Anxious to be near him, she climbed down from the horse. Jax moved before her. He was tall, overpowering even, and yet she lifted her head and stared into his beautiful eyes. He crouched in front of her, dipped his head and she reached out and stroked his golden fur. He was soft and warm. She giggled as he bumped his nose against her neck. Leaning forward she brought a hand to the side of his face and nuzzled him close. "You are beautiful Jax Wilde," she whispered.
You are too.
He fixed his golden eyes on her while she sank her fingers into his thick blonde coat and stroked him lovingly.
"I can hear you."
I know.
Leaning toward her, the wolf slipped out his tongue and licked up and down the side of her face. His tongue was rough and hot. "Stop that!" she cried and then started giggling uncontrollably. Finally he pulled away and started running wild with the horses. Denim climbed back onto Titan and rode slowly, trying not to get her horse too excited, even though she wondered what it would be like to race and feel that free. Jax appeared to be happy, stampeding along with the horses, their heavy hooves pounding the ground sounding like faint thunder with their bodies in motion.
Laughing, she waved.
Jax looked over at her.
Are you having a good time?
"I'm having the best time!" she shouted.
He looked pleased before he tilted his head toward the dark sky and howled into the night. And then two more wolves, the same size and color came rushing across the grounds. They had to be Aidan and Chayton. While watching them, emotions pulsed through her, longing ripped at her heart.
The frolicking went on for what felt like hours and she sat there watching and wondering what life would be like as a wolf. Unfortunately, Weres were born that way, so Jax couldn't bite and transform her. Too bad. She would have loved to have known what it was like to be a shape-shifter.
But our children could.
Denim gasped. Where had that thought come from, she wondered? Who was she fooling? A life with Jax was all she thought about these days. What was there not to like? He was amazing, strong, caring and super, super sexy. Just being in his presence warmed her body and soul.
But he's a wolf.
She chuckled inwardly. That bit of information only heightened her attraction to him. The wolf in him was what made him that much more irresistible.
Her heart lurched in her throat at the realization.
She had fallen in love.
It was crazy. Denim didn't know how it happened and how it was even possible. Only a few weeks ago she thought she was still in love with Asher, but what she'd felt had never come close to what she was feeling now.
With a sigh, she leaned down, hugging Titan's neck. Maybe she'd always loved Jax, which was why she hung around him even when he was young and wild, but she had been too immature at the time to realize it. And the kiss they'd shared at thirteen, she'd never had a chance to process or explore because it had been overshadowed by Grandma Bea's death. But now things were different. They were different and there was nowhere she'd rather be than in Justice with Jax.
15
After they finished exercising the horses, Jax and Denim entered the house and went up a set of wide carpeted stairs into a large open floor living space with modern furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows that showcased acres and acres of lush green lands.
"Would you like something to eat?" he asked.
The corners of her mouth twitched. "I guess you heard my stomach growling."
Her response put a smile on Jax's face. "Yep, for a second, I thought maybe you had a little wolf inside." He cupped a hand to his mouth and started howling toward the ceiling.
"Ha-ha, very funny!" She playfully slugged Jax in the arm. Quickly, he swept Denim into the circle of his arms and spun her arm. "Put me down!" Denim was screaming and laughing at the same time.
"My bad." With that Jax chuckled and slowly brought her to her feet. "C'mon let's see what we can find to eat." He planted a kiss to her forehead, then led her down a long wide hallway, past a formal dining room, a large office, and a family room with a huge bar. At the rear was a media room with all kinds of high tech equipment. As Denim followed Jax, her eyes drifted from the beautiful décor to his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and nice tight ass. Was there anything about this man she didn't find sexy?
Around the corner they stepped into a kitchen that looked like something out of a magazine.
"Wow! This is very nice." Denim's eyes scanned the massive space as she admired the white subway tile, floor to ceiling white shaker cabinets and gorgeous gray granite counters.
Jax smiled proudly and said, "Thanks. This was one of Grand'Mere's designs. Now the kitchen belongs to Ms. Gayla."
"Who's that?" There was a bowl of grapes on the counter. Denim eyed them hungrily before boldly reaching over, grabbing a few and popping them quickly into her mouth.
"Ms. Gayla is our housekeeper," Jax began and then frowned. "Although that's probably not the best way to describe her, because she's more than that. Ms. Gayla had been with us since my mom passed away," Jax explained as he moved across a Spanish tiled floor over to a large side-by-side stainless steel refrigerator, and looked inside. "Hey how about a hot ham and cheese sandwich?"
"Can you cook?"
He peeped his head out from inside the refrigerator and smirked. His eyes, so beautiful and golden, bore into hers. "You haven't heard the rumors."
Her curiosity peaked. "What rumors?"
"That Jackson Wilde, Jr. is a renowned chef." His devilish smile stretched wider.
When Denim realized he was teasing, she smacked her forehead and giggled. "Oh is that so?" She moved around the island, admiring the intricate details of the cabinets and drawers. "If that's the case, then hook me up with a sandwich, please."
"Coming right up." Chuckling, Jax reached for a paper towel and a loaf of bread, then moved toward the island. "Have a seat."
With a grin, Denim plopped on one of the stools and rested her elbow on the beautiful granite countertop. "My mother would kill for a kitchen like this."
Jax blinked and met her gaze. "Tell me about your parents. What are they like, and what would they think about their daughter mating with a Were?"
She laughed at the latter part. "I see you got jokes."
Chuckling, Jax removed four slices of bread and laid them on the paper towel, then went over to the refrigerator again and removed deli sliced ham, cheese, and mayo.
"Let's see … my mother is a program director. She runs a retirement community. Mostly independent and assisted living luxury apartments."
"Retirement? Hmmm, sounds … " Jax's brow quirked as he purposely allowed his voice to trail off.
"Boring?" she laughed. "I used to think the same thing, but once I got old enough and Mom started taking me to work with her, I discovered the people who live in her buildings are quite interesting." Denim paused to chuckle at the memories. "I love old people! They are funny and have endless stories about their lives. For my mom it's pure enjoyment, being around people who just want someone to talk to, because once she goes home, it's nothing but crickets."
"What do you mean crickets?" Jax asked while preparing the sandwiches.
"I mean it's so quiet at home you can hear your own thoughts." Denim fought hard not to roll her eyes. "My father is a scientist who works for this big agricultural firm in Tulsa. He's so busy researching and testing corn he forgets he has a wife and daughter." Pausing, Denim released a lackluster laugh. "I know he loves us, but you have to email him or grill a bushel of corn on the barbecue grill to get his attention."
The knife in Jax's hand stalled while he chuckled heartily. "You're kidding, right?"
"Nope. I'm dead serious. Daddy can eat corn seven days a week and he's okay with that. 'Samantha dear, this corn taste great. What did you season it with?' And then she'll reply ‘Butter dear'."
Jax tossed his head back with laughter. While Denim continued to mimic her parent's dinner conversations, he piled ham and cheese on top of two slices of bread.
"So because Daddy ignores her, my mother focuses all her attention on me," she concluded with a deep breath, as she swiveled on the bar stool.
While he spread mayo on the other slices, Denim told him about her decision to come to Justice just to escape the interrogation that was sure to come in regards to her break-up with Asher.
"Has your mother met this Asher before?"
"Yes, and she adores him. Thinks I should appreciate having a man with so much potential." Denim rolled her eyes again as she tried to rein in her mounting frustration. "I can't wait for her to meet you. Tattoos, ear piecing? Yeah, this is going to be good." They shared another chuckle as Jax reached under the counter and pulled out a small kitchen appliance. "What's that thing?" she asked.