Chapter 24
twenty-four
I’m floored by how those words fall from my lips with zero filter, and the fact that I mean every damn one of them. Sasha truly has no idea how fucking amazing she is.
Her cheeks flush a delicious shade of pink, and I’m more than tempted to press her up against the fence to get another taste of her.
But something holds me back. This weekend isn’t about getting her into bed—though I won’t complain if that’s how things end up.
It’s about showing her a part of my life that not many people get to see.
“Thanks,” she says softly.
We stand in comfortable silence for a few more minutes. “We should probably head back. Get cleaned up for dinner.”
Family dinner at the ranch is always a big deal. Meg goes all out, and I want Sasha to experience it properly. I also want to introduce her to some of the other staff—people who’ve become like family to me over the years.
The ride back to the cabin is quiet, but it’s the best kind. Comfortable in a way that doesn’t require filling the space with meaningless small talk.
“We’ve got about an hour,” I tell her, when we’re back inside. “Bathroom’s all yours.”
“Thanks,” she says, grabbing her bag. “I won’t be long.”
While she’s in the bathroom, I sit on the edge of the bed, trying not to imagine how it’ll be sleeping so close to her tonight.
The sound of the shower coming to life makes my imagination run wild. Images of her naked body covered in soap, bubbles streaming down her naked body with only hints of skin peeking through. And those full, perky breasts with those dusky nipples?
Fuckin’-A, man. Get a grip.
By the time she’s done, I’ve barely managed to compose myself, my dick still at half-mast.
“It’s all yours,” she says with a small smile.
I grab my toiletry bag and head for the bathroom, purposely avoiding looking at her too long. When I scoot past, all I can smell is lavender and vanilla.
Cold shower it is.
When we get back to the cabin after dinner, the night air has a slight chill to it. I grab a bottle of wine from the fridge and two glasses from the cupboard.
“How about a nightcap?” I ask, holding up the bottle with a sly grin. “We always keep this cabin stocked with the good stuff.”
“Sure.” Sasha kicks off her shoes by the front door. “Sounds perfect.”
I pour us each a glass and hand one to her.
“So,” I say, wandering over to sit on the bed. “Ready for the show?”
“Absolutely.” She takes a sip of her wine. “I can’t believe we’re going to be watching a meteor shower through the ceiling.”
“They say the Perseids are supposed to be incredible this year.”
After we finish our first glass, I pour us each another before setting the bottle on the nightstand.
When Sasha excuses herself to go change, disappearing into the bathroom with her bag, I take the opportunity to press the button that opens the roof, revealing a stunning canopy of stars already visible against the dark sky.
I’m still sitting on the edge of the bed when she comes out, having already stripped down to my boxers. Her eyes widen slightly before she composes herself.
“Sorry,” I say. Nope. Not sorry at all. “I usually sleep naked, but I figured I’d wear these if it makes you more comfortable.”
Her gaze lingers boldly on my chest before she rolls her eyes. “Well, I don’t wear a bra to bed,” she retorts, crossing her arms, “so I hope that doesn’t make you uncomfortable.”
My mouth goes dry as I take in the sexiest baggy pair of sweats I’ve ever seen. Hair hanging loose, her T-shirt hangs off one shoulder, face stripped of makeup.
She’s so damn beautiful.
“Not in the slightest, sweet cheeks.”
“Figured if I wore this you wouldn’t get any ideas,” she adds with a smirk, gesturing to her outfit.
If she thinks a ratty pair of sweats and an oversized T-shirt is going to sway me, she couldn’t be more wrong. I could have those off of her in all of two seconds if I wanted to—and I really, really want to.
Instead of throwing out a snarky comment, I pat the space next to me on the bed. “Come on. The show’s about to start.”
Climbing onto the bed, she lies on her back, head on a pillow, and I scoot over to do the same, careful to leave just enough space between us to keep things friendly. As soon as we’re both settled, I turn off the lamp.
Except for the moonlight and stars above, the room is plunged into darkness.
“Wow,” Sasha says, gaze skimming the sky.
The night sky is crystal clear. Thousands of stars sparkle like diamonds against black velvet. Without light pollution, the Milky Way stretches across the upper atmosphere as a misty river of light.
“This is so freakin’ cool,” she whispers.
“Best view in Oregon,” I agree. “There’s something about looking up at a vast expanse of sky. Puts everything in perspective, you know?”
Turning her head to look at me, face softly illuminated by moonlight, she smiles. “Yeah.”
Immediately, I shift my attention up and away. If she keeps looking at me the way she’s doing right now, the only other cataclysmic event going on tonight will be my cock slamming inside her pussy—and I don’t think she’s ready to let me in again. Not yet.
So, I’m just going to stick to the plan: subtle touches, flirting, making her laugh, showing her the stars, and she’ll cave. Guaranteed.
I can hear the rasp of her hair shifting on the pillow as she adjusts her body to mirror my position. “You said Meg and Hollis are the caretakers. Who actually owns the ranch?”
We both turn our heads to look at each other at the same time.
Up close, her eyes, framed with thick, dark lashes, are even more beautiful, and I have to swallow against the lump in my throat.
Will she freak out if I tell her the ranch is mine?
That I made and sold one of the top video games in the world, which, along with other investments, made me an insanely rich man?
I mean, she does own one of the top-rated fitness empires in the country.
It’s not like she’s gonna to want me for my money. No doubt she has plenty of her own.
“That’s going to require a little more backstory.”
I take a deep breath, nervous about how she might react to what I’m about to tell her.
Moonlight falls over her face as she waits, and something about the way she’s looking at me makes me want to just lay it all on the line.
“You know how I told you I started drawing more during rehab?” I ask, running a hand over my hair. The sides are starting to grow out, close to turning my mohawk into a faux-hawk.
“Of course,” she says, giving me her full attention.
“Well, I also spent a lot of time playing video games. I loved them enough in college to want to learn how to code. I kinda figured it would be a good back up plan for when I retired from baseball.” I shrug, remembering those days with a mix of nostalgia and regret.
“Obviously that didn’t work out so well, so eventually, after I got clean, I decided to use what I knew and designed a video game.
I sold it. Which gave me more than enough money to buy J & R. ”
Sasha sits up. “I freakin’ knew it! All the ‘we’ this and ‘we’ that any time you’ve talked about the ranch today.” Her eyes widen in realization. “So, J & R? Jax Riley?”
“Jaxson Riley,” I correct, already feeling the need to downplay it. “But it’s not a b—”
“Don’t you dare go saying it’s not a big deal, Jax, because it is,” she cuts in, tone fierce. “Not everyone gives back after going through what you did. But you do. Not only that, you took it a step further.”
I tuck a hand behind my head and look away, the stars blurring a little as her words sink in.
Most people just accept that I’m a tattoo artist who volunteers to give back, and I let them believe that’s all there is to know about me.
Sasha sees more—sees what this place really means to me—what I’ve helped build here. And the only thing she’s impressed by is what I’ve done with it. And that knowledge hits me harder, much differently than I ever thought it would.
I’ve never wanted to share this part of myself with anyone outside my inner circle.
But watching Sasha and how she connected with the horses and how easily she fit in at dinner with Meg, Hollis and the guests, how she’d laughed at all my stupid jokes—I realized I wanted her to know me.
Not just the playboy tattoo artist she met at The Brew, but this side of me too.
“Hollis and Meg were struggling to keep the ranch running after Jack died,” I explain. “When I sold the game, I had more money than I knew what to do with. This place saved my life. So, buying it was a no-brainer.”
“What game?” she asks, eyes bright with curiosity.
“Night Hunters,” I admit, waiting for her reaction.
Her mouth drops open. “Wait. You mean the apocalyptic zombie game where you can customize literally everything about your character? The one that sold like twenty million copies?”
“Twenty-three million, but who’s counting?” I joke.
When she lies back down, she’s so close I can feel the warmth radiating from her body. Her hand is resting on the mattress, less than an inch from mine. I let my pinky brush against hers, and she responds instantly, linking her pinky with mine.
We fall silent, both gazing upward. After a few minutes, Sasha gasps as the first streak of light cuts across the sky.
“There! Did you see that?”
“Yeah,” I grin, loving her excitement.
Another meteor streaks by, then another. Soon, the sky is alive with falling stars, some bright and dramatic, others just quick flashes of light. I find myself watching her face more often than the sky, captivated by the childlike joy of her “ooh’s and awes”.
Eventually, when the meteors become few and far between, I look over to see she has fallen sleep. Face peaceful, her lips are slightly parted, one hand resting on her stomach.
I can’t help but smile. She looks so damn beautiful like this—all soft and vulnerable. So different from the fierce, stubborn woman who’s been driving me crazy for months.
Carefully, I reach for the control panel next to the bed and press the button. The ceiling slides closed with a soft mechanical hum, sealing us in our own private cocoon.
I should probably roll over and go to sleep. That would be the gentlemanly thing to do. But fuck it—I’m not feeling particularly chivalrous right now.
Moving slowly so I don’t wake her, I slide closer until I’m flush with her warm body. Wrapping my arm around her waist, I gently pull her against me, turning her onto her side so her back is against my chest. Her body stiffens slightly, and I hold my breath, worried I’ve crossed a line.
“Jax?” Her voice is a sleepy whisper.
“Shhh, go back to sleep,” I murmur, tucking my face into her neck. As I breathe her in, I feel her relax, and I tighten my hold. “’Night, beautiful.”