Page 70 of His Secret Obsession

Maddison

“Ihave plans for this ass tonight,” Jax murmurs.

I giggle, my hands swatting at him as my eyes dart around the empty hallway. It’s the last day of the Cedarwood Winter Festival, and thanks to a lingering customer, we’re the last ones to leave. Jax’s truck is already loaded up with the few remaining items that didn’t sell. Overall, it was a success, and I feel like I’m dreaming.

“Maybe you should consult with me on these plans. Since it’s my ass and all?” I ask, playfully fluttering my eyelashes at him.

His only response is a heated smirk before he turns around to fully face me, walking backwards down the darkened hallway that leads from the gym to the parking lot. He raises an eyebrow. “Is that a hard limit for you?”

My cheeks warm, heat pooling in my belly as I imagine what I think he’s implying. I’ve never done that but…Jax would make it good for me, wouldn’t he? My voice turns into a throaty, hoarse whisper. “No, it’s not a hard limit.”

He smiles.

I want to tell him that I trust him with my body in a way that should feel foreign to me but doesn’t. It seems to come naturally, giving myself over to our desires. Maybe it’s not right to compare, but I find myself relaxing with him in a way I never could with Luke. It makes me want to try new things.

Jax interrupts my wayward thoughts as he turns to walk by my side again. “You made out with quite a bit of money this weekend, Miss Raddix.” His lips twitch, and he gives me an overly playful and dramatic sigh. “I think it’s time you took me out on the town. I’m a gentleman, you know. I need to be wooed a little.”

I snort when he bats his eyelashes at me, imitating my earlier move. “Could have fooled me.”

He ignores me, twisting his lips as he pretends to ponder. Then he snaps his fingers. “A steak and a blow job would do the trick. It’d make me feel really appreciated.”

I stare at him for about three seconds before I tip my head back and laugh. It’s the spontaneous, unrestrained kind of laughter that’s accompanied by a rush of joy. Jax releases a half-snort, half-chuckle before it morphs into a full-on belly laugh, his hands pressing to his stomach. The sound of it makes my breath catch, and I wish I could hear it again.

“I like laughing with you.” His whispered confession feels sensuous as he stops at the exit, pressing his back to the door.I stare up at him, drinking in this moment between us as his thumb brushes across my bottom lip.

I do, too. I like it so much that I want to do it with you for the rest of our lives.

I don’t dare utter those words aloud, although they sit on the tip of my tongue. A day and half have passed since the night he admitted he was afraid I might go back to Luke. And although things haven’t been as tense between us, sometimes I swear I still catch him staring at me like he’s about to say goodbye. A sort of melancholy expression will wash over his face, and it’s all I can do not to beg him to give us a fighting chance.

I know that you love your brother and you feel like you owe him your undying loyalty, but what about me? Could you ever love me enough to fight for me anyway?

Not wanting to sour the mood, I push my thoughts back into the furthest recesses of my mind and wrap my arms around his neck. Tilting my face up to his, I kiss him. One of his hands glides down to rest on my lower back while the other finds a spot on my hip. I take my time with this kiss, my lips moving against his in an unhurried pace as I pour my heart into it. I’m panting by the time I pull away.

Jax stares down at me with swollen lips. “What was that for?”

“Just because.” I shrug, wishing I could take his hand in mine but knowing we’ll just have to pull away again as soon as we walk out this door. Back to reality, where any prying eye could tell someone who might tell someone else who might tell Luke.

“Let’s go home,” I say softly.

He nods, giving me a faint smile before turning around and pushing the door open.

The sun is setting in front of us, the waxing light nearly nonexistent as stars twinkle to life. A cold breeze sweeps by, ruffling my loose hair and making me pull my coat around me a little tighter. My boots clink along the asphalt as we walkthrough a scattered crowd of people loitering outside. Some of them are still packing up the remaining items from the festival in their vehicles, while others seem to be saying their goodbyes before leaving.

“Madds.”

The familiar voice that used to brighten my whole day makes my heart freefall. My movements freeze, my head snapping up at the sound of Luke’s voice. To my right, Jax looks like an animal caught in a trap. His widened eyes dart from me to his little brother. The trepidation on his face makes my mouth go dry. I take another step forward, putting my back to Jax as I cross my arms.

“Luke, what are you doing here?”

He looks like the same man I remember, and yet he feels like a stranger. His long hair is pulled into his usual haphazard half-bun, half-ponytail. He’s wearing a black polo shirt with a small logo that looks like a cabin and a pair of khakis. Clearly his work uniform. But the dark circles under his eyes are new, and it sends a twinge of guilt through me.

“I quit.” He gestures between us before continuing. “I had to come back and fix this. The way we left things...” He trails off, blowing out a breath.

My heart is in my throat as I shake my head, dread locking my muscles up tight. I barely resist the urge to look at Jax. What must he be thinking right now?

“This isn’t a good time.” I try to keep my voice lowered, aware of curious eyes lingering on us. Something that looks like desperation crosses his features, and I want to pound my fists into the ground.

This isn’t fair. I just want to have my happily ever after with Jax.

---