“Don’t count your chickens until the fat lady sings,” she said matter-of-factly.
“Before they hatch,” I corrected. “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”
“Whatever. Show me your tits.”
“Nik!” I laughed, clamping my hand over my mouth. It would not be a good idea for the cop to see me giggling.
Nik pointed at me and smiled. “Got you to lighten up, didn’t I?” She winked at me. “Don’t worry. You will get through this, because the gods are always on your side, K.C.”
I pursed my lips, trying to hide my smile from the tit comment. Yeah, right. Nik had it in her head that I had the best luck in the world and that she only stayed my roommate so she could benefit from the residual effects.
She was high. On what drug, I didn’t know, but she was out of her mind.
Yeah, it was a little weird freshman year when the answers to a Macro-economics test I was unprepared for showed up in my email inbox.
And it was kind of awesome two weeks later when the sprinklers went off in Finite Math on the same day I happened to be running late for a quiz.
And then last spring when I had to write a report on Oliver Cromwell’s England? The University librarian emailed to let me know that the research texts I’d requested were waiting in reserve for pick-up. That wasn’t weird or awesome. It was unnerving. I’d never requested any texts for research. I had no idea where to begin with that research, actually.
Lots of lucky little things happened like that over the last two years, and I couldn’t explain it.
My mother cut off my credit card when I decided to minor in Creative Writing, and a job at the University bookstore landed in my lap.
I’d failed to study for a Music Appreciation final, because I couldn’t stand the class. My teacher’s test playlist of Baroque composers was replaced with 2 Live Crew’s Me So Horny.
A speeding ticket I couldn’t pay mysteriously disappeared from the DMV database, and one of my professors who had creeped me out with a suggestive email ‘resigned’ after his other emails to other students were leaked. The one to me wasn’t, thank God.
Most of it was great. I never took the test answers…wherever they came from, but I certainly wasn’t going to complain about the rest of it.
I just simply wasn’t going to rely on it, either.
Between that and Nik, I’d had more than a few reasons to smile these past two years, and now I could be thankful that I was no longer the girlfriend of a cheater.
I was grateful for that.
But I was also nervous. The summer was starting, and I was supposed to be moving into an apartment with Liam next week. I was supposed to be planning my study abroad trip to New Zealand for next spring. And I was supposed to be home in bed right now.
Instead, I was in a shitload of trouble on all fronts. I now had no place to live this summer, my college classes were as dry as dirt, and—I twisted my head around again to see that the cop was still working in his car—I was possibly in deep shit with the law now.
I winced, swallowing the lump in my throat. My mother. What the hell was she going to say?
Checking the rearview mirror, I noticed the cop climbing out of his car
“Shit. He’s got a Breathalyzer in his hand.” Nik’s quiet voice crashed into my stomach. “This is all my fault, K.C. I’m so sorry.”
My face felt like it was splintering into a dozen different cracks, and I clenched my teeth to dull the ache in my jaw.
“I’m not worried about the Breathalyzer,” I whispered, looking down into my lap. “He might know what happened at the club.”
***
Jax watches K.C. dancing…
Madoc stood next to me, watching K.C. through my bedroom window. “She’s lost her damn mind,” he joked.
“Yeah.” The corner of my mouth turned up. “Finally.”
My little pearl-clutcher had certainly gone off the reservation, and I crossed my arms over my chest, taking in the sight of it.
She was smiling and crazy beautiful.
Digging my cell out of my pocket, I dialed the police station.
“What are you doing?” Madoc asked, bringing his Newcastle to his lips.
I wiggled my eyebrows at him, knowing he would know what that meant.
“Hey, Rachel,” I said into the phone, trying to sound concerned. “It’s Jax. Who’s on patrol tonight? I need to report a lot of noise coming from next door.”
Madoc immediately hunched over and started laughing, but it was so deep that it sounded more like a wheeze.
He shook his head, smiling. “You’re such a prick,” he chuckled.
Yeah, I am.
K.C. Carter may have lost her damn mind, and I wanted to make sure she never found it again.
***
Jax and K.C. before they leave for the camping trip…
“Jax, Jared is honking the horn!” I cried out, running my fingers through the hair of the head between my legs. “Oh, God.” I arched my back off the mattress. “Right there!”
I groaned as Jax sucked my clit into his mouth and worked it hard, giving it quick nips with his teeth and stretching it out between his lips.
“Oh!” I rolled my hips, making love to his mouth.
God, I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t think he’d slept all night, and then I woke up twenty minutes ago with him on top of me. He had an appetite, and I was beyond delirious.
I knew he’d spent time in the office, getting work done last night, and then he’d told me—when his tongue wasn’t inside of me, that is—that we were all going camping starting today.
Jared was waiting outside, and I wouldn’t put it past him to barge through the door, demanding his brother back.
I threw my arms over my face as his tongue flicked me, sending me spasming home.
“Jesus!” I moaned and cried, punching the bed with my fists.
“Juliet! You okay?” Tate called from the other side of the door, and I covered my face with my hands again.
“Fuck off, Tate,” Jax barked, sucking me until the final shudders had left my body.
“Oh, my God,” Tate burst out. “Um, we’ll be downstairs. Hurry up!”
We’ll? My head fell to the side, and I closed my eyes, my face warm with embarrassment.
Jax gave me one last long lick and kissed up my stomach, stopping to suck on my breast.
“Don’t you ever get tired?” I whimpered through my hands.
“Of you?” He swirled his tongue around my nipple. “Doesn’t look like it. You’re too hot when you come.”
I dropped my hands to his face, bringing him in for a kiss. “I need a shower,” I whispered into his lips. “And you’re brother is going to drag you off of me, so you better go.”
“Jax! Now!”
We both jerked our heads to the door, hearing Jared’s bellow from downstairs.
Jax smiled and pecked me on the lips before jumping off the bed. His hair was still wet from the shower he took while I was asleep, and he already had jeans on. Digging into one of his bags—I assumed from the shopping trip with Madoc yesterday—he grabbed a black t-shirt and slipped it on his long torso.
“Be ready when I get back, okay?” He grabbed his phone, keys, and wallet, shoving them in his pockets. “Pack a bikini and some of my t-shirts to wear. You don’t need anything else.”
A smile spread over my lips, and I sat up, covering myself with the sheet. “I’ll be ready.”
I knew he wanted to get out of here soon, and I was glad he’d confided in me. I didn’t know how concerned to be about his father or whether or not he was a genuine threat, but I trusted Jax and Jared’s responses to keep a safe distance until they were prepared.
And hey, if it meant sharing a tent with Jax for three days, then I was cool with that. Tutoring was on a one-week hiatus for the Fourth of July next week, and I wasn’t starting my theater job until after tutoring was completed mid-July.
He dived back down for a quick kiss a
nd then headed for the door. “And don’t comb your hair,” he ordered, looking back at me and winking.
I saluted, watching him leave.
Swinging my legs over the edge of the bed, I kept the sheet wrapped around me and rotated my ankles and feet back to life. I’d practically been fucked into the mattress, although I do vaguely remember going into his office last night, riding him in his chair, and then returning to bed as if I’d just gotten up to get a drink of water.
The bedroom door swung open, and I looked up to see Fallon pulling to a sudden halt and peering down at me wide-eyed.
“Oh, wow,” she said, stunned.
I bowed my head, groaning. I didn’t even want to know what I looked like.
I heard a second set of footsteps and glanced up to see Tate.
“Well,” she drawled out, grinning. “You’re a mess.”
I nodded, tightening the sheet. “Energy,” I mumbled. “He has lots of it.”
Fallon came in, circling the bed, while Tate sat down beside me.
“One, two, three,” Fallon counted, and I looked up to see her picking up condom wrappers on the floor. “Four, five…” she continued and came to stand in front of me, shaking her head.
I swallowed and glanced at the nightstand and then back up at her with her handful of wrappers.
Shooting my hand over, I grabbed another wrapper off the night stand and shoved it into her hands. “Six,” I mumbled, looking away.
And that didn’t count the office sex last night or the oral sex this morning.
“I…I’ll…um,” she stumbled over her words, “I’ll go back over to your place and run her a bath.”
She walked out, and Tate called after her as she started to rub circles on my back.
“My soothing salts are under the sink!” she shouted to Fallon.
I shrugged her hand off, letting out a nervous laugh. “It’s not my first time, Tate. Stop fussing.”
She dropped her hand to her lap, speaking sternly. “You ever done it six times in one night before?” she asked.
I stared at my feet, smiling to myself and shaking my head.
She continued, “And if Jax is anything like his brother, then I’m sure he’s no gentlemen in the bedroom.”
I folded my lips between my teeth, trying not to laugh and look like I was losing my mind. I was mortified, delirious, and happy all at the same time, and I probably looked like I’d been attacked by an animal.
But definitely not by a gentleman. Oh no.
Character Conversations
Juliet: Do you remember when I asked if you were into lingerie and you said that lingerie was nothing more than clothing you had to take off?
Jax: Yes.
Juliet: And that there was no point to it, because it only covered up everything you wanted to see anyway?
Jax: Yes.
Juliet: And that you were a low-maintenance man who liked low-maintenance women, and I didn’t have to put on any frills for you?
Jax: I feel like we’re going to fight again. Which is fine, but we have to be at dinner with the family soon, and we don’t have time for make-up sex.
Juliet: *dangles lingerie from fingers*
Juliet: This was expensive, Jax. ‘WAS’ being the key word, since it’s now useless! I dragged Tate out to go shopping today and bought my first piece of real lingerie to test your comments. I only wore it for two minutes, and every time you get excited, you cut off my clothes!!!!
Jax: *grins
Juliet: It’s not funny.
Jax: You in that little black number was anything but funny.
Juliet: So you do like lingerie then, don’t you?!
Jax: Clearly.
Juliet: Well, what am I am supposed to do?! Buy it, so you can enjoy it one time and ruin it?
Jax: *grins
Juliet: Or maybe make you check the knife at the door?!
Jax: Do you really want that?
Juliet: Don’t give me that sexy little smile and think I’m going to melt. I love you, but I’m mad.
Jax: I love it when you’re mad.
Juliet: Oh, shut up.
Jax: *grins
Juliet: Stop looking at me like that.
Jax: *whispers* Baby...
Juliet: I’m not melting this time, Jax! *runs upstairs* And another thing. Start using a clean knife in the mayo jar! There’s bits of mustard in there from after you’ve spread it on your sandwich and then used it in the mayo! It’s gross!! *disappears up stairs
Jax: *snorts *texts Madoc
Jax: We’re going to be late for dinner.
Jax: *climbs stairs
***
*warning* This is a spoiler for Aflame
Madoc: I was thinking...Fallon and I are planning a winter trip to Aspen. We want you to come.
Tate: Oh, yay! Me smack dab in the middle of your candlelit dinners and intimate bubble baths. Count me in.
Madoc: I’m serious. There’s a great party scene there, tons of people to meet...You’d have a lot of fun.
Jax: *watching *gritting teeth
Tate: I have fun, Madoc.
Madoc: You have vibrators, Tate.
Addie: Oh, Madoc! Really!
Madoc: Oh, please. It’s not like your panties have seen any action lately, either.
Addie: *huffs *stomps out of kitchen
Madoc: Tate, for real, though. Come on. Let’s ride some snowmobiles, go to some swanky parties, and drink ‘til we puke. You can invite someone along, if you want.
Jax: *glaring at Madoc
Tate: I’ll think about it. *gets up, walks out of room
Jax: What the fuck are you doing?
Madoc: *shrugs
Jax: That’s my brother’s girl, asshole.
Madoc: Your brother can go screw himself for all I care. He left, after all. He doesn’t want her.
Jax: He’ll always want her. And if you try to set her up with guys, you won’t have to worry about what he’ll do to you. Stop going out of your way to fuck with me, and I mean it.
Madoc: Tate has every right to do what she wants. And she’s getting very good at doing EXACTLY what she wants if you haven’t noticed. But she does listen to me. More than she does you, so be prepared.
Jax: *smirks* You’re my best friend, so no offense, but I’m smarter than you. If. You. Haven’t. Noticed. SO BE PREPARED.
Madoc: >:(
Jax: >:(
Madoc: >:(
Jax: >:(
Madoc: So...you wanna like play Grand Theft Auto in the basement?
Jax: You got the new PS4 version?
Madoc: Duh.
Jax: Okay, then.
***
Madoc: You see, this little thingy here is called the dip stick. It tells us how much oil we have and when it should be changed.
Juliet: *scowling
Madoc: But it’s lucky for you that you have a big, strong man around to do all the car work for you. You don’t have to worry your pretty little head about anything.
Juliet: *scowling
Madoc: And when it comes time for you to buy a car, leave it to Jax and all you have to worry about is which color will go with your fingernails.
Juliet: *scowling
Fallon: Madoc...
Madoc: I’m just teasing. Sorry, Juliet. It’s okay that you don’t know about cars. Even though you’re the only one in the group who doesn’t know about mechanics.
Juliet: *scowling
Madoc: I’m teasing! *grabs her, hugs her* I’m sure you learned lots of awesome stuff in Girl Scouts. *laughing
Juliet: *scowling
Jax: MADOC!!!!! Get your ass in here!
Everyone runs up to Jax and Juliet’s upstairs bathroom...
Madoc: What?
Jax: Lucas flushed his vegetables from lunch down the toilet! It’s overflowing!
Madoc: Well, get the plunger!
Jax: I tried that. There’s water everywhere! It’s not stopping.
Fallon: Oh, shit...
J
uliet: *shifts eyes around room, watching everyone
Jax: Oh, my God. Seriously! What a mess! Why won’t it stop?
Madoc: Alright, I’ll call a plumber. Fallon, get some towels.
Fallon: *runs to hall closet
Madoc: *gets on phone
Jax: Ugh, it’s about to spill down the stairs. Fallon, hurry!
Juliet: *arches eyebrow and watches boys
Juliet: Are you guys for real? *reaches down, turns valve, shutting water off
Madoc: :O
Jax: :O
Fallon: Hey, it stopped!
Madoc: How’d you know how to do that?
Juliet: Girl Scouts. We took a field trip to Home Depot, and the guy showed us how to handle emergencies like this.
Madoc: Girl Scouts?
Juliet: Yeah, so bite me. *and walks out
Jax and Fallon: *laughing
***
Jared: Pasha, get in here!
Pasha: What?
Jared: I’m going out of town for a while. I leave tomorrow. Take a look at the calendar and see if anything is on the schedule for the next few weeks.
Pasha: No, other than a charity race in Fontana, you’re clear.
Jared: Good. Cancel that, and then get my plane ticket out of my email and try to get yourself on the same plane.
Pasha: What?!
Jared: You’re coming with me. We still have work that needs to be done. You know I don’t know how to run those computer programs.
Pasha: Where are we going?!
Jared: Shelburne Falls
Pasha: Like hell! I am NOT spending a couple weeks in the bum-fuck midwest!
Jared: Relax, we have cute girls there, too.
Pasha: I’m not into girls.
Jared: *snort
Pasha: >:(
Jared: Now.
Pasha: >:(
Jared: Now!
Pasha: *walks out, turns back* Oh, yeah. You won some book boyfriend contest. Congrats. *grins, walks out*
Jared: >:(
But he is soooooo happy on the inside!! :D Thank you everyone for voting for our man and believing in him.
***
Madoc: You ranked in Erotica?!
Jax: *shrugs
Jared: You little shit...
Adrenaline: A Fall Away Series Bonus Content Collection Page 8