Page 40 of Undisputed Player
I returned my attention to the deepest scrape on his palm, applying pressure to stop the bleeding. His breath hitched slightly, and the sound went straight to my core like he'd just whispered something indecent in my ear.
"Careful," he murmured, those blue eyes locking onto mine with predatory intensity. "I bite."
The warning shot through me like liquid fire, pooling between my thighs, making me grateful I was sitting down.
“Do you warn every woman? Or do they figure it out the hard way?” My ears were burning. He was just flirting, but I wasn’t used to…him.
His mouth curved, slow and dangerous. "Most of them beg for it."
“Not me,” I mumbled, pressing the gauze just a little harder. His biceps flexed, tattoos shifting, and I had to tear my eyes away, just to notice his blood soaking through much of the gauze.
“Try not to bleed on my floor.”
He chuckled, low and smooth, and somehow it made my insides flutter. "You’re cute when you’re bossy, princess."
I rolled my eyes, but my cheeks were hot. “Don’t flirt with me while you’re bleeding into my towel.”
He grinned, all teeth and trouble. "You keep talking like that, I might start thinking you like me."
I scoffed, my cheeks only growing hotter as I pressed his wound more aggressively. “Again, you’re not my type. I prefer men who don’t try to get run over.”
He leaned in, his eyes bright and voice dropping. “You sure about that? You keep staring at my… skin. Got a thing for ink?”
His voice was deep and velvety, vibrating through me like a bass note.
I jerked my gaze away from his tattoos, heart thumping in my ears at being caught. “Just making sure you don’t faint,” I squeaked.
He smirked, cocky ashell.“I’d survive if you gave me mouth-to-mouth.”
I bit back a gasp, my ears on fire. “Now I’ll let you die out of spite.”
I watched himlaugh, golden head tipping back, and for a second, he looked almost boyish. “You’re trouble, Estelle.”
I flushed. “That’s rich coming from you.” I finished wrapping his hand, refusing to meet his eyes. “Don’t get hit by any more cars.”
He flexed his fingers, slow and deliberate, and my eyes were glued to the sight. “No promises. You make bleeding feel good.”
I let my shoulders drop in slight disbelief that this man was really letting me bicker with him. “You’re annoying.”
"And you’re adorable when you’re pretending not to like me," he murmured, voice all velvet charm.
I ignored him, but my heart was pounding, and I knew he could tell.
He said I was… adorable.
The thought sent warmth blooming through me despite every logical reason to dismiss it as meaningless, weird flirtation. But the way he said it, the way his eyes lingered on my face like he was memorizing every detail, made it feel real. Made it feel like more than just practiced charm.
Leo chose that moment to return from his room, his small arms full of plastic dinosaurs and books that he spread across the table.
To my surprise, Jax seemed genuinely engaged as Leo launched into an enthusiastic explanation of each species, their habitats, their diets, asking questions and examining each toy.
Watching him with Leo did things to my heart that I didn't want to happen.
My stomach chose that mortifying moment to betray me, growling loud enough for Leo to look up from his dinosaur book. The sound echoed in the small kitchen like a foghorn announcing my poverty, and shame burned hot in my cheeks.
Perfect. Just perfect. Nothing says "attractive woman" like audible hunger.
Jax's eyes flicked to me, sharp and assessing, reading more in that growl than I wanted him to.
