Page 14 of Jaxon

Two men stood nearby, smoking cigarettes and talking in low, gruff voices. “Did ya hear we’re expanding our territory again?” the taller man said. “Gonna be more work for us, keeping those bastards out.”

The other man grunted. “More work means more money. And if we don’t do it, they’ll move in on our customers.”

Rachel’s stomach twisted as she realized they were talking about protecting drug dealing and other illegal territory. She glanced around again, noticing the openly carried guns and knives for the first time.

Panic rose in her chest. What had she gotten herself into? She turned to leave—but a loud burst of laughter made her jump. A heavily tattooed man had appeared out of nowhere, grasping her arm. “Well hey there, darlin’. You look a little lost.” His gaze raked over her in a way that made her skin crawl. “How ‘bout I show you around?”

Rachel’s heart pounded. She was in over her head—and now she was trapped.

Rachel forced a smile, trying to stay calm. “That’s very kind of you, but I was just leaving.”

He leaned closer, squeezing her arm. “The party’s just getting started. Stay awhile.” His breath smelled of alcohol and something sharper.

Rachel tried to pull away, but his grip tightened painfully. Panic rose in her chest like bile. She opened her mouth to scream —

“Hey.” A deep, gravelly voice interrupted. “She said she’s leaving.”

Rachel turned to see Jaxon standing there, arms crossed over his massive chest. His gaze was hard as stone, but when he looked at her, his expression softened.

“She’s not going anywhere,” the tattooed man said. But he released her arm, eying Jaxon warily.

Jaxon stepped forward until he towered over the other man. “Yeah, she is.”

The man glared, but backed away, disappearing into the crowd.

Jaxon turned to her, concern etched into his face. “You okay?”

Rachel let out a shaky breath, her heart still pounding. “Yeah. Thank you.” She rubbed her arm where the man had grabbed her; she could already feel a bruise forming.

“Looks like this isn’t your scene after all,” Jaxon said. “C’mon, let’s get out of here.”

Rachel didn’t need any convincing. She let Jaxon guide her away from the party, back into the quiet night.

Jaxon led her out of the garage and across the compound, his strides purposeful. No one paid them any heed, too caught up in their revelry.

He brought her to a small cabin at the edge of the property, isolated from the rest. Rachel’s heart raced as Jaxon opened the door. The interior was spartan but cozy, lit by a few lamps that cast a warm glow over the space.

Jaxon closed the door behind them with a soft click. He turned to Rachel, his eyes smoldering. She stood frozen in place, her breaths coming fast and shallow.

With slow, measured steps, Jaxon approached her. He stopped mere inches away, his body radiating heat. Rachel lifted her gaze to his, transfixed by the raw desire she saw reflected in his eyes.

“Tell me you want this,” Jaxon said, his voice a low rumble. He brought one hand up to cup her cheek, his touch searing her skin. “Tell me, and I’m yours.”

Rachel trembled, torn between longing and fear. But under the intensity of Jaxon’s gaze, her resistance crumbled into dust.

“I want this,” she whispered. “I want you.”

A growl escaped Jaxon as he closed the distance between them, claiming her mouth in a searing kiss. Rachel melted against him with a soft moan, all thoughts fleeing her mind except for Jaxon.

Jaxon’s hands roamed her body, stroking the curves of her hips and waist. He tugged at her, breaking the kiss long enough to pull it over her head before devouring her mouth once more.

Rachel fumbled with the buttons of his vest, desire clouding her senses. She pushed the leather off his shoulders, her fingertips exploring the solid muscle underneath. Jaxon made a low sound of approval, kicking off his boots and shrugging out of his jeans.

Then they were tumbling onto the bed, a tangle of bare limbs and racing hearts. Jaxon hovered above her, his eyes dark with lust. “Last chance to back out,” he said, his voice rough.

Rachel gazed up at him, seeing the vulnerability beneath the passion. She lifted her hand to his cheek, her touch gentle. “I’m here because I want to be. I choose you.”

Something flickered in Jaxon’s eyes. He turned his head to press a kiss to her palm. “And I choose you,” he said.

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