20. 20
Allie
I will not say holy shit.
I refuse.
Aw, who am I kidding? Holy. Shit.
If I thought the release party in Boston was fancy? It’s nothing compared to this.
Gold-trimmed pillars. Crystal chandeliers. Servers gliding around with trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres I couldn’t pronounce if my life depended on it.
The moment we walk in, I know I’ve made a mistake. Everyone’s dressed in stunning gowns—shimmering sequins, layers of tulle, the kind of dresses that make your jaw drop. And me? I’m in a green cocktail dress I was genuinely excited about… right up until five minutes ago.
“Is this what prom looked like?” I mutter with a chuckle. “You know, since I didn’t go.”
Silence.
My eyebrows pinch as I turn, expecting to still find Ana beside me—
Nope. Just a wall full of decorative plants. And now I look like a crazy lady talking to ferns.
My eyes scan the room, searching for one particularly antsy woman in a red, knee-length cocktail dress. It doesn’t take long before I spot her wedged between James and Desmond, who both look like they’re trying—and failing—to talk her off a ledge.
I march over, insert myself between them, and grab Ana by the shoulders. “You. Are going to be fine,” I say firmly, forcing her to look me in the eyes.
She nods, but I can tell she doesn’t believe me.
“You wrote an incredible book. One that I literally haven’t stopped thinking about since I finished it. And you know how many books I’ve read? A lot. Enough that I should probably get my eyes checked.”
That earns at least a tiny smile. But then, of course, a waiter walks by and Ana grabs two drinks off his tray and downs them quickly.
I tighten my grip on her shoulders. “You’ve got this. I know it. James knows it—”
“I do. I really do,” he says, voice a little too high, nervously chewing his thumbnail.
I glance back at Ana and shrug. “Just pretend everyone’s—”
“Don’t say naked,” she cuts in, lifting a hand.
I smirk. “Of course not. Pretend they’re… ferns.”
“Ferns?”
“Long story.” I shake my head. “But you’re going to win that award. You’re the reason Lily & Raine Press even makes money. They’d be out of their minds not to give it to you.”
She finally takes a noticeable deep breath. It’s shaky, but it’s still a breath I’m sure she was holding before. I could practically see her lips turning blue.
James offers me a thankful smile and links his arm with hers as he steals her away, and I’m left standing there alone.
With my ferns.
“It’s so weird,” Jax suddenly says, startling me slightly. “I don’t think I ever pictured Ana as the nervous type.”
I loop my arm through his, offering a warm smile. “I think anyone would be nervous if they could win that kind of money. Fifteen grand is a lot.”
We start walking, weaving through the crowd until we spot a door cracked open, leading outside.
Jax gives me a questioning glance, raising a brow.
I raise one right back. “Is this your subtle way of asking me to sneak outside with you?”
He smirks, shrugging as he pushes the door open more. “Maybe.”
We step through, but we don’t make it far before my feet freeze in place. Jax walks right into me, his hands landing protectively on my waist.
“Woah, Al,” he says with a quiet laugh.
Then he looks up and he’s just as speechless.
It’s like we stepped out of real life and into a fairytale. The courtyard is actually a greenhouse—fully enclosed, with vines spiraling up every pillar and string lights twinkling overhead. You can even still hear the percussion playing from inside, bringing the fairytale vibe up a few notches.
“Wow,” Jax breathes.
We walk deeper inside, our eyes bouncing around at every plant we pass by. Jax points to my right, where an entire wall is covered with different variations of roses—every shade imaginable.
He leans closer, his voice low. “Almost seems like the universe set this up just for us, huh?” he says, his breath hot against my neck.
I glance up, eyes flicking from his mouth to his eyes.
A slow smirk curves his lips, and then he nods toward the roses.
“You know, if this wasn’t such a black-tie event, I’d have you up against that wall in about ten seconds.”
His words send a jolt up my spine.
My hands find the collar of his white dress shirt, fingers curling in the fabric. I lean in, just enough for our lips to almost touch, our noses brushing.
He starts to close the distance—but I pull away.
I tug him with me, guiding him along until we’re both tucked into a small dark corner of the greenhouse. We’re completely out of view from anyone walking around inside… but the second someone steps out for air?
We’d absolutely be caught. And for some reason, that excites me even more.
His eyes lock onto mine, and I can already see the fire building.
Maybe he was joking before, but I’m certainly not. For him to take me right here, surrounded by all this beauty. It almost feels poetic.
I pull him closer, letting my breath fan just below his earlobe while my fingers trail slowly up his thigh—
Then I stop abruptly, snatching my hand away just before reaching his bulge.
“Looks like your ten seconds are up,” I whisper, my lips grazing that spot on his neck I know drives him crazy.
I press a soft kiss there, and then turn to walk away.
And what a mistake that is.
His hand wraps around the back of my neck as he pulls me back into him, his mouth crashing into mine.
He swallows each breath, and I haven’t had a drop to drink, but God I feel drunk already.
When he pulls away, his fingers stay on the side of my neck, keeping my face level with his. I watch a slow, crooked grin spread across his lips as he chuckles low.
He quirks a brow, still holding me close. “You better behave in there, Allison.”
I have no idea where my control went—but I meant it when I said I need him.
My teeth catch my lip, biting lightly. “Why don’t you make me, Jaxon,” I murmur.
Fireworks explode in his eyes as my words hit him. His hand snakes around my waist, pushing me backward until my back presses against the cold, ivy-covered stone wall.
Both of his hands plant on either side of me, caging me in as his breath dusts over my lips.
“You really want me to fuck you right here? Right where anyone could easily walk by and see us?” he asks, eyes locked on mine.
Why does that thought alone make me throb even more?
I nod. “Yes.”
My answer catches him off guard. How do I know? Well, his eyes widen—that’s the first clue. And then there’s the little nervous smirk he tries to hide.
I can admit that Jaxon Owens has definitely gained confidence since we first met.
But deep down, I know the truth: we’re both still two nervous souls, racing to see who can surprise the other more.
And that becomes abundantly clear when his hand slips beneath my dress—without warning.
A single finger dips into my wetness, pulling a sharp breath from my lips.
He withdraws that same finger, and his tongue wraps around it, sucking it clean.
“You were planning this,” he says, voice low. “Weren’t you?”
I smirk. “Whatever do you mean?” I ask, feigning innocence.
“Well,” he murmurs, then spins me around by my waist until my hands are tangled in the ivy.
The sound of his belt jangling behind me makes heat pool low in my belly.
“Not only are you already dripping, love… but you’re also not wearing—” His words cut off as he thrusts into me. “...anything.”
The force knocks the wind out of me—but in the best damn way possible.
I can already feel myself tightening around him, begging for more.
His lips brush gently over my exposed shoulder as he leans in.
“I’m gonna need you to stay quiet now, love. Can you do that for me?”
I nod slowly, my breath catching, heat pooling between my legs.
“Good girl,” he whispers.
He straightens behind me, his hands firm on my hips as his roll into me, hitting every angle just right. So right, I almost go back on what I just promised.
My breath hitches, a quiet moan threatening to escape as I dig my nails into the ivy covered stone.
He picks up the pace, every thrust deeper than the last. The pressure builds quickly, my head falling forward as my breath stutters. My walls tighten around him, every muscle clenching as an orgasm crashes through me without warning.
A moan rises in my throat, but dies before it can escape as I pull my lips between my teeth.
He leans in, brushing my hair back from my neck as he murmurs, “I knew you could be a good girl.”
It’s only a few seconds before his body stiffens behind mine, a few small grunts slipping past his lips. The second he withdraws himself, I readjust my dress and spin around quickly to help Jax. He stuffs himself back while I smooth out the wrinkles now etched into his shirt.
Then the door opens—and our eyes meet, panic flashing in his.
We spin to the side, pretending to admire the rose beds as two guests walk past. I watch their eyes flick to us—twice—but thankfully, they keep walking.
Jax relaxes the second they’re out of earshot. He leans in, brushing his thumb lightly across my lower lip, and cradles my chin gently.
“You’re going to get me into trouble, aren’t you?” he murmurs.
I grin and give him a wink. “Maybe.”
He chuckles low and offers his elbow. I slip my arm through his.
Then we walk right back into the party—where hopefully no one can tell we just had sex in an indoor greenhouse.