37. Jaxcen

Chapter thirty-seven

Jaxcen

Wear whatever you like, little mouse. Today is Christmas. Find me under the mistletoe. x D

H is note makes me smile, excitement rushing through me and I can’t be sure if it’s because it’s Christmas, or because I get to see him… under the mistletoe.

I shower and dress quickly, my body sore, but the good kind of sore that reminds me of the great sex we had last night.

I’d never felt more sensual. More beautiful than in that moment when he was watching me ride him.

I felt exquisite.

Downstairs in the Palace, people are laughing and rushing around, and through the windows I watch as the women decorate a long table right in the middle of the street getting ready for lunch.

Moving through the bar, and into the open doorway of Devon’s office, I see him sitting in his chair, legs up on the desk as he stares at the computer screen in front of him.

A king in his throne.

“Get your sweet arse over here.” His deep voice rumbles, even though his eyes haven’t moved from the screen .

Grinning, I make my way to him, and the moment I’m next to him, he pulls me down to his lap, a squeal escaping me from the sudden action.

“Merry Christmas, little mouse.” He winks at me right before he claims my lips.

I moan into his mouth, linking my wrists behind his neck as I melt into him.

Gosh, I could stay in his lap forever and never need another thing.

“Ah, boss.” Ronnie’s voice comes from the doorway, and Devon grins against my lips before pulling back to look at him. “Lunch will be ready to serve in thirty minutes, and also, your cousin is just pulling in.”

“Thanks, man,” Devon says, before planting another kiss on my lips, and then spinning his chair, helping me off him as he stands. “It’s time for Christmas.”

My heart flutters.

I’ve never had Christmas somewhere else before, and while I know I’m going to miss Presley desperately, I’m not at all upset that I won’t see my parents.

In fact, I think I’ll be happy to never see them again.

With my hand in his, Devon leads us out into the street, the warm summer sun already shining high in the sky, and Christmas carols playing in the background from a few speakers scattered around the place.

A black car pulls up towards the end of the table, and a moment later, Liam, Devon’s cousin, gets out, his smile wide as he waves over the top of his car at us.

“Hey devil.”

I glance up at Devon in time to see him roll his eyes. “Hey, shithead. You pick up the packages?”

“Sure did.” He slaps the roof of his car before moving to the front passenger door and opening it.

Rising to my toes, I try to peek in past Liam to see who it is, but can’t see anything until a man steps out with a black bag covering his head. The man grumbles something I can’t hear, and a moment later, Liam tugs the black bag off his head, revealing dark hair and dark eyes that clearly resemble Devon.

“Was the hood really necessary?” Warrick barks, blinking quickly as his eyes adjust to the bright sun.

“Maybe. Maybe not.” Devon deadpans. “Your wife has mad torture skills. I wouldn’t put it past her to torture the whereabouts of Marilda and Damon out of you.”

“Fuck you. I’d never give them up.”

Even though their words to each other are harsh, I can’t help but smile, and as soon as Liam closes the car door, I rush forward and throw my arms around Devon’s brother.

“Thank you for helping to save my life.”

A hesitant awkward pat lands on my back before I pull back to see the eyes so similar to Devon’s.

“I guess you’re bomb girl?”

I giggle and Devon snarls.

“Do not call her that. Her name is Jaxcen.”

Warrick does a bow at me like he’s greeting royalty right before he flips his older brother off. “Now where’s my fucking kid?”

“He’s right here,” Marilda’s voice startles Warrick, our gazes darting to the path where she stands, her son Damon sitting in the stroller, playing with a toy. “But if you say another foul word in front of our son, Warrick, so help me God, I will remove your tongue from your mouth.”

Warrick’s eyes soften in an instant, his temperament changing, and the harsh glare he wore moments ago falls away.

He strides towards them, and I think he’s about to say hi to his son, but he rounds the stroller, taking Marilda by surprise, lifting her off her feet and smacking his lips to hers.

The stroller, now long forgotten, starts to roll on the path towards the gutter, but Devon hurries forward, saving his nephew as Marilda wraps her legs around Warrick’s waist and moans into their kiss.

“Allegra!” Devon calls over his shoulder, and she comes running over from the table where she was pretending to do something, but really she was just gawking at the scene playing out before us.

“Yes?” she asks as she nears.

“Please take Damon for a walk so these two can go somewhere else ,” Devon says pointedly, “to have some privacy.”

“Of course.” Allegra hurries to take the stroller, pushing it up the street away from the near fornication that’s currently unravelling before our eyes.

“Damn. I should have brought popcorn,” Liam mutters from beside us, and when I smile up at him, he winks.

I like Liam. He’s playful.

“Dev, I could have taken Damon for a walk,” I say quietly, and he drags his eyes from his brother to me.

“Nope. I need you here. For your present.”

I frown, watching as Devon nods to Liam, who then opens the back car door and helps a woman out.

I know before he even takes the black bag from her head that it’s my sister. I’d know her dainty frame anywhere.

She’s blinking, trying to adjust to the daylight even as I throw myself at her, wrapping my arms around her neck as I start to sob.

“Hey, sis,” Presley says into my hair, weaving her arms around me and running her hands up and down my back soothingly. “Shhh. It’s okay. I’m here.”

I can hear Devon and Liam chatting quietly somewhere behind me, but I can’t let go of my sister. I just can’t.

“Hey, Jax. It’s alright.” She pulls back looking into my eyes, her blue ones matching mine. “I’m so sorry about everything that happened. I didn’t want you to hand yourself over to them.”

I shake my head, batting at my tears. “There’s no way I’d ever let them hurt you, Pres. No way in hell.”

“Come on you two. No tears on Christmas Day.” Liam grins coming up to stand next to us, and my sister shoots daggers his way.

“No one asked for your advice,” she snaps at him, and my brows shoot up .

“Oh come on now. Why are you still so grumpy at me? I told you I would bring you to your sister, and that’s exactly what I’ve done.”

She scoffs. “You kidnapped me. That’s what you did.”

My mouth drops open as Presley pops her hip with her hand on it as she points a Christmas themed talon-like nail in his direction.

“You kidnapped her?” I ask and he shrugs.

“It’s a Marx thing.”

I roll my eyes as Devon chuckles, but the moment I turn a glare his way, he shuts up.

“She doesn’t know Liam, little mouse. She wouldn’t go with him, let alone trust him. How else was I meant to give you this gift?”

My shoulders drop as my expression does.

“Literally, so many ways other than kidnapping,” I deadpan, and he ignores me.

“Welcome to my town, Presley. I hope you and Jaxcen enjoy spending Christmas with us.” Then he takes my hand in his. “Come on, little mouse, let’s have lunch.”

Presley’s brows shoot up, and she mouths ‘little mouse’ to me before grinning, and I can’t help but giggle.

The street fills with the town locals, even the drunks venture from the bar for lunch, as do the Burlingtons, still wearing their typical morbid expressions, but out in the sun like this, they look a fraction less miserable.

Their pain. Their loss. It will never leave them. I can see that, which is really sad.

I haven’t asked what happened to them, but I remember their words when I lost my shit and started threatening people with a knife.

They’ve lost people very dear to them.

Devon ushers me to sit at the end of the table as he takes the head seat, and Presley sits next to me, while Liam sits across from her, shooting her a wink which wins him a glare.

I grin.

If she lightens up, I get the feeling Presley would really get along with Liam. He’s playful, something I know my sister is too when she feels safe.

“Wasn’t sure if you’d make it,” Devon snickers, and I glance up to see Finn pulling out the chair across from me and flopping down in it, wearing a black eye.

“Wasn’t sure I’d make it either,” he says grimly.

“Is Frankie… okay?” I ask, and he nods.

“She’s full of fucking energy today.”

“Is she coming for lunch?” I wonder and he shakes his head.

“Nope. Said she doesn’t do Christmas or Easter. Only Valentine’s Day and Halloween.”

I grin. I think Frankie and I could be good friends.

I introduce the people around us to Presley, and the banter around the table is entertaining as we eat, cheers also ringing up an hour later when Marilda and Warrick finally join us.

He scoops up Damon from the stroller and sits him on his lap while he eats, not letting anyone else have him.

It makes me smile.

Obviously their situation isn’t the best, and I can imagine there’s a lot of anger involved, but it’s clear he loves Marilda and Damon. It’s sad to think he has to leave them again soon.

After we’ve eaten way too much, I take Presley for a tour of the town, and we end up sitting on one of the park benches looking out over Timber Valley.

“Have you heard from Eddie since…” I trail off, not wanting to say since the day Dr Xavier took me , but Presley shakes her head.

“Please tell me you’re not going to marry him.”

“Oh, I’m definitely not. My eyes are wide open now.”

She nods, angling towards me as she takes me in.

“You seem different. More… real.”

My brows shoot up. “As opposed to?”

“Lifeless. A robot. A yes person.”

Sighing, I can’t even be angry about that truth, no matter how hard it is to hear.

“I lost myself to the treatments… I was still in there,” I tap the side of my head, “but scared. Terrified. A little mouse.”

“Is that why Devon calls you little mouse?” Presley snaps, looking like she’s ready to find him and rip him a new one.

“No. I thought it was because he thought I was weak, but he said he thinks I’m strong.”

She frowns. “So, it’s like a pet name?”

“I guess.” I shrug, still not really knowing the reason behind it myself.

“What’s the story with you two?” Presley asks. “He looks at you like he wants to eat you.”

I shrug. “That’s because he does.”

Presley’s mouth drops open before she bursts out laughing. “You little hoe.” She slaps my shoulder. “I’m so freaking proud of you.”

I laugh too, and damn, it feels good. Light. I feel light and… free.

When our laughter dies down, I stare back out at the valley below, wondering how many people in the houses down there are having a good Christmas, and how many are scared, or alone, or on the edge of their own cliff.

“I hate them,” I say quietly, before glancing back at my sister. “Mum and Dad. I hate them, Pres. I’ll never forgive them for not believing me. I’ll never forgive them for putting you into that room with that vile man.”

Presley’s eyes well with tears. “I know, Jax. I hate them, too. I should have done more back then, and the other day…” She trails off, shaking her head in frustration.

“What could you have done? You would have gotten hurt, either of the times.”

“But you sacrificed yourself for me. Twice. I’m the big sister. I should be doing that for you.” She sobs, and I throw my arms around her as we embrace.

“Stop beating yourself up for the things our parents have done,” I say into her hair. “Now tell me. How pathetic is Dad being about losing his fingers? ”

Presley bursts out laughing, leaning back to look at me. “He’s so pathetic. It’s the best thing that’s ever happened.”

We both burst into fits of laughter, our giggles floating out over the cliffs of Woodall Ridge, to fall over the town of Fox Pines below.

The day has been wonderful. The best Christmas I ever remember having, and when we rejoin the celebrations on Main Street, Devon is just walking out of the Palace, probably coming from his office or his suite.

We sit and have a few drinks, and finally, Presley stops glaring at Liam and starts laughing with him, and the moment Devon catches my eye, gesturing his head for me to go to him, I stand and leave the celebrations, going for a stroll with the town’s king.

We do a walk around the block and I chat away, telling him stories about my Christmases with Presley growing up, and then he leads me through the pub’s back entrance, and up the stairs.

I assume he’s taking me to his suite, where we will likely disappear for an hour, but then he leads me to the attic door, and up another flight of stairs.

“What are we doing up here?” I ask, remembering the last time we were here.

I’d snuck up here and hidden, watching him freak out down on the street while he and his men searched for me.

That was back when he led me to believe that he was going to kill me. Or at least, could kill me if I didn’t behave.

“The view is good from here.” He smirks, looking pointedly at me as he stalks towards me while I back up, and grin, making sure he sees me roll my eyes. “Why did you cry that day when I found you praying up here?”

Wow, that day feels so long ago but it was just a few days ago. On Wednesday.

“Remember I told you, the prayer was because the devil was coming for me.” I remind him. “I thought you were going to kill me, but then you said you’ll always come for me, and I wasn’t scared of that. You were the devil and I wasn’t scared, but the funny thing is, God, always made me feel scared. Shameful. Not good enough.”

Devon nods. “I remember. I also asked you if you really wanted to be saved from me.” He shoves me backwards then, onto the box seat much like he did that day. Leaning over me, I’m forced to lay back like last time too. “And then I said, one day soon, I’m gonna fuck you right here in front of this window. I’m gonna let the whole fucking town see how much your cunt craves my cock.”

My cheeks flare to life at the reminder of his words, and heat pools between my legs.

“You’re not going to do that.” I challenge, and he perks a single brow.

“Aren’t I?”

There’s no need to try and coerce me, I’m right there with him as our lips clash, my hands fisting in his hair and his gripping my arse, squeezing.

In a matter of seconds, he frees me of my panties, flips me on my belly, and hitches up my dress.

“I’m going to punish this pussy, Jaxcen,” he rasps, sinking two fingers inside me even as he hoists me up to set me on all fours.

“Yes. Please.” I beg like a wanton whore, desperate for him. Desperate for every little thing he wants to do to my body.

I can hear his belt buckle and then his fly as his fingers move inside me, before he removes them and replaces the loss with the thick girth of his cock.

I cry out, my eyes wide as he slams into me, my gaze on the street below, on his men, and the women, and the fact anyone could look up here and see us just adds to the erotic experience.

“Fuck, I love your tight cunt, Jax. It was made for my cock,” he grits out, pumping his dick into me as I try to remain upright. “Your arse looks so good. I’d fuck that too if I didn’t care about wasting my cum.”

“Just do it,” I pant, not entirely sure I want that, because I literally have no idea if I can handle it, but my words make him groan, like he’s contemplating giving up on the idea of trying to knock me up and fuck my arse, but then his fingers slide around his cock, like he’s getting them wet, and then he presses one to my back entrance.

A thrill rushes through me. I really loved it when he did that to me last time. I wasn’t sure I could take it, but it was something else entirely, so I can’t help but push back against him, taking his finger deep.

“Awww, fuck yesss. I wish you could see how your arse opens up for me. So fucking greedy.”

A whimper escapes me as his words work their magic just as much as his dick and fingers do.

“I’m putting another finger in,” he says as he presses another digit to my back passage. “Relax for me, beautiful. Let me in.”

I moan as I relax, wanting more than his finger there.

I want him to just fill me in every way possible, and I don’t even understand that, yet it’s a yearning I can’t deny.

“Fuck, yes. Open up that filthy hole for me even more.”

I fall to my elbows, which seems to help, opening my passage to him, and it’s then that I feel him adding a third finger.

“Atta girl, you take me so fucking well.”

I moan loudly, feeling my climax rushing at me fast, and Devon must be able to tell, because he starts thrusting faster. His dick. His fingers. Sending me into the stratosphere.

“Fuuuck. I can feel my cock with my fingers,” he moans, his voice a higher pitch than I’ve ever heard it, and so too is his guttural roar as he comes hard.

I’ve completely forgotten about the fact people could be watching. I don’t even care. Let them see. Let everyone see the way Devon loves me.

That thought has my eyes darting open.

Where the hell did that thought come from?

Devon doesn’t love me.

I mean, his dick loves me. But he, the ruthless devil. He doesn’t love me.

“Fuck, Jax. I’ll never get enough of you. ”

His words are a whisper. Almost like he didn’t want me to hear them, and it makes me smile.

Does he feel it too? This thing between us?

Is it more than just sex? Is that even possible after only knowing each other for only a few days?

Lust is a powerful thing. My guess is that it’s easy to confuse lust and love when it’s as epic as this.

I’m so glad I went into St Catherine’s Church on Tuesday night. If I hadn’t, I fear I would never have known what it’s really like to feel this cherished. To feel this alive.

He’s awakened me. Both carnally and spiritually, and I know my life will never be the same.

When he pulls free, he rolls me to my back and repositions me, so my legs are up against the wall.

If anyone looks up, they’ll have a weird view of my legs and feet, the thought making me smile.

“Are you really still trying to knock me up?” I ask him, giggling as he nods, not an ounce of shame written across his expression.

“Yes.”

“You know, it’s probably already happened,” I tell him and he shrugs.

“Won’t hurt to make sure.”

“You’re crazy.” I giggle, and his dark eyes, lit with humour meet mine.

“Absolutely.”

We stay up in the attic for a while longer. Devon lays next to me and puts his legs up on the wall too, mimicking my position as he stares at me.

I feel like he wants to say something, but I don’t want to push him. I’m content to be in this moment, feeling the happiest I’ve ever felt, sharing it with him.

Eventually we clean ourselves up and go back down to the street, where night has begun to fall, the town locals now extremely merry.

I meet my sister out on the street, realising that it’s time for her to leave, as Liam leads her to his car .

“Be right back,” Devon whispers against my head, before pressing a kiss to it, and Presley grins, wagging her brows.

“Damn, girl. He’s smitten.”

I beam back, and glance at Liam, who quickly looks away and opens the back passenger door for Presley.

“Time to go.”

Presley rolls her eyes at him, and leans in to hug me, but falters, her eyes moving over my shoulder.

Turning to see what caught her eye, I see Devon, coming down the steps of the Palace carrying a suitcase.

My suitcase.

I blink a few times, words not finding their way from my brain to my lips as Devon doesn’t make eye contact with me and passes my bag to Liam, who puts it in the trunk of his car.

“Wha—” I glance from Liam to Devon who finally locks eyes with me, and they are full of regret. “What’s happening?”

He doesn’t say anything for the longest time, but the moment I go to take a step closer to him, he takes a step back and finally speaks.

“It’s time for you to go.”