Chapter 51 Violet #2
“I know about the no sex rule, which, let me be clear, I think is total bullshit,” Lexie replies. “But I also know my girl, here, and there’s a bigger than zero percent chance these two lovebirds have a sleepover tonight, which means—”
“Here.” I hand Lexie my keys. “If I’m not down by the time you’re ready to leave, you can take my car.”
“Oh.” She grins. “Well, that was easier than I thought it would be. Thanks, Boo.” She plants a lip-smacking kiss on my cheek. “You’re a peach.”
With a laugh, I wipe Lexie's lipgloss off. “Glad I can be of service.”
“And on that note…” Threading her arm through June’s, Lexie tugs them both away, calling out, “See ya!” as they disappear into the sea of people.
Seriously, though. The girl might be a pain in the ass, but I love her to death.
Peering up at Jagger, I take in the tiny bags under his eyes, my concern swelling with every passing second.
It’s been this way all week. The way it ebbs and flows.
One minute, I’m convinced everything is fine, and the next, I swear my unbreakable boyfriend is close to cracking.
It’s been stressing me out. But what’s worse? It’s not knowing what to do about it.
“Come on, big boy,” I urge. “Let’s get you upstairs.”
Ford wasn’t kidding about Jagger’s superstitions. After brushing his teeth, putting on a pair of holey boxers that’ve definitely seen better days, and letting me borrow a T-shirt so I’m comfortable, too, he tucks me under the covers on his bed and opens his laptop.
I kind of love it. The simplicity of it all.
The cozy clothes and promise of a nostalgic movie.
For him, not me. I’ve never seen Rocky, but I digress.
It’s still nice. Peaceful, almost. If you told me Jagger Harden spent any of his Friday nights alone in his room while watching an old movie by himself, I would’ve never believed you.
But now that I actually know him? His thoughts and feelings and idiosyncrasies?
I don’t know, but it totally fits. And that?
That’s adorable as hell, though he’d probably spank me if he knew I used the term adorable to describe anything Harden related.
I smile against Jagger’s chest and snuggle in as he pushes play on the laptop. When the opening fight starts on the screen, and Rocky’s head swivels to the side, I peek up at Jagger. “Rocky, huh?”
“Tradition.”
“Sounds like it.” I snuggle against his chest even more, soaking up the warmth from his bare skin and fighting the urge to take a bite out of him like a crazy person. I can’t help it. He’s just so…yummy. “So, is talking allowed during this tradition or…?”
“Not sure,” he rumbles. “I’ve never let anyone join.”
Is he serious? Giddiness grows inside of me. I try reeling it in so he can’t see right through me, but I doubt I’m successful. But for real, though. He’s never let anyone do this with him? Never? Swoon. Skating my fingers along his bare chest, I murmur, “This is a first, huh?”
“Yeah.” He lifts his head and kisses my crown. “Thought I had only a few of those left, but, you seem to be stealing them left and right.”
There it is again. The glimpse that he’s okay.
That I’ve been overthinking all week. It’s definitely possible.
Hell, maybe I’m the one who’s been acting like a crazy person.
Ever since he called last week and told me about my house, about what he did for me, even if I don’t know the specifics, the L word has been sitting on the tip of my tongue.
And it’s scary. Scarier than I’d like to admit.
Because I’m not used to people caring about me.
About doing things for me or sacrificing for me.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out it must’ve been a lot. Whatever he agreed to with Ethan.
Is that why he’s been…distracted?
Lifting my head so I can look at Jagger, I rest my chin on his chest. “So how are you, really?”
“I’m fine.”
Liar.
“I’m serious,” I push. And maybe I shouldn’t. Maybe it’s none of my business. But I can’t help it. I’m back to being worried. “Are you ready for the fight? Nervous?”
His left eye pulses until his attention flicks back to the computer screen propped next to us. “It’ll be fine.”
I want to believe him. I really do. But there’s something about the way he says it. The way he won’t hold my gaze.
“You sure?” I ask. “You seem…quiet.”
“I always get in my head before a fight.”
“Do you?” I prod. I don’t mean for it to come out accusatory, and maybe the underlying tone is only present in my own ears, but I remember the first night we met, and he definitely didn’t seem quiet or like he was in his head that night.
Nope. The man was as cocky and arrogant and self-assured as usual.
Or maybe he was simply showing me what he wanted me to see.
Maybe this is the real Jagger. The vulnerable one.
The one he keeps hidden from the rest of the world in hopes of keeping his impenetrable facade in place.
And if that’s the case, then who am I to question it?
“Just know I’m here for you, okay?” I kiss his chest as he runs his fingers up and down my arm, tickling my skin with the softest of touches. It only makes me fall for him more. “I’d do anything for you,” I add, hoping he can feel my sincerity. “And I mean it, Jag.”
His chest expands on a deep breath. Like he’s breathing in my words. Like they mean something to him. Something…more.
“Come here, Little Thief.” Scooping me up, he rolls us over until I’m sandwiched between his strong body and the soft mattress beneath me. It’s so quick, it takes a second for my brain to register the shift, but now that I’m here, pinned under his weight, well…let’s just say I’m a little lost.
“Why, hello there.” I smile up at him. Bending down, he kisses the edge of my mouth as his hand finds my waist. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he’s making a move, but considering Ford’s comment downstairs, that isn’t possible. Is it? “What are you doing?” I whisper.
“Need you.” His fingers find the edge of his shirt I’m drowning in, and he pushes it up, exposing my stomach while dragging his mouth against the sensitive patch of skin beneath my ear.
It feels good. Really good. So good, it’s hard to think straight, let alone form a sentence, but someone has to be logical here.
“Pretty sure this isn’t part of the superstitious routine, Jag.”
“Don’t care.”
“But tomorrow—”
“I don’t care about tomorrow.” The sound of his gravelly voice sends a shiver of anticipation straight through me.
Well, all right then.
I open my thighs, cradling his waist and arching my back as he pushes my top even higher.
Once my lacy bra is on full display, he burrows lower and tugs the cup to one side.
The heat of his mouth shoots straight to my core as he sucks on my nipple, well-aware it has a direct line to my clit.
I thread my fingers through his dark hair, pulling him closer, and wiggle beneath him.
Friction. I need friction. Okay, that’s a lie.
What I need is to feel him buried inside of me.
The problem is, despite our current position, I’ve been informed Jagger has a strict no sex rule.
Not before a fight, and tomorrow is his rematch with Ethan.
Sensing my reservations, he scrapes his teeth against my nipple, daring me to stay lost in my head instead of losing myself in the feel of his hands and mouth on me.
He drives a hard bargain. The man knows exactly how to make me fall apart, and he’s barely touched me.
Okay, barely is a bit of a stretch, but if he keeps grinding into me like this, I might seriously come, and we’re not even naked yet.
I squeeze my eyes shut and tug on his hair, urging him to lift his head.
When he does, I skate my hands along the nape of his neck and cup both sides of his handsome face, demanding his full attention. “Jagger.”
“Violet.”
Dammit! Why does he have to say my name like that? All raspy and sexy and…
Focus, Violet!
“I’m not sure if you remember, but a little bird told me—”
“I don’t give a shit, Vi—”
“Yeah, but I don’t want you to regret—”
Jagger swallows my protest and kisses me hard, driving his tongue between my lips the same way he does with his cock every time we’re together.
It only turns me on more. How? How is it possible he knows exactly how to make me cave to his every whim?
I can’t decide if it’s a talent or an omen.
One I’d be smart to heed. I won’t, though.
Honestly, if I’ve learned anything in this life, it’s to grab hold of every moment. Every single one.
Giving in, I brush my fingers along his jaw, memorizing the slight scratch of his five o’clock shadow as he unbuttons my jeans.
Maybe he’s over the whole no sex before a fight or it might jinx it thing.
And if that’s the case, then I’m all for it.
Besides, ever since the fallout with my dad, Jagger’s been…
distracted, almost. Hell, this feels like he’s truly with me this time.
And I’ve missed it. This intensity. Cool air kisses my exposed skin as he leans back on his haunches and drags off my pants.
His coal black eyes somehow turn me into liquid when he takes in every inch of me sprawled beneath him.
“Jagger,” I whisper.
“When I first saw you,” he rasps, “I wanted to fuck you just to get you out of my head.” He bends closer and kisses my belly button, then moves lower to kiss my hip bones. “When I had you for the first time.” He hooks his fingers in my underwear and rips the thin scrap of material off me. “I knew.”