Hard to Forget

  “It’s not too bad, I’m probably still semi-intoxicated. How long was I out?”

  “About two hours.”

  “Not long enough,” I moan.

  “Go and shower, you smell like cigarette smoke and beer. You won’t sleep well if you don’t.”

  He’s probably right.

  Jax comes over and helps me up and we walk into the bathroom. He turns the shower on and then looks at me. “You good to get in?”

  I’m not drunk, but I am slightly wobbly, but I nod. “Yeah.”

  He meets my eyes and then nods and walks out. I turn and start undressing. I get my top off, my bra and boots, then I get stuck on my jeans. I pull them down and try to get my feet out, end up hopping around the bathroom, and then fall with a loud crash when my foot gets stuck. I squeal as I land on the hard, cold floor. The door swings open and Jax comes in, staring down at me.

  “Jesus, Delaney, what the hell?”

  “I—” I cry out, covering my breasts. “I’m trying to get my jeans off—my foot got stuck.”

  He kneels down, wrapping an arm around my waist and sitting me up. My cheek presses against his hard chest and I suck in a breath, looking up at him. He stops tugging at my jeans and stares down at me, our eyes locking. I want to kiss him. I really, really want to kiss him. So I kiss him.

  I move up first, slamming my lips onto his. He grunts and loses his balance, falling backwards and landing on his ass. I stay in his arms and our lips stay together. I crush my mouth hard against his, kissing him hungrily, loving how damned good he tastes. He makes a throaty sound and then his hand is tangled in my hair and he’s kissing me back.

  Extra hard.

  My lips swell and become wet as my mouth moves over his, devouring him, tasting everything amazing about Jaxson Shields. His hand wraps around my hair and tugs my head back, and his mouth moves to my throat, sucking deep. I whimper when his hand goes up to cup my breast. Oh God, yes. I arch up to him, loving how it feels when his fingers glide over my nipples, before giving my breasts a firm, pleasurable squeeze.

  “Fuck, Laney,” he rasps, nipping my shoulder. “Tell me to stop.”

  As if.

  “Don’t stop, Jax. I … I want this.”

  “You’re drunk.”

  “No, not anymore. Fuck me, Jax. I just need you to fuck me.”

  “Jesus, baby,” he murmurs against my flesh. “You know I can’t do that.”

  I reach between us, taking hold of his erect cock under his jeans. “You can.”

  “Fuck,” he hisses. “Stop grabbing me like that.”

  “Please, Jax,” I say, sliding my hand into my panties and cupping my own sex. I close my eyes and moan. “I want you.”

  “Fucking mother fucker,” he grunts. “Get your hand out of there, kitten.”

  “Make me,” I whimper, stroking his cock with my palm, while my other hand moves over my pussy, stroking my own clit.

  “Delaney,” he says, his voice a tight rasp.

  “If you want me to stop, you have to make me.”

  He mutters something, then slides his hand into my panties over mine. He grabs my hand as if to move it, but I turn my hand and let his fall over my pussy. He groans, I cry out and then he stops fighting me and slides his finger through my damp flesh. I let out a long, satisfied moan as he dips a finger, sliding it inside my body. Then he starts fucking me with it.

  “God, Jax,” I gasp.

  “Quiet, kitten. Kyle is outside.”

  He brings a hand around and places it over my mouth, while his other works my flesh. He’s got his back against the wall, ass on the ground, and my back is pressed to his chest and I’m kind of sprawled over his lap, one hand tucked behind me, stroking his cock through his pants, the other holding onto his leg tightly as my orgasm builds.

  Jax gets me there quickly, and I explode around his hand only minutes later, whimpering and arching, little bolts of pleasure shooting from my core and darting through my entire body. Jax slides his hand out of my panties and I move, turning so I’m on my hands and knees, facing him. I push up so I’m on my knees and slide my jeans the rest of the way down, taking my panties with me.

  “Delaney,” he says, his voice thick and hungry, his eyes traveling down to my pussy.

  “Don’t stop me now, Jax. We’ve both wanted this for weeks and you know it.”

  “It’s too big of a risk. I might want it, but fuck, Laney, we’re dancing with fire.”

  “Fuck fire, I want you and I’m not going to deny it anymore.”

  I discard my jeans and then move towards him, reaching for his belt. He sits in silence as I unbuckle it and slide it off, before taking the button of his jeans and popping it open. He hisses when I slide my hand into them, finding him commando beneath. “Handsome doesn’t wear boxers, hot,” I murmur.

  He reaches out, taking my hand, pausing it as if trying one last time to stop me. I lean forward and press my lips to his, kissing him into submission. He goes easily, without a fight, and releases my hand. I reach into his jeans and release his cock. Holy shit. It’s big, and seriously thick. Yum. I stroke up and down a few times, then move up so I’m straddling him.

  “We don’t have a condom,” he rasps.

  “I’m on the pill and I’m clean, Jax.”

  “Me too, I never go ungloved.”

  I stare into his eyes and I can see he’s telling the truth. I take a risk and raise myself up, pressing his cock to my entrance and then slowly sliding down over it. We both gasp as he fills me, stretching me almost painfully as I move down.

  “Fucking. Tight,” he grinds out, grabbing my hips and squeezing the flesh there.

  “So big,” I whimper. “God your dick is so fucking big.”

  “Jesus, Laney, I’ll come if you keep that up.”

  I close my eyes, sliding down further onto his length. When I hit his lap, and he’s fully sheathed inside me, I start rocking. He grunts loudly and uses my hips to guide me, showing me just how he likes to be ridden. I copy his motions, wrapping an arm around his neck, pressing the other against his chest, and quickening my pace.

  “You feel so good, Jax, you feel so…” I gasp. “Good.”

  “Fuck, kitten, so fucking hot.”

  I ride him harder, my hips rotating, my knees aching against the cold floor. Jax holds me tight, jaw clenching, eyes locked on mine. My orgasm is building and I tilt my body, getting his cock right where I need it. I whimper his name, fighting back my screams. I can’t allow Kyle to hear.

  “I’m going to explode, kitten,” he rasps. “Fuck. Holy fuck.”

  “Hang on for me, handsome,” I cry out, so close. So damned close.

  “Baby.”

  “Yes.”

  I close my eyes and explode around him, my pussy clenching tight around him, my body shuddering, my mouth open and little whimpers escaping. Jax makes a guttural sound, and then he’s thrusting upwards, hard and deep, little jerks of his hips. I can feel him pulsing inside me as I squeeze him with each delicious pulsing of my sex.

  When I come down from the amazing high, I drop my head into his shoulder, my body covered in a light sheen of sweat. I can feel his heart pounding, and his breathing is ragged. We say nothing for a while, then he takes my shoulders, gently pushing me back. “You have to shower, kitten.”

  I press my lips to his salty neck and he makes a pleasured sound in his throat, but keeps pushing me back, sliding his cock from my depths. I moan at the loss of him, but do as he asks and stand, moving my happily satisfied body into the shower. The hot water hits me and I moan, closing my eyes. I hear Jax shuffling about, no doubt cleaning up, then he opens the shower door and says, “I should get out of here, just in case Kyle comes in.”

  I nod, meeting his gaze. He looks at my naked body and his jaw tics. Our eyes hold for a long, long moment, before he nods and steps out, leaving the bathroom. I smile and press my back against the wall. That was the most amazing sex I’ve ever had in my life, hands down. And it was with Jaxson
Shields. God, yippee.

  Today ended on a high.

  I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

  * * *

  I wake in the morning to a pounding head and a delicious ache between my legs. It takes me a moment to remember what went down with Jax and me, and when I recall it, my body coils tightly, my sex clenches and panic swells in my chest. Jax gave me the most amazing orgasm of my life last night, but I also put my job on the line by begging for it.

  I sit up in bed, groaning as the drums start playing in my skull. I press my fingers to my temples and rub, with no relief. I push to my feet. I need water, coffee and serious pain meds. Stat. I push the thoughts of Jax and me, and our incredible fuck session from my mind as I step out into the main living area.

  Jax and Kyle are in the kitchen, talking low, and they’ve both got coffee mugs in their hands. When they hear me approach, they look over. Jax’s eyes flash to mine and images of last night come back. God, he felt amazing. He knows how to work what’s between his legs. I swallow and look away quickly, muttering, “I just need coffee then I’ll go home.”

  “You’re in a hotel,” Kyle says. “Nak booked it.”

  “Right,” I mutter.

  “Why the hell is she in a hotel?” Jax asks.

  “She isn’t safe at home.”

  “Then she should be here, where you are,” he grunts.

  It’s actually a smart idea.

  “I’m not sure that’s part of the job description,” Kyle points out.

  “Why not? We’re going to New York in two days and she’s back on the case then. She might as well be here. She can relieve you if you need.”

  “You only have one spare room,” Kyle protests.

  “I have a couch, Kyle. I’m sure you two can swap.”

  Jax wants me to stay here? God.

  “Nak probably won’t go for it,” Kyle keeps arguing.

  “I’ll ring Nak. She’s my bodyguard and I’m paying her. Staying in a hotel is as unsafe as her staying at home.”

  Without allowing for any further argument, Jax pulls out his cell and calls Nak. I watch him walk out of the room, and then I turn to Kyle. He’s watching me, arms crossed.

  “What are you glaring at me for?” I mutter.

  “You were extremely unprofessional last night.”

  My heart starts pounding. He doesn’t know I slept with Jax, does he? I keep my face blank and shrug.

  “Going out and getting drunk like that…” He trails off, eyes narrowed.

  “Maybe you should try it, might loosen you up.”

  Thank God. He doesn’t know about Jax and me.

  “I care about my job.”

  “Oh come off it,” I snap, waving a hand at him. “One day you’re going to stop acting like I’m just here for the fun of it.”

  “Aren’t you?”

  “No, Kyle, I’m not. I have the same passion you have.”

  He snorts. “That’s a lie.”

  I shake my head. “You know what, I’m not even going to argue with you. It’s like talking to a worm.”

  He puffs his chest out and crosses his arms. “I could say the same.”

  “Here’s something, go and suck a—”

  “Delaney, Kyle.”

  We hear Jax’s voice and with one last glare at each other, turn and stare at him. He walks in, eyes flicking to us both. “Nak said my idea is good and he’s down with it. Delaney, if you’re up for it, he said you can start rotating shifts with Kyle again.”

  I turn to Kyle and grin. He looks like he wants to reach over and throttle me. Good. Jerk.

  “Fine,” Kyle grunts. “What’s on the agenda today?”

  “I’m at my office today.”

  Kyle nods. “I’ll prepare the car.”

  When he exits the room, I look over to Jax. I’m not entirely sure how he’s going to react. I’m fairly certain he’s going to tell me it was a huge mistake and that we can’t do it again, which is really what I should be saying to him. Instead we just stand there, staring at each other. I wonder if he’s thinking what I’m thinking—that I so desperately want to jump his bones right now.

  “Fuck it,” he mutters and strides towards me.

  He catches me around the waist and hauls my body up to his, before slamming his mouth over mine. This kiss is deep, hard and short, but it’s enough to make my knees tremble and my entire body break out into a thousand tiny shivers. He pulls back after a moment, his eyes scanning my face, then he turns and stalks off upstairs.

  Well okay then.

  That absolutely did not answer any of my questions, but damn … what a way to start the morning.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Kyle goes into the next room to rest around lunchtime, and I take over the afternoon shift. We’re at Jax’s office, and he’s busy on the phone with a long-distance meeting, so I’m staying very quiet. My back is pressed against the wall and I don’t miss the hungry look in Jax’s eyes as he watches me, not once removing his gaze from my face.

  Talk about intense.

  Just as he’s wrapping up his call, someone knocks on his office door. I turn and peer through the peephole to see Tori standing on the other side, her eyes to the floor. God dammit. This woman has truly shit timing. With a sigh, I open the door. When her eyes fall on me, she flinches and mutters, “You’re still here.”

  “Nice to see you too, Tori.”

  “Whatever,” she mutters, shoving past me.

  Jax hangs up just as she appears, and their eyes meet for a second. She turns to me and mutters, “Can you give us a minute alone?”

  I want to slap her.

  “Fine, I’ll be in the other room.”

  I make sure the door is locked, don’t look at Jax, and head into the private bedroom. I flop onto the bed, wondering what’s happening out there. It’s silent for a while, then I hear raised voices, though I can’t quite make out what they’re saying. All I know is it sounds as if Tori is crying and Jax sounds angry.

  I can’t help myself, I push off the bed and walk towards the door, pressing my ear to it.

  “He understands, Jax,” Tori cries.

  “He doesn’t fucking understand, Tori, because he’s in love with you.”

  “I told him about us and he said he expected it, why can’t that be enough?”

  “Because he’s my damned best friend, too,” Jax roars. “And you’re asking me to break his heart.”

  “I thought you cared about me,” she screams.

  “Fuck me, Tori, I do but we went over this when you came by just the other night.”

  “We didn’t do a lot of talking two nights ago, Jax, and you know it.”

  My heart starts to pound. What does she mean by that? God, she can only mean one thing. It all makes sense now. Two nights ago was when Jax walked out of my apartment and didn’t speak to me for a few days—after we had been intimate together. He was sleeping with Tori? Something I’m unfamiliar with rises in my chest and spills over. It’s pure, raw jealousy. I gave him a piece of myself last night, I risked my job, I made a fucking fool of myself and in the end, he’s been busy sleeping with Tori.

  “Enough, Tori,” Jax barks.

  “Don’t you care about anything we’ve done? Does none of it mean anything to you?” she shouts.

  “I can’t give you what you want.”

  No, because you’re a lying, cheap, fucking manwhore.

  I open the door, having heard enough. Jax is holding Tori, and both their heads swing to me as I storm out. I glare at Jax and he flinches. I know, I just know he sees the hurt in my eyes. I’m probably overreacting, I get that, but there was something in the kiss we shared, something intense and I thought … God, I don’t know what I thought but I certainly didn’t expect him to jump into bed with Tori the very same day. That hurts. It hurts to my very core. I don’t want to analyze why it affects me so heavily, all I know is that I’m angry. So damned angry.

  “I’m going to tell Kyle to come back, I’m not feeling well.
”

  I walk past the two of them, and Jax lets Tori go, taking a step towards me. I don’t let him get close, I swing the door open and slam it loudly. With shaky hands, I pull out my phone and call Nak.

  “Laney, what’s up?”

  “I think I’m sick, Nak. Kyle is having a well-deserved rest. Can you put Duke on until he’s ready to take over?”

  “You’re sick? What’s happened?”

  “I, ah, I threw up. I thought it was nothing but it’s continuing.”

  “Jesus. Can you wait ten, while I send Duke over?”

  “Sure,” I whisper.

  “You going to be good for the weekend?”

  “I should be fine, these things don’t usually last long.”

  I sit outside Jax’s door, and just before Duke arrives, Tori goes storming out. She glares at me, her face all red, and then she disappears down the hall. A moment later Jax appears.

  “Delaney,” he begins.

  “Save your shit for someone who cares. I’m going home, Duke will take over until Kyle wakes.”

  “Jesus, kitten, you don’t know what you think you know…”

  “Don’t.” I spin around. “Don’t you fucking call me that.”

  “Delaney, if you’ll let me explain…”

  I throw a hand up. “No.”

  “Delaney,” he barks. “Just list—”

  Duke appears then, cutting him off. I don’t let him finish. I push off the wall and walk over, giving him a weak smile.

  “Laney, you look like shit.”

  “I feel like it. Thanks for covering for me, Duke.”

  He shrugs. “No problem.”

  I don’t look at Jax as I exit the building.

  My heart feels like it’s being ripped into a thousand tiny pieces.

  * * *

  Jax—Just answer the phone, Delaney.

  Jax—Fuck me, I need to explain.

  Jax—It wasn’t what you think. I won’t explain this over a message.

  Jax—Will you answer the fucking phone?