CHAPTER 25
Anna
It had been three days since the cookout, and everything felt deliciously different, a thrilling shift that settled warm and welcome deep in my core.
Something pivotal had happened between Jaxon and me that night, an intimate connection sparking to life like a smoldering flame that refused to go out.
Everything had changed, and I didn't want it to change back.
While we both seemed to bask in the glow of this new dynamic, I knew we'd eventually have to put these tantalizing feelings into words, preferably before Connor returned, so we could present a united front against his overprotectiveness and inevitable objections.
I was certain there would be objections.
I was currently leading a chestnut mare back toward the pasture after a leisurely ride, hyperaware of Jaxon's gaze scorching a path along my sweat-sheened skin. The afternoon sun was warm on my back, my shirt clinging to me with perspiration, and I could feel his eyes on me with every step I took.
That insistent watchfulness was another profound change.
He'd appointed himself my constant, though respectfully distant, shadow.
While I rode, he either leaned against the weathered split-rail fence, eyes roving shamelessly over me, or lounged on the porch, never letting me stray too far from his line of sight.
I should have felt stifled beneath such relentless scrutiny, should have rebelled against it. The echoes of my past with Daniel, whose controlling ways had nearly suffocated my spirit, were still too fresh, too raw.
And yet, Jaxon's heated looks ignited no sense of discomfort or caged desperation.
Quite the opposite. His presence seemed to wrap around me like a sensual, protective warmth, chasing away the chill of bitter memories.
He watched me with quiet intensity. Not as a jailer, but as a guardian.
The difference was profound, unmistakable.
I knew he watched because he cared, because he wanted to, not because he needed to control.
As I secured the pasture gate, the metal latch clicked into place with a satisfying snap, and my gaze drifted to where Jaxon lounged against the porch railing.
All broad limbs and tanned skin, worn denim clinging to his hips in a way that made my mouth go dry.
He raised one corner of his mouth in a slow, provocative smile that liquefied my bones and set my pulse thrumming.
Heat flooded my cheeks as I responded with a tremulous curve of my lips, warmth blooming in my chest and spreading outward until I felt flushed all over. The way he looked at me was intoxicating.
Yes, we would need to give voice to this rampant yearning, to define whatever this was before it consumed us both. Connor's imminent return might complicate things, but I felt ready to face whatever came next.
As I made my way up the porch steps, each footfall sent tingles up my spine beneath Jaxon's unwavering gaze.
I could feel him tracking every movement.
The sway of my hips, the rise and fall of my breathing, the way I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
A flush crept up my neck before I even reached him, my skin prickling with awareness.
He had moved to sit on the weathered wooden bench, his eyes darkening as I approached. The fabric of his worn T-shirt stretched across his chest, emphasizing the breadth of his shoulders and the strength in his arms.
Rather than sitting beside him, I started to move past, intending to head inside, but Jaxon leaned forward, and suddenly his hands skimmed up the backs of my thighs.
I trembled at his heated touch, goosebumps erupting across my skin despite the summer warmth.
His fingers traced slow, deliberate patterns upward, the calluses on his palms rough against my jeans, sending electric shivers straight to my core.
When he reached my waist, his grip tightened, and he tugged me down abruptly onto his lap.
I gasped at the sudden movement, my legs instinctively straddling his firm thighs. I could feel the solid strength of his muscles, the heat of him seeping through the thin fabric of my pants.
"Jax—" I began, intending to protest that we were outside, anyone could see, but his mouth claimed mine before I could finish, stealing my words.
His scent surrounded me, his arm wrapped around my lower back, palm splaying possessively against my spine as he pulled me flush against his chest. The hard planes of muscle pressed against me, drawing a muffled groan from deep in my throat, the sound vibrating between our joined lips.
My hands fisted in the soft fabric of his shirt, anchoring myself as desire coursed through my veins like wildfire.
His mouth moved over mine with an intensity that stole my breath, his tongue tracing the seam of my lips until I yielded, opening for him.
Despite my desire, I knew we really shouldn't be doing this out here.
Finally, I tore my lips away, though it took more willpower than I wanted to admit. I rested my flushed forehead against his, fighting to catch my breath. My heart hammered against my ribs, every nerve alive, aware of every place our bodies touched.
"We can't do this out here," I panted, my voice breathier than I intended. "Someone might see."
Jaxon's mouth curved into a wolfish grin that sent heat pooling low in my belly. His lips trailed along the sensitive line of my jaw, his stubble scraping deliciously against my throat. When he reached my ear, his whispered growl raised a fresh wave of shivers down my spine.
"I don't care."
Of course, he wouldn't care.
I groaned, half frustrated, half enthralled by his brazen disregard for propriety. Part of me, a dangerous, growing part, didn't care either. But the sensible part knew we needed to be cautious, at least until we figured out how to tell Connor.
I pressed a soft kiss to his scruffy cheek, breathing in his scent one more time before reluctantly pushing myself off his lap. My legs were unsteady as I stood. Though Jaxon clearly didn't want to let go, his hands steadied me at my waist, his touch lingering even after I stepped back.
He cleared his throat and rose, towering over me. The height difference had never bothered me. With Daniel, it had felt threatening, a weapon meant to intimidate. But with Jaxon, it felt... protective.
"I need to grab a couple of things from my house," he said, his voice still rough with lingering desire as he fished his keys from his pocket. The metal jingled softly in his hand. "Want to come with?"
I nodded, not trusting my voice. The flutter in my chest refused to calm, my pulse still racing from his kiss. I turned and started down the porch steps, hyperaware of the weight of his gaze following me. He was still watching me, always watching.
We drove down the narrow path in companionable silence, the rhythmic crunch of tires over gravel a soothing backdrop to my still-racing thoughts.
The windows were down, the warm summer breeze rushing in and tangling my hair.
I rested my arm on the doorframe, letting the wind cool my flushed skin as I gazed out at the passing trees.
The scent of pine and fresh grass filled the air, mingling with the earthy smell of sun-warmed dirt from the trail.
Dappled sunlight filtered through the canopy overhead, painting shifting patterns of light and shadow.
The steady sway of the Jeep and the rustle of the leaves made me feel content and whole in a way I hadn't in a long time.
When we reached the cabin, Jaxon quickly stepped out and moved to my side before I could even fully open the passenger door.
He took my hand, his palm warm and solid against mine, and pulled me into his chest. His lips brushed against mine in a quick kiss that still managed to make my toes curl in my boots.
Then, with a grin that was pure mischief, he lifted me off my feet. I squeaked in surprise as my legs instinctively crossed behind his hips, my arms wrapping around his neck for support. Laughter bubbled out of me at the suddenness of it, bright and carefree.
"Is this better?" he asked, one brow arched, his playful expression hinting at the privacy he clearly intended to take advantage of. "No one's around to see us."
His tone was light, teasing, as he carried me toward the stairs. His steps were slow and deliberate, and I could feel the flex of his muscles with each movement, the effortless strength in his arms as he held me like I weighed nothing.
I chuckled, my fingers sliding into the back of his hair, gently massaging his scalp the way I'd learned he liked. "Much better," I murmured against his ear, pressing a kiss to his temple.
Jaxon took his time ascending the wooden steps, savoring the moment, his hands secure beneath my thighs. When we reached the porch, he set me down gently, though his fingers lingered at my waist, reluctant to let go completely.
"Maybe—" I began, turning toward the door.
Crunch.
My foot landed on something that gave way with a sharp, crystalline sound. I frowned and looked down, lifting my boot. Scattered across the porch were fragments of glass, glittering in the afternoon sunlight like tiny diamonds. That wasn’t right.
I stepped back carefully, hearing another faint crunch beneath my heel. "What the hell..." I murmured, a sudden chill racing down my spine despite the warm air.
Jaxon moved past me toward the door, and I watched as his entire demeanor shifted. His expression hardened, his shoulders tensing, every line of his body going rigid as he saw what I was only now noticing.
The window beside the door handle was shattered, jagged shards still clinging to the frame like broken teeth. The hole was large enough for someone to slip their hand through and unlock the door from the inside.
Someone had broken in.