Part 37 (1/2)

I raise a hand and stroke Jax's hot cheek. He takes hold and kisses my palm. Since the night in Paris, we've had a lot of s.e.x; our relations.h.i.+p focused on how much pleasure we could give each other. Sometimes this is hard, fast and animalistic, where the l.u.s.t wins; other times, slow and loving when the truth we've hidden threatens to be revealed. I only need to be in the same room as Jax and my body sends loud messages to my brain, suggesting I drag him away and get naked.

The fact this pa.s.sion is matched by something beneath the l.u.s.t shouldn't surprise me. How could I have this connection with a guy unless something deeper was beneath? If this was purely s.e.x, I'd only want Jax when he was with me, instead of there being something missing when we're apart.

This bond of souls is what runs through the intense energy in the room with us now.

Jax lets go of his control. The s.e.x becomes harsher, more frenzied and I grip onto him as he pushes me further to the edge of my favourite place to lose myself in with him. When the o.r.g.a.s.m hits, the power of it takes me by surprise, my heart and body splintering. I watch with satisfaction as Jax unravels in front of me, too, his eyes closing and he loses himself in an ecstasy of his own. He swears loudly as I grip him, the familiar white light blinding me as I come again, hard, at a volume to match Jax's.

”Jesus, Tegan,” he murmurs as he drops his weight onto me. ”I wish I'd told you I loved you earlier.”

Giggling, I nuzzle his damp skin. I lie beneath Jax, our hearts thumping against each other as our lips move in soft, slow kisses sending aftershocks through. I could be here forever, in Jax's arms, surrounded by his love and coc.o.o.ned away from the real world scratching at the door.

I don't know what our future holds, but I do know one thing. This is love. What I've experienced and thought was love before doesn't come close to this. The world s.h.i.+fted us onto a new plane where being without each other, even for a day, no longer makes any sense.

39.

TEGAN.

I reluctantly take the weekend off work and leave everything to Riley and Julian to organise.

Semi-reluctantly because I spend time reconnecting with Jax.

The attack is lost in a rosy haze of the new understanding between us, a confidence in our relations.h.i.+p that crossed between us when we dropped the last barrier. I'm buzzing after a weekend with Jax. When we opened up at last about the sudden, crazy love between us, the euphoria translated into s.e.x filled with a new intensity.

Jax loves me.

I love him.

We can face the world together.

No pictures of Julian and me emerged; and I explained to Jax who I was with and why, in case the pictures did appear and he thought I was hiding something. Jax shrugged the story off.

Once I reach the offices, my mind has switched back to what I need to talk to Riley about today, but I halt when I see Bryn's large frame in the brightly lit hallway. His back is to me as he chats to Julian. About me, no doubt. Julian looks over and I pull a face and point at Bryn.

Bryn turns. ”You okay?”

”What are you doing here?”

”Checking on you.”

Through the gla.s.s windows lining the walls, Sarah and Claire watch. When I glance at them, they immediately turn away and point at a nearby monitor, acting as if they're not staring at us. ”You're embarra.s.sing me!”

”Your face looks better.”

”It is.” With the aid of some thick foundation.

Bryn shakes his head. ”Come on, I haven't seen you since the other night you have to understand why I'm concerned.”

I drop my shoulders. ”Yes. But I'm fine, Jax is back now and we're getting through this together.”

”You know mum had a go at me for not keeping an eye on you,” he says in a low voice. ”And b.l.o.o.d.y Sian was on the phone this morning, in my ear about her baby sister's safety. Don't be p.i.s.sed off with me for being able to help.”

I ignore the irritating baby sister comment but I'd never considered the pressure I've put Bryn under with everything I'm doing. I put all Bryn's behaviour down to overprotectiveness. I should've realised Mum was nagging him, and now my sister is interfering.

”Tell her I'm fine. Please.”

”Yeah.” Bryn grabs hold and squeezes the breath from me. ”Just be b.l.o.o.d.y careful.”

Embarra.s.sed, I disentangle myself. ”Bryn!”

With a laugh, he flicks my nose. ”See you later, little Tegan.”

I mutter words Bryn doesn't want to hear under my breath as he strides away. Sarah and Claire stare, and when they giggle, I turn my back.

Yep, I'm back to being Bryn Hughes's little sister and Jax Lewis's girlfriend.

Later that morning, Tina calls me into her office. I'm planning a night out somewhere quiet with Jax tonight. We've begun to discuss our plans for after the tour; he has the alb.u.m to finish and I have decisions to make. This is too good to be true - we stay in London together, navigate our relations.h.i.+p, and see how we go. I could stay and work here until I start uni and take a course that fits the role, because I love what I'm doing.

So a summons by Tina lurches my stomach. That could all be about to come cras.h.i.+ng down; my work might not be up to scratch.

Tina's office is huge, befitting her position in the company. Awards line the shelves and hang on the walls, pictures of her with Blue Phoenix and other high profile clients. I've never been able to figure Tina's age, she wears heavy make up on exceptionally smooth skin. Could be anywhere between thirty and fifty. A young girl with sleek platinum blonde hair, not much different in age to me enters the room. She sets coffees from the expensive machine I've yet to figure out how to use on the table, along with large m.u.f.fins. Tina barely registers her arrival and departure, flicking through doc.u.ments on the laptop screen. I sit opposite and sip my coffee.

”Tegan,” she says and looks up with a tight smile.

”Hey.” My heart flutters. Don't burst my happy bubble. ”You wanted to chat with me?”

”Yes. I have a suggestion for you.” She closes her laptop.

”For the campaign? Sure, Riley said you'd taken a good look over the results.”

”I have. Impressive. The amount of traffic generated and number of click throughs we're getting is higher than I imagined. You have a handle on what attracts people. Riley said the web copy was your idea?”

”Well, not all...”

”How do you feel about a trip to the States?” She picks at a m.u.f.fin with manicured, red fingernails.

”Uh. States? How long for?”

”Riley can't go, she has other commitments, and I think this would be a good experience for you.”

I rub my head, blindsided by her suggestion. ”Wow. I mean. Um. I'm not sure. Where?”

She continues her explanation, as nonchalantly as if she's asked me to bring her another coffee. ”New York. We could have a position open for you too if things go well. The latest intern is leaving next month.”

I grip the smooth coffee cup. ”Position?”