Page 41 of The Jaded Notes

“Why won’t you answer me?” Her tone with me is gentle. “It’s your turn. Tell me what you want from me, Jax?”

Thoughts of her in my bed, unable to hold back as I take control, keep running through my head. This has to stop before I do something foolish.

My voice drops to gravel. “I don’t know what to do with this.”

She tilts her head. “With what?”

“This.” I gesture with my hand between us. “You and me. If I do anything, I’m making a vow I’m not sure I can commit to.”

She sucks in a breath through her parted lips. Her tongue slides over them, and I’m magnetized.

What does she taste like when she moans my name like it’s the only thing keeping her alive?

We let the moment stretch, neither of us willing to break the unspoken rule.

We shouldn’t be doing this. We shouldn’t want one another, but the electricity between us is undeniable.

Like a loaded gun to my temple, she presses for more. “Jax, you’ve spent our time together telling me I need to ask for what I want. When will I get the same in return?”

“Livianna…”

“No, Jax. Something shifted between us at some point today. You can try to deny it, but it’s here, and it’s not going away. If anything, it’s growing.”

I swallow the lump of truth. “You’re in a vulnerable state. Anything you’re feeling is likely part of the release from reliving your trauma.”

She shakes her head. “It’s more than that. You know what I’m talking about. I know you do because I can see it in your eyes.”

“What you see is compassion, empathy, and a desire to help you get the success you deserve. Anything else you think is going on isn’t what you think it is.”

I rise to my feet and retrieve our shoes. “Let me take you to dinner, and we can explore how you want to go forward.”

“You already know what I want. I’ve never kept my attraction to you a secret.” She huffs a resigned sigh. “If anything, I’ve made a fool of myself showing you exactly what I want.”

I place her heels next to her. “You know what I mean, Livianna. We can talk about your company and devise a plan. We don’t have to discuss anything that could be triggering. We can focus on the first steps and develop a next-level business plan.”

“You don’t get to brush this off.” She rises to my level. “If you don’t admit what this is, I’m going to move on and never give this another shot. I’m done putting myself out there just so you can coil into yourself and keep asafedistance.”

The air leaves my lungs. Not like a man losing his breath. It’s more like a king losing a war he didn’t prepare for.

Our gazes stay hooked, but the connection is too intense to face. I lower my head and try to figure out how to avoid this.

How did I let this happen? How did she work her way into my heart?

She grabs her shoes and takes a step toward the elevator. Before she can flee, I catch her wrist. It’s not a harsh grasp. It’s more of a desperate hold on her.

What am I doing? Let her go, Jaxon.

She drops her gaze to my hand. She stares at it for a few beats, then looks up at me.

Her eyes beg for the truth. “Say it.”

I can’t, because if I do…I’m afraid I’ll never want to let her go. And that might be the most dangerous thing of all.

So instead, I whisper the only thing I can offer. “Don’t go. Not yet.”

“Why? And don’t skirt around the issue. Spit it out and tell me why you want me to stay.”

I open my mouth to answer, but it snaps shut before words form.