Page 54 of The Jaded Notes

That’s why I’m doing this. I need her to give it back to me. The only way that happens is if I deal with the issue head-on.

“You couldn’t stay away?” She places her hands on my pecs. “You know what I think? If anything, I need saving from you.”

I slide my palms around the curve of her waist. “Why do you say that?”

“I’ve known you for a while now, and you push me away every time I try to get close to you. Who’s saying you won’t do that again?”

I pause, giving myself time to take the out. Doing this with her is probably the most reckless thing I’ve done since I was fifteen.

Fuck it. I need to let this play out. I’m the one who always preaches about fate and destiny. It’s time I let my faith back up my actions.

“Things are different now, Livianna.”

“How so?”

“You’ve been dominating my thoughts for a full six months. I thought I could shake you off, but images of you only grow in intensity with each passing day.”

She presses her breasts against me. “How can I be sure?”

“You let me show you. You’ll learn to trust me.”

“Jax, are you saying what I think you are?”

“Yes. But if we go further, there will be rules.” My heart pounds against my rib cage.

“Do I get a say in these rules?”

“No. I set them for you to follow.” I tighten my grip.

Her eyes narrow. “And why would I agree to that?”

“Because, firecracker, you want it more than you’re willing to admit.” I lean in, my mouth near her ear. “You want me to claim you and take over so you can relax and let down your hard exterior. You want me to hold you up so you can rest, knowing you’re always supported in my care.”

I nip at her earlobe, then trail kisses down her neck. Her soft, floral, powdery perfume drifts around me. I almost lose it.

“Give yourself to me, Livianna, and I swear to keep you safe and secure. You have the power to stop whenever you feel the need, but until then, let me be there for you, control you,and open up a side of yourself you didn’t know existed. The freedom you’re seeking, you’ll own.”

She stiffens for a brief second, then sinks into my touch. “Tell me how, Jax.”

“You want to know how?” I murmur into her skin as I pull her into a possessive embrace. “You say yes, then you let go.”

She stills beneath me—a pause that could split the night, a hesitation that tastes like a dare.

Livianna presses back, tilts her head, and finds my gaze. There’s fire in her eyes, but it’s buried under ash, burned trust, raw ache, and all of it seems like it’s stretched inside her like a rubber band pulled too tight. She’s about to snap.

“The rules…” She studies my expression. “If I don’t know what this is, I’ll make it something it’s not. I need to understand how this works.”

I nod as my fingers trail down the curve of her spine, anchoring her to the moment. To me. “Then listen carefully, because I’ll only say this once.”

She swallows, but her chin doesn’t waver. God, she’s strong. But even the strongest bodies shake when they finally surrender.

“I know you’re capable of keeping your emotions out of the picture. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have set up a scene with two gentlemen you didn’t want to stay in contact with. Hell, you didn’t want to know anything about them.”

“How do you know that?”

“You didn’t want to know who they were. Your blindfold was the cutoff you needed in order to keep your heart safe. They could see you, but you didn’t want to see them. You didn’t want that connection. That night was all about you and your pleasure.”

She considers something for a moment. “You’re very good at reading the situation.”