Page 112 of Prey Tell
“You didwhat?!” Jax hisses, his tone all authoritative and big-brothery.
“Let me finish,” I beg him, realizing that my voice is shaking. “I made a list of all the pros and cons. I’d been thinking about it for a while—and he was always around, so it seemed obvious. I trusted him. He took such good care of us after Mom and Dad died,” I add, my voice wobbling. “I know now that it wasn’t right to ask him. To put him in that position.”
Jackson makes a noise of disgust. “I can’t believe he would sleep with y—”
“He didn’t. He rejected me.”
Jackson’s face relaxes a bit. “Oh.”
“Anyway, after he rejected me, we fought, and he made himself scarce in my life after that. And every time I saw him, I felt silly for wondering about him. For thinking of what it would be like tobewith him. I missed his friendship, but it took me a long time to realize that I’d probably been in love with him. My heart broke for months after he rejected me.”
Jax shifts uncomfortably, but he doesn’t say anything as I continue.
“Anyway, then the engagement party happened, and he pulled me aside, and we fought—but Jackson, I felt more alive in those ten minutes than I ever had before. At my engagement party to another man, mind you. It made me realize that the time apart didn’t tamp down my feelings for him. It only made them stronger.”
Jackson hollows his cheeks as he narrows his eyes. “Really?”
I nod. “Yes. And in the middle of me yelling at him for paying for the engagement party, he let it slip that he was having a party at his apartment two weeks later.”
Jackson sits up. “Wait. Is this why you broke it off with Dylan?”
“No. Of course not. That happened organically.”
Jackson looks away and frowns. “Go on, then. I’m invested now.” He gives me a chagrined grimace, and I try not to laugh.
“So I turned up at this BDSM party, completely out of my element, and Chase kicked me out.”
Jackson chokes, and when he’s done coughing, he’s grinning. “Oh my god. You actuallywentto one of his parties?”
I arch a brow. “Of course.”
“I’m glad he kicked you out,” he adds, wrinkling his nose.
“Well, then we may want to skip over what happens next.”
“Give me the abridged version,” he says, turning to face me, though reluctantly.
“That night I was at the apartment with you and Miles, do you remember what Miles said? About Chase going hunting?”
“Yeah. I assumed it was some code word for something sexual.”
I nod. “Yup. So, I showed up here the next morning, and well, one thing led to another…” I trail off, trying to think of how to phrase it without grossing my brother out.
“Jules, Itrulydon’t want to know the rest. But thank you for explaining.” I open my mouth, but he continues. “I didn’t know… I had no idea you liked him in that way. I guess when I found out about the two of you last weekend, I assumed he coerced you into something.”
I huff a laugh. “I coerced him, if anything.”
He scowls, silent for a minute before speaking. “Are you happy? Does he make you happy?”
I swallow. “He does. And I am. I feel like I’m flying when I’m with him. It’s uncontrollable, but it’s thrilling, you know? And our chemistry is… off the charts.”
My cheeks heat as Jax pretends to gag. “Okay, I can’t hear any more. He said pretty much the same thing.”
I perk up. “He did?”
“Yeah. How he’s always compared other women to you, yada yada. But I was so angry, I wasn’t really paying attention. It took me a few hours to cool down enough to text you.”
I bite my lower lip. “I appreciate you listening to my explanation.”
