Chapter 49
forty-nine
The next morning, I wake up with my legs wrapped around Sasha, face buried in her neck. My arm, which is tucked under her head, is half asleep.
I listen to her soft breathing for a moment before attempting to shift, trying to get some feeling back into my limb. But as I do, my erection rubs against her ass. When she lets out a soft moan, I freeze, my dick instantly responding to the erotic sound.
Shifting slightly, I press against her, enjoying the way her body responds to me even in sleep. She moves against me, letting out another soft moan that makes my cock throb.
“Mmm, morning,” she murmurs sleepily.
“Morning, beautiful,” I whisper before gently nipping at her earlobe. “Sleep well?”
“So good,” she admits, turning in my arms to face me. Her green eyes are heavy, a sparkle in them that makes me grin. “Not that we did much of it.”
Leaning in, I capture her lips with mine. The kiss starts out slow and sweet but quickly turns heated as she presses her body against mine.
When she hooks her leg over my hip and bites my lip, I growl into her mouth, “Bad girl.”
Rolling her over, I settle between her thighs and push inside in one smooth move. She’s still wet, her body warm and welcoming, made just for me.
“God, you feel amazing,” I groan, setting a leisurely pace that has her gasping beneath me.
Her nails dig into my back as she lifts her hips to match my rhythm. The way she looks in the morning light—hair tousled, cheeks flushed, eyes half-hooded in pleasure—is a sight I want to burn into my memory forever.
When her orgasm hits, she cries out my name. The sight of her coming undone beneath me sends me over the edge, and I bury my face in her neck as I follow her into bliss, emptying myself inside her with a long, drawn-out groan.
Shifting onto my back, I blow out a breath. “Damn, sweet cheeks. I just can’t seem to get enough of you. Why is that?”
“Why would you ever want to?” she giggles.
I turn my head to look at her and huff out a laugh. “Good point. I could use a shower.” Pushing myself up and out of bed, I hold out my hand. “Join me?”
After we’re clean, we get dressed and head downstairs to make breakfast. As we make our way into the kitchen, I can’t help but smile at how natural all this feels.
Sasha digs around in the fridge while I grab coffee mugs from the cabinet. “Eggs?” she asks.
“Hell, yeah. I’m starving after our morning workout.” I wink at her, loving the way her cheeks flush.
Unable to resist, I step into her, wrapping my arms around her waist while she cracks eggs into a bowl. Pressing my lips to the nape of her neck, I breathe in her clean scent.
“If you keep that up, we’re never going to eat,” she warns as she shivers against me with a smile in her voice as she starts to whisk.
“Tsk. Tsk. You know how much I love to eat,” I murmur against her skin, moving my lips to that sensitive spot just below her ear, making sure my innuendo is understood.
She tilts her head, giving me better access even as she reaches for the salt. “Some of us need actual food to function, you know.”
I chuckle, stepping back to give her more room to work, but not before patting her ass playfully as she moves over to the stove.
“Jax!” she laughs, bumping me with her hip.
“What?” I ask innocently, sliding my hand over a plump cheek, giving it a squeeze. “Just appreciating what’s mine.”
She rolls her eyes and stirs the eggs while I grab some plates from the cabinet. Setting them on the counter beside her, I place another quick kiss on her shoulder, earning me a snort.
“Toast?” I ask, reaching for the bread.
“Please.”
We work in sync. I pop bread in the toaster while she finishes the eggs, bodies brushing against each other every couple of steps as we move around the kitchen.
“Do you—”
My phone buzzes on the counter. When I look to see who it is, I see Dylan’s name on the screen.
“Hold that thought,” I say, giving her another quick kiss before picking up. “Hey, man. What’s up?”
“Got some news.” Dylan’s usual playful voice sounds clipped and hurried. “The burner phone? It’s on the move again. Just pinged in northern California.”
My stomach drops. “You’re sure?”
“Positive. Looks like it could be heading your way, but its trajectory has been kind of weird.”
“How so?”
“One day it’s on the move, then it’ll stop for a couple of days before moving on again.
Usually a couple hundred miles at a time.
I mean, it’s still heading north, but...
” He sighs. “It might be headed your way; it might not. Based on how its signal has been bouncing all over the place, there’s no way to know for sure. Still… better safe than sorry.”
“Shit.” I glance over at Sasha, who’s watching me closely with a look of concern. “Okay. Thanks for the heads-up. I’m gonna call Ryder. He’s got some friends he offered to reach out to for backup, just in case.”
“Sounds like a great idea. I’ll text you and let you know if it gets any closer to Lakeside.”
“Thanks, man.”
After hanging up, I immediately call Ryder, heart racing as I study Sasha, who gives me a questioning look.
I hold up a finger.
When Ryder picks up on the second ring, I put the phone on speaker.
“Jax. What’s up?”
“Dylan just called. That burner phone is on the move again and it’s getting close.” I run my hand over my hair, pacing the living room. “And the fucking festival is tomorrow.”
“Shit,” he mutters. “Definitely not the best timing.”
“Yeah, no kidding. Sasha’s got those yoga demos all day. And we’re gonna be busy at the dunk tank.” My voice drops a little as I glance over at her. Scooping eggs onto the plates, she’s hanging on every word. “I’m worried these guys could blend right in with the crowds.”
“Actually,” Ryder says thoughtfully. “If it is them and they do show up? With that many people around, it’d be stupid for them to try anything.”
“You think?”
“Yeah. Public place, hundreds of witnesses. They’d have to be complete idiots to make any kind of move.” Ryder’s tone turns serious. “Also, I’ve already cashed in on the favor from my Marine buddies. I’ve got three of them who are coming up for the weekend.”
Tension eases from my shoulders. “You already called them? When?”
“After our conversation last week. They’ll be here tonight.”
Relief washes over me as I lean against the counter. “Fuck, man. I could kiss you right now.”
“Save it for your girl,” Ryder laughs. “Look, we’ll make sure Sasha’s covered. One of my guys can hang around during her classes, just to keep an eye out. No one will even notice he’s there. And I assume she’ll be hanging out with one or more of the girls at any given time throughout the day.”
I glance at Sasha and pop a brow. She nods her head.
“Yeah. Okay.” Relieved we’re getting some backup, I let out a long, slow breath.
“I’ll make sure to let Noia know she’ll be hanging out with Sasha all day.”
“Thanks, man. Talk to you later.”
Sasha sets our plates on the table and slides into the chair kitty-corner from me. Her face is calm, but I can see the tension in her shoulders.
Setting my phone aside, I take her hand in mine. “Hey,” I say softly. “We’ve got this.”
The small smile she gives me doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
“I know. It’s just... I can’t believe all this is happening.
It’s not so much that I’m scared. It’s…” She sighs.
“We just got the soft opening out of the way, and the studio’s grand opening is next week.
But instead of focusing on that, I’ll have to be on the lookout for a couple of thugs. ”
“How about you let Ryder’s buddies worry about being on the look out,” I say, squeezing her hand. “You just focus on having fun. No one is going to let anything happen to you.”
Her expression softens. “I know. I trust you.”
Those three words hit hard, making my chest tighten in the best way. After everything she’s been through when it comes to the men in her life, trust doesn’t come easy. And the fact she’s giving it to me now means everything.
“There is one thing that doesn’t make sense,” she says, pinching her brows together. “If the Triple Six were going to send someone after me, why not just take a plane?”
“Harder to track maybe? Even if they do have their own plane, they’d still have to keep a record of it. Some sort of flight plan or whatever.”
“I guess so. But why take their time getting here? Dylan said the phone is stopping for a couple of days before moving on. Why?”
“No idea.” My brain is tumbling with so many scenarios, it’s making me jumpy as fuck. “Just... let Dylan do his thing, okay? He’ll give us a heads up if whoever it is gets close.”
“Right. So what’s the plan for today?” she asks, tone brightening in an obvious effort to lighten the mood.
“I’ve got appointments scheduled until four,” I tell her. “You?”
“I’m meeting with some potential instructors this morning, then I need to finish setting up for tomorrow’s demos.” She takes a sip of her coffee. “Noia’s coming over to Summit to help out again later.”
“Perfect. You won’t be alone.” I run my thumb over her knuckles, thinking. “How about, instead of me following you, we ride together today.”
She rolls her eyes but smiles. “That’s a little overprotective, don’t you think?”
“When it comes to you?” I raise an eyebrow as I lean in, giving her a soft kiss. “Always.”