Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Jax
Ibarely get the door shut before Kira runs to the kitchen sink.
“Well, that was a pleasant surprise,” I say, leaning against the wall and crossing my arms.
I had completely forgotten about the chance that the police could show up for Marshal. Normally, I don’t have to worry about such things, as I never leave any traceables. But this wasn’t my kill, and of course they would track his movements to the Noland house.
“Pleasant?!” Kira scoffs, bracing herself against the sink.
“I think so.” For one, it proves Kira’s smart enough not to run her mouth about what happened the other night.
And two, I really liked the way she clung to me—tight and desperate—like I could be her anchor.
She probably didn’t even realize she was doing it, but her body knew before her mind could fight it.
And Kira Noland reaching for me… that does something to me.
Something I’m trying really hard not to let consume me.
Shaking her head, I take a step forward, my brows knitting together. Her knuckles are turning white where they clutch the porcelain.
“You okay?” I ask.
Her hair is doing that damp thing where it clings to her forehead, and my fingers itch to push it away. The kiss we shared the other night did the opposite of what I was hoping it would. Instead of smothering the spark, it lit the fuse.
“He knows,” she chokes out, voice rough. “He fucking knows.” She leans over the sink as if she’s about to empty her stomach. “I screwed everything up.”
I still at her words. She thinks she screwed up? She handled that better than anyone else would’ve. Hell, better than Caleb would have. And I didn’t even prep her. She kept her answers vague, didn’t cry, and she stayed behind me.
I take another step closer, my voice low. “No, you didn’t.”
“I practically—” she doesn’t finish, a dry heave cutting her off.
Without thinking, I step behind her, unable to stop myself as my hand goes to her hair.
I gather it gently at the nape of her neck, my fingertips brushing against her clammy skin as she shudders.
God, I shouldn’t be this close to her, but I can feel the fear in her body, and something in me needs to quell it.
“You did good,” I tell her, my voice taking on a foreign, soft tone. I wrap her hair around one fist and use my other hand to slide down her arm. “You did, so, so good, buttercup.”
Another heave wracks her body, but I step in closer, closing the space between us until her back is flush with my chest. “You did better than good. You did great.”
And she did. She could have cracked. Most people do. That’s one of the reasons lawyers even exist—to tell people to keep their mouths shut. But she didn’t need that. She held it together all on her own.
“I’m going to jail,” she whispers as she catches her breath and, all finished, she sags against me in what feels like defeat.
“No, you aren’t.” I let go of her hair and wrap my hand around the front of her throat, tilting her head back so I can meet her eyes.
She has unshed tears pooling in the rims, and she doesn’t even fight my touch like I’ve come to expect.
Looking down at her like this, something shifts—something protective and vicious.
“You aren’t going to jail because I will kill anyone who tries to take you from me. ”
The admission startles me, but I also haven’t seen Kira fall apart before.
Her breath hitches, but she doesn’t pull away. The tears that were welling in her eyes fall over as she blinks in disbelief, but the well has dried up as she studies my face for falsity. But I don’t joke about killing, and I trace my thumb along the underside of her jaw.
“I will, Kira,” I murmur, dipping my head until my mouth brushes her temple. “Let them come. I’ll make an example out of every single one.”
Her eyes flutter closed for a breath, and I feel it—surrender. For a second, I think I see her believe me, feel her relax at my promise of violence, but then she squeezes her eyes shut.
“You can’t—you can’t kill a whole police department.”
I smirk, amused at her doubt. “Watch me.”
“No,” she whispers, trying to shake her head.
“Yes,” I tell her, tightening my grip.
“No! No more murder.” She pushes her palms into her eye sockets around my hold. “That’s what’s caused all this in the first place.”
“And I’ll finish it,” I say matter-of-factly. “You aren’t going to jail.”
She flings her hands down. “If you’re worried that I’m going to take you down with me—”
“You couldn’t take me down if you wanted to.”
“Then why? Why are you here?” Her voice cracks as she frees herself from me and spins around. “Why are you giving me rides home and holding my hair back? Why did you—” she shoves at my chest, “why did you kiss me?!”
“Why did I kiss you?” I tower over her, gripping the sink on either side of her waist.
Because I’m a fool. Because I can’t stay away. Because the way she looks at me—like I’m both her worst mistake and the only safe place left—is addictive.
“Why did you kiss me back?” I lean down and cock my head.
“I—” She tries to rear away, but there’s nowhere to go.
I’ve got her cornered, and she knows it. Not just physically, but emotionally. She can lie to herself all she wants, but I saw the way she melted into me. I felt it.
“I—I didn’t.”
“You didn’t stop me, Kira.” I raise a knowing brow.
Her mouth opens and closes as she blinks rapidly.
“Maybe,” I say, not giving her time to formulate another lie, “I’m here for that,” I brush a strand of hair from her face, “same,” I tuck it behind her ear, “reason.” I let my knuckles run down her cheek.
She jerks away and gives a dry huff. “No, you aren’t.”
My lip twitches in amusement. “You sure?”
“Positive.” She sears me with a derisive look—one that I’m going to relish watching vanish when she realizes the trap she’s walked herself into.
“So, just to be clear…” I lean in closer. “There’s no way that I’m here for the same reason you kissed me back?”
“None.” She raises her chin.
“Hm.” I nod. “But um, what exactly is that reason?”
Her bottom lip falls, and I smirk as the silence stretches between us.
“I’m waiting, Kira.” My voice is quiet now. “You said you’re positive, so go ahead, enlighten me. What was the reason you kissed me back?”
Her jaw twitches, eyes flaring with that stubborn pride she hides behind. But it’s slipping.
“I didn’t—”
“Don’t,” I cut in, pressing against her, forcing her back another inch until she’s flush against the counter. “Don’t bullshit me. You kissed me back because you wanted to. Because for one second, you forgot to pretend you hate me.”
“I do hate you,” she snaps, but her voice betrays her, too soft and uncertain.
I tilt my head. “Yeah?” My hands slide up the edge of the counter to lock onto her waist. “Then why haven’t you moved?”
She stiffens.
“You’ve got two good legs, Kira. One loud mouth. And absolutely nothing stopping you from walking away.” I lower my head until our lips nearly touch. “Except maybe the part of you that’s still thinking about that kiss.”
“I’m not—”
“Thinking about it?” I whisper into her mouth. “Liar.”
Her breath stutters.
“Just admit it,” I say, my voice barely audible now. “You want this. You want me. You’re just too stubborn to accept it.”
She closes her eyes like that’ll block me out. But I’m already in.
“I don’t,” she breathes.
“Say it like you mean it.”
She doesn’t.
She can’t.
Because this close… her body’s already telling me the truth.