Page 71 of Savage

“Then how would you fucking describe it, Wynter?”

“I think we should leave you guys to it…” Chris suggested awkwardly, his voice trailing off at the end. I suddenly didn’t want to be alone with Jaxon. Not because I feared him, but because I didn’t want him to say something that would hurt me, and he was so good at doing that. Maybe in front of Chris and Melody, he’d be more restrained. How wrong I was.

“No, stay,” I ordered in a brisk, commanding tone. They both turned in their tracks and stepped back towards us.

“OK,” Chris muttered uneasily.

I moved away and walked a few steps, snatching the shot that Christian had given me earlier from the table before storming back over to the trio. Jaxon was still glaring, the other two looking uncomfortable as they both glanced between us. Rolling the glass between my fingers, I recklessly necked it.

Jaxon’s eyes dipped to the glass and back up and raised an eyebrow. “You should go easy on that. We don’t want a repeat of last Christmas,” he sneered with a curled lip. He was watching me intently, awaiting my reaction, desperate to light my fuse.

My temper spiked. “Why do you always have to throw the past in my face?” I barked, trying to ignore the pounding in my head.

“That’s not what I’m doing. I’m warning you, as a concerned older brother should.” He put more emphasis on the word brother and it had the intended effect.

I took the bait and spoke in code. “I think we both know you’re not my brother and under the circumstances, I’m surprised you’re throwing that label around now.”

Of course, Jaxon got one up on me and turned the tables. He was a pro at conflict, how I thought I could outsmart him was anyone’s guess. “And what circumstances are those, Wynter?” he drawled in that sexy voice of his. He was now mildly amused but still mad. His smug face was at war with the coiled angry stance of his body language.

I backed down. “You know what I mean,” I choked out with a flick of my head. My hair swished across my shoulders and Jaxon’s eyes darkened as he followed the movement. I knew that look. He was remembering the night we had shared.

“Ah, the hotel,” he husked.

He obviously couldn’t hold his silence any longer. “What happened at the hotel?” Chris interjected with his eyebrows high, glancing at Melody to see if she was any wiser; he was giddy about the thought of being privy to some secret between us.

“I think this conversation has gone on long enough. I’m going to get another drink,” I replied, waiving the empty shot glass in the air.

Jaxon took a step towards me, closing the distance. “Fine, I’ll join you.”

I put my hand against his chest; my skin fizzing as my palm touched that rock-hard surface. “No thank you. I’m choosy about the company I keep.”

I would not allow him to bully me or make me feel regret for what had happened between us.

“What do you mean no?” Jaxon rasped with a scowl. Was he for real? He had called me a whore in front of his brother and my best friend and he thought I’d want to share a drink with him? He was insane; a socially impaired tyrant; why I had feelings for him was beyond me.

I shoved at his chest but he didn’t step back, he just grunted slightly. “I don’t want you to join me. In fact, from now on, just stay away from me.”

He lifted his hand, his fingers encircling my wrist. “You don’t mean that,” he half whispered as he pulled my hand away and moved closer. It was like he’d forgotten Chris and Melody were standing right beside us; watching the drama with mixed expressions.

I yanked my wrist from his fingers and he allowed it. Thank God for small mercies.

“I do mean it. In fact, I think I hate you.” My words sounded pathetic even to my ears. The lie rang between us. And then I realised he knew. Shit. He knew how I really felt and there was nothing I could do to backpedal.

The morning after, we hadn’t spoken about what had been said during what was indeed sensational sex, and I had hoped he had taken my words with a pinch of salt. An expression of love during my first time. That’s what I had hoped he would think but nope, he knew I was in love with him and now he was going to use that against me.

I held my breath, if he did, he was indeed a first-class bastard.

Jaxon’s lips were turned down in a mocking sneer as he said with a disbelieving tone. “So, you hate me now?” He was watching me like a science experiment, unsure of whether the concoction of chemicals would combust or settle.

I had to sound convincing and I glanced down briefly, rolling the shot glass between my fingers before looking back. And then I lost it and threw the shot glass back onto the table. It skittered across the surface and fell on the floor but didn’t break.

Swinging back to face him I went all-out attack mode. “Yes really,” I began, pushing a pointed finger into his chest. “You’re driving me insane. You purposefully mess with my head until I can’t think straight. Your moods are so changeable, you make me feel like a demented person. You’re wrong for me in every way possible, so just stay away from me Jaxon. I’ve had enough of being your toy.” After one last prod to highlight my point, I went to walk away but he moved in front of me, blocking my escape.

Jaxon lowered his head toward mine, arching one eyebrow and I wanted to hit him. “You felt differently last weekend.” He didn’t lower his voice. He was putting on a show and didn’t give a shit about the possible fallout.

“Why, what happened last weekend?” Melody cut in with a flustered look, stepping closer with her arm through Chris’s, dragging him back into the drama. They lurched to one side, suggesting they were both tipsy.

“Nothing,” I shot out a little too fast, my chest felt ominously tight.

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