Page 3 of Jaxon's Pursuit

I swear to fuck I’m as nervous as a teenage girl getting ready for prom. That doesn’t make me sound very manly and the guys would really bust my balls if they knew that but Ruby’s going to be here tonight. That thought has me so wired I can’t sit still and I can see Bishop, Wolf and Savage staring at me like I’ve lost my mind.

I could tell them it’s not my mind, it’s my heart. All I’ve been able to think about for the last two days is Ruby. Her shy nature that I think hides a fiery personality that’s dying to break free with the right man. Her stunning scarlet hair, her emerald eyes, the light golden skin with just a dusting on freckles on a perfect little nose. She’s fucking everything I’ve been dreaming about for thirty years.

I couldn’t resist the pull to learn more about her yesterday and I studied her application. I’m not sure what I was hoping to find but I desperately wanted to know every single little detail. What makes her happy, what makes her sad, what has her so scared. I’m pretty sure I know that last one and I have a feeling when I finally get her to tell me, it will take every bit of self-control not to find the bastard and kill him where he stands. But that’s not what she needs. I need to be what she needs and right now I’m flying blind.

The file was just a basic life story. One thing that surprised me is she’s a little older than me. Four years to be exact. Not a big deal to me. I noted her address. She lives in a nice section of town. Foxden, Illinois isn’t that big but it’s not a town either. It’s a mid-size city and it has a good and a bad section. It also has middle of the road which is where I live. It doesn’t bother me that she makes more money than me either. I don’t feel the need to compete with my woman. None of that stuff matters to me. Just that sweet, soft, shy woman who’s trying to crawl out of whatever hole she’s been hiding in.

While I’m dreaming of my little fiery-haired temptress she’s scuttling in the door dressed in the second-worst outfit I’ve ever seen. She’s really got a knack for finding crappy clothes. I smile brightly and wave at her. Her green eyes widen and I swear she flushes pink. That makes my day. I had hoped she’d start responding to me at some point. This is much sooner than I expected and bodes well for my mission.

The long, black sweatshirt catches on the handle of a machine as she moves towards me and she about knocks another patron over. I can see her apologizing.

I walk up and touch her arm. “Hey, Ruby. How ya doing tonight, darlin’?” She moves away slightly but doesn’t yank away like I’m expecting. Progress. I’ll take it.

“Hi, Jaxon,” her husky, breathless voice moves across my nerve endings like warm molasses. Smooth, silky and warm. Just like her.

I can feel my dick start to harden and I command that asshole to step the fuck back. Not yet. Now’s not the right time.

I wave her towards a machine in the corner for working her legs. “How’s your week been so far, Ruby?”

She follows me and I can see her staring at me, like she’s not sure what’s going on. “It was good.”

“Still sore?” I ask her, getting her set up on the machine. When she steps in front of me to lie back on the machine, I grunt. I’m about ready to pull her into me when I smell her sweet, spicy scent. It hits my senses like a glass of vodka. Knocks me for a loop and I’m panting like I’m winded from standing.

She smiles slightly, but still won’t meet my eyes. “No, I’m alright.”

I grin mischievously. “I guess that means we’ll try harder today.” I chuckle when her smile turns sour.

“I don’t think that’s necessary, Jaxon,” she mutters. And when she says my name it’s like opening the floodgates on my raging desire. A full-on conflagration of epic proportions is burning through my body like a wildfire.

“I’m sure you don’t think so. But we need to move forward. We’re looking for your plateau and we haven’t found it if you’re not still a little sore.”

She grimaces, crinkling her nose and I’m so close to just grabbing her and pulling her up until her legs are wrapped around my waist and I’m pounding into her on the nearest wall.

I turn away and subtly readjust. I don’t wanna scare the hell out of her but I’m not a little guy. Right now that fact would be abundantly clear.

I settle her sweats-clad legs and show her how to push and pull the weights. She catches on and starts pushing hard. The sight of those thick thighs of hers rippling(at least what I can see from the baggy clothes) is enough to get my dick hard again. This machine was a mistake cause now all I’m picturing is her with her knees pushed into her chest while Ipound into her. I’m starting to feel like I’ve got a one-track mind and it seems to be locked into fucking Ruby.

I huff out a breath. “Hey, take a quick break, Ruby. I gotta run to the bathroom and I don’t want you doing anything without a spotter.”

She nods but her forehead’s creased. I know she’s confused. We just got started. But I desperately need a breather.

Five minutes later, after a quick pep talk in the mirror I’m making my way back to her. When I turn the corner and see her I almost roar. She’s backed into the machine she was working on and she’s cringing away from a guy who apparently has a death wish. I growl under my breath and take off in a jog.

When I reach them I growl, “You’ve got one second to get your hand off her before I break it, buddy.”

He shrugs. “Sure. Sorry, man. I didn’t know she was yours. I was just trying to get to know her,” the little shit says, backing away with his hands up.

My voice cracks out, sharp as a whip. I step up to him chest to chest or close to it since he’s shorter than me. “You don’t touch any woman in this gym unless they ask you to and I know she didn’t.” I glance back at Ruby and my heart seizes in my chest and I see red. She’s absolutely terrified, every shuddering inch of her. All my hard work might have been wiped out by one asshole.

I bend down and mutter in the guy’s ear so Ruby doesn’t hear. “That woman right there is mine. I should kill you for touching her but I won’t…this time. Touch her again and you’ll be having meals through a straw from now on.” I can see by his pale face that he understands me.

I back away holding onto my temper. Barely. He scurries off like the rat he is.

And now I turn to Ruby and my heart sinks. She’s frozen, eyes closed, barely breathing. She’s cringing away, trying to literally draw her entire body in on itself.

“Ruby, baby,” I say softly, stepping to her side slowly like she’s a fawn frozen in her tracks. “Baby, it’s just me. Just Jaxon.” There’s no response. Not even a deep breath.

“Honey, just please open your eyes,” I plead with her, voice breaking.

---