Chapter 13
CHAPTER 13
MADISON
M y heart was racing, his stare alone robbing me of my breath. One step forward and he had my back against the cold brick of the building, as he ravished me with his kisses. Every time he touched me, the sensations felt brand new, like we just melted together as one. He pulled away and rested his forehead against mine.
“What are we doing?” I didn’t mean to say it out loud, but it was clear we’d had some serious lip-locking today.
“I don’t know. It’s kind of stupid, but there was no way I could not kiss you right now.” He brushed his lips across my cheek.
The whole thing was kind of stupid. I knew I was leaving in a few days. He knew I was leaving in a few days. It was almost as if none of it was real. It was temporary, and I had to keep that in mind since, apparently, I was leaning towards option two: one quick fling, and then I’d be gone.
“We should get back.” The sound of my voice wasn’t familiar to me. Beer was cruising through my veins, and I knew it would take very little before I’d be whipping off my shirt, begging for it in the alleyway, proving once again that drunk me was a promiscuous me.
He kissed me ever so gently on the lips before opening the door.
We pushed our way back to the bar where Austin and Liz were standing.
“Let’s get out of here. Head back to my place.” Austin yelled over the music.
Liz pointed to me. “Now I have to stop by the ladies’ room. Come on, Madison.”
We started to walk away and ran into Lance—the dancing partner who’d grabbed my wrist.
“Hey, how about another dance?” He stepped close and it was clear he’d had a lot to drink as he smelled like he’d bathed in some bourbon out back.
“Thanks, but we’re about to leave. Have a good night.”
He surprised me when he pulled me in for a hug, but okay. Had my dancing skills improved and left some kind of impression? I didn’t know. The hug lingered a little too long, and I pulled away just as he cupped my ass in his hands.
Liz’s voice shrieked through the air. “Get your hands off her!”
I pushed against his chest, but he was holding me tight.
There was a commotion, and before I knew what was happening, Jax was there and pulled him away from me. I froze when Lance punched Jax in the eye, and, as if out of a movie, Jax got his balance and flashed a sarcastic grin.
“Really?”
Jax took a swing, and Lance went down like a bag of bricks, knocking over a few people behind him. My stomach dropped when Lance’s buddy took a quick step towards Jax and Austin appeared in front of me.
“Out of the way mother fucker, or we’ll tear you apart!” Austin yelled, pushing the guy in the chest and causing him to stumble back.
Liz shouted at the group. “Let’s get out of here!”
Once outside, Liz laughed. “That was awesome!”
My hands trembled as Jax looked over. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. I’m sorry about that.” I twisted my laced fingers anxiously.
“Don’t be sorry. I already had one black eye, so this’ll just even out my look for the wedding, right?” He grinned when we all reached the truck, Austin and Liz hopping in the back seat.
Liz and Austin were chatting away while I looked out the window and replayed the last five minutes of my life.
As we started to drive, “More Than a Feeling” by Boston played quietly on the radio—seems that Jax loves the oldies. I could hear Liz singing softly in the back seat. I looked back at the bar trying to memorize everything I could see.
I knew I would never hear that song again without remembering what had occurred that night. The electricity in the front seat, sitting next to Jax, and what I knew would go down as the most exciting week of my life.
Jax drove to Austin’s house to drop them off. It was right over the hill from Jax’s house. A small cabin with a fire pit out front and a porch with a few chairs on it. The truck stopped, and Austin opened his door.
“Anyone want to come check out my new hot tub?”
“Sure.” Jax opened his door and we all followed suit.
We walked through Austin’s house, which was surprisingly very nice. I would never have imagined Austin to be the feng shui decorative type. He had an enormous T.V. in the corner of the room and a big sectional. It looked like a bachelor pad with two perfectly centered and even pyramids of beer cans on the kitchen counter. I really wanted to knock them down but restrained myself, even though the beer buzz was on like Donkey Kong. I needed to focus on self-control.
We walked out the back door and were standing next to a huge hot tub. He pushed a button, and a waterfall in the corner came on, along with lights above us.
“Looks good, man.” Jax felt the water.
“So which one of you fellas’ are the best man Saturday?” Liz kicked off her shoes, pulled up her jeans, and sat on the corner of the hot tub as she dipped her feet in.
“Jim said we’re both best men, but we all know it’s really me.” Austin grinned.
“No way, I’m the best man. You’re delusional.” Jax laughed. Such a great laugh.
“Are you stoned again, Bro?”
Liz cleared her throat. “Well, I’m not being bossy, but I think we need to see who the real best man is; we must know.”
Austin pointed at Liz. “I like the way you think.”
“A contest? I know it embarrasses my brother Austin here, but I can pretty much kick his ass at anything.”
Austin walked over to Jax and playfully pushed his chest. “Really? Yeah, the two black eyes are screaming otherwise.”
“Okay, a contest is required to sort this shit out, right, Madison?” Liz raised her eyebrows.
“Definitely. Something that leaves no doubt as to who the manliest man really is.” I laughed and couldn’t flippin’ wait for what was about to happen.
Jax chuckled. “I got it.” He suddenly howled as Austin shook his head.
“Really, dude?”
“It’s the only way.” Jax nodded his head.
I suddenly hoped it was some shirtless contest or maybe a dance-off. Yeah, a dance-off would be the coolest. I knew Jax would have a leg up because he could do the fantastic worm I witnessed in his living room and all. Could I be that lucky?
Nope, I was not that lucky because five minutes later, Jax and Austin had dog shock collars on their upper arms, on top of all those muscles. Each man sat in a chair in the backyard, with a glass full of beer in the same hand that the shock collar was on.
I cleared my throat. “Alrighty, after some discussion, we have found out that you both have a fondness for the television show, ‘The Office.’ So, Liz and I, as the judges of this contest, have decided that show will be the trivia used in this shock collar challenge.”
“I’m going to smoke you, Jax!” Austin laughed.
“In your dreams, Buddy.”
“Liz will read the questions from her phone, and if you are correct, you get a point.” I held up the controller. “If you’re stupid, zap zap.”
Liz waved her hand in the air. “If you get an answer wrong, you have to take a drink of your beer while you’re being electrocuted.” She giggled. “I love this fuckin’ game!”
“Any questions, gentlemen?” Even though shirts were on, I was really looking forward to witnessing what might have been the best trivia contest in the history of the world.
“No questions, but you’re both a little meaner than I thought.” Jax flashed a smile that sent a little zing down south.
“Are we ready?” Liz clapped her hands, and I realized I might just love her. “First question goes to Jax. Who was Pam engaged to before Jim?”
“Easy peasy, Roy.” Jax gave himself a high-five.
“This is a tough one,” Liz winked at me. “Who came up with ‘Suck it’?
“Of course, it was David Wallace. Now Jax can suck it!” Austin laughed.
“Nice. Next question goes to Jax. What did Michael burn his foot on?”
“Crap, I don’t know!” Jax looked stressed as we all roared with laughter. “Wait! Umm, a fire, curling iron, car explosion!”
Liz was ecstatic. “Wrong, wrong, and wrong! Madison, I believe you’re up.”
I felt the evil grin cross my face, and I made no attempt to hide it. “You ready big boy?”
Jax rolled his eyes, and I hit the controller. There was a quiet hum as he started to bring his beer to his mouth. He let out a laugh, even though his arm started shaking and some beer sloshed onto the ground. “I am lit!” He took a drink, laughing so hard beer shot out his nose.
Liz was laughing hysterically too. “OMG, I’m going to pee!”
I bit my cheeks in an attempt to stop laughing. I failed.
“Okay, back to Austin.” Liz raised her eyebrows. “What does Dwight always keep an extra pair of in his car for special occasions?”
Austin shook his head. “Hell! Uh, underwear?”
“Nope, another guess?” Liz was beaming as I held up the controller.
“Peanut butter? Fire extinguisher? No, coconut rum!”
I could barely spit the next words out. “Well, that’s weirdly specific but so wrong. You ready?”
A quiet hum again as Austin brought his beer to his lips. He let out a yell when his arm started shaking, and more beer sloshed onto the ground.
“Damn! I felt that in my ass!” Austin took a drink and hopped up.
“Alrighty, Jax. What color does Angela find ‘whorish’?”
“Damn it, I don’t know. Uh, magenta?”
Liz shook her head. “Nope.”
Jax laughed. “Plum! Peach! Periwinkle!”
Austin laughed. “What the hell kind of colors are those!”
“Wrong! Buckle up, buttercup!” I pushed the button on the controller, and more beer sloshed on the ground as Jax took a drink.
“Holy shitballs!” Jax laughed, and Austin walked over, offering him a high-five.
Suddenly, worry overtook me. Could the electrical current cause permanent damage to the handsome and amazingly sexy Jax? I looked, and his hair did appear a little fluffier, or was that my beer buzz?
I had to say it. “I think we’ve had enough with the electrical excitement here; this might kill some brain cells. I don’t think either of you can afford to lose any of those bad boys’”.
Jax crossed his eyes. “Really, we’ll be fine.”
“I’m calling it a tie. I suppose it’s odd, but there will be two best men in the wedding,” Liz announced.
“Well, we should probably call it a night.” Jax gave Austin a fist bump.
At the front door, Liz gave me a hug. “Hope to see you soon, Madison. Glad we got to bond over electrical voltage.”
I pointed. “It’s been shockingly fun!”
Jax and I climbed into his truck before he turned to me. “You know I would’ve kicked his ass, huh?”
He was so stinking adorable. “Yeah, I’m fairly certain.” I wrinkled my nose. “It’s hard to say, really.”
A belly laugh. “You’d better watch it. That kind of sass isn’t good for you.”
“I’m so scared.” I was drunk and poking the bear I should be running from.
In just five minutes, we reached the fork in the road between my dad’s house and Jax’s. My pulse raced, uncertain as to which one he would take, or which one I wanted him to take. The truck slowed for a moment, and the silence was deafening. I looked at him out of the corner of my eye as he stared straight ahead.
He took the fork to my dad’s. He was a gentleman. Disappointment pumped through one side of my heart, and gratitude through the other.
We rode in silence for a long moment before the truck slowed to a stop beside the porch. He grabbed my arm just as I was reaching for the door handle, and I turned back to him.
“This has been, uh, today has been, well?—”
“Yes.” I wanted to kiss him, but I also didn’t. The day had been a lot to even try to comprehend. “Good night, Jax.”
“Goodnight.” His sexy eyes sent little goosebumps down my arms.
I floated to the porch before turning and seeing his handsome profile from the dimly lit dashboard as he slowly drove off. Part of me wanted to run after him, rip off my shirt—and his pants—and beg him to take me right there on the dirt road. The rest of me knew it was time to attempt to put my brain—which felt like a toddler high on Pixie-Stix and Lemon Heads—to bed. Oh, what a night.
The house was chilly, so I pulled on my ginormous black sweatpants and I’ll Cut You sweatshirt—the only thing, other than SpaghettiOs, that I loved in my crap apartment. I was wide awake and felt like I could run a marathon the way my mind was spinning.
I quietly made my way to the kitchen, where I grabbed a carrot. A dim light over the kitchen sink shined as my eyes traveled the room. It was a cozy kitchen, and I could tell great food was prepared there. A bowl of apples on the counter and a shelf displaying onions and peppers looked almost like decorations. They fit in so well with the environment.
I was still getting to know Daisy, but I knew with every fiber of my soul that her life centered around caring for my dad, Jax, and Austin. I imagined she cooked every day and actually liked to. Truth—my dad had hit the jackpot with her.
I exited the house and made my way to the one place I wanted to be.
The barn was quiet, and it was a clear night. The moonlight shone through the door, and my mind was reliving my last trip here.
Lola was in a stall in the barn, and while I didn’t know much about horses, she seemed happy to see me, though most of my attention was on the stairs that took me to the place where Jax made me feel things I didn’t know were possible.
In my memory, it’d already become a scene in a movie because I’d replayed it so many times, and there I was doing it again.
“Hey.”
I dropped my carrot.
Jax approached, looking like an actor walking onto a movie set. The moonlight made him sexy and dangerous.
“Hi.”
“I wondered if you’d be out here.” He stopped and put his hands in his pockets.
I laughed softly. “Yeah, I came out here to give this special horse a carrot.” Lola neighed as I rubbed her neck.
“Cool.”
I looked at my carrot and then the horse. Lola was a big animal, and I knew she had big teeth. The last thing I needed was a finger getting chomped off.
As if he had read my mind for the umpteenth time in one day, Jax took the carrot and broke it into a few pieces. He slid my hand in his and ran his fingers lightly over my palm, sending a shiver up my spine.
“Just keep your hand flat. If you bend your fingers, she might nip you.”
He placed the carrot in my hand and then put his hand gently on my wrist, guiding it toward the horse. Lola ate the carrot, and when it was gone, he took my hand in his, lacing our fingers together. I looked at our hands, palm against palm. Every time mine had been in his, it’d ended up being almost an out-of-body experience.
I pulled my hand away, maybe a little too quickly. From the corner of my eye, I could see him studying my profile. What was he thinking? Was he wondering if there was a chance he might get lucky tonight? Well, I was too. I knew the effect he had on me, and I had no flippin’ control when it came to Jax.
“Would you want to hang out at my place for a bit? Then I could walk you home when you get tired? Maybe have hot chocolate and play some video games.”
I smiled up at him. “Let’s go.” Exhibit A, Your Honor—no self-control.
We walked up the hill and his house came into view. We both were silent. I couldn’t think of one word to say. As we approached, I felt like I was walking into the lion’s den, and I wasn’t afraid of anything but myself.
We entered and I followed him to the kitchen. I sat on a stool while he got out a container of hot chocolate mix and poured some milk into a pot on the stove. I held in a giggle when he pulled a can of whipped cream from the refrigerator (Oh yeah, baby), caramel sauce, and sprinkles.
“Daisy makes Austin and me a container of homemade cocoa mix every fall, and it’s the bomb. I don’t know what her secret ingredient is, but it works.”
I was pretty sure she’d say her secret ingredient was love, and even the thought made me smile and roll my eyes in unison.
“Okay, let’s let that simmer for a bit.” He clapped his hands together, making me jump. “Time for me to kick your can in video games.”
I followed him into the living room. He went to the mantel and grabbed two game controllers while I plopped down on the couch. Then I suddenly realized if I sat on the couch, I’d be too close to Jax. One whiff of that orgasmic cologne, and it’d be on.
I quickly hopped up, but not quick enough to avoid Jax’s scrutiny.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, yes, I’m fine. I just think I’ll sit in the chair. Yeah, it looks super comfy.” Lie, lie, and lie.
“Okay, but I don’t know if you’ll be able to see the T.V. very well. Do you want me to move the chair? You seemed to think this was good placement last night, but maybe it should be closer.”
“Oh no, it’s good. I have super-duper eyesight. I think I’ll see the T.V. just fine.”
The term “super-duper” was an unlikely choice for me, and his narrowed eyes told me it didn’t come off as natural as I’d hoped.
“Okie dokie.” He pointed at me as if we were playing a weird word game, so I gave him a thumbs up.
He got the game going, and he was correct. I couldn’t see shit. He was winning while all I could manage was squinting from across the room. Damn.
“I’ll get our hot chocolate, be right back.”
“Okay.”
I hated to lose and needed to hatch a plan for a comeback victory, stat.
He went to the kitchen while I cruised over and took a seat on the floor close to the T.V. It was a fantastic plan because I’d be able to win the game and, at the same time, not be too close to the dude with pecks I wanted to run my tongue over. A win/win situation.
My plan was shot to hell when Jax entered, carrying two mugs, set them on the coffee table, and plopped on the floor next to me.
“Okay, you have to try this.”
I grabbed my cup and took a sip; it was like a fairy dust explosion in a mug. Whatever the hell Daisy used in the mix was unbelievable, and Jax had topped it off perfectly with whipped cream, caramel sauce, and just a few sprinkles.
He could probably open a hot chocolate stand in town, serving up this concoction—while wearing jeans and only a bow tie—and rake in the cash. Mental note: share with Zoey the idea of a coffee shop business where the baristas are shirtless muscley men wearing bow ties. Million-dollar idea .
We continued playing, and he was good. He beat me in the first game, but I triumphed in the second. I set my controller on the coffee table to enjoy, to the depths of my soul, the last sip of my magical hot chocolate.
“I should probably get back.” I was pleased we could sit next to one another with no hanky panky involved. We were behaving like adults and not hormone-driven teenagers. I wore a new sense of confidence, knowing the Hot One did NOT have to leave me weak in the knees every time we were under the same roof.
He stood, grabbed my hands, and pulled me to my feet. Once standing, I felt we were too close, and I was afraid to look up at him. As my gaze met his, my heart sputtered when I saw the look in his eye. I’d seen it a few times, but instead of grabbing me like before, he stood still, a small, sexy grin sliding across his perfect mouth. Not just sexy—dangerous. Almost as if he was challenging me to make the first move.
We stood frozen for a few seconds as I tried to figure out what in the living hell to do. Leap over the couch and haul ass to my dad’s house? Do a slow striptease and lead him to the bedroom? Images were coming in hot as his eyes dropped to my lips and lower and lower still. Ah, fuck it. Option two it was.
I pulled him in for a kiss, and his lips met mine with a spark of intensity that left me breathless and so, so eager for more. Hands were everywhere, our breaths steamy and heavy. I couldn’t get his shirt off fast enough, so he grabbed the back of it and yanked it over his head in one swoop. I grabbed onto those broad shoulders as we stumbled to the couch, where he pulled me on top of him. When he positioned his leg between mine and moved me against him, I thought I’d just die right there.
His lips set my mouth on fire, an electrical current flowing full force between us. As I moved against his leg toward the inevitable, his smell, his taste, the heat of his bare skin beneath my fingers sent me on an incredible high. His kiss and hands that couldn’t get enough told me how much he needed me, filling something inside that I hadn’t realized was empty.
His fingers dug into my hips as I shamelessly rubbed against him. A growl went from his mouth to mine before his lips glided down my neck, those late-day whiskers awakening every nerve in my body.
He spoke through gritted teeth, “The things I’m going to do to you.”
My body shivered at his words as his kisses moved south. A light bite on my collarbone ignited little shocks that hit my stomach. His hands pulled my ass, and the friction between us was flaming the ache that continued building. If this was with pants on, I had no idea how I would survive this man.
In one swift move, he flipped me, and I was lying on my back, his glorious weight pressing me into the couch cushions. His hand caressed my breast, circling through my bra, resulting in twinges zig-zagging through my body. When his hand began sliding down my stomach—his lips not far behind—I felt steam rolling off of me.
He unbuttoned my pants, and when I arched my back to help him remove them, laughter filled the air as we rolled off the couch and hit the ground with a thud. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he let out a low groan that rumbled into my mouth. All laughter dissipated when that knee coaxed me again, and I shattered into a million little pieces. It was hard to believe those animalistic sounds of abandon had come from me. Caressing those amazing abs, I ran my finger just under the waist of his jeans as his breathing revved up.
While I thought he’d be stripping me naked at any second, he didn’t make a move, and to be honest, I would’ve let him do just about anything at that moment. I was willing to accept any regret I’d have in the morning. Peace out self–control, hello shagged and bagged; I’m coming for you.
I reached down and tugged at his belt buckle.
“Do you know what you do to me?” He hissed, reaching down to help me with his belt.
A cell phone rang out, causing me to jump.
“Jax—"
He kissed my neck. “Ignore it.”
Yeah, okay. I could do my best to ignore it. He pushed my shirt up, and his smoldering kisses found their way down to my stomach while ringing reverberated through the room. It was after ten o’clock. What if there was an emergency? Shit, shit, and shit.
“You need to answer?—”
“Fuck ‘em,” he whispered as he gripped my waist, and his warm breath sent ripples through me.
“Come on.” I pushed him gently, and he let out a groan in protest. “It could be Daisy or something.”
“Fine.” He rolled off me, grabbed the ringing phone, and he lay on his back. “Yeah.”
I popped up on my elbow and ran my fingers through his perfect hair for a second, trying to catch my breath.
“What?” He listened intently, concern on his face. “Tonight?”
“What’s wrong?” I whispered.
He sat up, put the phone on speaker, and set it on the floor between us. “This is Katie Loradams,” he whispered. “A social worker.”
“Yes, tonight. Like I told you a few days ago, Grant has been with a wonderful foster family for four years. His parents signed their rights away at that time. There was no drug use, but they were a mess.”
Who was Grant? Why was she calling Jax?
“His current foster parents are older, and we’d started to seek out a permanent placement for adoption because they know they won’t be able to keep up with him long term due to health issues. Grant’s been aware of this, but now we’re in a tough spot.”
Jax stared straight ahead, soaking in each syllable.
“Today, his foster mother fell and broke her femur. She had surgery, and the prognosis is good, but she’ll need to be in a rehabilitation facility for a week and then will be non-weight bearing for three months.”
“That’s horrible.” Jax ran his fingers through his hair.
“Her husband will be her caregiver, along with some home health workers, but with his age, he’s not going to be able to handle all of this.”
“Poor guy.”
I took Jax’s hand in mine.
“The foster parents are heartbroken about this and made me promise we’d find the right home for Grant.”
“So, you want me to take him for a while?”
Jax taking in a child? What was happening?
I could hear the smile on the other end of the phone. “Grant felt so comfortable with you that he asked if he may be able to stay with you until this is resolved.”
A slow smile made its way across his face. “Really? Me?”
Warm laughter echoed against the walls. “Yes, you. Jax, I had a feeling the first day I met you, all those years ago when you were a little tyke, that you were special. And here you are, ready and willing to do what you can to help.”
Jax wanted to adopt a foster child? Be a single father? I couldn’t completely wrap my mind around the conversation.
“One of our goals is to keep Grant in the same school, which is very important. Since we’re a smaller community, we don’t have many foster families. Because of this, and the fact that Grant has been with you before, we’re wondering if we could consider you for a longer-term placement?”
“Absolutely. So, we don’t know how long, though?”
“Let’s just take it one step at a time, and we’ll touch base often. Is that okay?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“He was at the hospital tonight and is relieved his current foster mother will make a full recovery. I told him you would make sure he got to visit them often. I think that’s really important to him.”
“Of course, yes, I can make that happen.”
“Jax, is there anything you need for tonight? I know you didn’t expect this.”
“Nope, I have everything.”
Jax is going to be a dad? Like, today? The Hot One had gone to a store, picked out, and purchased dad shit to take care of a kid? Is “stunned” a feeling? If so, that was me.
“Alright, we’ll see you in a bit.”
Jax disconnected the call and turned to me with shock written all over his face.
“Wow,” was all that came out of me.
“Yeah, wow.” He stood up, extended his hand, and pulled me up into a hug. “Well, this is not how I expected the night to end.” He pulled back and kissed my lips gently.
“Yeah, me either.” I was focusing on keeping my eyes from looking like softballs. “It looks like, uh, the universe has a son for you tonight.”
He laughed and his eyes smiled. “Looks like it. Whoa.” Deep sigh. “I guess I should get you home.”
“Well, can I come with you?” I could see his mind racing. “I mean unless you want to meet him alone. Maybe that would be?—”
“You should come.” He pushed a piece of hair out of my face. “I’d like that.”
I quickly buttoned my jeans and gave him a wink. “Let’s go get the little fella.”