Chapter 11
ELEVEN
JAX
The truck rumbles softly as I drive through the quiet streets, the glow of the dashboard lighting Bella’s face. She’s staring out the window, her fingers lightly tracing the seam of her jeans. I glance over at her, debating for a second before I speak.
“You want to come back to my place for a little while? No expectations,” I add quickly. “I’m just not ready to say goodnight yet.”
Her head turns, and a small smile pulls at her lips. “Yeah, okay. I’d like that.”
Relief hits me, and I adjust my grip on the wheel, turning toward my neighborhood.
As we roll onto my street, I see her straighten in her seat, her eyes scanning the quiet rows of houses. I know the thought running through her head, and it makes me smirk.
“Not what you were expecting?” I ask.
She shakes her head, laughing. “You are full of surprises. No, this wasn’t what I pictured.”
The house is a simple one-story with a soft green paint job that’s faded in spots but still solid. The kind of place that says “home” without trying too hard.
I pop the garage door open and pull inside. The space is organized in a way that makes sense to me. Tools hanging on pegboards, a workbench stacked with projects I’ve been meaning to finish. It’s not pristine, but it’s functional.
Bella climbs out of the truck, her gaze flicking around before landing on me. “You spend a lot of time out here, don’t you?”
I nod. “Keeps me sane.”
As we step inside, the sound of paws clicking against the floor greets us. Oreo bounds up, her black-and-white coat gleaming as she sniffs Bella with her usual enthusiasm.
Bella crouches, holding her hand out. “Oh, hello,” she says, scratching behind Oreo’s ears.
“She’s a sucker for attention,” I say, watching as Oreo leans into Bella’s touch.
Bella laughs as Oreo licks her hand. “She’s beautiful.”
“She’s my girl,” I say, a little proud. “And yeah, I know—Oreo’s not the most original name, but it fits.”
Bella grins, standing as Oreo moves to nuzzle my leg.
I lead Bella into the living room, flipping on a lamp that casts a soft glow over the space. It’s nothing fancy—just a couch, a TV, and a few personal touches. A couple of pictures hang on the walls, one of me and the guys from a few years ago and another of Oreo as a puppy. I walk through the kitchen and open the sliding glass door to let Oreo out to do her business.
“You want a drink?” I ask, heading to the kitchen.
“Soda’s fine,” she says, setting her purse on the counter.
I take my cut off and put it on the back of a chair at the dining room table. Then I grab a can from the fridge, popping it open before handing it to her. Oreo scratches at the door and I quickly let her in before we settle on the couch, Oreo hopping up to claim her usual spot next to me, her head resting heavily on my lap.
“She really loves you,” Bella says, watching as I scratch behind Oreo’s ears.
“She’s good company,” I reply, letting my fingers trail along Oreo’s neck.
Bella takes a sip of her soda, leaning back. “So, do you like what you do?”
“Most days,” I say, glancing at her. “What about you?”
Her face lights up, and she nods. “I do. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do, you know? Nursing’s hard sometimes, but it’s rewarding. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
I nod, taking that in. “You close with your family?”
She smiles softly, setting her soda on the coffee table. “Yeah. My sisters and I are tight. We kind of had to be after my parents died.”
The words hit harder than I expected, and I pause. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
She shrugs, her smile turning bittersweet. “It was a long time ago. I was seventeen, and my older sister, Brooke, was only twenty. She got custody of us—me and Brianna. She had no idea what she was doing, but somehow she made it work. Thank God for our parents’ life insurance. It covered the house and got us through school.”
“That’s a lot to deal with,” I say, meaning it.
“It was,” she admits, her voice quiet. “But we got through it. And now… I don’t know. I think it made us stronger.”
I nod, running my hand over Oreo’s back. “My mom died when I was little. It’s always just been me and my dad.”
Bella’s eyes soften, and she tilts her head slightly. “What’s he like?”
“He’s a good guy. Electrician in the union. Worked his ass off to make sure I had what I needed. We’re close, but… you know, he worries. Especially about the club.”
She studies me for a second before asking, “What about the club?”
I hesitate, giving her a small, wry smile. “I’m the treasurer, so I handle the books for Perdition and the club. It’s not just about numbers, though. There’s… other stuff.”
“Other stuff?” she prompts, raising an eyebrow.
I smirk. “Let’s just say it’s not your average nine-to-five.”
She laughs, shaking her head. “How long have you been with them?”
I run a hand over my head, thinking back. “Shit, I joined when I was twenty-three. I’m thirty-eight now. So, fifteen years, give or take.”
“That’s a long time,” she says, her voice thoughtful.
“Yeah,” I reply, nodding. “It is.”
The room falls into a comfortable silence, the kind that doesn’t need filling. Bella leans back against the couch, her gaze soft as she watches Oreo snore quietly.
For the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. And I don’t want this night to end.
Oreo stirs, her head lifting lazily before she climbs off the couch, stretching her long legs before flopping onto the rug. The room feels quieter without her snoring. I glance over at Bella, still sitting on the other side of the couch, her hands resting in her lap, fidgeting slightly with the hem of her sweater.
I pat the spot next to me, keeping my tone casual. “Come here.”
Her lips part slightly as she looks at me, her teeth grazing her bottom lip. She hesitates for a second, then scoots closer. She’s nervous—I can see it in the way her hands grip the edge of the cushion and hear it in the slight hitch of her breath. But she’s here, and that tells me all I need to know.
I lean back, studying her for a moment. “You okay?”
Her gaze flicks to mine, and she nods slowly, her breath catching as my hand reaches out, cupping her face.
“Good,” I murmur, leaning in.
The first brush of my lips against hers is slow, teasing. I let it linger, feeling the softness of her mouth and the way she exhales quietly. When I slide my tongue along the seam of her lips, she opens for me, and the world tilts.
What starts as gentle quickly turns into something hotter, more urgent. It’s like a match has been struck, the flame catching before either of us can think about putting it out.
Her hands find their way to my shoulders, gripping the fabric of my shirt as I pull her closer. I shift, wrapping an arm around her waist, and before I even realize what I’m doing, I’m pulling her onto my lap. She sits sideways, her knees brushing against my thigh, and her arms loop around my neck.
I kiss her deeper, my hand sliding along the curve of her back, holding her as if she might slip away. Her breath mixes with mine, fast and shallow, and I can feel her heart racing against my chest.
Whatever this is, it’s not just chemistry—it’s a goddamn explosion.
I pull back for a moment, resting my forehead against hers, both of us trying to catch our breath. Her eyes flutter open, and the way she looks at me—like I’ve just turned her entire world upside down—hits me harder than I’m ready for.
“You’re something else, Bella,” I whisper, my voice rough.
She doesn’t reply, just leans in to kiss me again, and I know I’m a goner. Her lips brush against my ear as she whispers, “I don’t want to go home tonight.”
My heart stutters, my grip on her waist tightening slightly. “Are you sure?”
She nods, her gaze steady and certain.
That’s all I need.
I stand, scooping her up effortlessly, and she lets out a quiet gasp before her arms tighten around my neck. I carry her down the hall, my footsteps heavy on the hardwood, and push open the door to my bedroom.
The room is simple—dark walls, a big bed with plain sheets, and a few pieces of furniture that match because I’m a grown-ass man who can pick out a set.
I lay her gently on the bed, my hands lingering on her waist for a moment before I step back. I grab the back of my shirt and pull it over my head in one motion.
Bella’s eyes follow the movement, and I see the way her gaze roams over me, taking in every inch of bare skin. She doesn’t hide the fact that she likes what she sees, and it lights something primal in me.
But then I pause, a smirk tugging at my lips. “There’s something wrong with this picture.”
She tilts her head, confused.
“You’re still fully clothed,” I say, my voice dropping.
A faint blush spreads across her cheeks, but her lips curve into a soft smile. “I guess we should fix that.”
I kneel at the edge of the bed, my hands sliding up her thighs as I meet her eyes. “Yeah, I think we should.”
Bella’s breath hitches as she sits up slightly, her hands slipping under the hem of her sweater. She pulls it over her head in one smooth motion, tossing it aside before meeting my gaze.
She’s beautiful—soft and curvy, her skin practically glowing in the dim light. I let out a slow exhale, my eyes dragging over every inch of her like I’m trying to memorize the moment.
Her fingers fidget with the waistband of her jeans for a second before I step in, my hands brushing hers away. “Let me,” I murmur.
I take my time unbuttoning and sliding the zipper down. The sound feels louder than it should, like it’s echoing in the quiet of the room. I hook my fingers under the fabric, pulling her jeans down and tossing them aside.
And there she is.
Her dark brown hair fans out on my pillows, her creamy skin practically begging to be touched. She’s wearing a black lacy bra, and my chest tightens at the sight.
I quirk a brow at her, unable to stop the smirk pulling at my lips. “Did you wear this for me?”
She bites her lip, a blush creeping up her cheeks. Then she shrugs, her voice light but teasing. “A girl has to be ready for anything.”
My smirk deepens as I pull my belt loose, sliding it through the loops and letting it drop to the floor with a quiet clink. I push my jeans down and step out of them, leaving me in my black boxer briefs.
Bella’s eyes drop, and when they flick back to mine, she’s grinning. “We match,” she says, giggling softly.
Her laughter warms something deep inside me, cutting through the heat and grounding me in the moment. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything as beautiful as you,” I say quietly, my voice steady but full of meaning.
Her fingers trail lightly over my chest, sending sparks racing across my skin. “You’re not so bad yourself.”
Bracing myself over her, my hands rest on either side of her shoulders. She looks up at me, her gaze soft but burning with something I’ve been chasing for longer than I’d like to admit.
I lean down, capturing her lips again, and the world fades away. It’s just her and me, and the moment feels like everything I didn’t know I was missing.