chapter 15
Jaxon
DIDN’T SEE THAT ONE coming.
When I found her door unlocked and a little open, I panicked. I didn’t think; I just rushed in to make sure she was okay. When I saw her on the bed watching porn, a little notepad next to her . . . Fuck, she’s so cute. Was she taking notes on how to be a better lover? Does she think she isn’t one? Now I’m the one making a note to make sure she’s comfortable in anything we do—if we get to that point—and to pay attention to her closely. I want her to feel like she’s the most beautiful woman on earth, and I don’t want her to be shy or question herself. She has a sensuality about her I don’t think she’s aware of. And if she learns to use it, it could be a deadly weapon.
“Is there anything you want to talk about?” I ask her, as we stand from her bed and head into the kitchen. The reason I came here in the first place is because I was going to surprise her with lunch I got from a really nice restaurant near my office.
“No,” she says quickly, color heating her cheeks.
“Okay,” I reply, not wanting to push her. “If you ever want to talk I’m here, and it can be about anything. No judgment, all right?”
She nods, still looking miserable. I hope the food cheers her up. “I brought you lunch.”
“You did?” she asks, eyes widening.
“I did. I ate your leftovers for breakfast so I decided to get something for us to eat together while I’m on my break.”
A break I’ll probably be late returning from. And then no doubt I’ll be getting more shit from Kat and Tristan. Soon I’m sure Hunter and Yvonne will get on board too.
She opens the bag, smiling. “It smells delicious. I love Chinese.”
“I’m glad. It would’ve sucked if you hated it.”
She grabs two plates and forks and serves the rice onto the plate for each of us. “How has your morning been?”
“Not as good as yours,” I snicker, unable to help myself. I know I shouldn’t tease her, but that’s my nature. I’m quite playful, and I enjoy banter, so she needs to learn that I don’t mean it in a spiteful way. She needs to give me shit back, and know it’s just for fun.
“Jaxon!” she groans, then squares her shoulders. “Fine, I was looking for tips I could use in bed. The last man I had sex with was an idiot, so sue me.”
There’s my girl. She’s growing bolder, and I like it.
I grin and nod. “Exactly. You’re going to be perfect in bed for the right guy, Scarlett. You have nothing to worry about.”
She pauses, considering my words, then says quietly, “Darren used to say that I’m cold and frigid in bed. What if you think the same?”
Anger fuels me over her words about Darren. “Let me tell you something, sweetheart. There’s no way that’s true. Darren was a coward. He tried to keep you down because he knew you were better than him. If there were problems in the bedroom, it was because of him, not you.” I take her hand and bring it to my lips, placing a kiss there.
Her hazel eyes widen. “Thank you for saying that, Jaxon.”
“It’s the truth,” I tell her, then add, “you sound a little confident that we’re going to end up in bed together. Do you know something I don’t?”
She sighs and groans, “And you were doing so well.”
I can’t help the deep chuckle that escapes me. “I’m just playing with you. It’s fine. I like that you want to be good at that craft.”
“Thought we were going to pretend this never happened?” she reminds me, her tone dryer than ever before. I’ve never seen her get angry or lose her temper, her emotions are always held tightly inside. I wonder if or when she will snap. The more time we spend together, I’m sure the more of her I’ll get to see. She can’t be so poised and perfect all the time . . . I want to see her rough edges too. And I want to let her know that it’s fine to be that way. It’s normal. Human.
“Right, I forgot,” I say, taking a bite of the food.
“How convenient,” she mutters, tasting her own. “This is amazing. Where is it from?”
“A place near my office. I go there for lunch sometimes. Pretty good, isn’t it?”
She agrees with a moan, and a nod. “So good. Thank you for bringing me some.”
“Anytime.”
Especially because I got to walk in on her watching porn.
One thing I’ll never mention to her is the sight of her watching made me hard as a rock. I don’t think she noticed, she was too busy being extremely embarrassed at being caught, but fuck. I don’t even know how I walked out of that room when all I wanted to do was show her a firsthand lesson.
“Jaxon,” she croons after a few more bites.
“Yes,” I reply, lifting my head to her to give her my full attention.
“When’s the last time you had sex?” she asks, keeping her eyes on me.
My eyebrows rise. Not a question I thought she’d be asking. “I think it’s been about six weeks now. Why do you ask?”
“Just curious,” she says, licking her fork. “Who was it with?”
“Just a woman I was seeing,” I tell her, wondering where she’s going with this. “She wasn’t my girlfriend, or anything, it was just casual. I’m usually too busy with work for anything more than that.”
“Yet you’re at my house in the middle of the day having lunch with me,” she points out, a cute smirk on her face. “I think you could make time if you wanted.”
I bark out a laugh, loving her boldness. “I guess you’re right. Maybe all it takes is the right woman.”
That either satisfies her questions, or just shuts her up, because she eats the rest of her food quietly. I check my watch and curse. “I’d better get going.”
“Okay,” she says as we both stand, and wraps her arms around me. “Thank you for lunch.”
I kiss the top of her head. I have too much work to see her tonight, but I ask her what she’s doing tomorrow night.
“Nothing,” she says, glancing up at me. “Why?”
“I thought I’d take you out for dinner and a movie. What do you think?”
I always remember that night she went out by herself, and I want to take her on a date. Who knows when the last time she’s even been on one. I’ll let her choose the movie. Shit, I’m even willing to sit through some chick flick for her. I must really like her. I know there’s this whole conflict-of-interest issue, but technically her charges were dropped and I’m not her lawyer anymore, right? Right? Fuck, I’m even trying to justify it to myself.
“Sounds perfect,” she beams, her eyes lighting up.
“I’ll come get you about seven,” I say, cupping her cheek, smiling at her, and then leaving. She probably thinks I’m being a tease or giving her mixed signals, but I just want to take things slowly. I want her to be sure about what she wants. We have all the time in the world; there’s no rush to the finish line.
“You can continue what you were doing before I got here,” I call out to her. “And just so you know, I’m a fan of blow jobs.”
I can hear her mutter, “Oh my god,” making me laugh.
I can’t remember the last time I felt so light, so happy.
I think I’m onto something here.