Chapter 12 #2
I landed on his lap in one smooth motion, his arm coming around my waist like it had always belonged there. My breath caught—not from surprise, but from the way his body fit against mine, solid and grounding.
Chase’s gaze burned from the corner of the room, but I ignored it, too caught up with the feeling of Jaxon’s body beneath mine.
His lips brushed my neck, a whisper of heat. “Go with it,” he said quietly.
I inhaled.
Once. Twice.
Then I let myself settle.
I slid my hands down his thighs, anchoring myself there, fingers pressing lightly into denim as I leaned back against his chest. I didn’t look away from Chase. Not when I felt Jaxon's hand flex at my waist. Not when his thumb traced a slow, absent line just above my hip.
I kept my eyes on the bastard who broke my heart.
Dared him to see what he left behind.
Dared him to remember who the fuck I was.
His jaw tightened almost immediately, a flicker of something dark crossing his face before he looked away, lips pressed thin.
Beside him, Lori’s smile faltered. She saw it all, and I had zero regrets. Her eyes narrowed, sharp and assessing, before she turned back to the group—composure snapping neatly back into place.
“Well, thank you all for coming! I can't thank everyone enough for being here, especially with the rain and all. And thank you to my love.” Her eyes shifted to Chase, and she ran a hand through his hair.
“We overcame all obstacles and found love.
I can't wait for forever with you, and I know you can't wait to have forever with your one and only.”
Her giggle threatened to have me tense, but Jaxon's voice whispered in my ear, “Ignore her, trouble. Focus on me.”
Nodding, I breathed through it and continued the facade, running my hands up and down his thighs.
She launched into a speech about love and forever and how excited she was for the wedding.
I heard none of it.
All I could feel was Jaxon.
The warmth of him. The gentle brush of his lips against my neck and shoulder. God, why does something so wrong feel so… so damn good?
His free arm covered mine, resting on my thigh before moving with slow, teasing strides on the inside of my thigh. My eyes fluttered as I tried to keep a poker face. An impossible task when his hand worked its way higher and higher…
“Jaxon.”
I meant to say his name as a warning, and I hated how breathy it sounded.
“Problem, trouble?”
The taunting tone in his voice told me he knew exactly what he was doing and the effect it was having on my body. I shifted on his lap, freezing at the low sound of the groan that escaped his lips.
“Easy, trouble. Wouldn't want to start something right here in this room.” His arm tightened around my waist. “Though I'm not opposed to fucking you in front of your ex. Maybe then I'll show him that you're mine.”
I blinked away the haze of lust and dug my nails into his thighs.
“Knock it off.”
He chuckled and leaned back in the chair. “Yes, ma'am.”
Lori droned on before clapping like a five-year-old child. “Eek, I'm so excited to see all the gifts! Honey, can we…”
Chase nodded then gave a wave to a man standing by the door. Three hotel staff rolled in carts stacked high with gifts—pristine boxes gleaming under the lounge lights. The room buzzed with renewed excitement, and Lori squealed when they came to a stop in front of her and Chase.
“Alright! Let’s see whose gift is first,” she chirped.
She sat straighter, leaning over to pick up the first present. Chase sat beside her, smiling for the crowd, but his eyes kept drifting over here. Kept landing right where Jaxon and I sat.
“Prince Charming almost looks like that monkey from Powerpuff Girls.”
I barely moved my lips. “No, he does not. See, he's smiling.”
“He's pretending,” he said softly. “That’s the look of a man ready to fail at taking over the world.”
I huffed, trying to hold in the laughter.
Jaxon leaned closer. “Should I wave? Maybe he'll stop.”
I giggled before I could stop myself and immediately regretted it. The sound carried through the room, and a few heads turned our way. Lori paused mid-reach for the next gift, momentarily distracted.
I clamped my lips together and slapped Jaxon’s thigh in warning.
“Ow,” he whispered, grinning against my skin. “Was that a giggle? Did I just get a giggle out of you?”
“Shut up,” I hissed, cheeks warm.
His shoulders shook silently with laughter.
Lori cleared her throat—throwing a glare my way—and opened the next gift, cooing appreciatively. Then the next. Then another. She reached for a medium-sized box wrapped in ivory paper and pink ribbon, lifting the card.
She gasped.
“Oh, this is gorgeous! Who's this one from?” Lori grinned, tugging the card from the box. “For the woman who deserves it all. To Sa—Savannah?”
The room stilled.
Every head turned.
My pulse spiked as I blinked, certain I’d misheard.
For… me?
Lori’s eyes cut sharply toward me, her smile frozen in place. I didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Just sat there, suddenly very aware of how visible I was—of how Jaxon’s arm tightened ever-so-slightly around me.
Chase laughed too loudly. “Must be a mix-up,” he said easily, leaning over to murmur something in Lori’s ear.
She nodded, her smile firm in place as if she was wearing a mask. She set the gift aside before moving to the next one. She didn't start with opening the box this time, just ripped the card off the top.
Through gritted teeth, she announced, “Also for Savannah. Lovely.”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd and Lori leaned into Chase, visibly upset.
My breath caught.
Jaxon dipped his mouth to my shoulder, kissing me there to hide his chuckle. “God, I wish I had a camera. Her face right now? Priceless.”
I turned to him, eyes wide. “Was this you?”
His gaze flickered with unapologetic mischief. “I may have had something to do with it.”
“How?” I demanded in a whisper.
He shrugged lightly. “Found where they were stashing them. Added a few of my own.”
I gaped.
He lifted a finger, tilting my chin up gently and pressing it closed.
“Careful,” he murmured, brushing a kiss to my cheek. “You’ll give us away.”
Our eyes locked.
The chaos around us faded into background noise.
And for the first time that afternoon, Lori wasn’t the center of attention.
I was.
The question on the why was on the tip of my tongue when Lori clapped her hands again, voice bright and ringing.
“Alright everyone, we’re going to take a short break,” she announced. “Feel free to mingle while Chase and the boys take the opened gifts out to the cars.”
The room stirred, conversation blooming all at once. I rose from Jaxon’s lap, smoothing my jeans, and turned to face him.
“She’s probably going to throw those gifts away,” I said quietly. “You know that, right?”
He shrugged, unbothered, like it meant nothing at all. “Don’t care.”
I blinked. “You don’t?”
“Nope.” His mouth curved into that infuriating half-smile. “The look on her face was worth it. Revenge and all that.”
I tried to fight it—I really did—but a smile crept onto my lips. I shook my head, turning away from him as if distance might’ve helped. Well, as much distance I could give while standing between the man's legs.
“You didn’t need to do that.”
His hand came up, cupping my chin and gently guiding my gaze back to his. His thumb brushed my cheek in a slow, deliberate stroke that sent my heart skittering wildly out of rhythm.
“Worth it if it put that smile on your face,” he said quietly.
For a second, everything narrowed to the space between us. The noise, the people, the history—it all blurred. His gaze dropped to my lips, and I'd be lying if I said mine didn't follow suit. No, this was all wrong. We couldn't. I couldn't.
I cleared my throat, breaking the moment before it swallowed me whole.
“I need a drink.”
He started to move, instinctively ready to follow, but I pressed my palm to his chest.
“I’m a big girl,” I said lightly. “I can get my own drink.”
His brows lifted, amused. “You sure?”
“Yes.” I turned, then hesitated. Sighing, I looked back and then added, “You want anything?”
He shook his head. “I’m good.”
I stepped away before he could pull me back in, weaving toward the bar with my pulse still racing, his touch lingering like a ghost on my skin.
By the time I reached the bar, the room felt louder—thicker. Conversations overlapped, laughter ricocheted off marble and glass, and the air smelled faintly of citrus and champagne. I leaned my elbows against the cool countertop and waited.
Ten minutes passed while the bartender worked his way down the line, all easy smiles and practiced charm. I checked my phone to pass the time, then when he finally turned to me, I ordered a Bellini. Simple. Safe. Something to keep my mind from wondering to the tattooed bad boy behind me.
“Savannah.”
Oh, just great.
His voice was the same. Warm. Confident. Like he still had the right to say my name that way. I didn’t turn right away. I kept my eyes on the bar, on the pale blush of prosecco filling the glass.
“Chase,” I said evenly.