Page 56 of Reputation (Toronto Royals #1)

Chapter Thirty Three

Jax

He hated having to stay in the hidden alcove while she walked away. He wanted to go with her, to hold her hand and tuck her into his side. Fuck, he wanted everyone to know she was his.

It was crazy. The intensity of his feelings toward her scared him. He’d meant what he’d said this morning—he had no heart to offer her. Jax was a complicated mess when it came to relationships, which is why he’d stayed away from them the last few years. He hadn’t planned on that changing either.

But then she’d flashed into his life like a bomb, and even though he didn’t know what he wanted or what he could give her, Jax knew his life would never be the same.

After what felt like an hour, but was realistically a few minutes, Jax emerged from the alcove, checking to ensure the space was empty.

Satisfied he wouldn’t be caught, he moved down the sensory hallway they had hidden in and out through another curtain into one of the many rooms of the Savard mansion.

He made his way through the maze of rooms until he reached the one that hosted the bar. Scanning the crowd, he found Eavie standing against it, as if waiting her turn to order a drink.

As casually as possible, so it looked unintentional, he moved up beside her, smiling when she turned in his direction.

To keep up the pretense, Jax said, “Hey, Cinderella.” He caught her laugh as she looked away, but he was enjoying this game. “Can I get you a drink?”

This time, she shot him a wicked smile. “It’s an open bar,” she said.

He smirked at her. “Then I guess you should get me a drink.”

She shook her head in exasperation. “Fine,” Eavie muttered. “What would you like?”

“Bourbon,” he answered immediately.

Slowly, her head turned in his direction, eyes clashing in the dim lighting of the room.

He could see a fire in them as she remembered.

His lips curved with a devilish grin as he watched the emotions play through her gaze.

Her tongue licked out, touching the corner of her mouth as if she could taste the spirit, like there was a drop she was looking to clear away.

Jax focused every ounce of control he had not to lean down and kiss right where her tongue sat.

It was going to test his willpower to stay here for even another half hour when all he wanted was to take her back to his place.

Their quick session in the alcove did nothing to sate his need for her.

Her little game of chase had him painfully turned on, and he had only released a fraction of his pent-up hunger.

Adding to his list of things he felt toward her, Jax discovered the more he had her, the more he seemed to want her. It was a completely new experience for him, and he had no idea what it meant.

Eavie gave the bartender their drink order, then passed him his bourbon before she picked up her vodka tonic. They each took a sip, and he felt the sweet whiskey warm his stomach as it rushed down.

They stood as close as they could without it appearing more than a casual conversation. The distance that remained between them was torture. He was about to say fuck it and haul her out of there when someone popped up beside them.

At Molly’s appearance, Eavie stepped back like he was a live wire, severing their eye contact. Jax had to swallow his irritation at not only the interruption but at the need to keep their relationship, or whatever it was, a secret.

“So, he found you,” Molly said, giving Eavie a narrow-eyed look.

The two women stared at each other, having some silent conversation before Eavie gave an imperceptible shake of her head. Whatever wordless communication that went on between them had Molly’s mouth pinching.

She turned her sharp eyes on him even though her next comment was directed at Eavie. “Your hint was good,” Molly said.

Eavie looked at her, then over at Jax. With both their focus on him, he got the feeling he was in trouble. “Oh, really,” she said to Molly. Eavie gave him a questioning look that he wasn’t sure was good or bad. “Interesting.” The word held a chastising tone to it.

“Isn’t it?” said Molly, eyes settling back on Eavie.

She stepped close and whispered into Eavie’s ear. Over the beat of the music, Jax couldn’t hear, but he thought he saw Molly mouth I hope you know what you’re doing.

Eavie’s eyes flashed to him briefly before she turned to Molly, giving her a small smile. Just then, the guy Jax had seen Molly talking to earlier came up, asking her to dance.

When the pair left, Eavie moved fractionally closer to him again. He had no idea what their conversation meant, but he was relieved she didn’t start erecting her walls again.

“I thought you found me all on your own,” she told him when they were alone. He could hear the teasing in her voice, and his body, which had tensed at Molly’s appearance, relaxed.

He flashed her a smirk. “You were the one who never outlined any rules,” he justified. Her eyes flashed at the challenge, and an answering spark lit in his gut. God, he loved it when her feisty side came out. “I was just using the resources I had available to me.”

They stared each other down for a few heartbeats and Jax found his impatience to have her alone again was hard to keep leashed.

Something about Eavie made him act completely unlike himself.

Sure, he’d always liked rough sex—preferred to be the one in charge, and he enjoyed a challenge.

But never before had he felt such a primal need to claim a woman.

With Eavie, he acted and spoke as if an entirely different personality took over his basic functions.

Whenever she was near, whenever he thought about her, he couldn’t stop the need to own her—mind, body and soul.

They continued to stare at each other, a silent battle of wills raging between them.

He wished he could touch her right now. Keeping his free hand firmly in his pocket, he finally broke their eye contact to let his gaze travel down to where her legs met her body.

Spotting the black bottoms of her outfit, he thought about his cum dripping out of her, collecting in the material.

He wondered if she could feel it and if it kept his claim fresh in her mind.

As if she could sense where his mind had wandered, Eavie shifted on her feet, the muscles in her legs flexing as she squeezed them. He dragged his gaze back up, seeing the slow burning of need reflected in her eyes, matching the growing ache inside him.

Eavie placed her empty glass on the bar. Turning back to him, she said, “I should probably get going.”

She stepped away from him, but his hand shot out and wrapped around her wrist. “Where do you think you’re going?”

He watched her chest expand. “What do you mean?” she stammered, breathless.

He dropped his head so only she could hear.

“Are you forgetting about my prize?” he purred.

Her throat worked in a swallow. “If you’re ready to go, I won’t argue.

But you’re not leaving without me. You tortured me with your little game and I’m not even close to being finished with you. You are coming home with me.”

It was cute that she would think she could brush off her promise from this morning because of their escapade in the hallway.

Eavie licked her lips, and a satisfied smile touched his mouth at her speechlessness. “Tell me, Cinderella. Is it midnight?”

Her eyes drifted half closed as if the power of their connection affected her ability to speak. Her only response was a nod of her head.

At the confirmation, Jax began tugging her through the crowd when she stopped him. She shook her head once, eyes wide. When he gave her a confused look, she stepped closer so he could hear.

“We can’t leave together,” she reminded him.

He blew out an annoyed breath that sounded more like a growl. For fuck’s sake . This was getting irritating.

She looked around quickly before she continued. “I’m going to grab my coat. Meet me outside and be casual about it.”

At his nod, she turned and walked away and again, he hated it.

Reminding himself it wouldn’t be long before he had her in the privacy of his condo, he pulled out his phone and ordered a car.

Quickly, he located Matt and thanked him for the party before he stepped out the front door.

The cool late autumn air brushed against him, but even the dropping temperatures did nothing to dissipate the heat coursing through his body.

A couple of minutes later, Eavie stepped up beside him. She carefully kept a few feet between them, giving him a slight nod before turning to look ahead, as if she, too, were waiting for her ride.

When the car pulled up, he opened the door for her. Glancing over her shoulder, she checked that no one was watching before she slid in, moving to the far side so he could follow.

When the car drove away, Jax pulled her close, tucking her into his side.

They passed the twenty-minute ride to his place in silence.

Occasionally, he would tilt her head up so he could kiss her, but mostly, he luxuriated in being able to touch her, hold her against his body without her worrying about them being seen.

The car deposited them outside his building just before midnight. He once again took her hand as they entered the darkly decorated lobby, which had black marble floors and walls and dark wood-paneled elevators.

Once they were enclosed in the small space, he backed her against the wall. “No escaping me at midnight this time, Cinderella,” he said before he kissed her, harder this time, both hands cupping her jaw to hold her captive.

While the elevator made its ascent, he did what he’d wanted to do every time he’d found himself stuck in one with her.

He pushed his tongue into her mouth, sweeping it, tasting her. When Eavie sucked on his tongue, he let out an involuntary growl. She smiled beneath his lips, enjoying herself as much as he was.