chapter 36
Scarlett
I WAKE UP TO A bottle of water, a banana, and two painkillers on the side table next to the bed. “What a legend,” I say to myself as I pop the pills and swallow a large gulp of water, hoping it’ll cure my current predicament. I allow my head to fall back to the pillow but smile when I remember everything we got up to last night. I’ve never had a girls’ night out like that before, but the big surprise of the night was Jaxon singing. I wish I could have recorded that so I could replay it on more than just my mind.
“Good morning,” Jaxon says as he walks into the room, looking like he wasn’t out until all hours of the night.
“Did you go for a run?” I ask him, wondering how he does it. “How do you find the energy?”
He lifts his shirt up to flash me his six-pack of abs. “These don’t come easy, babe. If you want me to look good while eating your cooking, I need to run and spend time in the gym.”
“Can you bring those abs over here?” I ask him, my fingers itching to trace them. My tongue wants in too.
He steps forward, chuckling at my request. “Why? Feel the need to get reacquainted?”
“Indeed,” I murmur, placing my fingers under his T-shirt and letting them roam. “Oh yeah, that is nice. Are you going to come back to bed? I might need a closer inspection.”
“Do you now?” he asks, lifting his shirt over his head and letting it fall to the floor. “This might help.”
He slides onto the bed in nothing but a pair of low-riding basketball shorts, and climbs in next to me. “Is this close enough?”
“I don’t know,” I say slowly, feeling playful. “Let me have a look and I’ll let you know.”
I lift the blanket and run my fingers down to the V of his hips, and then back up through the center of his muscular stomach.
“That feels nice actually,” he says, sighing in content.
Just nice?
I need to up my game.
I start kissing him down his stomach, from in between his pecks down to his navel, and then lower. He doesn’t stop me, just watches my every move with intent. When I pull down his shorts, he makes a sound deep in his throat, a guttural moan of pleasure, which turns me on so much that I take his cock into my mouth without any teasing. And he loves it. I move down to his balls and lick in between them, before sucking on each in turn. I make sure to be gentle, and look up at him in the eye so he can see who is pleasuring him.
Me.
Only I can give him this.
He’s mine.
“You look so beautiful right now,” he tells me, pushing my hair off my face. “You’re a temptress, Scarlett. Fuck. A seductress. One look into those deep, soulful eyes, and all I want to do is be inside of you.”
Well, he’s going to have to wait until I finish playing.
“Come here, Scarlett,” he murmurs, and I lift my head to look at him to see what he wants. He touches my ass and adds, “Want you to sit on my face.”
I move into position, lowering myself onto him, facing his cock and then lower my own mouth onto him.
I gasp on his dick.
Couldn’t think of a better way to wake up in the morning.
THE REST OF THE week passes by in a blur. Jaxon is busy with court, and I keep myself busy at the library. I do a little more gardening, and catch up with my new friends whenever I can. This morning though, I can tell something is weighing on Jaxon’s mind. He’s been quiet since he woke up and seems to want his space. Every time I come into the same room as him, he doesn’t say anything, lost in his own thoughts. I have no idea what’s wrong, or why he won’t say anything, but something is obviously upsetting him. Is it something I did? I know I shouldn’t think that way, but old habits die hard. It’s like he’s gone cold, and I don’t know why. I don’t know how to fix it, and I know I should just give him some space, but I don’t like being pushed out of his bubble.
“Is everything okay, Jaxon?” I ask him, brow furrowing in concern. “Do you want me to make you something to eat?”
Why do I always think food will fix everything?
“Not hungry, but thanks, babe,” he says, trying to force a smile, but it comes out as more of a grimace. “I’m going to head to the gym before work.”
He kisses the top of my head, and then walks out of the house.
I have no idea what is wrong.
And I don’t like it.
HE COMES HOME FROM work late, and he didn’t reply to any of my messages or calls all day. I’m sitting on the couch, feet curled up, a mug of coffee in my hands as he walks in. He doesn’t even say anything to me, just gets in the shower. I don’t know what to do, or what to say. I don’t want to push him, but this is our relationship, and he can’t just do this to me without giving me some kind of explanation. He needs to tell me what’s wrong. I can’t help fix it if I don’t know. I put down my coffee and go sit on his bed, wanting to talk to him when he comes out of the shower. He appears a few minutes later, towel wrapped low on his hips.
“Jaxon,” I start.
He lifts his head and looks me in the eye. He looks sad. I wish he would tell me why.
“Will you tell me what’s wrong? I don’t want you to shut me out, and something is clearly wrong.” I keep my tone soft and even. I don’t want him to think I’m attacking him, and I don’t want him to get defensive or push me away even further. I think when you speak to someone, tone and body posture is everything. I want to let him know that there is no judgment here, this is a safe place, and he can trust me. It’s just me and him.
He can trust me.
And he needs to, if he wants this to work.