Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
JAX
“Then kick me off the fucking team!” I shout back across the field, already pulling my helmet off. I toss it to one of the guys along with the red practice jersey I have on and grab my bag next to the metal bench.
I don’t know if Coach responds, and I don’t care. I’m already headed straight for my car. They should be happy I showed up this morning at all. The hardest thing I have ever had to do was crawl out of the bed I was sharing with Kinsley while she was still sleeping.
She hadn't flinched or moved at all while I quietly got my shit together and left.
The girl sleeps like a damn rock. Which is convenient for me.
Now I only want to get back home before she wakes up.
Last night, it slipped my mind about my morning practice, but it had to have been lingering there because I woke up right on time to make it.
Damon had been waiting for me by the car, ready to go.
There was no update on anything yet. I didn’t think there would be.
I might have to call Mac later to see what she is up to.
I’m just not ready for the Spanish Inquisition that I’m sure I’m going to get when it comes to what’s going on between me and Kinsley.
There’s no way in hell my mom and sister haven’t told all the other females in our family.
Mom smirks at me when I enter the house, going straight for the stairs. I let out a breath when I see Kinsley still asleep in bed. I hop in the shower, washing the morning practice off me.
I sit down on the side of the bed next to her, turning on the lamp on her side.
Fuck, does that sound nice. Kinsley’s side of the bed.
It already is. Her phone was on the nightstand stand charging along with a couple of her notebooks and pens stacked on top.
I love that she’s made herself comfortable in my space.
If I have anything to say about it, she’ll be utilizing it a lot more.
To my surprise, Kinsley had fallen asleep on me while I was answering her questions.
I mean, they were one right after another.
I don’t think I have talked more in my life, but I owed it to her.
I knew far more about her life than I should have without her telling me any of it.
It’s only fair that she gets a look into mine and have the information come from the source. Not to be based on rumors.
“Bunny.” I brush a few strands of hair out of her face. She looks so damn peaceful, I just want to climb in next to her, wrap my arms around her, and stay in bed all damn day, but I know that’s not an option.
Watching her undo her braids before crawling into bed last night had been far more erotic than it should have been, but then again, I have a whole lot of pent-up lust. I probably should have released some in the shower this morning, but I was more concerned about her waking up alone in a place she’d never slept in before. I want her to be comfortable here.
God, having a girl of my own, I’m starting to really understand all the small things my dad focuses on when it comes to my mom and making sure they’re handled. This need to watch out and take care of Kinsley overrides everything else. If I know she’s good, then I’m good.
“I don’t want to,” she huffs, pulling the blanket back over her head.
“That’s fine, I’ll crawl back in bed with you.” The blanket is flung back down, her eyes wide as she stares at me and then glances around.
“This is real?”
“Why, Bunny? You often dream about me?”
“Oh my God.” She yanks the blanket right back over her head. "I'm in Jax Marino's bed." Her words are muffled, but I catch them. That has a nice ring to it.
"You know"—I pull the blanket back down so I can see her beautiful face—"this is newsworthy; you should write an article about it for the school posts." I want nothing more than for the entire world to know that she’s mine. That there will never be another for her but me.
"Shut your face." She laughs. "Why are you awake and so—" Kinsley waves her head around.
"Dressed and chipper?" I offer.
"Yes, that," she says around a yawn.
"I'm chipper because you're in my bed, and it's best I'm dressed for your sake, but if you want…"
"Okay, I'm up. Keep the clothes on."
“If you insist, but if you change your mind…” I smirk, giving her my dimple.
“You’re ridiculous.” Kinsley sits up on the side of the bed. I don’t move, so she has to press against me. “I need coffee.” I know, but I wanted to check on her first.
“I got you, and your clothes are here.” I point to where they are folded and stacked on the end of the bed. Kinsley stands, stretching in the process, raising her hands over her head; it makes the shirt she’s wearing ride up, displaying her sexy legs.
It’s too much of a temptation. I brush my hand up the outside of her thigh. Kinsley momentarily pauses, glancing down at me. I’m still sitting on the side of the bed.
“Your legs drive me insane, you know that?”
“Really?” Her teeth sink into her bottom lip, and I see a glimmer of shyness.
"Yeah, really." Kinsley doesn't stop me when I trail my hand up her thigh again and back down.
"Thanks for washing my clothes." She steps away, and I let my hand fall. "Did you iron them?" Kinsley says with a laugh.
"I would have, but my mom beat me to it."
"Oh God, your mom is doing my laundry." A worried expression takes over her delicate features.
"Yep, and I bet my life she enjoyed the hell out of it. She'll want you to like her."
"I thought boy moms were scary."
"Don't get me wrong, my mom can be fucking scary, but you'll quickly see the girls in this family stick together." A smile takes over her face.
"As they should with these overbearing Marino men." I hold my hands up.
"I never once fought against the girl bunker club.
" I know better. I stay out of that. You go poking around in their business, and the girls will do it right back, but harder and deeper. They can be relentless. They do shit on a different level, and I’m not a fuck around and find out sort of guy.
While we Marino men might be tough, we know better than to stir the pot when it comes to the women in this family.
"There is a club," Kinsley laughs.
"And a bunker, but don't go asking about it. You have to be invited. Otherwise, they pretend it doesn't exist."
"You really have a bunker around here."
The bunker is the least crazy thing around here. Now, the hole. That's a place no one wants to go.
“Uncle Ronan’s wife—”
“Marks.”
“Marks.” I nod, not shocked that she’s keeping up on anything I tell her. “Her father is a bit of a doomsday prepper. Old habits die hard.”
“You guys are so freaking interesting.” Kinsley holds the pile of folded clothes to her chest. “I’m going to get ready.”
“And I’ll get you coffee.” I stand. Kinsley starts to turn her head toward the bathroom, but I grab her wrist, pulling her back to me. I drop my mouth to hers, giving her a quick kiss before she can protest.
“I need to brush my teeth,” she huffs when I break the kiss.
“Then get to it.” I give her ass a small smack that earns me a glare that doesn’t help the hard-on I have. I watch her disappear into the bathroom before I head back downstairs to get her coffee and her normal lunch.
A sexy hum leaves Kinsley when she takes her first sip of coffee. Mom went ahead and took Nix to school, Damon stayed after practice, so it’s only the two of us.
“I’m not a morning person,” she admits.
“I am.”
“Oh, I noticed.” Kinsley takes a bite of the breakfast sandwich I made her. “Any updates?”
“Not yet, but when I know, you’ll know.”
"Do you think the killer could go to our school?"
"Everyone is a suspect until they're not." I glance over at her. "Including you," I tease.
"Shut up." She takes another giant bite of her sandwich, flakes from the croissant falling everywhere. "Sorry."
"As long as you eat, I don't give a shit." It can be cleaned up.
"Are you sure? Your room was rather clean."
“Don’t say things I don’t mean,” I tell her. “To you at least.”
"So you'll lie to others."
“If I need to, yeah.” Why wouldn’t I? That makes her smile, so I know she must agree. I’m sure she’s had to tell a few lies to get a story.
“We just won’t lie to each other, right?”
“Right.”
“That’s not a lie, right?”
“It’s not a lie,” I chuckle. I reach over and place my hand on her bare thigh. I relax when she places one of her hands over mine.
“You know, people are going to talk,” Kinsley says when we pull through the gates of our school. I couldn’t care less what people say. I’m already used to it coming from the family that I do. It’s not just about me this time, though.
“I told you, you should write a piece on us for the paper. What’s that called, like a poof piece?”
“Puff piece.” She snorts a laugh. “And you can’t write about yourself.”
“Sure, you can; people write whole books about themselves. I’ll write it,” I offer, trying to get her to smile. It’s all I can do at the moment to relieve some of her stress about us showing up at school together.
I don’t think Kinsley’s concern is about people seeing us together. It’s more about not wanting the attention. She’s said more than once that she wants to report the news, not be it.
"You're a dork, and you can't just write up an article. I have to approve you to be a columnist."
"Damn, it's like that?"
"You Marinos have to learn that you can't get everything you want."
"Challenge accepted." I flash the dimple at her for good measure.
"Shut up. The dimple is not going to help you this time, buddy.” Kinsley hits me playfully with the back of her hand on my chest. I pull into my parking spot before taking the hand she assaulted me with and kiss the back of it.
Kinsley's whole face softens, and she shifts her body to partly face me.
"You're making me really like you, Jax."
"That's my plan."
She gives a tentative nod.
"Please don't make me get attached to you and then break my heart," she says. "Not that you have my heart or anything," she quickly adds.
"Of course not." I'll give that one to her. "But for the record, you already have mine."
"See, that's the shit I'm talking about.
" She tries to give me one of her glares, but it's not going to work.
I'm seeing that shit right now. She's scared, and I get it. A person doting and adoring her isn't the norm. She’s used to flying solo in the world, but that era is over for her. To be honest, it has been for a while. I’ve been by her side this whole time.
It's crazy that our family is feared by everyone, yet love is abundant in our homes. That said, there is a good amount of violence that goes on when dealing with the family business.
Then you have Kinsley's parents who handle her with sterile gloves, as they would anyone who came to the hospital. Fuck, the random people that show up at the hospital get more attention from them.
"I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me," I tell her.
"Fine, I guess I'll learn to deal with you."
"I'd appreciate that."
"You're welcome." I bark a laugh.
"Now keep your ass in that seat. I'll get your door." She lets out a small huff, but I know she’ll sit still. For as much as she protests, she loves the attention I shower her with.
"Jax…"
"Bunny, it's better we rip off the Band-Aid and let everyone know. The sooner it's out there, the sooner it's old news." As much as I want everyone to know she's mine, I care more about her being comfortable.
Besides, it’s for the best. If whoever was in that warehouse saw her and they know Kinsley’s with me, that can offer a layer of protection.
They’ll know she isn’t just some random girl in this city.
That if they so much as touch a hair on her head, they’ll pay the consequences with their life.
These are the times that all the rumors about the Marino family work in our favor.
Kinsley Blake now belongs to the Marino family. She belongs to me.