“Have you forgotten how you met him, Marissa? He broke into your shop. He may not be guilty of this one, but think about it for a moment. He’s gotten into your shop when you weren’t there. That’s not all innocent.” Jax turned without another word and headed back to his SUV.
Marissa watched him drive away, before she finally shut the door. When she turned around, Hill was standing there. He’d paled almost as badly as he had after the fire.
“Don’t let him get to you.” Marissa locked the front door. “Why don’t you go on up to bed? You need your rest.”
Marissa poured out the rest of the water in the teakettle and went in search of a spicy Shiraz. She had hid the liquor in the laundry room when Hill came over the night before. She did a quick count. All three bottles of wine were where she’d left them—inside the box of old rags. She dug out one bottle of wine and went in search of her bottle opener. She poured a hearty glass and went and sat down in front of the television. She’d missed the nightly news, so she scrolled through her DVR until she found a recorded episode of her favorite comedy. She needed something to get her mind off her profoundly weird day.
She’d only taken two sips of her wine when she set the glass aside. She was…anxious. She got up and strolled behind the sofa and into the kitchen. There was something bothering her and she couldn’t put her finger on it. A snack didn’t help. She wasn’t hungry.
It hit her. The anxiousness. The agitation. It was Jax. He’d gotten under her skin. He’d aggravated her. She should be pissed that he’d come over and blamed Hill again. She had been pissed when he was there, but once he’d left his absence was more profound than she’d have expected. She was wound up. Sexually. Even after what had happened at her shop earlier, she wanted more.
Marissa leaned against the wall and covered her face with her hands. Jax’s touch lingered on her skin like a shadow. His warm lips and strong hands a memory she didn’t want to shake. God, even the smell of him—his musk and warmth—had clung to her and embedded itself in her senses.
She pushed off the wall and tucked her hands in her pockets, just to give her something to do. A piece of paper was lodged in the left pocket. She pulled it out and groaned. It was the address and directions to Jax’s house. She wasn’t even sure how long she stared at the paper. She started moving without thinking, grabbed her purse and her keys and was at the back door before she realized what she was doing.
She stopped. Could she do this? Could she go to him? The bigger question was, could she not?
She scribbled out a quick note to Hill, telling him she’d be out but he could catch her on her cell if he needed her.
She stopped by the shop to pick up Jax’s favorite cupcakes—he was partial to the strawberry, even if he hadn’t said so yet. He was polite enough to try any and every combination she offered him. But he always got a little extra sparkle when she offered him the strawberry.
The entire drive to Jax’s house, Marissa was tempted to turn around. “This is crazy.” She sat at the stop sign to turn onto his street. “What if he turns me away?”
What if he didn’t, said the little voice in the back of her head, cheered on by her screaming libido. It wasn’t just about the sex—though, if she was honest, that was plenty. No, it was more. Somewhere along the way, she had fallen for the man. He was who she wanted to turn to when she needed help or had a problem. He was the one she wanted to tell when a recipe turned out perfectly. And when she didn’t know what to do about Hill, he was the one she wanted to confide in and commiserate with. He was her waking thought and the last image that lingered as she slipped off at night.
He lived in one of the oldest sections of Oak Hollow. She’d half-expected him to live in one of the mansions near the country club that his mother and her Stepford buddies all called home. From all accounts, though, Jax hadn’t done a single thing his mother wished him to do. She pulled up in front of his house and cut her lights. His house was dark and still. She never considered he might be up at the station.
“God, am I stupid.” She leaned her forehead against the steering wheel. “I have resorted to an unannounced booty call.” She gave a quick laugh.
A loud knock on her window startled her upright.
“Jesus, Jax, you scared the shit out of me.” Not that he could hear her. She rolled the window down. “What’s up?”
A wry smile tilted up the corner of his mouth. “Didn’t mean to scare you. What’s up with me? You just pulled up in front of my house. You okay?”
She ignored his question. “Were you standing watch or something?”
“Actually, I was walking my dog.” He waggled the leash in his hand.
Marissa followed the tether to a large, dark shape sniffing the front end of her Tahoe.
“Marissa?”
She shook herself and shifted her gaze to Jax. “Hmm?”
“What are you doing here?” he asked slowly.
Her palms were sweating as she held on to the steering wheel. She gripped it tighter, something to keep her hands from shaking. “I wanted to—I needed to…see you.” There, she’d said it. Gotten it out there. The ball was in his court.
He didn’t lob the ball back. He simply looked at her.
When she was almost overwhelmed with embarrassment, Jax leaned through the open window and set his lips on hers. He whispered against her mouth, “I’m so glad you came over.”
He kissed her for a long moment, then pulled back. “You want to come inside?”
She nodded, then rolled up her window and turned off her SUV. Her hands were shaking when she opened the door and slid out, but she didn’t have time to contemplate that before she was knocked back to the vehicle. A long wet tongue swiped down her cheeks as nasty warm breath clogged her nostrils. “Jax, help.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Soldier, down.” Jax was laughing, but trying hard to hide it. His damned dog was too quick. The moment Marissa stepped from her SUV, the dog had lost interest in her tires and turned to her. She held a pink box aloft over her head and squirmed under Soldier’s wet onslaught.
The shepherd seldom had this reaction to people, so Jax hadn’t been prepared. “Down, boy.” He pulled on the leash with one hand and the collar with the other.
It took some doing, but he finally managed to pry Soldier off Marissa. Until she smiled, he wasn’t sure if she would climb back in her SUV and drive off.
She bent down and patted the beast on the head. “You should invest in some doggie mints.” She scratched behind his ear, then gave a final pat atop his head. “Good guard dog you got there.”
“You got the tame version.” He pressed his hand to the small of her back as he walked her up to his door.
“I’d hate to see the other version.”
“You won’t.” Once Soldier liked someone, really liked them, there was no other side. There were only a handful of people, maybe less, to whom he reacted that way. All were Jax’s closest friends. Never once had it been one of his “dates.” Not that he and Marissa were dating. Hell, he didn’t even know what they were doing. Most times, though, he’d give anything for more of it.
Once inside the house, he unhooked Soldier’s leash and flipped on the overhead light in the living room. The dog ran in circles picking up one toy after another to show them to their new guest. Once he’d made the rounds, he came over and licked her hand one final time, then settled down on his mat beside the sofa.
“I’ve always wanted a dog,” Marissa said almost wistfully as she sat on the end of the sofa farthest from the dog.
“You’ve never had a dog?” Jax sat next to her. Not close enough to invade her space, but close enough he could touch her easily.
“I’ve never had a pet of any kind. My mom…” Her voice caught. “My mom was allergic.” She shook herself. “I didn’t come over here to discuss my, um, pets or lack thereof.”
Jax hooked the leashed on the peg beside the door. “Why did you come over? It wasn’t just to bring me cupcakes,” he said as he pulled one
from the box and sat next to her on the sofa. He took a bite while he waited for Marissa to get to her reason for coming over.
Marissa wrung her hands in front of her, then released them, then wrung them again.
“Is everything okay?” He set the cupcake on the end table and settled his hand on her arm, hoping to reassure her even as his own pulsed ratcheted up a notch. “Did something…”
“No. I just wondered… Hypothetically, if someone is breaking the law, but for the right reason—”
“They’re still breaking the law.” He said it without hesitation.
“What if they’re not technically breaking the law, but doing something wrong?”
“Where are you going with this, Marissa?”
“Nowhere.” She leaned back and picked at a piece of lint on the arm of the sofa. “Just making conversation.
“You know you can talk to me, right? About anything.”
“Sure. Same goes for you.” Her gaze dropped to his mouth. “You have a little icing,” she motioned to the corner of his lips.
Jax swiped at it.
“You missed.” Marissa shifted and leaned into Jax. “Here.” She darted her tongue out and licked the corner of his mouth. “I got it for you.”
As distractions went, it was top notch. He was determined to get her back on topic. At some point. Later. He wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her onto his lap.
Marissa leaned forward and placed her lips on his. It was as thrilling as their first kiss. He hadn’t thought it was possible time after time to get the rush, the anticipation and want all rolled into one.
He teased the seam of her lips with his tongue. It was all the nudge she needed to open to him. Marissa parted her lips and slid her tongue along his, heating whatever part of him had lagged behind from the initial touch. She leaned closer, set her hand on his face, her thumb tracing a soft path over his chin.
God, how he longed for her touch. Even when she was in his arms he wanted more. He wanted to all but devour her, but the last time they were together, it had been rushed. And even the first time, he’d taken her on the sofa in her living room. He wanted to savor Marissa.
Without warning, he stood, scooping her up in his arms.
“Jax?”
“Marissa.” He kissed the tip of her nose. He nuzzled her neck as he carried her down the hall to his bedroom.
She moaned and leaned in closer to him.
In the bedroom, he kicked the door shut. He didn’t want Soldier to wander in at an inopportune moment. No, he wanted Marissa’s undivided attention all to himself. He set her in the middle of his bed.
He’d already shed his utility belt when he’d gotten home from work, but still had on his shirt with the badge pinned to his left pocket, so he removed it and kicked off his shoes. Marissa levered herself up on her elbows and watched. When Jax set his knee on the bed next her, she shifted.
Had she changed her mind?
No, she shifted her feet to the edge and kicked off her own shoes, then turned back to him.
“Are you sure you want to—”
She captured his mouth again, answering his question. She pulled him back with her as she leaned against the pillows. Her fingers played at the hair at his nape before they slid down his back. Her fingers on his bare skin tantalized him, promised of more to come.
Jax propped himself up on one elbow, then tugged at the T-shirt tucked into the top of her jeans. When he pulled it free, he settled his hand on her flat belly, then up to her lace-covered breast. He held the weight in his hand, just let the warmth spread through him.
“Jax.” Marissa pulled her mouth free and kissed his jaw. “What is this between us?”
If he only knew. No woman had made him want so strongly. What could he say? He wasn’t in a place to tell her he loved her. Hell, it shocked him to even think the words to himself, but damned if the ache didn’t start from the depths of his bones. “What it is, is good.” He trailed kisses over her T-shirt and captured her taught nipple through the layers of clothing.
Marissa arched her back, groaned and pushed him away. She leaned up and ripped her T-shirt up over her head and removed her bra. She waggled her eyebrows at him. “Better?”
Jax released a husky laugh, then captured the pink bud in his mouth. He laved it taut, then asked her the same thing. “Better?”
Marissa did little more than moan. “Mmm-hmm.”
He then kissed his way down to the top of her jeans. He took his time with the button and the zipper, his tongue trailing along the edge. Marissa sank her hands in his hair. “Need to get rid of these.” Jax tugged on the top of her jeans and helped her shimmy them, as well as her bright blue panties, down her legs. She squirmed a little as she lay bare before him, but he soothed her with small bites and kisses up her leg, stopping to run his tongue on the back of her knee. Then he dropped feather-light kisses up the inside of her thigh. When he reached the crook of her leg he repeated the action on the other leg.
“Jax, you’re killing me.”
He chuckled. “I think you’ll survive.” He settled his mouth over her and her hips shot off the bed. Her grip tightened in his hair, and it spurred him on as he ran his tongue across her swollen nub.
He’d never before wanted to pleasure someone as much as he did Marissa. He didn’t think he was a selfish lover, but this was the first time that it was the first and foremost thing on his mind.
When he had her all but shuddering under his ministrations, he eased back, slid a finger inside and pumped into her. Then he added a second, stretching her, readying her for him as she arched farther off the bed.
“Jax…close,” Marissa panted. “Stop.”
He slowed his rhythm.
Marissa frowned down at him. “Don’t stop.”
Jax kissed the inside of her thigh and chuckled. He returned the pressure and the rhythm until a warm rush engulfed his fingers and she cried out.
While she lay exhausted, he stood, shucked the remainder of his clothes, then slowly climbed up beside her on the bed.
Marissa slowly opened her eyes. A slow smile crawled across her mouth. “Wowzers.”
Jax bit back his own smile. “Wowzers? Is that all you’ve got?”
“You—” she slapped a hand on his bare biceps “—are quite conceited there, Chief.”
Jax shot one eyebrow skyward. “When it’s the truth it’s not conceited, now is it?”
Marissa giggled and leaned up to meet him, her lips slanting across his. She wrapped her leg around his hip and guided him down atop her. “Well, let’s see if you can keep up the streak.”
Jax entered her smoothly and stayed still. He wanted to cherish her warmth as she enveloped him. God, he didn’t think he could ever get enough of this woman. She touched places in him he hadn’t thought anyone would ever have access to. Not until she’d come into his world.
There were so many obstacles he had to overcome with her. But he relished the idea of earning her trust, working through their issues until she was his.
The thought shook him a little. Mostly because he recognized the rightness of it. He pumped into her slowly at first, then with a fierceness that spoke of the burgeoning feelings rocketing through him.
She looked at him. There was trust there. She couldn’t give herself to him so freely if there wasn’t. She just wasn’t ready to take it to the next level.
He was patient.
There was also something more. Something that smoldered just behind. More than lust. Something he wasn’t quite ready to put a name to, either, but it was enough to send him tumbling over the edge into the most powerful climax he’d ever had.
His arms shook as he levered himself down to lie beside her. She didn’t hesitate to snuggle up next to him, fitting her head snuggly under his. He wrapped his arm over her waist and pulled her flush against him.
This was where he wanted her to stay, from now to forever. He wasn’t entirely sure, but just as he dozed off he thought the words may have
escaped him, his plea whispered softly into her ear.
Marissa lay in the warm cocoon Jax created for her with his own body. He’d asked her to stay, but to be honest she wasn’t sure if he meant for the night or forever. Either way, she couldn’t. He could love her. She was almost sure of it. He would take care of her. But she’d been alone for so long, taken care of herself by herself for so long she wasn’t sure she could open enough to him.
But as she snuggled closer to him, any thoughts that she might be falling in love with him were quickly whisked away. There was no might. She was full-blown, head-over-heels for the man. And it seemed mutual. A man couldn’t make love to a woman like that, holding nothing back, giving and giving without a little bit of love.
What she worried about, though, was would it be enough? Was love enough to overlook the differences that seemed miniscule in the throes of fantastic lovemaking, but Grand Canyon–huge in the light of day?
She must have dozed off. When she woke, she shifted and found a blanket covering her and Jax. Pale moonlight streamed in through the parted slats of the blinds at the windows. She shifted and looked around to get her bearings. Her head now lay on his left arm. His right arm was thrown over his eyes. It was half past three according to the clock on his nightstand.
Should she cuddle back up to Jax and sleep with more comfort and safety than she had in who knows how long, or get up and leave before she did something stupid like profess her love for the man?
As cowardly as it was, she opted for sneaking out—though she preferred to notch it up as consideration. She didn’t want to wake him. His workweek had been hellish. He needed his sleep. Plus, he’d had a busy evening. Delight washed through her body. Oh, how he’d been busy.
Marissa eased off the bed, careful not to jostle Jax. Once on her feet, she hunted around in the dark for her clothes. She found her jeans—though no panties—at the foot of the bed. She slipped into her jeans commando. It was all she could do not to get all self-conscious and cover her breast as she hunted for her bra and shirt. Finally after what seemed like an interminable about of time, she found both wadded up by his bedroom door.
Baker’s Law Page 17