Page 58 of Fox
Ren: Neither does someone messing with one of my people.
I smile softly while heading toward the exit. I stop when I hear someone yell my name and turn around, only to be struck in the face with something wet. I look at the liquid dripping off me and hitting the floor; it’s iced coffee by the smell of it and it’s soaking through my clothes. I turn and look in time to get hit with some other drink. I sputter and move backward, slipping on the wet floor and landing on my ass. The sounds of people laughing and cheering, the noises of their cameras going off—it’s too much. Hauling myself to my feet, I slip again while running out of the room as everyone chants, “Jai the slut!”
I continue to run until I’m outside the convention center, rounding the corner and hiding in an alley. I press myself against the brick building while trying to catch my breath as I feel the tears coming. I don’t know what compels me to, but before I can stop myself, I video call Fox.
Two rings, and he picks up with all the guys behind him. I look as their smiling faces simultaneously turn to scowls.
“What happened?” Fox growls, standing up. I let out a sob as I shake my head, unable to talk. “Janie,” I can hear Atlas in the background trying to get Fox to calm his voice down. “Babydoll,” his pleading voice is so soft and calming. “Talk to me. What happened?”
I sniffle and look at the concern etched on his beautiful face. Why can’t he be here? Why can’t I have him the way I need him? “Fox…” I let out a crackly sob. “I need a hug.” I watch his face crumple as if I just broke his heart.
“Okay,” he says, and I watch him grabbing stuff from behind the table he’s sitting at. “Okay… um, At, here’s my key to my room. Bring my shit back with you.” I furrow my brows together in confusion as he starts walking.
“W-what are you doing?” I ask as I try to stop crying.
“I’m heading to the airport. I’ll catch the first flight out of here, and I’ll come home and hug you, okay?” He says it like he’s next door, not in another state, hours away, at a convention for our shop.
“Fox…” I try to stop him. He can’tdo something like this for me when it doesn’t mean anything.
“Baby doll, I’ll see you when I land. I gotta go and get a ticket bought. Go home and stay there. I’ll be there soon. You’re not alone, okay? I’m coming.” My lip wobbles, and I go to speak but he ends the call.
“Oh my god!” Ren’s angry voice catches me by surprise as she rounds the corner and stares at me. “I’ll kill them.” She snarls, nostrils flaring.
I grab her wrist and look at her, feeling completely exhausted. “Can we just leave?”
I smile softlyas Stevie hands me a mug of hot tea before taking her seat on Fox’s couch. Initially, I was going to have them take me to Ren’s, but knowing that Fox would be insistent on seeing me when he arrives, I decided to just go back to his place. Plus, I want to be here when he gets back.
I’ve showered and changed into his baggy blue hoodie and blue plaid pajama bottoms. I sent him a text stating I was turning my phone off and, if he needed anything, to text Ren. The amount of shit on my phone, it’s too much, and it’s after today I’ve realized that I may never be able to step back into that world again. I should be more upset over it, especially since this puts me right where I can’t be with Fox.
“Can I get you anything else?” Stevie asks, and I can’t help the laugh that escapes me as I rest my head on the couch.
“Stevie, we aren’t at the café; no need to be so formal.” I giggle as she smacks her head.
“Sorry,” she says sheepishly. “Force of habit, I guess. One of these days, I’ll break it. But seriously, do you need anything?”
“No, thank you,” I whisper as she sits beside Ren. “I appreciate you guys coming to my rescue and staying with me.”
Ren shrugs while looking up from her phone. “Fox says his ride share is five minutes away so that we will head out. But there’s no need to thank us, babe, that’s what friends do. We were hanging around the convention for that reason. You have real people on your side, Janie. Please don’t worry about us.” I bite back my tears as I lean over and hug both the girls goodbye before shutting the door and walking back to the couch. The silence is almost too overwhelming, even though it’s only been a minute. My anxiety is so high, and I can only pray my medication kicks in soon because the panic and tremors are causing more panic and harder tremors.
I jump in surprise as the front door opens, and Fox walks in. Our eyes meet, and I feel like I can breathe for the first timein days. “Fox,” I whisper before running across the couch and ottoman, jumping into his arms, wrapping myself around him. I hear his bag drop to the ground before his strong arms wrap around me.
“Hey, Torch,” he says softly as I hear him inhale deeply. I squeeze my arms around his neck as tightly as I can as I feel his heart ramming against his chest. His hand trails up my neck as he holds me to him as if he fears I will disappear. But I’m not going anywhere, right here; right now, I know that I will never be able to breathe again if Fox isn’t with me.
TWENTY-FIVE
fox
“Idon’t know about this,” Janie whines as she looks at the large swimming pool like a shark's swimming around, ready to eat her. My air conditioner went out last night shortly after I got home, and while I can handle uncomfortable temperatures rather well despite my large size, Janie apparently turns into a grouchy, sweaty, demonic hellion. About the time the house got to seventy degrees, she started bitching, and by noon when it was eighty-four in the house, she was losing her mother fucking mind and sitting in my truck with the AC cranked.
Since Ash and Atlas are still in Vegas, I told her we would spend the day at the pool in their building while the guys are servicing my air conditioner. I thought cooling off in a pool would make her happy, but she seemed antsy the entire ride here. And now she’s looking at the pool loungers like she's about to plant her ass in one instead of getting in the pool with me.
“Torch,” I sigh in annoyance. “Take off the dress and get in the water,” I mutter, removing my shirt. I quickly glance over at her and can’t help but smirk when I catch her staring at me. I flex my chest, making the muscles bounce so she knows I caught herbefore giving her a wide grin. “See something you like, Torch?” I tease, and her cheeks glow.
“Asshole.” She mutters as she removes her yellow wrap cover-up dress that goes down to her feet. I jump into the pool, and when I surface, I nearly fall over myself at the sight of her before quickly scanning the pool area. Sure enough, other men are looking. Goddammit. Now, they all must die.
Janie stands at the pool's edge, pulling her long curls up into a bun while her body moves and sways beneath that tiny turquoise bikini. I stare at her perfect fucking tits hidden behind those little triangles, and my cock goes hard instantly.
The day we had sex, it was all so rushed, and I didn’t fully get to appreciate her form. But if everyone else was getting to right now, why shouldn’t I?
