Page 4 of Jaxon's Pursuit

Then like the sun rising at dawn, those emerald eyes open and my heart starts beating painfully. I gasp. There’s so much pain in those beautiful eyes. But underneath it all is the barest glimmer of trust.

She gasps and sucks in a harsh breath, lunging at me, wrapping herself around me like an anaconda. She buries her head in my chest, huge shivers wracking her body. And my arms tighten around her even as I’m begging my own body to behave. It’s almost impossible with those delicious curves pressed tight into me. It’s like a dream and a fucking nightmare all at the same time. Heaven and hell. My cock twitches in my pants but I tell it silently to calm the fuck down. Now is not the time to claim her. Now is the time to win her fragile trust.

I lift her trembling body into my arms and stride into the office. I settle on the black leather couch with her on my lap and pat her back, muttering nonsense words under my breath. Anything to soothe her delicate, troubled heart.

∞∞∞

Ruby:

A warmth moves over me and through me. It soothes my soul and wraps around my battered heart filling all those cracks that he caused. Not Jaxon and not the idiot who touched me and started this whole flashback.

I can vaguely hear muttered nonsense in my ears and I know he’s holding me. I know he saved me from myself. From the nightmares that come roaring back when anyone touches me. Except Jaxon. For some reason, that soft southern drawl in his deep voice coats my nerves like warm honey. I feel safe. I feel home and with my history that feels scary but at the same time I want it so bad. I want to belong with someone, to someone. I just can’t get past the damn fears.

But with Jaxon, they’re not there. He holds me in his arms right now and all I can think about it is how warm he is, how much I like the feeling, how much I like him.

What the hell’s going on here? I just met this guy two nights ago. That shouldn’t be enough to erase fifteen years of hell.

His big palm caresses my back and he’s not trying to get to first or second base. He’s not pushing me. He’s not insisting on sex. He’s just trying to make me feel better and it’s been so long since someone cared enough to try. To make the effort to take care of me. Tears pool in my eyes and roll down my cheeks and I know I’m soaking his shirt but he doesn’t seem to care. Just keeps crooning soft nonsense in my ear. Hypnotizing me.

After what seems like years but is probably only a few minutes I look up into his concerned alpine blue eyes. “Are you alright?” he asks.

I nod shakily and run the backs of my hands over my cheeks. He pushes my hands out of the way and his thumbs rub gently at my cheeks, gathering up my tears. My eyes sink closed as he caresses my face and I moan low in my throat. As soon as I do that he freezes and so do I. Because I feel something growing under my ass. Something hard and long.

“Shit,” he growls under his breath and I flinch. He lifts my chin up and grins softly. “I can’t help it, baby. Every time I’m near you, I lose my self-control. I don’t want to react that way, not right now when I know you’re so upset but I can’t help it. I want you. I’ve wanted you since the first moment I saw you and the more I get to know you, the more I want to know. The more I want to feel your kiss. To be the only man you ever want. You owned me from the first time you said my name.”

I flush and drop my eyes away from the desire and lust I see raging in his glowing eyes. He wants me. This amazing man wants me. But yet he doesn’t push me. That’s like the biggest aphrodisiac in the whole world right there. A man that wants you but he’s willing to take the time, to put in the effort to be with you. A man that wants more than just your body. He makes it sound like he wants my heart. Like he can’t live without me.

I lift my eyes. Curiosity rushes through me. What would it be like if he kissed me? Just a kiss.

“Jaxon, if I asked you for something would you do it without asking a bunch of questions?” I study his strong, sharp-jawed face. He doesn’t even have to think about it.

“Of course. Anything you want, baby.” His pale blue eyes are steady on mine.

“Would you kiss me, Jaxon? Just a quick kiss and that’s all,” I finish in a rush.

His eyes study me carefully. It seems like he sees what he needs because he nods slowly. “Alright. But you tell me if something bothers you.” And that right there seals a little hole in my heart. That selfless caring that’s an ingrained part of him. The big, ex-military guy with the soft heart.

He leans down and his breath fans across my cheeks before his warm lips touch mine lightly. His lips cling to mine so softly, like a butterfly’s kiss. His warmth surrounds me and I feel like I’m burning up from the inside out. His lips move gently but he doesn’t try to force his way into my mouth. Just delicately moves his lips against mine. My breath catches as his hand moves up to cup my jaw but not hard. Everything he’s doing is so gentle and sweet but it’s started a fire that’s threatening to burn out of control if we don’t stop.

I pull my lips off his with a gasp. I feel shaken. I feel like I’ve just discovered another wonder of the world. His lips. His touch. His taste.

“Are you okay?” he asks me, concern furrowing his brow.

I smile brightly. “Yes, for the first time I feel alright.” He doesn’t know that I mean the first time in fifteen years. It’s such a long time but maybe I was just frozen waiting for him to wake me up like a sleeping princess.

He smiles wryly. “I think that’s enough for today, little one. Do you want to finish your workout? We don’t have to, I know it’s been a hard day for you.”

It would be so easy to say no. To say that I want to go home. But I don’t. I push off from his chest and that intriguing bulge in his pants and grin, holding my hand out to him “No way. How am I going to hit my max if I don’t keep trying.”

And I know from his grin as I pull him up, he understands me. That he’s willing to wait for me to be ready for whatever this is. That he’s alright and so am I.

Chapter Three

∞∞∞

Ruby:

The following Tuesday I’m there early for my training. Excitement pulses through my body as I wait to see him. I want to see his reaction. I’ve spent the last five days just thinking about that kiss. About how sweet and gentle he was. But he’s so strong. It’s a contradiction but it’s one that I want to study, take apart and put back together. Like I feel like he’s doing with my spirit. I’ve woken up every day with a little smile and a spring in my step.

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