Page 78 of Second Chance Mates

“You never fail to amaze me,” he exhales with adoration in his eyes. “Starting now, I am not going to leave your side.”

I try to hide my smile but fail miserably. “Good.”

Joy swarms my sternum like a big hug.

“I haven’t stopped thinking about you all day.” His voice is raspy.

My heart pounds against my ribcage, heat creeping up my neck and across my exposed chest. I can’t hide from him; it’s already too late. He steps closer, his tall frame towering over my body.

“T-thinking about what?” I ask curiously.

Jaxon’s eyes flare at my question. “I’ve been thinking about how amazing you look in that dress.” He slides his hand against mine in a gentle caress. “I’ve been thinking how beautiful you look.”

I’m unsure if I’m capable of breathing right now, especially when he looks at me with those soft eyes that I believe were made for me—and only me.

My lips part, and his gaze flicks downwards. He pauses for a moment before he says, “I’ve been thinking about how much I want to kiss you.”

Holy hell. My heart clenches like someone has squeezed it.

Jaxon closes his eyes and pulls back, dropping my hand. “I’m sorry,” he apologises with a heavy chest. “That was incredibly inappropriate. You’re not ready for that.”

When he opens his lids, they’ve returned to dark blue. I shudder and attempt to ignore how clammy my hands have become. I glance at his lips. They look soft and downright kissable.

I remember my sessions with Gemma. I want to claim back my desire and affections with my consent, my body, and my consciousness. It’s my choice.

“Maybe I want you to kiss me,” I whisper.

Jaxon looks at me so intensely, so hard that I lose my breath. “Don’t say things you don’t mean for the sake of me, Ava,” he states. “I don’t want any maybes. I want you to know for definite.”

“I do,” I say fearlessly. “I know what I want. I want you to kiss me. I want to feel close to you. I want to feel empowered.”

Jaxon blinks a couple of times at my declaration and then takes a step closer. His hand slides against my cheek, and I shiver. There is a twitch in my brain that is yelling at me to step away, but I ignore it. It’s not real. It’s my insecurities speaking. Jaxon would never hurt me.

He leans down slightly and brushes his lips over mine in the sweetest kiss. The sparks that ignite inside my body are indescribable. My head swims in the clouds at the feeling of his lips. Euphoric.

A few seconds later, he pulls away and looks at me. I know he felt that, too.

All I can think is—it was way too short to be our first kiss. I want more. I need more. I need…him.

For once, I pray he can read my mind because I’m sure words will fail me right now. All my limbs are numb from satisfaction and relief. I need him to understand I want more. His mouth fits mine devastatingly well.

The corner of his lip twitches into a gentle smirk before he dips his head back down, tugging my face closer with his palms. His mouth closes over mine, but instead of being sweet and soft, it’s deep and passionate. My toes tingle. It’s like he’s waited years to be able to do this, and right now, he’s savouring every single second.

Slowly, his lips start to caress mine, and I kiss him back with urgency. I latch onto his wrists as he walks forward, forcing my legs to move backwards. He gently grazes my bottom lip with his teeth before sliding his tongue into my mouth. I moan at the contact, and every single thought in my head empties.

All I know is him.

My back hits the fencing of the gazebo, and I place one hand on the edge to steady myself. Jaxon wastes no time reaching down underneath my dress and hoisting me up onto the ledge, holding me tightly so I don’t fall. He positions himself between my legs, angling my head so he can kiss me harder.

My hands snake over his shoulders, and I clasp them behind his neck, sliding them into his hair. He smiles against my lips, which has me shaking. Blood roars in my ears, and I ignore the rest of the world. His tongue slips into my mouth again, gently caressing mine with yearning strokes.

Jaxon bites down on my bottom lip, and I can’t suppress the groan that escapes the back of my throat. He grips me tighter and wraps a hand around my back to push us impossibly closer. A light growl erupts from his chest, which catches me by surprise.

My head becomes dizzy. The bond. The connection. The emotion. Everything is getting too much. I slowly pull away, but I keep my eyes closed, resting my forehead against his chin.

I inhale a wave of air and fill my lungs to the maximum. I desperately want my head to stop spinning and to come back down to planet Earth. He presses his lips to my forehead with a feather-light kiss, and eventually, I suck up the courage to look at him. My cheeks redden when I realise what we’ve just done. I don’t regret it—at least, that’s a positive. His eyes make me feel seen.

Then his warm, loving lips press to the pulse on my neck. I sigh into his touch and angle my head for better access. All of his kisses are tender and purposeful yet make me hot and bothered at the same time.

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