Page 18 of For the Promise (The Raider Brothers #2)

“You won’t hear me complaining about lying in the bed I made.” ~ Blossom

Blossom

“I ’ve never met someone who has absolutely zero sense of rhythm before,” I tease as we walk back to the chalet after the rehearsal dinner and dance.

“I have rhythm,” Jaxon argues.

“You stepped on my foot twice.”

“I will accept credit for the first time, but the second time was your fault.”

I lift a brow. “It’s my fault you stepped on my foot?”

“You stopped dancing because you were laughing so hard.”

“Because you tripped over your own feet and ended up grabbing the ass of the person dancing next to you. You’re lucky his boyfriend found the situation hilarious.”

He grunts. “I don’t have time for dancing.”

“You need to make time for having fun.”

“I have fun,” he growls and I shiver. What I wouldn’t do to hear him growl while he’s in bed with me .

“Are you cold?” He doesn’t wait for an answer before unbuttoning his jacket and shrugging it off. “Here.” He lays the jacket over my shoulders before wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me near.

The jacket smells of him. Whiskey and ocean. The combination is surprising and intoxicating. I may steal this jacket before the weekend’s over.

“Here we are.” Jaxon ushers me into the chalet. “Do you want to shower to warm up?”

“I’ll be fine. I don’t like to shower before bed.”

He steers me toward the bathroom. “You can get ready for bed first.”

I slip his jacket off and hand it to him. “I should probably get my pajamas from my suitcase first. Before I end up running around the chalet in my underwear again.”

His breath hitches. Does he want to watch me walk around the chalet in my panties and bra as much as I want to parade around in front of him? My nipples pebble at the idea of him feasting his gaze on me.

He steps back and motions to the closet. “Probably a good idea.”

Disappointment rolls through me but I ignore it. This is a fake marriage. It’s not real. We’re not going to enjoy each other all night long. No matter how much I want to.

Jaxon is merely playing by the rules. He’s not deliberately hurting me or playing games.

I find my nightshirt and hurry back to the bathroom. I dump the shirt on the vanity. I’m reaching for the door to shut it when I realize I have a problem. There’s no way I can get out of this dress without help. At least not without straining my back.

I peek into the bedroom. Jaxon is sitting on the bed with his face in his hands. Is something wrong? Does he regret marrying me? This arrangement?

“Jaxon,” I call. His head whips up. “Can you unzip me?”

He stands and prowls toward me. There’s no regret in his gaze. Only heat in those blue eyes as he comes closer.

“I’ve been wondering how you zipped up your dress all night.”

I whirl around and lift my hair off my neck. “Sorry. It’s a trade secret.”

He slowly lowers my zipper. I feel the air hit my heated skin. I want to feel Jaxon stroke my naked back. But he doesn’t touch me.

“There.”

I grasp the front of my dress before it pools at my feet. As much as I enjoy the idea of flashing Jaxon, he doesn’t want the same things I do.

He kisses my neck before stepping away and shutting the door.

I allow myself to enjoy the feel of his lips on my skin for a moment before shaking myself and getting into gear. I rush through my skin care regimen before piling my hair on top of my head.

I debate keeping my bra on – my nightshirt is old and threadbare – but I can’t sleep when I’m uncomfortable. I shed my bra and slip into my nightshirt. It’s long enough to cover my ass but not much longer.

I study myself in the mirror. I’m not a vision of sexiness. What was I thinking when I packed? I should have included a sexy negligee. Except I don’t own one.

Oh well. Here goes nothing.

“The bathroom’s all yours.”

Jaxon’s eyes heat as he stares at me. But then he blinks and it’s gone. “I won’t be a minute.”

I climb into bed and switch on the television. I make myself comfortable as I flip through the channels.

Jaxon exits the bathroom and I can’t help myself from watching as he walks around the chalet, making sure the doors are locked and the lights are switched off. When he finishes, he grabs two pillows from the bed.

“What are you doing?”

“I need a pillow to sleep.”

“Which begs the question – why are you removing the pillows from the bed?”

“I’m not sleeping in the bed with you.”

“Why not?” I narrow my eyes. “You don’t still think I have cooties, do you?”

He grunts. “Cooties don’t exist.”

I slap the mattress next to me. “Then, get your butt in bed.”

He sighs. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Are you afraid I’m going to attack you in the middle of the night?”

He snorts. “As if I couldn’t handle you.”

“You’re out of excuses, nerd boy.”

“I’m not a boy,” he growls and my stomach quivers. I am extremely aware he’s not a boy.

I point to his t-shirt. “But you are a nerd.” It says I may be N Er Dy but only periodically.

His cheeks darken. It’s adorable. And sexy. Everything Jaxon does is sexy.

“I never denied being a nerd.”

I love how he owns his nerdiness. Owns who he is. He’s genuine. Unlike a certain man who’s getting married tomorrow.

“Get in the bed, nerd.”

He frowns. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

I lift my hand in the Girl Scout salute. “I solemnly swear to not take advantage of you.” I drop my hand. “Happy?”

“Were you ever a Girl Scout?”

“Brownie.” I shrug. “Same thing.” Except I got kicked out of the brownies for an unfortunate incident with a spider. I maintain it was an accident.

“What if I take advantage of you?”

I wish he would. My panties dampen as I imagine all the ways he could take advantage of me. Starting with touching my skin and ending with filling me with his cock. If I ask him, is it taking advantage?

I open my mouth to ask but snap it shut again when memories of how he ignored me for more than a month after our first kiss assail me. Jaxon is not a man who’s interested in me. He’s helping me out. End of discussion.

“I know judo. You don’t have a chance. ”

He cocks an eyebrow. “Do you seriously know judo?”

I shrug. “I saw a documentary about the sport once.”

“You saw a documentary about judo?”

“My remote was broken and I was too lazy to get up and change the channel.”

He chuckles. “That, I believe.”

I narrow my eyes on him. “But you can’t believe I’d know judo?”

“You’re extremely competitive. If you knew judo, you’d have a black belt and everyone on the island would know about it.”

My nose wrinkles. “The people on the island are pretty nosy.”

“Not what I meant and you know it.”

I realize I’m digging my own grave and throw away the shovel. “Get in the bed. You’re about two feet too tall for the sofa and there’s no way I’m allowing you to sleep on the floor.”

“Allowing me?”

“You heard me. Get your butt in the bed before I message your brothers that you’re afraid to consummate this marriage.”

“You have no idea the chaos my brothers would cause,” he mutters but he does climb into bed.

I enjoy the look of him in my bed wearing his nerdy t-shirt and a pair of sweat shorts. I’d enjoy it even more if he removed his t-shirt. And his shorts. And his underwear.

Okay, fine. I want Jaxon naked in my bed. It’s no surprise. I’ve longed for him since the moment he swooped his tongue into my mouth and shoved his hard length against my stomach. Is his cock really as long and wide as it felt? Inquiring minds want to know. It’s me. I’m the inquiring mind.

“What the hell are you watching?” he asks and I realize while I’m drooling over him and trying to figure out a way to get him to strip, he’s glaring at the television.

Good reminder. This is fake, Blossom. F. A. K. E. Fake.

“It’s Storage Wars. ”

“Never heard of it.”

I gasp. “You’ve never heard of Storage Wars. Have you been living in a barn?”

He motions to the television. “What’s it about?”

“People bid for abandoned storage lockers. Then, they compete for who can earn the most money from whatever’s in the locker.”

“And you enjoy watching this?”

“Except for the whole guessing how much the stuff in the locker is worth. I think those numbers are highly inflated and complete bullshit.”

“Give me an example.” He props two pillows behind his back and makes himself comfortable.

I have a vision of us doing this every night. Before getting naked and enjoying each other. A longing hits me with such force, I have to blow out a breath before I jump Jaxon.

I haven’t had a family in years. When my parents died, I thought I could build a family with Alan. But those dreams crumbled the second he thought he had rights to my inheritance .

Jaxon would never attempt to steal my money. For one, he doesn’t need it. Besides, money isn’t important to him. He’s already loaded. All the owners of Buccaneer’s Whiskey & Distillery are millionaires. But he wears t-shirts and old jeans while driving around in a Mustang that’s seen better days.

If only he hadn’t ghosted me after our first kiss.