I want nothing more than to kiss Jenna so hard that she agrees to my demands. “I’ll be there for you this time.”

“Jax…”

“We both know what’s going to happen.” I slant my mouth over hers and claim what should’ve been mine all these years. I tell her with the kiss that she’s going with me and there’s nothing she can do about it. I won’t have her homeless, running around like a target for her ex. It’s not gonna happen.

“Okay.” She breathes out the word after our lips part.

I take her by the hand. “You’ll love the place. It’s comfortable and secure.”

She gives me a brief nod like she’s ready to leave this nightmare behind.

I just want her to feel safe, protected. We walk outside, and I guide her into the car and buckle her seatbelt. “I’ll have someone come for your car.”

She nods again.

I walk around to the driver’s side and glance over at the charred house. I just shake my head and try to fight back a snicker.

I can’t believe she burnt the fucking house down.

She’d always seemed to love the place growing up. Hell, I loved it too, but only because it was her place. I guess after what she’s gone through in there, the feelings can easily change.

I take her hand in mine as we pull away. My fingers brush over her knuckles just to see her smile for even a brief second. I can’t remember the last time things felt so—right.

“What’s this?” I glance down.

She has my class ring on her finger.

“Found it the other night.” She half blushes and looks away. “Sorry, I don’t know. It’s silly.”

“Why’s it silly?”

“I put it on and it just felt right. I know I’m married and everything, but…”

“But what?”

“Come on, Jax.” She shrugs and stares out the window.

“What?”

She turns slowly toward me. “I’ve never stopped loving you.”

Her confession sends all kinds of emotions coursing through my body. I should’ve known she’d have never stayed behind and married some asshole. Left me hanging high and dry. It makes sense that she’d still be holding onto things.

I’m not sure what this will look like. I have a certain lifestyle. I’m a different person now, and I don’t know if I can just morph back into the kind of man I was. There’s no way she’ll approve of the man I’ve become, no matter how much money or power I have.

When she first walked into my office I didn’t expect any of this. I don’t know what I want anymore. I’d convinced myself I was happy, but now that she’s back in my life I feel differently. It’s like I’m ashamed. She always made me want to be better—a good person.

If I know one thing in the moment, it’s this—I still love her.

I’ve never felt this for anyone else.

She shakes her head. “You don’t have to say anything in return. I know it’s crazy.” Her fingers twirl my ring around on her finger.

“This whole thing is complicated.”

Her head angles toward the floorboard. “I know.”

“Look, Jenna, I…”

“You don’t have to say anything in return. Seriously. I didn’t expect you to be waiting around on me or anything. You don’t owe me anything.”

“Hey.” I grip her forearm.

She glances over at me.

I turn briefly from the road to face her. “I still love you too. I never stopped.”

“Really?”

“Of course. What we had doesn’t just go away.”

“I know, it’s just been so long.”

“Look, you’re married and I’m your lawyer. It’s all crazy right now.”

“Nothing can happen. Got it.”

I shake my head. “Will you just sit there for a second and let me speak?” I smile to let her know I’m halfway joking.

She pretends to zip her lips with one hand. It’s adorable. She’s beautiful even when she’s been through a housefire and hooked to IVs.

“We need to keep our distance and let this play out. You have to be smart. You’ve been through a lot.”

She starts to say something but I hold a finger up to stop her.

“It doesn’t mean that I don’t want to explore things further. But right now… It’s too much too fast for you. One thing at a time. You don’t need extra complications.”

“May I speak now, sir?”

“Be careful how you say things like that. I only have so much restraint.”

She grins. “I get what you’re saying, but you have no idea how long I’ve waited for this. For you. If there is one certainty in my life, it’s that I want to be with you. I always have. I always will. Time won’t change how I feel about you.”

“We’ll have to wait and see what happens.”

My cock grows rock-hard thinking about taking her to my apartment building. Her being right down the hall. I want her heart. I want her mind. I want her body.

I want her.

Goddamn, I’ve never wanted anything so much in my life, but we have to do this the right way. My knuckles turn white as I grip the steering wheel trying to stay in control. Right now I want nothing more than to pull the car over and fuck her in the backseat.

We were always good together, but we were kids. I’m a grown man now and can’t even imagine what it would be like to fuck her. Make her come on my cock over and over again. Press every one of her buttons until she can’t walk.

There’s a tense silence the rest of the drive. It’s like the air is charged with pure sex. Every strand of DNA in every cell in my body screams for me to claim her. Take whatever I want from her body. The worst part is she’d let me have it all. She’d give me whatever the hell I wanted and probably more. If I don’t get her into that apartment and get some space, I’m going to come inside her pussy over and over. I’m going to bite, suck, lick, and mark every square inch of her skin to let the world know that she’s mine and they can fuck off.

I steal a glance at her as I park the truck. Her pearly whites graze her bottom lip as she watches every move I make.

Fuck me. Everything she does makes me want to groan.

Every flick of her hair over her shoulder has me adjusting my cock when she looks away.

My balls practically scream at me, just aching for release.

The entire walk into the building she keeps glancing at me. Batting eyelashes. And not in a flirty way, just a Jenna way. It’s just her. She’s everything.

I’m a gentleman and hold doors. I ask her if she needs help. I try to do everything for her.

I don’t do that shit for anyone. Nobody.

Every step I take next to her is pure torture.

The second we’re in the elevator and the doors close, my hands are in her hair and my lips are on her mouth.

Way to take it slow.

I practically crush her mouth with my kiss. My tongue shoves against the seam of her lips, demanding entrance. She willingly opens up for me. Her tongue sweeps across mine as we battle for control. She only does it to work me up more, though. She still remembers exactly how to kiss me, and exactly how to shift every gear in my body.

I’m like a starved animal.

It’s pure primal, raw instincts. I growl against her neck and tear at her clothes. I’ll shred anything in my way to get my cock inside her.

I need her—now. More than anything I’ve ever needed in my life.

The ding of the elevator saves her from being fucked senseless.

I snap out of my sex-induced stupor long enough to realize what I’m doing and try to straighten our clothes up.

I want to take her to my place. To my bed. But if I do, I’ll never let her leave it. I need to be smart. She’s in a horrible marriage.

She may want me now but what happens when she finds out who I really am? She might regret this. There’s so much life she hasn’t experienced because she’s been chained to her husband. She deserves to get to live on her terms for a while.

I’ve had time to experience life. I’ve fucked too many women to count. I’ve traveled and started a business and been to black tie events and penthouse parties.

“You’re overthinking. You always did.”

“You can’t read my mind.” Yeah, she can. She’s always been able to. She’s always known—me.

“I want you. I always have.”

I push us against the hallway wall and press my forehead to hers. “You don’t know what you want right now.”

“You’re wrong.”

“No, I’m not. You need to put your life back together…”

Her hand slides down to my cock. “I want you to fuck me.”

I unwillingly push her hand away. I’ve never turned down pussy in my life and my cock doesn’t know what the hell is going on right now. If I didn’t love her we’d still be banging in a parking lot somewhere right now. But, I just can’t do this to her. She’s not in a good place. “No.” I shake my head at her.

“Is there someone else?”

I scoff. “No. It’s because…” I lower my voice because I realize I’m talking way louder than I usually do, almost yelling. “I want to do things right. You don’t know me anymore. Not the guy I’ve become. You might not like him.”

“So, you’re a bad boy now? Maybe I’ll like that.”

I pin her arms above her head against the wall and press against her, hard. Then I lean down next to her ear.

Her breath hitches and she gulps.

I was never rough like this with her when we were younger. “Let me take care of you. I have to do this the right way.”

She starts to say something, and I exhale down her neck.

A light sweet moan parts her lips and I have no idea where all this fucking self-control has come from.

“I love you. But not now. There will be plenty of time for fun later. Or you may run for the hills.”

“Okay.” She nods, breathless. “But I’m not going anywhere.”

“Good.”

I press away from her and grab all her stuff I dropped on the floor when I shoved her against the wall.

She leans back, staring at me with a light grin on her face.

“What?”

She shakes her head. “Nothing. You’re just—hot.”

I smirk. “Damn right I am.”

I unlock the door to the apartment next to mine.

Her eyes grow wide when she sees it. I give her a quick tour of the place and pretty much watch her fall in love with it.

“It’s beautiful. Thank you, for everything.”

“It’s no problem. You’ll be safe here, and we’ll get you back on your feet.”

She smiles as she walks over and stares out the window.

I keep my distance across the room. I already know I won’t be able to control myself, living next door. But I’ll do everything in my power not to fuck things up for her. Despite the urge to fuck her all night long, then call in to work and fuck her all day tomorrow, I want her happy. It’s all I’ve ever really wanted.

“I need to do some work. Make yourself at home. I’m next door if you need anything. I’ll order lunch. If you make a list, I’ll have my housekeeper go shopping for you. Clothes, whatever you need. There are towels and everything in the bathroom. There may even be clothes. Claire stays here sometimes.”

“Your sister?”

“Yeah.”

“I haven’t seen her since your dad took her away.”

“I moved them closer as soon as I was able to.”

She nods.

“So, I’m going to…” I throw a thumb back toward the door.

“Okay.”

As soon as I leave the apartment I’m on my phone making calls to get eyes on her husband. I want that cocksucker out of her life for good. We have all kinds of PIs and security that do work for the firm. Dudes nobody wants to fuck with. “You keep that asshole in your sights at all times.”

“I’m on it, boss. If he pisses sideways, you’ll know the direction.”

“Good.”

Leonard Reyes put his hands on what’s mine. He’s going to suffer for every goddamn time he put his hands on her and pay her every fucking nickel he took from her.

I’d kill that motherfucker but if I go to prison I’ll lose Jenna.

He’s done hurting her. He’s done existing.

I’ll have that bitch buried in the desert with a goddamn cactus tombstone.

I send a text to Weston, so he won’t worry.

Jax: I’m back. She’s here. All under control. Be back in the office Monday.

Weston: Sounds good. Handle your shit. Let me know if you need anything.

Jax: Can you keep this between us for now? I don’t want the husband finding out where she is.

Weston: Is he a cause for concern? How bad is it?

Jax: Under control. Don’t worry. I have eyes on him. He won’t get near her. But I want it to be as difficult as possible for him to even make an effort.

Weston: I hope you know what you’re doing. You should give me the case. You know I’ll roast his nuts on a fire.

Jax: I appreciate it, but I need this. I want to bury him with the shovel myself.