Chapter Twelve
Jaxson
The music in the club pulsed through the air, but where we were sitting with my brother and his fiancée, we could at least have a conversation. My brother had ordered for all of us before we arrived. A large overflowing platter of shrimp, lobster, and crab sat in the middle of our table. Liquid courage was flowing, and Elena’s sister had already had plenty.
Sadie plucked a shrimp from the platter and happily dunked it in sauce before taking a bite.
“How did you two meet?” Elena asked, looking between Devin and Avery.
Avery’s smile widened after a few seconds, and she shrugged. “I’ll let Devin tell you.”
“Long story, but I’m just lucky she didn’t throw me in jail and toss away the key.” He took a sip of seltzer and leaned back. “But sometimes, that’s what it takes in life.”
“Getting thrown in jail?” Elena laughed, but what my brother said was pretty close to the truth. Elena’s happiness was infectious. This was the most relaxed I’d seen her since meeting her that first night. It was nice to see this side of her.
“No, not that severe.” Devin grinned and looked in my direction. We knew that, in fact, it was that severe. “But finding that one person who makes you want to be better can make all the difference. I used to be a mess. Just ask my brother. Partying all night and a little reckless.”
“Now, now. I’d never tell.” I sat back in the booth and took a sip of whisky.
It was hard not to keep all of my attention focused on Elena. She was captivating. From every blink and flutter of her lashes to the way her arms floated through the air as she spoke made me wish it was only the two of us tonight. Her skin was silky smooth, and I could only dream about what I wanted to do to her.
“Do you have any interesting stories about Jaxson?” Sadie asked, glancing in my direction before turning her gaze back to Devin. “He seems so…” She hiccupped, and I held in a laugh.
“I seem what?” I asked, propping my elbow on the table as I swirled my drink.
“Stodgy,” she blurted out, and Elena elbowed her.
“Stodgy?” I asked in surprise while Devin and Avery laughed themselves to tears.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Devin said when he managed to control himself. “He really does have a stick up his ass most days.”
“Don’t hurt your brother’s feelings,” Avery chided, rubbing Devin’s shoulders. “You don’t want to make him look bad in front of his date.”
“Babe, I think the cat’s already out of the bag.”
“It’s just that every time Jaxson has shown up at Elena’s doorstep, he seems so…formal and—”
“Well, the first time I came was strictly for business,” I countered.
“Business?” Her sister giggled. “I think you just found a good excuse to see my sister.”
“Possibly.” My eyes connected with Elena’s, and I felt an insane need growing inside. I wanted to get her on the dance floor so I could feel her body next to mine. “She seems to have cast a spell in my direction.”
Elena’s smile grew a little at my confession, and I softly groaned, knowing I’d lost the battle I’d barely begun.
“Everything okay?” Devin asked, and I cocked a smile in his direction as my hand fell to Elena’s bare leg. She moved closer, and it took everything I had to maintain control.
“It’s not his fault, though,” Avery added. “Jax never goes on dates.”
“You’re telling me that the city’s most eligible bachelor doesn’t date?” Elena’s brow arched seductively, and my pulse climbed. “I can’t imagine that Jax goes anywhere alone.”
I loved hearing her call me Jax instead of Jaxson.
“I don’t date,” I confirmed.
“Curious,” her sister drawled.
“I don’t have time for a relationship. Among other problems.”
And it was true. I didn’t have the time, patience, or lifestyle that allowed for any long-term relationships. I tried it once and that was enough.
“But you sleep with women?” Sadie asked.
“You don’t have to answer that.” Elena’s eyes were wide and filled with horror, which only made me want her more.
Elena’s hand slid to my leg, and her eyes stayed on mine.
All I wanted to do was slide Elena on my lap and feel her soft lips against mine.
“So, Jax told us that you’re a writer,” Devin began, and all I could think about was Elena’s hand on my thigh. I suddenly felt like I was in tenth grade where this kind of touch nearly undid any teenager exploring boundaries, and I was that teenager.
Damn. It was hard to concentrate.
“I am.” She nodded and eyed me, making my pulse climb to a dangerous level.
“What do you write?” Avery asked.
“My sister writes everything from articles for magazines and journals to blog entries. She does mostly freelance work,” Sadie informed them.
They both looked at Elena, and she nodded in agreement. “What she said. I mainly write about what captures my interest. Right now, I’m writing about the string of murders that plagues the city.”
“Interesting,” Devin began. “Why something so dark?”
“Well, it probably never would have crossed my radar as an article I wanted to write until some people showed up at my door threatening me. Since then, I’ve become fascinated with the inner workings of politics in this city. Other than that, I don’t know where the story will take me.”
“Makes sense.” Devin nodded and smiled. “Do you plan on—”
“Would you like to dance?” I interrupted, softly squeezing her thigh.
“I’d love to. Anything to get us out of twenty questions,” she whispered.
Elena moved out of the booth and gave her sister a quick hug before I led her down the stairs to the dance floor.
Even though there was a crowd of people, it felt so good to finally be alone with her.
Elena shimmied her way through the crowd, keeping hold of my hand as she wove our way to the middle of the floor. The crimson dress that she’d thrown on before we left her apartment accentuated every curve of her luscious body. Her hips swayed with every step forward, and I knew all the men were watching her as she turned to face me. She slowly brought me into her as her eyes stayed fastened to mine.
As the first song traded out for a slower one, I pulled her closer. Her breathing quickened as our bodies met, and my hands slid along the curves of her hips, the softness of the fabric gathering along my palm as she rested her hands along my chest and looked into my eyes as if I were the only man alive.
“You’re so extremely beautiful, Elena,” I whispered, feeling her body moving next to mine.
“It’s just good lighting.” She smiled. “I do better when I’m in the dark like this.”
“And humble,” I murmured, feeling her hands slide along my belt as our bodies continued to glide to the music. I hardened immediately, and her smile grew.
“Do you treat all of your dates to this special treatment? Telling them how beautiful they are?”
“I told you, I don’t date.”
“I don’t know that I believe it. You have to sleep with women.”
“I do, but I don’t date them. I don’t take women out to dinner. I don’t go dancing.”
“Then how do you meet them?”
“Well, when I do, it’s usually through one of our establishments and it’s not…” I bit my lip, wondering why I was telling her any of this. “It’s understood that spending a night together means nothing more than something physical.”
“I can’t imagine any woman would fall for that. They may tell you they can sleep with you without hoping you’ll call, but I’m sure they’re lying.”
I brought my lips closer to her neck. “Is that what you’d want, Elena? You’d want me to call in the morning and the day after?”
A shiver spiked through her, and I moved back, still holding her.
Her eyes were burning with the same lust churning through my body. The anticipation of getting her into bed had to be one of the most painfully delicious thoughts I’d ever had.
“Yes,” she said simply. “I can’t do one-night stands.” Her body froze and sadness flicked through her eyes. “So if this is all for one night, I’m sorry to—”
“I wouldn’t sleep with you unless I knew there was a promise of tomorrow.” The words tumbled from my lips before I knew what was coming out.
But it was true.
There was something different about Elena. I didn’t know whether it was her smart mouth, or the way she didn’t care how she came off, or what it was, but the moment she refused to move out of my way the first night I met her, I was hooked.
“Do you believe in love?” she asked, her eyes still full of longing.
“I do.”
She tilted her head, and her eyes stayed on mine as her hand ran up my thigh.
“Have you been in love before?” she asked.
“Once.” I drew a breath and felt her hands circle my waist. “I married the woman I loved—or thought I loved. You?”
“Never.” She shook her head. “Not true love. Maybe puppy love.”
“I’m not sure there’s much of a difference.”
“Sure, there is.” Her lips stayed parted and her tongue slowly slid along her bottom lip.
Elena definitely knew what she was doing, whether or not she’d ever been in love.
“Tell me what it is. What’s the difference?” I asked, feeling her body stay connected to mine as we still moved to the music.
“I got over my puppy love. I don’t think you ever get over your true love. There’s always a part of you that would yearn for that someone you couldn’t have. True love is soul crushing and all-consuming. Puppy love is easily forgotten.”
“Is that so?” I scratched my chin and smiled. “Then I must have had puppy love with my first wife.”
She chuckled.
A few seconds sat between us as we just stared into one another’s eyes, something I had never done before. Not like this.
With Elena, it was like she was letting me into a part of her world that was only meant for me.
Or maybe that was what I’d hoped.
“Do you have any plans for tomorrow?” I asked, wanting nothing more than to kiss her.
“I do, actually. It’s my sister’s last night in town so I’m taking her to dinner.”
I nodded. “The next night?”
“I could possibly clear my schedule for the right person.” A wry grin spread across her beautiful mouth. “If it’s a date you’re talking about.”
“Oh, it’s a date, Elena.” I brought my lips to the soft spot right behind her ear, inhaling the sweet scent of perfume and Elena as my mouth moved along her silky skin, down to her shoulder.
She let out a soft moan, and my body ached with desire, but I knew I needed to keep my promise. I didn’t want to sleep with her and never call again. Her hands combed through my hair as my mouth moved along her neck up to her lips. She tasted even better than I remembered. Her mouth broke from mine, her breathing heavy.
“You certainly make it hard to stick to my own rules,” she murmured.
“Which one?”
“No one-night stands.” Her eyes were full of the same longing that raged through my body as her hand fell to my hardness.
“I wouldn’t let you. Not until you’re ready.”
“You mean not until you’re ready.” She bit her lip and dropped her gaze to the floor before bringing it back to mine.
“I know I’d call you tomorrow.”
“But I don’t know that.” She looped her hands around my neck and continued to dance slowly.
“Exactly, but someday, you will know that.”
I brought my lips to hers and wondered if this could ever be the real thing.