The lock slid, and I pushed against Paul as hard as I could. By some miracle, the door opened, and we tumbled out. Punching him as hard as I could in the face, I got to my feet as blood spurted from his nose.
Damn, that felt good. Trying to gain my bearings, I turned to run. Grabbing me from behind, he locked an arm across my abdomen with my back to his front. Struggling to get out of his hold, I held still when I felt the cold press of the blade against my throat.
Swallowing hard, I felt the nick of the blade against my neck. With the tight grip he had around my waist, any move I made would result in a cut. Mind going a mile a minute, I contemplated my next move when I heard the voice that made everything calm within me.
“Evyn!” Jaxson’s deep bellow reverberated in the air.
My thoughts stopped spinning, my body went limp in Paul’s arms, and a small smile lifted my lips. Help had arrived. I was sure I would get hurt. I came to terms with that. Paul was not playing around with the knife, but there would be witnesses to his actions.
He would not get away with the shit he put me through. He would be held accountable for his bad decisions. There would be undeniable proof he was a menace to society and needed to be stopped.
Keeping my body still was hard to do when I felt the nick of the knife against my skin. I felt the drop of blood slide down my neck, and tried hard not to flinch at the sting. If I moved, he would cut me worse, and I did not want that to happen.
Locking eyes with Jaxson, I could not stop the few tears I held at bay to break free. I worked hard to be independent and take care of myself in a way I could be proud of, but having someone as strong and loyal as Jaxson have my back was everything.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Jaxson
Anger, fear, helplessness all coalited inside me. Rushing through the crowd, I was desperate to get to Evyn. With tunnel vision, I didn’t stop the bellow from my throat at the first sight of her. She had a drop of blood sliding down the pale skin of her throat.
Blood. Her blood.
Coming to an abrupt halt, I held my breath as the knife dug deeper into her skin, bringing her to the tips of her toes as she tried to escape the sharp blade. A whimper fell from her lips, and I wanted to drop to my knees and beg him to let her go.
On the flip side of that, I wanted to pummel his face until he was not recognizable. Fisting my hands at my side, I forced myself to still and calmed my breathing. It would do Evyn no good if I lost my shit.
It was surprising I was keeping myself on lock. Emotions, strong fucking emotions, were rolling through me at a fast pace. Deep rage made my skin get tight. It was honestly shocking his flesh did not bust wide open.
Fear froze the blood in my veins. The slow strum of my heart, beat low in my ears. My lungs seized, locking oxygen in. Stars started at the edge of my vision, and I had to dig deep to not give in. I could not take my eyes off the scene in front of me. Evyn needed me, and I would not fail.
Looking the asshole in the eyes, I told him, “Let her go.”
“Fuck you,” he spat.
His face turned red with fury and hate when he directed soulless eyes on me. Chancing a glance at Evyn, her body was stiff, and her eyes were determined. As soon as Paul gave her an opening, she was going to move, and I had to be ready for whatever happened.
“I won’t tell you again, man, let her go,” I kept talking. “Security has been notified, and the police are on their way. You are not getting out of here free.”
“You’re probably right about that considering the bitch wouldn’t obey, but she won’t be leaving here at all.” his voice was steadily rising. “If I can’t have her, nobody will.”
That was the single most stupid thing to say and so fucking cliché. If I was not scared out of my damn mind, I might have rolled my eyes. He pointed the knife at me threateningly, but before he could say anything else, Evyn dropped to the ground.
I took the opening she gave me, wasting no time to eliminate the feet separating us, and punched Paul first in the nose and next to the temple with as much force as I had in me. He dropped like a stone and did not move with blood gushing from his nose. Hitting my knees on the gravel, I put my hand on Evyn’s back where she was curled into the fetal position.
Throat closing up with emotion, I leaned down to her ear and said, “Evyn.”
Her body jolted before she lifted her head. Tears streamed down her face and snot leaked out of her nose, not to mention she had blood on her neck, but she was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen.
Launching herself at me, I sat there on my knees and held her as she straddled my lap. Tears fell down my face, and I didn’t have it in me to give that first single fuck. He got to her. He hurt her. He scared her. I wasn’t there. I was supposed to protect her. I was supposed to keep her safe. I failed. I fucking failed, but she was safe in my arms now. I had to concentrate on that fact.
Later, much later, when I was alone, I could break. Right then, she needed me to be strong, to support her, and let her lean on me. There would be a time for me to rage at the unfairness of it all, and I would deal.
“I’m so proud of you,” I whispered hoarsely.
Squeezing me tighter, she buried her head in my neck, and I held her. Rubbing soothing circles along her spine, I reminded both of us she was fine, we were together, and everything would be okay.
It could have been so much worse, but she had stayed level-headed. She did everything her self-defense class taught her. She used the tools she’d learned to get away and came out the other side alive and well.
She lifted her head. Red, watery eyes met mine, and she declared softly, “I just found you. He was not going to take anything else from me. It was time to end it, and now, it is done.”
The words were spoken quietly with a fierceness that hit me straight to my heart and soul. She would fight for us. She would bleed for us. Cupping her head, I gently pressed my lips to hers and stayed there, soaking in all that was Evyn.
Forcing to disengage by paramedics, Evyn stayed in my lap with her arm wrapped around my shoulders as she was checked over. They advised the cut did not look too deep but recommended a trip to the ER, which she declined.
I backed her up on that decision. The cut was superficial and looked a lot less threatening without a knife held against her throat. I would easily clean and bandage it for her without a problem. I preferred that anyway. I was not in a hurry to let her go.
Finally getting to our feet, our hands clasped, we stood together and faced the next few hours together. Security showed up around the time Paul came to. Luckily, Rian and Jesse were there to detain him as he tried to slither away.
I did not know where exactly he was going to get to. He was unsteady on his feet, blood pouring out of his nose, and he still held the knife tightly in his hand. People were going to notice something was not right with him, especially after he puked. My guess was he had a concussion on top of a broken nose, which gave me some satisfaction.
Security unarmed and detained Paul with zip ties around his wrists. Each of the men had a hold on him, so he could not go anywhere. Through all of this, he stared at Evyn with hatred in his eyes. Moving us slightly, I made sure she was not in his line of sight.
The police arrived on the scene and separated Evyn from me to question us individually. Distressed, she called out my name, and she was back in my arms. After informing the police officers they would have to get our statements together, we answered all of their questions.
Listening to her recounting of what was said and how it all happened, it was a good thing Paul was locked up tight in the backseat of the patrol car. Curling an arm around her waist, I stayed silent.
Laying her head on my shoulder, I knew she was done. The white bandage the paramedics put on her neck stood out starkly against the pronounced paleness of her skin. Luckily, the cut was superficial and would not cause any perm
anent damage. She was most likely experiencing an adrenaline crash.
“I’m taking her home,” I cut the officer off mid-sentence. “You have both our numbers if you have any other questions.”
Without waiting for a reply, I turned around and walked away with Evyn securely at my side. Everybody was long gone, and I didn’t blame them. Violet and Monica were worried but relieved Evyn would be okay. Rian wanted to get Violet home, and Jesse disappeared somewhere along the way.
Carter showed his face long enough to let me know he won the race, check on us, and give me my keys back before he took off.
We passed by some EMTs, and they were not too gently putting Paul’s nose back in place once they heard what actually happened. My blood-thirsty girl yelled, “Hell yeah,” when she heard Paul squeal like a pig and cry like a baby. A rough chuckle escaped when I did not think I would have anything to laugh about after what went down.
Hustling her to my car, I secured her safely in the passenger seat. With a pull of my shirt, she brought me down to her level and placed a soft kiss to my lips. Closing my eyes, I breathed her in and took a minute. Gathering myself, I got behind the wheel and started it up. Curling my hand around hers, I drove us to my place in comfortable silence.
Making the trip on autopilot, I parked in my garage and had us closed in before I knew it. Turning my head, I took her sleeping form in. Finally, the tension left me, knowing we were safe and at home because, yes, this was her home.
After the events of the night, I could clearly see my future with Evyn. I would gather all the guys within the next few days and have her moved in completely. There was no time like the present to get this shit going.
One day, I would put my ring on Evyn’s finger and give her my name, locking her to me for a lifetime. Until then, I would enjoy each moment we had together. She completed me in a way I never knew was possible.
“Evyn,” I called quietly, cupped her smooth cheek in hand.
Her eyes fluttered before her vision cleared, and she smiled at me while cuddling into my hand. I took this all in, holding my silence. Her silky hair trailed my hand, and I closed my eyes at the sensation.
“Jaxson,” she called, softly, making my eyes open. “I’m okay.”
“I know,” I returned in the same low tone.
And I did know that. The night was all kinds of fucked up, but it did not end that way. We stood side by side and put the past behind us, looking to the future together.
Cupping her jaw, I placed my lips against hers and relished in the fact she was safe in my arms. Those were some of the most intense moments of my life. Being able to touch her, to feel her, to hear her was everything after seeing how close we were to things turning bad in a permanent way.
Pulling back, I smiled at her before exiting the car. Walking around to her side, I guided her out and into the house. Not losing contact with her for an instant, I turned to her in the middle of the kitchen, trying to read her expression.
“What do you need?” I asked quietly.
“You,” she answered. “And a shower.”
Feeling my lip lift in a half-grin, I told her, “I can do that.”
Leading her to the master bedroom, I took us straight to the bathroom. Starting the water to let it warm up, I faced her. Without taking our eyes off each other, we removed our clothes and climbed into the shower together. Holding her to me, the tension slowly leaked away as the warm water beat down over us.
There were plenty of moments I would always remember when it came to Evyn, but I would definitely remember this moment. All her warm, wet skin rubbed against all of me, her breaths tickled along my neck, and her heartbeat steady against my chest.
Pulling back, she looked me in the eye and stated, “I love you.”
I thought I was brought to my knees earlier, but those words nearly did me in. The sincerity and honesty were clear in her tone, but it was her eyes that sucked me in. Love shined at me with her eyes alone.
“I love you with all that I am.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Evyn
“I love you with all that I am.”
My eyes closed at the emotion in that statement. His rough voice brought goosebumps along my skin, and tingles erupted in my belly along with other more secret places. This was not surprising. His voice alone made me melt. Add in the words and deep embedded feelings behind them, and I was gone.
Opening my eyes, I stood on the tips of my toes and kissed him, slow and sweet. Just as tenderly, bringing tears to my eyes, his lips moved over mine. Cocooned within the steam of the running water, it was only me and him.
Nothing else mattered but this moment. The ups and downs of our night wreaked havoc on my system, but it all faded away. When I first realized I was caught by Paul, the fear almost brought me down, but I did not let it.
Being able to have this moment with Jaxson was everything. The feel of skin against skin, the smoothness of our lips connecting, and the love we shared evident in each of our connections. Jaxson was it for me and always would be.
With that thought in my mind, I dropped to my knees in front of him, needing to connect in a different way. Craving a different type of bond, I wanted to convey my appreciation of all that made him, him.
Running my tongue along the length of his shaft, I was turned on more than I could have even imagined. Being in charge of his pleasure was a heady sensation. Instincts took over, licking around his head, sucking up the beads of come already leaking out.
Moaning, I swallowed as much of him as I could. A hand in my hair tightened, urging me on. Sounds escaping above me, my eyes locked with him, and instantly, I became wet. I always viewed being on my knees in front of a man would make me vulnerable, but I was wrong.
I felt powerful and in control of his pleasure, and I reveled in it. The more guttural sounds he made, the more I wanted to hear. The tighter he pulled my hair, the more I craved the pain. Sliding my tongue along the ridged vein on the underside of his cock, he bucked his hips.
Forced to take more of him than I could handle, I gagged slightly while tears gathered at the corners of my eyes. Placing my hands flat on his thighs, I let him control the motions as he started to fuck my face. Closing my eyes, I absorbed his taste and smell.
I could not imagine being in this position with someone else, on my knees on the shower floor, having my movements controlled by someone else, my mouth full, but I trusted Jaxson completely. I knew without a doubt I could give myself over to him entirely.
Suctioning my lips tightly around him, I swallowed as he bottomed out in my mouth. Inhaling a big breath when he pulled back, I was ready when he repeatedly thrusted into my mouth. Lost in the pleasure I was giving him, I was beyond turned on.
Suddenly, I was ripped away from his dick and hauled to my feet. Before I could whimper a complaint, his mouth slammed down on mine in a hungry, wet, open-mouthed kiss, and his finger went straight into my core.
Gasping, I swallowed his growl before he flew into action. The water turned off, I was hauled out of the shower, and roughly patted dry by a plush towel. He was just as anxious as me as he dragged my still wet body to the room and threw me on the bed.
Squeaking in surprise, I gasped as his whole body landed on mine. The feel of his rough and smooth skin against my silky skin was provocative, the taste of him in my mouth was heady, and his warmth surrounding me was thrilling.
Hands, mouths, teeth, lips, legs were everywhere all at once. The anticipation of what was to come was exhilarating. Wetness coated my thighs as his hard cock coated my stomach with beads from the leaking tip.
Shifting my legs around him restlessly, I needed more. I felt empty, and I knew only he could fill me like I craved to be. Breaking away from his kiss for much-needed oxygen, I arched my body against his. Words lodged in my throat, and my brain was not functioning at full capacity.
He rolled over, putting me on top, and I took advantage. Wrapping my hand around him, I lined up and slowly sank down on him. My head fell back on my shoulders, with him filling me. This feeling would always be my favorite.
Needing to move, I placed my hands on his chest to keep my balance and rocked back and forth. That felt amazing, but I had to move. Losing myself to the moment, I rode his dick like I had not ridden it for years. It was so natural and felt fucking amazing. My boobs were bouncing with each of my thrusts, the heavy weights urging me on faster.
“Fuck, Evyn.” His voice was dark and low. “Ride my dick, baby. Just like that. Fuck.”
His fingers dug into my hip, urging me faster, and I took it with glee. Pushing us both close to the edge, I never wanted it to end, but I knew I was close to coming. Every time I slammed down on him, my clit hit in the most tantalizing way. Bouncing on top of him, I did not have any rhythm. I was moving us toward the inevitable, world-shattering climax.
His thumb moved to my clit, and applied pressure, making tight circles. My moves stuttered as I was overwhelmed with everything going on within my body. My nails dug into his chest as I let myself get lost in the pleasure.
When it hit me, I froze with my back arched, feeling the white-hot streak hit me. My core clenched around him, and it was the most beautiful feeling in the world.
Before I could come down, I was flipped onto my back as he thrust into me hard, harder than ever before. My orgasm kept going, and all I could do was take what he gave me. When he reached his completion, he groaned against my neck and lazily glided in and out, prolonging the greatness for us both.
Sliding my hands along his back, I basked in the afterglow of our lovemaking. Jaxson was anything and everything I knew I would always want for the rest of my life. He proved to me every day why we were together. We were two halves of a whole who fit perfectly together.
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