Chapter 48 Jaxon
Jaxon
Itold myself I wouldn’t pace.
But here I am.
Walking from the kitchen to the living room. Checking the time. Straightening the blanket on the couch. Pouring her wine. Rearranging the vase I already rearranged twice.
Pathetic.
But I don’t care.
Because Ruby said she’s coming. Because she’s choosing this. Because she looked at me today with trust instead of fear.
That does something to me I’m not ready to say out loud.
When my phone buzzes, my heart actually jumps.
Ruby:
On my way.
I stare at the message longer than necessary.
I type:
Me:
Take your time. I’ll be here.
And I will.
For as long as she lets me.
EVAN
He sees her leaving the office.
Navy dress. Soft smile. Touch of nerves.
And he knows exactly where she’s going.
He doesn’t call her name. He doesn’t ask her to stop. He doesn’t say a word.
Because this time… it wouldn’t be for her. It would be for him.
And he cares about her too much to be selfish.
He watches her walk out of the building.
And for the first time, he lets go.
Quietly. Painfully.
But willingly.
“Be happy,” he whispers under his breath.
Then he turns and walks away.
RUBY
The elevator ride to his penthouse feels like a confession.
Every floor is a heartbeat.
When the doors open, he’s standing there waiting.
And the way he looks at me?
Oh god.
Like he’s been waiting all night. All day. All week.
His breath catches.
“Ruby,” he says quietly.
And in that moment, his voice, his eyes, his softness, every leftover fear melts right out of me.
I step off the elevator.
He steps toward me.
And the energy between us snaps tight.
Warm. Certain. Inevitable.
He reaches out a hand.
“Come here,” he murmurs.
And this time?
I don’t hesitate.
I’ve never been more nervous in my entire life.
Not on the first night. Not in the conference room. Not the morning after.
This is different.
This time… it’s not lust. Not panic. Not impulse.
This time, it feels like falling.
He steps toward me slowly, like he’s afraid I’ll disappear.
His eyes sweep down my dress, then back up, dark and warm and unbearably gentle.
“You look beautiful,” he murmurs.
I swallow. “So do you.”
His mouth twitches, almost a smile, before his expression softens again.
“Come here,” he says quietly.
I do.
His hands slide to my waist, warm through the fabric, pulling me just close enough that I feel his breath on my lips.
But he doesn’t kiss me.
Not yet.
He studies my face like he needs a lifetime to memorize it.
“You’re sure?” he asks.
My voice comes out in a whisper. “Yes.”
“Not because of last night.”
“No.”
“Not because you think I expect anything.”
“No.”
“Because you want me?”
I breathe out…
“Because I want you.”
Something breaks in his eyes.
Something good.
Something deep.
He lifts a hand to cradle my cheek, thumb brushing softly along my cheekbone.
“You don’t know what that means to me,” he whispers.
My heart flips.
I lean in, just a little. Just enough for our lips to almost touch.
He inhales sharply.
Then he kisses me.
Soft at first, barely there. It’s a promise in the shape of a kiss.
Then deeper and armer.
His hands slide higher on my waist, then lower, pulling me against him.
My fingers curl into his shirt.
His breath shudders.
He kisses me like he’s letting something go, or claiming something new.
When he pulls back, he presses his forehead to mine.
“I want tonight to be slow,” he murmurs. “I want to feel everything.”
My knees turn to jelly.
“I want that too.”
He smiles, small, tender, devastating.
“Good.”
He takes my hand and leads me toward the bedroom.
My heart sprints the whole way.
But when he turns and pulls me into his arms again, all the fear melts away.
JAXON
She’s here.
She’s really here.
And she’s choosing me.
Not the lust. Not the thrill. Not the adrenaline of something forbidden.
Me.
It hits me like a punch I don’t want to recover from.
I kiss her slowly, so slowly my own breath gets unsteady. Her hands slide up my chest, fingers curling into my shirt. Her lips part just slightly, and I’m gone.
But I keep control. Because this isn’t about hunger anymore.
It’s about her.
I lift her chin and kiss along her jaw, her throat, the hollow beneath her ear: soft, lingering kisses that make her whisper my name in a way that just about destroys me.
“Ruby,” I murmur, “if I go too fast..."
“You won’t,” she breathes.
God.
I pull her closer, hands sliding down her back, tracing the curve of her spine until she shivers.
She’s warm, soft, open; everything I’ve wanted since the first moment I saw her.
Tonight is different.
Tonight is careful, intentional, it’s also sSomething I don’t have a word for yet.
But I know it’s real.
And I know it’s mine.
I cup her face and kiss her again: slower, deeper, until she melts against me.
“Let me take care of you,” I whisper.
She nods, breathless.
And I guide her back onto the bed.
Tonight… I’m giving her everything she deserves.