Page 50 of The Jaded Notes

There’s a long stretch of weighted silence. His chest rises and falls faster than a moment before. He reaches up to his tie and works it down like he needs space to breathe.

His heated stare roams over me from head to toe. My nipples steeple, and I need to cross my legs to hold in the desire that’s building between my thighs.

I want to slap myself. This isn’t what I think it is. It neveris, and I won’t cave to Jax and let him know how he affects me.

I turn to gather my belongings. “You have my word. I won’t use drugs anymore.”

“We’re not done.”

“Why?” I face him. “What else do we need to discuss?”

He remains focused on me. It’s like he’s having a fight inside his mind. Not just a battle. It’s a self-inflicted war, and I can see the ruin in his eyes.

“Why are you looking at me like that, Jax?”

“I was thinking about something.”

“What?”

He hits a button near the door, and the glass walls fill with smoke, making a barrier between us and the outside world.

He swallows hard. “What it’d be like to feel your lips against mine.”

Oh… Now this just got interesting. I let down my defenses a bit and decide to see how far he takes this.

“Well, this is a twist I didn’t see coming.” I step closer to him, taunting him. “Kissing me is dangerous.”

“Is that right?” He inches toward me while taking fiery glances at my mouth.

“Um, hmm. Some say it’s traumatizing.”

“Traumatizing?”

“Yep.”

He gets a little closer. “How about I do it once and tell you if the theory is correct?”

“No one can kiss me just once.”

He laughs, probably to release the tension. “Is that so?”

“Facts.” I tug on his tie. “If you do this, you’ll want more, and that’s why it’s dangerous.”

“Because I’ll want to do it again?” He rests his hands on my hips.

My pulse accelerates. “No, because you’ll fall in love with me and I’ll break your heart.”

“How can you be sure?”

“History. Every man who has kissed me has fallen in love with me, and I’ve wrecked them for all other women,” I lie while trying to gain the upper hand.

“Wow! So there’s risk involved.”

“Absolutely.”

“I didn’t get to be where I am today by playing it safe.” He leans into me.

And I let him. “After all this time, you’re willing to risk your heart?”