Twelve
Daisy and Marcus came back from their trip on Monday evening, and describing my life as complicated would be the understatement of the century. To be honest, the sneaking around thing hadn’t sat well with me when we’d discussed it, but it did add another element of excitement to our relationship.
Bit by bit, I started to smooth out the rough edges of my life, mainly to give myself more time to focus on my new relationship with Jaxon.
Marcus had helped me to block my father’s number from my phone as he had tried to contact me again. I knew that he and my mum had discussed her filing another restraining order, but wasn’t sure if they had done so. It wasn’t like Jenson would come and see us anyway, even if he knew where we lived.
I received a couple of texts from Dominic but I deleted them without reading them. I knew it would be awkward the next time we bumped into each other. I was still working the occasional days at the paper and so we were bound to run into each other at some point. I refused, however, to get into a text messaging scenario that Jaxon may have ended up seeing.
Chris was now aware that Jaxon and I were together and that it wasn’t just sex and had been sworn to secrecy. His sly glances between Jaxon and me across the dinner table were, however, borderline cat out of the bag. Luckily, my mother and stepfather were too wrapped up in themselves to notice. On the occasions Molly was there, she must have sensed something was different. Her resting bitch face spoke volumes.
Irrespective of all that other shit, things between Jaxon and I were good. He treated me well, so differently than before and spoke to me with respect in front of our parents and Molly when she visited. He even started to get along better with his father. I heard Daisy and Marcus talking about his change in behaviour in the kitchen one night. I had almost dropped the glass I was carrying when Daisy suggested that maybe he was in love or something. How I wished that were the case.
In respect of Jaxon and I getting busted, partway through the week, things did almost come to a head when Daisy handed me my name necklace. I was half pleased she had found it, but that other side of me panicked due to where she’d found it. At the side of Jaxon’s bed. I explained that I’d been in his room as he was helping me with my next article on mental health in the army. Which was of course a blatant lie, as there was no next piece. My performance certainly had BAFTA potential.
Jaxon and I went to the cinema a couple of times and out for a drive to the coast which was amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and was sure he did too. It felt like the bond between us was constantly getting stronger. We had made out in Jaxon's car, with the waves crashing on the shore beneath us and even though I didn’t think I could fall any harder; I had.
Chris was great at covering for us, but his assistance did not come without a price. He wanted me to set him up with Melody, so I had started to drop more hints about him to her and generally bigged him up.
As the colder weather came, Jaxon and I started to spend loads of time in his room. We sat on his bed together talking for ages, all innocent with the door open. Something Marcus had insisted on. I’d convinced my mother and stepfather that I had gotten into gaming, which of course gave us a reason to spend time in his room together (as well as my fake article shyte). When we knew the coast was clear, Jaxon and I threw ourselves into our own erotic gameplay and I don’t mean the kind with a console.
He was so attentive and literally worshipped my body. The foreplay between us was off the chart and I had been an eager learner when Jaxon had taught me all he knew about oral sex. The first time I had taken him into my mouth had turned me on just as much as him. I enjoyed pleasing him, he’d stroked my hair and had given me loads of encouragement. His gentle understanding treatment had smashed away those first-time nerves I experienced when trying something new.
Jaxon messaged me when I was in bed one night, asking what I was wearing and I couldn’t help myself from teasing him. He always threatened that I would pay and when we had the house to ourselves, I did, several times over.
The week before Chris went away to Uni, out of the blue, Marcus suggested a long weekend away on the Norfolk Broads. He owned a narrowboat. I had only been on it once. It was something Molly loved to do in the summer, mainly so she could lay on the boat all day sunbathing without having to pull her weight like a lazy cow. It wasn’t really my cup of tea, as I didn’t swim that well.
In the end, it worked out for the best. I had loads of paperwork to submit before my journalism course started and Jaxon was called to the base at the last minute. This meant Marcus, Daisy, Chris, and Molly all went to the boat and we got to stay at home. I had one night alone and then Jaxon joined me at the house.
It was fantastic, having that space to ourselves.
Jaxon cooked for me, breakfast, dinner and supper and we watched movies together most of the time. We spoke about his mother, and her death and I started to realise how his relationship with his father became so screwed up as Marcus had then jumped from woman to woman. We didn’t speak about my father too much as it was still quite painful; having only recently regained my memories.
We also went on the PS4 and played army games, I was useless and Jaxon thought I was hilarious as I shouted at my men. We always ended up between the sheets with Jaxon, showing me different sexual positions. It was like we were a true couple without having to look over our shoulders.
On the evening our parents were due back, Jaxon said that he wanted to take me out to dinner to his favourite restaurant as he had something he wanted to discuss with me .
I felt nervous as I dressed, terrified that he was going to end things when it was going so great.
I wore a black fitted lace dress, with capped sleeves that fell well above my knee and black heels.
As I walked downstairs to meet Jaxon, he stared up at me with a satisfied smile, looking hot in black trousers and an open-necked shirt.
It reminded me of that night he’d taken me to the wedding and what had happened afterwards. My first time. That special night Jaxon had taken my virginity so tenderly. The sex we had now was so much better, raw, and primal. The gloves were off in that department but I would never forget that first, special night.
The restaurant ‘Antonio’s’ was Italian and across from the cinema. It was a quiet place and was set off the main high street in Kings Lynn, a town close to where we lived.
There were only two other couples, and we had a small booth table at the back of the restaurant so it was nice and quiet. Private.
I watched Jaxon’s perfect face as the candlelight cast shadows across his jaw. He watched me intently over his empty plate. We’d both gone for steak, medium rare, fries and a side salad.
“So, I wanted to ask you something,” he began, switching from small talk; his tone serious, those stormy eyes searching mine.
I placed my knife and fork together and then took a sip of my wine. The nerves in my belly were twisting and turning, like butterflies and a full zoo of them. I had no idea what to expect. If he said it was over, my heart would shatter and I would die, I was sure of it.
“I’ve been thinking about this sneaking around thing, it isn’t working. I think this weekend alone together more than proved that,” Jaxon began. A hairline crack appeared across my heart and I nearly yelled out the word no. Barely managing to contain my feelings, I bit my lip to stop myself from interrupting .
When I remained silent, he prompted, “Don’t you agree?”
My fragile heart sank into my stomach, “So you don’t think it’s working between us?” I replied miserably and he jammed his eyebrows together so forcefully that they met in the middle.
“What? No, fuck no,” Jaxon growled under his breath. “I don’t mean that at all, it’s the sneaking shit that’s no good. This weekend just shows how good it is to be able to be together without hiding it.”
I was confused now.
“So, what are you saying?”
“What I’m saying is that I want to bring it out into the open. Us.”
His words made me want to push to my feet and do cartwheels of joy around the restaurant.
“Really?”
“Yes, really . Fuck me, Wynter. You’re hard work sometimes,” Jaxon grunted with a roll of his eyes.
“Well, you’re not exactly Mr Succinct,” I scolded, watching him over the rim of my glass. “So, we come out and tell everyone we’re together?”
“Yes.”
“What if they kick off?”
“Fuck them. It’s none of their business anyway. We’re together and they’ll just have to deal with it,” Jaxon replied quite crossly. The only rules he followed at the end of the day were the ones he made.
“What about the brother, sister thing?”
I saw the flicker of annoyance cross his face and I wished I’d not mentioned anything.
“There is no, thing. We’re not brother and sister.”
“But we live in the same house,” I pointed out.
“So?” he batted back .
“Well, I can’t imagine they’ll be happy with us being together.” The words felt wrong in my mouth but I was trying to be rational.
Jaxon leaned back in his seat and took a swig from his pint of beer. “And that’s fine. Their house their rules and all that shit. We have separate rooms, but they can’t stop us from seeing each other. Look, I’m not suggesting I fuck you over the dining room table or anything. We can be discreet and private, but just not have to hide that we’re together.” A warmth spread over my body as he’d already done that. When the house was empty of course.
I loved the idea of being able to tell people we were together and Jaxon being on board proved that he wasn’t ashamed of me.
“I’ll have to eat humble pie,” I suddenly batted out there, thinking of what I’d said to my mother.
His brows drew together. “Why?”
Pursing my lips, I explained, “I told Daisy I wasn’t interested in you that way.”
He shot me a saucy, conceited grin. “You little liar.”
Rolling my eyes, I smiled. “Alright, big head.”
Jaxon placed his pint on the table and rolled his massive shoulders before saying in a haughty, self-serving tone. “I’ve always known you liked me,” he bragged.
I puffed out my chest. “Whatever.”
His voice then dropped and he leaned over the table and took my hands in his. Rubbing his thumb over the back of my hand. “And you know I’ve always liked you.”
I felt like throwing my head back and cackling like a mental person. How wrong he was but I went with, “ Now I do. You were such a shit to me. How could I have known back then?”
He continued to stroke my skin, sending a shiver up my arm before he lowered his head, those eyes of his, drilling into me. “I know and I’m sorry. It was a self-preservation thing. ”
I decided not to get into that there and then and so moved my hands to place them over his, and with a squeeze said, “Let’s do it then.”
His expression instantly switched and his eyes glimmered. “Sweet. I’m glad you agreed, as I’ve checked your course term dates and I’m taking you away at Christmas.”
I withdrew my hands and dropped them into my lap as I sat up in surprise. “Really?”
Jaxon smiled at the waitress as she started to remove our plates. She eyed him like one of her ovaries was about to burst. Keep on walking bitch, I thought to myself but Jaxon drew my thoughts into safer waters.
“I’m taking you to Prague and we wouldn’t have been able to hide that from Marcus.”
I managed to refrain from jumping up and down in my seat like a school kid. “Prague, oh my gosh. Why wouldn’t we have been able to hide that from Marcus?”
“It’s his apartment we’ll be staying in.”
My mouth dropped open as I hadn’t realised that the properties my stepfather owned included somewhere in Prague. “Oh, OK. Well, I’ve always wanted to go there.”
“I know. That’s why I’m taking you. Well, that and all the depraved things I’m going to do to you when we’re there.”
The crack in my heart disappeared and I felt confidence in our relationship thrum through me.
As we made our way back home in Jaxon’s car, we discussed when to tell our parents the news. We both agreed that the morning was best. Daisy, Marcus, and Chris would only just have returned from their trip and there was every chance Molly would still be at the house. I told Jaxon that I’d prefer it if he told her separately as I didn’t want her reaction to crap on things. She’d always had a thing for Jaxon and she would be pissed off, I just knew it. I thought back to that flirty conversation I’d overheard at dinner that night before squashing it. It was in the past and if there had been anything between them, it was over now.
When Jaxon pulled the Range Rover in through the open gates of the driveway there was an unfamiliar car parked there at an awkward angle.
“Whose car is that?” I questioned, wondering if either Nixon or Mason had decided to visit. But the car didn’t really match their style; too slick.
“I have no idea,” Jaxon replied with a frown, pulling up beside it and yanking on the handbrake. His eyes narrowed as he took in the gleaming paintwork. It stuck out like a sore thumb in fire engine red and appeared to be a Mercedes. Maybe Marcus had treated himself. An addition to the fleet he and Jaxon already had parked in the garage. A tiny voice told me that wasn’t the case.
I’d received a text from my mother whilst we were on our way back. She said they were home and the lights were on to confirm this.
I felt an odd sense of alarm in my stomach as Jaxon and I climbed down from the vehicle. The front door of the house was ajar which was odd and I moved quickly, suddenly getting a feeling that something was off. I could hear Jaxon behind me. “Wynter, hold fire a minute,” he shouted, his feet crunching on the gravel as he attempted to catch up with me.
I pulled the door open, dropped my bag and coat and headed towards the kitchen, my heart accelerating and pounding against my chest, as if trying to break out. My sixth sense kicked in and I could taste danger. Fuck!
I felt all the blood drain from my face as I heard my mother’s voice. The tone was high-pitched and I knew immediately that she was under duress. “Please leave, if Marcus sees you, he’ll kill you I’m sure of it.” A frigid touch of fear ran along my spine.
“Don’t threaten me you little bitch!” What I recognised as my father’s voice boomed. I heard what sounded like a fist slamming onto the counter and this forced me to move quicker. “I want my daughter! ”
“Wynter, wait,” Jaxon called as I set off running for the kitchen. As I rounded the corner, I saw them. My father had Daisy pinned back against the island and had caged her against it. She had been crying and my temper sparked.
“I’m not threatening you, please just go,” she whispered, turning her head to one side to avoid eye contact. My mother then saw me and released a sob. “Wynter, run. Go!” This pulled my father’s head around, his angry eyes like slits.
I ignored her and strode further into the kitchen with determined steps, Jaxon moving to the side of me. “What’s going on? Dad?”
I heard Jaxon’s intake of breath as he digested the scene before us. “Where’s Marcus mum?” I shot out not waiting to hear Jenson’s reply.
She released a sob and pushed against her ex-husband. “He’s dropping Molly off with Chris,” Daisy wobbled out in a panicky voice.
My father pushed away from her and turned towards me, his face changing from one of aggression to surprise. “Wynter. You look so grown up.” His voice was deeper than I remembered it and he looked so very different; like he’d aged beyond his actual years. I suppose guilt did that to a person if the monster felt any. Looking at how he had restrained my mother, I doubted it.
The entire room seemed to shrink. I inhaled, folding my arms across my chest. He didn’t scare me. I wasn’t that lost little girl anymore. “I told you I didn’t want to see you,” I stated in a cold tone.
His brow threaded and he took a step forward. “I know but please, give me a chance. Just come with me, for a drive in the car so I can explain. Things are different now. I’m different.”
I felt Jaxon moved closer toward me. His upper arm brushed my shoulder.
“Really, when I just heard you threatening my mother?”
“She deserves it, she stole you from me!” Jenson yelled, the veins in his neck standing out .
“Let’s all just calm the fuck down,” Jaxon advised in a harsh whisper, placing his arms out in front of him in a movement meant to placate. My dad was a big fucker at the end of the day.
Jenson dashed a hand down his unshaven jaw and shot me a frustrated look. Totally ignoring the large man standing beside me. It was like I was all he could focus on. Yes, well, too little too late. I now saw him as the monster he was. His tone switched as he instructed firmly. “Please Wyn, just get in the car. Just for a minute.”
Jaxon intervened then, shifting his bulk so his shoulder and part of his torso were in front of me, like a protective shield. “Look, there’s no way she’s going anywhere with you mate, so I suggest you leave now,” he growled, his voice low as he pointed towards the exit. His chest was puffed out and his stance screamed aggression. Jaxon was my boyfriend; my love and I knew at that split second that he would do everything in his power to protect both me and my mother.
The two men started to circle each other, like boxers in the ring Shit, this was so not good.
The younger man’s bravado had all the attention now and it felt like the air had been sucked from the room. “Who the fuck are you?” my father belted with a scowl. I noticed his black hair had grey at the temples and it made him look even older. Fear clawed at me as my mother slowly pushed off the counter, her entire body shaking.
“Mum,” I cried, motioning for her to go around the other side of the island and come to me.
Jaxon flexed his arms and took a step forward, getting in my father’s face. My dad was taller and just as broad and those alarm bells jumped up into the next, terrifying gear. If he got hurt, I would never forgive myself. Jaxon didn’t seem to notice the differences in their sizes as he barked. “Your biggest nightmare if you don’t do one. Daisy told you to leave, so jog the fuck on.” He said with a thumb towards the door.
My father lowered his face so they were almost nose to nose. “I don’t think so you little prick. I came to see my daughter and that’s what I’m going to do.”
My mother appeared beside me, grabbing my arm and I shot her an ‘it will be OK’ look.
As I watched the painful scene before me, misery bled from me like a sliced artery. Was I really part of that man’s genetic makeup?
I took a deep breath, feeling so helpless. “Stop, both of you. Please, Dad, if you care about me. You’ll go,” I begged appealing to my father’s better nature; which he probably didn’t have.
Jenson pulled back and tried to move around Jaxon, but he sidestepped, blocking him.
“You have to give me the chance to explain Wynter, or has she been poisoning your mind against me?” he sneered over Jaxon’s shoulder.
“Just stop,” I whimpered with a shake of my head.
“You heard her. Stop and get the fuck out,” Jaxon snarled.
I took my father’s distraction to question my mother who was now beside me, falling to pieces “Are you OK?” I whispered to my mother. She attempted to smile and nodded. My quick scan of her body didn’t see any injury, at least none on the surface. Who knew what mess he had caused again mentally?
The two men were now fully squared up for a fight and my breath lurched. “I think you need to get the hell out of my way lad,” my father threatened.
“I don’t think so. Leave before I fuck you up old timer.”
Daisy and I then fell back a step, in horror, as my father lunged towards Jaxon, his fist raised and he threw the punch which hit the younger man directly in the face. It rocked Jaxon’s face to one side and our eyes met. A line of blood trickled from his nose to his top lip and he touched it with his tongue before smirking; almost as if he was feeding off the pain .
“Oh my God!” Daisy yelled with her hands against her face, sobbing uncontrollably. I put my arm around her shoulders and moved back a few steps.
My father was rubbing his wrist and like lightning, Jaxon lunged forward and hit my father in the stomach with his shoulder, knocking them both to the floor.
Both men scrambled around attempting to get on top of each other until Jaxon had my father pinned and repeatedly started to punch him in the face. Jenson started swearing and struggled to push Jaxon off him.
The bone-crunching and thudding noises were sickening and I thought I was going to vomit.
Daisy cried out and tried to move forward but I grabbed her, surely, she wasn’t about to defend my father? To be honest, I don’t think she knew what she was doing. Her face was the most vacant I had seen it. I pulled her away as my dad shielded his face with his arms before jabbing a punch into Jaxon’s ribs which knocked him to the side.
I had seen boys fight before at school but I had never seen anything quite so violent, there was pushing, shoving, punching; the sound of bone against bone echoing around the kitchen. My mother and I were helpless as we clung to each other, moving this way and that as the men rocked around the kitchen. Pots and pans were knocked off the pot rack which hung over the central counter and the fruit bowl smashed, sending apples everywhere. The sounds resembled a thunderstorm.
“Stop please, both of you!” I screamed, but they were both too far gone to take any notice. Aggression and testosterone oozed from them as did blood. Both their faces were now bruised and I watched in horror as my father pinned Jaxon against the wall, his elbow digging into Jaxon’s neck and he pushed hard against it. One of Jaxon’s eyes was swollen and I panicked, pushing Daisy to the side, and clawing at my father’s back. Beating him with my fists .
“Stop it, you’re hurting him,” I yelled, raining blows onto my father’s shoulders. Jaxon’s air was being cut off as Jenson shoved his arm further against his windpipe.
As I hit my father in the back of the neck, Jenson turned, his shark-like eyes like lasers and released the younger man. Jaxon fell limply to the floor and before I knew what he was intending, I watched in horror as my father pulled his leg back and kicked Jaxon in the stomach. The younger man’s breath spewed from his body and I was in agony.
Shoving past Jenson, I threw myself over Jaxon, attempting to shield him from my father’s booted feet as he drew his leg back for another go.
“Stop, please!” Daisy yelled as she sank to the floor, screaming. “Help, please! Someone help!”
Everything went in slow motion then as Marcus miraculously appeared above us. He grabbed my father by the shoulder, spinning him around and lamping him straight in the face. Blood spurted from my dad’s nose and he stumbled, clutching at his face, his back banging against the wall just above where Jaxon and I lay. I held Jaxon’s head up, cradling his face; he was conscious thank fuck and breathing heavily.
My father growled and pushed off the wall and Marcus grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt and head-butted him in the face. I watched as Jenson’s nose split open and he wobbled like a drunk person.
“Get the fuck away from my son!” Marcus boomed before grabbing Jenson again and sending him sprawling over the kitchen table and onto the floor. Jenson pushed to his feet and shifted around the table, striding towards Marcus who caught his fist and round-housed him with the other. My father went down like the sack of shit he was.
Marcus then sank to his haunches, peeling me gently away from Jaxon who had opened one eye; pain etched into his features .
“Are you OK son,” Marcus questioned, his concern for his child was overwhelming as he placed his hand on Jaxon’s head. Checking the rest of his body for injuries. “Do you think you can stand?”
Jaxon nodded and slowly started to push to his feet as Marcus straightened, helping him up. Daisy broke free and then launched at my stepfather. I watched as he pulled her shaking body into his embrace sideways, enveloping her and telling her how she was safe now and not to worry.
I saw Chris, ashen-faced in the doorway as his father turned to him and instructed, “Phone the police, Chris, now. Tell them we have an intruder.” My eyes darted to where Jenson lay, he was out cold.
After holding a sobbing Daisy for a moment, Marcus whispered in her ear and then released her. He then started to check Jaxon for injury again, from top to bottom. His son was leaning against the wall behind him, needing the support and I moved back toward him but Marcus stopped me with his arm. “He’s fine, Wynter. I’ll look after him. Take your mother upstairs, now.” There was no argument. I had been told and I understood it was for the best as my mum was losing it, big time. She was on the brink of hyperventilating.
I nodded, shooting a look of concern toward Jaxon who unbelievably wore a crack of a smile. He then closed his eyes and flicked his head to suggest I do as his father said. I grabbed my mother’s hand and dragged her away. She was hysterical. I didn’t want to leave, I needed to see if Jaxon was OK but I understood. I needed to get Daisy upstairs.
The image of Jaxon’s bloodied face and punch-drunk body as we left the room would remain in my memory always. He had defended us and had taken a beating for it from a man older and larger. The brutality I had just witnessed left a sick feeling in my stomach. How I kept down the contents was anyone’s guess. The need to stay strong for my mother probably .
I took a shell-shocked Daisy to her room; she was a bag of nerves as you would expect and she only stopped shaking when Marcus entered the room around an hour later.
His face was etched with concern as his focus locked on his wife. I had managed to get her into bed and she sat there with her knees drawn to her chest looking like a child.
I pushed to my feet as Marcus came towards the bed, moving so he could sit next to my mother. “Thank you, Wynter,” my stepfather said as he took Daisy’s hand in his.
Standing looking down at them, I felt a surge of relief in my chest. “Is Jaxon, OK?” I questioned, my voice cracking slightly. I had heard the police arrive earlier and so knew Jenson would be gone. In respect of what happened next, I had been in the bathroom with my mother for a good half an hour, so I wasn’t sure where Jaxon was.
Marcus twisted his head to one side. “I’ve put him to bed, he’s asking for you.” His reply forced a warmth to bloom in my chest and all I could think was getting to him as quickly as possible.
“Thanks, I’ll go and check on him,” I replied with a smile.
Marcus’s eyes flickered across my face briefly, it was a tender look. He then turned his concentration back onto Daisy and started to speak to her. Saying how she had nothing to worry about and how much he loved her and was proud. At that point, my belief that Marcus was good for my mother was set in stone for life.
As I got to the bedroom door, my fingers hovering over the handle, Marcus spoke again. “Wynter?”
“Yes?” I said without turning around.
“I hope you know what you’re both doing,” Marcus whispered with a quiet sternness .
And BOOM, it was like a rocket went off in my chest. It appeared my stepfather had put two and two together. He knew about Jaxon and me.
I didn’t reply, I just left the room. It didn’t seem right after Jaxon and I had agreed to tell them together. And right then, didn’t seem the time. Considering what had just happened.
I warily approached Jaxon’s bedroom door, worried at what I might see. Deciding to knock, I drew back a step and listened for his response. Maybe he was sleeping?
“Come in,” a tired voice replied from behind the barrier and I pushed the door open and walked into the room.
Jaxon was sitting up in bed with the pillows bunched around him. I recalled Marcus’s comment about putting him to bed which had sounded so strange coming from an adult. The thought of anyone putting something so large and dangerous looking to bed. Those were the types of words used when putting a child to bed; something Jaxon hadn’t been for many years.
He didn’t look as bad as he had downstairs; yes his face was bruised and slightly swollen but the blood had been washed off and both his eyes were open. One bigger than the other.
I approached and sat down on the bed, my expression one of concern and pride. The way he had stuck up for me and my mother had scored him even more points in my favour. My God, I loved this boy and I so wanted to tell him that then.
“How are you feeling?” I whispered, taking one of his hands in mine.
He smiled weakly. “Like a bag a shit to put it bluntly. But better now you’re here,” Jaxon replied through his split lip.
“Thank you, Jaxon. For protecting my mum and me.”
He shuffled further up the bed, the movement making him wince.
“Well, at least I’ve met dear old dad now. What a fucker. ”
Taking a deep breath, I nodded. “Yes,” I agreed on an exhale, my body sagging.
Jaxon ran his thumb across the back of my hand. He still looked beautiful, even with his battle wounds. I sure hoped nothing scarred.
“I’m sorry Wynter,” Jaxon suddenly said, filling the silence.
My brow scrunched. “For what?”
“I’m sorry that you had a man like that in your life. I’m sorry for you both.”
Nodding, I had to agree with him.
“Are you sad he’s gone,” Jaxon asked, his face slightly shadowed in the dim lamp lit room.
“No, relieved really. I want him out of our lives for good.”
“Well, my father is pressing charges for assault as well as breaking and entering and so I imagine there may be time inside or a huge fine. Either way, he won’t be able to come near either of you again. My dad has friends in high places.”
His words were more than welcome. He made me feel safe and special.
“Marcus was amazing,” I stated softly, not wanting Jaxon to feel like he wasn’t.
Pushing his head back against the head rest, he closed his eyes and said, “He was. I must admit, I knew he was a tough from what my superiors at the base said about him. Bit of a hell raiser in his day but I’ve never seen him in action. Now I’ve met your old man, I can see that mine isn’t that bad. It’s funny that you don’t always appreciate what’s right in front of you.” Jaxon spoke the last sentence with his eyes open, focused on me and I knew I was included in those words as well as Marcus.
I smiled fondly. “I should let you get some sleep.”
Sniffing, Jaxon leaned to take the glass of water off the bedside table and I helped him. Passing him the two painkillers that were sat there .
“If it wasn’t for the fact that I ache everywhere like a motherfucker, I’d been asking you for a different type of medicine. One I definitely find healing and relaxing,” Jaxon commented with a wicked twist to his lips and my cheeks heated.
I placed the glass back on the table and grinned at him.
Jaxon started to manoeuvre himself in the bed, attempting a sleeping position.
“After everything we’ve done together, you still blush like a school girl,” Jaxon said in an amused voice.
I leaned over him and basically tucked him in.
“I think Marcus knows about us,” I informed him as I pushed to my feet, looking down at Jaxon and for the first time, I saw a vulnerability to him. It made me want to crawl beneath his sheets and pull him into my arms but I knew he needed rest.
“Good. It will make it less of a shock when we tell everyone about us.”
Relief pumped through me. I had been slightly worried that tonight’s events may have put him off telling people.
“Can I do anything for you?”
“Now that’s a leading question,” Jaxon smiled with one eye open.
Tilting my head to one side, I shot him an amused eye roll.
“A good night kiss will do,” he began. “For now.”
And that is exactly what I gave him. I was gentle, considering his busted lip as I pressed my mouth to his and his hand stroked my face gently as we kissed.
I then drew back. “Goodnight, Jax.”
“Night love,” he replied.
I went back to my room with the biggest smile on my face and the nicest feeling in my chest, loving Jaxon with all my heart.
**** *
Jaxon’s face and body recovered quickly over the next couple of days. Marcus had him checked over by the Doctor but most of the damage was surface bruising and thankfully his ribs seemed OK.
All the family had pulled together and played nurse, making sure that Jaxon was comfortable and that he had everything he needed. Chris also checked Jaxon over, the wannabee doctor in him pushing to the surface. I remember watching them both together whilst Jaxon sat on the edge of the bed with his brother treating him like a science rat. Chris also documented the session in the small green notebook he always carried. It was tatty with a broken spine and I had always wondered what he wrote in there. The journalist in me also showed her face.
On day three of Jaxon’s recovery, I dressed and went down into the kitchen to find Marcus and Jaxon chuckling together in the kitchen. It was lovely to see that they were at least getting on together. I imagined Marcus appreciated Jaxon’s protection of Diasy against someone bigger and meaner than him. Not that he didn’t give as good as he got.
As I rounded the corner and grabbed an apple, Daisy and Chris were sitting at the table.
“Molly is on her way to visit the wounded,” Marcus explained as I bit into the fruit and moved to sit opposite my mother. I could feel Jaxon’s eyes on me. We were all together and so surely now was as good a time as any to tell them. I didn’t register what Marcus had said until he added. “So, we will all eat together at seven if that’s good for everyone?” Nods and agreements followed and my gaze clashed with Jaxon’s. I sent him a look, hoping he’d read my silent message but he slowly shook his head as if to say not yet.
I smiled and concentrated on my apple. I so hadn’t wanted to tell the rest of them with Molly there and Jaxon knew that.
After making some small talk with my mother about a new yoga instructor at her work, I left the kitchen and made for my room. I had started drafting what would be my first piece of written work which I would submit to my new tutor. I was due to start my course that following week and I had been emailed a brief with various exercises I needed to carry out before the first day. They probably wanted to see what standard of writing the student possessed beforehand.
“Wynter,” Jaxon said from behind me as I was just about to mount the stairs. I turned, looking down at him with a fond, bright smile.
“You rang,” I replied, my eyes drinking him in greedily. There was now only a faint bruise on his face and his lip had started to heal.
We approached each other, like a magnet draws metal and after a brief glance over his shoulder, Jaxon pulled me into his arms and kissed me. I lit up, we had cuddled and held each other most days recently but this was first time I had felt Jaxon’s tongue against my own. It was long and drawn out and sinfully erotic, considering anyone could have come around the corner.
“Come with me to the coasts today, just the two of us. It’s windy and the waves will be high. Want to watch them with me?” Jaxon whispered against my face.
I leaned up and into him, my arms circling his neck.
“Yes, I’d love that. But won’t we need to be back for dinner?”
“If we go before noon, we’ll be back in time. And then tonight we can tell them about us. Happy?”
“What about Molly?”
“She’ll be here in the next half an hour and I will tell her then. OK?”
“On your own?”
“Yes, it’s no big deal. She hasn’t been a huge part of this family for the last six months and so it doesn’t really affect her.”
Yeah right. Did I believe him? I suppose I had to.
“OK. Great. Good luck,” I said.
After another kiss, I went to my room to work on my piece for college. As I sat at my writing table, I pushed my glasses up my nose and checked the time .
I decided to wear skinny jeans and a nice comfortable jumper which would swamp me. It would be cold by the coast and I liked to be warm. I’d made sure I wore nice underwear as who knew what could happen when Jaxon and I were alone in his car.
I’d heard Molly arrive, that screechy voice of hers echoed up the stairs. I wondered if Jaxon had told her about us and how she would have taken it. I didn’t have long to find out.
Once I’d checked my reflection in my mirror, I left my room and went to knock on Jaxon’s door but there was no answer. I checked the time on my phone, it was just before noon.
As I made my way downstairs and towards where the coats were hanging, the hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention and I turned around to see Molly lingering in the doorway to the living room.
“Wynter?” she began in a surprised tone. She still said my name like it tasted funny in her mouth. I held my breath, had Jaxon said anything yet? She didn’t appear to be sobbing into her hanky. Maybe I was wrong and she didn’t care. Her next words confirmed that wasn’t the case. “Can I borrow you a sec,” Molly questioned with an innocent expression. I didn’t miss the sharp edge of the tone of her voice. Here we go.
“Sure,” I moved away from the coat hooks and followed her into the living room, wondering where Jaxon was. Molly then closed the door, trapping me in there with her and anxiety licked up my spine.
She turned and folded her arms across her chest, those dark eyes of hers roaming over me; like she was looking for something.
I knew she wasn’t happy. Her body language screamed that message. Oh dear. The girl was bat shit crazy on a normal day, who knew how her woman scorned would play out? The girl was a walking hormone, I had never done anything to her .
“So, you and Jaxon? How sweet,” she began in a syrupy voice, her lips twisting into a sneer. My spine stiffened but I remained silent.
I wasn’t an argumentative person as a rule but I wasn’t a pushover either. If Molly thought I was going to discuss my relationship with Jaxon with her, she could think again.
“I don’t know what you want me to say, Molly,” I replied uneasily. Glancing at the closed door behind her. I so didn’t want to have to deal with her on my own. I wasn’t scared of her, not physically anyway but she could be cruel with her comments and I didn’t want that to dampen my time at the beach with Jaxon.
“You know he’ll never care about you, not really. Jax doesn’t have it in him.” Her spiteful voice grated on my nerves. The girl was such a fucking headache.
I pushed my hands into the pockets of my jeans and shot her my version of a death stare. “It’s not really any of your business.”
She didn’t like that and smiled darkly. “My family is my business.”
“Fair enough but my relationship with Jaxon isn’t,” I pointed out sharply.
Molly ran her gaze up and down my body, her expression suggesting she found me lacking. What I had ever done to make her hate me so much was beyond me. She’d taken an immediate dislike to me. It was such a pity as it would have been nice to have a sister. Not this one though, no way, I’d rather douse myself in petrol.
“Once he’s got you out of his system, he will drop you like a hot rock. We used to live together remember? I’ve seen him do it so many times before. You’re just one in the long line of many.” Thoughts of Jaxon with other girls speared painfully through me but I refused to allow her to win.
Squaring my shoulders, I replied. “I don’t care what he did in the past Molly.” I so did and was such a liar.
Her expression switched to one I couldn’t read. “Not even if it concerns me? ”
And then she really did let the cat out of the bag. So there had been something between them. I wondered why Jaxon hadn’t said anything.
“Surely he’s told you about us?” Molly said smugly with a head tilt. I wasn’t great at hiding my emotions and her words hit me hard. The thought of Jaxon not telling me was the worst part.
I realised that she had alluded to them having sex, but had yet to come out and say it. The girl was being cryptic on purpose. I pulled my arms from my jeans and folded them defensively. I glared back, not giving an inch. “So, you’re saying you and Jaxon have been together?”
She leaned back against the closed door, now enjoying herself if the glint in her eye was anything to go by. “In a fashion.” Again, shying away from spelling it out.
She was blatantly side stepping, was she really trying to lie about something I could so easily unpick?
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I pushed the feelings of hurt into the bottom of my stomach.
“Surely, I don’t have to draw you a picture?” She pushed off the door and moved closer, not quite getting in my face, but almost.
I narrowed my eyes. “You’re lying.”
Her perfectly plucked eyebrows inched towards her bright red hairline. “Ask him,” she bated with a condescending edge. The catty little bint. Hell was probably wallpapered with all her deleted selfies.
Sighing, I replied. “So, what if you have? He’s with me now. Going forward is all I’m bothered about Molly.”
“But don’t you see? You’re stepsiblings and therefore considered the forbidden fruit, that’s the only reason he wanted you.” The snidey bitch. I felt my fingers curl into a fist.
“I need to go. Jaxon is taking me to the coast. Please move out of my way.” I said the bit about my plans with Jaxon on purpose, suddenly feeling the need to strike back. I knew it was mean but what could I do? I certainly wasn’t about to bend over and take everything the little cow was dishing out.
She stood to the side as I moved to pull the door open.
“Just remember, when he’s fucking you, how many other girls have there been before you. And they never last,” Molly snickered.
“Whatever, you need to get over yourself,” I replied, having finally had enough of the exchange. What she said as I left the room sank through my skin, right to the bone, tearing me in two.
“I heard that first time together was nothing but a pity fuck due to your daddy issues.”
My entire body stiffened and I twisted my head to the side without making eye contact.
“As I said. My relationship with Jaxon has nothing to do with you. I suggest you get over it.”
I then walked out with my head held high, closing the living room door gently behind me as I went to find my coat.
My discussion had left a bad taste in my mouth. Did that mean that Jaxon had told Molly about our night together at the hotel?
Hell yes, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that, but it was far from good.