I’m no stranger to impulsive decisions and I’m definitely not shy or a prude. I’ve had sex with men within hours of meeting them. I’ve been at a nudist beach or two. I enjoy what life has to offer. Of course all that is a far cry from jumping into a group of half-naked strangers of both sexes about to get really primitive with each other.
It’s a small comfort that no underwear has come off yet.
“Who’s your new escort, big guy?” a sexy brunette says, eyeing me as I take my shoes off.
“A friend of mine,” Jaxson says. “She wants to explore the possibility of becoming an initiate if that’s cool with you all.”
What the hell is he saying? Why all the pretenses? As soon as my shoes are off, I regret my decision. What will they ask me to take off next? I have no idea how far I can take this game.
Jaxson nudges me forward gently. My feet vacillate and I almost lose my balance before I decide to take a couple of timid steps onto the edge of the lush carpet.
Before I know it, a hand wraps around my wrist, pulling me down. I turn to Jaxson for help but all he does is get a hand on my shoulder to push me down faster.
As I find myself next to the heap of sexy human flesh, I feel my cheeks burn. It’s a good thing that the lights give a blush to everything. It’s no use trying to cover up my thighs with my short, cotton skirt. Compared to the others, I might as well be wearing a nun’s habit.
Jaxson plops down next to me soon afterward, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. Claiming me, hopefully keeping me from other people’s hands.
“Sorry to hear the news,” one of the guys says.
Jaxson ignores the comment.
“She will be missed,” one of the girls says right before she sinks her tongue inside the sexy brunette’s mouth.
Jaxson rests his hand on my thigh. “Let’s keep all the ugliness outside this chamber,” he says to everyone and no one.
His hand squeezes me gently. I become lightheaded. A moment later, everybody follows the kissing women’s example, groping and licking and kissing in every direction. I can only describe it as a tidal wave of foreplay.
I lift my eyes to Jaxson who raises his eyebrows seductively. My thigh feels bruised with need under his hand. His beautiful eyes turn wicked and his grin goes sinister, so much so it actually scares me a little.
“You have much to learn, Ella Wade,” he whispers in my ear.
I try to remove his hand when Jaxson’s mouth comes crushing down on mine out of the blue. Shock erupts everywhere. Every nerve contracts and then sizzles. Jaxson Cole is fucking kissing me, tongue swirling deep in my mouth, in front of a bunch of half-naked sex ninjas.
My body tenses as I struggle between a maddening desire to kiss him back and a vague determination to stay focused on my duty to help solve Madison’s murder.
Jaxson pulls his delicious lips off mine, moving his hot breath next to my ear. “Kiss me back,” he whispers. “Like you mean it.”
There’s a split second of hesitation before I get what he’s saying. I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, inviting his mouth back on mine. My gut tells me this is part of his plan and a way to keep me away from anyone’s reach, and since he also happens to taste better than anything I’ve ever put in my mouth, it’s easy to comply. His warm tongue awakens every cell in my body, making me wild with a sudden desire.
“What the fuck are you doing, Ella?” the nagging voice in the back of my head whispers but I push it aside to stay in the moment. I’m a journalist on the job, after all, and this might be my only chance at kissing someone as delicious as Jaxson Cole. No matter how superficial it sounds, it’s also thrilling.
I lose track of time in his kiss that turns rougher and more intimate at the same time as our mouths mesh together completely. In my haze, I sense he’s acting a little too enthusiastic. Jaxson’s hand rests on the back of my head, messing with the curly strands of my hair. I desperately want him to slip his hand under my blouse and find my eager skin.
My foolishness becomes apparent when Jaxson unglues his lips from mine, winking at me. Within a second, I realize that while we were kissing, underwear and stockings started coming off all around us.
As I turn my face to the right, a semi-erect penis almost pokes my eye. For what it’s worth, it’s an impressive penis that belongs to an impressive male specimen, but why on Earth is it swinging freely so close to my face?
I turn to Jaxson for help to find he’s wearing his wicked grin again. “It’s a test,” he says. “If you suck it, you’ll get an official invitation to join their party.”
Well, doesn’t that sound peachy? “I’m good,” I say, bracing myself to make a run for it. Things don’t go according to plan.
As I’m getting up, the guy with the exposed erection puts an arm around me from behind, pulling me close to him until my butt is pushed against his stiffening crotch. Fantastic. I have a hot stranger’s enormous cock rubbing against my booty while a pair of flawless breasts are being cupped and squeezed only inches away from my face.
Try staying focused and calm through that.
Jaxson Cole stands up, possessively pulling me back to him. “She’s my initiate, Brad,” he says. Brad removes his hand from my stomach and I find myself in Jaxson’s arms.
“No names,” Brad says as he steps away. “And she’s not ready.”
“What the fuck is going on?” I whisper.
Instead of an answer, Jaxson nibbles on my earlobe. “They won’t exactly talk to you if they don’t trust you,” he whispers.
“Oh, and I have to suck their cocks for that?”
I mostly mouth the words rather than utter them but Jaxson Cole gets exactly what I’m saying. He does his best not to burst out in laughter, directing that energy to his entire body until it shivers uncontrollably.
“Fuck,” he says. “You’re killing me, Ella.”
I’m not amused, not one bit, but when his hand finds the base of my neck, his lips searching for mine again, I fall into an unforgivable stupor. I don’t know how else to describe it. My lips part willingly, inviting him for more, my hands on his face exploring the smooth skin on his cheeks. It’s as if the natural barrier that exists between two strangers is being shattered while we’re pretending to be who we are not. At least I’m pretending. I think.
Then Jaxson Cole does something I did not see coming. He brings both his hands under my buttocks, lifting me up effortlessly until my legs are wrapped around his hips. I gasp and tense up with exhilaration and fear. Does he think I’m going to have sex with him right here? Is this what turns him on? I sure as hell can’t let him know how much he’s turning me on.
“That’s enough,” I say out of breath as he lowers me to the carpet, pushing me flat on my back and practically rolling over me.
His face is so close to mine, our breaths get synchronized. “It’s not going to be enough until you reveal some more skin,” he says.
“You’re fucking kidding.” I realize too late that I’ve raised my voice, drawing everyone’s attention. Naked boobies and tanned butt cheeks are all super interested in little, old moi. I do the first thing that pops into my head as a way to cover up. I wrap both arms and legs around Jaxson and slide my tongue in his mouth while I squeeze his tight ass.
Holy fuck, I’m flowering for him. I could get used to this.
“Smart girl,” Jaxson says in a whisper, kissing my lips gently again and again. I close my eyes and dream of his lips everywhere.
“So what now?” I say, fighting a thousand urges.
He locks his eyes on mine as he lifts my skirt around my waist, running his hands over my thighs and ass. Oh, fuck. Too much. He’ll discover I already want him.
My body hums and it takes all that I am to prevent a shameless, confessional moan. His fingers are so close to where I’m lusting for him all sticky and sweet. He plays me like a violin, creating tingling sensations that erupt outward in waves. All this without ever touching there.
I finally
gasp when another hand—a third hand—lands on the side of my hip. Immediately, panic rises in my chest. I strain my neck to figure out who’s touching me and, bingo, it’s the blond, pierced dude who captured my attention earlier.
My eyes veer downward to verify he has piercings in his perfectly groomed nether areas. I count two metal bars and two hoops. I can’t take my eyes off the damned things. I’ve never seen a pierced penis before and I have to admit, it’s not a bad thing to look at and wonder about. I’m hopeless. What the hell am I doing? Pierced penises should not be a concern right now.
Jaxson watches me and the direction of my gaze. When I turn my eyes back to him, I do not find a pleasant expression. For the first time, I think I see anger on Jaxson’s face. He swiftly slaps the intruding man’s hand off my thigh and brings me back onto my feet.
“That’s enough for a first time,” he says while I pat down my skirt to cover as much of my thighs and drenched panties as possible.
“Let’s go,” Jaxson says, offering me his hand.
—seven—
Jaxson Cole Asks Me To Trust Him
We trot down the hallway until we come to an exit sign, my cheeks burning red hot as I’m gradually appreciating all that transpired moments ago in the private room at Peach Corner. I keep my head down when we’re out of the building to avoid looking at Jaxson. To my surprise it’s still light outside. I could have sworn we spent hours in the dark dungeon of the strip club but a look at my watch informs me it’s barely been forty minutes.
“Okay,” I say as we turn a corner. “I’m kind of lost. I have no idea where my car is parked.”
Jaxson squeezes my hand. “I’ll take you to your car when we’re done,” he says in a commanding voice that leaves me no room for arguing.
“Are we not done yet?” I say, confused and still looking down at my moving feet, trying to wipe out the memory of his tongue in my mouth and his hands all over my ass while strange people were making out. Shame and regret hit me hard, all the more because the hot man next to me that just took my breath away was Madison’s boyfriend for a long time.
Instead of an answer, Jaxson opens the door to a bar and nudges me inside. The place is noisy and smells of greasy meat and cigarette smoke. Not a good combination for my nose and lungs. We sit at a small table, facing each other. There’s no way I can avoid looking into his eyes now.
“I’m sorry about what happened at the club,” he says. “I figured it wouldn’t have the same effect if I just told you about the things Madison was into. You had to see it for yourself.”
I don’t know how seriously I can take his apology. The truth is he doesn’t look all that regretful and he’s smart and experienced enough to know I liked his touch. Which probably makes me a terrible person in many people’s book, including my own.
“You are upset,” he says, shooting me a penetrating glance.
“I felt so fucking ordinary in there,” I tell him with almost instant regret.
The waitress shows up with two glasses of water and menus.
“I don’t think I can eat anything, Jaxson.”
He furrows his brow as he tells the waitress to bring us some nachos with a guacamole dip. “Don’t use my name in here,” he says as soon as she’s off with the order. “Names aren’t necessary.”
“Are you serious? Everybody knows your name whether I say it or not. What’s so special about this dumpster of a place?”
“Same owner as Peach Corner. Similar clientele. Let’s keep it discreet.”
“What should I call you then?”
He shrugs. “Whatever you want. Baby, stallion, master. The possibilities are endless.”
I roll my eyes at him. “Do you honestly think you can be anonymous anywhere?”
“You’d be surprised.”
I glance at him totally unconvinced. “Get real.”
“All right,” he says with a sigh. “It’s part of the rules. Whether the rules make sense or not doesn’t matter. They have to be followed or you won’t be allowed to play.”
“What if I don’t want to play?”
“Then they’ll never tell us what they know about Madison.”
“Did you love Madison?” I say, locking my eyes on his in an attempt to catch him unawares.
“No,” he says without even flinching.
So it’s me who’s caught unawares in the end. His nonchalant tone shocks me. “I mean, before you broke up,” I mumble.
“Broke up? Who told you that?” He looks at me with sincere puzzlement.
Did Esposito get this one wrong?
“You didn’t break up?”
“We couldn’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because we never really dated.”
It seems this whole day will be shock after shock. “What does that mean? You either dated or you didn’t. And everyone says you did.”
He leans closer, shaking his head. “It was a publicity stunt, Ella,” he says, exasperated. “The whole fucking thing. From beginning to end.”
“You called me by my name.”
“What?”
“You called me Ella when you said we shouldn’t be using names.”
“Well, you’re not a member of the club, are you?”
“Did you fuck her?” Making him feel uncomfortable will be my mission from now on. Lord knows he’s tried hard to do the same to me.
He swallows hard. “Maybe.”
Maybe. What a bullshit artist. “Did you even care for her?”
“Of course I did. Madison was my friend.”
“You practically admitted you participated in group sex together.”
Something changes about his expression. The complacency is gone for a moment, replaced by a human reaction. “Look, I know she was your sister…”
“She wasn’t.”
“What?”
“I said she wasn’t my sister. She was my stepsister. We lived under the same roof for three years but we had no blood ties. Her father married my mother when we were both children. That’s about it.”
“I know, Ella, it was a figure of speech.” His voice changes, turning more severe and candid. “Madison liked to live on the edge but she wasn’t comfortable with anyone knowing. She pretended to be my girlfriend to get real scrutiny off her back. It suited us both. The night of her death, Madison told me she had plans to visit the club. She even asked if I wanted to join her but I refused as I had a date. Well, kind of.”
I consider his words, trying to determine how much credence I can give them. “And did you make it to your date?”
He nods. “I kind of wish I hadn’t. She was totally uninteresting and way into herself.”
Way into herself? Coming from him, it’s rich, to say the least. “Where did you take her?”
“We dined at Lucques and then we had a drink at the Sky Bar on Sunset Boulevard.”
So, he does have an alibi—a very precise one. A weight is lifted off my shoulders. I don’t want him to be Madison’s killer. The fact he had a failed date is a bonus but I don’t want to go there just now.
When the nachos and guacamole finally arrive it’s not the waitress that brings them to our table. It’s… Brad. Yep, the same fucking Brad who tried to shove his huge dick inside my mouth and then rubbed it against my ass. At least he’s dressed now. And, boy, does he look good. Dark and tall, with smoky eyes and corded, lean muscles, wearing a tight white t-shirt and faded jeans.
“What do we have here? The phony trainee who truly only has eyes for her fake trainer,” he says with a wide grin.
I turn to Jaxson for guidance. Left to my own devices, I will no doubt slap Brad. How is it that he got his hands on our order anyway? And has he washed those hands?
Jaxson is of no help. He shrugs. “What’s up, B-diddy?”
“Man, shit was boring today. Why the fuck do we even bother?”
“You know why,” Jaxson says, winking at me.
Am I supposed to know why?
“May I?” B
rad says, pulling a chair to the table.
An intrusion, exactly what I need when I was so close to getting some real answers out of Jaxson. Besides, I really don’t need this Brad to remind me of what I did in the private room right in front of him or of what I let Jaxson get me into; or how I enjoyed it.
“Relax,” Brad says, sensing my uneasiness. “I don’t bite.”
I guess I should take his word for it. The fact that his eyes look me up and down like they’re about to devour me isn’t exactly reassuring. This Brad guy is a predator that likes to toy with his prey and doesn’t care who knows it. He’s that confident—a total pro. There’s not a single doubt in my mind about it.
“Do you mind?” I say, finally losing my patience. “You’re staring.”
He laughs, bringing his Sierra Nevada bottle to his lips. “I’m just trying to figure out if you’re a good lay.”
Oh lord, what a pretentious jackass. “Well, I don’t have to wonder about that as far as you’re concerned because I know for a fact you’re not.”
“I’m offended,” Brad says teasingly, putting his right hand on his chest. “And how do you know, if I may ask?”
“Because you would blow the talking part,” I say. “And the part where you gave a shit about your partner.”
Brad laughs. “There’s a talking part?”
Jaxson chuckles, giving me a high-five. I hardly find the whole thing amusing but I don’t want to sound like a total bitch either.
“Sorry,” I say sarcastically. “How rude of me.”
Jaxson leans over the table to take my hand. “He likes that you take him seriously. No one else does.”
His eyes are sincere and his grip firm and trusting. “No harm done,” I say. “I doubt we’ll have the pleasure of meeting again.”
“You will, Ella. Brad is on our side.”
I withdraw my hand, flinching.
“What’s wrong?” Jaxson says.
Scandal: The Complete Series Page 4
