Page 79 of Blue-Eyed Jacks
I leaned over, mimicking Danielle’s position earlier.He glanced up, one eyebrow quirked.Then he whipped the belt behind the post and caught it with the other fist.A couple of tight twists later, he reached high on the post and notched the belt in place and tugged to see if it would slip.
It didn’t.He planted a boot edge high on the pole and almost started up.But before he did, he leaned away.
“Bear, get your ass under here.I do not want to fall on my back.You’re going to catch me.”
“You got it, Boss.”He was laughing, but stood behind Jackson.
Sprout yelled from his spot in the lounge chair, “No cheating.Bear can’t touch you until you fall, asshole.”
“No respect.”Jackson frowned.He looked up to where Zoe and I stared down.“My girls.If that ain’t incentive, I don’t know what is.”
He planted his boot and leaned back, letting the belt in his hands hold his weight.
The third time he planted his boot, it slipped.He caught himself with a grunt.
I winced in sympathetic pain.“Are you okay?”
“Just fine.Fucking grease… ‘Saw a stripper do this once.”He wrapped a leg around the pole and hooked his feet together.Then he hooked the belt higher, almost at the eaves.With another leg wrap, he hooked the belt on the top and secured his position.
Bear hovered below, no longer laughing.Jackson reached a hand up and caught the railing.I had the strongest urge to grab him and pull him over the edge, but the teasing and jeers were louder now that he was close.Sprout cupped his hands and yelled, “No helping!”I don’t know if that was a reminder for Bear or for me.I snatched my hand back and gripped the rail as if I had a fist in his shirt.
Zoe was white-knuckling it, too.“Be careful, Dad.”
He glanced at both of us.A grin washed over his face.The other hand, still wrapped in the belt, hit the railing, and he let loose with his legs.His whole body swung like Sprout’s had.
This time, I did grab his shirt.I didn’t give two shits if someone said it was cheating or not.
With a side-to-side rock, Jackson walked his free hand halfway up the rail, hooked his feet underneath the overhang, and pushed up.
His arms wrapped over the top rail and he hefted himself up to the ledge.He rested his chin on his arms.“Do I get a kiss for making it this far?”
Hell yes.I kissed his mouth.Zoe wrapped her arms around him and laid a smack on his cheek.
Lily laughed at us both.
Jackson hung there for a moment longer.“When I get over this ledge, you’re mine, Kate.”He let the belt slither to the deck and crawled over the rail.Once firmly on our side, he leaned over to yell at Bear, “I want something better than grease on this tomorrow.And the rest of you assholes, keep it down.I’m going to bed with my woman.”
“No, you’re not,” I hissed at him.
“The hell I’m not.Zoe, Lily?Hole up in Zoe’s room.And shut the door behind you.”He motioned for them to scram.
“You’re not staying here tonight,” I told him.
“I’m staying here every night from now on.”
That sounded serious.
And I’d just witnessed proof that Destroyers take their fun very seriously.
Chapter 23
Jackson
There was something in Kate’s head that was shoving me out.Charming her pants off wasn’t going to be easy.I figured a direct approach might be an option.But first, I needed to ensure we wouldn’t be interrupted, and that there’d be no need for Kate to leave this room.Luckily, giving orders was second nature to me.
“Bear!Stick someone on the stairs.Upstairs is off fucking limits to anyone with a dick.That means all you fuckers, except Sprout, so fuck off.”
Despite the ultimatum to protect her and Zoe, Kate glared at me.
