Bounty:Fury Riders MC(68)

"You're safe. Don't worry. I'm here." He wraps his arms around me, squeezing me tight.

"He knows where I live. He could be here, anywhere. Oh, my God, Jax … "

"Would it make you feel better if I take a look around?"

"Would you?" I pull away just enough to look up into his eyes. His dark  eyes. I've missed him so much. I didn't even realize how much.

"I will." He's still holding me, his hand stroking the back of my head  soothingly. What was I thinking? He would never hurt me. He never has.  He's so gentle, so sweet. So safe. I melt into him, more grateful than  I've ever felt in my life.

"Do you want to come with me? Or would you rather stay here on the couch?"

"Please, please, let me go with you. Don't leave me alone."

"Okay. Let's go." He takes me by the hand, leading me from room to room.  There isn't much ground to cover, just a living room, dining room and  kitchen on the first floor, then two bedrooms and a bathroom on the  second. He checks every closet, every corner, tests every window and  door for sturdiness. He even looks in the crawlspace above the upstairs  hall, even though I assure him there's no way a person could hide there.  I can't help smiling shakily when he climbs the ladder to poke his head  around up there.

We end our search in the master bedroom, my bedroom. He looks under the  bed, in the closet. "Is this it? No other rooms? No basement?" I shake  my head. "Then it looks like you're here alone. Well, with me. But you  know what I mean. I'd like to come back at some point, maybe tomorrow if  that's okay, to tighten up the locks on the downstairs windows."

"I don't know what to say, except to thank you." My voice is a whisper.  I'm ashamed of myself now, thinking back to how afraid I was of him.  Why? How could I have thought he was a danger to me?         

     



 

"You're welcome. Christina, I'm here for you. I only want to be here for you. I want to protect you. Why won't you let me?"

I can't answer him right away. I'm overwhelmed. Instead, I cross the  short distance between us and wrap my arms around his waist. He takes my  chin in his hand, tilting my head back for a kiss.

Soon things heat up, as they seem to always do between us. Now it's the  way I missed him that fuels the fire I feel the moment our lips touch.  I've missed what he does to my body. To my heart.

Before I know it we're falling into bed together, all thoughts of Tommy  and Marissa and the Angels of Chaos pushed aside for one sweet night.



***



When I open my eyes, it's morning. The light filtering through the  curtains over the bedroom windows is soft, gentle. It must be early,  just after dawn.

I close my eyes again, snuggling back under Jax's arm. I don't want the  rest of the world anywhere near us right now. Things are perfect just as  they are. It seems like our only issues crop up when the outside world  sneaks in.

I haven't felt this good since I left his house, I realize. And  definitely not since Tommy first reached out to me online. I shiver at  the thought, which makes Jax stir.

"Mmm … good morning."

I squeeze him in reply. "Can't we stay this way forever?" I murmur, my  face against his broad chest. My finger traces a line down his torso  over that infamous angel surrounded by flames. I wish this thing didn't  exist.

"I know," he replies, "believe me." His arm tightens around me,  reinforcing his words. I feel strangely happy, even in the midst of the  mess I'm in. "Can I ask you something?" I dread his question, knowing  what he has in mind. He takes my silence as an invitation to continue.  "Why have you been avoiding me?"

I have to sit up, put a little distance between us. Besides, I want to  look him in the eye. I need to know if I can get the truth from him.

"This is hard for me to say."

"I probably know what it is." He sits up, back to the headboard.

"You do?"

"We couldn't go on forever without you knowing who I really am. You were  bound to figure out sometime. My name's not exactly unknown. And it's  not a favorite."

"I'm sorry. I was so scared. I mean, look at it from my point of view. I  don't know you-not really, I mean. All I find online about you is the  sort of stuff the club's been involved in. And then … well, yes. People  talk. There are a lot of rumors. I know you know what they are." I'm  trying to be delicate, wanting to avoid hurting him. He's been so good  to me.

"I feel like such an ass," I admit. "Especially after everything you did  for me last night. Coming here when I was so, so afraid. I can't  believe I even considered the rumors were true. But can you blame me?  All the shit with Tommy? It's practically reflexive now, believing men  are out to hurt me."

"I'm sure it was a shock to you," Jax acknowledges. "And you can  probably imagine why I didn't tell you my full name and life history  when we were together."

"I guess."

"Christina, you tried to storm out just because I insulted your baking."

"Point taken."

"Either way, there was one thing you could have done to clear up all the  shit you were worried about. You could have asked me. Where's the girl  who gave me a raft of shit over the stupidest things back at my house? I  imagined you tearing me a new one over this."

"Jax. This is bigger than you being a jerk." We both fall silent. I'm  fidgeting, playing with the blanket, trying to avoid his eyes. "I have  to ask you."

"No, you don't."

"Jax, please."

"No. That will have to be enough for you."

I sigh, exasperated. "It's not that I don't trust you. But if we're  going to go anywhere, you and I, I have to ask for at least a little  honesty."

"You want honesty?"

I look up at him, his eyes are even darker than usual. Like a shark. He's fuming.

"I want to know you trust me. How's that sound? I want you to trust me  enough to know that no matter what the story is, I'm on your side."

His jaw is clenching and unclenching as he decides what to say. Finally,  he sighs and lets loose. "I didn't have anything to do with Marissa's  death."

Thank God. I release my breath in a sigh of relief. "Who did?"

"You'll have to leave it at that. I won't say any more about it. Just drop it now, okay?"

I'm sure it's painful for him to talk about, especially when so many people think he did it. That probably makes it even worse.

"Okay. No more questions."

"Thank you." His expression and tone change. "Now, about this asshole  who's stalking you." I flinch visibly, practically jumping off the bed.  He takes my hand. "I'm sorry. That was stupid of me. I just want to be  sure you're taken care of, that's all. I won't let anything happen to  you. I swear."         

     



 

I want to believe him. I do believe him, at least for the most part. But that belief comes with curiosity.

"What would you do to him?"

His eyes go nearly black. "A lot of things."

"Jax … I don't want to believe you're that kind of man."

He nearly sneers at me. "I told you I didn't kill my wife. I never said I'm not that kind of man."

I shiver, pulling the blankets tight around my naked body. "You're freaking me out a little bit."



A frown. "I didn't mean to. But I am serious about this. I'll do what  needs to be done. Maybe it's best to leave that alone, too."

I can't lie to myself. Part of me is secretly thrilled at the thought of  a man wanting to do anything, absolutely anything, to protect me. It's a  turn-on. Maybe there's something wrong with me for liking it. Maybe  I've been hurt for too long and am too afraid. Either way, I don't  completely hate what he's hinting at.

What will it take for his hints to become reality?





Chapter 22

"Your feed is a total mess."

"What?" I'm walking down the stairs, just having gotten out of the  shower. I told Jax to feel free to look through the messages Tommy sent  via Facebook while I did. I don't have anything to hide from him.

"Your social media feed. Do you click on every ad that comes your way?"

I sit down beside him, drawing my feet up beneath me. "I don't know. Maybe."

"That would explain all the sponsored posts and crappy surveys." He  points to the screen. "Who's your ideal movie boyfriend? For real?"

I blush, laughing at myself. "Whatever. It's all for fun. Besides, when I  see so many of them, I can't help but be pulled in every once in a  while."

"Exactly, which is why so many show up in your feed. Because you click on them."

"Jeez-and I thought Tommy was the one stalking me. Turns out it's an  algorithm." I shoot Jax a dirty look. "Why are you always so critical of  the things I do? Your way isn't always the best way, you know. Some  people rest easier knowing who their boyfriend would be in a movie."

"I guess when your actual boyfriend was a piece of shit … " He sees me wince. "Sorry. That was low."