Chapter Five
H arper watched as Mia ran ahead, her laughter ringing out as she chased after a butterfly.
The sight brought a soft smile to Harper’s lips, easing some of the tension that had coiled in her chest since the incident at the bookstore.
Jaxon stood beside her, his hands tucked into his pockets, eyes following Mia with a protective gaze.
There was a quiet between them, a fragile sort of peace, the kind that settled in when two people found solace in each other’s presence despite the storm raging around them.
Harper stole a glance at him, noting the way his shoulders had relaxed, the hard edge of his jaw softening as he watched Mia.
She hadn’t expected this when he’d insisted on taking them out for dinner after the ordeal at the bookstore.
She had half-expected him to keep his distance, to stay wary and guarded.
But Jaxon had surprised her, just as he always did.
“You okay?” he asked, turning his gaze to meet hers.
His voice was gentle, but there was an undercurrent of concern she couldn’t ignore.
Harper nodded, though she wasn’t entirely sure if it was true.
The encounter with Clay had left her shaken, a lingering fear gnawing at the edges of her thoughts.
But for now, she wanted to hold onto this moment, this little pocket of peace with Jaxon and Mia.
“I think so,” she murmured, offering a small smile.
“It’s nice to have a quiet evening.”
Jaxon’s lips quirked into a faint smile, and he reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.
The gesture was so tender, so unexpectedly intimate, that Harper’s heart gave a little flutter.
It had been so long since anyone had touched her like that, with such care and softness.
“I’m glad you let me tag along,” he said.
“Feels good to be here. With both of you.”
Harper felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words.
She glanced over at Mia, who was now crouched down, examining a patch of wildflowers.
“She’s happy you’re here too,” Harper said softly.
“I can tell.”
Jaxon’s fingers brushed against hers.
It was a small touch, but it sent a shiver down her spine, a reminder of how much she had missed this connection.
They spent the next hour in the park, the three of them sharing stories, laughing at Mia’s antics, and enjoying the simple pleasure of each other’s company.
For a while, Harper forgot about the danger that loomed over them.
She let herself bask in the warmth of Jaxon’s presence, in the way he made her feel safe and seen.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a soft orange hue over everything, they made their way back to Harper’s car.
Mia walked ahead, her little hand clutching a small bouquet of wildflowers she’d picked.
Jaxon and Harper followed behind, their steps slow, as if neither of them wanted the evening to end.
But as they approached the car, Harper’s heart lurched in her chest.
Standing near the vehicle, leaning casually against the side, were Clay and two other men from his MC.
The smirk on Clay’s face was smug, his eyes glinting with malice.
“Evening,” Clay drawled, pushing off the car.
His gaze flicked between Harper and Jaxon, a predatory gleam in his eyes.
“Nice night for a walk.”
Harper’s pulse quickened, her grip on Jaxon’s arm tightening instinctively.
She could feel the tension radiating off him, the way his body went rigid, muscles coiling like a spring ready to snap.
“What do you want, Clay?” Jaxon’s voice was low, a dangerous edge to it.
Clay’s smile widened, and he took a slow step forward, his hands raised in mock surrender.
“Relax, Jaxon. We’re just out for a stroll, same as you. No need to get all worked up.”
Harper’s heart pounded in her chest as Clay’s gaze settled on her.
There was something sinister in the way he looked at her, a promise of trouble that made her stomach twist in knots.
“We’ve been watching,” Clay said, his tone casual but loaded with threat.
“Didn’t know you had a family now, Jaxon. Cute kid.”
Jaxon’s jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides.
Harper could see the barely contained fury in his eyes, the way he was holding himself back for her sake, for Mia’s sake.
“Leave them out of this,” Jaxon said, his voice like steel.
“They have nothing to do with you.”
Clay chuckled, a cold, hollow sound.
“Oh, but they have everything to do with you. And that makes them our business.”
Harper’s breath caught in her throat, fear clawing at her insides.
She wanted to scream, to tell Clay to leave, but the words wouldn’t come.
Instead, she reached for Jaxon’s hand, her fingers lacing through his, seeking comfort in his touch.
“Let’s go,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“Please.”
Jaxon’s gaze didn’t waver from Clay, but Harper could feel the tension in his grip, the war waging inside him.
He wanted to fight, to protect, but he knew the cost of escalating things here and now.
“Not now, Jaxon,” she pleaded, her eyes searching his.
“Think of Mia. Please.”
The mention of Mia seemed to pull Jaxon back from the edge.
He took a deep breath, his jaw relaxing just enough for Harper to see the struggle in his eyes.
Slowly, he nodded, his gaze hardening as he looked at Clay one last time.
“This isn’t over,” Jaxon said, his voice low, a promise of retribution.
“But it won’t be here.”
Clay smirked, giving a mock bow.
“We’ll be seeing you around, Jaxon.”
With that, Clay and his men turned and walked away, disappearing into the fading light.
Harper exhaled shakily, the tension in her body easing slightly as she watched them go.
Jaxon turned to her and cupped her face, brushing his thumbs gently over her cheeks.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Harper nodded, though she wasn’t sure if it was true.
Her heart was still racing, her mind spinning with the implications of Clay’s presence.
But in Jaxon’s arms, she felt a measure of safety, of reassurance that she wasn’t alone in this.
“I’m scared,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
“For Mia. For us.”
Jaxon pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against his chest.
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he murmured, his lips brushing against her hair.
“I swear it.”
Harper closed her eyes, allowing herself to sink into his embrace.
****
T he ride back to Harper’s house was quiet but filled with an undercurrent of tension, the kind that thrummed just beneath the surface.
Harper could still feel the lingering unease from their encounter with Clay, but more than that, she felt the warmth of Jaxon’s presence beside her.
The way he’d protected her and Mia, the fierce determination in his eyes stirred something deep within her.
When they arrived, Mia bounded up the steps, waving a cheerful good night before disappearing inside.
Harper lingered on the doorstep, her heart pounding as she turned to Jaxon.
The streetlights cast a soft glow over his face, highlighting the angles of his jaw and the intensity in his gaze.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the gentle night breeze.
“For tonight. For everything.”
Jaxon shrugged, but his eyes softened.
“You don’t have to thank me, Harper. I’ll always be here for you.”
The sincerity in his voice, the way he said it like a vow, made her chest tighten.
She stepped closer, her hand resting lightly on his chest.
She could feel the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath her fingers, a comforting rhythm that matched the pulse of her own racing heart.
“I mean it,” she said, her gaze locking onto his.
“Thank you.”
Before she could second-guess herself, Harper leaned in, her lips brushing against his in a tentative kiss.
Jaxon stiffened for a moment, surprised, but then his hands were on her waist, pulling her closer.
The kiss deepened, slow and searching, as if they were rediscovering each other after years apart.
Heat sparked between them, a flame that had never truly been extinguished.
Harper melted into him.
She curled her fingers into the fabric of his shirt, anchoring herself to the solid reality of him.
When they finally broke apart, they were both breathless, their foreheads resting together.
“Come inside,” Harper said softly.
The invitation hung between them, heavy with promise.
Jaxon hesitated a moment, searching her eyes for any doubt.
When he found none, he nodded, his hand slipping into hers as she led him inside.
The house was quiet, the only sound the soft creak of the floorboards beneath their feet.
After tucking Mia into bed and ensuring she was fast asleep, Harper returned to find Jaxon waiting in the living room.
He stood near the window, his silhouette outlined by the moonlight filtering through the curtains.
The sight of him there, in her space, felt surreal and yet perfectly right.
She approached him slowly, her nerves tingling with anticipation.
Jaxon turned to face her, his expression unreadable, but his eyes told her everything she needed to know.
They were dark with desire, with something deeper that made her heart ache in the best way.
“Harper,” he murmured, reaching for her as she stepped into his arms.
The moment their bodies touched, the world seemed to narrow down to just the two of them.
Harper tilted her head up, her lips seeking his again, and Jaxon met her halfway.
This kiss was different from the one on the doorstep—hungrier, more desperate, as if they were trying to make up for lost time.
Jaxon roamed his hands over her back, his touch igniting sparks along her skin.
Harper tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling him closer, needing to feel every inch of him.
Their breaths mingled, their kisses growing deeper, more urgent, until they were both consumed by the heat building between them.
His muscled body felt amazing against hers, solid like she remembered, a contrast to her softness.
“Are you sure?” Jaxon asked, his voice rough, his forehead resting against hers.
Harper nodded, her eyes shining with certainty.
“Yes. I want this. I want you.”
That was all the encouragement Jaxon needed.
He scooped her up effortlessly, cradling her against his chest as he carried her down the hallway to her bedroom.
The door closed behind them with a soft click, sealing them in a world of their own making.
He laid her gently on the bed, his gaze never leaving hers as he leaned down, capturing her lips once more.
Harper arched beneath him, and she used her hands to explore the expanse of his back, savoring the feel of his muscles tensing under her touch.
Jaxon left a trail of kisses down her neck, his teeth grazing her skin just enough to make her shiver.
Every touch, every kiss, was a reclamation of something they had lost, a bridge between the past and the present.
Jaxon’s hands were skilled, knowing exactly where to touch, how to draw soft moans from her lips.
Harper felt as if she were drowning in him, and she didn’t want to come up for air.
Soon enough, they both dispensed with their clothes.
Her breath caught as she beheld him.
Over the years, he’d seemed to have worked out more.
She didn’t miss his cock thickening at the sight of her.
His hungry gaze was exactly as she remembered—full of lust and something else, something she couldn’t name yet.
They took their time, savoring the rediscovery of each other’s bodies, every moment a testament to the passion that had always simmered between them.
The air was thick with heat and emotion, a heady mix that left them both gasping for more.
Jaxon closed his mouth over her erect nipple.
He licked and sucked, making her gasp, to tug at his hair.
He bit her lightly, before moving to her other breast.
He went lower, kissing his way down her ribs, to the valley between her thighs.
Reaching her pussy, Jaxon took his time, savoring the taste of her.
Harper gasped, groaning as he began tonguing her slit.
Not long after, Harper climaxed.
Jaxon got off her and from the corner of her eyes, she saw him grabbing his pants.
He pulled a condom from his wallet before positioning himself at the edge of the bed.
“Harper, there’s no going back once we start down this road,” he told her.
“I know,” she answered and he didn’t ask her again.
Jaxon lifted her legs above his shoulders and slipped the condom on.
He then entered her, going slow at first.
Finally, he was balls-deep inside her.
Harper groaned and needing something to hold onto, she gripped the headboard.
Was he always this big?
“Time to make you fly, baby,” he said.
Harper could only nod.
Jaxon delivered good on his promise.
He started with a rhythm that suited them both.
When she begged him to go faster, he complied.
Her nipples tightened as he pounded into her.
They moved together in perfect harmony, their connection deepening.
Harper soon found herself meeting him for every thrust.
Jaxon changed the direction of his next push, making her gasp.
Jaxon smiled down at her and stole a kiss from her mouth.
He kept aiming for her sweet spot.
The pressure building inside her burst, and Harper came, screaming out his name.
He pushed in and out of her a few more times, before reaching climax.
She panted, drifting in a haze of pleasure.
Jaxon pulled out of her and disposed of the condom in her bathroom.
He returned with a towel, cleaning them both up, before slipping in bed next to her.
They lay tangled in the sheets, the moonlight casting a soft glow over their spent bodies.
Jaxon traced lazy circles on Harper’s bare shoulder, his touch soothing, grounding.
“I’ve missed you,” Harper admitted, her voice a quiet confession in the dark.
“More than I ever thought possible.”
Jaxon pressed a kiss to her temple, his lips lingering there.
“I’ve missed you too,” he murmured.
“Every damn day.”
They lay in comfortable silence, the weight of the past lifted, if only for the night.
Harper felt a contentment she hadn’t known in years.