Scandal:The Complete Series(22)

I hate it that I find him incredibly sexy right now. I should be pissed. He’s infuriating. “I like to drink cool martinis by a silver swimming pool with lily pads flowing about while a hot pool boy in a tattered white shirt and blue jeans fans me with two huge palm tree leaves. I like to contribute to society’s harmony by staying the hell out of it. And I like to type random words until a meaningful sentence magically forms on my screen in the shape of tiny little digits dancing in pajamas. I mostly like to stay out of the spotlight. How’s that, you total brat?”

“Much, much better.”

I don’t know why I do it, but I kick him under the table.

“I’m sorry, Jax, I thought I might like it.”

“I can see that you did,” he says with a hungry look in his eyes.

I would like to kiss it and make it all better. I’m really losing it. “You see whatever you want to see, obviously,” I say.

“That’s true, because right now I’m seeing you.”

I can’t win this war of words with him. Who knew a model could be so verbally skilled. That thought leads me to his tongue, the same tongue that so hotly displayed its magic in my mouth at the naughty dream chamber.

“How many women exactly have you seduced?” I say, trying to remind us both of who and what he is, a busy Casanova.

He doesn’t answer. Two waiters show up, carrying huge trays filled with all kinds of food most of which I wouldn’t be able to name.

“I don’t remember ordering,” I mumble.

“I took the liberty in advance. A little bit of everything.”

“My Lord, Jax. Just how much do you think I eat?”

“By the looks of it, not much. But this isn’t about eating, Ella Wade. This is about living and experiencing all that life has to offer.”





—ten—


The Thrill Of Being Really Alive


Outside the restaurant, we wait for the valet to bring the car. The night is getting chilly and I start rubbing my sleeveless arms to warm them up.

“Hey,” Jax says, noticing me shiver. His left arm wraps quickly around my shoulders, pulling me closer to his body heat. “Is this better?”

Everything is better when he does that. I nod, resting my head against his powerful chest, a little bit shocked at my nerve. Such intimacy must be as good as a confession of my heart.

It is. We both know it. His free hand reaches for my earlobe, playing with it. I turn my face to him, my breathing getting faster. He stares into my eyes for a second before his lips find mine. I practically fall into him, getting on tiptoes to get as much out of his kiss as possible.

My body responds to his passion as if I’ve been waiting to be kissed like that my entire life. I let my tongue loose in his mouth, following his cues and then inventing my own, getting to taste every little cell and taste bud on his tongue.

This kiss is so much more intense and meaningful than the naughty, bruising kisses we exchanged at the Club because this time it feels real.

The flash of a camera almost blinds me as it is directed at my face from only inches away. At least, that’s what it feels like. Before I can recover, a second flash goes off and then another.

Jax puts a protective arm around me while holding up a hand against the cameras to block them as much as possible.

“Hey, Jaxson,” one of the heads behind the cameras says. “New girlfriend already?”

Jaxson hisses a few curses under his breath as he pulls me by the hand, practically dragging me toward the oncoming car that luckily turns out to be his Mercedes.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he says as we get in the car, banging his hands hard against the wheel again and again.

His reaction is a little alarming to me. I mean, I get that he doesn’t appreciate being followed by the paparazzi and lord knows the last thing I need is my face plastered all over the internet, kissing the man everyone thinks was Madison’s boyfriend, but Jaxson’s meltdown is a bit over the top.

“Jax, are you okay?” I ask him as soon as he calms enough to drive away.

“Those motherfuckers will have those pictures of us everywhere by the morning,” he says. “With all kinds of asinine commentary to go with them. They’ll rip us apart, Ella.”

“Hey, I have no room to judge them,” I say, trying to relax him. “I’m working for the Daily Scandal for fuck’s sake.”

He is not amused, not in the least. “Publicity is not good right now, Ella. Not for you and not for me. Trust me, it’s the last thing we need.”

I shrug. “Let them think what they want. Who cares?”

“You don’t?”

“No, I don’t,” I say even if it’s not completely true. It won’t look good that Jaxson would go out with Madison’s stepsister but all he has to do is make it clear they were never a couple. The thing is we kissed and fireworks brightened up my world. They still do. To hell with everything else. If he wants me as much as he says, he should feel the same.