, it's the tenth time you said that to me." I smiled, nudging his nose with mine and tapping his chest.

"Also," he said, hovering his lips over mine. He flashed his sun-kissed smile, pressing me up against the whirring dryer some more. "I love your mom and your family. Thank you so much for bringing me here with you."

And then his lips were on me. His hold grew bolder around me as he kissed me long and slow, his hand tangled around my shoulder-length curls, and he devoured me in a fervent kiss. Our tongues dueled in need, wild and hungry. My knees gave up, but he tightened his hold on my waist to keep me from falling. I could feel our hearts pounding as violently as the hot machine on my back, and a soft moan was ready to escape my mouth when I heard hurried footsteps on the other side of the door. He pulled away from the kiss and covered my mouth.

"Amy, are you done drying up his shirt?" My sister's warning voice burst my dreamy bubble, and I squirmed with embarrassment. I didn't just make out with my boyfriend while my family was settling up for dinner.

"Yes, Molly," he spoke for me, reaching behind me to shut off the dryer. "Amy is just running an iron through my shirt."

"Sure. Make it quick. We're setting up the dinner table." She said before walking away from the door.

"Let's make it quick," Jake said before pulling me flush against himself, and his mouth was back on me. I could still hear my sister's light footfalls as we continued making out. That's how crazy we were for each other, and the thought of ever being separated even for a second made my heart sink in despair.

***

Thanksgiving dinner with my family had always been one of the best times of the year. It never felt that important when we were kids, but since Molly and I went to college, it was the only time we came together as a family like the old times. For the last two years, it had felt pretty bland with Molly stuck in Paris. That was the reason even mom seemed to be in a happy mood. It worked out in Jake's favor. He was seated between Molly and me at the dinner table, slightly tensed but no more nervous.

"I like your tattoos. They are so fucking cool." Joshua chimed from across the table, pointing a folk towards his neck.

"An abundance," mom scoffed but then gave a smile to Jake as my dad squeezed her hand over the table. "I mean, you do have a lot of them."

Jake cleared his throat, passing a slice of turkey from his plate to Maze. "They are a part of me now."

"I have one too on my back," Joshua said excitedly.

My mom snapped her head from Jake to Joshua. I could see the invisible steam blowing out of her ears. "Who permitted you to get inked? And what did I tell you about cursing at the dinner table?"

I felt bad for my baby brother as he gritted his teeth, trying not to burst out at her. Joshua was fifteen, but mom and dad treated him like a five-year-old. I guess, with all her children growing up so fast and moving out to seek a life of their own, mom overbore Joshua.

"Valarie, please." My dad managed to handle the heat around the table. "So, you're preparing to take over your father's business, Jacob?"

"Yes, sir, that's the plan," Jake said with a smile. Something flashed in Jake's eyes, but it disappeared as soon as it surfaced. At that moment, I knew what I had to do.

For the rest of the dinner, I could barely think of anything other than the email. On the other hand, Jake seemed to be enjoying himself. He looked happy. It looked like he got the family he had been missing all his life.

***

On our ride back, I sat beside him in the car, and my mind traveled back to the morning I sneaked on his email. Jake had resumed his philanthropy work and was working towards setting up new foundations for homeless people. It took him some time, but he was back to visiting the Retirement House after I convinced him to trust the good in him.

Over the last few months, Jake had shown me so many different shades of his nature. From beating the shit out of Chris in the middle of a soccer pep rally just because he winked in my direction to holding me against his chest possessively later that night. From being all professional during his training sessions with his father to the man looking mind-blowingly attractive while shifting through the gears.

"I might as well pull over so that we can deal with that look you're giving me," he turned his voice huskier than usual and teased a hand up my thigh. Maze barked from the backseat, making us known his presence.

"What look?" I cleared my throat, pinning my gaze to the front.

"As if you've starved for days, and I'm your favorite meal," he removed his hand for a second to shift through the gear but then pulled out something from his suit's jacket. "Put this on for me, will you?"

I took the satin blindfold from his hand and shot him a quizzical look. "Are we enacting one of your kinks tonight or what?"

He laughed, biting his knuckles setting my skin on fire. "You know that's not my kink. I prefer looking into your eyes while I tip you over the edge. It's for a surprise."

I gasped, my mind going blank due to the fire he set across my skin. My fingers clenched around the soft piece of fabric in my hand. I didn't realize until that moment how much impact his words had on me.

"Do you trust me, Amy?" His hands returned on my thigh, making it impossible for me to give the assurance he sought from me at first. "I have a surprise for you."

"Yes, I trust you," I said without hesitation as he pulled into the familiar underground garage. We hadn't been to his apartment for over a month. He mentioned something about renovating the interior. Maybe, he wanted it to be a surprise. As soon as we stepped into the elevator with Maze in Jake's arms, I started putting on the blindfold, which had turned damp due to the amount of sweat I released in anticipation.

"Should I help you with that?" He asked, pointing at the satin in my hand. He put down Maze and took a step towards me.

"Yes, sure," my hands paused at the deep undertone of his voice. The thing was surely turning some switches within him. I could see it in his charcoal eyes as his strong hands caressed my skin on either side of my neck. His touch sent shivers within me, making me close my eyes and lean into his soft touch. Just as he finished tying the black ribbon at the back of my head, the elevator dinged and halted.

Instead of holding my hand and leading me out, he carried me bridal style. For the next few seconds, I was in the dark. All my senses went on high alert but relaxed due to the hands that kept me protected. I could hear the jingle of Maze's dog tag as he followed behind. After walking me some more, he set me back on my feet carefully and stood behind me.

"Are you ready, love?" His lips caressed the outer shell of my ear, making my heart hammer wildly inside my chest. I placed a hand on my heart to keep it from exploding before giving him a bold nod. He undid the blindfold slowly, taking it away, and then placed a deep kiss at the back of my head. "Happy birthday, Amy."

The moment I regained the light, opening my eyes to take in his surprise, my mouth fell open, and a loud gasp left through my throat. I had never seen something that magical, like otherworldly majestic, up until that very moment. My shaky hands flew to my mouth, and I couldn't stop the tears blurring my vision. I quickly wiped them clean with the sleeves of my sweater and spun around to capture every inch of the room. Every piece of furniture, every set of material existence wiped off from there, which once formed his art studio. Instead, it replaced something that melted my heart into a puddle.

When he said he was changing the murals, I didn't imagine even in my wildest, craziest dream that he would replace them with my paintings. Yes, it was me on every corner of the room, all the walls, and God, the one I was looking at, almost stopped my heart. My hazel green eyes, looking back at me with pure passion, the one I could have never seen myself if he hadn't recreated them on that wall. I heaved a sigh and scanned the other paintings. A collage of me from the day I first met Jake in the corridor, to me getting notes in the classroom, me in the party lights, me sleeping on his bed, but what made me laugh through the tears was the one where we both held hands in the beach, watching the sunset together and we looked so perfect.

As I took in every piece of his exposed heart, I felt his breathing growing louder behind me, and I turned around to look through my teary eyes. Maze panted, wagging his tail, his dog tag jingled again as he left the room, giving us our moment.

"Don't cry, never for me." He closed the gap between us in a few hurried strides, making me breathless with his naked emotions.

"I don't-" my voice broke as he brushed away my tears, cupping my face to look up into his wild gaze, and the moment I did, my gaze turned feral too. "I don't know how to express how I feel right now."

"Oh, there's only one way," he feathered his fingertips down my spine, the soft fabric of my sweater sending uncontrolled shivers through me. And the next thing I knew, he lifted me against his tall frame, and we kissed each other as our life depended on it. He wrapped both of my legs around his waist while carrying me out of the room towards the bedroom. I took in the paintings once again before he closed the door behind us.

We managed to get undressed as carefully as possible, breaking our kiss only for a second, stumbling on our way to the bed. Flashing a fiery grin, he moved up my body as soon as my back hit the soft mattress and devoured my mouth once again.

"God, you're so beautiful and so very mine." He rasped against my lips before pulling his head enough to look me in the eyes. "I want you to know that nothing can change what we have, and there's no place I would rather be than right here, with you."

"Jacob, I-" His lips were back on me, halting my words with a hungry kiss. I could feel his urgency as he straddled my waist, pressing deliciously against my aching core. My body jolted with yet another molten desire.

"I want you so bad," he groaned against my mouth. We laced our fingers together, holding each other's eyes.

"I love you," I said, setting my fingers free from his hold to glide them through the soft texture of his hair.

"I love you too, Amy." He breathed, beaming down at me and his sweet intoxicating smile was enough for me to hand myself over to him. I knew he would always keep me safe, no matter what the situation would be.

We were so ready for each other that it didn't take us long to align together. Jake wasted no time in sheathing himself up and filling me. We aligned so perfectly that night, knowing what we had was indeed some wicked, twisted game of fate. God, it was the most beautiful feeling to be there for each other through every win and loss.

When we came down from our highs, finally satiated, we fell breathless against the mattress, with his heart thumping on my back. We stayed like that, staring at the ceiling in complete silence until it was too difficult to avoid the elephant in the room.

"I saw the email," I said with a heavy sigh, closing my eyes for his answer.

"I know." He ran lazy circles on my arm while his disclosure ran me over like a hurricane. If he knew that I had seen the email, why didn't he come to talk it out?

I twisted around to face him. He kept his gaze fixed on the ceiling for a few before meeting mine. He had a gentle look, way too relaxed for someone who hid such an important decision of his life from me. "You knew but didn't feel the need to discuss it with me or at least share it with me."

He slid down so that his eyes were in level with mine as we laid on our sides, watching one another. "I didn't because it wasn't necessary or important."

"It's your dream we're talking about, Jacob. How can you say it's not necessary?" I released a scowl, rolling on my back and then pinning him with a determined look. "It's important because this is your only chance to pursue your passion. You always wanted to go to that Art Academy in Paris, and now that you got into the program, you find it unnecessary or whatever the bullshit. And why wouldn't you tell me even after knowing that I knew about it all this time."

He simply looked at me without even a twitch of expression on his face, then twirled a strand of my hair around his finger, keeping his gaze locked to it. "Because I was trying to convince you that nothing is more important than you, that I don't want it if it means going away from you. I love what we have here, and I wouldn't be anywhere else."

"That's the thing, Jacob," my words came out as a whisper because what I was about to say would be the most difficult thing to endure when put in action. "You're trying and failing. You know, if you miss this opportunity, you'll have yet another thing to regret, and this one will cause the most damage. You always said that your art is your passion, that it's your happy place, and I know you weren't trying when you said it. It was real."

"No," he pulled me to his chest, peppering the top of my head with kisses. "We are real, and every second I spend with you, I'm not trying to be anyone but me. You bring the best of me. Hell! I wouldn't even be able to find myself if it wasn't for you. So, no. I'm not going anywhere without you."

We fell into a numbing silence once again. I could feel Jake's steady heartbeats against my ear, and there's no place I would rather be than right next to him. "In the art room today, I had a vision. For a second, the room transformed into an art exhibition surrounded by people of different origins but with one thing in common- a deep love for art. That belongs to you. You deserve to be the artist of their imagination. You owe it to the artist in you. It belongs to everyone, and I don't want to keep it to myself no matter how much I want to be selfish and lock you in my heart. I want you to be out there, creating art and paving the path for anyone who dreams like you."

His eyes were on my face now, his fingers brushing my cheeks with so much adoration that it made me ache, and I had to close my eyes from escaping the intensity of his emotions. "You're my home, Amy. No matter who I am or where I go, I will always belong here." He placed his palm right on my heart and kissed my forehead. "I love you, and I will carry this feeling wherever I go. Don't let me go. Never let me go."

"I promise you a forever but not on the cost of losing the most beautiful shade of you. I want a forever with you as a whole, and I will take that or nothing. Okay?" I placed my hand over his, relishing his warmth.

Was it possible to be away from him, even if it's for a few years? Maybe not. But we were two different individuals with dreams and passions of our own. Although we formed a home within each other's hearts, we still needed to be fulfilled ourselves. And that might mean finding a different path, going on a journey of our own, but as long we know where our hearts belong, we will always find our way back to each other. That would never change.

"Okay," he kissed my cheek and kept breathing against it. "Why do I feel like you're trying to get rid of me?"

This guy!

"I can't even if I tried. You're like a weed, and I'm ready to nurture you for the rest of my life." I pinched his cheeks and loved how he laughed through his glassy eyes.

His charcoal eyes searched my hazel green ones for any signs of hesitation and found none. Then he smiled, the kind that melts away all your doubts. He kissed my forehead lightly before he said, "You haven't told me your secret yet."

"I'll keep that for later." I buried my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling his smell as much as possible.

"Fine, we have a lifetime to share each other's secrets. I promised you a forever, and I plan to fulfill it in this life." He pulled me closer. "Thank you for making me such a happy guy and showing me what happiness feels like."

So, we reached the end. This is the final chapter of "Caught In Your Chaos." 

Up next is the epilogue

Thank you so much for taking out time to read this story!! On this note, I might publish a bonus epilogue if you request one, but otherwise, I wanted the ending to be as fulfilling as possible. Please leave a review and share your thoughts on it, if any.