by Ramona Gray
He sighed inwardly. Cal was smart and funny and totally wasting his potential working for Jimmy. Another twinge of guilt went through him. He wondered briefly if Cal would go back to working for the escort agency when Jimmy’s drug empire finally caved in. Hell, there were more than a few innocent people who worked in the night club and Jimmy’s chain of restaurants who would suffer when their boss was arrested.
You can’t think about that. Golden needs to be stopped and you know that.
Yeah, he did.
“Jax?”
“Just tired,” he said abruptly.
Cal studied him carefully for a moment before slapping him on the back. “Mom wants me to invite you to the family barbeque this weekend.”
“What?”
“Family. Barbeque. Last one of the summer.” Cal grinned at him. “It’s a tradition.”
“If it’s a family barbeque then I shouldn’t go,” Jax said.
“Nah, it’s not like that. My mom is forever inviting poor little orphan waif’s like yourself to our family functions.”
“Orphan waif?”
Cal shrugged. “I know you don’t have any family. Hell, from what I’ve heard around the club you don’t have that many friends either.”
“I like my space,” Jax grunted.
“If you don’t come to the barbeque, you’ll never get a nickname from my mom. Is that what you want, Jax? Is it?” Cal asked dramatically.
Jax bit back his smile. He couldn’t go to the barbeque. Melanie would be there and he needed to stay away from her. It didn’t matter if all he could think about was her soft voice and warm body or the way she had looked when she was coming. He had asked her for one night and gotten it. He needed to forget her.
“Well?” Cal asked? “Are you coming or not?”
“Sure.”
Asshole!
“Great!” Cal slapped him on the back before standing and buttoning his jacket. “It’s on Sunday. Dinner starts around five but you can show up any time after three. Okay?”
“Should I bring anything?”
“Nah. Mom will have enough food to feed an army. Are you sticking around tonight?”
Jax shook his head. “No, Mr. Golden is hosting a dinner party at his place. I’ll be at that for a few hours and then heading home.”
“Count yourself lucky,” Cal said. “Apparently we have some ‘B-list’ movie star coming in tonight and he’s invited about thirty of his closest friends. It’s going to be a fucking zoo in here.”
As Cal walked away, Jax rubbed wearily at his forehead. He shouldn’t have said he would go to the damn barbeque but the thought of seeing Mel again was too tempting to resist. Besides, it’s not like they were going to have sex in the bathroom again. In a few weeks’ time Jax Anderson would be gone and he’d never see her again. There was no harm in going to the barbeque just to see her, to smell her sweet scent, one last time.
* * *
Jax studied the produce in front of him before selecting a fresh bunch of carrots, their green tops damp, and placing it in the shopping basket slung over his arm. It was a twenty-four hour grocery store but at two in the morning, there was only one other person roaming the produce aisle. The old man shuffled out of produce and toward the dairy section, his cane making a rhythmic thumping on the worn linoleum, as a third man appeared.
He carried a shopping basket as well and he placed potatoes and a head of cauliflower in it as he moved toward Jax. He picked up a green pepper, testing the weight of it in his hand, and without looking at Jax, said, “What’s the news?”
“I’m in. He promoted me earlier today.”
Agent Darvin placed the green pepper in his basket and picked up an eggplant. “That’s very good news. When’s the next deal?”
“I don’t know yet. I’ll let you know,” Jax replied.
“Good.”
Keeping his eyes on the spinach in front of him, Jax said, “As soon as I tell you, I want out.”
“We can’t do that. Not yet.”
“Bullshit. I told you I’d find out where he was delivering drugs and you said you’d give me a new life.”
“And we will. But unless Golden’s there himself, we can’t bust him. We need him personally delivering it and we need you to help make that happen.”
“It’s never going to happen. I told you - he’s not stupid,” Jax said.
“If he was left with no choice, he would,” the agent said.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, you find out where the next drug deal is and let us worry about the rest.”
“Just how the hell are you going to do that?”
“Like I said - don’t worry about it. Just find out the information we need.”
With a soft snort of disgust, Jax walked away.
* * *
“Butterfly, you’re short a place setting,” Darla said.
Mel frowned at the picnic table and mentally counted in her head. “I’m not, Mom.”
“You are. I told Cal to bring Jax with him.”
“You what?” Mel glanced down at herself as Julie set out the wineglasses.
“I told Cal to bring Jax with him,” Darla repeated.
“Why would you do that?” Mel rubbed frantically at the stain on the front of her sundress. She groaned inwardly as she remembered the state of her hair. She hadn’t done anything with it this morning, just threw her damp hair into a bun on the top of her head, and she wasn’t wearing a lick of makeup.
“Because I know you like him, butterfly,” Darla said cheerfully.
Mel gaped at her mother before staring accusingly at Julie. Julie shook her head. “I didn’t say anything, Mel, I swear.”
“Oh please, I’m your mother,” Darla snorted. “Do you really think I need someone else to tell me when my girl likes a boy?”
“I don’t like Jax Anderson, mom,” Mel lied hotly.
“No?” Darla said cheerfully. “Well then what do you care if he comes to the barbeque today?”
“I don’t,” Mel said. “Excuse me.”
She hurried toward the patio doors and shut it behind her before bolting up the stairs to the bathroom. It was locked and she rattled the doorknob as Court yelled, “Occupied!”
“I know you’re playing Candy Crush in there, Court!” She snapped.
“Am not. I just can’t be rushed when I’m peeing,” he said conversationally. “Use the one downstairs.”
She rolled her eyes and marched down the hall to her old bedroom. Her parents had converted it into a guest room, but her old bed was still there as well as her vanity, and she bent and checked her reflection in the mirror.
“Dammit,” she sighed. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair was a rat’s nest on top of her head and she had a zit starting on her chin.
“I’m going to kill my mother,” she muttered to herself as she poked at the zit.
“Matricide doesn’t seem to be your thing, butterfly.”
She whipped around, staring wide-eyed at Jax Anderson. He was standing in the doorway and he let his gaze drop down her body as a slow grin crossed his face.
Mel’s pulse was starting to pound and she licked her lips as she looked him over. He was wearing a tight-fitting green t-shirt with faded and worn jeans and he looked positively delicious. A vision of being under him, of tracing her fingers across his abs, brought a surge of wetness to her panties and she inhaled sharply. Fuck, she wanted him badly.
She had thought she was done with him after their night together. She had left early the next morning, he hadn’t asked her to stay, and she had spent the last week doing her best to forget exactly how it felt to be in Jax Anderson’s bed. She thought she’d done a good job of it. It wasn’t like she had thought of him the entire week, maybe only half of it.
She took a deep breath and smoothed her sundress nervously before starting toward him. She would say hello and not act like she wanted to fuck him senseless. She would have some goddamn self-control.
Jax watche
d as Mel took a deep breath and smoothed her dress. She looked amazing – her hair was piled on top of her head and her face was free of makeup. He could smell her perfume and he reached out and touched her arm as she walked by him.
“Hello, butterfly. Have you missed me?”
He ached to wrap his hand around her arm, push her up against the wall and bury himself deep inside of her. The smell of her perfume was all around him and he swallowed heavily as she turned to face him.
She had the strangest look on her face, desire and anxiety warring across it, and he made a muffled noise of surprise when her own hand clutched his arm and she yanked him into the room. She slammed the door shut and locked it before pushing him up against the wall.
“Mel, what’s – “
She pressed her body against him and stood on her tiptoes before kissing him with desperate need. He groaned and slid his arms around her waist, locking his hands together in the small of her back as he returned her kiss.
She was shoving her hand down his pants and he gasped harshly when her fingers closed around him and she stroked him urgently.
“Christ, butterfly. That’s quite the hello,” he muttered.
“Shut up,” she whispered. “I want you, Jax.”
He grinned at her and turned her around before pushing her up against the wall. She unzipped his jeans as he yanked a condom from his pocket and tore at the foil.
“Do you always carry a condom in your pocket,” she panted into his ear as she pushed his jeans and his briefs down to his knees.
“I figured I should have one just in case we ran into each other in the bathroom,” he said.
“Presumptuous,” she said as he rolled the condom onto his cock.
“Says the girl who’s attacking me in the guest room.”
He pushed her sundress up to her waist and pulled her panties down her legs. She kicked them off impatiently as he lifted her up.
“Well, if you’re not interested, we can stop right now,” she said breathlessly as she wrapped her legs around his hips.
“Like you want to stop.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Fucking me again is all you’ve thought about for the last week. Admit it.”
“I’ve barely thought of you at all, Mr. Anderson. I don’t know what – “
She made a loud cry of need as Jax shifted her slightly and his cock slipped along her swollen and sensitive clit. He probed at her tight entrance and she made another harsh cry of longing.
“Quiet, butterfly,” he muttered.
She ignored him as she arched her pelvis against his. She needed him inside of her, her desire had become a living, pulsing thing, and if she didn’t have him soon she would go mad.
“Jax, now!” She said loudly and he clamped his hand over her mouth before entering her with one hard thrust.
She cried out against his hand, her fingers clutching at his shoulders as he thrust back and forth. The picture beside her rattled on the wall before giving up its tenuous cling to the nail and falling. Jax released her mouth and caught it with one hand, even through her haze of pleasure she was astounded by his reflexes, and set it on the vanity beside them.
She squeezed him tightly as he lifted her a little higher, his hands clamping down on her hips, before thrusting in and out of her.
“Oh fuck, oh fuck,” she muttered harshly, “it feels so good, Jax.”
He buried his face in her neck, nipping at her soft skin, as she squeezed her legs around his hips and urged him on with soft cries and moans.
“Harder, Jax, please,” she begged into his ear.
He kissed her again, their tongues darting in and out of each other’s mouth as he drove in and out of her. She wiggled one hand between them, biting down on his bottom lip when she ran her trembling fingers over her clit.
“I’m going to come,” she moaned against his mouth.
“Yes,” he groaned. “Now, Mel.”
She brushed the tips of her fingers over her clit twice more as Jax surged in and out of her. Her orgasm flooded through her, setting her nerve endings on fire as she shook and twitched and stuffed her face into his broad neck to muffle her cries of ecstasy.
“Fuck!” He muttered as he pinned her against the wall. His entire body shook, his hands dug painfully into her hips and he swore again as he thrust wildly in and out. She clung tightly to him as he came, running her hands over the soft material of his t-shirt as he shuddered against her.
They rested for a moment, both of them breathing harshly, before he eased out of her. He took of the condom, tying the end of it, as she tugged her panties on and reached for a tissue from the box on the vanity.
“Give it to me,” She said.
He dropped it into the tissue and she buried it deep in the small trash bin as he pulled his jeans up over his hips.
She straightened her dress and smiled nervously at him when he pulled her back into his arms and kissed her lightly.
“Hello, butterfly.”
“Hi, Jax.”
“This is turning out to be the best barbeque ever,” he said and she blushed furiously.
“I’m sorry, that was totally inappropriate of me,” she said.
“Hey, I get it. I’m irresistible,” he replied as he reached down and squeezed her ass.
She rolled her eyes and he grinned. “I take it you missed me this week?”
“No, just really horny today,” she said.
“Cruel,” he kissed her throat and she shivered as a new wave of excitement swept through her. “I missed you, butterfly.”
“You did?” She whispered.
“Yes. All I could think about was how good you looked naked and in my bed,” he sucked on her earlobe and palmed her breast, running his thumb over her tight nipple.
“We really have to stop having sex at my parents’ house,” she said.
“You’re right,” he said seriously.
Disappointment flooded through her and she tried to step away from him. He tightened his hold on her before dipping his head and licking her mouth. “That’s why you should give me your address, butterfly. I’ll come by after the barbeque.”
“I thought you didn’t date.”
“This isn’t dating. This is fucking,” he said.
She swallowed down the odd lump that rose in her throat. “One night of fucking, that’s what you said, Jax.”
“Yet here we are,” he nuzzled her neck and slid his hand under sundress before cupping her pussy through her damp panties. “One more night, butterfly. There’s still so much more I want to do to you.”
“Just one more night,” she gasped as he rubbed her clit through her panties.
“That’s right,” he agreed.
She licked her lips nervously as he stroked her lightly through her panties. “Okay,” she finally whispered. “Just one more night and then – “
There was a light knock on the door and Julie’s soft voice drifted through it, “Mel? Cal’s looking for Jax. He’ll be up here any minute.”
“Shit,” she muttered.
Jax grinned at her and kissed her lightly. “Text me your address, Mel.”
He unlocked the door and opened it, smiling at Julie. “Hello, Julie.”
“Um, hi, Mr. Anderson. How are you?”
“Call me Jax, alright?”
“Um, sure.” Julie took a nervous step backward as Jax winked at Mel before striding down the hallway and down the stairs.
“Jax, where were you?” Cal’s voice floated up the stairs as Mel grabbed Julie’s hand and nearly yanked her into the small room. She shut the door and stared wide-eyed at Julie.
“I did it again.”
“Oops?” Julie said with a small grin.
“Not funny, Jules!” Mel paced back and forth. “It was supposed to be one night, just one night of sweaty, mind-blowing sex, and nothing more! That’s what we agreed to. I went home with him last weekend and we had sex all night and that was supposed to be it.”
Julie didn’t reply and Mel smack
ed herself in the forehead with the heel of her palm. “I take one look at him and lose my goddamn mind. I practically attacked him.”
“He didn’t seem to mind,” Julie shrugged.
Mel stopped pacing and stared at her. “How did you know we were in here?”
“I was upstairs using the bathroom and um, heard you,” Julie said.
“Oh my God,” Mel groaned. “What if it had been Cal who heard us? From what I can tell, he and Jax are becoming friends.”
“He didn’t,” Julie said soothingly. “I went back downstairs and heard Cal asking where Jax was so I ran up here to warn you.”
Mel grabbed Julie’s hand. “Thank you. Seriously, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“What am I doing, Jules?” Mel sighed.
“Dating a bad boy?” She suggested.
“He doesn’t want to date. He just wants sex,” Mel replied.
“Is that what you want?”
“I don’t know. It makes sense not to date. We have nothing in common.”
“How do you know that for sure?” Julie asked. “Maybe you have more in common than you think.”
“I doubt that,” Mel replied. “He wants to come over to my place after the barbeque and dammit, if I’m not going to let him. Am I making a mistake, Jules?”
“I don’t think so. At least, not if both of you are fine with just, you know, sleeping together,” Julie said hesitantly.
“Right,” Mel tugged at the bottom of her dress. “How do I look?”
“Your throat is a little red,” Julie said.
“Shit.” She touched the spot where Jax had nipped her. “How noticeable is it?”
“Not that noticeable,” Julie reassured her.
“Thanks.” Mel hesitated before giving her a tight hug. “Court’s a lucky guy, Julie.”
Julie smiled. “I’m lucky to have him. Now, we’d better get back downstairs before they start to wonder where we are.”
Chapter 10
She opened the door of her apartment, her heart starting up a crazy jumbled beat, and smiled uncertainly at him. He leaned against the door frame and returned her smile with a lazy heat that made her tremble with anticipation.