“’Night,” he says, meeting my eyes for a brief second before looking away.
I get my suitcase and put it next to the pullout, then I pull out some sweats and a tank and go into the bathroom to get changed. I brush my teeth, brush my hair, then head out and crawl into the Egyptian cotton bedsheets and pull the feather cover over my tired body. I hear Jax shuffling around, and then his light flicks out. Duke takes the pullout on the other side of the room and is snoring softly in no time.
My phone buzzes beside me, and I pull it into my hand, glancing at the screen through blurred vision.
Jax—I didn’t get to say good night, that fucking kills. But good night, kitten. Sleep well.
I smile and quickly type back.
Delaney—Night, handsome. Dream about me.
I hear his low chuckle come from the room.
Jax—That’s a given.
I tuck the phone under my pillow and my eyes flutter closed, I can’t fight it a second longer. I’ve crashed.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
I wake at six, before anyone else. I slide out of bed and pad quietly into the kitchen to make some coffee. Devon must be guarding outside the door, because he’s not inside. Duke is on his side in the other pullout, arm thrown over his face. I make my coffee and then walk to the door, opening it. Devon is on a big comfy-looking chair, face in his hands.
“Morning. I see you’re alert.”
He looks over to me and grins. “I heard you come in. My ears are perfectly alert.”
I snort and flick my fingers at him. “Scoot over.”
He moves over and I slide in beside him, sighing as I take a deep drink of coffee.
“How was the night?” I ask.
“Quiet. Boring as shit.”
I laugh. “Yeah, no one tells you about that part of security.”
He grunts. “Nope, they leave it out.”
“You can go and rest, if you want. I’m awake now.”
“Finish your coffee, get changed, then we’ll swap.”
I nod. “Did you hear from Nak during the night? Any update on Kyle?”
“Nak called about an hour ago, checking to see how things were. I gave him a full update. Kyle is doing well, he’s awake and asking questions so he’s obviously back to himself.”
“He’d hate being in there.”
Devon huffs. “No shit. He’s probably torturing them.”
“Still,” I say softly. “It should have never happened.”
“It happened to me once.”
I blink and turn to him. “I never heard that.”
“It’s because it wasn’t while I was on Nak’s team.”
I say nothing, just stare at him. He continues.
“I was protecting this rich dude that ran a heap of strip clubs.”
I snort and he nods, knowing exactly my thoughts.
“Anyway, one of his girls got into some trouble and he pulled her out of it, pissing off the wrong people. I got put on his case, and was with him for six months, that’s how long it took for them to bring down the fuckers who were after him.”
“So what happened?”
“I got the same thing, they threatened me, told me to stay away, to back off, or I’d get hurt too.”
“And did you?”
“Yeah, I got shot.”
I blink. “Seriously?”
He lifts his shirt, showing me a faded silvery scar on his belly.
“Jesus, Devon!”
“It happened very similar to Kyle’s situation. They managed to get a man in for a lap dance one night. Once he was in the back room, he demanded to see the manager. Most people were being searched before entering the club, but that night the bouncer was too busy chatting up a girl and just waved this guy in.”
Very similar to Kyle’s situation.
“So he came in, requested to see the manager as I said, and the moment we entered the room, he just pulled out a gun and aimed. I did what I was taught, and crash tackled him to the ground, taking a bullet in the process.”
“Jesus,” I whisper. “What happened to the guy you were protecting?”
“He got killed.”
I flinch. “Devon…”
He shrugs. “It was ten years ago. I’m okay with it now.”
“It’d destroy me,” I admit. “How did you keep going?”
“It’s part of life, Laney. Shit happens. Do you think cops save everyone? Or doctors? It’s the line of work we’re in. We’re not God, we can’t stop the unstoppable. We can only do our best.”
“You know, you’re right. I’ve been struggling so much with everything that’s gone down, worried about how it’s going to end and if I’m really cut out for this job, but you’ve made me see that even the best of us have bad days.”
He stares at me. Usually Devon is such a smartass, but I guess after Kyle’s attack, he’s feeling the same way the rest of us are.
“You know, I didn’t believe in you. Not at all. I never understood why Nak put a woman on his team. I used to think it was hilarious watching you try to be as good as the rest of us, but in the end, Delaney, you’ve proved us all wrong. You have one of the hardest cases here, and you’re doing a great job with it. You saw a drive-by shooting before it happened, that’s impressive.”
His words warm my heart, because they’re words I’ve needed to hear from my team members and not just my boss.
“Thanks, D.” I smile. “That means more than you’ll ever know.”
He pats my hand and stands. “Don’t give up, Laney. You’re exceptionally good at your job, and that’s a rare thing to come across.”
Then he opens the door and waves me in.
I stand and follow with a big smile on my face.
* * *
Duke and I take over for Devon while he rests, and spend our morning in the conference room with Jax, organizing everything for the meeting and the dinner later tonight. We keep ourselves busy setting up tables, helping with food orders and preparing a microphone for speeches. Jax is in work mode, his face shut down, his body rigid and his voice harsh as he barks orders.
This is the Jax I first met.
If only people understood how different he could really be.
“Delaney,” he calls. “Can you please take me to the bathroom?”
I stare at him.
“I’ll take you, bro,” Duke says.
“Nah,” Jax says. “I need you to help wire up that sound system. You’re the only one making any sense when it comes to it.”
Duke grins. “That’s because I’m awesome.”
Jax shakes his head, smirking, and turns to me. “Can you spare five?”
I nod. “Sure.”
I escort him into the hall and down to the restrooms. The moment we round the corner out of sight, he slams me against the wall and crushes his lips down on mine. I groan and curl my fingers around his neck, kissing him deep. God, I love how he tastes. He kisses me hard at first, then slowly begins getting softer and softer, until our mouths are making love.
It feels incredible.
“It’s been hell going all day without kissing you,” he murmurs, nuzzling his nose into my neck.
“You’re telling me. I hate pretending like I hardly know you.”
He pulls me closer, fingers curled around my hip. “If I had more than five minutes, I’d fuck you against this wall.”
“Where’s the closest storage closet?”
He stares hungrily at me. “Five minutes, baby, it’s not enough to devour you.”
“Just take me to the closest one.”
He lets me go and takes my hand, pulling me past the bathrooms. He finds a linen closet and uses his key to unlock it. He pulls me inside and I immediately get to work, dropping to my knees in front of him.
“Fuck, kitten.”
I jerk his belt off, hungry to taste him, desperate for more. I unbutton his pants and yank them down just enough to free his cock. I wrap my hand around the base and stroke, squeezing softly and then h
ard, working him until he’s thick and full in my palms. Then I lower my head and snake my tongue out, sliding it around his soft head.
“Fuck, yes,” he growls, pressing his hands to the wall in front of us.
I tease him like that until he’s massaging my head with need, urging me on. When his grunts turn into feral moans, I finally open my mouth and slide down, letting his cock fill my mouth. He makes a feral hissing sound and thrusts his hips. I whimper against him and suck him in deep, using one hand to pump the base of his cock as I work over the head with my mouth.
His cock swells in my mouth, and I shift my hand, knowing he’s close and dip it lower, cupping his balls. I roll them around in my hand and the sounds he’s making above me tell me he loves it. A lot. He rasps my name and jerks his hips faster and deeper until my mouth is so stretched around him my lips burn. Then, with one last thrust, he groans, “Coming, fuck, baby, I’m coming.”
I don’t let him pull out, even though he tries. No, I relish in his bellows of pleasure as I swallow everything he gives, loving every second of it. The moment he’s done, I carefully pull back and look up at him. He stares down at me with eyes so full of lust, it makes my heart pound. He helps me up and adjusts his clothes. “I think I might need, like, a breath mint or something.”
He laughs low. “Yeah, I don’t think Duke will appreciate you breathing on him after that.”
“Ew.” I laugh.
“Come on, we’ll get something to sort that out. You ready?”
I nod.
He opens the door and peers out. The coast is clear so he pulls me out too. He looks left and right, then turns to me and adjusts my shirt. I give him a once-over, and figure no one will know he just got blown in the closet. We go to the bathroom anyway, and I wash my face while he uses it, then he finds me a bottle of cola and we make our way back to the meeting room, both of us floating on air.
It feels amazing.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The meeting starts around four, but I managed to get a two-hour rest in to prepare for the night. Jax is in full business mode now, especially considering people are flowing in rapidly. They are all searched thoroughly, and only allowed in when we’re certain they’re safe. By the time the doors close and they’re all inside, I feel like a pervert. I’ve felt up that many bodies.
We all spread out over the room, so as not to smother Jax. I’m closest to him, standing to his left near the stage, Duke is by the entrance and Devon is near the restrooms. People are milling around us, talking and interacting, most of them sticking like flies to Jax. It’s somewhat of a meeting/dinner, so it’s a lot more casual. People talk, laugh, drink champagne and eat canapés.
Jax looks stunning in his black tuxedo that’s been perfectly tailored for him. His hair is slightly messier now it’s growing out, and his grey eyes are welcoming but firm as he talks to people, shaking hands and nodding at their questions, answering what he can. There are businessmen from all over the state, as well as managers that run his other hotels. There are also sponsors.
I don’t smile or interact, I just keep my hands behind my back and nod at anyone who is polite enough to say hello. We’re not here to interact. It’s hard because I’m usually quite a social person, but I have to hold everything in and let people know I’m not here to mess around. Instead I keep my eyes on Jax, so entranced by how perfect he is.
A blond woman sashays up to him just as dinner is being served and my attention focuses on her. She’s wearing a tight, floor-length red gown that makes her look so gorgeous and curvy I want to scream. Her beautiful satin-straight long hair is loose and flowing around her hips. She’s stunning, like a model, and I have no doubt this is the kind of woman Jax has had on his arm in the past.
My heart pangs.
Will that ever be me? Truly? Will I ever get the chance to be that girl to him, and even if I did, would I be enough? I don’t look like her, and my job is always going to keep me away from home. A strange ache starts forming in my belly as I wonder about what kind of future Jax and I could possibly have. Does he even want a future? Or does he just like the thrill of it, because we’re sneaking around?
I don’t think so, but I can’t be sure.
We haven’t had the chance to just sit and talk about what’s happening here.
I keep my eyes on the blond girl as she takes Jax’s arm and leans in, brushing her lips against his ear as she speaks. He grins, and my heart does a flip flop. A painful one. Her fingers move up and down his arm and then she leans back and her hand goes up and slips something in his pocket. I clench my teeth as she saunters away. I want to smack her right into next week.
Jax’s eyes flick to me but I look away, hoping he didn’t catch me watching.
“You look as bored as I feel.”
I flinch and turn to see a handsome man in a tux smiling at me. He’s got the most incredible blue eyes I’ve ever seen.
“It’s my job,” I say.
“It doesn’t look like it’s very fun.”
I shrug. “It’s not, but it’s worth it.”
He smiles, genuinely, warmly. “What’s your name?”
“Delaney. Yours?”
“Michael.”
“Nice to meet you, Michael.”
He reaches out and I shake his hand, glad to have something to break the monotony, even though I really shouldn’t be having a conversation with him. I’m hardly going to tell him to get lost, though. That’s rude and I’m not that kind of person.
“Do you know Jaxson, then?” he asks, continuing to hold my hand, which is a little awkward.
I nod, plucking my hand from his kindly. “Yes, I’m his security.”
He studies me. “It’s a big job for a female, and that’s not meant in an offensive way. I think it’s super. Why’d you do it?”
My heart warms a little, because he’s the first person that’s ever been kind about my role.
“I just wanted to stand out, you know?” I smile.
“Yeah.” He laughs, reaching over and placing a hand on my shoulder. “I know the feeling.”
I don’t flinch away from his touch, but it is a little awkward. He steps closer, almost wrapping his arm around me as he talks, like we’re long lost friends. Maybe Michael isn’t just interested in chatting.
“What about you, Michael, what do you do?” I ask, trying to step away from his grabby hands.
“I run the hotel in L.A.”
“So you work for Jax? Lucky you,” I say sarcastically.
He nods, letting me go and then leaning in close so his mouth is near my ear. “Let me tell you a little secret … he’s actually great to work for.”
I laugh, because I couldn’t imagine that being true. I’ve seen Jax angry and I’ve seen him in boss mode. He’s hardly easygoing.
“You think that’s funny?” He grins.
“I’ve been working with him a while now, and I didn’t think I’d ever hear someone say those words.”
He chuckles. “Jax is a hard man, but he’s a fair man. That’s all we can really ask for.”
“You make a valid point.”
I glance over at Jax and he’s watching me, dark eyes stormy. Oh boy, Jaxson Shields can be jealous, it would seem. I look away quickly, because his expression makes my skin tingle.
“So are you from around here?” Michael asks, straightening back up and staring at my lips. Oh boy.
“Denver.”
“Ah, right, of course, that makes sense.”
Before I can answer, Jax steps up beside me. “Michael,” he says, his voice steely. “Good to see you.”
Oh boy.
Michael reaches out and shakes his hand. “You too, Jaxson. It’s been a while.”
“How’re things on your side of the world?”
Jax is standing beside me, and I swear I can feel the fury radiating off his body. Possessive doesn’t even cut it. I won’t lie, it makes me feel warm inside, knowing he cares enough to be concerned about what I’m doing and who I
’m talking to.
“Very good.”
“Good to hear,” Jax says, grabbing my elbow. “Don’t mean to be rude, but I need to speak with Delaney.”
Michael nods and smiles at me. “Lovely to meet you, Delaney. Maybe we can chat again later?”
I smile. “Of course.”
Jax pulls me towards the kitchen where the food is being prepared. We pass Duke on the way and Jax grunts, “I need to have a word with Delaney.”
“Is everything okay, Mr. Shields? Has she done something wrong?”
I throw Duke a look, but his eyes are on Jax.
“It’s nothing to worry about, we won’t be long.”
Duke nods, staring at me then back at Jax. God, is he suspicious? Jax making a little scene wouldn’t be helping.
We enter the kitchen and Jax strides through until we step into the large food storage room at the end. He steps in, barks at everyone to stay out, and then slams it shut, locking it. He spins on me. “What were you doin’ out there?”
I blink.
“Pardon me?”
“With Michael.”
“Last time I checked, it was called having a conversation.”
He backs me against a shelf and puts his hands above it, trapping me in. “It didn’t look like a conversation.”
I stare at him. “You’re acting crazy, you know that, right?”
He glares at me. “I don’t like when another man puts his hands on you.”
Inside I’m squealing with happiness that he feels this way, but on the outside, I’m acting as if he’s crazy and I’m doing absolutely nothing wrong. Which, I’m actually not. I was just being polite with Michael. Okay, so he put his hand on me a little much, but hey, it wasn’t sexual, at least it wasn’t for me.
“He was being friendly, Jax.”
“No,” he growls, pressing his hips to mine. “He was trying to charm you.”
He probably was, but I’m not going to admit that to Jax.
“Even if he was,” I say. “It wasn’t working.”
“You were letting him touch you.”
“Oh, you mean like you let that blond woman touch you?”
He flinches and his eyes narrow as he brings his face closer. “She’s a business associate, and I gave her no indication I liked her touching me.”