Her jaw dropped as her head whipped around. "Did you just smell me?" First Aidan, now him. What was up with their family?
Jax gazed at her with this saucy grin. "Yes, and you have no idea how wonderful you smell." Male interest sparked to life as he held her gaze, and she noticed his eyes drift like a caress to her mouth. Heat came to life at her belly and quickly rose to her throat.
"Thanks, it's just lavender and sandalwood," Denim stuttered.
He smiled into her eyes, tenderly brushing damp tendrils of hair off her face. "It's your natural scent I'm talking about."
The band began another number and Denim stepped away from his touch, heart banging hard beneath her breasts. Was he flirting with me? She wondered as they stood there listening to one song after another. The whole time Denim was aware of Jax standing beside her, his hip brushing against hers and his nose only inches away from her hair. By the end of the first set, Jax took Denim's hand and led her to the rear of the house. Once there, he swung around and his attention came back to her face. "I need to get back to the ranch, but I wanted a moment alone with you."
She was certain nervousness was written all over her face. "Why's that?"
"To tell you I'm glad you're back," he said, with a growl.
"Really, why?" Denim asked staring up into those enticing eyes of his.
"Because we have some unfinished business."
Her heart lurched. Unfinished? "I-I don't know what you're talking about."
Jax moved in close, until she felt his warm sweet breath feathering her nose. "Yes you do. Remember the time I kissed you?"
Denim gave a nervous laugh. "Kiss? Jax … we … we were thirteen!" She pushed against him playfully, desperate for a little distance, but Jax grabbed onto her wrist, then somehow her breasts were pressed up against a solid chest.
"Do you have any idea how badly I want to kiss you again?" he asked, his expression serious.
Not as badly as I want to taste you.
Shaking her head, Denim's curls brushed her shoulders as she struggled for something to say, anything, but was suddenly mute. No matter how much she tried to deny it, she'd been waiting for this from the moment she spotted him at the diner.
"Jax … I-"
"You still like me. I can see it in your eyes." His gaze challenged her as he led her around to the other side of the tree where no one could see them.
He was right. There was no denying what she was feeling. Heat. Desire. Longing. All rolled up in one. She stared up at him, unable to look away, and when Jax took her hand and guided it downwards across his solid abdomen until her fingers stroked denim material along his strained zipper, she froze.
"You caused that," he said gruffly.
Her intake of breath was deep and sharp. Denim struggled to find every reason why this type of interaction was a bad idea, but the blood flowing in her veins was hot and had its own alternative response.
"Denim, we've already lost eight years. I don't plan to lose another second with you."
Was this really happening? She'd planned to spend the summer sulking over her ex-boyfriend, but for the life of her, Asher was the furthest thing from her mind.
"There's something about you I never could forget." He shrugged, as if confused by his own confession. "One thing for sure, I haven't been able to get you or your amazing scent out of my head."
Was he serious? "I-I had no idea."
"Back then I was too immature to understand," he explained, and a cute little half smile appeared.
Denim swallowed. "Understand what?"
"That you've always been my weakness," Jax admitted, as he touched her cheek with one finger.
He wanted her and Denim knew she wanted him, knew that his touch heated her body and stole her breath away. "And now?"
Jax pulled her to him. "I've realized that some things are just out of our control," he replied softly.
His lips came down over hers in a kiss, delicious and new, yet so achingly familiar, she surrendered to him without further thought. Standing on her toes, Denim parted her lips, inviting his tongue inside and was met with strokes that were both confident and skilled. Jax definitely knew what he was doing. His breath was tasty, his tongue delicious. He was kissing her at a torturing, slow pace that had her entire body agonizing for more. Never before had a man made love to her mouth. Jax took his time exploring while dancing with her tongue. She matched his strokes, savoring the flavor of his mouth, and the feel of his glorious body pressed snugly against hers. The kiss was so long and deep she suddenly became light-headed, yet when his mouth left hers, she whimpered at the desertion.
"Sorry babe, but I've gotta touch you."
Denim gasped as his hand teased around the edge of her bra, and when his fingers brushed across one erect nipple, she shivered at the intense sensation. "Jax!" she whimpered. This couldn't possibly be happening, but the friction igniting her flesh proved otherwise.
"You like that?"
Like was truly an understatement. His index finger lightly grazed the sensitive bud just enough to cause her clit to pulse. Oh my God, she moaned inward.
Jax began to massage first one and then the other nipple in slow torturing circles that sent heat tingling across her breasts.
"I asked if you like that?" he said, repeating the question.
Denim heard him the first time, but was just having a hard time focusing on anything other than what his fingers were doing. "Yes," she said between gasps. "I like that." Actually she was lying. She loved the way his fingers felt.
"Good," he growled.
Her eyes fluttered, half-closed, but not before she saw his eyes darken with male desire. "You have no idea how good I can make you feel," he whispered.
No, but she had a pretty good idea.
"You don't believe in wasting any time, do you?" she whispered.
"Not when I know what I want," he replied with confidence and then released her. Smiling, Jax brought his hand up to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. "Go out to dinner with me tomorrow."
Denim looked up, searching his eyes for sincerity. They were warm, yet intense enough to make her agree to just about anything. Ignoring her racing pulse, she replied, "Sure. I'd like that."
"Jax!"
Denim looked in the direction of the voice and spotted his older brother and Aidan a few yards away, waving their arms in the air. "We gotta go, now!"
Jax frowned, then returned his eyes to her.
"Everything okay?" she asked. She hated for the evening to end.
He sighed and said grimly, "Yeah, I'm afraid we're needed back at the ranch. But I'll see you tomorrow, right?"
Denim grinned, heart pounding with anticipation of what was yet to come. And it couldn't possibly come soon enough. "Yes, tomorrow is good for me."
"Cool." He smiled with satisfaction then winked and jogged over to join his brothers.
"They're here," Aidan said once he was close enough.
Jax nodded. "I know."
7
Jax had smelled danger which is why he had ended the evening so abruptly when he would rather have stayed with Denim. Instead, alongside his brothers-packmates-his animal was ready to emerge for the hunt.
"C'mon. Let's catch them before they arrive," Chayton ordered. Together they moved with wide strides toward the rear of the property that backed up to the forest. As they walked, Jax kept looking over his shoulder. The last thing they wanted was to draw any attention to themselves and someone try to follow them.
They stepped into the thicket of the trees just as four figures emerged from behind a thick brush. He recognized them as members of the Chadwick pack.
Diesel Chadwick, the youngest sibling and a hothead, walked right up to them with a sly grin on his lips. The others stood close by, but not enough to undermine his authority. Diesel was an alpha's son and it was important Weres recognized that.
"Well, well, what do we have here? I didn't know anyone was sending the welcome wagon," he greeted.
Chayton roared, "We aren't here to welcome you. What are you doing in Justice?"
He brushed a hand across his vibrant red head and pierced them with a dark green stare. "Last I checked, America was a free country. We've come to join the party."
Diesel took another bold step forward, but Chayton halted his advance by pressing a hand to his chest.
"This is a private party and you're not welcomed here or anywhere else in Justice."
Diesel gazed briefly down at his hand, then back up and smiled wide, revealing his long sharp canines. "Shame on you trying to keep the beautiful women of this town all to yourself."
Jax moved forward and didn't blink, his gaze fixed on Diesel with the focused stare of a wolf. "You and your pack are not invited."