Degrees Of Distortion (Distortion Series Book 1)

by Aimee McNeil

  “No,” he answered easily.

  “What did you do with the man?” Lexie’s question felt like poison in her mouth when she spoke. She wasn’t sure if she really wanted to know the answer.

  “All you need to know is he’s gone.”

  “Just like that?”

  “Just like that.” Jackson rolled onto his back and looked up at the ceiling with a sigh.

  “Why are you really here, Jackson?” Lexie asked. The question burned for an answer.

  “Get some sleep, Lex.”

  Lexie watched him until his breathing became slow and steady. She slid out of bed, grabbing the clean shirt Jackson had given her, and headed into the kitchen. She quietly opened the cabinets looking for glasses for a drink of water.

  Leaning against the counter, she let the cool liquid soothe her dry throat. Glancing at the table, she noticed her things sitting in a neat pile. She picked up her purse, opened it, and was relieved to see her mother’s diary in the very bottom where she had frantically tucked it away.

  She pulled out her camera. Turning it on, she flipped through the pictures she had taken the last few days. She had too many emotions clawing at her insides to sleep. She wanted to find a way to quiet her mind. Lexie walked over to the sofa and sat down, tucking her feet underneath her. She wished she had her computer to load the pictures and view them on a larger screen.

  Something drew her attention in the background of a few of the pictures that she hadn’t noticed before. It looked like a shadow in the trees. She zoomed in as far as possible and could just make out a figure—Jackson.

  Jackson had been watching her that day, before she knew who he was. Lexie’s hand flew to her mouth. She slipped her feet from under her, placing them on the floor. Her foot hit something hard under the sofa. Setting down her camera, she knelt down to feel a bag tucked underneath. She recognized it immediately as the bag he had been carrying from his car when she first saw him. Unzipping it, her eyes fell on countless weapons—knives and guns. She didn’t know much about hardware, but these did not seem like the kind of weapons a police officer would carry.

  Lexie looked up to see Jackson was standing in front of her. She let go of the bag and stumbled to her feet, looking at him for answers.

  Lexie raked her fingers through her hair. “Are you really a cop?”

  “Yes.” Jackson ran his hand over his face; he looked exhausted. “Just not the kind that writes speeding tickets or does traffic stops.”

  “It’s not a coincidence you’re here, is it?” Lexie asked, twisting her fingers in the oversized shirt she was wearing.

  “No.”

  “Does you being here have anything to do with John Stodden?” Lexie demanded. She stood up, despite her shaking legs.

  “You do know who he is then?”

  Lexie ignored his question. “Are you after him?”

  Jackson nodded.

  Lexie waved her hands between Jackson and her. “What was this for? To get me to fall for you so I would willingly go along with whatever plans you have?”

  “I never wanted you to fall for me.”

  Lexie nodded her head as tears fell from her eyes. “I didn’t fall for you.”

  “Good.”

  “So you tracked me down because you think you can use me to get to John?”

  “That was my original plan, yes.”

  “And now?”

  “I don’t know.” Jackson raked his hands through his hair. “Things became complicated.”

  “How did you and the other men find me?”

  “I have my ways. As for the others, apparently they tracked down your address.”

  “Stephanie…” Lexie whispered worriedly.

  “It won’t be long before someone else comes after you.”

  “I’ll take my chances with them.” Lexie squared her shoulders.

  “No, you won’t.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Lexie sat in the passenger seat of Jackson’s car, watching the dark shadows of trees pass as she leaned her forehead against the window. She refused to look in Jackson’s direction. She was so angry that fire stirred deep in her stomach, and she knew if she opened her mouth she would breathe fire. She was trying to get her head together because his deception hurt her much deeper than she realized it could. She refused to give him the satisfaction that he affected her.

  After their confrontation, he ordered her to get dressed because they were leaving. Lexie refused to listen to him, refusing to do anything he asked. She did not want to go anywhere with this man. She wanted to wait for her mother.

  Lexie stood in the kitchen with her arms crossed and the best defiant face she could manage.

  “Get ready. You can’t leave wearing that, and besides, I want my shirt back,” Jackson ordered.

  “I am not getting dressed. I’m not going anywhere with you,” Lexie bit off angrily.

  “You forget I have guns.” He pointed to the bag. “I can make you.”

  “Now you’re threatening to shoot me?” Lexie crossed her arms.

  “We can’t stay here, Lexie. Others are probably already on their way.”

  Lexie grabbed the hem of the shirt and pulled it over her head. Stomping forward, she thrust it into his chest. She didn’t care that she was completely naked. “Here’s your stupid shirt.” She crossed her arms and glared at him.

  “Get dressed,” he demanded. His eyes were so dark they looked black in the dim evening light.

  “No.” Lexie narrowed her eyes defiantly. “Screw you. I want the truth and the whole truth before I go anywhere with you.”

  “If you don’t get dressed, you’re leaving naked.” The look in his eyes told her that he wasn’t to be challenged. She believed with all certainty he would follow through on his threat.

  She grabbed her bag and purse off the table before stomping into the washroom, slamming the door behind her. Once in the washroom, she unzipped her bag, pulling out her clothes to reveal the cash was still there. The only thing she knew for certain was that he was not after her money.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Somewhere safe until your mother contacts you.”

  Jackson stopped on a dirt road that looked like it led nowhere. There were no streetlights or signs that anyone lived in the area.

  “Why are we stopping?”

  “I need to sleep.” Jackson locked the doors and pulled the keys from the ignition, tucking them into his pocket.

  “Where are we?”

  “Nowhere. Get some sleep.” Jackson reclined his seat and situated his gun that was tucked in his belt. “Don’t think of running off. I’m much faster than you.”

  “You’re an ass is what you are.” Lexie rolled her eyes. She leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes with the intent of letting him fall asleep and then she would figure out how to get away from him. It wasn’t until she leaned her head back against the seat that she realized how exhausted she was.

  ***

  When Lexie opened her eyes, the car was filled with light. The clock on the dash said it was 7:45 a.m. She silently cursed herself for falling asleep. She looked over at Jackson, still in the same position as when he fell asleep. If he wasn’t currently on the top of her hate list, she could appreciate how beautiful he was. His hard brow was relaxed, and his full lips looked so soft. Her mouth watered deceivingly as she looked at him.

  She could see the handle of his gun sticking out above his belt. Lexie very slowly reached for it. All she needed to do was get a grip on it then she would be able to turn the tables. Find out exactly what he had planned and who he was. She did not want to be some pawn in his game. She wanted to find her mother and get answers. As soon as her fingers touched the hard surface, Jackson’s hand closed over hers.

  “You better be reaching for something other than my gun.”

  “You wish.” Lexie wrenched her hand out from under his and growled out in frustration.

  He repositioned his seat and ran his hands over his face. He
pulled his keys from his pocket and started the car.

  “Was that cottage next to mine even yours?” Lexie didn’t take her eyes off him as he turned the car around and headed back toward the main drive.

  “Nope.”

  “How did you know whoever owned it wouldn’t come looking to have a nice family weekend at their beloved cottage?”

  “I didn’t.”

  “You are so frustrating…” Lexie threw herself back into her seat. “Are you planning on handing my mother and me over to John?”

  “No.”

  Lexie rolled her eyes.

  “You should be thankful you have me on your side,” Jackson said.

  “Are you really on my side?” She wasn’t sure if she should trust him at all.

  “Yes. If I wanted to hurt you, I already had plenty of opportunities.”

  “Just because you didn’t hurt me yet doesn’t mean we’re on the same side.” Lexie grabbed her purse and opened it, looking for her phone. “Just because you have a badge doesn’t make you a good guy,” she mumbled as she rummaged around, pulling various things out when her search became frantic.

  “Missing something?” Jackson asked with an amused expression.

  Realization dawned on her. “You took my phone,” Lexie accused.

  “Of course I took your phone.”

  Lexie threw her purse down. “I seriously want to punch you in the face.” Lexie covered her eyes with her hands and took a deep breath. The last few days had been an absolute mind trip, and it was far from over. “Why are you after John?”

  “I didn’t exactly say I was after John, but I would find immense satisfaction in ending him.”

  “At least we have that in common.” Lexie huffed. “Are you going to tell me your plan then?”

  “Not yet.”

  Lexie leaned back in her seat; she looked over at Jackson. He looked completely comfortable behind the wheel, as if he was made to drive. Despite the fact that when it came to him every red flag was triggered, he did offer some sense of security. He also seemed irritatingly comfortable with silence. Lexie began tapping her foot. He glanced her way, the crease deepening between his brows.

  “Am I distracting you?”

  “Nothing distracts me.” His eyes remained on the road, and he returned to ignoring her.

  “Is that so?” Lexie narrowed her eyes.

  She kicked off her flip-flops and placed her feet up on the dash, slowly pulling the material of her dress up her thighs as she ran her fingers seductively along her legs. She noticed the quickest glance in her direction. She planned on pushing him to the edge. She was tired of feeling like she was clinging to her sanity while he sat comfortably without a care.

  Lexie lifted herself off the seat and slid her underwear down her legs and tossed them at him. They landed in his lap. He grabbed them and held them in his hand as he continued to drive. She grinned at the thought that he kept them. She slowly sucked on her fingers before she began touching herself. Her dress was pulled up so she was completely exposed as she dipped her fingers into her slick heat, making sure to let him know how good it felt. She pulled the straps of her dress down, releasing her breasts. She was going to make sure he was distracted as she fondled herself.

  “What are you doing, Lexie?”

  “I’m messing with your head like you did to me.”

  Initially she had only wanted to tease him, but the act excited her. Her skin began to burn hot as intense sensations began to spread through her, making her rock her hips as she continued pulling pleasure from deep within her. She couldn’t stop herself now that her blood pumped hot through her veins. His eyes on her thrilled her to no end, pushing her to the edge. She cried when Jackson slammed on the brakes, jolting her unexpectedly.

  “Fuck!” he yelled. A car horn sounded. Jackson pulled off the road and stopped the car. “This isn’t a fucking game, Lexie.”

  “No, it’s not!” She unbuckled her seatbelt and lunged at him, hitting him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her still. He was so much stronger than her, but she did not let it deter her fight.

  “Stop, Lexie.” He pulled her down on his lap, making her straddle him. “Stop,” he whispered close to her ear. He placed his hands on either side of her face, looking deep into her tear-filled eyes. When his eyes dropped to her lips, all the fight left her. He crushed his mouth to hers, pulling her bottom lip into his mouth. His hands greedily grabbed her over-sensitized skin. She was practically naked on his lap. She moaned into his mouth as his hands teased her nipples. She wanted more. She wanted to feel his skin against hers. She grabbed his t-shirt and pulled. Jackson broke away and pulled his shirt over his head, and Lexie grabbed for his belt. It was frantic, and they were both desperate.

  Jackson reclined his seat, and Lexie pushed his pants down, freeing him. He pulled her body against his, his erection rubbing against her core. Lexie grabbed hold of his hard length and led him to her entrance. The excitement dripped from her, allowing him to plunge deep inside.

  Lexie slid up and down, slowly at first until she couldn’t hold back anymore. She grabbed hold of the back of Jackson’s seat, sliding herself up and down. He grabbed her breasts as they bounced, his thumbs rubbing her aroused nipples.

  She lost touch with reality as her head fogged with pleasure; her body felt too hot and light as she moved against him. Everywhere he touched made her ache for more.

  “Jackson,” Lexie moaned. “Oh…Jackson!” She screamed as she felt all the built-up bliss explode through her body, and she felt like she completely dissolved.

  Jackson grabbed her hips and gave a few more forceful thrusts before he growled with pleasure. She collapsed against him, unable to move.

  When Lexie regained her senses, she climbed off Jackson’s lap. Righting her dress, she sat back in her own seat. They both didn’t speak a word as they situated themselves. Jackson started the car and pulled back on the road. She was desperate to crawl inside his head and rummage around, but she was embarrassed by her actions. Sleeping with him only complicated this situation further, but for some reason she couldn’t stop herself from wanting to. “I’m not falling for you.”

  “Good to know. I’m not falling for you either.” Jackson looked at her then, the way he did when he reached inside her and stirred things around.

  “I don’t believe you,” Lexie challenged. Something about the way he said it made her doubt him.

  “Good. Don’t ever believe me.”

  They both remained quiet as Jackson drove. Lexie watched him clenching his jaw; his eyes trained on the road like his life depended on it. The silence was maddening since he refused to put on the radio. She attempted to turn it on once only to have him turn it off immediately after.

  “Can we stop to get something to eat? I really need to use the washroom.” Lexie finally spoke up when she could wait no longer.

  She wasn’t sure if Jackson was going to entertain her request or not, but she breathed a sigh of relief when he pulled into the parking lot of a gas station. She wasn’t going to complain—food was food at this point, and any washroom would do.

  When he stopped the car, Lexie opened her door and grabbed her bags out of the backseat. She turned around to find Jackson directly behind her. “Why are you taking everything with you?”

  “I need to change after…you know. I want to freshen up. Am I not allowed or something?” Lexie forced enough poison into her words to let him know she would not make this easy for him. Looking into his eyes, she felt the embarrassment seep into her. She couldn’t believe she gave in to her desires. For some reason, all logic fled her in the heat of the moment.

  The self-destructive part of her seemed to be drawn to him like a moth to a flame. He mesmerized her. She needed to clear her head and form a plan. Maybe staying with him was not a good idea. She wasn’t sure if she could trust the part of her that wanted him. He stepped back and waved his arm to let her pass, though he remained tight on her heels.

  Lexie pushe
d the doors open to the convenience store; she was met with the smell of stale coffee mixed with lemon-scented cleaner. The young man behind the desk looked up from his phone and perked up with her entrance.

  “Where can I find the washroom?” Lexie asked when he smiled brightly at her. He pointed toward the back corner. Lexie immediately headed in that direction without a backward glance. She could feel the heat of Jackson’s stare on her back, and she refused to look back at him. Her attraction for him was clouding her judgment, and she wasn’t sure if trusting him was a smart plan. She had no way of knowing the truth.

  When Lexie walked into the single washroom, her attention was immediately drawn to the window. She locked the door behind her and dropped the bag. Unzipping the duffle bag, she pulled out a change of clothes; she quickly changed before throwing her dress in the garbage. She didn’t want the reminder of what happened in his car. She needed to forget him, not lust after him.

  Climbing on top of the counter, she pulled herself up to the high window that ran into the ceiling. She pulled the screen out as quietly as she could, setting it down on the floor before trying to pull the window open. It groaned in protest, but she managed to open it enough for her to climb through. She could see the treeline behind the building and a few cars in the back of the lot. Lexie jumped off the vanity and grabbed her bag and purse. She peered out the window one more time to make sure the coast was clear before she pushed her bags out and pulled herself up on the ledge.

  The drop was higher than she realized, and it jolted her ankles. Picking up her bags, she peered around the corner of the building.

  Two older men were talking next to their vehicles. One man leaned against a cab, smoking a cigarette. The other sat inside his truck, sipping on a coffee as they both spoke on familiar terms.

  “Excuse me?” Lexie called out as she approached. Both men turned to acknowledge her. “Is that your cab?” she asked, pointing toward his car.

  “Yes, miss, do you need a lift?” The man, who looked to be in his early fifties, threw his cigarette down and stepped on it.