Page 60 of Will to Run

“No,” I say.

“No?” she physically recoils.

“No.” This time I say it with a smile. “I’m not just going to come right back and jump into you blowing me, as tempting as that sounds. I want to take you out tonight.”

“On a date?” She asks with surprise, as if the term was foreign.

“Yeah. When’s the last time you were on a date? One you both wanted to be on for the pleasure of each other’s company. Not just to be seen.”

Her head shakes.

“He never organically took you out?” The question comes out with more bite than I anticipate.

Her head just keeps moving from side to side. “Not without the motivation of a camera.”

“Della,” I stroke her cheek with my thumb, “you are worth so much more than that.”

A tight smile spreads across her lips. It will take time to break her of the beliefs that have been put into her head over the last few years, and though I’m not dumb enough to think they’ll all be gone when she leaves here, I’m going to give it my best shot.

“What do I wear?” she asks.

“Anything you want. We’ll go to the place that matches your outfit.”

Her mouth opens as if she doesn’t know how to respond to me. “So shorts and a ratty t-shirt?” she tries to test me.

“Sure, if you want to. I know the perfect place for that.”

“I would never,” she responds.

“Della Tatroe, good luck finding anything to wear that’s going to stump me on where to take you… or stop me from wanting to sex you.”

That finally elicits a laugh from her.

“Seriously, good luck. But I really do have to go. I’ll grab you later, okay?” I bend to kiss her, and the electricity that runs between us sparks again. Thank God she pulls away because I’m about to ditch the whole damn work meeting. But if I leave now, I can save a little face, and grab some condoms before our date.

Because, regardless of what she wears, I’m going to make this woman see stars. God, I can’t wait to fuck her. I’m not sure I’ve ever waited this long to sleep with somebody.

After my staff gives me copious amounts of shit at the meeting, I end up in my office. For a brief minute, I entertain leaving to make this a day date that extends to night, but it makes sense to get some stuff done before tonight.

Ev

How come I wasn’t informed that Jax was late to his meeting?

Case

He was late, all right. I don’t know if he would’ve shown up if I didn’t call him over… and over… and over until he picked up the phone.

Hazel

Are we opening up the floor as to where he was last night?

Molly

We’re not opening the floor. We all know exactly where he was. Okay, maybe not his location, but we all know who he was with.

Ev

Did you really, Jax?