"Wow, how did you find out about this place?"

My mouth had dropped open as Jax easily navigated his car along a driveway that curved around a colorful English-style garden. When he stopped, I stepped out of the car slowly, trying to take in all the beauty that surrounded me. When Jax had mentioned a cabin, I envisioned a rustic log cabin set in a small clearing in the woods. Not this gray stone, beautifully landscaped home that had emerged as we pulled up a secluded gravel driveway.

A blue butterfly fluttered past me to land on a red flower, while the air buzzed with the hummingbirds that darted from one feeder to another hanging between the columns of the large front porch. Wooden rocking chairs teased of potential lazy moments as they swayed in the breeze.

Jax paused beside me, also taking it in. "My friend Noah told me about it. He lives a few miles down the highway. I saw pictures online, but it's better in person." He smiled. "Let's go see the inside, shall we? I think you'll like it just as much."

His hand settled at the small of my back to urge me forward. He punched a code into a numbered panel on the door triggering a whir as the locks shifted. He opened the door, and we stepped into an enormous living room with a stone fireplace and furniture that looked like the kind one could sink into and find themselves unwittingly taking a nap. To the left was a kitchen equipped with granite counters and modern appliances. But what drew our eyes the most was the wall in front of us made almost entirely of windows.

"Wow!" Jax grabbed my hand and pulled me to the sliding doors, which when opened, led to a deck that overlooked the valley below. Mountain laurel and a variety of hardwoods and pines sprouted up from the mountainside that was just yards away.

"It's stunning! I'm not sure you'll be able to get me to leave," I said.

"You won't miss all the shopping and restaurants back in town?"

"Please. I don't do much of that now. But to watch the sun rise and set over these mountains? See the changing colors of the seasons? Now, that's a show I could watch every day." I felt Jax's eyes on me as I answered.

He squeezed my hand. "Let's go see what else is here."

We wandered around to find two guest bedrooms, laundry facilities, and a walk-in pantry on one side of the house, and an office and the master bedroom on the other. The bedroom featured the same view as the living room but through French doors rather than a wall of windows. Jax chuckled as I 'oohed' and 'awed' over the master bath and the walk-in closet which was more than half the size of my bedroom at home.

"Seriously, you could host a party in there." I laughed as I came back into the bedroom.

Jax stood next to the bed with his hands tucked in his pockets, silently watching me with an intensity that made my mouth go dry and allowed the butterflies to be released. Suddenly, the room with its beautiful view shrank, and all I could see was him.

Without even knowing I was moving, I found myself standing in front of him. I dropped my eyes from his, but only to watch my hands as I rested them on his chest. How small they looked against him. I was certain I could stretch the fingers of both of my hands and still not reach the sides of his rib cage. Beneath them, I could feel his strength; how his muscles flexed as he drew in a quick breath the second I touched him. How his heartbeat pulsed faster.

As my hands and eyes traveled upward, I saw him swallow hard, but still, he didn't touch me. I could feel the heat of his eyes as I continued my upward exploration. It wasn't as if we hadn't touched each other in some intimate ways, but this was different. This time we both knew there would be no stopping.

After my embarrassing confession to him in the car and his response, I knew I wasn't going to hold back. There was never a promise of what might happen tomorrow, but I knew I'd have more regrets not experiencing everything I possibly could with Jax than I would holding back out of fear.

When I reached his face, I held it between my palms and looked into his eyes again. They had deepened to the color of rich, dark leather, with flecks of gold making them look like they flickered with flames. I wondered if the illusion reflected what he was feeling. I tugged his head down to mine, our eyes never breaking hold as our lips touched.

"Grace." My name sounded like a plea. His hands gripped my hips, preventing me from leaning into him. "Be sure this is what you want because you're starting something I'm not sure I have the strength to stop."

I had no more doubts I wanted this. I wanted everything he could give me. And I knew I was giving him more than my body; I would be giving him my heart as well. My fingers wound into his hair. "I don't want to stop. Please, Jax," I mumbled against his lip. "Please make love to me."

He held my gaze for a few more seconds, then with a groan, he said, "Gladly."

His lips took control of mine, no more softness, but total mastery as they moved across mine. Our tongues swirled together, re-acquainting and exploring as our hands did the same. Jax's hands slid under my sweater and over my ribs until they cupped my breasts. I couldn't stifle my moan as his fingers played with my nipples, which alone sent sparks all across my pelvis. As his lips trailed lighter, teasing kisses across my jaw, he tugged on my sweater. I lifted my arms so he could pull it off. He stared at my peach-colored lace bra, and his finger traced the swell above the line of lace before sliding down the valley in between.

"So perfect," he said, his husky voice the only hint that he was as affected as I was. His fingers unsnapped the front clasp, and I sucked in my breath as my breasts were exposed to the air and his eyes. He bent his knees, and while he slid the straps down my arms, he kissed each mound until his hands recaptured them. Then he drew the nipple of one into his mouth and sucked and swirled his tongue around the tip while his fingers caressed its mate. My head fell back as I clasped his head to me, my moans encouraging him to continue. It wasn't until he lifted his head that I realized it was only because of his arms holding me that I was still standing.

"I love that you're so sensitive and responsive to my touch." He loosened his arms so that I fell to the bed. He reached behind him and pulled his shirt over his head, then knelt on the floor in front of me. He removed my boots and socks, then slowly ran his hands up my legs, his thumbs rubbing over the zipper of my jeans. He paused to look at me as he fingered the snap. "You still good, sweetheart?"

His concern made me even more certain. "More than good," I answered.

He unzipped my jeans and pulled them down my legs as if he was unwrapping an exquisite piece of art. He stood, staring at me. Unused to such perusal, I instinctively lifted my arms to cover myself, but he shook his head. "Let me look. You're so fucking beautiful, Grace."

I know the blush that warmed my face also colored my body. Aroused further by his praise, I let my arms fall to my sides. His eyes glowed in approval as he put one knee on the bed and leaned over me, holding his weight on one arm, the muscles bulging making the phoenix tattoo act as if puffed up with pride. His free hand brushed down my cheek and splayed across my throat before traveling down my body, his fingertips leaving goose bumps in their wake.

Curious if he would have a similar reaction, I mimicked his movements. Starting with his face, I traced his mouth with my finger. He grinned, and caught it between his teeth, making me giggle. "I thought it was only girls who bit."

"What can I say?" He waggled his eyebrows. "You're a very tempting morsel." He leaned closer and murmured, "And I intend to taste every. Single. Inch." He punctuated each of his last words with a kiss, before sealing his promise with a lingering one that had me almost panting in anticipation.

He shifted so he was laying on the bed beside me. Breaking the kiss, I walked my fingers down his chest and over his abs, which clenched when I spread my fingers across them. "I'm feeling at a disadvantage here." I tugged at the button on his jeans.

He grabbed my hand and kissed the inside of my wrist. He had to feel my fast pulse. "No. Not yet. I'm not done learning you, yet." He kissed my collarbone. "I need to know what you like." He cupped my breasts while pressing his lips between them. "What makes you sigh." I gasped at the sting when he pinched my nipples, astounded at how it sent a direct shot of desire between my legs. "What makes you gasp." His slid down my body and kissed my belly button. "What makes you moan." A kiss to my pubis over my panties. "What you taste like."

I was already half out of my mind with need. I had already admitted to him that I wasn't very experienced, but I had never felt like this before. During my few other sexual encounters, I had thought it felt good. But it was nothing to the feelings, the cravings, Jax was stirring inside me. I braced my foot on the bed, arching my hips, looking for more.

He chuckled as his palm cupped my core. "You're already wet. You like that idea, don't you?"

"Mmm."

I felt his fingers grasp my panties and tug them down. "Lost your words, sweetheart?"

"I—"

"Don't worry. You don't need them unless you don't like something I do." He spread my legs, and before I could register any sense of embarrassment, his mouth was there, kissing the most intimate part of me. Licking. Tasting.

"I...oh...ohmygod..."

I felt the vibration of his laughter, which only heightened the sensations he was creating. His fingers spread my lips, and his tongue flicked over and over the stimulated bud that he'd exposed. My hands grasped the bed covers, looking for anything that would ground me, but it was no use. I was flying toward something I couldn't control.

"Jax! I...I can't..." I think I tried to jerk away; the sensations were overwhelming. But his arm swung over my stomach, locking me in place until I had no choice to go but where he was taking me.

"That's it, baby. I've got you. Come all over my tongue."

No one had ever talked like that to me. His words were the tipping point. My legs began to tremble, and my fingers tightened around his head as I lost all thought and control. Vaguely, I could feel Jax's mouth continue to lap at me while wave upon wave of pleasure coursed through me. Time ceased. It could have been a minute, it could have been an hour until the tremors began to ease and Jax lifted his head after a couple of soft kisses to the inside of my thighs.

He looked up from between my legs. "Still good?"

I'm sure I had a dopey grin on my face as I nodded, but I didn't care.

He began to kiss his way up my body. "Good. Because that was just the beginning," he whispered against my lips. He kissed me deeply as if he had all the time in the world, which I would gladly give him. The reality of work, family—the entire outside world faded leaving only him. I held his face as our lips and tongues mingled. When he pulled back and stared deeply into my eyes, I saw a look of wonder in his eyes.

"I want you to know it's never been like this for me, Grace. This means everything to me. Do you hear me? Everything. No turning back. This is more. "

I rested my hand over his heart. It might be too early to say the words, but something was building in there, I was sure of it.

"I hear you, Jax." I slid my hand to his belt. I wanted him to know I was looking forward as well, without fear. "No turning back."

He sat up and took over undoing his belt. His eyes never left mine as he dropped the leather on the floor and unzipped his pants. He rose to his knees, pushing down the material, including his briefs, and shucked them to the floor, leaving him in all his glory. My eyes grew a little big as I took in his penis which stretched out long and hard from his body.

"Wow."

His body shook with laughter. "If I'd known the way to stop your stream of words when you're flustered was to get us naked, I'd have tried this a long time ago."

I pretended to be offended. "Are you saying you don't like talking to me?"

He moved forward, covering my body with his. "There's not a thing I don't like about you," he murmured. "I think you're absolutely perfect." He brushed a kiss over my lips. "Starting from your perfect head," he murmured against my skin, "to your perfect breasts," he continued skimming his mouth downward, "all the way to your perfect pussy." He lay down beside me, turning my body toward his and pulling me close, his cock hard between us. I reached down between us and wrapped my fingers around his length. He moaned as I stroked him while marveling at the contrast of soft and hard and reveling in my ability to make him this way.

"Fuck, I want you so bad, Grace." He lifted my leg so my thigh rested on his, allowing room for his fingers to glide through the slickness he'd created earlier with his mouth. He inserted a finger, then two. "You're dripping for me, aren't you?"

"Mmm." It was all I could manage as I felt him curl his fingers inside me. I could feel my entire body begin to tighten again as he hit a spot that made me hiss and arch into his fingers, wanting more, wanting him. He continued to tease me with his fingers. My grip on him tightened; my hand moved faster, sliding up and down. Each time I reached the tip, my thumb found it coated in slickness which I rubbed across the head of his penis. His hips arched into my hand.

"Fuck, Grace, I can't wait."

I couldn't either. Never had I wanted anything so much. "I want you, Jax. Now."

He made sure we were protected, then resumed his position next to me. He lifted my leg higher to rest on his waist. Covering my hand with his, he helped me guide his hard shaft to my entrance and rubbed it along my drenched opening, then slipped inside just a bit. He grabbed ahold of my hip and thrust all the way in.

I latched onto his arm. "Ohmigod!" I looked at Jax, whose eyes had closed but opened them at my exclamation.

"Did I hurt you?" His expression was worried.

I shook my head. "No, you're so...I mean I'm just..."

His expression grew amused. "I think making you lose your words is my new favorite hobby."

I smiled shyly. "You're inside me. I feel so full of you. It's amazing."

His eyes smoldered as he pulled out then filled me again. I'm pretty sure my eyes must have rolled back in my head. His grip tightened on my hip as his thrusts grew harder and faster.

"I'm not going to last much longer. Tell me you're there, Grace." His thumb reached between us and rubbed my clit. My head fell back, and I lost all control.

"Jaxson!" I screamed as I flew apart. It was thrilling. All encompassing. Terrifying. I had no idea what to do other than to hang on to him as he took my body and mind to a place it had never been before.

I felt him relentlessly pound into me as he grunted, then suddenly he stiffened and yelled my name, and I knew wherever he'd taken me, I wasn't alone.

Once again, I had no idea how much time passed before I felt settled enough to open my eyes. If we had taken off and landed on another planet, I wouldn't have been surprised. Jax remained inside me, and I felt a few small pulses of my body still convulse around him. Our sweaty bodies were tangled. My head flopped to his chest where I could feel his heart still beating fast. I felt his lips move in my hair, planting kisses as he held me close. His mouth moved closer to the side of my head. I lifted my face to look at him, and he captured my lips in a sweet kiss, a complete contrast to the vigorous way he'd just made love to me.

"Wow," he said when he finally lifted his head.

Feeling shy, I smiled and nodded and burrowed my face in his chest.

Carefully, he pulled out of me and disposed of the condom. He fell on his back and quickly tugged me to his side. His hand glided idly up and down my back. My fingers were busy, too, tracing small circles on his chest, focusing on his nipples. He was as sensitive there as I was.

"So, now I know what all the fuss is about," I mumbled sleepily.

Jax's chest rumbled under my cheek. "I don't know about “fuss,” but yeah, I agree."

I lifted my head, surprised. "What do you mean? Isn't it always like that for you? I mean, with your experience, I would have thought this was normal for you. I mean, not that you do this all the time with, but I just figured it—"

Once again, my words were cut off by his mouth. "First, my little doubter, while I can't claim to be a saint, I don't sleep with every woman I meet. But second, and most important," he cupped my face in one hand, "it has never been like that for me. It's you. It's us."

A sense of female satisfaction settled over me.

Jax rolled over, pinning me beneath him. I felt his growing hardness tap against my things. "But you know, for clarity, we should probably make sure it wasn't just a fluke."

Hours later, we'd more than confirmed it wasn't.