Part 20 (1/2)

”Oh, hey, Tegan.”

Hey, Tegan? I clear my throat and tear my look from his mouth. ”Why haven't you left yet? You have a shower in your own room!”

Jax's lips purse with confusion. ”Uh. Waiting for you. I wanted to talk to you about last night. I woke up in your bed, but you weren't there. I know I was drunk but...” He stares at my gym gear or more precisely how the purple gym vest and black pants hug my curves. ”I'm d.a.m.n sure I'd remember if I'd been naked with you.”

The darkened look in Jax's eyes reflects exactly what's happening in his imagination. I remain focused on his eyes. Do. Not. Look. At. His. Body.

My eyes drifts downwards and I fight against lingering on the solid abs and the light trail of hair disappearing into the knotted towel. Has he tattoos any lower than where the blue stars are inked on his skin at the edge of the towel?

I blink away the image. ”Last night, you stood me up, then barged into my room in the early hours, whined for a bit before you pa.s.sed out on my bed. Way to impress a girl.”

Jax tips his head towards the bed. ”Could've been worse. Or better, depending on which way you want to look at the situation.”

I focus hard on not staring some more at Jax, or acknowledging I'm suddenly less p.i.s.sed off and more aroused. ”You should be so lucky!”

Jax steps towards me. ”One day I think I will be, we agreed.”

The scent of hotel soap drifts towards me as he stands close and my heart stutters. What is it about the sheer physicality of this man, which unravels me?

I look directly into Jax's eyes, so I can't be tempted by his mouth - or any other part of him in touching distance. ”Put some clothes on.”

Jax continues his scrutiny of my face and despite the dark shadows below, his intense blue eyes s.h.i.+ne brightly. ”Or you could take yours off?”

I want to retort; but unsure whether my voice will fail and give my state of mind away, I clamp my mouth closed.

Jax inches closer and I back up. ”Come on, Tegan, I can see in your face what you're thinking.”

”I doubt that.” I swallow, annoyed at myself. I should turn and walk away, but memories of the way Jax kisses leads to temptation for more. ”Get dressed.”

Jax sticks his bottom lip out, turns his back, and approaches the bed, hands going to the edge of the knot securing the towel. Before I get a view of his a.s.s to bank with the other images, I spin around and leave the room.

”Nice try!” I call and Jax's response is laughter.

A few minutes later, Jax reappears fully dressed. I tell myself the reason my heart races is because I'm annoyed with him.

Jax joins me on the sofa and immediately moves in for a kiss. I put a hand on his chest between us.

”I brushed my teeth!” he protests and s.h.i.+fts closer.

”That's not the issue. An apology would be nice, Jaxon.”

He slumps back against the sofa. ”You're such a confusing chick. I thought you were upset because I didn't pay you enough attention last night; and now I want to, you're not interested!” I blink at his arrogance. ”Oh, right. The apology. Sorry about last night. I was messed up.”

Jax s.h.i.+fts closer again and pushes his fingers into my workout-damp hair, moving his mouth closer. ”I'll make this up to you, if you'll let me.”

I have never met a man as sure of himself as this one. ”I don't think so,” I manage to breathe out.

”Really?” His muscled leg s.h.i.+fts against mine as he moves in for the kill and I jump to my feet before the dampened desire reignites.

”Jax, I can't do this.”

”What? Kiss me?” He stands too. ”Why not?”

I cross my arms. ”Sorry, but us. Last night, when you didn't contact me, it p.i.s.sed me off and it ruined my evening. I came on tour to enjoy myself, not become tangled with somebody who has a reputation for breaking hearts.”

”I don't break hearts!”

”Only because you never spend longer than one or two nights with a girl. Everything is too complicated; we should both be having fun.”

”Yeah. Together. I told you, no other girls. Just you.”

”You say that but I don't think I can trust you. And that makes this too hard.”

Jax drags his fingers down his face until he touches his lips. His lips that kiss with a magic I'm sure he could use on other parts of my body. ”I like you, Tegan. A lot. I told you.”

”I think we'd have fun, but this isn't the time or place for us. This is your time and your place, not mine.”

He frowns. ”Are you saying you don't want to do this?”

”I guess.”

”But the other night you seemed keen. The two of us, away from everybody else, we were great. Weren't we?”

”Yes, but reality poked its head in.”

Jax huffs and sits, stretching his long legs out and placing his boots on the low table opposite. ”Is this because of your brother?”

”No. But the sneaking around doesn't help. Listen, Jax, it's all good, go and be yourself. I'd rather step out of this now before I get hurt and things become unpleasant.”

For a few moments Jax is quiet, tapping the toes of his boots together. ”All this because of last night? One mistake? I told you why I didn't get in touch, Tegan.”

”I understand that, and the reason why you didn't isn't the issue. The issue is the conclusions I jumped to. I won't be 'that girl'.” He stares at the floor. ”Come on, you'll be sad all of five minutes, and you'll find someone to cheer you up.” I grit my teeth at the thought of his hands on another girl, or her mouth where I'd like to put mine.

”And we'll be friends?” he asks, making air quotation marks around the word friends.

”I think that's best, don't you?”

Jax watches me intently, in a way that lifts the hairs on my arms. I expected him to agree or at least not care, but the look refutes that. Is he p.i.s.sed off? Not used to rejection?

Slowly, he stands and reaches a hand out, gently cupping my face. ”No, I don't think that's best, Tegan. I can't just be your friend when I feel all this crazy stuff around you.”

”Crazy stuff?”

”Yeah.” He strokes his fingers across my face, tracing my lips. ”I can't get you out of my head when you're not around. That never happens. Even now, I should be worrying about this s.h.i.+t with Ruby but...no. Just you. I'm sorry about last night.”

I curl my fingers around his. ”Now you're sober can you see what a d.i.c.k you're being about Ruby's situation?”