The edge of life: Official cover - coming soon

by Rachael Tonks

  “I’m nearly done,” I say with a laugh. “Jeez, you must be completely devoid of any feelings,” I shoot back, a little tongue in cheek. I finish up the last of the stitches, knotting it at the end. “I’m going to bandage the wound to minimize the chances of it getting infected.”

  He nods, so I begin to wrap the bandage around his arm.

  “All done,” I sing, giving him a smile.

  “Thanks.” He smiles back widely, his eyes sparkling as he does. “Hey, you did good.”

  “Just glad I could help,” I say, setting everything into piles. “This is all for the trash or whatever it is you guys do with this stuff,” I say to Fran as I close the medic box, handing it back to her.

  “I will get it cleaned up in here,” she says sweetly. “You two should shower now. I know Marco is waiting for you.”

  “What, together?” Ryder jokes, or at least, I hope it’s a joke.

  “There are separate cubicles in there, so no, showering together is not necessary,” Fran answers, her voice dull and monotone. I stifle a laugh as I glance back and forth between the pair.

  “Let’s do this.” Ryder nods his head toward the door to the room where we are supposed to get cleaned up. “No fucking peeking, though,” he says with a tone of seriousness, but his face is light, and I know he’s joking. I can’t help but feel like the guy is flirting; maybe the Jack’s loosening him up a little.

  “You should be so lucky,” I mutter, making my way into the room, and he lets out a loud laugh. It’s huge, not quite as big as the one we were in, but for a shower room, this was huge. Along one side is a large sink area with mirrors spanning the entire wall. It’s the sort of thing you’d see in the girls’ changing rooms at school, only on a grander scale. I see the two shower cubicles, separated by a wall and stall door. To the left is another door, which must lead into the house. I scan the room, noticing bags left out for our clothes.

  “You going to be okay? You know, undressing with one hand and all?”

  “It’s not like I haven’t done it before. I’m pretty sure I’m good.” His hand drifts to the button on his jeans, and I can’t stop my eyes from following. Lowering the zipper, he tugs either side of his jeans. I stand there hypnotized as I watch the jeans reveal the sexiest thing I think I’ve ever seen on a man. Like an arrow pointing to his junk. The definition starts at his hipbone and goes down as far as my eyes can see. Damn, that’s hot. I quickly turn, forcing my eyes away because I know he must have seen me. I bend over, pushing off my pumps, and step into the shower cubicle. My eyes meet his, just as I close the glass door behind me. A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. I let out a huge sigh that I’d been holding in. There’s no way I’m going to undress in front of him, so I begin stripping, pushing my clothes through the large gap at the bottom of the door. I step toward the shower and flick the switch. There are two showerheads, one above and another right in front of me. And shit, these things are powerful. I use the soaps that line the wall on a glass shelf, washing my hair and every part of me until I feel like my skin might actually fall off. I hit the power button to cut off the flow of water. I look around the expanse area, searching for the towel. Dammit. It must be outside, and I forgot to grab it.

  Shit.

  I walk over to the door, unlocking it, and opening it slowly to see if Ryder is still in here. I peek my head out, trying to conceal my body behind the door. Ryder is standing at the sink area, drying his hair roughly with a towel he has in his hand; the other is wrapped around his waist.

  “Ryder,” I call his name.

  He spins around, catching sight of me hiding behind the stall door. “Is there a towel anywhere? I forgot to grab it when I went in.”

  “Really?” he says with a grin.

  “Really,” I say, my eyes widening with frustration. I’m wet and cold and pretty sure my teeth are going to start chattering if he doesn’t hurry up and pass me the damn towel. He walks over to the wall and grabs one from the hook. Making his way over, he stops and holds out his good arm, offering the towel to me. I reach for it, and I’m just an inch away from getting it. I open the door, just a little more, reaching and snatching the towel from his grasp. His eyes go wide, and I know he saw a little more than intended. I glare at him as he mutters something. Something that sounded a little like he said beautiful, but I can’t be sure. I secure the towel around my torso, walking past him as I grab a smaller towel to wrap around my long hair. I rub the towel through my hair, stopping beside Ryder as he stands back at the sink.

  “You made sure to keep your wound dry, right?” I ask, touching the area around his wound. I look at the tattoos on his arm, worrying that the scar might mess up his masterpiece. “I hope it heals well. I’d hate to spoil your artwork.” I smile.

  “I don’t really care,” he says, shrugging. “You did amazing. I’m thankful.” He wraps his arm loosely around my waist, gently pulling me closer until my body rests against his hip. I know I should resist and pull back, but I don’t because a part of me quite liked having his arm there, holding me. I slowly lift my head, meeting his eyes. They are narrowed on me as if he’s questioning me.

  “You’re something kinda special, aren’t ya?” he says with a dark look in his eye.

  “Because I know emergency first aid?” I ask, wondering whether he’s talking about what I did or if he’s referring to me.

  “Sure,” he says, neither denying or clarifying.

  “Maybe we should make our way out of here,” I say, stepping away from him and out of his hold. My heart has picked up pace, and I suddenly feel nervous but excited to be here with him. The look in his eyes is terrifying, and I’ve never seen anything like it before. His green eyes are darker as if they’ve changed color. He stands frozen to the spot as I step away. But as I do, I have only one thing on my mind.

  As I pass him, I can’t help what I’m about to do. I guess you could say payback is a bitch.

  I tug on the towel around his waist so hard that it loosens, falling to the floor. I quickly look back over my shoulder, his ass all round and in its full glory. I race out, his laughter echoing through the room. I push through the door, and I can hear his footsteps behind me. I stop, frozen in utter amazement at what my eyes are seeing. I’m completely surrounded by shelves and hanging clothes. On the left-hand side, I see a whole outfit hanging that looks exactly like the clothes Ryder had on this evening. As my eyes scan the impressive room, I see another set of garments hung just to my right. It’s pretty much exactly the same as what I had on. I reach for the hangers, inspecting them closely. They are the right size, and he’s covered everything. Bra and panties, both of which are the correct size. I don’t hesitate as I slip the panties on under the towel I still have around my body. I turn the bra upside down, fastening it over the top of the towel to guard my dignity. Pulling it up and over, I cover myself before completely removing the towel. I continue to dress, pulling the top on then dropping the towel to the floor so I can slide on the jeans provided. I let my hair down, folding the damp towels and stacking them on a chair in the corner of the room.

  “Go on through. The others will be waiting for you.” Ryder’s voice is unexpected and causes me to jump.

  “I don’t mind waiting for you,” I say, tilting my head, pressing my index finger against my bottom lip. The thought of getting to see his muscular body in all its glory is enough for me to want to stay and watch him dress. “Maybe I could help you. I know how sore your arm must be.” It was a fabrication of the truth at best. I can’t help but want to see more of him.

  All of him.

  “I’m fine, honestly. I’ll be right through.”

  Kailee

  Pushing open the doors, I stare wide-eyed at the grandeur of the room. “Wow,” I whisper under my breath. It’s huge. The ceilings are high and have this fancy kind of plaster work that I’ve never seen, like ever. I walk over to the area where Jax and Marco are seated in large black leather chairs positioned in front of a stunning log fir
e. I walk over slowly, my eyes scanning the expanse of the room, completely in awe of this place.

  “Hey…” Jax smiles over at me, springing up from his seat. “How did you do with my asshole of a brother?” he asks, his hand landing on my shoulder and squeezing lightly. I look at Jax, and even though he and Ryder are identical, they are easy to identify. Jax is the clean-cut, less rugged brother, whereas Ryder, well, he’s rough around the edges and cares less about his appearance but somehow manages to pull it off as a rugged sort of style. The more I spend time with them, the more I’m starting to like the brothers, but the more I see the striking differences between them.

  “He was fine. Good even,” I say in an upbeat tone. “I got him all stitched up good.” Jax lets out a light-hearted chuckle, kissing me lightly on the cheek.

  “What was that for?” I quiz him, my eyes glued to his face.

  “Just showing you my appreciation, princess. Come sit with us.” I turn my back to Marco, reaching up and whispering in Jax’s ear. “He scares the hell outta me. Whatever you do, don’t leave me alone with him.” Jax holds me in place, our bodies close, and his laugh is all I can hear.

  “He’s a pussycat really. No need to worry, Kay; he’s harmless enough.”

  I widen my eyes. “If you say so.”

  He chuckles some more, leading me over to the huge seated area. “Marco, meet Kailee.” Marco stands up, his bright blond hair stands on end, and he reaches for my hand. I look up at Jax then back at his hand, nervously taking it in mine. He immediately pulls it toward his mouth, kissing the back of my hand softly.

  “It’s so nice to meet you, Kailee. I’ve heard nothing but good things about you. I’m sorry about this whole messy situation and forgive me for being so particular about the way we deal with this. You know you can never be too careful.”

  “I’d like to say it’s nice to meet you too, but I just wish it had been under different circumstances.”

  “I understand,” he says with a nod. His body language is stiff and seriously awkward. He returns to his seat, crossing one leg over the other.

  I sit down beside Jax, my body suddenly realizing just how tired I am. The adrenaline of this whole damn situation had kept me going, but as I fall further back into the seat, the hum of their voices is a little like background noise of a TV, and it’s making me feel sleepy. My eyes drift shut; the heat from the fire roaring in front of us is heavenly.

  The next thing I know I’m jumping out of my skin as the feel of a heavy hand lands on my arm.

  “What…” I shout, disorientated and confused about what’s going on.

  “It’s just me, Kailee. It’s Jax.” He squats down in front of me, a wide smile spreading from ear to ear. “Let me take you to bed.”

  I nod in acceptance, yawning as he hooks one arm under my legs and the other around my back. Effortlessly, he pulls me out of the seat and walks out of the room. The sudden smell of cigarettes fills my senses. I blink rapidly, my eyes finally focusing on Ryder smoking a cigarette in front of the fire. His eyes are fixed on us as we make our way out of the room and up a huge curved staircase. I can’t help but rest against Jax’s shoulder; the warmth radiating from his body makes me feel comfortable, safe even. Within seconds, we are up the stairs, my eyes barely focusing on my surroundings. Jax pushes his leg against the mahogany wooden door and steps into the dark room. He walks over to the huge four-poster bed and places me carefully on top of the sheets. The bed dips as he sits beside me, my body molding to the soft mattress.

  “This is you,” he says. Reaching for the lamp, he turns it on. I squint a little at the brightness of the light, my eyes blurring since I just woke. I swallow down hard, trying to add moisture to the back of my dry throat. I slowly meet Jax’s stare, his eyes burning into me. My head’s a mess, and I’m not sure how to take all the little innuendos I’m getting from him. And Ryder too. I’d been with them at the trailer park for a few days, and I’m already so confused by them both. It’s strange that I could be attracted to these two people who I barely know. But here and now, staring into his eyes, that’s exactly how I feel. Attracted and confused.

  He leans on one hand, closing the space between us. I focus on his plush lips, hoping that this beast of a man is leaning in to kiss me. I want to feel what his lips feel like against mine. If he tastes as good as he looks.

  “You should sleep,” he says, breaking the eye contact. His gaze moves down as if he’s taking me in, waiting for me to react. “I’m so sorry you got dragged into this whole fucked-up mess, baby. It’s the last fucking thing I wanted to happen,” he says with a huge sigh.

  I sit up a little. “Your world is so different from mine; I can’t even begin to wrap my head around this life you live.”

  He nods. “I know, and I’m sorry.” He leans in, cupping the side of my face. I place my hand over his, leaning into his warm touch. “So fucking pretty,” he mutters; his eyes sparkle, and a small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. My heart rate accelerates, and without thinking, I lean forward, pressing my lips against his. For a split second, he doesn’t respond, he just holds me there, our lips pressed together. Shit. This is awkward.

  Unexpectedly, he pushes me back on the bed with force, my hair splaying all over the bed. I let out a shriek of excitement as he mounts me before crashing his lips against mine. Grabbing my wrists, he places my arms above my head, pinning them there as he places light kisses against my mouth. I squirm as the excitement builds between my legs, and I can feel how much I’m turned on by him, by his aggressiveness. And I want more. So much more. His kisses tease my lips, but I can’t deepen the contact, his hold is just too restricting. I let out a low, playful growl, and his head pulls back as his eyes widen.

  “You going to tease the hell out of me or actually kiss me?” I ask, desperate and needy for more. His grin spreads, and rather than kissing me deeper, he thrusts his hardness against me. I can’t help the moan that escapes me, and my eyes flutter shut in response to him pressing against me.

  Suddenly, his weight lifts from me, and my eyes fly open to find out what the hell is happening. He stands at the side of the bed, removing the belt from his jeans. He reappears as fast as he left, his weight on me again. Using the belt, he wraps it around my wrists, securing them above my head.

  “W-w-what’s that for?” I ask, suddenly nervous about where this is going.

  “No wandering hands,” he says with a wink. His mouth finds mine again, and the excitement grows in my stomach. This time, he finally deepens the kiss, my mouth parting instantly to allow him access. His tongue works frantically against mine. He tastes of alcohol and cigarettes, but the smell only heightens my senses. I’ve never kissed anyone older than I am, and this is more divine than I have ever experienced. Boys my age don’t kiss this way or turn me on the way his kiss does. My head is a hazy mixture of nerves and euphoria. My breathing picks up pace, and my bound hands fall behind his head, pulling his huge frame closer to me. The pulsing between my legs is becoming unbearable, and I can’t stop my pleas from exploding from my mouth.

  “Oh god, I need to feel you touch me,” I say, instantly cringing as soon as the words blurt from my mouth. His warm hands quickly slide up my top, his fingers hooking into the seam of my bra. I feel his smile against my lips, but he doesn’t break the connection, not that I want him to. His thumb caresses my erect nipples, and the rest of his hand kneads my breast, the sensation only adding to the wetness between my legs.

  I’ve only ever had sex with one guy. With my last waste of space boyfriend. I was madly in love with him, so infatuated with everything Shawn related until that one time I turned up at his house. Letting myself in, I knew he was at home but not answering the door. Well, the reason was he was too busy fucking Amy, the school whore. What hurts the most is he did this just after my mom passed away, just when I needed him the most. But his touch is a vague memory and amateur at best compared to Jax’s. His hand trails down, away from my breast and to between my legs. He mass
ages me over my jeans, hitting my sweet spot repeatedly. I buck up against him, opening my legs to allow him better access. Within seconds, his hands drift up to the button on my jeans, unclipping it effortlessly and tugging at the sides. I work my hips from side to side, helping him remove them from me, wanting him to touch me again, the loss too much.

  “We won’t be needing these,” he says, his eyes meeting mine. The sliver of light from the lamp highlights his beautiful grin. His head dips as his eyes trail down to my semi-naked body. I feel exposed but needy, all at the same time. His hands run down my hips, and my body shudders in response to his gentle touch. His finger curls inside the edge of my panties, pulling them to the side. I shudder at the contact of his hands being so close to where I desperately need to feel him touch me. His fingers begin to work between my folds, and I buck against him when his thumb finds my clit. I suddenly feel extremely exposed. But it doesn’t matter. Clamping my eyes shut, I focus on how good his touch is, how alive he’s making my body feel. His head lifts, and he places a trail of kisses on my abdomen, making his way back up to my breast. He licks and sucks, teasing me more than I can possibly take. I’m about to explode; the feeling too much, yet I can’t get enough. As if he’s reading my mind, he works a finger inside me, and a deep groan escapes him. His lips find mine, and my eyes clamp shut as his tongue ventures into my mouth, the kiss ravenous and needy. I lift my hips to allow deeper access, my stomach tightening as my body responds to his touch. My breathing increases as does the intensity, each touch draws me closer and closer to the edge. I gasp loudly as I can no longer hold on to the impending explosion. Everything inside me tightens; my body shakes, and my legs weaken as my release works through every part of my body. Jax’s fingers straighten my panties before he leans in, placing a light kiss on my cheek.

  “So fucking beautiful,” he murmurs before kissing me again deeply. He leans back, focusing his eyes on my face. “It’s getting late. You should try to sleep,” he says with a smile. Reaching up, he quickly unfastens the belt, freeing my hands. Rubbing my wrists, I can’t help the smile that spreads, but the pain of disappointment hits me hard in the gut. Don’t get me wrong, that whole thing felt fantastic, but I expected it to end very differently. I nod, sinking into the bed, folding my arms across my stomach in an attempt to comfort the ache inside. Why doesn’t he want me? Why did he just stop there?