Page 9 of Savage

After I’d stacked the pots on the drying rack, I turned to find Jaxon leaning against the back wall, his arms crossed in that usual way of his. He was still staring at me as I returned to my seat. I should have felt uncomfortable but I was getting used to it. It was like he was purposefully trying to intimidate me.

I toyed with the spine of my book which was placed on the counter in front of me.

“What’s that shit you’re reading,” Jaxon said with a flick of his head.

I pushed my reading glasses down my nose and peered at him. “It’s called a book Jaxon. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Bite me, princess,” he husked under his breath.

Turning my gaze away, I spoke directly to Chris, attempting to blank Jaxon out. It wasn’t easy.

“So, what’s the deal with the party?”

“Well, it’s supposed to be a pool party, if the weather holds out. Invite whoever you want. It will just be drinks, food, shit like that, nothing too wild.”

I smiled and nodded. “Cool, sounds great.” I lied. I so didn’t want to go but wouldn’t that suggest I was a coward or something? I wasn’t a party girl; I was way too reserved.

Jaxon shoved off the wall and walked over to us with an animal-like grace, glaring down at me. “Who are you going to invite when you don’t have any friends?” God the boy was relentless.

I dashed a hand across my hair and stared up into his annoyingly handsome face. He was wrong. I had loads of friends. They just lived miles away after my mother moved us to the arse-end of nowhere.

“I’ll bring Dominic,” I informed him with a syrupy smile. I knew he wouldn’t like that.

His face darkened. “Fucking great. The calibre of guests at your shit party has just radically nose-dived, Christopher. I don’t know if I can make it now.”

Chris barked out a laugh saying, “You’re such a wanker.” He got away with it too. The boys never argued. Jaxon saved up all his hostility for me and his father.

I watched as Chris got up to leave, his blonde locks bobbing with the movement. “Don’t forget your swimsuit sunshine. That goes for you too, Jax. When you’ve stopped acting like a cock,” he called over his shoulder. He always shortened his brother’s name. I hadn’t been able to bring myself to do that yet. Too familiar.

“Blow me, pretty boy,” Jaxon replied and Chris flipped him off over his shoulder as he walked away.

Now Jaxon and I were alone, I jumped down from the stool, leaving my stuff on the side but pocketed my glasses. I then moved to walk around him but he snagged my wrist which stopped me in my tracks. “Hang on,” he insisted.

I looked up at him with wide eyes. What now? My skin felt hot wherever he touched me. His fingers were firm but he didn’t hurt me.

Jaxon’s expression was dark as he started to lecture me. “A few ground rules. Behave yourself and go steady with the drink. We don’t want a repeat of last Christmas, do we?”

I opened my mouth to defend myself, it was Chris’s fault I’d started on the shots last year but he cut me off with, “And stay away from me and my friends and if you do anything to embarrass me, this will be the last party of ours you ever get invited to. You get me?”

My temper soared. “And how the heck would I embarrass you Jaxon? I’m not exactly the type to get shitfaced and lap dance on the table. That type of behaviour is what I’d expect from the girls you associate with. Please don’t tar me with the same brush.”

I tugged at my wrist but he didn’t release me. His eyes dropped to my breasts fleetingly, and I saw a hint of interest in their depths before he masked it. A dart of heat shot up my arm as Jaxon’s grip on my wrist loosened and he started to massage my pulse with his thumb. The message my body was sending me was confusing and unwanted.

His voice dipped as he whispered, “And what a sight that would be. Can you even fucking dance? Bottom line, for your own good, stay out of my way. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, I get it, I’m not stupid.”

“Calling you stupid would be an insult to stupid people,” Jaxon snorted rudely, releasing me, and snatching my novel from behind me. He glanced at it with disdain. “You should ditch these things and get a life in the real world.” I then watched helplessly as he walked over to the bin and dropped my book into it.

Before I could say another word, he strolled lazily out of the house through the patio doors.

What the actual fuck? Save me from boys and their mixed messages. I rubbed my wrist, the skin there still tingled before retrieving my novel from the fucking bin.

I spent the rest of that day, redrafting my arson article. I had messaged Dominic and he was up for the party, massively so. He explained that he was working on some promo shots for a local business and would come over when he’d finished. I texted him and explained it was a pool party. I toyed with the idea of inviting Melody, to prove to Jaxon that I had some friends, but it was probably too last minute.

As I was deciding on what bikini to wear, I got a call from my cousin Amy. Our Jenna was pregnant and the baby was due any day. I was so happy for her as she’d had a couple of miscarriages and this time, it appeared she’d managed to carry the baby to term. She also mentioned her brother’s wedding again and asked if I could make it. Her brother Mattie was gay and was marrying Alex, the love of his life the following month. This was their second attempt as they had intended to get married the previous year but Alex had ballsed up the booking with the venue. I explained that I did intend to be there and that hopefully, Dominic would be my plus one.

The timing of Amy’s call couldn’t have been more perfect and I asked her a few facts about the fire which had occurred at their house. I explained about the article I was attempting to write and she was only too happy to help. I needed to radically reduce Jessica’s red pen! My new slant was to put a negative spin on the Proctor boys and their intention to appeal. Theirs was a throwaway the key scenario in my mind.

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