Page 12 of Something Borrowed

ChapterFive

Adrianna’s mindwhirled out of control with thoughts that were a suitable mix of “what the hell did I just do?”and “wow, that is going to need to happen about fifty more times.” Blowing out a deep breath she felt a shiver of pleasure race throughher.

That absolutely just happened, and you antagonized it.Adrianna ran their walk through her head for the third time since Jaxon had rolled off her body and lay panting beside her. There was no doubt, she had encouraged him, in public no doubt. If anyone had been out that had recognized her, well her job would be in the toilet. Adrianna wasn’t just the level-headed one when it came to Kailey, she was just level-headed. Her job prompted her to be slightly detached to deliver unbiased reporting, and she’d found that keeping the same calm she used at work worked well for her daily life. There was a time and place to let loose – and she always tried to be certain it did not happen in New Orleans where someone would blast on social media they saw the night news anchor plastered and grinding on some random guy in the Bourbon Cowboy.

No, instead they can post about how you practically gave a man a handjob in the middle of the afternoon on a relatively busy street corner.A groan slipped out as she realized how embarrassed she should be; how embarrassed she was slowly becoming.

“Jaxon?” her voice was little louder than a whisper.

Turning his head to look at her over his shoulder he quirked a dark eyebrow. “Hmm?”

“We just did that.” She stated, more for herself thanhim.

The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk. “Wedid.”

“We can’t tell Kailey,” she could practically feel the blood drain from her face as she pictured the altercation that would arise.

Jaxon turned fully, the smirk slipping way as he focused on her. “I know what just happened had a lot to do with years of pent up sexual desire, but I honestly wanted more fromyou.”

A blank expression crossed her face quickly before she was able to snap her mouth shut and look completely at him. The boy she’d been dreaming about being with nearly her whole life had not only given her what might have been the best sex of her life but was interested inher.

This is a cheesy rom-com, this isn’t reallife.

“That was clearly the wrong thing to say.” Jaxon groaned as he pushed off the bed and swooped his hand down to grab his bow tie. “You’re right. We won’t tell Kailey a thing. I think I gave her an aneurysm already today.”

“Wait,” she reached out, but her hand was unable to grab his arm, and she was suddenly too self-conscious to drop the sheet. “You meant what you said on the street then? You weren’t just saying the things you thought I’d like to hear to get me into bed?” She didn’t see the need to tell him words wouldn’t have been necessary in the least.

“I know you have no reason to believe this, but I’m not some jerk out to lay every beautiful woman I see. Not anymore. We’ve barely seen each other since I joined the Marines, but I can promise you,” his eyes turned dark and narrowed into a thin line as did his lips. “You don’t watch people’s life fade out of their eyes while you hold them and not be changed byit.”

The air ripped from her lungs as if someone had landed a strong punch to her gut. She’d heard him as they’d danced, and yet, she hadn’t completely believed him, or she wouldn’t have thought him to be so callous.

“I’m sorry, Jaxon. I really am. But you have to remember, the boy that I used to fawn over was a prick. Apparently, I didn’t mind because I still thought you were perfect when you weren’t swimming in your overinflated ego, but you were just the type of person who would spin sweet words for an endgame.”

Lips still pressed tightly together he nodded sharply. “You might not like this new version of me then.” A small flicker of amusement flashed in his eyes. “I don’t drink unless it’s aspecial occasion. Practical jokes are off the table, but I know I still make smart alec comments any chance I get. There’s no room in my life for anything that takes away from what little time I have with my family, even if they don’t see that and I don’t sleep with women unless I’m interested in somethingmore.”

The inflection on his final sentence made her wet all over again. It wasn’t the time or the place, but it couldn’t be helped.

“So what you’re telling me is Jaxon Donovan went to war and grew up.” She sat upright, still holding the bed sheet to her chest and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. The whole of their history was tied up in that one, gentle kiss – every playful joke, every unspoken fantasy – right up until the moment she sat before him in his bed when she should be downstairs at a wedding.

“That’s precisely what I’m saying.” He kissed her, an open-mouthed kiss that devoured her as completely as if he’d tangled his tongue withhers.

“Then what comes next?” the words nearly caught in her throat.

That brought a semblance of the arrogance back into his expression. “We get you dressed and head back downstairs before anyone notices we have been gone nearly two hours.”

With a gasp, she jerked her eyes to the digital clock on the nightstand. Sure enough, it was nearly seven at night. “She’s going to kill us.” Dropping the sheet, modesty forgotten, she snatched the dress and began to tug it up, zipping it erratically.

Getting off the bed, she slipped into the heels and blew out a breath, only to find Jaxon grinning wickedly ather.

“What?” her hands tapped on her hips as she glared at him, not seeing the amusement in her maddash.

“You can put the dress on, hell you can even smooth it out, but you cannot fix your hair to the way itwas.”

“Oh hell.” She raced out of Jaxon’s room towards the hall bathroom and flicked on the light only to stare at her reflection in horror. The ponytail was gone, the and the tight curls had fallen to mere waves. “She’s going to kill me. She’s going to know I screwed someone at her wedding and she’s going to kill me.” She was speaking to her reflection.

She watched as Jaxon stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her as he dropped a kiss to her shoulder. Watching it happen was nearly as intimate as experiencing it. The motion was so very not like Jaxon, but it was as if he’d been coming up to hold her like this forever. Whatever was occurring, she wasn’t certain if it was moving too fast, or if it was too good to be true. Searching, she found the white elastic band on the floor and snatched it up, trying helplessly to recreate the hairstyle.

“She most likely will.” He tugged the thin white band and dragged his fingers through her hair as intimately as a longtime lover. “Just tell her it gave you a headache.”

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