Page 50 of A Little Crush (The Little Things #6)

RORY

A s soon as the elevator opens to Jaxon’s penthouse, the warm scent of curry and rice filters through the air.

I peek inside the gorgeous space, spotting an array of takeout containers sprawled on the dining table.

My mouth waters, and I step off the elevator while Hades gallops in like he owns the place. “Hey.”

Setting one of the takeout containers onto the table, Jaxon replies, “Hey.”

My forehead wrinkles. Jaxon invited me over for Indian food tonight. However, it seems the man beside me is a stranger compared to the one who had his fingers inside me a few days ago. All it takes is one word. One syllable. And I can tell something’s off.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

It’s a lie. I don’t know how I know, but I do. I’ve always noticed when Jaxon’s lying. Even when I was little. Maybe it’s the subtle inflection in his voice. Maybe it’s the tension in his movements. Maybe it’s the way he’s barely looked at me.

“Come take a seat,” he offers. His tone is softer, almost apologetic.

It only makes the warning bells clang louder.

Without a word, I follow him to the table, and he pulls out my chair, tucking it under me before sitting to my left.

As if on auto-pilot, he finishes opening containers, dishing out bird-sized portions onto both plates, barely acknowledging me.

If I was still a kid, I’d push. Demand he tell me what’s really going on. If I was the Rory from before my brother’s wedding, I’d pretend I’m oblivious to the clear shift in the room. Unfortunately, I’m neither of them anymore, and I’m not sure how to handle this situation.

Pressing my lips together, I reach for Jaxon’s hand on the table and run my fingers along his tan skin. “Jax.”

His eyes close, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say I slapped him.

“Jaxon,” I push. “Look at me.”

He does. “Yeah, Squeaks?”

“How was the board meeting?”

“It was good.”

Good. That’s all he has to say?

“Do you want any rice?” he adds.

Sure. Because carbs fix everything. Okay, they do kind of fix everything, but it’s beside the point.

Why is he acting so weird?

“How’s my dad?” I ask. Jaxon mentioned he had a board meeting with a bunch of the higher-ups. Maybe work’s bothering him?

“He’s good,” Jaxon says. “Told me to tell you hi.”

“Did he also tell you to act like a stone wall, too? Or…?”

He lets out a low chuckle and breathes in a bit more sincerity. “Sorry.” He takes another long breath. “Sorry,” he repeats. It’s the second one that settles my nerves and gives me a glimpse of the real Jaxon.

“What’s going on?” I ask .

“Nothing,” he repeats.

“Wait. I thought we got off Liar’s Highway. Should we try again? Maybe merge onto the next exit?” I let him go, lacing my fingers in front of me. “Okay, here we go. Ready for round three? Perfect.” Sitting up a little straighter, I say, “Hey, Jax. You seem a little down. What’s going on?”

His hand trembles ever so slightly as he reaches for his water, takes a sip, then sets it down. When he looks at me again, the wall’s a little lower, and I feel like he can see past whatever’s bothering him to really see me. “Hey.”

“Hi.” I smile, silently urging him to continue.

“The board meeting was good, but, uh, your dad got in my head a little bit.”

I nod slowly and pick up my fork. “Okay. Okay, that’s normal, I think. Do you want to expand, or let me make assumptions, or…?”

Another cleansing breath slips past his barely-there smile. “I can expand. Uh, let’s see. I guess I felt bad.”

“Bad,” I repeat.

“For touching you behind his back,” he clarifies.

I set down my fork and try to understand instead of assuming things I really don’t want to. “So, you don’t want to touch me?”

“Fuck, Rore, I want to touch you more than anything, all right?” He reaches for my hand and squeezes.

“Trust me. Watching you fall apart because of me is the hottest, most…fulfilling experience ever. Okay?” He sighs and lets me go.

“It’s just that…talking to your dad today reminded me of how guilty I feel about it when I do. ”

Guilty? He feels guilty? And here I thought we were making some kind of headway.

Not that we aren’t. It’s not like he canceled our date tonight, but still.

Feeling guilt for being with me or touching me isn’t exactly the news a girl wants to hear.

Although, he is being honest, which, all things considered, means something.

It means a lot. Now, I just need to convince him that his perspective is thoughtful, but… wrong.

Picking at my plate, I tell him, “To be clear, you know you would’ve had to tell my dad you’re not touching me in order to actually go behind his back when you touch me, right?” I pull back, surprised by my sudden epiphany. “Wait, is this why you haven’t let me touch you? Because you feel guilty?”

“You’ve touched me,” he argues.

“I mean your dick, Jaxon,” I clarify. “You haven’t let me touch your dick .

” The words sound so crass, so blunt, I can barely believe I’m saying them, but seriously?

He wants to pretend that the innocent places I’ve touched on his body count in this situation?

The guy’s delusional at best, and if I have to channel my inner Tatum to make him see how ridiculous he’s being, I will.

He shakes his head, though I can’t decide if it’s because of sheer stubbornness or confusion. “I’ve told you I’m gonna give you my cock one day?—”

“But are you going to let yourself come while you’re at it?” I challenge. “Or are you going to pull out and live with blue balls for the rest of your life out of guilt for finding pleasure in your boss’s daughter’s company, since apparently, that’s the only way you see me?”

Jaw hanging off its hinge, he stares at me, dumbfounded. Hell, the man looks like I just told him I have a third eyeball as a belly button or something. “Rory, you know I want you to touch me, and that I want to find…”—he gulps—“pleasure with you.”

I drop to my knees and reach for his belt. “Then prove it. Come down my throat.”

His molars grind as I struggle with the buckle before his hand descends on mine. “Stop.”

I glare up at him. “Jaxon, this relationship has nothing to do with guilt or my dad. This relationship is between me and you.”

“I know,” he mutters, somehow looking even more tortured than when I first arrived as he stares up at the ceiling like he can’t even look at me. “I fucking know, okay?”

Hades boops my cheek with his wet nose, and I shove him away, too distracted by my conversation with Jaxon to give him any attention.

“Hades, go lay down,” I order. With a huff, he leaves my side and curls up by the couch.

Satisfied he won’t get in the way, I roll back on my haunches, the fight slipping out of me as I watch Jax struggle.

I could offer him a free pass. Could get back on my chair and eat dinner like a good girl.

And I would’ve, too. The Rory from a few weeks ago would’ve had no issue giving in and letting this go.

But me? Well, call me a sucker, but I feel like I deserve more.

I deserve a man who isn’t going to let his respect for his boss affect his relationship with the woman he’s seeing, even if the two are related.

“I know neither of our families has anything to do with this, okay?” He scrubs his hand over his face. “But I respect your dad, and if it was Poppy…”

“If it was Poppy, you’d want her to find someone who treated her well, right?”

He drops his hand to his lap. “Yeah.”

“And you’ve never treated me like anything other than gold.”

“You sure?”

“Yes, definitely.” I give him a reassuring smile. “And you can still treat me like gold, even if you let me make you come every once in a while.” My eyes trail along his chest, landing on the bulge hidden beneath his pants. “Besides, I have a feeling I’m going to like this part, too.”

His eyes flash, but he stays quiet, and I know I’m close to convincing him this isn’t a terrible idea. In fact, it might just be a really good one.

“I like you, and I know you like me. You even said so yourself,” I remind him, holding his gaze. “How would it feel if all you wanted to do was make me feel good and I said no?”

The same twinge of his jaw appears, but he lets go of my hand over his buckle.

Instead of going straight for the belt, I rise onto my knees and start on the top of his shirt, slowly unbuttoning it until his chest comes into view.

I run my hands along his bare skin, taking in the slight dusting of hair, the ripple of muscles, and the tan still lingering from this summer.

The man looks so incredible, my mouth waters, so I lean forward, kissing him softly.

“Mmm,” I hum against him.

Yeah, I’m going to like this a lot. This…

access. This opportunity to finally lean into my curiosity of what it would be like to feel him.

To touch him. To kiss him. Everywhere. Continuing south, I finally reach his pants and unlatch the buckle before undoing the top button.

The sound of his zipper echoes in the otherwise silent room as I pull it down, revealing a very large bulge covered by black boxers.

Peeking up at him again, I grasp the elastic band, and he lifts his hips, letting me pull them down until all I feel is skin beneath my fingertips.

Curiosity and lust unfurl deep inside of me as I finally drag my attention from his dark eyes, down his chest, along the dappling of hair beneath his belly button, and finally, to his erection.

It’s big. Bigger than I imagined. With a slight curve and a mushroom head, and…

Holy shit, I’m looking at Jaxon Thorne’s?—

“Rory,” Jaxon growls.

I lick my lips and shift on my knees, making space between his parted thighs.

He rasps, “If you don’t want?— ”

“I’ve been dreaming about this for years, Jax.” I peer up at him through my lashes. “Don’t ruin it for me, okay?”