Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

The silence in my house was unnerving. It never used to be. I'd lived alone for years and if I was honest, I'd relished the silence. But then not long after I'd moved to Premonition Pointe, my sister Charlotte had shown up and she and Minx had moved in. Silence wasn't in either of their natures.

I glanced at the foot of my bed and spotted the little Chihuahua curled up, sleeping soundly. She really was cute in her sweet little daisy-print dress. And I had to admit that once she'd gotten used to me and her new home, she'd calmed down quite a bit.

Of course, I was half convinced that she was just depressed since her favorite person in the whole world hadn't been around for six weeks. I let out a long sigh and then snuggled down into my covers.

Just as my eyes were drifting closed, Minx suddenly jumped up and started barking at the top of her lungs.

"Minx! What the heck is it?" I shot out of bed and Minx followed suit, jumping to the floor and sprinting toward the closed door. "Did your mama come home tonight?" I asked her as I opened the door.

The little dog darted out and ran full speed toward the living room. I grabbed my robe and wrapped it around myself as I followed her. "Char?" I called. "What happened? I thought you were staying with Denver."

"It's not Char," a raspy, familiar voice said.

I froze, afraid I was dreaming.

"Marion?" Jax asked softly. "Is it okay that I'm here?"

I blinked rapidly as my eyes finally adjusted to the darkness. The man I'd ached for night after night stood in front of me, holding Minx as she excitedly covered his cheek with doggie kisses. Her little tail was wagging so fast it was just a blur in the semi-darkness. "Jax?" I finally forced out, my voice cracking.

"Surprise." He flashed me a wry smile. "I would have called, but once I decided I needed to see you, I just jumped in my truck and headed straight here."

I let out a rush of air I hadn't even realized I was holding and cried with delight as I ran to wrap my arms around him. "You're here," I said into his neck. "I can't believe it."

He circled one strong arm around my waist and pulled me in until I was molded against the right side of his body. We stood there like that for a long moment, Jax and I practically fused together in a tight hug with Jax still holding Minx.

"How long are you staying?" I finally asked.

Jax released me, and after giving Minx a kiss on her head, he gently placed her on the couch. He took me by the hand and led me through my bedroom and into my en suite bathroom. Without saying a word, he turned the water on in the shower. He took a step back and without turning around, he placed one hand on the glass, bent his head, and ran a hand through his hair.

Exhaustion rolled off him in waves, and I couldn't shake the overwhelming feeling that he was near a breaking point. Silently, I stepped up behind him, circled my arms around him and went to work slowly unbuttoning his flannel shirt.

Jax lifted his head and placed both of his hands on my forearms as his thumbs gently caressed my skin as I worked. Once his shirt was unbuttoned, I tugged it off and then circled him until I stood in front of him and went to work on his jeans. Jax let me completely undress him and then watched with smoky eyes as I tugged my pajamas off. When I was finally bare, he sucked in a sharp breath and whispered, "God, I've missed you."

Tugging him into the shower, I let out a contented sigh and said, "Tell me I'm not dreaming."

His lips twitched into a hint of a smile. "You're not dreaming."

"Is that a promise?"

He gently pushed me into the spray and then dipped his head, claiming my lips for his own. His kiss was slow yet demanding. The kind of kiss that was intended to remind me who I belonged to. Jax buried his hands in my hair, tilting my head to one side to kiss me deeper.

Everything about him was passion and need with a hint of desperation. The past six weeks melted away, and I reveled in being consumed by this man I loved with my entire soul. Jax trailed one hand down the back of my neck, his rough fingers gentle as he pulled away, short of breath. He pressed his forehead to mine and his hard body started to tremble.

"Are you cold?" I asked, turning him so that his body was under the warm spray.

But Jax just shook his head, running both hands over my skin as if he wasn't quite sure I was real.

I got the distinct impression that he needed something more from me other than just sex. There was no doubt he had every intention of making love to me, but right now, he needed me . Needed to be taken care of. Shown that he was missed and not a lost soul to the wolf curse. I had every intention of showing him that he was important. That he belonged right here with me, wolf curse or no. None of that mattered to me. I pressed my hand to his chest just over his heart and said, "I love you, Jax Williams."

Gooseflesh popped out over his skin despite the hot water sluicing over him.

"Let me take care of you," I whispered as I pumped some shampoo into the palm of my hand.

Jax didn't say anything. He just closed his eyes and leaned into me, pressing soft kisses to my collar bone.

I wrapped my arms around him and brought my hands up, massaging his scalp as I washed his hair.

Letting out the smallest groan of pleasure, Jax rested his forehead on my shoulder as I poured every ounce of my love into washing his worries away. I took my time reacquainting myself with his body, running my hands over his shoulders and gently kneading the tension I found there.

Jax reached up and covered one of my hands with his own and then brought my palm to his lips, kissing me softly. A shiver skittered over my skin, and all I wanted in that moment was to be held by the man I'd been missing for weeks.

As if Jax could read my mind, he turned and tugged me into his arms, burying one hand in my hair and pressing one to the small of my back as he molded me to him and claimed my lips with a passion so fierce it took my breath away.

This was what I'd been missing. The connection we'd shared had always been intense, but this was something else. Something more. A coming together of two souls. I hadn't felt right since the day Jax had left town. Suddenly I felt whole again and as if my world had righted itself.

"I need you, Marion," Jax whispered as he trailed kisses down my neck.

"I'm yours," I answered, digging my nails into his back.

Jax let out a low growl before turning me so that I was facing the wall. His hands cupped my heavy breasts and then one slid between my legs, making my eyes roll to the back of my head as pleasure rippled from my center all the way to my fingertips.

"You're always ready for me," he said, his finger stroking me.

"I was ready the moment I stepped into this shower." Placing my hands against the shower tile, I braced myself and glanced back at him. "Now, Jax."

His lips twitched into a sexy half smile as he grabbed my hips and yanked me against him, his erection pressed against my backside. I ground against him, desperate for him to take me.

He thrust against me once and then pulled back. In the next moment, he was sliding into me, pulling a desperate moan from my lips.

"Never again, Marion," he said as he buried himself inside of me. "From this day forward, I'm going to start and end each day with you beside me. Understand?"

"Yes," I said with a nod. "Every morning and every night."

"That's right. You're mine." He pulled out and slammed back in as his hands clutched my breasts.

"Yours," I repeated, covering one of his hands and guiding his fingers to lightly pinch one of my nipples.

He chuckled softly. "Don't be so impatient, love. I was getting to that."

"I. Can't. Wait," I panted.

And then his hands were everywhere. My mind was blown with sensation as I got completely lost in Jax. He claimed me, made every inch of my body his. And when we both finally cried out from pleasure, my whole body went limp. If it hadn't been for Jax's strong arms holding me up, I'd have crumpled right there in the shower.

"Damn, I missed that," Jax breathed.

I let out a small chuckle and said, "Welcome home."