Page 13 of Jaxon

Clay smirked, giving a mock bow.“We’ll be seeing you around, Jaxon.”

With that, Clay and his men turned and walked away, disappearing into the fading light.Harper exhaled shakily, the tension in her body easing slightly as she watched them go.

Jaxon turned to her and cupped her face, brushing his thumbs gently over her cheeks.“Are you okay?”he asked.

Harper nodded, though she wasn’t sure if it was true.Her heart was still racing, her mind spinning with the implications of Clay’s presence.But in Jaxon’s arms, she felt a measure of safety, of reassurance that she wasn’t alone in this.

“I’m scared,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.“For Mia.For us.”

Jaxon pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against his chest.“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he murmured, his lips brushing against her hair.“I swear it.”

Harper closed her eyes, allowing herself to sink into his embrace.

****

The ride back to Harper’shouse was quiet but filled with an undercurrent of tension, the kind that thrummed just beneath the surface.

Harper could still feel the lingering unease from their encounter with Clay, but more than that, she felt the warmth of Jaxon’s presence beside her.The way he’d protected her and Mia, the fierce determination in his eyes stirred something deep within her.

When they arrived, Mia bounded up the steps, waving a cheerful good night before disappearing inside.Harper lingered on the doorstep, her heart pounding as she turned to Jaxon.The streetlights cast a soft glow over his face, highlighting the angles of his jaw and the intensity in his gaze.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the gentle night breeze.“For tonight.For everything.”

Jaxon shrugged, but his eyes softened.“You don’t have to thank me, Harper.I’ll always be here for you.”

The sincerity in his voice, the way he said it like a vow, made her chest tighten.She stepped closer, her hand resting lightly on his chest.She could feel the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath her fingers, a comforting rhythm that matched the pulse of her own racing heart.

“I mean it,” she said, her gaze locking onto his.“Thank you.”

Before she could second-guess herself, Harper leaned in, her lips brushing against his in a tentative kiss.Jaxon stiffened for a moment, surprised, but then his hands were on her waist, pulling her closer.The kiss deepened, slow and searching, as if they were rediscovering each other after years apart.

Heat sparked between them, a flame that had never truly been extinguished.Harper melted into him.She curled her fingers into the fabric of his shirt, anchoring herself to the solid reality of him.When they finally broke apart, they were both breathless, their foreheads resting together.

“Come inside,” Harper said softly.The invitation hung between them, heavy with promise.

Jaxon hesitated a moment, searching her eyes for any doubt.When he found none, he nodded, his hand slipping into hers as she led him inside.

The house was quiet, the only sound the soft creak of the floorboards beneath their feet.

After tucking Mia into bed and ensuring she was fast asleep, Harper returned to find Jaxon waiting in the living room.He stood near the window, his silhouette outlined by the moonlight filtering through the curtains.The sight of him there, in her space, felt surreal and yet perfectly right.

She approached him slowly, her nerves tingling with anticipation.Jaxon turned to face her, his expression unreadable, but his eyes told her everything she needed to know.They were dark with desire, with something deeper that made her heart ache in the best way.

“Harper,” he murmured, reaching for her as she stepped into his arms.

The moment their bodies touched, the world seemed to narrow down to just the two of them.Harper tilted her head up, her lips seeking his again, and Jaxon met her halfway.

This kiss was different from the one on the doorstep—hungrier, more desperate, as if they were trying to make up for lost time.

Jaxon roamed his hands over her back, his touch igniting sparks along her skin.Harper tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling him closer, needing to feel every inch of him.

Their breaths mingled, their kisses growing deeper, more urgent, until they were both consumed by the heat building between them.His muscled body felt amazing against hers, solid like she remembered, a contrast to her softness.

“Are you sure?”Jaxon asked, his voice rough, his forehead resting against hers.

Harper nodded, her eyes shining with certainty.“Yes.I want this.I want you.”

That was all the encouragement Jaxon needed.He scooped her up effortlessly, cradling her against his chest as he carried her down the hallway to her bedroom.

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