Page 36 of Roots of the Wicked

Chapter Seventeen

Jax

Strolling through my closet, my fingers ran along the tops of my hangers, making them clank a cozy closet melody. Ideas of restaurants that catered to high society floated through my mind, forming images of Chase enjoying a cozy meal with me. Smart and sexy, he intrigued me. And the cherry on top—his dick.

When Chase had stripped in the hotel room, discipline kept me from gawking when he dropped his pants. I had underestimated his size, which meant he had gotten me so sopping wet in that bathroom, I wasn’t thinking straight.

He texted yesterday to ask, if I would like to check out this new restaurant called Tantalize, for our date. I knew from social media the place was well outside of my tax bracket. If you didn’t know someone of means who could extend you a personal invite, or get you added to their exclusive list, you weren’t going to lift a spoon inside the place.

Were we dating? I don’t date. Catch and release was my motto. I was the hard-as-nails chick, who chewed up romance and spit the shit out. So, why the hell was I about to go out with Chase? Why was I standing in my closet with excitement coursing through me as I picked out something nice to wear? Something drew me to him, and I couldn’t, for the life of me, put my finger on what it was.

My doorbell chimed as soon as I slipped into my shoes. I peeked to make sure it was him and failed miserably to keep a big grin off my face when I cracked my door open.

“Chase.”

The smile I thought I stifled, spread despite my attempt to swipe it off my face.

“Jax.”

I stepped aside and allowed him to enter, his presence already causing fiery sparks of energy to flare from deep within. He entered my personal space, stepping so close, his fresh breath kissed my face, before his warm soft lips caressed my cheek and slid down to my neck. His arms were around me instantly and mine had taken a hold of him. It was an unexpected embrace. I lingered in his hold, my insides floating, my mind narrowed to a single thought—Chase.

What the hell am I doing?

I backed away first, attempting to keep my face impassive. I think I missed him. The notion was foreign, jarring in a way that it made me anxious. When he backed away, his smile grew wide, causing me to cast a sidelong look at him. “I missed you, Jax.”

My throat went dry and forced me to choke down my hard swallow. His confession had rendered me speechless. Apparently he didn’t have a problem expressing what he felt. Other than a pleasant goodbye, I never thought about expressing more.

“Didn’t you miss me?” he asked.

My mouth fell open and remained that way.

“Of course you did, and so badly you can’t even find the words to express how much.”

I slapped his arm playfully as he stepped past me. He strolled around my apartment like he owned the place, surprising me when he started humming along to Ginuwine’s, “So Anxious” playing low in the background.

“Your home is impressive, Jax. I don’t think New Generation, is as little as you let on.”

His fingers brushed the small bronzed sculpture on my entryway side table that sat next to a live Dracaena silk tree, with its leaves reaching for the ceiling. “Classy, edgy, tasteful,” he offered, glancing around and nodding his approval.

“Thank you.” I smiled, appreciating his compliment.

“Is this your father?” He pointed at the picture on the in-table next to the couch.

“Yes, that’s me and the old man.”

“You look like him. And I can tell that you’re definitely a daddy’s girl.”

I kept the picture visible because I considered my father my hero.

“What’s his name? Where is he?” He asked, leaning in to take a closer look.

“Alexander St. Pierre. He works out of DC. He’s in law enforcement, so his cases cause him to travel a lot.”

I wasn’t used to sharing my personal life, but somehow Chase was pulling more out of me than I had ever shared with anyone.

“What about your mother?” he questioned, one of his curious brows stuck in the air.

“Dead.” The word fell out of my mouth like hot ash. He must have caught the cutting edge in my tone because he stepped away from the picture of me and stopped asking questions.

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