CHAPTER 24
Anna
"Is it safe to come in yet?" Harper's voice echoed through the den, breaking the intimate moment between Jaxon and me.
Jaxon chuckled softly, the warm rumble of his laughter vibrating against my neck where his face was still nestled. The sound sent pleasant shivers down my spine, his breath warm and tickling against my sensitive skin.
Suddenly, I was lifted. His strong arms slid beneath me with effortless strength.
A small gasp escaped me at the unexpected movement.
Jaxon cradled me securely as he stood, sweeping me to my feet like I weighed nothing.
His hand cupped my face, the calloused pads of his fingers rough but tender against my flushed cheek.
His other hand came to rest at the curve of my hip, holding me snug against the solid wall of his chest.
I could feel the heat of him through our clothes, could breathe in his scent—something distinctly masculine. Leaning in, he brushed a feather-light kiss against my temple, his lips leaving a scorching trail in their wake that made my eyes flutter closed. I wished I could stay there forever.
We stood entwined in that quiet, intimate embrace, cocooned in each other's presence. The rest of the world faded away, until the sound of approaching footsteps reached us from outside.
Harper's slender figure appeared in the doorway, and my cheeks burned even hotter. One of her delicately arched brows lifted as she took in the scene before her. Me wrapped in Jaxon's arms, both of us looking thoroughly kissed and disheveled.
"Yeah, I knew there wasn't any talking happening in here," she said dryly, folding her arms across her chest as she leaned against the doorframe.
A teasing pout curved her lips. "Just so you know, everyone else has been gone for twenty minutes now.
But I was nice enough to give you two some alone time. "
I realized twenty minutes had passed in what felt like seconds.
Jaxon grinned unrepentantly, making no move to put any distance between us. "Thanks for the warning, Harper," he replied easily, his rich voice light despite the interruption.
I felt his gaze drop to me, and I knew he was taking in my flushed cheeks, the way I instinctively leaned into the solid strength of his frame. Even with Harper watching, I didn't want to move away from him.
Harper's eyes danced with barely contained excitement as she pushed off the doorframe and plopped down onto the sofa cushions.
"So, I take it this is the official start of girls' night, then?
" she asked impishly, grinning from ear to ear.
"Normally it takes way longer to get to the juicy boy talk, but I think we can jump right in this time. Don't you, Anna?"
I heaved an exaggerated sigh, resigning myself to the inevitable barrage of questions and teasing Harper was about to unleash. I started to pull away from Jaxon's embrace, intent on joining her, only to have him catch my hand in a gentle but insistent grip.
His fingers sent sparks dancing across my sensitized skin as he tugged me back against him. I looked up at him with wide, questioning eyes. I wondered what he was doing.
My unspoken thought was answered before I could voice it.
With casual confidence, Jaxon leaned in and claimed my lips in a scorching kiss that obliterated every coherent thought.
His free hand drifted up to cradle the back of my head, holding me firmly in place as his mouth moved over mine in unhurried, thorough exploration.
Oh my God.
The kiss was deep and claiming, completely unapologetic about the audience we had. I melted into him, my fingers clutching at his shirt as the world tilted on its axis.
When he finally released me, I was dazed and breathless. My lips tingled, my heart hammered, and my knees felt distinctly unsteady.
Jaxon's eyes danced with playful fire as a wicked smirk curved his mouth. "Talk about that," he said huskily, glancing past me at Harper. I registered the boldness of his challenge to Harper.
Giving my fingers one final squeeze, Jaxon stepped back, his expression perfectly casual. "I'm going to go clean up the yard," he informed us, as though he hadn't just set my blood simmering with that searing kiss.
With a parting wink that made my stomach flip, he turned and headed for the kitchen, the patio door sliding shut behind him.
I stood frozen, cheeks flushed and heart racing as I stared at the door he'd just exited.
The boldness of his move, paired with that easy, understated confidence, left me feeling an intoxicating blend of surprise, desire, and bone-deep warmth.
He had intentionally kissed me like that in front of Harper.
When I finally managed to turn back toward Harper, I found her practically vibrating with excitement on the sofa, eyes wide with delight.
Her reaction was instant and utterly unrestrained. Her whole face lit up as she leapt off the sectional and bounded across the room toward me. She grabbed my hands, bouncing on the balls of her feet, radiating unfiltered joy.
"Holy shit, Anna!" she squealed, a grin stretching from ear to ear. "Did that really just happen? That was, like, straight out of a freaking romance movie!"
Unable to resist the infectious energy rolling off her, I dissolved into laughter, my cheeks heating to an even deeper shade of pink.
As my initial shock melted into giddy warmth, I let myself bask in the moment, letting Harper's boundless enthusiasm wash away the stress of the past few days.
I realized this was real, actually happening.
Abruptly releasing my hands, Harper took a small step back, crossing her arms over her chest with a sly grin. Tossing her long red hair over one shoulder, she cocked her head in mock nonchalance that fooled no one.
"So?" she prodded impishly. "Are you going to tell me everything, or do I have to get down on my knees and beg? Because you know I'm absolutely not above begging if it means getting the juicy details."
I rolled my eyes good-naturedly, fighting a losing battle against the giddy smile tugging at my lips.
"I promised I'd tell you if anything happened, didn't I?" I said with a theatrical sigh, deliberately playing up my put-upon tone for her benefit.
A breathless little giggle escaped me as I stole a quick glance toward the kitchen door Jaxon had disappeared through moments before.
My skin still tingled with the ghost of his touch, his kiss.
My pulse fluttered wildly as I dropped onto the plush sectional with a soft whump, the cushions embracing me.
"But I definitely didn't think he'd just... you know, do that right in front of you!"
Wasting no time, Harper plopped down beside me on the sofa, turning so she faced me fully.
Her eyes were wide with unrestrained curiosity as she leaned in conspiratorially close.
The scent of her floral perfume mingled with the lingering aroma of the cookout smoke, grilled meat, and warm summer air.
"Honestly?" She let out a breathy laugh, tucking a loose strand of hair behind one ear. "I didn't see that bold move coming either. But I could tell something intense was brewing between you two. It was only a matter of time before it came to a head. The sexual tension was palpable!"
She nudged my knee with hers, grinning impishly.
"So come on, don't leave me hanging! What's the full story here?
When did this even start? And, most importantly.
.." Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, dark eyes sparkling.
"Is our brooding stud seriously invested, or is this more of a casual 'thing'? "
Unable to resist her infectious enthusiasm, I chuckled, shaking my head. For a moment, I was at a loss for where to even begin unpacking the tangled mess of emotions that had taken root between Jaxon and me. I needed to figure out where to start.
"It's... complicated," I admitted finally, shrugging helplessly. My brow furrowed as I searched for the right words to capture the whirlwind of the past few weeks.
Harper groaned dramatically. "Don't give me that!
" she objected, rolling her eyes with theatrical flair.
"You know 'complicated' is my favorite kind of story.
" She poked a teasing finger into my ribs, grinning unabashedly.
"So spill it, girl! You know I won’t let up until I get every tiny, delicious detail. Might as well get it all out now."
I drew a deep, steadying breath as a small, genuine smile tugged at my lips. The warmth of Harper's friendship wrapped around me like a blanket. She would never judge—only listen, offering support and an open heart. I knew she deserved to know, and I needed to tell someone.
Slowly, faltering at first, I began to tell her how Jaxon and I had started to grow closer over the past few weeks.
The more I spoke, the more the words began to flow.
With each confession, tension drained from my shoulders, replaced by a quiet sense of relief.
Soon, my story spilled out in a breathless rush.
By the time I'd shared every juicy detail, Harper and I had settled deeper into the couch, the mood light and easy once more.
We queued up a marathon of chick flicks, a bowl of buttery popcorn and a chilled bottle of white wine between us.
The scent of butter mixed with the floral notes of the wine, and Harper crunched happily beside me.
We laughed loudly, poking fun at the movies' most over-the-top moments and swapping stories about our most awkward dates. The room glowed with the soft light of table lamps, their warm hues casting playful shadows that danced across the walls.
The evening's rhythm shifted when Jaxon slipped in quietly, phone in hand.
I caught the faintest sound of his camera as he snapped a candid photo of Harper and me huddled together on the couch, wine glasses raised, laughing at something ridiculous on-screen.
The soft click was barely audible over the movie's soundtrack.