Page 35

Chapter Thirty-Five

IZZIE

J ane’s surgery went well, but we aren’t allowed to see her until she wakes up. I wanted to wait at the hospital, but Chad asked us to pick up some things at their house.

So here I am, back in Chad’s house with Jackson, packing an overnight bag for them. I’m handling Jane’s things, and Jackson is in charge of Chad’s.

“This is so strange,” I say as I put a few items of clothing in the duffel bag.

“What is?” Jackson asks from inside the walk-in closet.

“Going through their things.”

He walks out carrying a stack of sweatpants and T-shirts. “I thought you and Jane were close.”

“We are, but it’s different now. I wouldn’t think anything of it if we were still sharing a room, but here, in this house… I don’t know.” I shrug. “You probably think it’s stupid.”

“I don’t think that at all.” Jackson puts the clothes in the bag, then turns to me. “You still view this house as Chad’s place, not Jane’s. Once she puts her mark on the place, you’ll feel differently.”

“Man… you’re insightful. Did you take psychology in college?”

He laughs. “No. I only did one year of college before I joined the NHL, and all my classes were basic stuff.”

“What college did you go to?”

“Hannaford U.”

“Oh my God. You were our rivals!”

His eyes bug out. “Wait. Don’t tell me you went to Clayton U?”

“Yes!” I laugh, shaking my head. “I can’t believe it. If you hadn’t left after your freshman year, I probably would have seen you play.”

“I didn’t think you were a hockey fan.”

“Well… I wasn’t, but attending the games between the Jackals and Warriors was tradition.”

Jackson bobs his head up and down while a smile toys with his lips. I’m sure he had a great time playing college hockey.

“What class were you?” he asks.

“2021.”

“Oh yeah, if I had graduated, I’d have been class of 2019.” He smirks. “I knew there was a reason I didn’t like you at first sight. It was all that Clayton U yuck still clinging to you.”

I put my hands on my hips. “Excuse me? Clayton U yuck ? If anything has yuck, it’s Hannaford U!”

He narrows his eyes, then snakes an arm around my waist and pulls me close. “You take that back, woman, or there’ll be consequences.”

My heart speeds up, and fire spreads through my body. I’ll never admit it to Jackson, but I love this alpha side of him. “Oh yeah? What will the consequences be?”

His lips curl into a mischievous smile, and my toes curl right along with it. Suddenly, he throws me on the bed and covers my body with his before I can escape.

“Jackson! What are you?—”

He slants his mouth over mine, coaxing my lips open with his tongue. His kiss is intoxicating as always, but more so tonight. I thread my fingers through his hair and match his passion, stroke for stroke. I’m burning from the inside out and don’t care that we’re making out on Chad and Jane’s bed.

Jackson runs a hand down the side of my body, then he lifts my leg and sets it on his shoulder. It’s a bad day for me to be wearing pants, but the barrier doesn’t deter him. He grinds his hips against mine, rubbing his erection against my clit, and the friction is driving me insane already. I moan against his mouth.

“I love the sounds you make, my sweet Izzie.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes…” he kisses the corner of my mouth “… very much so.”

I’m turned on as hell, but when the orgasm hits me, it’s sudden. “Yes, oh my God, yes!”

“That’s it, babe, come for me.” He cups my cheek, and keeps grinding his hips, prolonging the pleasure.

Then he groans, shaking on top of me. Is he climaxing too? A moment later, he stops moving and says, “You’re so beautiful.”

Heat spreads across my face. “Jane’s beautiful, I’m n?—”

Jackson presses his index finger against my lips. “Shh… don’t you dare say you aren’t. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Even though I was annoyed with you when we met, I couldn’t stop admiring you.”

My heart is beating fast and hard, pumping euphoria through my veins. My tummy feels funny, and there’s a big lump stuck in my throat. Shit, am I on the verge of crying?

“Did I say something wrong?” he asks.

I shake my head. “No. On the contrary. You said everything right.”

He smiles. “Good.”

His phone rings, interrupting our moment. He slides off me. “I’d better get that. It might be Chad.”

We both get off the bed, and while he answers the call, I stare at the half-packed duffel bag and can’t remember what items are missing. I have post-O foggy brain.

“All right. I’ll bring that too,” Jackson says. “Okay, see you soon.”

“Was that Chad?” I ask.

“Yeah. He wants me to pack snacks. He gave me a list.”

“He doesn’t want to try his luck with the cafeteria food?”

“He’s a nervous eater, but he’s super particular about his snacks.”

A yawn sneaks up on me, and I try to cover it with my hand.

“Want some coffee?”

My eyes widen. “I’d love some. The hospital coffee was sewage.”

“All right. I’m done here. I’ll make us to-go cups.” He starts toward the door but stops halfway and turns around. “Actually, I’d better clean up first.”

I arch a brow. “Clean up? Pray tell, Darcy, did you have an accident?”

He studies me through narrowed eyes. “Don’t act so surprised. There’s only so much my self-control can take, and watching you come… well, that did it.”

I step into his space, wrapping my arms around his waist. “I’m not judging. I like it when you lose control.”

He grabs my ass and squeezes. “Oh yeah? I’m about to lose control again, gorgeous.”

“What? You want to fuck me in your best friend’s bed?”

He looks over my shoulder for a second, then locks his burning gaze on mine. “I’m in the mood to be bad.”

Unable to resist teasing him, I say, “I thought that was your standard mode.”

He lifts me off the floor and walks over to the bed. “Oh, no, babe. You haven’t yet seen how bad I can be.”