Page 17

Jaxon parked the bike and took hold of my hand as I climbed off it.

Moonlight made the white sand glow. I kicked off my shoes and left them near the motorcycle.

Jaxon did the same, then he once again took hold of my hand, and we walked on the sand.

It was entirely deserted as if we were on an island all by ourselves.

The road was at least thirty feet above us, and the tiny cove was surrounded by steep hills covered in ice plants and beach grass.

Three picnic tables sat in no particular order on a small patch of cement just off the sand.

Jaxon led me toward one of the tables. He spun me around to face him. His hands circled my waist, and he lifted me up to sit on the edge of the table. I draped my arms around his neck and looked out at the water. "It looks so endless and deep at night," I said.

"That's because it's pretty close to endless, and once you get out there, it's fucking deep." He faced me. His crooked smile disappeared, and suddenly, he looked hurt, lost. "You left me again," he said.

I swallowed hard. "Didn't want to, but my dad …"

He shook his head. "How many times do I have to tell you, I'm not?—"

I pressed my fingers against his lips. "No, let's not talk about him right now. I want you, Jaxon Stone. I don't want any other fucking guy in this world except you."

His mouth pressed against mine. His hands wrapped around the back of my ass, and he pulled me closer to the edge of the table.

I fumbled with the front of his jeans and managed to get them unbuttoned.

I slid my hand into his open fly and took hold of his cock.

It was hot and rock hard and slick with nature's lube.

I rubbed my hand along his erection as his mouth devoured mine.

A low growl rolled up from his chest. "God, baby, I need you right now.

" In one easy motion he took off my sweatshirt.

His shirt came off next, and a breath caught in my throat as the half-moon above highlighted the ridged lines of his muscles and the mosaic of black ink.

He looked lethal and powerful and so fucking hot he made my head spin.

Once again, his hands circled my waist, and he lifted me down from the table.

His fingers deftly unbuttoned my shorts.

Seconds later, the cool ocean breeze brushed the naked skin of my ass.

He dropped his shirt on the table behind me and lifted me back to my perch.

"Spread those beautiful naked thighs, darlin'."

I was lightheaded with wanting him as I parted my legs.

He nestled in between them and pressed his hard cock against me.

He took hold of my face and pulled me closer for a kiss.

His tongue moved tantalizingly across my bottom lip before he once again covered my mouth with his.

His hands scooted me closer, so I was just off the edge of the table.

He was too tall and had to bend his knees.

I leaned back on my hands, let my head drop back as I circled his waist with my legs.

I gasped as his cock impaled me. My legs tightened, and I held onto him as if my life depended on it, and with how badly I wanted him, that analogy wasn't far off.

At that moment, all I could think of was his cock bringing me to orgasm, right there, under the moonlight, in front of the vast, black ocean.

Being outside, in the middle of nothing, but at the same time, in public, where anyone who wandered by would see us felt scary and exhilarating.

I wrapped myself tightly around him as he rocked inside of me.

Our bodies worked together in perfect rhythm until we both reached climax.

I held onto him still, never wanting to let him go.

Then sadness crept in with a heartbreaking dose of reality.

My dad's threats felt like heavy stones in my gut.

Knowing that this thing with Jaxon was impossible because of my ruthless dad made my throat ache.

Tears swelled in my eyes and fell down my cheeks before I could stop them.

I tried to sniffle discreetly, but Jaxon leaned back to look at me.

"What's wrong?"

I wiped quickly at the tears. "Nothing. It's just—" I wanted to tell him, but sometimes it was hard, embarrassing to admit just how horrid my dad was.

"You are—shit, Jaxon—I had no idea I could feel this way.

I've been stuck in a loveless, manufactured relationship, and I thought I'd hardened myself to feeling any emotions when it came to love, but my heart aches just looking at you.

I can't imagine not having these arms to hold me, to protect me. "

Jaxon hugged me. "Then don't imagine it cuz as far as I'm concerned, I was put on this earth to hold and protect you."

I took a deep breath. "Can I have my shorts? I'm feeling a little exposed out here."

Jaxon smiled. "I kind of like it."

"Please."

"All right, but it goes against every fiber of my being to hand you back your panties."

I stood up to pull on my panties and shorts. He put on his shirt.

"Hmm, now I see what you mean. Not that you don't look fucking incredible in that tight shirt, but Jaxon Stone in the flesh is a real treat."

We left the picnic table area and returned to the sand. It was much cooler between the toes now that the sun had shut down for the day. It felt good on bare feet, and the ocean breeze cooled our passion-heated skin.

It was confession time. I was sure it was going to be the end of everything, but I couldn't live with myself if Dad ruined their lives. "Jax, as you know, my dad is a first-class asshole."

"Yep, that title seems right."

The tide rolled in and slapped the shore gently, creating its own rhythmic music to accompany our walk. "The reason I walked out on you was because he called to let me know if I continued to see you, he'd go after your family."

Jaxon paused and turned to me. "My family?"

"Not violently, of course, although that wouldn't be farfetched. You saw his thick-necked security goons in the yard."

"Thought I'd broken into some kind of secret compound or something. I heard those guys showed up at Croft Beach."

I nodded. "Crusoe told you about it?"

"Yeah, but those fuckfaces were busy today. They were also hanging around my uncle's construction site."

"Then he's broken his promise." I crumpled forward and rested my face on his shoulder.

His arms went around me. "He knows the man who owns the building and land your dad leases for the motorcycle shop.

One word from my dad, and the lease will end.

I guess he's trying to figure out how to bring down your uncle's construction business, too.

" I straightened and looked at him. "He promised to do those things if I kept seeing you.

That's why I left. I couldn't let him destroy your family business.

I told him I wouldn't see you anymore and begged him to keep his end of the promise.

But like I said, he's ruthless. Bargains, contracts, deals are all meant to be broken when you have money and power.

He's pissed about the protests at the beach, and he knows your brother and cousin are part of the resistance. "

"Well, the only thing I'm hearing right now is that your dad broke his side of the promise, so that means you're free to break your end."

"But your family—" I started.

He kissed me to stop my words. His gaze felt like a caress.

"My family knows how to take care of itself.

As far as I'm concerned—you and I belong together.

I've never felt this kind of connection with anyone, Gidge.

Standing here together—you're already so familiar, so important, so fucking lovely, as if I've known you forever, as if you've been part of my soul my whole life. We just needed to find each other."

Normally, it was his kisses that made my knees weak, but this time it was his words. They felt genuine, real—something my life had been lacking since—since forever. "I couldn't live with myself if something happened because of me, Jax."

"Then we'll make sure it doesn't happen. Stay with me."

I shook my head. "He knows where you live.

He'll send his 'team' to get me, and—" My words choked off.

"Let me see what I can do from my end. I don't want him to know I'm seeing you—not yet," I added before he could protest. "I can't rip the bandage off on this.

I need to play it cool and try to find a way to make him see my side of things.

I've told Alex I want nothing more to do with him.

" I laughed, but it was a nervous sound.

"He's only interested in the chunk of money he'll get from my dad when we marry.

Alex basically said after that we're free to do whatever we like.

Dad knows I don't love Alex. In fact, I can see now that I actually loathe him.

And the last thing I want is to be legally tied to a man I loathe.

As far as I'm concerned, Dad can just give him the money and let me have my freedom.

It'll be a wife-free dowry, all the financial gain without the burden of an unhappy spouse. "

"I don't give a fuck how that guy ends up as long as he keeps his hands off of you." Jaxon kissed me again. "We're going to be together, Bridget. I promise you that, and whatever the fallout is, we'll deal with it."

His words sounded so confident, so reassuring, but my intuition told me this was heading toward catastrophe.

I'd finally found love, something that I'd been lacking my whole life, and that love came with a ridiculous amount of trouble.

I snuggled in his strong embrace for a few minutes, then sighed dejectedly.

"As much as I'd like for this night to never end, I need you to drop me off at home.

I have no idea how long my dad will be out, but I want to be back before him.

Shit, do you hear that? I'm being treated like a damn teenager, a prisoner in my own home, or, I should say, in my dad's home. Nothing is ever mine."

"Easy solution, Gidge, just don't go back home … ever."

"Wish it were that easy."

"It is from where I stand."

I shook my head. "No, I've got to handle this from my side. I don't want to involve your family. I can't be with you knowing I caused them problems. They'd hate me even more. I do think I managed to get your brother on my side this afternoon. Maybe not on my side but, at least, less angry at me."

"They'll love you no matter who your father is."

"I hope so." I took his hand. "Please, take me home. I'm going to get in bed and have erotic dreams about the man on the motorcycle."

"All right, but I'm not happy about this.

You sure this is the way to go? You could just do a cold turkey up and gone sort of thing.

Run upstairs pack a few things and then get back on behind the man on the motorcycle.

" He pulled me into his arms again. "And you wouldn't have to dream about it cuz I've got a whole catalogue of stuff to make your pussy ache for me. "

I laughed. "You don't need a catalogue. Just being near you makes my pussy ache." I kissed him again. I held my hand out with my phone on it. "Let's exchange numbers this time, so you don't always have to sneak onto the estate."

"Good idea. Next time I'll text you, so you can let your hair down for me to climb up. Something tells me it would be extra hot making love to you in your bedroom."

I laughed and handed him back his phone. "Now, take me home, so I can start thinking of a way out of this mess."