Chapter 11

11

March: Present Day

JAXON

“This has gone too far, Jax. We need to put the brakes on before our parents are too invested in our engagement.” I don’t have the heart to tell Aria it’s too late for that now.

“I agree, but if we tell everyone it was a ruse, you still run the chance of losing your column. Maybe more so if Glamify gets wind that our fake relationship was staged so you could keep your job to begin with.”

“If that happens, then it’s on me for agreeing to do it in the first place. You caught me at a weak moment, and it sounded like a great idea until Stephanie posted everything on social media. I’m not speaking to her at the moment, but what’s done is done.”

Reaching out, I grab her hand. For the first time, she doesn’t pull away. It’s a start. Right?

“Look, I know you’re worried that our parents insisted on footing the bill for the whole kit and kaboodle.” There’s that smile. I inwardly chastise myself for all the quirky phrases that I use on any given day. In my defense, it’s an endearing part of my personality. I’ve been told that we all have our little quirks, and phrases just so happen to be mine. “If we go the distance, I will personally pay everyone back and then some.”

“You can start by paying for the engagement party that’s happening next month.” Ouch. She’s been on a roll ever since leaving the engagement reveal. If I’m being honest, we both need to get laid. When I mentioned it last week, she informed me it wasn’t a problem. And told me to worry about myself. I hate that she planted that little seed in my brain. Does she have a friend with benefits?

“I’ll gladly pay for the party, the shower, the wedding, and the fucking honeymoon if it comes to that. Enough about the money, Aria. That’s the least of our problems right now. The band has a meeting with Caleb tomorrow and that’s what I need to focus on since we’ll be getting our tour schedule. I do have my own career. Not just you.” Damn right I’m frustrated because this isn’t turning out like I thought it would.

“Sorry. I’m so frustrated and it doesn’t have anything to do with you. It has everything to do with Mom. She keeps hounding me and I’m running out of excuses. Maybe once I give her your tour schedule, she’ll get off my back.”

This deception is spiraling out of control. If we don’t stop the ball from rolling, we won’t be able to stop it before it crushes us to death.

“Did you ever ask yourself when enough is enough? I mean, how far is too far? Do we break up before the engagement party or after the fact? How far are we willing to take this before we slam on the brakes?” Sighing, she leans her head on my shoulder.

“I think about it all day at work, when I get home, and it keeps me awake at night. I have nightmares about falling into a deep ravine with no way out.” And it’s all my fault she’s feeling this way.

“The only way to end your nightmares is to come clean, Aria. Tonight. Let’s go to your parents right now and tell them the truth. Then we’ll go to my parents’ house, tell them and it will be over. Once we explain why we did it to begin with, they’ll understand. I’ll cancel all plans and send everyone a check. They love us and won’t say a word. Wear the ring to work or give it back. I’ll leave that up to you to decide.”

She buries her face in my chest, wrapping her arms around me. How could something feel so right and turn out to be so very wrong?

“I’ll fix it. I promise, baby. Whatever it takes, I’ll fix it. Don’t cry. Please don’t cry.” She’s breaking my heart, and I wasn’t sure if it was there anymore. “Shh, don’t cry. We don’t need to figure it all out tonight. Okay? We can wait until I get my schedule and go from there.”

When she pulls away, I reluctantly let her go. She walks into the kitchen and blows her nose. Several minutes pass before she sits back down, handing me a bottle of beer. I notice she’s clutching one in her hand as well. This girl never drinks beer. Something’s up.

Tipping back the bottle, she takes a big gulp. The grimace tells it all. “I have a confession to make. It’s not something I’m proud of but need to get off my chest.” Now she’s piqued my curiosity.

“Is it the real reason you’re crying?” Taking a swig of my own, I wait. Using my finger to wipe off the condensation on the bottle.

“I was sleeping with Rex, and when I broke it off, he was upset. I just found out he’s the reason for the gossip going around the magazine. How I was too cold to write about love and relationships. I sucked in bed, and he’d ignore all of that if I wasn’t afraid to commit. Rumor has it that Maggie’s his new friend with benefits. Since they’ve hooked up, I’ve been their topic of conversation. Now that I know he’s the one that fueled the fire, I could have avoided this whole damn mess altogether and gone straight to Silas for harassment. He’d be long gone and Maggie too. Had we waited, we could be living our best lives. Instead of being stuck with each other for god knows how long.”

I’m not sure how I feel about this new turn of events. On the one hand, it would have saved us a bunch of aggravation if she had mentioned she slept with Rex. Why? Hello, I too know what it’s like to be dumped by a beautiful woman. Not only is it a blow to our ego, but it’s also a direct hit to our heart. Some men will never recover and turn into bitter, angry men. Second of all, I’m really getting pissed that getting stuck with me is some big tragic ordeal that she’s had to deal with since we started this. Could I be that horrible of a person that not one but two women have kicked me to the curb in a matter of months?

Please stop me because I’m about to do something very stupid…

ARIA

I might have opened my mouth and inserted my foot. Again. I’m far from stuck with him. I love the fact that he’s in my life again and we’re really getting to know one another. One on one with no interference.

Holding my breath, I wait for the backlash.

Imagine my surprise when he cups my face, leans in, and his warm mouth covers mine. My fears suddenly disintegrate, and I get lost in the sensation of his lips, his hands, and his scent that wraps around me. Desperate to get closer, I use my hands to push him flat against the sofa. Never breaking our kiss. Then I straddle his lap and when he moans into my mouth, I’m a goner. When his erection hits my core, there’s no turning back. There’s nothing fake about what I feel for this man. Nothing.

With our mouths still fused together, I grab the hem of his shirt and begin lifting. Breaking the kiss, he hesitates for an instant until I whisper, “I need you, Jax.”

Lifting his arms in the air, I tug it up and over. Then hurriedly getting those damn jeans off as quickly as possible. He stops me dead in my tracks.

“I’m not making love to you on my sofa, Aria, but I’ll gladly bring you upstairs to give you a proper fucking.” I squeal when he flips me around, throws me over his shoulder, and carries me up the stairs.

And just like that, the hunted becomes the hunter.

Setting me gently on his bed, he straddles me. All two hundred and five pounds of pure muscle has my clit throbbing for release. And when he hooks his thumbs inside the hem of my blouse, I lean on my elbows for easy access. One down, three more to go.

Before I have a chance to lay back down, his hands make quick work of ridding me of my bra. Thank God I wore my sexy black one to work today. My nipples pebble the second the cold air hits them and he moans.

“Fuck, you’re so gorgeous.” By pressing his palm to the center of my chest, I know it’s time to be devoured. And I’m so ready.

Lips as warm as the sun leave gentle kisses on my stomach, the underside of my breasts, and the hollow of my throat. Before they follow the same path downward. My panties are drenched and I’m about to explode by the sheer feel of his breath on my skin.

Then his mouth closes over my breast while his tongue flicks across my nipple and his fingers pinch the other. Both sensations have me coming undone, and desperate for him to be inside of me.

Lifting my skirt, he pulls my panties to the side and slides his finger inside of me. One becomes two and while still attached to my breast, he pumps his fingers in and out. Stretching me. Preparing me for his thick cock that’s desperate for release.

Sitting back on his haunches, he removes his fingers, and while holding my gaze, he licks them clean. Moaning at the taste of my arousal. “You’re so sweet, baby. I need more.”

Shoving my skirt around my waist, he fists my panties. With a yank, they hit the floor. His shoulders spread me wide as he buries his face inside my soaking pussy.

“Ah, fuck.” When he begins sucking my sensitive clit, my back bows off the bed. With my hands holding him in place, he devours every part of me. Fucking me with his tongue, sucking my clit, and playing my nipples like a cherished instrument.

There’s a tingling running along my spine with a buildup of tension low in my core. When my thighs begin to quake and my toes start to curl, I know I’m so damn close. So close. “Come all over my fucking face, baby.” And that’s the little push I need to take that leap.

“Oh god, I’m c-coming….” And I explode. Wave after wave washes over me as my body spasms and jerks, tenses and tightens. Until I’m a writhing bundle of nerves. It’s endless and the most intense orgasm that I’ve ever experienced in my life.

When I find my bearings, I open my eyes and see his hooded stare holding mine. His lips are swollen and glistening with my arousal. For a beat, we’re linked together without touching. An invisible cord is attached to both of us. Without looking away, he stands, unzips his jeans, and kicks them away. Licking his bottom lip, he steps out of his boxers and covers me with his massive body.

“Lift your ass so I can take off your skirt before I rip it off your body.” Yikes, it’s my favorite. With fumbling fingers, I unzip, and with one hand he yanks it off.

Now we’re skin on skin. No barriers in between.

With his hands framing my face, he slowly inches his way inside of me. The gasps, the moans, the sighs that fill the room say it all. The sensation of being completely filled by this man are overwhelming. A dream coming to fruition. Jax being mine and mine alone. It almost brings me to tears.

Once he’s fully seated, he slides in and out. Once I’ve accepted his length and girth he picks up the pace.

“You feel so fucking good, and it’s been so long, I can’t go slow…Fuck!”

“Don’t hold back. I want every fucking drop. Come for me, Jax. Come…”

Muscles flexing, back bowed, he pounds into me like a feral beast. It’s the match to my flame.

“I’m gonna come. Oh fuck...”I pulsate around him and my pussy is determined to milk his cock dry. A few more pumps and he roars.

“Fuckkkkkkkkk. Fuck, fuck.” I feel jet after jet shoot deep inside of me. Just when I think he has no more left, he surprises me. A few more pulses against my cervix and then he’s spent. Leaning his head in the center of my chest, he tries catching his breath. I’m starting to worry when minutes tick by and he doesn’t move.