Page 13 of Jaxon

This was dangerous. Reckless. She barely knew this man, and yet she couldn't get enough of his touch, his taste. It went against everything she believed in, but in that moment, she didn't care.

All that mattered was the feel of Jaxon's hands on her body, branding her with the memory of his touch. The broken, wanting sounds he made as the kiss deepened. The way her heart raced with a mix of fear and exhilaration, alive and awake in a way she'd never felt before.

She knew she should stop this before things went too far, but she didn't want to. She wanted to get lost in the moment and forget about the world outside these walls. To escape into something wild and forbidden, if only for a little while.

Rachel sank into Jaxon's embrace, abandoning her doubts as she gave herself over to the passion burning between them. Tonight, she would follow her heart instead of her head, and deal with the consequences later.

"So what's the deal with your club?" Rachel asked, curiosity getting the better of her. "I mean, it seems like more than just a bunch of guys who like to ride together."

Jaxon studied her for a long moment, as if deciding how much to reveal. "The Green Devils are my family," he said. "We've been through hell and back together. When the world turns its back on you, they're the ones who have your back."

His words resonated with her in a way she hadn't expected. She knew all too well what it was like to face life's challenges alone, without love or support. The thought of having that kind of closeness with others stirred an ache inside her she'd long forgotten.

"It's more than the bikes or the parties or any of that shit people see on TV," Jaxon continued. "We live hard and play hard, but we also stand by each other no matter what. There's a bond there that's hard to explain to outsiders."

Rachel nodded, a new understanding dawning. The Green Devils weren't just a gang of bikers raising hell. They were a family in the truest sense of the word, and Jaxon was the heart of it all.

And in that moment, she found herself wanting to understand it better. Wanting to understand Jaxon better, and the life he led. Her old fears and doubts still lingered, but curiosity and something deeper—an unnamable longing—were awakening inside her.

A longing for the kind of connection and belonging Jaxon had found with the Green Devils. And maybe, just maybe, she could find it there too. If she was brave enough to take the risk.

Rachel shifted, acutely aware of Jaxon's leg pressed against hers. The neon Budweiser sign in the window bathed them in a rosy glow, and she could smell the lingering aroma of his cologne mixed with the scent of well-worn leather from his cut.

It was intoxicating in a way she couldn't quite explain.

"You're staring," Jaxon said with a slow, dangerous smile.

Heat rose in her cheeks, but she didn't look away. "Just thinking."

"About what?" His fingers brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, sending a shiver down her spine.

"About how I might have been wrong about you. And the Green Devils."

His eyes darkened. "Yeah? How's that?"

She leaned in closer, emboldened by the look in his eyes and the warmth flooding her veins. "Maybe there's more to you than meets the eye. And maybe I want to find out just how deep that rabbit hole goes."

A low growl rumbled in his chest as his hand curled around the back of her neck, pulling her in. Her heart slammed against her ribs, drowning out the clamor of voices and classic rock in the background.

Nothing else mattered but the taste of Jaxon on her lips.

8

Rachel gripped the handle of her new little red hatchback. The Green Devils’ compound loomed before her, with flickering neon signs and heavy metal music thumping from within.

Her heart raced as she walked up to the entrance. What was she doing here? She didn’t belong in a place like this. But curiosity had gotten the better of her, and she had to see Jaxon again.

When she entered, the assault on her senses was immediate. The reek of alcohol, sweat, and cigarettes filled her nostrils. Strobe lights flashed across the crowded room, silhouetting dozens of leather-clad bikers. Their raucous laughter and shouts nearly drowned out the pounding music.

Rachel stood frozen in place, clutching her purse to her chest like a shield. Jaxon was in there somewhere, she was sure of it. She wanted to run, to escape back to the safety and order of her normal life. But she couldn’t make herself turn away. Not yet.

She took a deep breath, steadying her nerves. You’re stronger than this. She wasn’t going to let a little apprehension scare her off. Rachel squared her shoulders and made her way into the fray, searching the crowd for a glimpse of Jaxon’s tattooed arms and blue eyes.

She didn’t know what she was getting herself into here, but after the perfect night with Jaxon, she had to find out. Rachel was tired of playing it safe. For once in her life, she was going to throw caution to the wind and see where the road might lead.Straight to hell, most likely, but if Jaxon was waiting for her there, she would gladly walk through the fire.

Rachel’s heart thudded. What was she doing here? These were dangerous people. But a small, insistent voice in her mind whispered that she was tired of playing it safe.

She edged further into the party, watching and listening.

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