Chapter 9

Shay opened her eyes and instantly regretted it. She felt a throbbing sensation at the back of her head. She slowly sat up and brought her fingers to touch the tender area just behind her left ear. She could feel a small cut. It wasn’t bleeding, but a small scab started to form at the back of her ear. Ouch!

Shay vaguely recalled what happened. Something had startled her, and she had fallen into the river. She remembered the current bouncing her around like a ragdoll and then hitting her head on something sharp. It was a bit hazy after that. She didn’t remember how she got out of the water, or how she got here for that matter. Wherever here was.

Her eyes scanned the room she was in. This wasn’t her cabin or Sue’s. It was completely unfamiliar. Where the hell was she? The furniture was a little old and well-worn, but the room was clean. Her eyes fell on a picture frame that sat on the end table next to her. She instinctively picked it up staring at a beautiful brunette with long hair. She looked so happy in the picture. Her brown eyes were large, and her smile was big and bright.

Shay jumped at the sound of a deep voice and watched the picture fall from her grip. She desperately made a grab for it, but it was too late. She watched it drop to the hardwood floor and shatter the glass into tiny little fragments. Her eyes lifted and locked onto his.

Her insides exploded at the look on his face. There was anger, but there was more than just rage. There was underlying anguish too. Her heart broke at knowing she had put that look on his face.

He stood there bare-chested only wearing a pair of white shorts. She had an errant thought run through her mind that she only ever saw him now without his shirt on. Shay couldn’t help but become frozen in her spot. She wondered if he knew just how gorgeous he was. Yet, he still managed to scare the hell out of her.

Her heart pounded in her chest as his gaze bore into hers, his eyes more green and untamed than before. Shay's eyes darted to the picture and then back at Jaxson and his crazy wild stare. He took two full strides towards her, and she jumped back onto the couch like he was going to attack. He just glared at her before kneeling down and collecting the picture and chards of broken glass. Her eyes landed on the tattoo that was on the inside of his bicep. It was just a name. Jillian, it read. She wondered if ‘Jillian’ was the woman in the picture.

He looked up and then walked to the kitchen. She could hear the twinkling of glass as he dumped the fragments into the trash can. He stormed back into the living room and just stood in front of her again. His chest was heaving sharply with every breath he took.

Shay whispered, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean—"

His eye’s narrowed, and he growled, "What? Invade my privacy? Break my shit?" He hissed at her in a deep throaty voice.

Something flashed within her. She was so tired of his attitude. Fuelled by anger of her own, she shoved her way off the edge of the couch and finally stood in front of him not backing down. "What is your problem? Do you enjoy being such an asshole or does it just come naturally to you?" She barked putting her hands on her hips waiting for his response.

He stood rooted to his spot staring at her like she was deranged.

Irritated at his silence, she goaded him further. "Well? She said narrowing her eyes at him and walking forward. "Spit it out, big boy." She said shoving her index finger into his chest, looking up at him. She wasn’t sure what possessed her to put her hands on him, but she didn’t get much of a chance to think about it.

A second later Jaxson grabbed her wrist and pulled her tight to his chest. His emerald eyes flashed with heat right before his lips came crashing down onto hers. Shay was too shocked to move, not that she could if she wanted to because his grip on her wrist was too strong. She felt his cold control fade and then soften. Confusion overwhelmed her and then disappeared as desire took over. His lips were soft but firm as his mouth expertly teased her own.

Undone, she opened her mouth at his pressure, and his tongue slid between her lips consuming her. She welcomed the intrusion and him as both of their tongues danced and tasted one another. Enjoying the thrill, she deepened her kiss. God how she had missed being with a man. Being kissed so passionately. The warmth and feeling of safety washing through her. Her heart thundered in her chest as she felt his grip tighten around her waist pulling her in closer like he never wanted to let go.

Jaxson's kiss was raw and pained and came with a longing she, herself knew all too well. Shay slid her tongue along his top lip, and she pressed her hands into his chest feeling his racing heartbeats like an electrical current pass through her tiny fingers. Shay deepened her kiss and lost herself in his embrace when he suddenly ripped his mouth from hers and pushed her away.

“I shouldn’t have done that.” He said turning and walking into the kitchen. Shay stood there dumbfounded for a moment as her senses were still scrambled from being ravished by his kisses. Regaining her composure, she followed him. She watched him stare out the window for a few moments before she finally got up the courage to ask, “Who’s Jillian?”

He stood rooted to his spot staring out the window. At first, Shay didn’t think he was even going to answer her. “She was my wife.” He whispered, not bothering to look at her.

“I’m sorry,” Shay said softly. She watched him turn around and look at her. He was so beautiful when he wasn’t angry she thought.

“Who’s Ana?” He asked.

Hearing her daughter’s name was always a punch to the gut, but she thought it only fair to share since he had with her. Shay took a step closer to him and whispered, “My daughter.”

“Is that why you were crying by the river?”

The question took her by surprise. “Yes. She died a year ago today.” Shay wasn’t sure what compelled her to cover the distance between them. But, she found herself taking another step closer until she was now standing just a hair's length away. She looked up at him. His eyes were like a swirling storm as she gazed into them, unable to rip hers away. They looked vaguely familiar.

Realization dawned on her as her memories started to come back. “You were the wolf.” She said. “Why did you scare me like that?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. It all just happened so fast.” He confessed. “One minute you were standing there and the next you were under the water. I was able to get you out fairly quickly. But, you do have a little cut on your head. It’s not deep. You should be fine.”

He left her standing in the kitchen staring after him. He stopped at the front door and turned back to her. “I think you should go now.”

Shay was utterly confused by his behavior. She couldn’t understand how he could he go from passionately kissing her and sharing his past to cold indifference in the span of a minute. “Why?” She asked following him to the front door, her sundress still damp.

He turned to her, and for a second she could see a hint of emotion in his eyes before his jaw hardened even more. “Just go. I’m not good with people.” He snapped and held the door open for her.

“Do you even want to know my name?” She asked becoming angry.

“No!” He growled and motioned his hand towards the door. She was pretty sure he already knew it, but he wouldn’t admit it.

She narrowed her eyebrows together and pushed the door shut with her hand. “My name is Shay Dawson.”

Jaxson hovered over her and said in a low growl, “You don’t want to know me, Shay Dawson.”

She took a step back as he took a step towards her.

“You don’t want to get involved with someone like me Shay Dawson.” He hissed as his green eyes pierced her blue ones.

Shay now understood why he had closed himself off from the rest of the world. His wife was dead. She didn’t know how or when, but she could see that he was miserable, pained and haunted, just like she was. He wasn’t scary or frightening to her anymore. That was his cover, his shield to keep from letting anyone get close to him. She wanted to comfort him and to let him know he wasn’t alone in his pain. It was something they shared. All she wanted to do was wrap herself up in his strong arms and have that feeling consume her again. To take her own pain away.

“You don’t scare me, Jaxson Avery.” She shot with confidence taking a step toward him. “Why did you kiss me?”

He regarded her closely but didn’t answer. Instead, he ran his hand through his long hair, clearly frustrated. The move revealed his full face. She had a chance to really see his strong cheekbones, his dark eyebrows. The strong bone structure that screamed masculinity. His face was that of a gorgeous sculpture, like David or Adonis.

“I don’t know.” He yelled as he threw his hands up in frustration.

She watched his hair fall back in his face, and she brought her hand up and moved it away, tucking the thick strands behind his ear. “You’re so beautiful.” She whispered reverently staring up at him.

She could see her statement had caught him off guard by the expression on his face. She had really meant to say it out loud, but she had gotten lost in his eyes for a moment, and it muddled her thinking. She was broken out of her trance when she felt his arm snake around her waist and pulled her into his hard body once again, claiming her mouth with his. This time she was determined not to let him go and melted into his arms.