Six
The trip to the hospital the following afternoon was unbelievably pleasant. No major issues or strained atmospheres. I had expected the car journey to be quiet and uncomfortable, so I decided to put some effort into making the situation normal. If Jaxon threw that back in my face, I’d sit in silence.
I purposefully showed an interest in Jaxon’s time in the army and he spoke about the first time he’d met Nixon. There had been a mix-up at the base due to their names being similar.
During their first tour together to Afghanistan, they hadn’t warmed to each other at first. Nixon had an issue with authority and it was Jaxon’s job to train him as his PT (physical trainer). What didn’t help was that Jaxon was much younger than Nixon and so there was the whole, respect your elder’s crap. Eventually, they put aside their differences and established that they had loads in common. Dysfunctional families were mentioned as one of these but Jaxon didn’t go into detail and I didn’t pry. We were at last having the normal conversation I had strived for.
I raised the subject of Nixon’s injury but Jaxon was guarded and I soon changed the subject. He probably didn’t want to discuss it because it wasn’t his story to tell. I had only met Nixon a few times and he was a proud man; he wouldn’t want everyone to know his private shit. It was funny really, as I would never have pictured such a huge, towering tattooed beast with someone like Jenna. She was way too sweet and quiet. I wasn’t as close to her as I was to Amy, but she appeared way too nice. He probably dug that submissive vibe that oozed out of her.
I asked Jaxon if he had ever been injured and he said no. Not during a tour anyway. Just one time when he’d needed stitches; a drunken instance at the base which included him and a colleague breaking a window by accident. Again, he didn’t go into detail .
Jaxon explained that even though he didn’t go into battle-type scenarios he had to travel with the squads to ensure that they all remained physically fit whilst they were away. He said that some tours lasted for over twelve months but that the longest tour he had joined had been for six months.
We got to the hospital whilst it was still light. I’d managed to pop to the shops that morning to buy a card to congratulate the pair on their new baby but hadn’t managed to pick up a gift. I decided that I’d ask Jenna what she wanted when I saw her. The whole family had signed it, even Jaxon and Molly.
Jaxon did ask about my newspaper article and I explained that I had finished my first draft. I told him it wasn’t due until the end of the month, and that I had plenty of time to submit it. He again reminded me that he needed to see it first.
Jaxon parked the car and then we both made our way into the building. Jenna had given birth at a private hospital on the outskirts of their village. Both the McKenna and Taylor-Joy families owned farmland and were loaded. I remember Jaxon and I going to one of Jenna’s BBQs and how huge their house was. Jaxon had of course been a shit to me then. No change there then. He’d even threatened to leave me there to walk home. An empty threat but it still stung. He’d also shouted at me in front of everyone.
We negotiated the signage which pointed us to the maternity unit and eventually found the right corridor.
As we approached the private room where Jenna and the baby were staying, Jaxon stopped outside the door and looked down at me. His smile faded into nothing as he whispered, “Will you be alright?”
I was puzzled by his question. “Sorry, what do you mean?”
“I mean with your tendency to bring forth the waterworks.”
Shooting him a lopsided smile, I replied. “I’ll try and control myself.”
“Good, see that you do. Crying females makes me nervous,” Jaxon muttered before knocking on the door. Whatever, I couldn’t imagine anything making him nervous. Astonished, I opened my mouth to deliver a witty comeback but then closed it again when a man’s voice bled in between us.
“Come in,” Nixon’s voice boomed.
Jaxon held the door for me and motioned for me to proceed him; which surprised me. He was probably doing the chivalrous act to make a good impression in front of Jenna.
Jenna’s face lit up as we entered, blatantly pleased to see us and Nixon pushed to his feet. The two men approached each other, fist-bumped and then did that man hug thing where they pounded on each other's backs with their hands.
“Congrats, fucking awesome news,” Jaxon stated with a wide smile on his face.
“Thanks, man,” Nixon replied as he drew back. I shot him a bright smile as I moved past them toward Jenna.
“Wynter,” he said.
“Nix,” I replied with a nod of my head.
Jenna sat up in bed and looked as beautiful as she always did. Like an angel with her golden hair falling across her shoulders. She wore a white hospital gown and looked so pale against the bed linen. The shadows under her eyes showed she was tired.
“Hi, Wynter. No swearing in front of the baby, please Jax,” Jenna added with a flick of her head toward the infant.
“My bad, apologies,” Jaxon apologised holding his hands up. Jenna beamed at him.
Her daughter was lying in a Moses basket close to the bed, her little meaty fists covered in scratch mittens. She was so cute with colouring like her father's and fuzzy dark hair. The gurgling noises she was making would probably make most women’s uteruses skip a beat .
Nixon lingered at the bottom of the bed as Jaxon approached Jenna and leaned over, kissing her cheek. Nixon remained where he was but his eyes narrowed slightly.
“Hi, gorgeous. Did you miss me?” Jaxon questioned drawing back and shooting Nixon a cocky look. I lowered myself onto the empty chair by the bed. Big dick contests tired me out.
“Alright back off shithead,” Nixon laughed, striding around the opposite side, and jamming his thumb in the air to motion for him to back off.
Jenna rolled her eyes and gave me her full attention. “I’m so pleased you came. You just missed my mum and dad. I’ve had so many visitors today, it feels a bit like I’m a celebrity,” she said. Her voice was so soft and sweet.
“Daisy sends her love and that she’s planning on coming with Marcus tomorrow if that suits you.”
“That’s fine, I think I’ll be in here a while.”
Nixon cut in and explained that Jenna wouldn’t be discharged until the end of the week due to a couple of complications. I felt my heart sink for her; she hadn’t had it easy over the last two years; baby-wise.
As we digested the news, Jaxon moved to stand just behind where I was sitting. “Nothing too concerning I hope?”
Jenna shook her head. “No. I just have a couple of routine checks that need to be done. It’s all fine. So tomorrow would be great for Aunt Daisy to come. I’m looking forward to meeting Marcus properly.”
Jaxon shuffled around me to stand beside the chair, his strong thigh close to my shoulder. “Don’t get too excited,” he grunted.
I tutted and shook my head. “Ignore Jaxon, Marcus is lovely. Unlike one of his apples which fell mighty far from the tree.” I then changed the subject as Jaxon chuntered something under his breath and Nixon chuckled. I glanced across at the basket. “Aww Jenna, she’s beautiful; takes after her mummy. Sorry Nixon, no offence,” I whispered, flicking a glance at her husband. He was watching us both with a keen eye.
“None taken.”
I turned back to Jenna, my eyes roaming over her soft features. “How do you feel?” A silly question considering she’d just given birth the day before.
“Tired.”
My brow threaded. “How did it go? No gory details though, please.”
Nixon caught my attention as he pushed his hands into the pockets of his jeans and replied, “She was fucking awesome. Handled it all like a queen.”
Jenna and Nixon’s eyes linked across the small space and I felt a swell of something in my chest.
“Do you want to hold her?” Jenna suddenly asked, moving to lift her daughter from the basket. She rocked her against her shoulder and she released some more baby noises. Too cute.
I pushed my brain into gear as I watched Jenny with her child. She was a natural and I suddenly felt nervous. The number of babies I’d held would be zero. “Err, OK.”
I shuffled forward in my seat, glad that I was sitting; the thought of dropping her circling my head. I held out my arms and she carefully arranged the squidgy little body into them.
“That’s it, just hold her head. Perfect.” Jenna helped me to place my hand under her daughter’s neck to support her head. She smelled of talcum powder.
“A baby looks good on you Wynter,” Jaxon chuckled as he dropped to his haunches so his head was almost level with mine. He swept one of his fingers gently across the baby's head.
“Whatever,” I volleyed back, noting the mocking element of his words.
“Just saying.”
Jenna moved her gaze from her daughter and shot a look toward Jaxon. “Do you want to hold her Jaxon? ”
I smiled as he physically recoiled and pushed back up to his feet saying, “No thank you, I’ll pass. Babies scare me.”
I lifted my eyes to his face. He was still staring down at the bundle in my arms. The way he looked at the tiny baby was at war with his words and again, I saw a glimpse of a sensitive guy. That part of himself he kept hidden, from me anyway.
Our gazes tangled and I raised an eyebrow. “So, you’re admitting that you’re scared of something.”
He rolled his shoulders and then looked away. “You’d be surprised.” I saw the flash of vulnerability before he quickly masked it.
Quiet fell in the room for a moment as everyone just watched the baby with fond eyes.
“Nixon, can you pass me another pillow?” Jenna said, breaking the silence.
“Of course, love.” Her husband leaned over and plucked the pillow off the seat that was set at his side of the bed and placed it behind his wife's back. He was such an attentive husband and I felt a twinge of envy. They had something special; would I eventually have the same with Dominic?
“Anything else you need?” Nixon whispered in a gruff voice, running one large hand over her hair.
That look of adoration would have won awards. Jenna loved her husband very much. “Everything I need is right in this room.”
His eyes crinkled at the corner as he twisted his head to look at his daughter again. He was very much the proud father. It was warming to see.
Shaking myself out of my daze, I leaned forward and delivered Jenna and Nixon’s child back into her mother’s arms. “Have you guys thought of names?”
“Well, I like Harriet but Nixon said it will just get shortened to Harry. Amy likes Tabitha, but Nixon won’t have any name my sister puts out there.” Her tone suggested she found that latter part funny .
“I thought you and Amy had buried the hatchet?” I pointed out. The last few times Amy and I had spoken, she’d had only good things to say about her brother-in-law.
“They’re fine but still love to wind each other up,” Jenna chuckled. She then turned her shrewd eyes toward me and Jaxon.
“Talking of burying the hatchet. You two seem fine now?”
I got my reply in before Jaxon who grunted. “Well, on a normal day, I would love to bury the hatchet, straight into Jaxon’s back but he’s been quite nice to me today.”
I flinched as Jaxon squeezed my shoulder, stating. “Don’t get too used to it.”
Jenna narrowed her eyes. “Interesting. Maybe there is more to your fighting than you realise. Enemies to lovers and all that. We’ve seen it happen before.” The fact that she just came out with it caused heat to stir in my cheeks. OMG! Nixon laughed softly under his breath.
“Please ignore my wife, she’s always trying to matchmake.”
“What?” she replied feigning innocence. I could hear Jaxon shifting from foot to foot and was dying to see his expression but I didn’t want to reveal my blush in all its fiery glory.
At that moment I wished she had an off button as she carried on with, “All’s fair in love and war guys. Things sneak up on people. It did for Amy and Mason.”
“I don’t think so Jenna,” I muttered in a small, embarrassed voice.
Jaxon’s deep voice then vibrated into the space and he cleared his throat before saying, “As uplifting as this girlie conversation is, I think I’ll leave you to it and grab a coffee. You fancy it Nix. Leave the ladies to talk romantic bollocks without us?”
“Absolutely. I’ve got my phone. You need me, you ring me.” Nixon was also keen to leave us to it .
As both men made themselves scarce, Jenna settled her daughter back into the basket and then directed her gaze at me. I sure hoped she wasn’t intending on giving me the third degree about Jaxon.
“So how are you, Wynter. How’s life with the extended family?”
“It’s fine. Marcus and Chris are cool.” I purposefully left Jaxon out of my reply.
“He doesn’t hate you as much as he wants to,” Jenna cooed in that melodic tone of hers. She went straight for the jugular.
“Who, Jaxon?”
“Yes.”
I forced a smile, suddenly feeling uncomfortable as I didn’t know Jenna as well as my other cousins. She’d always been the quiet, timid type, hidden away in the background.
She pursed her lips, her tone serious. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you, Wynter. The way he did at the party that time when you weren’t looking. I know want when I see it. There’s a definite chemistry between you even though you both try to hide it.”
I shrugged, wanting to change the subject. “You think Jaxon wants me? Birth must have loosened a few cogs in your brain, Jen.”
“I mean it, Wynter. It was the same between Nixon and me in the beginning. He likes you but he doesn’t want to like you. He’s fighting it but he’ll fail in the end. You’re a good-looking girl and nice. What’s not to like?”
I couldn’t believe that we were discussing the possibility of Jaxon and me being an item. Her words were causing chaos in my brain and so I shrugged. “I’m too boring for someone like Jaxon.”
“You’re not boring at all. Don’t you think he’s attractive? You must fancy him.”
I glanced toward the door, if he came in and heard something, I would die where I sat. “Yes, I suppose so. He’s good-looking and has a great body but the guy’s forgotten how to smile. He isn’t my type at all.” I stated, a bit too firmly. It was at that moment that her words about chemistry penetrated that wall that I must have created and I realised she was right. I did like Jaxon more than I wanted to admit. Shit. Now what?
“And what would be your type?” Jaxon’s voice bled into the room like a sliced artery and my entire body stiffened. Fuck. How much had he heard? Damn, the situation was so not fixable.
Dread filled my entire body; I had to do some damage control and fast. If Jaxon knew I did have some type of feelings for him he’d crush them under his foot. The guy got off on torture and I had probably just given him an entire set of fictional thumb screws.
Lifting my chin, I pushed to my feet and turned to pin my gaze on his perfect face. I purposefully schooled my features into an expression of calm. “None of your business?” I stated in the most confident voice I could muster.
He sauntered over and stopped before me, his stance rigid, Nixon behind him. “You’re going to play that card when I just heard you talking about me.”
I huffed, folding my arms across my chest. A protective gesture. I glanced briefly at the floor willing it to open and suck me in before facing my demons. The giant Jaxon-shaped one. “My type would be the opposite of you basically,” I challenged with a curl of my lip. I kept it light.
“Bullshit. She’s been all over me like a rash Jenna.” Jaxon said with a mischievous wink.
“So, what, I think you’re good-looking but that’s it. You’re still a giant dick.”
Jaxon mirrored my stance and folded his arms, flicking an amused glance across at Nixon who had moved further into the room. “This is what I’m talking about Nix, Wynter has an unhealthy obsession with my dick.” He was so tall and broad and perfect. Muscles seemed to protrude from everywhere. The word dick made me want to look there, but I managed to refrain .
Forcing myself to take a deep breath, I stared straight through him, “Give me strength.” Looking at him directly with him being so close was doing odd things to my pulse.
What the fuck had Jenna unearthed?
“See how she doesn’t deny it,” Jaxon batted back with a flick of his wrist.
Nixon released a sigh and walked past us both toward the bed, shaking his head. “You two should just fuck and get it out of your system.” He said this under his breath but the message was clear.”
“Nixon, language; the baby,” Jenna hushed, scolding her husband.
“Sorry love.” He smiled with a cheeky grin.
There was an awkward silence, Jaxon and I purposefully not looking at each other and both watching the doting pair. Talk about a cat among the pigeons!
We were saved when the door suddenly burst open and Amy and Mason walked in. Thank fuck for small mercies. Well, one small and the other not so much as I eyed Mason’s big body.
Amy was so excitable, like a whoosh of fresh air as she almost skipped into the room, hugging us all and chatting about the traffic. Mason was carrying gifts and nodded his greeting. He was extremely handsome, just like his brothers. It appeared the younger two Boyd and Seth were not with them.
We must have been there for well over an hour. All positioned around the main event which was of course Jenna and her daughter. The banter flowed well and I felt comfortable joining in. I kept my eyes off Jaxon but could sense him close. There was a definite atmosphere between us. One created by the interference of my cousin.
Eventually, a nurse came in and told us off for the noise. She also stated that it was hospital policy that patients were only allowed two visitors at any one time.
As we all readied ourselves to leave, Amy tugged me to the side. “I haven’t seen you for ages. Do you want a lift back with Mase and me? We need to go by yours anyway?” she offered. Relief soared in my chest followed by a tiny shred of regret. That would ensure there were no uncomfortable conversations in the car with Jaxon. The mood between us both was now rather odd. It was like Jenna had unleashed something that had always been there but had been left unsaid. Now it was out there orbiting the space around us.
“I’ve come with Jaxon, Amy. Maybe we could meet up in town at the weekend?”
“We’re away at the weekend, come on. You don’t mind if she comes with us do you Jax?”
“Sorry?” Jaxon cut in as he came to stand beside us.
“We’ve offered Wynter a lift back. We need to go past your house and we have girlie shit to catch up on.”
“It’s up to you. What do you want to do?” Jaxon questioned me in a soft voice.
I was torn but that odd atmosphere fizzed between us. Would he feel snubbed if I went with Amy?
My mouth opened but no sound came out. At least travelling with Amy and Mason would ensure no awkwardness in the car on the way back.
“If you want to go back with Amy and Mason, it’s fine. I won’t be offended.”
I gazed up, our eyes tangling. It was almost like I was seeing him for the first time. From his expression, I could see he was letting me off the hook, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
I digested the offer and decided it was for the best. Give me time to fight another day and all that.
“Well, if, you’re sure.”
“It’s better for me really as I’m meeting Molly in the city for a drink.”
And BOOM! I felt like he’d slapped me in the face by throwing her name in there. “I can go straight there then,” he added. So, he was meeting that cow for drinks after she’d done at the cinema. Would there be just the two of them? From the way he said it, I thought so .
“Great. Thanks, Jax, you’re a sweetie,” Amy butted in, leaning up to pop a kiss on his firm cheek. He shot her a lopsided smile. She obviously didn’t sense the atmosphere between us.
“Do you have your key?”
From the look on his face, I was surprised he’d even bothered to ask. His expression suggested that he wouldn’t have given a shit if I’d been locked out. I nodded. “Yes, I have it.”
As he turned and walked away, I felt a huge lump in my throat. What the hell was happening?
Whilst I was saying bye to Jenna and the baby, I heard Jaxon say, “Walk me out will you, I want to ask you something.” He spoke these words to Nixon and it stirred my Jaxon curiosity pot further.
In Mason’s car on the way over to my house, Amy and I chatted all the way. Mason hardly got a word in edgeways. We spoke briefly about the fire that had taken Amy’s farmhouse and how the renovations were now finished. Amy was finishing off a photography course and had started to take some freelance work. She explained that she’d just recently come back from Paris having been commissioned to take pictures at fashion week by one of the designers. This immediately pricked my ears up.
I explained that my boyfriend Dominic was also at fashion week as a photographer and asked if she had met him.
When I told her his name was Dominic Sanderson, her face dropped.
“What’s wrong?” I questioned from the backseat and she turned to look at me. I could feel Mason’s eyes on me through the rearview mirror. What the heck? Why did it feel like she was just about to blast a hole in my day?
“Well, I can’t be sure as it was all rumour, but one of the photographers was asked to leave for getting heavy with one of the models. I did hear the name Dominic mentioned but it could have been anyone. There were about twenty photographers there and Dominic is a popular name. ”
I swallowed, digesting her words but I realised how stupid I was being by thinking Dominic would be confident enough to go for one of the models.
“Look, please forget I said anything. I talk bollocks eighty percent of the time,” Amy grinned with a half-laugh, it sounded strained and uncomfortable.
“She’s not wrong there,” Mason piped in, shooting her a cheeky grin.
“Oy. Good job you’re driving,” she volleyed back with a sweet, fake annoyed expression. She then changed the subject and Mason joined in.
Mason worked full-time on his family’s farm Lamb Hill with Nixon and the boys and they were in the process of finishing off Jenna and Nixon’s house which was being built beside the main building.
When they dropped me home, I thanked them both and promised Amy for the one-hundredth time that I intended to go to her brother Mattie’s wedding which was being held the following week. I had always thought that would be a tough pill to swallow, bearing in mind Alex and Amy used to date, but she was fine about it now. I suppose time heals all wounds.
When I got in through the door, I immediately went upstairs and took a hot shower. It was early in the evening and I realised I hadn’t had any lunch.
After dressing in fresh clothes and leaving my hair damp, I set off downstairs for the kitchen.
Jaxon was just coming in the front door and our eyes clashed as I stopped before him.
“You’re back?” The tone of my voice was lifted in surprise and his eyes narrowed.
“You sound disappointed,” he replied flatly.
“How were drinks with sweet Molly?” I asked with a slightly sarcastic lilt.
I reminded myself not to dwell on the screwed-upness at the hospital and Jaxon unwittingly helped me with this by reverting to type .
“Not really any of your business is it,” he informed me with a stern look. And now we’re were back. To be honest, it was probably for the best. I didn’t appreciate the pervy images I’d had of Jaxon as I’d showered.
“Fine. Be like that.” I went to walk past him toward the kitchen.
“Where are you going?” he asked as he hung up his coat, watching me over his shoulder.
I turned to face him but carried on walking backwards. “Not really any of your business is it.” I threw his own words back at him and he scowled.
He gave me a look that suggested he wanted to wrap his hands around my throat and choke me. “Very original,” Jaxon deadpanned. Talk about blowing hot and cold. I wondered if he was pissed because I’d come back with Amy and Mason.
“I try my best. I’m making a sandwich. I missed lunch.”
His glare was blistering. “So did I. Make me one,” Jaxon instructed. He didn’t even ask nicely but I felt too weary of the exchange even though it was brief.
“Fine,” I agreed.
“I’ll just take a shower and then I’ll be down. No tuna or fish or any of that fucked up shit you eat.”
My brow scrunched. “Fucked up shit?”
He dashed a hand across his face as he turned away from the coat hooks. “Yeah, smashed avocado and houmous, that type of crap. Just something normal, ham and cheese maybe. Easy on the mustard.” He then stomped off, his boots abusing the marble.
God, he was a piece of work. What on earth was Jenna thinking with her comments at the hospital? You’d have to be a masochist to want to be with someone like Jaxon.
I stood there, looking up the stairs like a frozen moron until I heard his door slam. It was only then that I was able to relax .
It took me twenty minutes to find where they’d put the bread as there was none in the breadbin.
Just as I was finishing off Jaxon’s ham and cheese sandwich, he strode into the room. Shirtless. Yes, that’s what I said, no top on! Fuck me! The jogging bottoms he wore on his bottom half added to the rough look; his body was mouth-watering. My mouth dropped open; he was swoon-worthy as he moved into the kitchen with his man nipples winking at me.
Jaxon rolled his eyes to the ceiling before shooting me a look that said he’d read my thoughts.
I huffed, looking back at his sandwich. “Well, what do you expect if you come in here half-naked? I’m not dead,” I snapped, trying to concentrate on slicing the cheese. “If you put on a strip show, you can’t expect a girl not to look.” I hated the self-destructive thoughts running through my mind at that moment but what could you do? Jaxon had the ripped body of a fighter; you couldn’t help but stare. He consumed the space around him and most of mine; suffocating me with his sinfully good-looking boy presence. I felt very aware that we were in the house alone together. God knew where the others were. I imagine Molly had gone back to her dads.
Jaxon exhaled a short breath down his nose; his white teeth flashing. “You should know better than to throw those types of signals around with me Wynter,” Jaxon growled with an arrogant expression. He then strolled over to the fridge, withdrew the milk carton, and then drank from it; the smooth column of his throat pumped as he swallowed. He then put the empty carton back in the fridge. Totally gross. He was such a pig when he wanted to be. Why were my hormones still raging in his direction?
Jaxon then turned and leaned back against the fridge door, his arm muscles bulging. The guy should come with a warning. I continued to shoot him needy little looks before he shook his head in a God give me strength way .
I quickly turned away, pushing the knife into the cheese with more force than necessary and sliced. Ouch—fuck!
The blade nicked my finger. I lifted it and slid it into my mouth to stem the blood, the whole tip stinging like a motherfucker. Drat, I couldn’t even make a sandwich without some drama. Every Nigella type in the country was probably rolling their eyes at me right then.
“What the fuck have you done now?” Jaxon boomed, shoving aggressively off the fridge and storming toward me. Great. I was in for another tongue-lashing. My eyes were watering as his long fingers encircled my wrist and pulled my hand away from my mouth.
It was bleeding, although not much. Jaxon’s hand was tight on my flesh as he dragged me over to the sink, turned on the cold water and yanked my hand beneath the flow. The cool liquid immediately took out the sting.
“What are you doing?” His actions were such a shock that I struggled to understand them. He now appeared to be helping me.
“I’m making it so you don’t cry again,” he replied. His eyes glittered in the dim light.
“Oh, OK. Thank you, I guess.”
“You’ll live. You’re so fucking accident-prone,” he huffed in disgust.
I sniffed, feeling useless. I’d never cut myself before. I blamed his semi-naked presence which was still generating chaos in my belly.
Jaxon shut off the water and pulled me around to face him, lifting my finger to inspect the damage with perceptive eyes.
He then looked away and mumbled dismissively, “It’s fine, it’s just a scratch.” He kept hold of my finger though, keeping it by his face.
With a head tilt, he pointed out, “I guess we should ban you from using sharp implements as well as the oven. Can you do anything right in the kitchen?” His comment could have been considered mean, but his tone had softened. It was a coaxing sound as if he was attempting to encourage me to smile. Laugh at myself maybe?
“What? No smart comeback?” Jaxon whispered.
I didn’t answer, his touch on my skin was making it difficult for me to think straight. That perfect chest gleamed before me and I longed to trace his pectoral muscles with my fingers.
My heart began to thud against my breastbone and unable to stop that pull, I lifted my chin, my eyes roaming over his upper body greedily. I knew that blatantly ogling him was bad for me; like staring directly into the sun, but I couldn’t stop myself. The colour of Jaxon’s irises had deepened like the sea after a storm and his lips were parted.
The atmosphere switched from one of comfort to something else. Jaxon tugged me closer so that my sweater-covered breasts met the hardness of his bare chest and my pulse took off. Why was the kitchen suddenly so hot?
I inhaled, my eyes widening in silent question as I watched him warily from beneath my lashes. The tension between us was thick and I couldn’t look anywhere but at him. His scent was so amazing and so very masculine and I enjoyed inhaling that intoxicating maleness.
My breathing quickened as Jaxon moved the injured finger he still held and ran it slowly over his bottom lip; his eyes closing briefly. My mouth dropped open as he then ran my finger over his tongue.
After tasting my skin, he then slid my entire finger into his mouth and began to suck it. Fucking hell! My entire lower section surged with heat, what he was doing with his mouth was insanely sexual. Jaxon’s eyes opened and he looked down at me, a deep growl coming from the back of his throat. It was something so simple but it felt so erotic and my nipples hardened as I imagined how his mouth would feel there .
Jaxon gently nipped my finger with his teeth and the slight pain sent a wave of pleasure through me. Lust rocked my pelvis forward and I leaned further into him, a moan escaping my lips.
Through hooded eyes, he watched my body's reaction to what he was doing to me and as he took my finger deeper into his mouth, I almost cried out with pleasure.
I was flush against him, helpless to pull away. All I could do was stare through desire-misted eyes, one hand against his chest, the other pretty much having sex with his mouth. That surge of heat between my thighs developed into a persistent throb.
And then it hit me with the force of a sledgehammer. I wanted my stepbrother in any way I could get him. I needed him to touch me, slide his hands all over my body and then follow that path with his mouth.
Damp warmth now sat between my legs and I felt him growing hard beneath his jogging bottoms, that steely length jutting against my belly. The body didn’t lie, he was as turned on as I was by our encounter and this fact excited me even more.
Automatically, without thought, I dropped my other hand from his chest, my fingers moving to wrap against that hardness through his joggers. The muscle jerked slightly at the contact.
I was in awe as I felt him against my palm so incredibly large. A jet of excitement shot through me; it felt like I’d wrapped my hand around something electric. I had never felt a man down there before. His was the first penis I had touched and my fingers tightened as I curiously studied the shape of him. It almost took my breath away.
Jaxon shifted his hips to push further into my palm and I heard his sharp intake of breath as he slid my finger from his mouth and gently lowered it to my side. My other hand was still caressing him .
As I rubbed the steely length, I could see how aroused he was by his expression and he closed his eyes, his head falling back as I continued to play with him. He must have been ready to burst he was so hard and I had never been so turned on in my life. Jaxon’s reaction spurred me on and after one last stroke, I moved my hand to the waistband of his joggers and started to slide my hand inside.
This forced Jaxon to drop his head. His expression showed he was slightly shocked by my actions but I didn’t care, I traced that v of hair that ran from underneath his bellybutton and into his bottoms. Just as I was about to touch his bare flesh, he caught my wrist, just stopping me from my intended target.
Some sanity returned. Had I really been about to touch my stepbrother’s bare cock? Was the room suddenly spinning? What was my name again—shit!
Jaxon’s eyes tangled with mine; he now wore a look somewhere between orgasmic and amused; it was a confusing mixture and I smiled shyly up at him. He then lifted my ‘adventurous’ hand to rest with the other against his chest; his eyes boring down into mine in silent question. I felt a wave of disappointment, I’m not going to lie. Jaxon was shutting things down between us and the knowledge of this added a hint of shame.
The atmosphere was charged as we stood there, watching each other in silence. The way he was looking down had switched to one of concern and curiosity. The connection I felt to him at that moment was fierce and I wanted him to admit that something had changed between us, we had become closer somehow.
Jaxon was so beautiful, perfect and after his caring behaviour when I cut myself, I knew there was more to him than he allowed me to see. Just like I had suspected. He was someone you could turn to when you needed help.
As he leaned towards me, my lips parted again, preparing for him to kiss me but he shifted his head to one side, speaking into my ear. His breath was warm as it fanned the side of my neck and his voice didn’t sound the same, it was thicker and more determined. “Stop looking at me with those puppy dog eyes, searching for the good in me. It isn’t there, Wynter. I’m a bastard through and through. Deal with it.”
I had to redirect every primal instinct thrumming through me to stop myself from taking his face between my hands and yanking his lips down to mine.
“You’re wrong,” I whispered, turning my head slightly so our mouths were closer again, our breath tangling. The connection suddenly felt so raw but so fucking right and I couldn’t understand how I hadn’t noticed it before.
I had spent that much time trying to hate him, building up those barriers that I’d failed to see it and now whether I wanted it or not, a spark had been lit. I had proper feelings for Jaxon Savage.
He drew back, his eyes locking on mine but I couldn’t determine that expression. He was suddenly so hard to read. “I’ll be in my father’s study.”
He then turned away, moving towards the doorway, his huge shoulders flexing. Although only a glimpse, I saw his hard-on had tented his joggers; an arousal I had created. I watched open-mouthed at that thought as he stopped and twisted his head to the side, saying, “Oh, and Wynter?”
There was a three-beat silence.
“Yes,” I croaked, hoping he’d say something sexual.
“Don’t get blood on my sandwich.”
And then he was gone and I felt a rush of regret as a pang of rejection hit me in the chest like a bullet.
I had wanted to bottle that moment he had taken my finger into his mouth so that I could relive it again and again but uncertainty shooed away that thought.
Telling myself to get a grip, I huffed around the kitchen, found the first aid kit, and wrapped my finger in a plaster.
With determination, I then finished his bloody sandwich. Ham, cheese, and mustard. And believe me, when I say, I didn’t go easy on the mustard.