21. Mia
Chapter twenty-one
Mia
One Year Later
M ia watched as Jax's hazel eyes lit up, his animated movements making the customer in front of them smile. She couldn't help but feel a thrill, seeing their shared passion for literature connecting with others.
"Trust me," Jax said confidently, "if you enjoyed that mystery, you'll love this new release. It's got twists and turns that'll keep you guessing until the very end."
The customer nodded, excitement mirrored in their eyes. Mia chimed in, adding her own suggestion based on the customer's preferences. "And if you're into stories about crime-solving dogs, I have an excellent young adult recommendation for you. It’s fun and quirky and doggy-tastic!"
"Thanks, guys!" the customer grinned, taking both books from Jax and Mia before heading to the cash register. They exchanged a quick look, pleased with their successful recommendations.
"Damn, we're good," Mia thought, noticing how well they worked together.
Just then, another customer walked in, brows furrowed in frustration. "Excuse me, I've been searching everywhere for a specific book, but I can't seem to find it. Can you help?"
"Of course," Jax replied smoothly. "What's the title?"
"Um, it's called 'The Veiled Shadows' by Maria Zanetti," the customer said, uncertainty lacing her voice.
Jax glanced at Mia, who was already scanning their mental inventory. As she processed the information, Mia recalled the exact location of the book in question.
"Got it," Mia said with a knowing grin. "It's a hidden gem, tucked away in the suspense section." She led the customer through the maze of shelves, Jax following closely behind.
"Here it is," Mia announced, pulling the novel from its spot on the shelf. The customer's face lit up with relief and gratitude as she took the book from Mia's hands.
"Thank you so much!" she exclaimed. "I've been looking for this book everywhere."
"No problem," Jax replied, his smile warm and genuine. "We're always here to help fellow book lovers."
As the customer left with her newfound treasure, Mia smiled happily to herself. She glanced over at Jax, who was already scanning the room for the next person in need of assistance.
Mia went over to the young adult section, her favorite part of the bookstore. Her fingers glided along the spines of books as she organized the shelves, her heart swelling with pride at their teamwork. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling her from her thoughts. Glancing down, she saw a text from Savannah.
"Hey, how's it going at the bookstore?" her friend asked.
Mia grinned, tapping out a response with ten book emojis and ten hearts. She loved the new smartphone Jax had bought her—it made staying connected with her friends so much easier. "It's amazing," she added. “You still coming to visit next weekend?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, girl!” replied Savannah. “Plus, Daddy’s taking me to an age play store downtown. He’s promised me a new pacifier AND an I Heart Bloomington stuffie!”
“Nice!” Mia shot back. “How’s crimefighting in the Windy City?”
“Pretty chill, actually,” replied Savannah. “Things have been quiet since taking down Viper and his gang. Mostly we’re just dealing with petty criminals. Still feels good though!”
Mia sent about twelve more heart emojis, before slipping the phone back into her pocket and returning to her task with a content hum.
"Break time," Jax announced after a while, beckoning Mia over to a cozy corner of the bookstore surrounded by stacks of books. They sank into comfortable chairs, a warm sense of camaraderie between them.
"Okay, favorite literary character—go!" Mia challenged, leaning forward with a playful glint in her eyes.
"Easy," Jax replied, smirking. "Lisbeth Salander from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo . She's brilliant, resilient, and doesn't take any crap from anyone."
Mia nodded in agreement. "She's definitely badass. But I have to say, my favorite is Jane Eyre. I know she might not be as fierce as Lisbeth, but she's strong in her own way. She stays true to herself, even when it means facing incredible hardship."
"Good choice," Jax conceded. "Now, let's talk genres. I'm a sucker for a well-crafted thriller or suspense novel. What about you?"
"Young adult romance, all the way," Mia admitted, feeling a blush creep up her cheeks. "There's just something about the emotional journey, the chemistry between characters in romance . . . it gets me every time."
"See, that's where we differ," Jax said, grinning. "I need a book that keeps me on the edge of my seat with twists and turns I never saw coming."
"Hey, don't knock romance," Mia countered, her green eyes flashing with mock indignation. "There can be plenty of suspense and surprises in a good love story!"
"True," Jax conceded, his gaze softening as it met hers. "I guess I just never knew how thrilling romance could be until you came into my life."
A warm breeze rustled through the open doors of the bookstore, carrying with it the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the faint chatter of people passing by. Mia smiled. “I’m so happy we did this. You and me. Running Tiger Tiger Books.”
“Me too,” replied Jax. “I love our life here.”
He reached out for her arm, a little snatch of his tattoo showing. Since the two of them had gotten together, Jax had got himself a new tattoo. It was on his forearm and was a black line drawing of Baloo from Jungle Book . Not the cartoon Disney version, but the original drawing from the Rudyard Kipling book. It made a great counterpart to Mia’s Shere Khan tattoo, and Mia liked to call it his “Daddy bear” tattoo.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky and the day started winding down, Jax and Mia turned the sign on the bookstore door to "Closed" and locked up for the evening. Mia clutched her new illustrated book tightly to her chest, feeling a warm sense of appreciation for Jax's thoughtfulness. Together, they stepped out into the cool evening air, their hands brushing against each other as they strolled down the sidewalk.
"Did you have fun today?" Jax asked, looking down at Mia with a protective glint in his hazel eyes.
"Every new day is always even more fun than yesterday," she admitted, her green eyes shining with excitement. "I can't wait to come back and do it all again tomorrow." She squeezed his hand gently, savoring the thrill that surged through her at their connection.
“Today’s not over yet, sweetie,” he told her, squeezing her hand back.
Their journey home was quiet but filled with anticipation. As they walked side by side, Mia found herself stealing glances at Jax, admiring the way his muscular frame moved beneath his casual clothes. She imagined the evening they would spend together, the tender moments yet to come, and felt a shiver of desire run down her spine.
When they arrived at their quaint little house, Jax unlocked the door and held it open for Mia, ushering her inside with a gentle touch on her lower back. The scent of cut flowers filled their nostrils as they entered their colorful home, which was devoid of screens and filled with an eclectic mix of modern and vintage furnishings from local markets and boutiques.
"You hungry yet?” Jax asked her.
“Not for food,” said Mia, biting her lip.
Jax led her to the playroom, a space designed for their unique dynamic. The dim lighting cast a soft, comforting glow on the various toys and implements scattered throughout the room.
"Tonight, I want to take care of you," Jax began, his voice firm yet gentle. "But first, I need you to trust me completely. Can you do that, Mia?"
"Of course, Daddy," she replied without hesitation, her eyes locked on his.
"Good girl," he praised, guiding her to a plush rug in the center of the room. He helped her undress, his touch tender and loving as he revealed her body to his hungry gaze.
"Kneel for me, baby," he instructed, and Mia obeyed immediately, settling into a submissive position before him.
Jax moved about the room, gathering various items—a soft flogger, a blindfold, and a bottle of lube—before returning to her side. He slipped the blindfold over her eyes, plunging her world into darkness.
"Remember, you can use your safeword at any time," he reminded her gently, his breath warm against her ear. "But I want you to let go and trust me tonight."
Mia nodded, feeling a shiver run down her spine as Jax's hand trailed across her skin. The flogger came first, its soft tails caressing her body in a teasing rhythm before landing gentle, stinging kisses on her exposed flesh. Mia's moans filled the room, each strike igniting a fire within her.
"Such a good girl, taking this so well," Jax murmured, his praise making her chest swell with pride.
As the flogger continued its dance, Mia felt herself slipping further into subspace, the sensation of pain melting into pleasure. She trusted Jax completely, knowing that he would guide her through this journey with unerring care.
"Ready for more, baby?"
"Please, Daddy," she whispered, her voice breathless with need.
Jax carefully positioned her on the rug, exposing her fully to his touch. His fingers slid through her wetness, coating them in her arousal before applying the lube generously.
"Relax for me," he coaxed as he slowly began to work his fingers inside her, stretching her and preparing her for what was to come. Mia whimpered, her body trembling with desire as he built her up to the brink of release.
"Please, Daddy, I need you," she begged, feeling her climax approaching like a tidal wave.
"Patience, little one," Jax warned, his voice a low growl. "I'll take care of you."
When he finally deemed her ready, he removed his fingers and replaced them with his thick, hard length. Mia gasped at the sensation, feeling impossibly full and complete with him inside her.
"You're mine, Mia," he whispered, his voice filled with love and possessiveness as he began to thrust into her. "My good girl, my precious babygirl."
Their bodies moved together in perfect harmony, their cries of pleasure mingling in the air as they chased their shared release. When it finally came, it was a torrent of emotion and sensation that left them both breathless and spent.
As they lay tangled together on the rug, Jax stroked Mia's hair, pressing gentle kisses to her forehead. "I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did, baby girl," he murmured, his voice soft with affection. "I love you so much."
"Love you too, Daddy," Mia whispered back, her heart overflowing with happiness and her body still humming with contentment. “And I love every minute of being with you. It helps me relax in a completely different way to working at the bookstore.”
Jax chuckled, his chest vibrating with laughter as he hugged her tightly. "You're something else, Mia. Always finding a way to put me at ease."
He pulled away enough to look into her eyes, his gaze filled with warmth and adoration. "But I do enjoy our quiet life here, our little bookstore, and our cozy apartment. I can't imagine living without you, sweetheart."
Mia smiled up at him, her heart full of love and gratitude. "Neither can I, Daddy." She reached up to trace the contours of his face, her fingers gently brushing over his stubble. "We're a perfect fit, just like two pages in a book."
She grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "And the story we're writing together is one for the ages, Daddy."
"I can't imagine a better story, baby. Our love, our passion, our shared desires, all of it."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the room in a warm golden glow, Jax and Mia lay together, their hearts filled with love and gratitude for the life they had built together. Fighting crime wasn’t everything, after all. Fighting for survival was even more important. Fighting for peace after a storm. And fighting for love, without which, there would be no story at all.
*
Thanks so much for reading!