I took the time to think about everything I knew about Jax. Not like I stalked the gossip rags like a teenage girl for any information I could find on him or anything. The most I came up with was that he was twenty-seven, which made him three years older than me. No wonder Morgan decided to set us up. She probably thought I'd be a breath of fresh air for him, we'd fall in love at first sight, and then we'd have five million babies to fill up all of the rooms in our mansion. Yuck. That was nowhere near the future I ever imagined myself having.
After we walked a couple of blocks through the alley, we turned the corner and stepped back onto the sidewalks of the main street. I pulled my trench coat up around me, shivering. February was always freezing.
I chuckled. “Well, you were definitely right about making an adventure out of the ordinary.”
“There's nothing ordinary about tonight,” he said.
“That sounds like a cheesy pick-up line waiting to happen.” I glanced up at him. “I mean, if you were planning to add, ‘because there's nothing ordinary about you’ to it.”
Jax raised an eyebrow. “You aren't ordinary, but that's not what I was going to say. I was talking about the situation as a whole. Blind dates are not a normal thing, let alone ordinary. That's what the Internet is for.”
“I know right? That's what I've been thinking all night!”
We both laughed, and that was the first time we both found the same thing to be funny. I didn't let the moment last long.
I stopped walking and forced him to look at me. “Are you sure you want to keep this up? Because I would understand if you want to call it a night. I didn't know you were some kind of mega superstar, and I also know you probably want to maintain your pristine reputation. Where we're going, that might not happen. I mean, you've never been caught partying before in your life, right? People might think you're turning to the dark side.”
“You're not taking me to a gentleman's club are you?” he asked, smirking. “Mila, I agreed to this date to try something new. It's about taking risks, and I think you'll find I'm not as much of a goodie-goodie as you think I am. Granted, I'm not like my younger sister, who's probably killed her liver by now with how much she parties. And I'm also not my brother, who throws lavish parties in Paris every other weekend.” He paused, putting his hands into his pockets as we walked. “And I'm not a superstar. I'm an heir, but my talents are not celebrity status worthy.”
The guy could be a model if he changed out of the geek wardrobe and did a little more working out. I mean, I'm assuming. It's not like there were naked photos of him leaked anywhere, or even any shirtless ones for me to make an accurate judgment. Just from where I was standing, he seemed physically toned, but definitely more of the type to stay indoors and play video games. Regardless, he had total hunk potential if he wanted to make the effort. Who was he to talk about not having talents worth the status?
Rolling my eyes, I started down the street again. “Heir to a billion dollar corporation, celebrity. Same difference these days. The only thing you're missing is a reality show.”
“Ew.”
“I'll say.”
“Another thing we have in common,” he teased, catching up to me with in a few steps before matching my pace.
I snorted and pointed down the street to the warehouse district. A large neon light sign for “Waterworks” was lit up in bright blues, greens, and pinks. “That's where we're going. Feel up for it?”
His face sobered a little. “Like I said. I'm here to take risks, but after this we're going to do something I want to do.”
“Didn't you pick dinner?”
“Morgan picked dinner. I agreed it was a good place, so long as you weren't a vegetarian. She assured me you weren't.”
“Nope, definitely not. You saw how I ate,” I said and patted my stomach. I could have probably loosened the strings on my top a little because I was probably pregnant with a food baby.
Jax laughed. “I did. I liked it.” He extended his hand to me. “Do we have a deal? We do your choice activity, and then after, we'll do mine. PG rated of course. If we still don't click, no harm done, and then we've at least made a good try. Dinner didn't allow for us to get to know one another too well. There was way too much chewing involved.”
That was because I needed a reason to not talk, and especially to not open up to him.
With a sigh and some hesitation, I took his hand. “Fine, deal.”
Chapter Four
Waterworks was like an oasis in the desert. Outside it was a cold, dead, dark world; on the inside it was a tropical island paradise. As the name suggested, there was a lot of water inside. Waterfalls along the back by the bar and stage made elegant but snazzy decorations. A fountain near the entrance displayed a massive great white shark. Aquariums with exotic fish spanning every color of the rainbow entertained patrons sitting in red leather couches along the side wall. The employees wore Hawaiian garb. You know, those ugly flower-print shirts, leis, and the occasional cute girl walking around in a coconut bra or a bikini top. The club was a cheese fest, but it was one of my favorites because the DJ was amazing. Plus it was the closest I'd ever get to an exotic vacation.
Jax took a good look around, and I could tell by his wide blue eyes he was surprised. “Not what I was expecting at all.” He paused and peered out at the dance floor. “Are they dancing in foam? Is that a pole?”
“I told you there might be a little bit of thirteen added onto that PG rating,” I said with an innocent shrug.
“Let's go dance,” he said, offering me his hand.
I looked over at him, shocked he would make the suggestion without me having to drag him to the dance floor.
He caught my gaping and tapped my open jaw closed with a few fingers before grabbing my hand. “Why else would you bring me to a night club? I need to warn you, I'm not much of a dancer.”
“Dancing here isn't anything too complicated anyway. Wiggle your hips and do something sexy. You'll fit right in.” I smirked. “Or is that going to be out of your skill set too? You're not going to freak out if you dirty yourself up a little are you?”
Rolling his eyes, Jax stalked his way over to the dance floor. Was he mad or something? What did I say that was so wrong anyway? Or maybe I’d filled him with some kind of new determination. His expression was hard to read. The tension he held in his jaw suggested negative emotions, but the rest of him wasn't anywhere near as stiff.
I followed after him, closing the distance between us quickly before some hussy thought he was up for grabs. Not that I wanted him or anything, but why subject him to that? Some of the women in the club would not be so respectful of his wanting to keep things PG.
When we stepped onto the dance floor, I pressed myself close to him and started to get lost in the music. The dance always starts in my hips. They sway back and forth, matching the rhythm of the song. My legs and arms follow. I tried to keep a distance from Jax, so I wasn’t rubbing up against him or doing something else equally awkward. Doing something so forward would make him think I was interested. At the same time, I made sure we were, in fact, dancing together. Well, as much as Jax would dance.
He wasn't kidding; he really couldn't do it to save his life. His legs were completely stiff and he bounced in place. At least he kept time with the music, so that made things a little less silly looking. I could cover up his lack of skill with my body.
A few songs played, and it amazed me that Jax stuck around on the dance floor for so long. The club wasn't his scene but he hung in there. How could I not give him kudos points for that? He even put his hands on my hips, gutsy. I gazed up at him and smiled, our eyes locking. His blue eyes sparkled under the arrangement of lights.
Leaning in, he whispered into my ear. “I think that guy over there wants to dance with you.”
“Mmm, what guy?” I just about purred. Something about Jax's warm breath against my ear was enjoyable. I must have been desperate for some male attention. Then again, Jax was hot when I forgot about th
e good boy aspect and focused on pure aesthetics alone. Even his voice was nice. Not too low, but not too high either. It was smooth too, no grit or rasp to be found.
Jax glanced down at me, before pointing. “Three o'clock. Platinum blond guy in the silver shirt.”
Platinum blond? My heart started to pound in my chest, and not out of lust. I risked a glance toward where Jax was pointing and gasped, muttering a curse. Eli stood there, watching my every move from across the room.
“Let's get going,” I said, trying to keep calm and collected.
Jax frowned. “What's wrong? Look, if you want to dance with other people, you can. I won't get upset. I could use some water anyway. It's really hot in here.”
I shook my head. “No, it's fine. I'm done dancing. It's time to do whatever it is you want to do. We can grab some water on the way out.”
“Mila…” Jax sighed. “Fine, where's the exit? The lights are making me discombobulated.”
The strobe lights turned on full force then, it seemed, and fog started to pour out on the dance floor. I checked to see if Eli was still sitting down on the other side of the club, and found him missing. That should have been my big red flag, but all I could do was sigh with relief. Until I felt someone's rough grasp on my arm. I remembered those calloused hands all too well.
“Where you going sweetheart?” Eli sneered at me.
I tried to pull away from him. “I was just about to leave.”
“Not because of me I hope.”
“Actually…”
Jax placed a gentle hand on my arm, slightly above where Eli was holding me. His other hand hovered over Eli's forearm. “I would let go of her. I'm pretty sure that's a form of assault. I'd hate to have to call the police and ruin everyone's night.”
Eli relaxed his grip on me.
“Thank you. Clearly, you two know one another. Do you want me to leave you alone so you can talk?”
“Yes,” Eli snapped.
At the same time I cried out, “No!”
Pulling me behind him, Jax kept a hand on my waist protectively. “Whatever is going on between the two of you needs to wait for another night, then.”
Eli stepped forward, his fists clenched. He dared to raise one as if he were going to hit Jax, but then stopped. I took a good look around the room. Clearly, there was no way he'd be able to get away with any kind of physical assault. Bouncers were littered throughout the crowd all over the club.
Leaning in toward me, Eli growled. “You got lucky this time, but I'm going to tell Donovan you were here. We'll find you again.” And then he left.
My knees became weak and started to buckle. I stumbled into Jax, who stabilized me with his strong, firm hands. Unlike Eli, his skin was soft against my own. Not girlie soft, but the kind that came from not beating up other people, or doing unmentionable evils against society. Okay, Eli wasn't evil per se. There was a time when I used to enjoy his company, but the guy was a thug and probably always would be one.
“Sit down and I'll call us a cab,” Jax said and led me over to the couches. He found a seat on one of them away from the majority of the crowd and helped me sit.
I sighed and placed my head between my knees for a moment, hoping it would clear away the dizzy sensation in my head. “I can walk, I promise.”
“We'll need a cab for where I want to take you. It's on the other side of downtown and I don't want to walk that far in the cold.” He gave me a smile, and I gave a tiny one back in an attempt to be polite. My mood to enjoy a date was kind of smashed into a million pieces, however.
Chapter Five
I hugged myself as I rode in the cab to wherever it was Jax wanted to take me. Crazy, I know, getting into a car with a guy I barely knew, to go to a place that could have been where he took all of his victims. At the same time, I trusted him. Jax didn't give me any reason not to, and you know how some people give off super good vibes? The people who don't kill their spiders, but set them free? Jax was one of those. Good vibes, perhaps too good, but I felt safe. Of course, I probably would have left with just about anyone to get away from Eli, he scared me that much. I also knew, however, that Jax would go out of his way to make sure I stayed safe. He didn't come across as the type to abandon anyone who was in need, and I needed a solid sense of security like that.
“So am I supposed to pry, or not ask?” Jax asked quietly. He pressed himself to the opposite side of the car and gazed out the window. His face rested on his hand, clear signs that he was in deep thinking mode.
I sighed. “You don't need to do much of either. There isn't much to tell.”
“You were scared of him. There's a lot to tell. Should I call the police?”
“No.” I shook my head. “That would probably make things worse.”
“Or better.”
“No,” I repeated firmly. “Eli… I don't think he would have actually hurt me if I had gone to talk to him. It was just one of those conversations I'd rather save until later. He's not the scary one.”
Jax glanced over at me. “There's more than one guy I'm dealing with here?”
“Yes.”
“Ex-boyfriends? Am I going to have to fight them all?”
I snorted at the thought. There was no doubt in my mind that Jax would try to fight and defend my honor. Something told me, though, that he'd be cowering on the ground after ten seconds. I also hated how he said ex-boyfriends like I was some kind of a hussy.
Pursing my lips together, I pulled a knee up to my chest. “I only have one ex-boyfriend, and his name is Donovan.”
“So what's the story with Eli?”
“He's Donovan's best friend. Granted, he did once try to make a pass at me while Donovan was in jail, but–”
“Wait, your ex-boyfriend was in jail?” Jax blinked.
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, he was in jail for two years. Okay? Not everyone can be Mr. Perfect like you.”
He held up his hands. “I wasn't judging, necessarily, but it isn't helping me feel better about your safety right now.”
“I'm fine,” I mumbled.
“You don't look fine. You look a little shaken up, actually.”
Sighing, I leaned my head against the window and gazed out at the lights passing by. The skyscrapers of downtown shimmered in their glow. “Donovan and I met in college. He was nice enough to let me sit with him in the cafeteria one day when it was crazy busy. You know, one of those people who take up an entire table for four with all of their homework. He made a space, and we got to talking, one thing led to another, blah, blah, blah.”
“You fell in love and everything was right in your world,” Jax said quietly, and I hated the sadness in his tone. He didn't ask me to continue, but I knew I had to. The can of worms had been opened.
“Things were good for a little while. After about four or five months, he started to get a little more aggressive with me. Not necessarily physically, but definitely verbally, and he did still try to pressure me into things.” I glanced at Jax, trying to get a read on just how much I should tell him. We were on a first date. Pouring out your life story isn't usually a smart thing to do. At the same time, I trusted him, and the relationship probably wasn't going to go beyond friendship status anyway. There wasn't much I could do or say to make us even more incompatible with one another.
I took in a deep breath and continued. “One night I finally gave in, but I changed my mind. He didn't care and… blah, blah, blah, insert sob story here.”
Jax's gaze hardened and his jaw went tense. I might have even seen anger flash in his eyes. “So he raped you, basically.”
“Date rape, I guess is the technical term. I didn't fight him tooth and nail once he made his decision.”
“It still counts as rape.”
“I know, and I've come to terms with what happened a long time ago. And I wasn't the only one he did that too because while we were together, he decided to force himself onto another girl at a party. Only she wasn't a chicken, and she pressed charges,” I explained in a lo
w voice.
Jax never stopped looking at me, and it was kind of weird. “Which explains the jail part.”
“Right on.” I gave him a rather sarcastic thumbs up. “Donovan was pretty ticked off that I dumped his sorry butt too. Eli felt like I should have stuck things out and made it work. That's what real love does, right? And Donovan thinks he really loves me.”
“Enough to hurt you, humiliate you, and cheat on you? I wasn't aware those were things you did for someone you loved.”
“It was shocking to me too.” And I didn’t know how I could communicate to Jax that I didn't want to talk about it anymore without coming off as rude. I'd already done my time in therapy, and yeah, he was a nice guy, but I didn't want to spend my time focusing on the horrors of my past. We were on a date, and I didn't need him to jump in and play hero for me.
He must have been determined to do that anyway because he reached over and placed a hand gently on my arm. “Is he going to come after you, Mila? Do you need some where safer to stay tonight?”
I couldn't help but laugh. “Kissing me on the first date is trashy, but inviting me to stay over at your place isn't?”
Snorting, Jax let go of me as if I were made of fire and he'd just been burned. “Actually, no. I was more thinking I could get you a room someplace off the radar so you wouldn't have to worry about sleeping with one eye open. Or, at the very least, I could call Morgan and see if she has any ideas.”
“Right, of course. What was I thinking?” I rolled my eyes. “Mr. Pristine wouldn't dream of having me in such a scandalous manner.” And for some reason, I felt my chest ache at the idea of Jax not being interested in me enough to want to sleep with me. Was I gross or something? Why wouldn't he want to be with my fine self for a night? I must have been frowning, because he shook his head with a rather disgusted grimace on his face.
The Corruption of Mila Page 2
