Page 4 of Still Forever
“Baby, what are we doing here?” I chuckled as I wiped the glossy lip combo that I had smeared from both our faces and looked around through the darkness of the night.
He didn’t answer; instead, he just took my hand and led me toward the entrance. Pushing the front door open, he led me inside. I was in awe at how beautiful the home was. Then he led me through the kitchen and into the backyard. I stopped short. My mouth hung in surprise as my eyes swept across the scene that he had set.
The entire backyard had been transformed into a private escape. There was an inflatable daybed, layered with cream-colored plush and throw blankets. One of my silk head wraps sat tucked underneath the pillow. I laughed when I noticed it. He really paid attention to detail.
Next to the bed was a wooden tray, two champagne flutes, and a bottle of Dom Perignon already chilled and open. Two dinner plates rested, covered with a silver dome. Gifts werelittered nearby. Every time that he was away, he would always come back with something that he said reminded him of me. The gifts were always so random, ranging from slippers to diamonds.
“Jax! This is so sweet!” I said in awe as I blinked back a wave of emotion. I used my finger to dab away the tear before he could see it.
“I missed movie night this month, and I owe you that,” He chuckled. Jaxon had committed my love language to his memory. I was a simple girl who really valued thoughtfulness, and this was just that.
Movies were my guilty pleasure. I made him commit to one movie night a month, where we would shut ourselves in the house and binge some of our favorites.
“This is beautiful, and I’m starving. Thank you.” I said once my legs finally allowed him to pull me toward the setup.
The moment I saw the large screen, I knew which movie I wanted to watch. When “Selena” randomly came up in conversation and he told me he’d never seen it, I’d decided right then—it would be up next.
He sat down and pulled me into the space between his legs before bringing the tray over to us as well. I put my head on his chest and soaked in the moment as he threw his arms around me and held me.
“Let’s eat,” he said as he pulled the covering off the plates and revealed the stuffed salmon, asparagus, and potatoes.
“Who cooked this, babe?” I loved the act of being thoughtful, but not that thoughtful. Jaxon couldn’t cook a bag of popcorn.
“Chef P, he’s gone. He left before you made it,” He chuckled as he kissed my temple. We had dinner underneath the stars as we talked about the things we had missed by being apart. My clients, Judah, our businesses, and everything in between.
When dinner was over, we started the movie and lay across the daybed.
I cupped his face and planted kisses all over it before watching Jennifer Lopez and singing along to Spanish lyrics that I had no clue about, but Jax understood perfectly.
As soon as I started to get comfortable with finally having an uninterrupted night, his phone rang. I pouted against his chest as he leaned up and checked the caller ID.
“What’s up, Trouble...Nah, I can’t go…. call Judah and let him handle it.” He said as he rubbed my butt. I held my breath because there was always business to be handled in this life. It was hardly ever a peaceful day.
When he put the phone back on the stand and continued to watch the movie with me, I exhaled a bit. I had halfway been expecting him to end our night or step out to take the call. But I was glad that he didn’t.
“Damn,” he said, eyes locked on the screen when the credits started to roll. He was invested way more than I thought he would be. I chuckled at his reaction to it.
His fingers rubbed down my spine lightly, making goosebumps ripple on my skin.
“I love you…”
“I love you more, Jaxon,” I said as I lay, melted into his arms.
“You know I’m fucking you in every corner of this glass house, right?” he asked lowly with his mouth against my forehead.
I turned in his arms, my mouth forming a knowing grin. “Start with this window right back here,” I said, pointing over my shoulder.
We both laughed, but I knew he was dead serious. He slid out of the bed and scooped me up. Just as he did, his phone buzzed on the table, and he didn’t even turn around.
He ignored it. For now.
And for the first time in a long time, I had my man all to myself.
CHAPTER 2
Jaxon “Jax” Jennings
Sitting in the parking lot of the store, I took in my surroundings before I exited the truck. It was something that I had grown used to—being aware. I was travelling without my soldiers today. Not that I would hesitate to make this bitch rain in February, but I didn’t have the extra set of eyes that I was used to. Looking for any sign of a threat, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Though I knew that most times, it’s not the noise that you have to worry about, it’s the silence. That calm before the storm was something that I had seen a thousand times. The sun was just starting to set, and families were going in and out of the popular Hibachi restaurant next door. The aroma of steak and fried rice coming through the vents reminded me that I hadn’t eaten since this morning, but I wasn’t here for a meal. Opening the center console, I took the Kel-Tec out and slid it into my waistband.
