Wilde About Her (Wilde Pack Series)(22)

Jax placed it onto the island, then looked up, eyes wide with amusement. "This is the next best thing since a microwave."

"Really?" She played along.

"Yes, this is a sandwich maker. Check this out."

She watched in fascination as he sprayed cooking oil on the interior and plugged it in.

"Once it gets hot, I'll pop these sandwiches inside for five minutes and viola, hot ham and cheese."

"Ingenious." Her lips quirked with amusement as she shifted again on the seat.

"This gadget here is a life savior on Ms. Gayla's days off. It's either  this, go to the diner, or starve," Jax said, as he cut the sandwiches  into halves, then placed them onto the trays and lowered the lid.

"Do you still think about your mother?" Denim asked gently.

His brows lifted slowly until they stretched to the center of his  forehead. "Hell yeah. All the time. She was my rock." There was a pause  as he momentarily looked up at the ceiling before his troubled gaze  returned to hers.

"I still remember the day she died in that crash. I was seven and had  just won a prize at the county fair for one of our horses. Mom had been  in Austin at a day spa with a wife of one of the other pack leaders. Dad  said she was rushing, trying to make it to the fair in time to see me  ride. She was two exits away when this guy riding a tractor-trailer fell  asleep at the wheel and weaved over the concrete barrier into  southbound traffic, hitting her head-on."

Denim saw the pain in his eyes as she whispered, "Oh no!"

Jax steeled his expression as he continued. "The highway patrolman told  my dad she never saw him coming." He shook his head. "Knowing my mother  didn't suffer is what helps me sleep at night." His jaw clenched.

"That's such a relief," Denim managed barely above a whisper, and then  she didn't know what else to say. Her eyes took in Jax's stiff stance  and the arms crossed tightly against his chest. She could only imagine  what he and his brothers had gone through. Her own mother drove her  bonkers, but she didn't know what she would do if suddenly Samantha Barr  was no longer a phone call away.

"That green light means our sandwiches are ready." Jax had changed the  subject and the pain she had seen on his face was gone. Denim almost  groaned out loud. Just like a man. Afraid of being seen weak or  vulnerable. To her it showed the human side of Jax.

He rushed over to get two plates from the cabinet near the sink and her  eyes followed him again with admiration. He placed the dishes onto the  island and then lifted the lid. Inside were four golden-brown sandwich  halves with cheese oozing out the sides.

"Those look delicious," she commented.

Jax's smile returned. He reached for the spatula, put two on each plate and pushed one in front of her.         

     



 

"What would you like to drink? I've got tea, water and beer."

Denim flashed a smile. "A beer sounds good."

After he grabbed two beers, Jax popped the caps, then reached for a bag of potato chips and took the seat beside her.

"Eat," he ordered.

She bit hungrily into her sandwich. "Mmmm, it's really good!"



* * *

Jax felt heat rush to his groin. Denim had no idea the things her moans  did to his body. As she chewed her sandwich, his gaze took in her small  waist and her perfect breasts that were calling his name. While he was  out in the field watching Denim sit on top of the horse, passion raged  through his body so strong, he desperately needed to be buried inside  her again. She had become his addiction and that scared the hell outta  him. Her smile, her smell, beauty, that dry sense of humor … , Denim was  truly an amazing woman. She had bought such joy to his life that before  her was bleak and somewhat lonely. Now he had a reason. A purpose. A  destiny and a life that included her. If she wanted that and he hoped  like hell he hadn't scared her. His life was scary at times, now more  than ever with the tension between the packs and Troy's vendetta against  him, but he desperately wanted Denim to see, to understand, and most  importantly he wanted her to accept the life he had to offer.

"Now that I've introduced you to my world. What are your thoughts?" Jax  watched as Denim wiped her mouth with a paper towel, taking the moment  to photograph her flawless face, long lush lashes, high cheekbones, and  perfect button nose. Jax could see the wheels in Denim's head turning  and he'd give anything to have her ability to read thoughts.

"Your world is fascinating."

"In what way?" he asked and turned slightly on the seat needing to see her dark brown eyes as she spoke.

Denim took a swallow from the bottleneck beer before continuing. "Your  life is wild, and feels so unreal that I feel like I've gone through the  wardrobe … " She must have noticed the puzzlement on his face because  Denim paused and said, "You know, The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe."

Jax stroked his chin and struggled to keep a straight face. "So, let me  make sure I got this right. Being back in Justice is like stepping  inside the wardrobe."

She nodded and reached for a chip.

His lips tipped upward. "And I guess the lion is me, and Troy's the witch?"

"Exactly." She laughed and he barked with laughter before reaching down for one of his sandwiches and took a bite.

"What I'm saying is … this is like a dream. I never believed werewolves  existed, and yet I've known one practically all my life." Denim was  waving a hand as she spoke. "I'm not going to lie, what happened with  Troy in the forest was scary as shit. But instead of being afraid, I  feel drawn toward you and your world. My mind is spinning, because not  only do you exist, but you have freaking speed out of this world and can  sense when I'm in danger."

"I can only hear the people I care about."

Her eyes studied his. "See and that's enough, to have my stomach in a ball of knots knowing you care about me."

"I would do anything to protect you. I hope you know that." He wanted to  reassure her that as long as he was breathing she never had anything to  worry about. If anyone ever thought about putting a hand on Denim they  would have hell to pay.

"I know you'd protect me. I heard everything you and your brothers said about keeping me safe."

Jax's smile melted off his face. Denim's sandwich was inches from her  mouth when he swiveled her around until her startled expression was  facing him.

"Don't make any mistake about it. Regardless of what my brothers said  about the family protecting our own, as your mate it's my job to protect  you."

"I-"

"My job," he repeated firmly. "I'm a Were and when I commit there will  be never be anyone else but me. I don't share, Denim. I hope you  understand that."

Their eyes locked as she whispered, "Of course I do."

"You are my responsibility." He caught her chin with his hand. "Keeping  you safe is my duty. If I can't protect my woman, what do you need me  for?"

Denim sucked in a deep breath and simply nodded her head as he continued.

"I'm not a jealous man, but I don't share. I can be possessive and  overly protective, but I will love you like no other. Can you handle  that?" he challenged.

"Can you handle knowing you're the only man I want in my life?'' Denim  pointed a finger to his chest. "Jax, you can act like the big bad wolf  all you want, but I know that gentle person who exists inside."         

     



 

He toyed with the center of her chin, kissing it. "Only for you."

"I love being back in Justice," she said matter-of-factly.

He had to know that she wanted only him. "Do you like being here at the ranch?"

She met his eyes and blushed. "If you're asking if I love being here with you, the answer is yes."

Jax lovingly caressed the side of her cheek. "My brother was right. I chose you to be my mate."

Searching his eyes, Denim rested her hand on his arm and asked, "Why me?"

He looked down at the slim fingers clutching his biceps before replying,  "I think fate decided long before I did. I fought it, thought after  eight years I had forgotten, but I hadn't. And once I saw you, tasted  you, had my cock buried inside you, I knew there was no turning back.  You are mine Denim Barr. You're my soulmate."

Denim drew a deep breath. "And you're mine."

Their eyes locked again and Jax waited to make sure she clearly  understood what was happening between them. "Weres mate for life. Are  you sure this life is for you?"

"Jax …  I want you. Only you."

He took in her glowing smile. The way her eyes cherished him.

"The only cock you will ever feel will be mine. The only arms that will  hold you will be these and those lips will never feel the warmth of  another man," he said pointing to her mouth.

Jax was met by the full force of her beautiful brown eyes as Denim  replied, "I want that. I know it probably sounds crazy for someone on  the outside looking in, but I want you. I really want you. I never felt  so complete with a man before. Not Asher or any other." It was her turn  to reach out and press a delicate hand to his face. "I choose you  Jackson Wilde." She paused and gave a happy giggle. "Something about us  has given me the ability to read minds and to see you moving so fast, as  if time stood still," Denim said before adding under her breath. "I  still don't understand how that was possible, but I know all of that is  because of you."