Page 40 of Right Number, Wrong Man

HAILEY

I glance down the quiet, carpeted corridor. This is the largest hotel in Burtonville and according to a brochure in the lobby, the rooms are soundproof. Is that why Jax told me to come here?

I slide my thighs together, my satin panties gliding over my shaved pussy. Unlike when Jax fucked me in the parking lot, I had time to get ready today, an everything shower included.

Frankly, I don’t think he cares if I shave or not, but the sensation of smooth skin makes me feel sexy. I want to be sexy for him—and for myself—but I suspect that my extensive date night preparations are the reason why I’m nervous.

Our first hookup was fueled by adrenaline and surprise, leaving no capacity for doubt. But today, while I got myself dolled up, I had plenty of time to overthink.

I tug on my short pink dress. Mike always said it’s too slutty and what if Jax thinks the same? It doesn’t matter. It’s not like I can drive back home and change right now.

What am I waiting for?

I just have to knock on this door and let myself get dominated and fucked into mindless bliss. Lord knows I could use the relaxation after my encounter with the least cool serial killer in history, The Eyesnatcher.

There’s just one teeny-tiny problem:

Since Colt saved my life, I can’t stop thinking about him.

He’s the first thing on my mind when I wake up and the last when I go to sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I see the look on his face when he stormed into the bathroom.

I’m driving myself crazy trying to decipher that expression like there was a hidden message in the gentleness of his gaze and the firm set of his jaw. Unspoken words in a language I can’t translate.

I don’t remember the rest of that night all too clearly. Everything is a blur.

I know Colt knocked out Justin and I cried in his arms. I think I kicked Justin, too. The next thing I remember is curling up in bed with Gracie and sleeping like a rock until sunrise. I must have disassociated from shock.

In the morning, Colt came to check on me and pick up Gracie. He had dark bags under his eyes and a butterfly bandage on his cheek. Yawning, he handed me an iced raspberry macchiato and a muffin, promising everything was taken care of.

I believed him. Still do, even if he refused to reveal any details.

Colt gave me the week off with full pay and he brings me breakfast every morning. But each time we say a polite goodbye over coffee to-go and baked goods in a paper bag, it gets harder to watch him walk away.

Is that why it feels strange to meet up with Jax?

I snort. No way. I’m reading too much into things. Hidden messages in Colt’s gaze? What’s next, him riding topless down my street on a white horse with a boombox on his shoulder, blasting I Want It That Way under my window?

Earth to Hailey: Not everything is a sign and I’m not the main character in an early 2000s romance flick.

Colt is doing his duty as my brother-in-law. We might’ve made up and he did save my life, but I have no reason to feel weird about hooking up with Jax.

This is none of Colt’s business. It’s not like we’re… dating .

I’m single, ready to mingle, and that’s something I should enjoy. It’s something I will enjoy. Yes, I will. I totally, absolutely will enjoy the incredible sex I’m about to have and I will not think about Colt. No. Not once. It stops right now.

I take a deep breath.

Shit. I’m still thinking about him.

Stop thinking about Colt . Stop it!

I slap my forehead. The harder I try not to think of him, the more I?—

The door swings open and the view bashes every thought from my head except one:

I should’ve knocked.

This is the first time I’m seeing Jax topless in real life, and somehow, he’s even more beautiful than on video.

If he stands still, I could mistake him for a statue painstakingly carved from stone by a very talented Renaissance artist, who definitely shed some tears when gazing upon his perfect creation.

Jax’s dark jeans hang low on his hips and the black hood of his mask bunches around his broad shoulders. Two small, round scars dot the left side of his stomach, distracting me from his abs. I never noticed them in his vids.

Are those old bullet wounds?

“Were you plannin’ to stand out here all night?” he asks, the deep tone of his voice modulator making me flinch.

Damn it. He was watching me through the peephole. My hot friend-with-benefits saw me have a full-blown identity crisis and slap myself. I wish I could spontaneously self-immolate.

“Figured I should invite you in before your nerves win and you run away. C’mon,” Jax says, gesturing for me to enter.

I let out a nervous laugh as I walk into the room and a shiver creeps across my bare arms. Why is the AC on full blast? Apart from the arctic conditions, it’s a nice, normal room with a king-sized bed as the centerpiece.

Large hands grab my waist and a wide chest presses against my back as Jax’s body curls over mine. My breath stutters. I’m wearing heels, but I’m still small compared to him. His heat melts into me, his warm fingers rubbing tenderly over the goosebumps on my arms.

He puts his head on my shoulder. It’s heavy, but not too heavy, like he’s trying to let me feel his comforting presence without constricting me.

“Why’s my little brat so nervous today? You seem more scared than when I held a knife to your throat.”

My heart dips. I don’t want to turn him off with my insecurity.

“I’m sorry. This is all just very new to me…” I mumble.

Jax brushes a lock of hair behind my ear. “Don’t apologize. I like you defiant and I like you obedient, shy or outgoing, confident or nervous. I like all versions of you. You never gotta play a role for me. I asked ‘cause I wanna know if there’s anything I can do to make you feel more at ease.”

I smile. It’s absurd that a man whose face I haven’t seen can soothe me like he does, but it feels like we’ve known each other forever.

“I won’t pretend that I don’t enjoy scarin’ and hurtin’ you, Sugar.

Damn, I do. Your pained whimpers get me hard as fuck, but I ain’t gonna do nothing you don’t want me to do.

I already had you at knife point and I had you cuffed with your head underwater.

If I was fixin’ to harm you, I would’ve done it then. Makes sense?”

The tension in my shoulders releases. “But I’ve never done anything like this,” I whisper.

“Don’t worry your pretty little head about it. I’ll take the lead. Just be my good girl and Daddy’s gonna take care of the rest.”

Instant arousal pools between my thighs.

His good girl . I really like him calling me that.

“Do you remember your safeword?” Jax asks.

“Glitterbomb or snapping my fingers three times.”

His hand drifts to the zipper of my dress. “Did you put on this sexy number for me?”

My stomach swoops and I blush. He loves the dress. My worries from earlier seem silly now.

“Yes, I wanted to look good for you. ”

“Damn, I can’t wait to unwrap my gift,” he growls.

I expect him to rip the dress or cut it off like he did with my panties in the parking lot, but his gentleness surprises me.

Jax tugs the zipper open so slowly, the anticipation makes my breath catch as his calloused fingers pull the straps from my shoulders.

The dress falls. He teases along the lace edges of my bra over my stomach, his thumb brushing my clit through the matching panties.

“I brought something for you, too, but I fear my gifts can’t compare with you lookin’ like this,” he drawls.

From the closet, Jax grabs a black duffel bag. He takes out one item after the other and displays them on the bed.

A bottle of water. Safety scissors with a blunt tip. Cotton balls. One of those huge vibrating wands with a power cord. A metal bar with a padded leather cuff at each end. He’s got a blow dryer, too.

It gets even weirder when he takes out a roll of plastic wrap, but not one of those small ones for food. This one is massive, like the stuff they use for packing shipping pallets.

Expertly, Jax undoes the clasp of my bra and tosses it onto the desk.

He cups my breasts, pinching my nipples into hard points and my pussy clenches.

The rough quickie in the parking lot was hot and so was the drowning, but the way he’s lavishing slow attention on me has my head spinning.

It feels like being worshipped. Appreciated.

He hooks two fingers into my panties, sliding them down as he sinks to his knees and lets me step out of them. My hands twitch. I want to take off his mask so I can twist my fingers into his hair and pull his mouth against my pulsing clit, but that’s off limits.

Jax rises and grabs my chin, tilting my head back. “Keep those sinful heels on, Sugar, and put your arms by your sides, straight down. ”

Anxiety takes root in my center as I follow his instructions. Jax picks up the plastic wrap and stands behind me, unrolling one end. I flinch as he presses it against my upper back.

Clarity strikes like lightning.

That plastic wrap—he’ll tie me up with it.