Page 5 of Jaxon's Pursuit

It’s weird how much a simple thing like someone defending me could release some of that cold grip that my fears had on my heart. I hate it but I wish he had been there when I met Preston. I think I wouldn’t have gotten in the situation I had. But that’s not fair to put that onto someone else.

I sigh. I’ve made some bad mistakes and some people can get away unscathed. I did not. But like a flower in sunlight, I can feel myself opening back up to feelings that I thought had been permanently deleted from my body. Need and desire and caring. All of it.

Jaxon comes through the door and smiles when he sees me, startled. He strides up to me and gestures at my outfit. “Early huh? And look at you! You look…really nice.”

I blush and hang my head. He reaches his hand out and cups my chin gently. “Don’t turn your eyes down, Ruby. Don’t ever let someone make you feel like you need to hide. You’re a beautiful woman and you should keep your head up, be proud of that fact. And the fact that you’re smart, successful and gentle and…well, I could go on forever.” He gives me a devilish grin. “But I’ll stop because you’re blushing again.”

He steps around me and leans down to whisper in my ear. I shudder when I feel his warm breath caress my skin. “And you look fucking cute as hell when you blush, darlin’.”

I glance up at him from under my lashes and catch a look of pride on his face. I don’t know whether he’s proud of me or he’s proud that he made me blush but I like it. It feels like he understands me.

“What made you pick pink today?” He waves at my clothes.

I follow him through the gym, making sure to stay on his heels. I feel safe by him. Likeno one else is watching me. Like we’re alone here.

“My favorite color is pink.”

He turns and starts setting up the leg machine that we worked on the other day. He cleans it and then checks the weights before patting the seat for me to “mount up” as he calls it. “Really? I’ve never seen you wear pink before this. Only dark colors.” His ice-blue eyes drift down my body and I can feel my pulse speed up. I know I’m just as covered as I usually am, it just feels like I’m not as invisible as I was.

But I don’t mind him seeing me. I actually crave it. I want him to see me but at the same time I’m scared of him seeing too much. Not just emotionally but physically as well. The attack left some permanent marks that made it even harder to move beyond what he did.

I trust Jaxon but that doesn’t mean I’m not scared of how he’ll react when he sees the scars.

“Alright, Ruby. We’re gonna push even a little further today. I want you to let me know if anything feels uncomfortable and we’ll stop immediately. We’ll figure out if there’s a problem but I need you to stop and tell me where it hurts.” He moves in closer to me and I can smell his unique scent. It’s a spicy, musky scent. From now until the end of time, I think I’ll picture him every time I smell that scent.

His hands reach out and touch the top of my thigh while he checks to make sure I’m set up right. He steps back and smiles gently. “Now, let’s hit it. Put everything into it and I’ll give you a reward after we’re done.” His smile is sly. I have no idea what he’s planning but for the first time in a long time I’m excited at the thought of a surprise.

I high-five him. “You got it!”

After five minutes on that machine we move on to the next one, the triceps extension one. Then we hit the slanted bench to do crunches. By the time we’re done I’m exhausted but I feel proud of myself for sticking it out. And I’m dying to find out what his surprise is.

I wash up and change into street clothes, not wasting my time since he’s waiting on me. I practically skip out to see him. My heart stutters for a beat or two when I see him standing there looking so handsome and tall and strong. His shoulders are rounded and muscular, his every bicep, tricep and pectoral muscle defined like a greek god. Seeing him there makes my mouth go dry.

My street clothes are still loose and baggy and cover every inch of me but they’re feminine. The sweater is just big enough to skim over my generous curves and it’s a soft shade of green that makes me feel pretty. The way his eyes light up when he sees me makesme feel like it was worth it to step outside of my comfort zone the other day and go shopping with my agent. She was thrilled to help me pick out some nicer clothes. She even managed to talk me into a fitted green silk dress that covered every inch of my upper body but slithered along my curves and hit about mid-thigh. I couldn’t wait to wear it for Jaxon one day. And I knew it was going to happen.

I’m no longer terrified to have the showing. But I want Jaxon to come with me.

“So what’s my surprise?” I ask breathlessly. He grins and hands me a bag. I look inside it and see a beautiful emerald green tank top and capri shorts.

“I thought maybe you’d like to wear this the next time we work out. I think you’d look amazing in it. As soon as I saw it on the shelf I thought of your eyes.”

∞∞∞

Jaxon:

“Don’t you like it?” I ask her, stomach tightening. She doesn’t look happy or excited. She looks like she’s going to be sick. I wasn’t sure if I should give it to her today but when I saw her pretty pink outfit I felt like she’d appreciate it.

“Is there something wrong, Ruby? Do you not like it? I can return it and get you something else it’s just that the color reminded me of you so much.” Her eyes are unfocused and I swear I see a glimmer of tears in the corner of her eyes.

“It’s really pretty,” she whispers but it sounds like she’s forced it out of her mouth. She’s looking at it like I look at snakes and spiders. Terrified and slightly sick. She’s also pulled back into herself. Her narrow shoulders are hunched and her back is bent.

“Talk to me, Ruby. Tell me what’s wrong. I just want to know so that I can help you.” My hand slides around her shoulder carefully and I move in closer until I can smell that soft scent she wears. She shivers slightly but doesn’t move away and I count that as a win.

Her eyes stay down and she sighs. “I wanted to wait for awhile to talk to you about some things but I suppose you should know what you’re getting into if you want to date me?”

The question at the end is a no-brainer. I’m not just gonna date her. This is the girl I’m gonna marry and take home to mama.

“Let’s go somewhere to have a coffee and you can tell me whatever’s weighing on that pretty head of yours.”

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