20. Chapter 17
Sloan
Iwoke up this morning feeling a little lighter, a little happier. There is just something about this new situation with Jax that is renewing my energy and passion for work. No matter how hard Tanner is working to ruin it.
Today, I’m working an event at the local sports complex for kids.
Both the Moonshots and Moonshines collaborated on the opening of Jr. Moon’s Sports Center.
I have been so excited for this to open.
As a pro kicker, I was the initial face of the facility, along with Rikki.
Luckily, my injury and contract transfer didn’t include this, so Tanner has no say in anything I do related to this facility. It was a separate contract.
This will be a fan favorite. I just know it, a place where kids can receive lessons, training, and field or court time for a variety of sports to build their skills.
There is a resident pass and a day pass for tourists.
The best part—players from both teams will periodically come here to work with the kids.
“What are you signed up for today?” Rikki asks with a charming smile. He is such a ladies’ man.
“I’m working on the training signup for opening day. What about you?”
“I’m signing autographs with a few of the other guys.” His words pique my interest.
I look around, trying to see if Jax is anywhere around here, and feel disappointed when I see Oscar, and a few other players walking around—but no Jax.
“He’s running late,” Rikki says.
“Hmm?” I say, trying to bring my attention back to him, hoping he won’t notice the flush in my cheeks.
“Jax. That’s who you’re looking for, right?”
I nod my head in agreement, feeling a little embarrassed, but knowing there’s no use in lying.
“He’s running late. He should be here soon.” He pats me on the back and walks away, and as he moves from in front of me, I see Jax walking up the sidewalk, head down, shoulders tense.
I smile at him, hoping it will ease his tension. I know exactly what’s got him frayed at the edges before he even opens his mouth.
He was not being honest with me about that new player.
“There’s my brilliant girl,” he says, placing a soft kiss on the top of my head as he pulls my head to his chest.
“What makes me so brilliant today?” I tease.
“Look around you. Horner said you had some pretty great ideas for this event.”
“I’ve had a lot of time on my hands not playing football,” I say, and I can tell my words make him feel bad. “I’ve learned to love my new normal. Sometimes even a little more than my old one.”
“Yeah? What makes your new normal so amazing? I might need to learn from you someday when my time on the field is up.”
“Well…” I say, tapping my chin. “I get to meet a lot more people and see a different side of professional sports. I also get a killer new wardrobe and get to spend a lot of time working and doing things that don’t feel like work.
” I smile up at him, “Oh… and there’s this super attractive baseball player who knows how to juggle, that smiles at me, and makes my heart skip a beat every single time. ”
“Maybe he needs to turn up the heat, if that’s the only reaction he gets out of you,” he whispers in my ear, and that does unspeakable things between my thighs.
He’s not Tanner. He’s not going to hurt you, I remind myself.
He wants more than arm candy trailing behind him, or to ride the coattails of my fame.
He’s the whole package. Jax is charming and sexy and truer to his words than I could have ever expected, and his subtle promise of turning up the heat was an understatement.
It started with him holding my gaze from across the parking lot where they were signing autographs and dancing with fans. Intense looks, with a smolder that left me being the first one to look away.
Then he turned the dial up slightly and started sending texts.
Jax: I don’t care what you say, you are absolutely beautiful.
Jax: Stop biting your lip while you write names, Sloan.
Jax: Next time you bend over like that, I’m going to spank that ass.
That one made me slick with anticipation of what being with him could be like.
Jax: Can I walk you home?
That’s the one that has me trying to cool the inferno building inside me. I look up, and he’s not even looking at me. In fact, his back is to me. And for some reason that’s even hotter than if he were staring back at me.
Did I shave today?
We barely make it through my front door before his lips are on mine, in an intense, all- consuming heat that has us both breathless. When Jax Calder kisses, it’s with intention, urgency, and it’s hot as fuck.
“Jax,” I whimper between breaths as he kisses up and down my neck and presses my body against my front door.
Our walk back was almost a run. We were talking about the day, but our steps were hurried as we raced the anticipation building between us.
“What, baby?” he growls, and the low register in his voice doesn’t sound like him.
“What are we doing?” I’m not sure what the plan is. I don’t care. I’d lay down and rip my clothes off for him right now, but I just want to make sure we’re on the same page.
“I’m trying to convince you I’m worth breaking your rules for.”
I laugh. “I already broke them.”
He stops kissing me, and I claw at him, trying to bring his lips back to my skin, but he pulls further away, bringing my eyes to his. “You haven’t broken your rules until you’re mine. And I need you to know exactly what it would be like to be mine.”
“Ok. But are we like… making out, having some over the clothes fun, fucking all night?”
That question lights a fire in his eyes.
“Are you saying you want to date me?”
“I don’t know,” I answer, lying to us both.
“Then I guess we’re just making out, because I’m not laying a finger on you until you’re mine and I can slide inside you, taste you, and feel you come on my dick.” He kisses me again before whispering, “Because I only touch what’s mine, Sloan.”
I don’t know what exactly makes me shudder. If it’s the look in his eyes, the filthy words coming out of his mouth, or the idea that if I let him, he might own me, and I don’t know if I like being owned in that way… but deep down, I want to find out.