Page 48 of Savage

Fuck it, I decided to give that ‘letting one’s hair down’ thing a go. Wasn’t it Jaxon who constantly said I needed to unwind and stop taking life so seriously?

“OK, let’s do it. But not here in my room. Somewhere neutral. Let’s go downstairs,” I suggested, pushing to my feet, and helping her stand.

“What about your stepbrothers?”

I rolled her words around my head. I knew Jaxon was in his room and probably for the night. He hadn’t been alone when he’d got in. I had heard voices and one of them was doubtlessly female. I’d held the green-eyed monster in me at bay. God, I hoped it wasn’t Lexi again.

“It’s fine. Jaxon has company and Chris won’t give a shit anyway. He’ll probably be studying in his room.” I didn’t miss the flicker of disappointment which crossed Melody’s face.

“Maybe we could ask him to join us?” she put in hopefully and I grinned.

“Maybe later. Let’s see, shall we?”

I pulled a hoodie on over my tank top. I was wearing skinny jeans and my feet were bare. As was Melody. She was tall and curvy and rocked every outfit she wore.

We made our way downstairs and into the second living room which was joined to the first one (the one where I had watched Bambi) by interlinking doors. Although we spent most of our family time in the kitchen or the dining room, I liked this area of the house the best. It had my mother’s stamp all over it.

It was a spacious room, with large windows. Rain was currently pounding the glass and it was bleak outside, so I turned on the lamps. There was a bar area at one end with three stools under the counter there. Some spirits were mounted on the wall behind it, but I knew the good stuff was locked away in one of Marcus’s cabinets that sat under the counter.

The flooring was solid wood but there was a fluffy patterned cream rug which took up a large section of the space. Several pale leather chairs and sofas were placed around a large glass-surfaced coffee table. All the seats were positioned before the huge stone fireplace that was filled with flowers. It would have been an open fire at one point, but my mother had made it a feature rather than something which would warm the room. There was no TV. It was called the Cream Room and was purposefully set out for entertaining people.

Melody threw herself into one of the sofas and started to roll a massive joint and I went to the bar area and grabbed a few bottles of beer. I also took a bottle of vodka and some coke, as Melody drank the serious stuff. There was no way I’d be getting pissed on shots again; not after that Christmas!

I also opened a bag of crisps and set them in the middle of the table. Marijuana gave you the munchies and this time I’d be prepared.

Around an hour later, with the music on softly in the background, my best friend and I were slowly on our way. I had only had a few drags so far, but I could feel the drug in my body. I felt relaxed and slightly floaty.

We spoke about work and boys, our families and then boys again. Melody used to crave a bad boy type but after a string of shitty boyfriends, she was now searching for a good guy.

I was having fun, having never been overly girly and more of a bookworm, it felt nice to act like a normal teenager. One that was misbehaving whilst her parents were away. We also had the run of the house to ourselves, well the bottom floor anyway. It felt good being just the two of us and not being interrupted. That was, however, all about to change.

My nostrils flared; I felt his presence before I saw him. And of course, that’s what usually happened before he physically manifested. Jaxon Savage owned every space he was part of. When he entered a room, he sucked the air right out.

Fuck! I stood up quickly and motioned for Melody to do the same. I then pushed the bag of weed off the coffee table onto the floor. Dancing from one foot to the other, I struggled to think of what to do with what I was holding. I probably looked like I needed the toilet.

Shit, I felt so relaxed and happy and I wasn’t in the mood for him to kill my buzz.

“What are you doing in here?” my stepbrother began in one of those voices that immediately made you feel guilty. I put my hand behind my back and attempted to waft the fumes away from my face with the other. Melody’s body also tensed up. We were so busted, although I was thankful that it was Jaxon who had caught us smoking and not my mother or Marcus.

“Were you talking about me?” he questioned with a suspicious expression.

“Believe it or not, I can manage a full conversation without even mentioning your name,” I huffed sarcastically.

His eyes widened slightly as if surprised by my outburst before he repeated his question with a scowl, “So what are you doing then?” He was such a moody sod.

“Nothing. Standing?” I smirked, the drug making me more courageous. I usually lost all sense of reason in Jaxon’s presence but the weed had given me an edge.

I whirled towards his approaching form, hating the fact that he looked as gorgeous as usual in a navy button-down tee and faded jeans. His top clung to his muscular frame. I hated that he could make me blush without even speaking. Again, I purposefully kept my eyes north of his crotch.

“And, minding our own business,” I added with a definite ‘go away’ tone. No doubt he was about to give me a mouthful. “Where’s your date? Died from boredom?” I laughed. It came out like a pig snort. Melody tittered too. I was on fire! Jaxon however, was unimpressed.

“Blow me, you judgemental little bitch. She wasn’t my date. We screw, that’s it,” he informed me dryly.

“Whatever, I have no interest in hearing about your sexual marathons thank you very much,” I huffed, hating that twinge of jealousy that raised its head.

Jaxon stopped before us, larger than life with a tight-lipped smile, looking between us. “Stop showing off in front of your friend, Wynter. I know what weed smells like,” he informed us, his deep voice giving me goosebumps. Whoopty-fucking-do.

Stepping back, I craned my neck to keep eye contact. He was such an in-your-face type of guy and I needed distance. I couldn’t concentrate when he was so close. I’d only had a couple of hits and so wasn’t stoned but my God, he smelled so good. A variety of actions were open to me and I longed to giggle, touch him lick him or try all three at the same time. “Well, why ask then?” I snickered, telling my self-control to stay exactly where it was. At the end of the day, a fit of the giggles was better than molesting him in front of Melody.

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