Chapter 39

JAX

Mike twistsoff the cap to a fresh bottle of beer and hands it to me.

This guy's face is puffy from crying. He's a wreck over Mac's father dying. Which makes sense since Mike worked so close with Mac's father.

"I've watched you guys for a long time," Mike says. "I have to admit, it's a little weird seeing you all in person. It's like meeting someone famous."

"Want an autograph?" I ask.

Mike laughs. He grabs my arm. "I needed that laugh, Jax. I really did."

Mike's wife - Caroline - comes over and pulls her tipsy husband away from me.

She mouths I'm sorry to me.

There's no reason for anyone to be sorry about a thing.

I look around the biggest kitchen I've ever seen.

This house is also the biggest house I've ever seen.

I walk toward the sliding glass door off the kitchen that leads to the largest deck I've ever seen.

Yeah, Mac's father's house is fucking huge.

I step out onto the deck.

There's the last little flicker of daytime in the sky.

Like the sky is squeezing the sun down and the colors are exploding.

I take a swig of the beer and I turn away from the sunset only to see Mila standing in the doorway.

I don't like the way my heart jumps when I see her.

I don't like that my lips are aching to taste her lips.

Her words keep ringing in my head… not here. Repeating that over and over too.

Like she needed to convince herself.

Yet there was no mention of…

At this point, I don't even care.

I walk toward Mila.

She steps out of the house.

For a second I think our bodies are going to collide together.

I want to grab her, pull her close and kiss her to show her what it's like to be cared for. And I'm not talking about falling in love and all that stuff. I'm talking about just someone touching. Holding. Kissing. Fucking.

"Cheers," she says to me.

She has a beer too.

I guess the plan is to just drink and celebrate Mac's father's life.

Which nobody knows much about. Other than the crazy stuff Mac has told us.

I touch my bottle to hers and reach for her.

My hand grazes the small of her back and she slaps my touch away.

"Jax," she growls.

"What, honey? Going to tell me not here again? Where? Huh?"

She swallows hard. Her bottom lip quivers just a little.

My cock twists and turns and pushes down the right side of my jeans.

"You'll have to figure it out," she says.

Her voice is sultry. Seductive. Almost purring at me.

I look around and know we aren't being watched but we aren't alone.

I really shouldn't kiss her right here.

Not that I give a single fuck about what anyone thinks… but I guess somewhere inside me I do.

For the sake of Mila and whatever her current set of circumstances really are at the moment.

That doesn't mean for a second I'm going to back off. Not anymore. Not again.

The next logical move for me?

I grab her and pick her up.

I toss Mila over my shoulder, then turn and run to one set of steps that go off the deck.

She lets out a gasping yell but knows not to scream too loud.

Not unless she wants attention on her. On me. On us.

I charge down the fancy steps and I see a gazebo not too far away.

There are round bulbs emitting soft light hanging from the inside.

Mila laughs as I carry her.

Her right ass cheek is basically pressed against my face.

I'm moving with speed and purpose. And if you really want to know the entire thing, my cock is bouncing inside my jeans too. It's actually uncomfortable. This annoying reminder of Mila… not that I need it since I'm fucking carrying her.

I take her to the gazebo and place her back on her feet.

She's still got her beer. I still have mine.

"A little more private here," I whisper.

"Apparently," Mila says.

I'm studying her now.

I have no reason to be doing this.

It's systematic torture for myself.

As though I'm waiting to feel her vibe… which I don't need to do.

I can read her face. She can't hide a fucking thing.

I step closer to her. She doesn't move away from me.

My right hand touches the small of her back.

She doesn't push my hand away this time.

Fucking games, honey… these fucking games…

I move my hand up her body. Slowly.

Up her back. I feel the clasp of her bra through her shirt.

I touch the back of her shoulder.

My fingertips seeking skin…

I touch her neck, her jaw, her cheek.

My fingers climb to the back of her neck.

I grab. Not hard but firmly.

She knows…

She fucking knows.

She can reach up, grab my wrist and pull.

She doesn't.

"This is fucking torture, honey," I growl as I lower my mouth down to hers.

Again, she doesn't stop me. She doesn't pull away.

Our mouths gently touch. My tongue sweeps across her bottom lip.

She parts her lips, groans, and almost sinks toward me.

I kiss her. Properly. Hard.

I take full control…

I purposely close my mouth hard and pull away fast so there's a loud noise.

Her face gushes with color.

I go in for another kiss.

Just one more deep, meaningful kiss between us…

I pull away.

I stare down at Mila.

Our eyes lock.

"There, honey… I just fucking crossed the line…"