Dark Kisses

by Kelly Myers

  “You were a cop?”

  Shit. I immediately shut down. I don’t really want to explain how I was forced to resign a year ago because I got into a shoot-out with my sister’s killers. “Did you see anyone suspicious? Notice any car following you?”

  “No.” I see her rub chills from her arms. Then, she shuts down as quickly and smoothly as I just did. “I have to go. I have an appointment.”

  No way. She wasn’t going to get away that easily. “I have some things I’d like to go over with you first.”

  “You can talk to Liv.”

  “I don’t want to talk to Liv.” My hard, unrelenting gaze holds hers.

  For a moment she doesn’t respond. Then, she smooths a hand over her perfectly-styled raven hair and yields. “Fine. But, you’re going to have to come along and ask your questions while I’m with Rodney because it’s too late to cancel. He’s already here.”

  Rodney? Who the fuck is Rodney? I wonder.

  Ten minutes later, I learn that Rodney is Easton’s masseuse. I sit in a nearby chair and clench my teeth as she lays on a table and some 20-something kid pulls her towel down, oils up his hands and starts sliding them all over her delectable, bare body.

  I can’t look away and I’m mesmerized by her smooth, silky-looking skin and the glimpses of curves that I keep getting as the thin towel shifts with the massage. Right now, it’s pulled dangerously low, folded over the curve of her ass, and I feel a wall of heat slam into my tightening groin.

  Oh, shit, this is a bad idea.

  I shift in the chair, turning my body away from her, and instead, look down at the yellow legal pad in my hands. When I hear her let out a half-sigh, half-moan, I discreetly lower it to cover my lap and growing bulge.

  Goddammit, this could get embarrassing fast.

  I clear my throat and focus on business. “So, I need you to decide on an alarm code which only you and I will have.” My voice comes out far huskier than I plan.

  “Olivia will need it, too,” she says, face in the massage table’s round hole.

  “That’s fine, but no one else. I’ll update it with your code before I leave and show you how it works. All the main doors and windows have strips that will trigger it if they’re opened. From now on, you need to stay locked up tight. When the chef, maid, gardener, pool guy or any of your entourage get here, they need to knock. Then, you or Liv can disarm the system and let them in. Okay?”

  I hear her sigh. “I guess,” she relents.

  “No guessing,” I say. “Just do it.”

  “You’re very bossy,” she says in a sour tone.

  “That’s right, I am. And, if you do as you’re told, you’ll be safe.”

  I can almost hear her rolling her eyes and my head snaps over when Rodney lifts the towel up off her legs and begins massaging her calves. I feel my blood pressure rise. And, that’s not the only thing.

  Only a small strip of towel covers that curvy ass and I want to whip it off. Instead, I let my gaze move down her body, over the side of her breast pressed against the table, her hip, that smooth back and those toned legs.

  Oh, Christ, this is torture.

  “Jax?”

  “Yeah?” To my utter dismay, my voice sounds breathless.

  “I asked if there’s anything else I need to know.”

  She did? I can hear a smile in her voice. “Um, I just need a copy of your schedule. And, your cell phone number. In case I need to reach you.”

  “Okay.”

  I watch that lucky bastard Rodney glide his oiled-up hands just under the towel and I clench my jaw and run a hand over my lower face. I force myself to look away and stretch my long legs out in front of me.

  I’m really starting to get pissed off and don’t think I can watch much more without leaping up and pulling her into my arms.

  Then, Liv walks in carrying a large flower arrangement. “These just came for you, Easton.”

  Easton looks over, edging up on her elbows and my gaze drops to her exposed cleavage. A fresh wave of desire pounds through me.

  “I assume they’re from Daniel,” Liv says and hands the card to Easton.

  Wait. My mind spins. Who the fuck is Daniel? I feel like I just got doused by a bucket of ice water. “Who’s Daniel?” I ask.

  “Her boyfriend,” Liv answers.

  Of course. “Why didn’t you mention him?”

  “Why would I?” Easton asks.

  “Because I need to know every person in your life. I thought I told you that.” I feel myself getting pissed.

  “I don’t recall that,” she says and opens the card. A moment later she drops it with a gasp. I’m on my feet in a heartbeat, grab it and read it aloud. “Violets are blue, Your blood is red, The window was open, I’m under your bed.”

  “Fuck,” I hiss and pull the Glock from its holster. “Stay here.”

  9

  Easton

  Terror fills me as Jax takes off toward my bedroom, pulling his gun. I reach for my terry cloth robe, yank it on and race after him.

  With his long, fast legs, Jax reaches the master bedroom first and, by the time I skid to a halt just inside the door frame, he’s on his knees, looking under the bed. He jumps up and heads straight to the wide-open balcony door. “Fuck, Easton!” He closes and locks it. Then, he spins on me, dark eyes blazing. “Are you inviting him in? What’s your problem? You have to pay attention, be aware at all times no matter where you are!”

  “I’m sorry! I like fresh air,” I fire back.

  “Well, there’s no fresh air if you’re buried six feet under,” he yells.

  “Now you’re just being dramatic,” I scoff.

  “Am I?” He lunges forward, face hovering above mine, breathing hard and looks like he wants to throttle me. Then, he inhales sharply, frowns and practically stumbles to get away from me. As I’m wondering what just happened, a dark thought hits me.

  “What if he’s somewhere in the house?” I ask in a choked whisper.

  “Lock all the doors,” he tells me. “I’m going to search this place from top to bottom.”

  I nod and decide to get dressed first. If we have to run for our lives, I’d rather not be naked under a skimpy robe. I slip on a t-shirt and yoga pants then start making my way through the house, shutting and locking everything up tight.

  When I reach the kitchen, I see Jax standing at the island, his face white.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask.

  Then I see the note in his hand.

  “What is that?”

  “Another note,” he says darkly. “It was laying here on the counter.”

  “What does it say?” I ask, my voice soft and shaky. He gives me a look that lets me know it isn’t pleasant. “Just tell me!”

  “Roses are red, Violets are blue…” he hesitates and I nod. “Green are your eyes, And I'll feed them to you.”

  My mouth drops open. “Oh, my God,” I whisper. A wave of dread fills me. “He was in the house, Jax.”

  My hand flutters up to my chest and suddenly it’s hard to breathe. Jax reaches my side in a split second and pulls me into his arms. “You’re okay,” he says in a husky voice, and I feel him run a hand over my head and down my back. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

  I wrap my arms around him and relish the feel of his big, warm body against mine. He rests his chin on the top of my head. For a long moment, we stand like that and I feel so safe in his strong embrace. All my life, I’ve taken care of myself and it suddenly hits me how very tired I am. I lean into the wall of his muscled chest and turn my head, pressing my cheek into his t-shirt. He smells like soap, laundry detergent and cigarettes.

  His hand strokes up and down my back and, for the life of me, I can’t let go. “I got you, Princess,” he whispers in my ear.

  Finally, I pull back and feel his long arms loosen. “What am I going to do?” I ask and look up at him.

  “You’re going to let me take care of everything,” he says in that rough and tumble, take-charge voice o
f his.

  “Thank you,” I tell him.

  He drops a hand from my waist and pulls a stool forward. Then, he lifts me like I weigh no more than a bag of chips and sets me on the chair. “I’m going to have Liv sit in here with you while I finish checking this place out. I’m going to send everyone home and then I’m going to show you how the alarm works, okay?”

  “Okay.” I like the way he takes control of the situation with such ease. It inspires confidence in me. Makes me believe that everything is going to be just fine. Jax will protect me, I just know it.

  Two hours later, the house is quiet. Jax sent my entourage home, including Olivia, and now he carefully walks me through the new security system. “First thing we want to do is change the generic password to something you’ll remember,” he says.

  Something I’ll remember. How about JaxWilder69?

  He raises a brow when I don’t answer. “A four-digit numerical code. Maybe your Mom or Dad’s birthday or anniversary?”

  I don’t know the answer to any of those. I let out a sigh and shake my head. “How about my birthday?”

  “Too obvious.”

  I think.

  “Any significant date will work,” he says.

  “What’s your favorite number?” I ask him.

  His brow furrows. “Mine?”

  I nod.

  “Twenty-two. Why?”

  “Mine’s twelve. How about 2212?”

  A strange look passes through his dark eyes. “Sure,” he says.

  After a series of beeps and punching in the new code, he instructs me on how to arm and disarm the alarm. Then, he walks me through it a couple of times and shows me. It’s pretty straightforward and I hide a smile, secretly enjoying his patient tutorial.

  Jax Wilder has a sweet side and I like it.

  “That’s about it,” he says. “Not too hard, right?”

  An inappropriate thought flashes through my brain and I bite my lower lip. “No,” I say in a half-whisper.

  His gaze drops to my mouth and I press my lips together. Something flares between us, something hot and heavy. Just when I feel the urge to reach out and run a hand up his tattooed arm, he turns away.

  “Okay, then,” he says. “I think that’s it. And, don’t forget if you want to check any of the cameras, you hit the input button on your remote.”

  He’s leaving. My heart plummets. I lay a reckless hand against his bicep and feel it flex to stone. “Thank you,” I say in a soft voice.

  “You’re welcome,” he rasps. He leans down, grabs his leather jacket and helmet then turns back to me. “One more thing. Lemme see your phone.”

  I grab my cell phone off the nearby table and hand it over to him. He scrolls, hits some buttons and then hands it back. “I saved my number. If you need anything call me. Day or night.”

  I nod and he opens the door. “I’m going to wait til I hear it arm.”

  Slowly and with great reluctance, I shut the door. Then, I enter the new code 2212 and lean against the door as it counts down, knowing Jax stands on the other side. God, I wish I had the nerve to yank the door back open and throw myself into his arms.

  I want to feel those strong arms around me again.

  But, instead, I press my forehead to the door, just between the leaded glass panes and out of his view. When the system beeps, I hear him stride away. A moment later, his motorcycle roars to life and he takes off down the hill.

  I feel like he takes part of my heart with him.

  What is the matter with me?

  If all I want is to get laid, I can call Daniel. But, I know that’s not what or who I want. What I want is Jaxon Wilder back in my house, preferably in my bed.

  I never have thoughts like this and I don’t know what it is about him that brings them out in me. I guess all the hot, male ruggedness and the fact that he makes me feel so safe. And, let’s not forget those dark brown eyes. I felt them sliding all over my body earlier during my massage.

  Maybe it was a little mean teasing him like that, but I hope he was hyper aware of me. I hope desire filled him as much as it did me. I smile when I remember how he didn’t even hear what I asked him.

  Yes, his mind had definitely been on something other than the conversation. I’m hoping it was on my slick, naked body.

  I want to seduce him, I decide. I think I can do it, but part of me isn’t so sure. It would be humiliating if he turns me down, but I kind of doubt that Jax is the type to say no when a woman offers him sex.

  If I had to guess, I’d say he’s had a string of lovers, none of them serious, and he likes it hard and fast. I bet he moves them right along and out the door before the sun is even up.

  I need a long, hot shower where I can think about this more. Where I can come up with the perfect plan to seduce this bad boy. It’s still early, though, so I peek in the fridge and see what Jacques left me for dinner. Nothing too exciting. Just a salad and a couple small veggie wraps. I pour a glass of Blanc de Blancs.

  I sit at the island counter up on the stool and bite into a wrap, remembering how Jax’s fingers dug into my hips and lifted me onto this very chair like I weighed nothing at all. He has nice long fingers, perfectly-shaped nail beds and large hands. They’re a bit rough and I noticed some calluses which makes me respect him even more.

  Jax Wilder works hard for what he wants. Just like I do.

  And, right now, I want him.

  I open my contacts, my favorites to be exact, and see his name front and center. I hit the info button and stare at his phone number. I’m glad it’s here and I won’t hesitate to use it. I plan to use it.

  The evening drags on and I try to make it go faster by watching some television, but I grow bored fast. I pick up a book I’ve been meaning to read and lose interest. I already know all of my lines for the new movie I’m about to start filming and don’t really feel like going over the script again.

  My stubborn mind just keeps drifting back to Jax. I wonder if I text him if he’ll text me back. Of course, he will, you’re paying him. And, what would I say anyway? By the way, do you know how badly I want to lick every one of your tattoos?

  I head up to take my shower. Maybe it should be a cold one.

  The rainfall showerhead sprinkles down one me and I lather up the loofah with my favorite jasmine shower gel. I love jasmine. My signature perfume is Tom Ford’s Jasmin Rouge and he gifts me with bottles all the time. As the brand says, the full-bodied perfume is "as audacious as red, lacquered lips." And, that’s why Tom says I shouldn’t ever wear anything else. Because the fragrance matches my lips. Literally.

  I’ve always thought the scent of jasmine is incredibly sensual, rich and sweet. It’s intoxicating, exotic and intense. And, though it’s a floral scent, there's an animalic element to it which might also explain why it's long been considered an aphrodisiac.

  Earlier when Jax held me in his arms, I wonder if he liked my perfume? If it turned him on?

  I hope so.

  I dry myself off with another absorbent Turkish towel then slip my La Perla nightgown over my head. It’s short, silky and so luxurious. I won’t wear anything else to bed.

  Once again, I sit at my vanity where I finish my nightly ritual. Brush my hair, apply different creams and various concoctions and then study my makeup-free face. But, this time I’m not looking for wrinkles.

  I’m just...looking.

  Trying to see what Jax sees.

  Obviously, I have green eyes and dark hair. I suppose it can be a striking combination when I’m all made up, but right now I look like the girl next door. No designer outfit, no red lips and just a head of wet hair. I reach for my glass and take a sip of my Taittinger’s Blanc de Blancs.

  I have a feeling his tastes lean more toward the simple and less toward the glamorous. But, I must interest him a little because I have caught him looking at me now and again.

  I sigh. I really have no idea what’s running through that man’s mind. He ran out of here so fast tonight, I should feel
insulted. I swallow the rest of the champagne, brush my teeth and slide down into my silky sheets.

  May as well go to bed, I think. I’ve dragged this night out as long as I possibly can. I glance at the clock and see it’s a little after 11pm. I feel much safer tonight, all locked in and with the alarm ready to blare at the first sign of trouble.

  It isn’t long before I fall asleep.

  Just like the night before, though, something wakes me up. I pop upright, clutching the sheet to my chest, and listen.

  The house creaks and pops, all normal settling sounds, I tell myself. No one could possibly be in here because only Jax and I know the code.

  Suddenly, my phone dings with a text and I jump. I swipe it up and see the message is from “private.” Curious, I open the text message and my heart drops.

  “Hope you liked the flowers.”

  “Oh, my God,” I whisper. I look over and see it’s nearly midnight.

  But, that doesn’t stop me from pulling up Jax’s number and hitting send.

  10

  Jax

  Fuck, it’s going to be a long, uncomfortable night, I think.

  East Hollywood is sweltering and I lay in bed on my back, hand behind my head, staring up at the cracked ceiling. A small fan struggles to keep the air circulating, but I can feel sweat beading on my forehead.

  It’s not just the hot night that has me tossing and turning. It’s the steamy thoughts of a certain green-eyed, black-haired beauty that keep me awake, shifting and hard as steel.

  “Jesus,” I swear and swipe a frustrated hand through my hair.

  Something happened between us earlier. After I showed her the ins and outs of the alarm system, she thanked me. Even asked for my favorite number and made it part of her code. And then she laid her hand on my upper arm.

  Something in her eyes beckoned for me to stay. But, I couldn’t.

  It was so hard to turn away and leave when all I wanted to do was drag her into my arms. When she thought someone was in the house, she came right to me, wrapped her arms around me. Nothing has felt that good in a long time. Feeling her soft body pressed to mine, smelling that flowery scent that is so unique to her.