Part 8 (1/2)

CHAPTER TWELVE.

Jackson The house was quiet as Jackson ascended the stairs. Stephanie had arrived earlier when they were wrapping up dinner. She looked much better than when he had seen her last. The dull cast to her eyes had begun to dissipate. Jackson could see how deep the ties ran between Lexie and Stephanie when they were together. They found a perfect balance between each other and it allowed them to draw strength when they needed it.

Stephanie joined them for a gla.s.s of wine before she curled up on the sofa and fell asleep. Her parents had been hovering too much and she needed to be out from underneath them for a little while. She knew they meant well, but she felt like she was disappointing them by not being able to step back into her old shoes. She had told them she tried to force it for their benefit but Jackson could tell it had exhausted her.

When Evan woke up, Cherry saluted everyone and grabbed a new bottle of wine off the counter. She claimed she needed it to get through the night, and no one argued. The house was quiet now other than the sound of the shower running upstairs. Nate had left with Teddy and Dane to head to Lexie's apartment.

Jackson wanted to finish the conversation with Lexie from earlier. It had been on his mind all night and not knowing was grating on him. His mind had been cycling through possibilities because he remembered the look in her eyes before they were interrupted. The only thing he knew for certain was that she didn't think he would like what she was going to tell him.

Jackson glanced in the first room off the stairs and a.s.sumed it was Lexie's mother's room. It was still untouched from when it was pulled apart, but Lexie refused to let anyone enter it. She wanted to clean that room herself when she was ready.

When Jackson walked into the other room he couldn't help but smile. Groupings of pictures covered the walls. He knew Lexie had taken every one by simply glancing at them. She had a way of capturing the world that was uniquely hers.

The bed was covered in throw pillows, just like the bed in her apartment; all different colors and patterns. The bed itself looked like a piece of art. He was glad that Lexie's room didn't sustain much damage. He hadn't seen it before it was straightened, but he imagined it couldn't have looked much different. Jackson sat down on her bed and leaned back against the pillows. He tucked his hands behind his head and looked up at the ceiling. It was covered in what looked a mural made from pieces of magazine cut-outs. All of the colors organized into a beautiful picture of ocean waves, fading into a starry night. It was absolutely breathtaking. Jackson closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The sound of the running water lulled him and he took a moment to rest his tired eyes.

Jackson woke to the sound of shuffling. He opened one eye and saw Lexie standing near him, looking over the camera in front of her face. ”I didn't mean to wake you,” she whispered.

”No, it's good,” Jackson said, rubbing his hands down over his face. ”I was waiting to talk to you.” He propped himself up on his elbows and noticed that Lexie was dressed in only a towel. Her skin was still damp and glowed from the lamp light. Her wet hair was combed back from her face and hung down her back. He never thought she looked as beautiful as she did then; so raw and captivating. He wanted to be her everything because she had become his.

Lexie set her camera down on her nightstand. She walked closer until her leg b.u.mped into his. ”It's strange seeing you on my bed.”

Jackson started to push off the mattress when Lexie stopped him, pressing against his chest until he submitted and dropped back down. ”Don't get up,” Lexie insisted. ”Until today, the part of my life with you in it was strange and unknown. Now, you're in the house I grew up in. I'm just surprised how natural it seems.”

”That's good?” Jackson asked. The way she was looking at him started to heat his blood.

Lexie grabbed onto Jackson's belt and pulled it from the loop and began to unfasten it.

Jackson placed his hand over hers. ”We need to talk first, Lexie.” Jackson tried to sound convincing but the fire she was stirring was beginning to roar to life.

”I don't want to talk and I don't want to think right now. I just want to be with you.” The tone of Lexie's voice was like throwing fuel on a fire. She pulled his pants down to expose him. His body was ready for whatever she had in mind. He could feel every muscle coiling tight in antic.i.p.ation.

She pulled the towel free of her body and dropped it on the ground. Jackson stopped breathing as he looked at her curves, the dips and lines that he knew would feel like heaven under his fingers, and pressed against his body. He didn't know he could contain so much feeling as it swam through him, full and demanding.

She dropped to her knees and ran her hands up his legs. His body pulsed in expectation, his heart thrummed so loud he could hear nothing else. She grabbed hold of his erection with a firm grasp. The air he had been holding onto rushed from him as she began pulling pleasures from deep within him. Her tongue felt warm as she explored him. It was hard for him to remain still as she pleasured him, his animalistic nature threatened to break free of its cage.

Jackson's heart felt like it was going to explode as pleasure filled him like flashes of lightning, igniting his entire body. As her strokes became more frenzied and her mouth moaned greedily, he almost lost himself. Jackson grabbed for Lexie's shoulder and pulled her up against him. He concentrated on slowing his breathing and clearing his mind.

Her body tensed against his as his erection throbbed painfully against her stomach, angry that he denied himself release. ”Don't move,” Jackson whispered as he clung to her. Her body began to melt into him and he couldn't believe how satisfying it was to have her bare flesh against his. It filled him with euphoria more potent than any drug.

With her body straddling his he leaned back and brushed the hair from her face. Leaning his head against hers, he looked into her expectant eyes. ”What's wrong?” she asked.

”I'm twenty-seven,” Jackson said.

”What?”

”I want you to know about me,” Jackson said before he pressed his lips softly to hers and brushed her hair back from her face. She nodded, not breaking their eye contact.

”When I was young, I couldn't understand why my father gave his life for his job and left me and my mother alone. I hated the fact that my mother didn't love me. I became a bitter, angry person with no purpose. I hurt many people and did things that I will never forgive myself for. Giles was the reason I got off the streets and put me on a path that I could focus all my hatred on a single goal. Until I meet you, my sole purpose in life was to solve the case my father died for; avenge his death, and bring down the man that was at the helm of it all, John Stodden.” Jackson placed his hand against her cheek.

”I didn't think I was capable of feeling anything else but hatred. You changed everything. At first I was angry with you. I hated the distraction, but before I knew it, my world had changed and I was seeing everything for the first time. I realized I was capable of more.” Jackson ran his thumb over Lexie's bottom lip. ”I'm in love with you, Lexie.”

Lexie's eyes watered. The light glistened off them and he pulled her closer, but she began pus.h.i.+ng against him.

She shook her head gently. ”No, don't say that.”

”Why? It's the truth,” Jackson asked, releasing his hold on her as she pushed herself off him. She continued to shake her head as tears ran down her cheeks. She began frantically wiping her face. ”You can't,” she said, her voice was becoming frantic. ”You can't love me.”

Jackson stood up and pulled his pants back into place. ”I can and I do, Lexie.” He tried not to let anger slip into his voice. ”You don't need to love me back.”

”You only think you do. You'll change your mind when you know the truth,” Lexie confessed as she turned her back. The pain on her face was breaking him. He stepped closer, wanting to comfort her. He ran his fingers down her arm in a gentle stroke.

”What truth?”

”I'm John's daughter,” Lexie gasped and covered her face.

”Lexie...” Jackson wrapped his fingers around her arm and turned her toward him. He pulled her hands from her face and tilted her chin up so she could look into his eyes. ”I have always believed you were his daughter. From the first time I laid eyes on you.”

”What?”

”I know exactly who you are,” Jackson confirmed.

”Why don't you hate me?”

”To be honest, I tried that at first, but it was a sad attempt at best. You have become what's most important to me. That's why I can't bring myself to leave you.”

”Then don't,” Lexie whispered.

Jackson crushed his lips to hers, tasting the salt of her tears and the divine flavor that was uniquely her. Jackson grabbed her waist and lifted her against him. She wrapped her legs around him as they deepened the kiss. Their actions became emotionally driven as they desperately clung to one another. Lexie ran her fingers through his hair and grabbed tight. He moaned in her mouth as she rubbed her body against his. The pleasure he felt was beyond him and he felt possessed as he laid her on the bed.

Jackson tossed the mound of pillows onto the floor and shoved his pants down. He wanted nothing between them as he lowered himself against her.

”I never had a home, Lexie. I never felt like I belonged anywhere but I want to belong here,” Jackson said against her neck as he pressed himself against her entrance.

”You do.” Lexie made a beautiful sound deep in her chest as he rubbed against her. Her back arched off the mattress as she grabbed his s.h.i.+rt. He pushed off the bed and reached over his shoulder and hauled it over his head; discarding it on the floor.

Lexie gasped when she looked at his chest. ”What happened?”

Jackson looked down at the injuries he had sustained when they had rescued Evan. He had been grazed by a few bullets and was covered in scratches. Dark bruising had formed on his ribs, but he didn't feel any pain. Truth be told; they were relatively tame compared to injuries he had sustained over the years. He had plenty of scars to prove it.

”Hazards of the job,” Jackson quickly discarded. ”They don't even hurt.”

Jackson grabbed her hand that was gently touching his bruised ribs and brought it to his lips, kissing it. ”The only thing I feel is you.” Jackson looked up at Lexie with a sly smile. ”And you feel amazing.” The worried crease in her brow quickly melted with her smile.

Jackson braced himself on either side of her as he looked upon her. He wanted to remember every detail of this moment when he would make love to her. He slid his length into her until he filled her completely. He leaned down and kissed her face and she gave a gentle moan of satisfaction. Jackson moved slowly at first: in and out in languid thrusts. He was slowly kneading her pleasure, building it until he ripened it enough just so that she would feel the bliss that currently blurred the edges of his vision and set his body on fire.