Fourteen
Jax
It took every bit of willpower I possess in my body to walk away from wet Ashton in the ocean this morning. She stood there openly lusting after me, shivering and biting that full bottom lip in her transparent bra and panties. I could see her dark areolas, the sharp tips of her nipples… her bare pussy. She was any man’s wet dream, and I still can’t believe I was able to take my hands off her and leave. I’ve been frustrated and sick all day.
Fuck. Walking on the beach now, after dark, having spent the entire day as far from her as possible, fearing I’d lose my steely resolve, I allow myself to go back to that instant this morning when I knew I had to have her.
We didn’t speak about it after I left her at the water’s edge. I collected my reeking, discarded clothes and carried them to the garbage can, where I left them in a pile. Then I went straight into the house buck naked, thankful Mrs. C was nowhere in sight, although that bird of hers kept whistling and catcalling like it was a strip club. How would he even know to do that?
Never mind, I don’t want the answer.
Once I was thoroughly scrubbed and sure the skunk was off, I went into town to buy paint and more supplies for our workday. I also picked up a heavy canvass tarp, coveralls, and a mask to use in relocating the skunks once they venture into the trap I plan to set for them under the house.
In hindsight, I’d overreacted. We most likely crawled through the spray they use to mark their territory, or the spray they’d ejected when startled by Lulu’s dogs. If we’d been truly hit, our skin would have burned, our eyes would have been scalded, and we’d still be trying to get the stench off our bodies.
I considered all this as I took the long way back to The Conch Shell, as I stopped at a local burger joint for lunch. I drove along the beach road all the way up the coast, surveying property and drinking in the gorgeous views. It was late in the day before I finally returned to the house. Still, I didn’t go inside. I parked near the old garage and crawled under the house alone to set the skunk trap in solitude.
My phone had been going off periodically the entire day, everything ranging from my sister calling to a few texts from Ashton’s brother. I avoided them all, but not one was a call from her. I’m sure it’s because she’s thinking what I’m thinking.
The real reason I spent the entire day avoiding Ashton Hall is because that’s not why I’m here. No matter how much I’ve craved her kiss since the night she branded my brain in the narrow hallway at the Smoky Siren, I have to remember who I am and what she needs.
She does not need a guy like me.
Ashton is beautiful and sweet. She’s inquisitive and smart. She loves mermaids and nostalgia and this old house. She deserves a prince, a real hero, not me—the guy who’s going to tell her brother he’s likely right about this place. Ashton could never make as much money running it as a B&B as she could selling it outright. Not in a million years.
Without someone here to help her, the maintenance costs will eat into her profits every year, and it will ultimately become a burden, weighing her down as she tries to find ways to stay on top of it all.
The truth of what I know I should say to Ben is a lead weight in my stomach. I didn’t even want dinner tonight—I just came out here, walked up the shore a ways, and sat with my thoughts. I watched the sun set, remembering the night Ashton and I talked past twilight.
Now, with the moon huge and low over the ocean, I make my way slowly up the shoreline toward the house. The hush of the waves rolling in creates a calm soundtrack to the pale night. When I finally reach the path leading up the hill to the old place, I realize it was all a waste of time. Nothing has changed, and if anything my desire has grown stronger as the hours have passed.
At the top of the hill, the kitchen is lit up like a beacon in the night, and soft strains of Motown drift down to my ears. Ashton moves around the room, slow-dancing with a bowl in her arms. Her lips move, and I think she’s singing along as she stirs. My stomach tightens as I watch her slowly sway in the yellow light. She’s wearing a thin dress, and her dark hair is tied in a loose ponytail at the back of her neck. A few strands hang in pretty curls around her face.
Her eyes close as she puts the wooden spoon in her mouth, and I swallow the need in my throat. They blink open again, and she smiles as if she’s thinking about something naughty. I can’t take it.
My scalp is tight. The blood surges hot in my veins, burning under my skin as I charge up the path. I’m up the stairs, crossing the porch to the screen door leading into the kitchen. The door slams behind me, and she spins around, hazel eyes wide.
“Jax… Where did you go? I was just thinking—”
“I had to stay away. I thought I could distract myself, refocus…” I close the space between us in two steps and pull her soft body against mine. My hands grip her too hard, my voice is too rough. “I can’t stop thinking about you, about how much I want you.”
Her eyes darken, and she reaches out to put the bowl on the counter. “But we have to work together. It could cause problems…”
“Tell me to stop, and I will.”
Every muscle in my body aches, waiting for her answer. Music floats in the air around us and everything is poised, waiting for what she’s about to say.
Her pink lips part. Her tongue touches her bottom lip, and she says the words I’ve been dying to hear. “Don’t stop.”
Our mouths are together before she finishes speaking. Tongues unite, curling and caressing. She tastes like wine and sweet sugar. I pull her lips, nipping her with my teeth, devouring her. She moans, and it registers straight to my rigid cock.
Reaching down, I grasp her smooth thighs, dragging her skirt higher and tracing my fingers along the line of her panties, dipping inside to feel her slick and wet.
“Jax…” She gasps, and I lift her off her feet, carrying her to the stairs.
Her mouth is on my neck. I feel her taste me as she follows a trail of burning kisses up to my ear before pulling it between her lips. I groan deeply at the sensation. The heat in my pelvis, the pressure, is blanking my mind. I take the steps two at a time, crossing the landing and pushing through my door, kicking it closed.
She’s on her feet, and our mouths are together again. We kiss like ravenous animals. Our hands are everywhere, fumbling with buttons, ripping at fabric. My jeans are long gone. Her soft breast is in my hand. Did I tear her dress?
She tugs at my shirt, and I step back, ripping it over my head. Then we’re together again, her body so soft against mine, cool to my hot, delicate to my strong.
I kiss her shoulder, biting her skin as she makes those delicious little moans. She touches my stomach, tracing her hand down to my length. I groan, threading my fingers in the ends of her dark, silky hair to give it a slight pull. Her chin lifts, and I cover her mouth again, drinking her in, consuming her desire like a drug.
Lifting her again, she’s on the bed, on her back, her hair spread all around. Her breasts rise and fall with her rapid breathing, and I jerk open the small drawer of my nightstand to grab a condom.
“You’re so beautiful,” I whisper, placing a knee beside her and lowering my face to kiss her flat stomach.
Her body trembles and she whispers my name. “Jax…” Her fingers thread in the sides of my hair. “It feels so good.”
My lips move higher to close around a taut nipple as my hand goes lower, my finger tracing the line between her thighs before testing her wetness.
“You’re so wet,” I whisper, blowing on the hardened peak as I plunge a finger inside. Two fingers.
“Oh, God,” she moans and breaks into a cascade of spasms.
Her arms rise to my shoulders, and she holds me, closing her eyes as she rolls into my side. I move her onto her back again, covering her body with mine.
“Did you come?” I ask softly before kissing the shell of her ear.
She does another little shiver, and I lean up to study her beautiful face. The full moon paints the world
in black and white and silver. Still, I’m pretty sure I can see a blush on her cheeks.
“Kiss me,” she whispers, and I gladly comply, pulling her full lips, teasing her soft tongue.
I give those lips one more tug before finding her eyes. “Do you still want this?” I’m hard and heavy between her thighs, dying for her to say yes.
Her knees rise, and her hands slide down my sides to my lower back. “Fill me,” she purrs, and my forehead drops to her shoulder as I plunge into her.
The force of nature takes over, and we’re rocking. She moans in my ear, and it’s fuel to my fire. Placing my hand on the mattress, I arch my back to rise higher, go deeper. Her back arches, and I drop my head to kiss her breast, pulling her beaded nipple with my teeth.
Our loud moans and deep groans fill the air as I thrust harder, moving faster, chasing that fiery release. It’s burning up my thighs, centering in my pelvis, until I break with a shout. I’m holding her body to mine, her legs wrapped around my waist as I pulse and fill the condom. We’re on the tops of mountains. We’re flying through space. We’re a shower of starlight, illuminating the sky. What the hell is going on in my head?
I open my eyes, and we’re both breathing fast. She’s below me, and her eyes blink slowly, satisfied. Contentment unfurls in my belly, and I move to the side, gathering her in my arms.
My eyes are closing. These past few days, this morning, this night drift through my mind. “Why are you so sweet?” I’m not sure if I say it out loud, but I feel it so strongly.
From the tips of her pretty, bare feet to the ends of her silky hair, she’s like a drug to me. She exhales a sigh, nestling closer into my side. She feels right being there, like she’s always belonged. What is she doing to me?
Fifteen
Ashton
A steel chest is pressed to my nose when I blink awake, orienting myself. I inhale the dark and spicy scent of male and sex, and I cringe.
Fuck a duck. What have I done?
You boned the help, you hillbilly. You saw that tight ass in the ocean, and it was all you thought about all day.
Yes, yes. I can’t deny it. Jax is definitely The Right Stud, because he just screwed my brains out in this big comfy bed… Twice?
I ease away from the warmth of his body with regret. The girl-power woman in me, rebelling at the thought of being duped by another man, has reared her mighty head and spoken: I can’t trust Jax Roland.
Right?
But he made you feel so very delicious, my body reminds me as my limbs stretch out, trying to find the edge of the mattress as I slither away from his grasp.
The moon is high in the sky, casting an ethereal glow over his chiseled jawline and perfectly bitable lips. I did bite them at one passionate point. Yep.
Quickly, stealthily, I disentangle myself from his strong arms and land on the floor with a plop. I freeze, hoping I didn’t wake him, and I’m reassured when I hear a soft snore.
Thank God. I don’t think I can face him right now. I made a complete fool of myself. It was the wine. It was the Marvin Gaye. It was…
Hell, it was just him. No man has the right to look that fucking good when he’s washing skunk spray off his body in the ocean!
I snatch up my clothes and throw them on haphazardly. With one last, regretful look at his physically perfect form on full display, I open the door and slide out, closing it with a soft snick.
I’ve just made it downstairs in the dark, hoping to grab a glass of water, when I run smack into Mrs. C leaving the kitchen.
“Oh!” I stammer, stepping back.
“You got the big D didn’t you?” A hint of a smirky grin is on her face, which is covered in some kind of green mask that smells faintly of cucumbers.
I don’t even comment on it. “What’s a D?”
“Don’t play coy with me. I know a satisfied woman when I see one. I had that same look every time Mr. C took me to pound town.” She sighs. “He had the biggest cock you know. I used to tease him that he could have been a porn star.”
Pound town? Porn Star?
“You’ve been watching too much HBO, Mrs. C. Jax and I are in a working relationship, and I would never jeopardize that.”
Her eyebrow arches. “Whatever you have to tell yourself, but your dress is on inside out.”
“Fuck!” Rufus shouts from her shoulder, and I scowl at both of them.
“And don’t think I didn’t hear all the moaning and grunting. It was loud. LOUD. I kinda liked it to be honest. It’s been a long time since anyone got a good seeing-to in this old house.”
Pushing the hair away from my face, I exhale impatiently. “It’s one in the morning. Shouldn’t you be in bed?”
“I came in here to grind up some cucumbers for my mask. But I can tell you’re not in the mood to talk, so I’ll go to my room and wash it off.” With an offended sniff, she turns to go.
“Wait.”
She pivots back around. “Yes?”
I rub the back of my neck, which is sticky from being pressed against sweaty male-flesh for the past few hours of glorious bliss… which reminds me that I don’t ever recall Kyle giving me two orgasms in one night.
Focus, Ashton. “If we did have sex, and that’s a big if—”
“You did. I heard you cry out…Oh God, I’m coming.” Her face is deadpan.
“Did I make a mistake? I mean, he’s here to work, and he’s a man, which makes him an asshole.” I give her a pleading look, and I know I must be desperate to be seeking dating advice from Mrs. C.
Her lips purse as she gives it a think, beady eyes carefully studying me from beneath the layers of the lime green mask. “Honey, he’s the goat savior and the skunk hero. He deserves a good fuck. Just call it a one-off and let it go.”
Unexpected disappointment hits me at the thought of it being just a one-time thing.
My ancient boarder isn’t finished. “But if you’re asking my opinion on Jax as a non-asshole, then yes, I think he’s a good guy. What’s wrong with having a little fun while he’s here?”
I nibble at my lips, which are still swollen from his kisses. “I just don’t want to get hurt again. I can’t handle it. My heart is too full of… Kyle cheating on me.”
“Kyle is a piece of dog shit. He’s lower than a rattlesnake in a wagon rut, and he doesn’t deserve your pain.”
That may be true, but he fooled me. Will Jax?
She pats my arm. “I’m guessing you slipped out on him? Without even a thank you?”
I nod slowly, feeling an ache in my chest. I rub it. “Yeah.”
She sighs, her expression hard to read behind the goo, but I see sadness in her eyes. “Bless your heart. Listen to me. Just go with the flow. Take what’s offered with no expectations, and maybe, just maybe, he’ll surprise you.”
“Maybe.” I head to the fridge and pull out a cold bottle of water and hold it against my face.
With a little wave, she and Rufus head off to bed, and I sit down at the kitchen table to think.
Give him a chance, my body says.
Run for the hills, my head insists.
What am I going to do?
I wake up at five, shower, and put on a flowy sundress. It’s white with little daisies on it, and it makes me feel young and innocent—which is ironic considering the wanton hussy I’d been last night with Jax.
A whole-body blush warms me as I pass his door on the way downstairs. Pausing, my ears perk as I strain to hear if he’s awake. I don’t hear a peep.
Once downstairs, I quietly make coffee and set out some fresh fruit, croissants, and jam. My plan is to sneak out of here early and go for a walk on the beach, maybe stop off at Drifter’s Coffee Shop to check out their latest confections and get some ideas for future breakfasts for The Conch. Even though Lulu isn’t awake yet, I send her a text to see if I can stop by her place. I need to talk to her about what happened with Jax.
I’m stirring creamer into my coffee as quietly as I can when a warm body presses against my back
. A nose trails up my neck, and warm lips kiss me, sucking gently on my tender skin. Sparks of heat fly all over my body, but I immediately stiffen, willing those tendrils of desire to stop.
“Mornin’.” Jax’s lips brush my skin as his teeth graze my neck. His voice is deep and husky, and I close my eyes and open them quickly, struggling, trying to gain some control. “You’re up early,” he continues.
My body trembles as his hands cup my shoulders and slowly turn me around. His blue eyes are sleepy and a dark scruffy shadow is on his chiseled jawline. It only accentuates how incredibly handsome he is.
He’s not wearing a shirt, dammit, and his sculpted chest and six-pack abs are on full display. My fingers itch to trail down that body, slip into his pants, and see if he’s hard.
He rubs his thumb across my lips, tugging my lower one down as he strokes me. “Can I just tell you how fucking disappointed I was to wake up and not see you in my bed?”
I swallow. “I-I had to think—”
Steely eyes study my face. “Regrets already?”
“Yes.” My voice is a whisper.
Disappointment flickers in his eyes, but he quickly disguises it. “Why?”
He hasn’t taken a step back, and we’re so close. Our chests are inches apart, making it impossible to think clearly. I’m lost in a sea of desire and heat, but I want to be strong. Why does he have to be the epitome of every wet dream I’ve ever had ?
His fingers push a strand of hair behind my ear. “Are you really going to deny the chemistry we have?”
“Yes.”
He lifts a cocky eyebrow, clearly not intimidated by my proclamation. “Do I need to remind you how hot we were?”
My core lights up. The independent woman in me should be pissed that he’s so arrogant and sure of himself, but even she knows the truth. Our chemistry is mind-boggling, and my body has no control.
“It was just a hook-up,” I try to argue. “We got carried away by the wine and the music and…”
“Liar. You’ve wanted me since day one.”
The Right Stud Page 10
