Afterburn

they made each other miserable. Now, Regina and Dad... They’ll do just fine. She knows how to play the game.”
    “He seems like he genuinely cares for her.”
    “After what he went through with my mom, she’s got to seem like a gift.” He took another drink, then leaned back as our food was served.
    His change in mood was another warning. Talking about his mother didn’t seem to sit well with him. I’d have to be careful about approaching the topic. “Ian introduced them, right?”
    “Which turned out to be really lucky for him, didn’t it?” he said with an edge in his voice.
    “Because he called in the favor and got you? You can’t save him, Jax.”
    “I wasn’t asked to.” He shrugged, his gaze hard. “I’m just supposed to keep Lei Yeung at bay. I can do that.”
    Nico walked over with a steaming plate of pasta in hand. “Mind if I join you two?”
    Jax pushed out the chair opposite him with his foot. “The more Rossis the merrier.”
    Sadly, the more Rutledges the scarier. And that had shaped Jax into the man he was.
    I played with that in my thoughts as Jax and Nico settled into the easy banter of men, reminding me of how effortlessly Jax fit into my life...and how uncomfortable I was with his.

Chapter 8
    A FTER DINNER , J AX and I headed out to his rental. I paused before I slid into the passenger seat. “If I go back to the hotel with you, I’ll need you to take me back to Nico’s when he gets off work.”
    Jax rested his arm on the open car door. “You won’t stay the night with me? I’d like you to.”
    I did want to. And once, back in the day, I had dropped everything in my life for his visits and ended up resenting him for that. I may not have learned to stay away from him, but I’d still picked up a thing or two about having a healthier relationship. “I came here to spend time with my brother.”
    His chest lifted and fell on a deep breath. “Fair enough. Can I schedule time for you to spend with me?”
    We stood so close to each other, pressed into the space between the car and the door, but there was a gulf between us. I’d created it, but I still wished it didn’t have to be there. “When are you thinking?”
    “Any night this week and next weekend for sure.”
    I nodded, then got in the car. He shut the door and rounded the trunk, giving me time to think about how the rest of the night could go. More sex. More Jax. I craved both, but it would’ve been nice not have so many doubts and reservations. I missed how carefree we used to be. But then, I guess it was only that way for me. He’d been counting down the minutes all the while.
    He got in and closed the door, but didn’t start the engine right away.
    “Listen,” he began, “you should know this is hard for me, too.”
    “But you understand what’s going on,” I argued softly. “I’m clueless.”
    Jax twisted in his seat and reached for me, catching me by the nape and pulling me in. I closed my eyes, anticipating the moment when his parted lips would touch mine. His tongue caressed the curve of my mouth, a slow sweep that had me leaning closer for more.
    “So sweet,” he murmured. “I’m going to spread you across my bed and lick you from head to toe.”
    “You’re good at that,” I said breathlessly, a shiver of eagerness moving through me.
    He pulled back, as if to start the car, then surged forward again, catching my lips in a heated, wet, ravenous kiss. His mouth ate at mine, his tongue stroking deep and fast. I was just as greedy for him, my hand sliding into his hair, holding him by the roots while I frantically tasted him. He cupped my breast in his hand, plumping it, his thumb and forefinger surrounding my aching nipple and tugging rhythmically. I moaned, turned on and needy.
    “God,” he groaned, releasing me and falling back heavily against the seat. “I want you. Right here. Now.”
    I was more than tempted by the thought. If we had been anywhere but right outside Rossi’s, I might have climbed over the gearshift and gone for it.
    “Drive fast,” I told him.
    He laughed hoarsely and turned his head against the headrest to look at me. “Fine. But when we get to bed, I’m taking it real slow.”
    * * *
    “J AX !” C LAWING AT the sheets, my body arching away from the torture of his mouth, even as I craved more. I’d forgotten what he could do to me, how he could strip away my skin to get into the very heart of me, how his complete command of my body made me willing to do or