Piper stared out of the truck window, feeling like she was on the verge of a breakdown. They’d been looking for Snickers for forty-five minutes, and hadn’t found him yet. Cruising the neighborhood with their windows down, calling his name. Then they repeated the circuit, Jax going so slow a turtle could pass him. And nothing.
Checking her phone again to see if anyone had found Snickers and was trying to get ahold of her, she sighed when she saw there were no new texts or calls. She prayed they’d just missed him somewhere, and he’d find his way back home or someone would call and say they had him. She didn’t know what she’d do if they didn’t.
She liked to pretend she was a total badass and nothing could get to her, nothing could break her. But Snickers wasn’t just a dog to her. He was her best friend, her family. The only family she had left. Losing him would break her, and the thought didn’t feel like an exaggeration.
She was broken when Jax ended things with her, but she’d managed to glue the pieces back together. They were uneven, and there were places that couldn’t be patched, but she’d done it. Then she broke again when Grandpa died, and once again when Grandma passed last month. But this… losing Snickers would be the final straw, she knew as well as she knew her own name.
Jumping as she felt Jax take her hand and squeeze, she glanced at him to find him smiling reassuringly at her. “I swear to you, we’ll find him, Piper. I swear.”
She just nodded, unable to find the energy to speak or even take her hand out of his. The human contact felt nice, and she needed it. She didn’t care who it came from. She would just ignore the heat and awareness spreading through her.
They were nearing her house when she heard the sound of a dog barking. “That sounds like Snickers,” she said, straightening in her seat. “There he is! At the house,” she said, relief and excitement filling her when she saw him pawing at the front door. They parked, and she threw open the door, bolting out of the truck. “Snickers!”
Brow furrowing when he continued to paw at the door, she scowled as Jax put his hand on her arm. “Wait a second, Piper.”
“What? I need to go to him. Something is obviously wrong with him. He didn’t even come when I called.”
“That’s what I’m worried about. Something’s not right.”
“Oh screw that, St. James. Let me go get my dog.”
Shaking off his hand, she darted forward and knelt down, pulling Snickers back from the door. He turned into her and licked her face, something he rarely did, but when he looked back at the door, he stiffened and growled low in his throat.
Starting to get worried, she watched as Jax put his hand on the knob and it turned easily, opening up.
“Didn’t you lock that?” she asked softly.
“I did. Take Snickers and get in the truck. Keep your phone out just in case. I’ll go check out the house.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I should call the sheriff.”
“Piper. I can handle this, if it’s even anything at all. I’m a fighter, remember? That’s who I am. Now go back to the truck.”
Reluctantly nodding, she went back to the truck, cracking the window to hear better once she was inside. She absolutely hated the feeling of needing a man to take care of her, but what he said made sense.
It felt like hours passed before he came back out and waved her in, but in reality it was only a couple minutes. Shooting out of the car, she held Snickers tight to her chest as she ran up the steps.
“And?” she asked breathlessly.
“There’s no one inside, but someone was in there while we were gone,” he said grimly.
“What?” she screeched. Running inside, she skidded to a stop and gazed around in confusion. Nothing seemed touched in the entryway and hallway, the tables and knickknacks still in their places.
“The kitchen,” Jax said softly behind her.
Frowning and wondering why anyone would break in and go through a kitchen, she set Snickers down and walked swiftly to the kitchen. “What in the actual fuck?” she said incredulously.
The drawers and the cabinets were open, all the cookbooks and recipes strewn about the floor. She walked around, careful to make sure she didn’t ruin anything, frowning as she realized the mail, old coupons, and anything paper was thrown to the floor.
“This is weird,” she said softly.
“Your grandfather’s office was gone through, as well, and your and your grandmother’s bedrooms. It’s all the same, though. Nothing appears to be taken or broken, but you should probably double check.”
Nodding, she turned without a word and made her way to the office, looking around at the mess. Books were also pulled off the shelves and scattered throughout the room.
The bedrooms weren’t as bad, but she felt uncomfortable at the thought of someone upstairs. A slow burning fury moved through her as she thought about someone going through her grandparent’s things, touching them with so little care.
Making her way back downstairs, she found Jax frowning at the door latch. “Did they damage it badly?”
“That’s just the thing,” he said, standing to face her. “None of the doors are damaged in any way, no new scratches, nothing. All the windows on the first floor are shut and locked, too. I’m not sure how they got in.”
“Maybe the spare key? That’s the only thing that makes sense. I meant to take it yesterday after you left, but I forgot.”
Giving her a half-smile, he replied, “Wanting to make sure I don’t have access to the house, no doubt.”
“Yep. I definitely meant it when I said I didn’t want to see you again. Best laid plans, and all that.”
“You’re not going to like what I have to say next then. I want you to come stay with me, at Rocky River.”
“You can’t be serious. You’re out of your fucking mind if you think I’m going home with you.”
“I really think it’s best, Pippy.”
“Ask me how many fucks I give about what you think is best? And stop calling me Pippy.”
Jax exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Look, this was deliberate.” She snorted and he held up a hand. “I know what you’re going to say. Of course the break in was deliberate. But Piper… Snickers didn’t dig that hole. Someone else did, probably with the intention of luring you away from the house long enough for them to get in here.”
She froze for a moment, blood cold, and then rushed outside. She’d only glanced at the hole earlier, but she studied it now. And she could see how he came to that conclusion. Plus, Snickers had never dug a hole in the six years since she adopted him.
“God knows what would have happened if you came home before they were finished,” Jax said softly behind her. “And if I hadn’t been here. Hate me all you want, but even you have to admit, I’m a good fighter. I can protect you now, Piper. I can.”
Frowning a little over the ‘now’ in that sentence, she shot a look at him. His eyes were intense, like he was trying to burn his declaration into her soul.
“I’ve never seen you fight, so I admit to nothing,” she retorted. But there was very little heat to the words. She was feeling a little shell-shocked from that look.
“I can,” he insisted.
“Maybe you can,” she admitted. “You’re big enough to scare intruders away as soon as they got a good look at you, at least. But I’m not coming to stay at your house.”
“Just for the night. Just long enough for you to get your locks changed. It’s after five on a Friday. All the businesses in Eagle Creek are closed for the night. If you won’t think of yourself, think of Snickers.”
“That was dirty, using Snicks as a bargaining chip,” she said, glaring. Exhaling, she relented, seeing the wisdom in his words. “Okay, fine. But only for the night, and only because you’re right about needing the locks changed. And I’m calling Frank, see if maybe he or someone from the sheriff’s office can cruise around the street tonight.”
“Good,” he said, relief stamped on his handsome features. “Call Frank, go pack a bag, and I’ll grab the dog food and bowls. And maybe we can figure out who did this. Like I don’t already have a good idea,” he said, muttering the last part under his breath.
Frowning, just barely catching that last remark, she followed him inside, doing a little muttering of her own. “This had better not be Scott’s handiwork.”
“What?” he hollered after her as she headed up the stairs. “Who the fuck is Scott?”
Jax drove toward Rocky River, replaying Piper’s words, his eagle shredding him from the inside out, thinking again over their conversation after her muttering about Scott.
“Who the hell is Scott?”
Piper exhaled heavily. “Not that it’s any of your damn business, but Scott is my ex-husband.”
“And you think he’d try to break into your house?”
“I never thought he’d have the balls to try shit like this, but who else could it be? I’ve only been back in town for a few days. Not long enough to piss anyone off, unless someone took exception to how I look now.”
“But it’s still something you could see him trying to do? Is he that much of an ass?”
“I’m not answering that. You lost your right to dig into my personal life a long time ago, St. James.”
Jax had wanted to protest, but he let it go, leaving her to pack while he got Snickers’ gear ready. He’d really been asking more out of a burning need to know if he needed to kick Scott’s ass for past transgressions, rather than trying to figure out who had done it.
He already had a pretty good idea who it was, and his hand tightened around the steering wheel. Tomorrow, after he made sure Piper’s locks were changed and her house an impenetrable fortress, he was paying his grandfather a visit. The wily old man thought he was being clever, only messing with some things, not out and out warning her off or trashing her place. But Jax was sure it was him, or one of his minions.
Glancing in the rearview mirror at Piper’s green Mustang following behind him, he scanned for anything that looked like it might pose a threat, but there were no other cars on the road. He’d wanted her to ride with him, but she insisted on driving her car, and he let it go, not wanting to push his luck.
Blowing out a breath of relief when they pulled into the Rocky River driveway, he relaxed in his seat. Now they were in fighter territory. The eagles wouldn’t dare mess with Piper here, and he had a whole host of badass motherfuckers who would help him fight.
Parking, he jumped out to help her with her luggage, watching as she climbed out of her car and looked around, Snickers following her out and sniffing at the ground.
“This is nice. It’s Markson’s old ranch, right? You guys fixed it up nice.”
“Yeah, it was. It wasn’t in too bad shape when we bought it, but we definitely put some work in it.”
“Who is ‘we’?” she asked as she moved to open the trunk.
“Us fighters. Ian, Seth and Cammie. And me, of course.”
“Cammie?” she asked, eyes narrowed.
“No need to be jealous,” he replied with a chuckle, enjoying the thought. “She’s like a little sister to all of us. She recently mat—married Alex. Seth helped build them a house, so she doesn’t live in the big house with us anymore. She and Alex live down that way,” he said, nodding toward a road that branched off from the driveway.
“Ego much? I wasn’t jealous. I was just wondering if I knew her,” she said, lie obvious in her voice.
Before he could reply, the front door opened and a loud whoop echoed through the yard. Turning his head, he watched Seth jump off the porch, his mate Amelia following down the steps more calmly.
“I knew it! I heard that distinctive rumble, and I knew there was a classic car pulling up to the house. Didn’t I say so, honey?” Seth asked as he walked closer to the car. He let out a low whistle as he circled Piper’s car. “What a beauty. ’69, right?”
Obviously taking pleasure in Seth’s admiration, she replied, “Yep. Mach 1. Judging by your enthusiasm, I’m going to guess that the ’68 Charger over there is yours?”
Seth’s hand hovered over the hood like he wanted to touch it, but then he pulled his hand back, grinning at her. “Sure is. Guess we share a love of the classics, huh?” he asked as Amelia reached him, shooting him an indulgent smile as she wound her arm through his. “Oh, I’m Seth. This gorgeous specimen beside me is Amelia.”
“I’m Piper. It’s nice to meet you,” she said, smiling at them.
Amelia’s returning greeting was drowned out as Seth said, “You’re Piper?” Turning to Jax, he said, “This is your Piper? Nice work, man. She’s got great taste in cars.”
Rolling his eyes in exasperation, Jax started walking toward the house, ignoring the look Piper cut him. “Come on, I’ll show you to your room.”
“Your Piper? Been mooning over me to your friends, have you?” she asked with a twinkle in her eye, not seeming upset.
He shook his head, but his reply was cut off by Seth’s voice. “This is a Mustang, honey. Do you see the difference now?”
“Still say I was close enough,” came Amelia’s response, followed by Seth’s groan.
Smiling and deciding that was payback enough for Seth’s thoughtless words, Jax gestured Piper inside. He’d show her to her room, and then decide how best to tackle the night ahead. He couldn’t let an opportunity under his roof go to waste.
Piper wandered downstairs after making sure Snickers was comfortable in the guest room. He’d spent about an hour’s worth of rousing play with Shelby, Ian’s daughter, before they all sat down for dinner, and he was worn out. She, on the other hand, felt amped up. Between the break-in and the anticipation of sleeping under the same roof as Jax, even though they were in separate bedrooms, she felt twitchy and unable to settle.
Her mind turned to the break-in, and she really hoped it wasn’t Scott who did it, but she didn’t know who else it could be. He made some threats against her during the divorce, but it had been two years, and she hadn’t seen hide nor hair of him since. And she honestly didn’t think he had the balls to do something like this. At least, he hadn’t then.
But that left her out of suspects. She’d barely talked to anyone since returning to Eagle Creek. And it felt like this was targeted, like whoever it was, was looking for something specific. But she’d been gone so long, she had no idea how to know for sure if they found what they were looking for.
Her phone rang, distracting her, and she pulled it out of her pocket and answered as she entered the deserted kitchen.
“This is Piper.”
“Piper, hey! It’s Kelly. How are you?”
Smiling at her friend’s always chipper voice, she pulled out a chair and sat at the table. “I’m okay. I’m glad you called.”
“I was worried about you. I dropped by the house to say hey, maybe hang out, but you were gone. I waited for a while, and I got concerned when you didn’t show up, so I drove home to find the napkin with your number so I could call.”
“Yeah, I’m not staying there tonight. Someone broke in.”
Kelly gasped loudly. “What? What happened? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I wasn’t home when it happened. Someone dug a hole under the fence and Snickers got out. The house was broken into while I was out looking for him,” she answered, telling the short version.
“Oh, that’s horrible! I’m so sorry! Do you have any idea who it was? Do you think they’ll be back?” Kelly asked, voice concerned.
“No, no clue. And I’m not sure, but I won’t be letting my guard down again. I thought Eagle Creek was a thousand times safer than Seattle, but I guess it’s changed since I was gone. I’ll be using the same caution I use when I’m home.”
“This is usually a safe town. This is horrible, just horrible. Are you at the hotel? I’ll come over and hang with you a bit, so you’re not alone.”
“No, I’m not at the hotel. I’m at Rocky River,” Piper said reluctantly.
“What?” Kelly shrieked, causing Piper to jerk the phone away from her ear. “No. Are you and Jax getting back together?” she asked, excitement in her voice.
“No!” Piper said loudly. Glancing around, she lowered her voice and forced herself to speak calmly. “No, we’re not. I’m through with men, and even if I wanted to change my mind, it sure as hell wouldn’t be with Jax. That ship sailed a long time ago.”
“Oh, that’s a shame,” Kelly said, voice brimming with disappointment. “I mean, if y’all got back together, you’d probably move back home. I’d love to have my best friend back. If you’re not getting back together, why are you at Rocky River?”
Piper exhaled. “Jax was helping me look for Snickers when the break-in happened. He just fixed the water heater,” she said, fibbing on the timeline. “He was there when I found out. Whoever did it got in without any visible means of entry, and he thought it was a good idea if I stayed here for the night, until we could get my locks changed.”
“Yeah, that makes sense. Still, I wish you were staying there because you were starting something with him again. I’m going to miss you when you leave.”
“I’m gonna miss you too, Kel,” she replied softly.
“I’m going to get off here if you don’t need me, but if you want to talk, call me anytime. You have my number now.”
“Will do. Thanks. Bye, Kelly.”
Hanging up the phone, Piper looked around her, feeling a little lost, and hating the feeling. Standing up, she walked back through the house, stepping out on the porch and breathing in the night air.
“You okay, Piper?”
Jumping, she whirled around to find Ian sitting in a chair. “Jesus, you scared me.”
“Sorry about that. I should have made a noise or something.”
“It’s okay. I’m just a little jumpy,” she replied, blowing out a breath.
“That’s understandable, after what happened. Jax mentioned you thought your ex-husband might have something to do with it?”
“Jax is a fucking blabbermouth,” she muttered under her breath. Speaking at a normal volume, she said, “He’s the only person I can think of who would, but I’m not sure he’d really do it. He’s more of the talk big, act small, type of douchebag, unless he’s grown a big pair of balls since our divorce. I just don’t know who else it could be.”
She watched as Ian nodded thoughtfully. “It never hurts to be sure. If you want, I can have Alex look into him. He’s Cammie’s husband, and a skilled hacker. I’m sure he could track down info on whether Scott is here, or has even left Seattle at all.”
“Really? That’s a handy person to have in your corner,” she said with a laugh. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt, as long as it doesn’t get Alex in trouble.”
“Alex is too good to get caught,” he replied, laughing but also with seriousness in his voice. “Write down Scott’s full name and birthday, and I’ll get Alex on it.”
“Thanks, Ian,” she said, watching the stars in the sky. “You haven’t changed much. You’re still a really nice guy.”
“You have, though. On the outside at the very least. You seem stronger on the inside as well,” he observed.
“I had to become stronger, or life was going to chew me up and spit me out,” she replied with a wry smile. “But I firmly believe I became who I was always meant to be.”
She saw Ian nod from the corner of her eye. “I believe that.” He went silent for a moment, and when he spoke again, his voice was solemn and serious. “Jax changed, too, but I’m not always sure it was into who he was meant to be. He hurt after he ended things with you, Piper. Breaking it off wounded him to the core, soul deep, permanent scars I’m not sure he’ll ever get over. What he did was the last thing he wanted to do, and as bad as he hurt you, he hurt himself worse. Because he’s the one who did it, even though he didn’t think he had a choice.”
Mouth open, Piper was unable to form a reply as Ian stood and walked to the door. He glanced back at her one last time. “Maybe you should ask him. Ask him if breaking up was what he really wanted to do. Ask him why he did it.” Ian gave her a moment to let that sink in, and then nodded his head at the barn. “That’s our gym, where we train for fights. He’s in there now.”
Blowing out a breath, she watched Ian go back inside, shutting the door softly behind him. Casting a considering glance at the barn, she finally took a deep breath and headed that way. She wasn’t sure she wanted to ask Jax anything, but she would like to see him train. She was genuinely curious as to whether he was as good as people said.
Slowing as she got to the open barn door, she crept in, wanting to observe him without him knowing she was there. He was using the punching bag, his feet and chest bare, only wearing a pair of low-slung jogging pants. She watched as he punched and kicked, his feet rarely stilling, his body always in motion.
Shifting on her feet, her mouth dried as she watched him. He wasn’t wearing his ballcap and she could see his black hair fully for the first time, the short strands gleaming in the light. He seemed even bigger without his shirt on, bulky, his muscles bunching as he moved around, and rivulets of sweat were dripping down his muscular chest.
He turned slightly, and she saw a tattoo stretching the width of his shoulders, but she was too far away to see what it was. Clenching her thighs together as she watched the delicious display of muscles in his back play under his skin with his movements, she ordered herself to look away, but her eyes remained glued to him. A shiver of heat danced up her spine as her core tightened, and she closed her eyes at the wash of desire that very nearly knocked her over.
She shouldn’t feel anything for this man, not even desire, but she couldn’t help it. And she felt it more strongly than she ever had as a teenager. She had a woman’s body, with a woman’s needs now, and she was drowning in her desire for him.
“Are you satisfied that I can protect you now, Piper?” he asked without turning around, making her jump as he put his hands out to halt the bag.
Not as satisfied as I could be if you’d come over here and go at me with the same intensity and focus you just went at that punching bag with.
Shaking her head, she swallowed hard and tried to find her voice. “I guess you’re decent, at least against inanimate objects. Jury’s still out on how you’d be against an opponent. And how did you know I was here?”
Toweling off his face and chest, he walked closer to her, his dark green eyes mesmerizing. “I told you once before, I always know when you’re in a room with me, Pippy.”
Shivering as the smoky huskiness of his voice seemed to wrap around her body in a caress, she didn’t bother to scold him over calling her Pippy. Backing away and putting some much needed distance between them so she could find her wits again, she searched for something to say.
“You need some music in here or something. Do they play a specific song you choose when you’re announced at fights, like they do at real matches? You know, like a fight song or something?”
Shaking his head slowly, his eyes tracked her movements as she inched backward. “I might fight underground, but these are real matches, Piper. There’s one tomorrow night. Come, and you can see for yourself. And no, I don’t have a song.”
She gulped when he stalked forward a few feet, feeling like his prey, she pulled out her phone and fumbled with it before she got her music list pulled up. “We should pick one for you. There are some great ones.”
Ignoring the look he was giving her, she started scrolling through her playlist, freezing when her thumb touched a certain song, and the music filled the air. Oh fuck. Resisting the urge to close her eyes and blush, she forced herself to look at Jax. He was standing still, looking like he halted mid step, not moving a muscle.
Shit. She couldn’t change the song like she wanted to, or he’d know it was a big deal, and the last thing she wanted was for him to think it meant anything to her. Neither one of them said a word as the first few lines of Always by Bon Jovi played.
“You have our song downloaded? You still listen to it?” he asked, gold beginning to appear around his pupils.
“I don’t have it downloaded because it was our song,” she scoffed, unable to look him in the eye as she lied. “I only have it because I like it. It’s a good song. Everyone likes Bon Jovi. Duh.”
“It is a good song,” he acknowledged, and relief flew through her at his words. Relief that was quickly cut off as he began moving in close again. “But I think that’s only part of it.”
She tried to back up more but was brought up short by the wall. Planting her hands on either side of her hips, she dug her fingers into the wood, ignoring possible splinters. “I think you’re delusional, and only seeing what you want to see. Not everything I do revolves around you,” she said, trying to make her voice hard and banish the breathlessness.
She wasn’t at all successful.
Jax planted a hand next to her head and leaned in, so close she felt his breath wafting across her lips. “Maybe not everything, but some of it does. Admit it, Piper. You still think about me. You still remember me. In your life.” His eyes dropped to her lips for a moment before he looked into hers again. “In your bed. Just admit it already.”
Body strung so tight she thought she’d crumble at any moment, Piper decided she was going to be truthful. More than that, she was going to own it. She could do that, and still keep her heart out of the game. It didn’t have to mean anything. It wouldn’t mean anything.
Decision made, she lunged up, capturing his lips with hers. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she held still, just caressing his lips. His body was frozen against hers, and he was barely even breathing. And then with a sudden, swift move, he pulled her flush to his body and kissed her back.
The urge to let him dominate was strong, but Piper was stronger. Taking the lead, she sucked his bottom lip into her mouth before biting down on it and pulling back. Finally releasing it, she pushed her pelvis into the hardness she could feel taking shape, and he groaned as his arms tightened around her. Crushing his mouth to hers, he sucked her tongue into his mouth, biting down on her tongue ring, then releasing it to explore the rest of her mouth.
It felt like they were in a race to devour each other, and Piper moaned, tangling her tongue with his. It had been so long since she felt like this, so long since her blood sang with desire and her body ignited as it was doing right now. She moved her hands into his hair, the short strands silky against her fingers, as she rubbed her body against his.
The hardness tenting the front of Jax’s jogging pants was poking into her stomach, and she needed to feel it, needed to get her hands on it. Trailing her hands down, she slid her fingers down his hard chest, breath catching at the feel of those hard muscles underneath her fingertips. Moving lower, she traced his six pack, lingering over the ridges there, before continuing her descent.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Jax said, chest heaving for air as he pulled his mouth from hers. Alarmed that he was going to pull away, she snaked her arms around and grabbed his ass, swooning inside over the tight muscles in her grip.
“Why are you stopping?” she panted.
“Aren’t we moving a little fast? A day ago you were telling me to leave and not come back. Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Are you really trying to talk me out of this?” she asked, arching her eyebrow. “Whatever else that may have happened between us in the past, or even yesterday, needs to stay there. Right now, at this moment in time, I want you, Jax. More than I’ve wanted anyone in a very long time. And I know you want me, too. Are you really going to tell me no?”
Searching her face, his green eyes were bright, a circle of swirling gold around his pupils. Dipping his gaze to her lips, he looked back up, and the heat from that look nearly singed her where she stood.
“No. I’m not telling you no. I just want to make sure you’re okay with this.”
“It’s sex, Jax. It’s not marriage.”
Eyes narrowing, his green eyes burned into her. “We’ll see about that,” he muttered right before he slammed his lips to hers.
Instantly forgetting what he said in the deluge of passion raining down on her, Piper moaned, kissing him back with equal intensity. Jax wasn’t wasting time, and his hand almost immediately delved under her shirt, slowly climbing higher. Impatient with the slow pace, she pushed her hips into his, rubbing against the hardness in his pants.
But he refused to let up his slow pace. Finally, finally, reaching her breast, he cupped it over her bra, squeezing firmly before his thumb brushed her nipple. He froze then, not kissing her or moving a muscle, and she smiled as he pulled back to look into her eyes.
“Is that what I think it is?” he asked, voice gravelly.
“Yep. My nipple is pierced,” she replied, still breathless.
He stared at her and then he pulled back, and in once fast movement, pulled her t-shirt over her head. Reaching behind her, he unsnapped her bra faster than she thought a man could manage, and pulling it off, he drank her in. Reaching up a hand, he lightly touched a finger to the bar through her right nipple.
“Does it hurt?” he asked softly, eyes glazed over as he glanced at her.
“Not at all,” she replied, smiling at the look in his eyes. Reaching a hand up, she took the bar between her fingers and tugged. “See?”
“Sweet mother of God,” Jax choked out as she felt his dick jump against her belly.
Quickly, he pulled her hand away while simultaneously leaning down, sucking her nipple into his mouth. Gasping out his name, she arched her back as he sucked hard, his tongue playing with her nipple and the bar. Her blood felt like it was boiling in her veins as her knees went weak. Planting her hands on his shoulders, she dug her fingers in and held on tight as his tongue continued to play.
Pulling away, her nipple left his mouth with a pop as he moved his mouth to her other one. One of his hands reached up to replace it, and his fingers twisted, pinched, and tugged while his mouth devoured the other. His hand left her breast and trailed down her stomach, where he shoved it under the waist band of her shorts, cupping her mound.
Breath choking off at the dual sensations, she dug her fingers into his shoulders harder, uncaring of the marks she was making with her nails. His mouth switched back to her pierced nipple as his fingers slipped inside her, and she moaned when he fingers found her clit.
His mouth alternated between her nipples as his fingers circled around her clit, moving faster and harder with every pass. Her core was tightened to the point of pain, and with a burst of sensation, she came, mouth open in a silent scream as her hips jerked against his hand.
He followed her through her climax, making it spike again and again before he eased her back down. They were both breathing heavy as he straightened up, and as soon as her vision cleared and her wits partially returned, she reached out and yanked his pants down, reaching for the hard cock straining toward her, needing to feel him in her hand again. Eight years was far too long to go without that magical piece of anatomy in her life.
Quick as a lightning strike, Jax reached out and grabbed her wrist. “No. If you touch me right now I’m going to go off faster than a rocket on the fourth of July.”
Pushing aside the disappointment that washed over her, she sent him a sultry smile instead and unsnapped her shorts, shoving them and her panties down before stepping out of them. Turning around, she glanced over her shoulder as she bent over, bracing her arms against the wall of the barn and grabbing hold of the top of a bench.
“Well, what are you waiting for?”
She watched as he dragged his eyes from her wet center, stopping to trace the off center iron butterfly tattoo on her back. “So this is the tat that curls around to the front.”
“Look later. Fuck now,” she demanded, needing to feel him inside her.
“Dammit, Piper. Keep saying shit like that, and I’ll come before I’m even inside you,” he gritted out.
Smirking, she turned her head back to the wall as he moved in closer, his heat seeping into her. She felt him rub his dick through her wet folds, and she nearly sighed in bliss at finally feeling him against her most private spot again. Too. Fucking. Long.
Lining himself up, he began easing inside, and she felt her eyes roll back in her head as pleasure and sensation shot through her body. He went slowly at first, feeding the first few inches in increments, and she savored the feeling of her body stretching to accommodate his substantial girth. Then he took her hips in his, fingers tightening, and slammed inside in one hard thrust.
“Fuuuuck,” she breathed out, stars dancing behind her lids. “Again.”
Fingers flexing then digging harder into her skin, he gritted out, “I’m not going to last long. It’s been too long.”
Using the bench for leverage, she eased away and then shoved herself backward, making them both moan. “I don’t care. Fuck me, Jax. Now.”
Not saying another word, he pulled out and thrust back into her, his thighs slapping against hers. He kept it up, setting a blistering pace. Piper was just along for the ride, unable to move from the pleasure overwhelming her senses, not able to even find her voice again.
Despite the fast pace, she swore she felt every ridge and vein on his dick, and they were amplifying the sensations she felt to a painful degree. Over and over, he pounded into her, their thighs slapping together loudly, perspiration running down their bodies.
Letting go of her hip with one hand, Jax snaked it around her body, his fingers finding her clit. Circling it hard and fast, his hips went even faster, and before Piper even realized what was happening, she was coming, harder than she ever had before.
Breath stalling, she went weak as pleasure streaked through her veins and washed over her skin. She would have pitched forward headfirst into the wall if it hadn’t been for Jax’s tight grip on her hips.
“Fuck, Piper,” he gritted out, his thrusts becoming jerky as he lost control.
She felt it when he came, heat coating her insides as he held himself to her, moving from the force of his orgasm without leaving her body. Their heavy breathing filled the barn as they both panted, and she willed strength into her limbs again.
“That was amazing, Piper,” he said, voice still shaky as he eased out of her. “Let me get a towel to clean you up.”
The loss of his body against hers brought reality crashing back down around her. Shaking her head despite the wetness she could feeling leaking out of her and coating her thighs, she bent down and grabbed her shorts, pulling them back on.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m just going to get in the shower anyway,” she replied, putting her shirt on and grabbing her undies and bra.
“Piper—”
“It’s okay,” she said, glancing his direction but avoiding his eyes. “This was fun, St. James. I’ll see you later.”
Blowing out a breath at the flash of hurt she saw on his face from the corner of her eye, she turned and fled the barn, walking quickly back to the house and praying no one was around to see her doing the walk of shame while she carried her undergarments in her hand.
It wasn’t that she regretted having sex with Jax. She didn’t at all, though she did regret hurting him in any way, despite all the hurt he heaped upon her years ago. The problem was she hadn’t wanted to walk away, and that wasn’t good at all. She already wanted to run back and ask for seconds, but that couldn’t happen. She couldn’t allow this to happen again, or she ran the risk of losing her heart to him all over again.