Chapter 29
twenty-nine
Jax’s light snoring is more like a purr against the back of my neck, and it makes me grin into my pillow.
Under normal circumstances, I’d get up, but for now I’m content to just lie here.
Body pleasantly sore in all the right places, images from yesterday flood my mind: Jax in a cowboy hat, looking like he stepped straight out of some X-rated western, jeans hugging his muscular thighs as he straddled his horse.
And then... holy hell. What went down in the hot tub?
My cheeks flush at the thought of how he’d made me come with just his fingers, then his mouth. How he’d denied my release until I was sobbing and begging before he took me to bed and hate-fucked me within an inch of my life.
Yup. Pretty sure we made a permanent dent in the mattress, and it’ll have to be replaced.
The thought makes me snort out a giggle.
Jax shifts, tightening his arm around my waist. His morning wood is pressing against my ass, and I’m almost tempted to wiggle—wake him up by grinding my hips just so I can feel him get even harder.
Instead, I carefully lift his arm and slip out. He mumbles something in his sleep but doesn’t wake.
Standing at the foot of the bed, I take a moment to admire him. Face relaxed in sleep, dark eyelashes fan against the tan skin of his sexy as sin face. Defined muscles flex as he rolls onto his back, lifting his arm above his head as he rests the other on his six pack.
I tilt my head, narrowing my gaze. Or maybe it’s eight?
Tearing my eyes away from all the sexiness, I grab his discarded T-shirt from the floor and pull it over my head before trekking quietly to the kitchen, lifting the collar to my nose. Damn, I love his scent.
The coffee maker is easy enough to figure out, and soon the rich aroma fills the air. Opening the fridge, I find a covered dish with a note:
Breakfast casserole- 350° for 30 minutes. Enjoy! -Meg
I smile to myself as I turn on the oven and slide the dish in. Meg reminds me a little of my mom—nurturing with a hint of mischief I can’t help but love.
With breakfast in the oven and coffee brewing, I head to the bathroom.
The hot spray feels like heaven. I close my eyes, letting the water flow over my head and down my back, washing away the remnants left behind from last night.
I’m so lost in the sensation that I don’t hear the bathroom door open, nearly jumping out of my skin when strong arms wrap around my waist from behind.
“Morning, beautiful,” Jax murmurs, his voice rough with sleep as he presses his lips to my shoulder.
“Jesus, you scared me,” I laugh, turning in his arms to look up at him.
Hair mussed, his eyes are still heavy with sleep but darkening quickly as they roam over my naked body. “I woke up and you were gone. Got lonely.”
“I put breakfast in the oven,” I tell him, tilting my head with a sigh to give him better access as he starts kissing my neck. “It’ll be ready in about twenty minutes.”
“Mmmm. So we’ve got plenty of time,” he growls, sliding his hands down to grip my ass.
His mouth finds mine in a kiss so hungry it steals my breath. Despite how thoroughly he wrecked me last night, my body responds instantly. Heat pools between my legs as his hard length presses against my stomach, heightening my senses as the warm water cascades over us, slicking our skin.
“Face the wall,” he commands, voice husky with need as he grips my waist, spinning me around.
When I brace my hands against the shower wall, his hands slide from my waist up to my breasts, cupping them as he presses his cock against the cleft of my ass.
“Spread your legs,” he murmurs against my ear, and I comply, widening my stance.
“You’re so bossy,” I pant, barely able to contain my excitement.
He grins against my neck. “Hmmm, you have no idea.”
Trailing one hand down my stomach to the apex of my thighs, he slides his fingers through my folds.
“Fuck, so wet for me already,” he groans, circling my clit with his thumb.
I push back, rubbing against him, wordlessly begging for more.
His fingers continue to tease, working me into a frenzy until my legs are trembling. When he finally positions the head of his cock at my entrance and pushes inside, I nearly collapse from the sensation.
“Oh, fuck,” I moan, dropping my forehead against the cool tile as he fills me up.
Water runs in rivulets down my back as he starts to move, each stroke hitting that perfect spot deep inside. Hands grip my hips, fingers digging in as he builds a steady rhythm.
“So tight.” His words come out as a guttural growl. “So fucking perfect.”
Body on fire, I meet him thrust for thrust. One hand slides around to find my clit again, circling it with just enough pressure to make my legs shake even harder.
“Jax,” I gasp. “So close.”
“I know, baby,” he pants.
He picks up the pace, grunting in time with his thrusts until, seconds later, we come, our moans and harsh breaths fusing together. My legs feel like Jell-O, but Jax’s strong arms hold me upright.
“Good morning to you too,” I laugh, turning to rest my back against the tile.
He pops that fucking dimple before pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “Great way for a couple of friends to start their day, don’t you think?”
I snort and roll my eyes as I reach for the soap.
When Jax’s lingering touches threaten to start round two, I bat his hands away with a fake scowl. He tsk’s, pinching my butt with a playful frown, but backs off so I can wash.
“I’m gonna go check on breakfast,” I say when I’m done, reluctantly tearing my eyes away from his body as I wrap myself up in a towel.
After getting dressed, I head to the kitchen, while Jax tugs on jeans and a faded T-shirt that stretches perfectly across his broad shoulders.
The smell of the baked eggs and cheese fills the air as I open the oven door.
“Look’s delicious,” I announce as I set the casserole—eggs, cheese, bacon, and what looks like hash browns all layered together—on the stovetop.
Jax grabs plates and forks while I pour us both coffee and we settle at the small table.
“God, Meg is a miracle worker,” I mumble between bites. “This is amazing.”
Mouth full, Jax just nods and smiles. It’s nice, this quiet domesticity between us. But even as those thoughts cross my mind, I have to remind myself not to get too comfortable.
You’re just having fun, Sash. FWB. That’s it.
As I shrug it off, it dawns on me I haven’t checked my phone since yesterday morning. Summit Studio might be a well-oiled machine, but I rarely go this long without at least checking in.
“Mind if I check my emails while we eat?” I ask, getting up to grab my phone.
“No worries,” Jax shrugs, taking another bite. “I get it. Gotta stay on top of things when you own a business and all, right?”
“Unfortunately.” I retake my seat and scroll through my notifications, wincing at the number of unread emails. Most are routine—updates from managers, questions about the Lakeside opening, marketing reports.
Just as I open a time-sensitive email about equipment delivery for the Lakeside location, my phone buzzes with a text. An unknown number flashes on the screen, and when I open it, it almost makes me choke.
I can literally feel the blood drain from my face as I jump up from the table, pacing as I read.
UNKNOWN
Your ex owes $2 mill. Pay up or we release the attached video to TMZ. Call the cops or tell anyone, we release it and come after you. You have 72 hours.
When I look up, Jax’s face is tense, and his body has gone eerily still. “What is it?”
“Just... work stuff.”
Even though the video attachment isn’t playing, I recognize what it is. It’s my college dorm room—a room I haven’t seen in years. And if what my sixth sense is telling me is correct, I’d bet my life it’s not a video I’d ever want anyone to see. Always a glutton for punishment, I push play.
Sex sounds immediately fill the air, so loud I nearly drop my phone. Fumbling in an effort to turn off the volume, I cringe, risking a glance up.
One of Jax’s eyebrows is raised in surprise. “Is that porn?”
“What?! No!”
Jax just crosses his arms and pins me with a hard look.
Fuck, his biceps are huge. His smooth, sexy skin is so tan.
Mama wants to lick.
Brows sink low over the chocolate brown of his eyes as he stands, stepping out from behind the table. “Stop fucking me with your eyes and answer the question, Sasha.”
First name treatment? Uh, oh.
“It’s nothing,” I say, hands trembling as I tuck my phone into the back pocket of my jeans and start slowly backing away towards the living room.
In no more than three strides, he’s on me, one arm wrapping around my back to keep me from pushing him away, while the other reaches behind me and grabs my phone.
“Hey!” I lunge, but Jax holds it high above his head.
Dammit, he’s tall.
“Give it!” I jump, trying to grab it.
Stepping back, he gently but firmly puts his palm against my chest and shoves me down onto the couch. I land with an undignified “oomph” as he quickly skips to the other side of the room, keeping the coffee table between us.
“Don’t watch the video, Jax. Please,” I plead, voice cracking with desperation.
When he glances up, instead of the playful expression I expect, it’s dead serious. Shaking his head once, he turns his attention back to the phone, thumb scrolling across the screen.
I watch in horror as his expression darkens, jaw clenching so tight I can see a muscle at his temple feathering beneath his skin. His eyes narrow dangerously as he reads the message, but doesn’t hit play.
Thank Goddess.
“What the fuck is this?” Even though his voice is low and controlled, I can hear the fury simmering underneath. “Who sent this to you?”
I drop my head into my hands. “No idea. As I’m sure you can see, it’s from an unknown number.”
“Sasha.” The way he says my name makes my head jerk up. “What’s on this video?”
My stomach churns with humiliation. “I... I’m pretty sure it’s a sex tape of Ryan and me. From when we were in college.”
His nostrils flare. “Your ex-boyfriend? The one who’s trying to get you to sell your half of Summit Studio?” The disbelief in his voice is thick with fury.
I nod, feeling sick.
“And whoever sent this is threatening to release it if you don’t what? Pay his debt?” Jax’s knuckles whiten as he grips my phone.
“I guess so,” I whisper, mortification washing over me. “I had no idea there was a video.”
Eyes softening, anger still simmering beneath the surface, he comes over and sits beside me, placing my phone face down on the coffee table.
Jax runs a hand over his hair, jaw working as he thinks. “This is blackmail. We need to go to the cops.”
“No!” Panic flooding my veins, I grab his arm. “You read it! If I go to the police, they’ll release the video!”
“So, what…? You’re just going to pay?” His voice rises with incredulity. “That’s fucking insane. And that...” He points to the phone. “…is extortion.”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” I snap, just as Jax gets a look on his face that tells me he does.