Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
It’s like he hates me for how nasty I turned things so soon after the lust we shared. No, that’s not right. We didn’t share anything. He tried to share it, and I let the scared little kid in me take over.
You can send me a text if you like, I type. It’s okay. You don’t have to be shy.
In the car, he laughs, though obviously, I can’t hear it. He looks over at the house, and then his gaze resettles as he spots me. I raise my hand, waving nervously.
I thought you wanted nothing to do with me after how we left things.
Maybe it’s just easier to text.
Easier, he replies. Sure, but less exciting. I don’t know what happened there, Zoey.
It’s simple. You kissed me. It got hot and heavy and, honestly, awesome. Then I let silly thoughts ruin it and make me snap at you, which was not my plan.
No. What was your plan? he asks.
I’m not sure. I didn’t really have one, but if I did, snapping at you definitely wouldn’t have been part of it. You didn’t deserve that.
Hell, Zoey. It must’ve been a shock when I kissed you. I didn’t plan on doing that.
Then why did you?
His shoulders shift up and down. I imagine him sighing.
Because I couldn’t stop myself. I wasn’t lying when I said that. You were too tempting. You ARE too tempting.
Are you serious? I reply. I didn’t think you were interested… like that.
You’re beautiful. You’re funny. You’re clever. You’re everything a man could want in a woman.
I’m not interested in “a man,” I reply, still staring out the window, wondering if I should ask him to come out here again. Only you…
What does that mean? he replies.
It means I’m only interested in you. I don’t want anybody else. What we just did… maybe it was just a quick clash of lust for you. Maybe it was all physical. I savored that part, too. I can still taste you on my lips, still feel the aftershocks of the orgasm… but it’s more than that. It’s you, Jax. I want you. A relationship. Something real.
I stare at the message for a long time, my thumb hovering over the send button, but this would be a step too far. I have no idea how he feels about me or views what we just did. I delete the message and type another one.
I’ve never been much of a dater. I’ve never even had a real boyfriend. So, I mean, I’m not interested in just anybody. I’m interested in you.
I stare out the window, watching as he receives the message. His body tenses, and he stares at me, holding my gaze. It’s eye contact as I’ve never experienced. If I had to name this moment, I’d surely call it steamy.
I’m interested in you, too, he replies. This feels silly. Me sitting out here. I know I pushed too hard, but I want to be with you again. I’ll try to be less of an animal.
I’m unsure how to explain that I don’t want him to be less of an animal. I just wish I could be one too. I’m saved from having to answer when Mom’s car pulls up on our street. She climbs out. If she paused and looked on the other side of the road, she’d seen Jax’s car, but she doesn’t. Instead, she walks toward the house, pausing when she sees me in the window. She raises her hand in a wave, and I wave back. Then I turn from the window and quickly type out a text.
I’m sorry, but I think you should go. We can’t keep doing this. It will hurt Mom too much if she ever finds out.
Part of me wants him to reply, Then we’ll have to make sure she doesn’t find out.
He reads my message, starts his car, and then drives away.
CHAPTER 10
Jaxson
“With the information Mallory provided, I was able to track Axel down,” Peter says as he climbs into the passenger seat.
He’s a tall, lean man, his dark hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. He grew his hair shortly after retiring from the Special Forces as if to separate those two eras of his life.
It’s been a day since the kiss with Zoey, and I fled her house after Mallory arrived home. I felt like a thief stealing away in the night, Zoey’s taste still on my lips, her moans echoing around my mind. We haven’t texted since. Her last message reminded me of why we have to stop.
“Punch the address in,” I say, nodding to my GPS.
Peter tilts his head. “I thought we were going to the gym?”
“We are, but we might as well visit this asshole first. We can’t have him intimidating Mallory.”
Peter grins. “Luke would haunt us if we let that happen, wouldn’t he? You’re right. Let’s get moving.”