Fighting Temptation (Men Of Honor)

by LYNN, K. C.

  Right when Cooper takes out his phone Cade and Sawyer come running through the open front door.

  “What the fuck happened?” Sawyer asks.

  “How the hell did you know?” Cooper asks him.

  “Because your girl just called me freaking out, asking if I was with you guys and if I knew whether Julia was okay or not.”

  “Jesus, that woman is fucking impatient.”

  Cooper pulls out his phone and walks out to call Kayla. Sawyer looks at me, “What the hell happened?”

  I nod towards the kitchen. Both he and Cade walk in, “What-the-ever-living fuck?” I hear Cade say.

  Walking out they both look at me with fury raging in their eyes, “So who’s ass are we killing?” Sawyer asks.

  I look down at Julia and shake my head. Not wanting to talk about it right now in front of her, he nods in understanding. I pull Julia’s hand away from her ears, “Let’s go pack a bag. We’re going to go sleep at Cooper’s and Kayla’s.” She nods against my chest.

  Picking her up I start to carry her upstairs, knowing she’s shaking too much to walk. Stopping halfway up I look back to Sawyer and Cade, “Meet us at Cooper’s.”

  They nod and head out the door. Rage rushes through my veins as I finish carrying Julia up the stairs. That mother fucker is going to pay for this.

  Climbing out of the truck I walk up the front steps to Kayla’s and Cooper’s house, feeling cold and detached from my body. Kayla’s there waiting for me, holding open the door.

  “Come here,” taking my bag she hugs me then ushers me into the house. Jaxson stays close behind, rage rolling off of him in waves.

  As we bypass the kitchen towards the spare room I see Sawyer and Cade sitting at the table they too, look angry as hell. They both nod at me, I give them a small smile, or at least I tried, not sure if I succeeded.

  Kayla puts my bag on the bed once we enter the room then turns to me, “Can I get you something? Some tea maybe?”

  I smile, “Ya, tea would be great, thank you.”

  We walk back into the kitchen and the guys’ conversation stops abruptly. “Come here,” Jaxson says holding out his arms. I walk into them and he pulls me down on his lap pressing a soft kiss to my neck. It’s the first thing I’ve felt since seeing… I squeeze my eyes shut.

  Oh that poor animal.

  The front door slams, pulling me from my tortured thoughts. Cooper comes walking in looking tired and stressed, “Forensics are going through things now,” he looks directly at me, “Julia who has a key to your house?”

  I shake my head confused as to why he’s asking, “Just Kayla.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes not even Grams has one.”

  He looks over to Kayla, “Go look at your keys to see if the key is still there.”

  “What’s this about?” Jaxson asks.

  “No one broke into that house. They got into it with a key, there’s no way they even picked the lock.”

  What?

  Kayla comes walking back in with her keys, “Ya, it’s still here.”

  Cooper lets out a frustrated breath. Silence and tension reins in the kitchen while everyone ponders on their thoughts.

  “Do you think it was that prick from earlier tonight?” Sawyer asks.

  “Vince?” Kayla and I say at the same time.

  “Why not? The guy was pissed getting tossed out like he did, plus gave him an opportunity to swipe a key from somewhere.”

  “It wasn’t him,” Jaxson says cutting Sawyer off, “the guy I ran after wasn’t big enough. Besides, I already know who it was.”

  Wyatt!

  A chill races up my spine, making me shiver. Kayla walks over handing me my tea. I wrap both my hands around the mug and bring it close to my mouth, trying to soak in the warmth from the steam.

  “I don’t know Jaxson, I know what you’re thinking but things have been quiet for weeks. Nothing out of the ordinary has happened. Why start trouble now?” Cooper’s sensible thoughts make me remember the phone calls.

  I clear my throat nervously, “Um, well, something out of the ordinary has been going on.” Jaxson tenses and everyone’s gaze snaps to me. I put my mug down and turn to face Jaxson, “I’m sorry, I meant to tell you. I was going to tonight, but then everything happened with Vince and then after everyone left we… well you know.”

  His hands tighten on my hips, “Tell me what?”

  “I’ve been getting phone calls all week…”

  “Jesus Christ Julia! All fucking week and you’re telling me now?”

  “I thought at first it was just wrong numbers or kids. At first no one said anything, they would just hang up. But the last two times I could hear someone breathing heavily…”

  “For fuck sakes!” I don’t blame him for being mad but I’m also not in the mood to hear it. I go to get up but he keeps a tight grip on me.

  “Let go! I’m not in the mood to listen to you yell at me right now.”

  He takes a deep breath and loosens his grip, “I’m sorry, I’ll calm down.”

  Feeling exhausted I sit back and relax into him.

  “How many did you get?” Cooper asks me now.

  “About one a day, all on my land line, not cell phone.”

  Cooper looks to Jaxson, “I’ll go question him tomorrow.”

  Jaxson gets angry again, “Come on Cooper, it’s not like the asshole is going to admit to it. He went too far this time, I’m dealing with him myself.”

  “No you’re fucking not! I’m serious Jaxson. Don’t you go doing something stupid and make me have to arrest my best fucking friend.”

  Jaxson’s steely gaze trains on Cooper, the air becoming heavy with tension and anger. I rest my forehead against Jaxson’s and cup his face, “He’s right Jax, please just let Cooper handle it.”

  He doesn’t say anything and I know he’s too angry right now to hear anyone. Letting out a heavy breath I kiss his cheek before I get up, “I’m going to go to bed.” I walk over and hug Cooper, “Thanks Cooper for everything.”

  He hugs me tightly and kisses the top of my head, “You’re welcome. And next time woman, you better goddamn listen to me when I tell you to stay where the hell you are.”

  “I will, I’m sorry. I thought someone was hurt. I wish I would have listened to you now.”

  I wave over to Sawyer and Cade before walking out of the kitchen, Kayla follows behind me.

  “Do you want company?”

  I smile, “Sure, we haven’t had a sleepover since high school.”

  She laughs and follows me into bed. We both curl up on our sides and face each other. She reaches over and grabs my hand, “You going to be alright?”

  “Ya, I just wish I could erase the image I have in my head. It was terrible Kayla.”

  Her eyes turn sympathetic, “I know Jules. Don’t worry. Coop will make the son of a bitch pay.”

  I nod and soon exhaustion settles heavily over my body, dragging me down into a restless slumber.

  After arguing with Cooper for a long while I decide to give in and let him handle things. For now. The powerful rage that had rushed through my body earlier now settles in a low simmer, always there but controllable. Not wanting to be away from Julia for another second, I get up and decide to head to bed.

  Cade and Sawyer rise at the same time, “Call us if you need help. You know we have your back,” Sawyer says.

  I nod, “I know, thanks. Also… I decided not to do the mission. Even before this went down, but especially now.”

  Sawyer grins, “Good decision. I’ll deal with the Admiral.”

  “Thanks.” I walk out of the kitchen and stop short at the entrance to the spare room. My lips twitch, “Hey Coop, come get your woman out of my spot.”

  All 3 guys walk over and peek in. Kayla and Julia are curled on their sides facing one another, their hands linked in between their bodies.

  Sawyer chuckles, “Aw and look they’re both wearing your guys’ shirts. Someone take a picture.”<
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  Chuckling, Cooper walks over and lifts Kayla in his arms.

  “No Coop, not with Jaxson and Julia here,” she mumbles in her sleep.

  The three of us burst into muffled laughter. Smiling, Coop looks over at us and shrugs, “What can I say, I’m always on her mind.”

  Once Coop walks out, I close the door and start shredding my clothes.

  Julia awakens and sits up groggily, “Jax?”

  “Ya baby.”

  “Did you and Cooper work everything out?”

  “Ya.”

  Crawling into bed I pull her to me, needing to feel her against me. Jesus, when I heard her scream rip through the night like that… shaking my head I let out a tortured breath and try not to think about it. She buries her face in my neck planting soft kisses along my throat and jaw. Lust begins to mix with the rage in my blood. Groaning, I palm her lush ass with both of my hands.

  She sits up swiftly, shredding my shirt off her body, bringing my dick to life with a jolt.

  “Jaxson, I need you. I need to feel you right now,” her voice is frantic and shaky, “I can’t seem to get warm. Or get that poor animal out of my head…”

  I flip her over, cutting her off before she completely loses it. With both of us on our sides now I bring her against me; her back to my front. Her sweet ass cradling my hard dick. I take her top leg and place it back over mine. Grabbing the side of her panties I shred them from her body.

  She moans, “Oh God, as hot as that is, you really need to stop doing that or I’m not going to have any panties left.”

  That’s just fucking fine with me, she doesn’t need to wear them.

  “It’s faster and right now I don’t have the patience to take them off you any other way.”

  Our groans mingle when I slide my hand between her legs, feeling her fucking soaked and ready. “Always so wet and ready for me,” I whisper, planting soft kisses along her shoulder and neck.

  “Always for you.”

  Groaning again, I pull my underwear down just enough to free my cock. Knowing how wet and ready she is I slam up inside of her from behind.

  She gasps, “God yes, I need you.”

  “You have me baby, all of me.” I kiss the side of her face, her ear, anything my lips can reach and keep a steady pace as I fuck her from behind. Sweat builds between our entwined bodies, my hands palming her breasts, pinching and tormenting her nipples. I fuck her as hard and deep as I can get, not knowing where I end and she starts, wanting her to feel nothing but me.

  “Feel me baby, only me.”

  “I do, that’s all I feel,” she breathes out heavily, slamming her ass back against me. My hand goes to her hip, fingers digging into the soft flesh while I hammer up into her. Jesus! Sweet hot fucking perfection. Reaching in front I slide my finger through her wet slit, finding her swollen nub, her gasps and moans filling the air.

  A low growl erupts from my throat when her pussy starts to flutter around my cock. I speed up my rhythm, both with my dick and hand, hoping she finds release soon. I’m not so sure how much longer I can hold off.

  She whimpers my name, “Jaxson,” and that was the only warning I got before her muscles gripped my cock like a tight vise, sucking it greedily in its hot depth.

  “Fuck me. Julia baby, I swear your pussy was made for my cock,” I let out a long groan and still as I spill myself inside of her.

  Collapsing down from my raised arm I stay inside of her while trying to catch my breath. Not in any hurry to leave her body I pull her back snug against me, kissing her neck, “I’ll take care of this Julia, I promise.”

  And I will. I’ll give Cooper his time, but after that, the mother fucker is mine.

  She kisses the palm of my hand. “I love you Jaxson,” she says before drifting off to sleep. I swallow thickly and kiss the back of her neck, fucking hating myself for not saying it back.

  A week later I’m in the very place I thought I’d never be able to step foot in again, my kitchen. Jaxson took care of making sure the kitchen was thoroughly cleaned; he even bought a new kitchen table for me. You could still smell the fresh paint on the walls and it made me shudder to think that they weren’t able to clean it enough without having to repaint.

  Things have been strained between us lately to say the least. Ever since we found out from Cooper that Wyatt had an air tight alibi for that night Jaxson has been on edge. There’s a quiet rage around him now that wasn’t there before. He’s always on guard, not letting me go anywhere by myself and gets angry if I even suggest it. He’s been having nightmares too, but anytime I try to talk about it with him he says he’s fine and doesn’t want to talk about it. Before all this things had been so amazing for us. I could feel him opening up to me, letting me in more than he ever had before, but since that night he’s just completely shut me out and it breaks my heart. To make matters worse I’ve been feeling terrible lately. I’m so tired all the time and my stomach is constantly queasy.

  My phone rings, bringing me out of my depressing thoughts. Before I can answer it Jaxson comes charging in, throwing his hand up at me, telling me to stay where I am.

  I watch him answer it. “Hello,” his icy tone annoys me, what if it’s my Grams?

  “Who’s this… ya hold on.”

  He hands me the phone, “Some Don Thomson from Foothills Elementary?”

  I gasp and rip the phone from him, excitement humming through my body, “Hello, Mr. Thomson?”

  A huge smile takes over my face as Don tells me I got the job. I start dancing around silently, fist pumping the air. He tells me that I’ll be subbing till Christmas but after that my position will become full time and I’ll be teaching grade two. I thank him for the opportunity and hang up.

  I look over at Jaxson leaning against the counter, watching me with a smile.

  “Oh my god Jaxson!! I got the job! I got the job! I got the job!” I run and launch myself at him, he catches me laughing.

  “Congratulations Jules, you’re going to be a great teacher.”

  It’s the first time in a week I’ve heard his tone soft and genuine. It warms my heart and makes my throat tight. I rest my forehead against his and kiss him, slow and deep, showing him how much I’ve missed him. When I pull back there’s a fire in his eyes that I haven’t seen since we came back and feeling his erection against my stomach starts a sharp ache between my legs. Just as I lean in to kiss him again my stomach rolls, “Oh no!” I shove away from him and run to the bathroom slamming the door behind me. I make it just in time to empty everything I ate for lunch in the toilet.

  “Uhhh!” I groan and lean my head against the side of the toilet, the cold porcelain bringing small relief. I startle when a cold cloth hits my forehead. Shooting my eyes open I see Jaxson looking at me in concern. “Oh god, did you really just watch me throw up? That is so not hot.”

  He chuckles then leans in, kissing the side of my neck, “There’s nothing you could do that would make you not hot.”

  I arch an eyebrow, calling him a liar, which makes him chuckle again. His expression quickly changes back to concerned, “How long has this been going on?”

  “I knew I was coming down with something the night of Kayla’s and Coop’s engagement supper because I had been feeling so tired. Just this last week I’ve been queasy; this is the only time I actually got sick.” I shrug, “I’m sure it’s just stress running me down.”

  His concerned gaze stays trained on me, “Make an appointment for the doctors Jules.”

  “Jax, I’m fine, it’s just the flu or something.”

  “I still want you to book an appointment, just in case alright?”

  “Alright,” I say giving in.

  He kisses my forehead, “Can I get you something?”

  I shake my head and get up, “I’m going to go call Gram and tell her my good news,” I kiss his cheek then walk out.

  After I hang up from Gram I go online to look at my bank account. I had a decent amount in savings but without a steady pay check ti
ll after Christmas I may need to look into a part time job.

  My eyes widen in shock when I look at my balance, “What on earth? This can’t be right.” Going through my history I see there’s no mistake someone deposited $10,000 in my account.

  Who would do that? Grams? No she would have told me, wouldn’t she?

  Logging off, I go into the kitchen and grab a Pepsi from the fridge. Leaning against the counter I think about why Grams would deposit money and not say something.

  “What’s wrong?” Jaxson asks from the kitchen table.

  “Someone deposited ten thousand dollars in my account. It could only be Grams, but why would she not…”

  “It was me.”

  I snap my head up so fast I almost get whip lash. “What? Why?”

  “Because I told you I would pay you back for Germany.”

  I narrow my eyes at him and feel my blood start to boil. “First off Jaxson, it was nowhere near ten thousand dollars. And secondly, I told you I didn’t want your damn money.”

  He shrugs easily, “Don’t worry about.”

  I slam my pop down on the counter, “Are you listening to me? I am not taking it Jaxson so you can forget about it.”

  “Yes you are Julia.”

  I grind my teeth, his arrogance building my fury, “Who the hell do you think you are? You don’t go and deposit sums of money in people’s accounts and not tell them…”

  “I knew you wouldn’t accept it otherwise.”

  “Exactly! So what does that tell you? I’m serious, I’m going to the bank tomorrow, withdrawing that money and giving it back.”

  “Jesus Julia, what the hell is your problem? Just take the fucking money!”

  “No! I am not your whore!”

  He shoots out of his chair throwing it against the wall, “What the fuck are you talking about? That doesn’t even make sense?”

  My body vibrates with fury, “It means just because you’re fucking me it doesn’t give you a right to deposit money into my account. How could you…” I grab on to the counter, feeling light headed.